The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is yet to conclude investigation on its officer who allegedly killed a 100 level student of Niger Delta University, (NDU), Ammassoma, Bayelsa State, spokesman Emmanuel Okeh has said.

He told The Nation yesterday in Abuja that the officer is still in detention.

The officer two weeks ago allegedly shot dead a Petrochemical Engineering student identified as Obinna, who was reportedly taken to a hospital in the community, but died later.

NSCDC Commandant General (CG) Abdullahi Muhammadu said the incident could have been avoided if the officer had been careful. He assured the bereaved family that the officer would be sanctioned in accordance with the law, to act as a deterrent to others.

Read Also: 22-year-old woman killed in Ondo

Okeh said: “investigation is still ongoing. He is in detention in Bayelsa State. It is after investigation that we will know the next step to take.”

A family source, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence, said the deceased’s parents are beginning to express fear over the investigation.

The source said: “For the family of the deceased, we are worried. We expect that the investigation would have yielded result now, but what we are told is that investigation is still ongoing. For how long? We hope this case will not be swept under the carpet. We want the NSCDC to speed up the investigative process.”

Fear has gripped residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, following the killing of a 22-year-old woman.

The Nation learnt that the incident occurred on Wednesday at Oke-Ogba area of Akure, about 7pm.

It was gathered that the woman was operating a point of sales (POS) at Oke-Ogba junction, off Agagu Road, Akure when the gunmen attacked her.

The murder occurred barely 24 hours after a middle-aged worker with a publishing company located at Ajipowo was also shot dead in a night robbery.

The incident happened on Ajipowo/Ogundipe Estate, off Ondo Road/Customs Junction, Akure.

Read Also: Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Taraba state

Robberies have been on the increase recently at Ajipowo/Ogundipe, Shagari village and Ijoka, among others, in Akure.

Policemen have been deployed in Oke-Ogba where the woman was shot dead.

An eyewitness said: “Residents of Oke-Ogba community on Agagu Road, Akure were on Wednesday evening thrown into mourning, as shop owners ran for safety when a woman was shot at close range by gunmen.”

It was learnt that the men, who were on a motorcycle, snatched an undisclosed amount from the woman before killing her.

Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who confirmed the incident, said the command was working towards arresting the suspects.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammmed Adamu has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of Taraba State Command to fish out the killers of Rev. Father Tanko.

He also ordered the DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to provide additional forensic and other investigative assets to the Taraba State Command to aid investigations into the incident.

The cleric was murdered by unknown persons yesterday at Kpankufu village along Wukari Road while he was on his way to Kofai Amadu village in Taraba State.

A statement in Abuja yesterday by the Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba,

Read Also: Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Taraba state

said the IGP, while condoling with the Catholic family in Nigeria over the unfortunate incident, also expressed deep concern over the recent incidence of attacks on clergymen in some parts of the country.

Following the recent attacks, Adamu also directed commissioners of police in all states and the FCT to pay special attention to the clergy and increase security around worship centres nationwide.

The police chief, while assuring the nation that the perpetrators of the act would not go undetected and unpunished, urged the people to be calm and support the police to unravel the mastermind of the crime, their motives and circumstances surrounding the unfortunate killing of the priest.

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. David Tanko, was yesterday killed by yet-to-be identified armed men in Taraba State.

“After killing him, the killers set him and his car, a white Toyota Corolla, on fire. He was burnt beyond recognition,” eyewitnesses said.

The deceased was in charge of St. Peter’s Catholic Parish at Amadu —a Tiv settlement in Takum Local Government.

The cleric was among hundreds of innocent people who were feared killed in the ongoing hostilities between Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups in Taraba State.

It was gathered that the Jukun/Tiv crisis is an aged-long recurring feud, whose cause is a claim by the Jukun that the Tiv are “settlers,” in Taraba State, and therefore, have no ownership right to the land they occupy and should leave.

The Nation gathered that Tanko, despite being a Jukun from Wukari, continued his religious work in the Tiv settlement (Amadu) since the Jukun/Tiv crisis began at Kente village of Wukari about five months ago.

The crisis began in Kente on April 1 and spread to Donga and Takum local governments, including the Federal University Wukari campus, which was shut down.

It was gathered that Tanko had left the church at Amadu to attend a peace meeting on the lingering Jukun/Tiv crisis with his fellow clergymen in Takum yesterday.

“On his way back to Amadu (from Takum), between Kasuwan Haske and Tor-Tser, he was killed,” the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, Most Rev. Charles Hammawa, told reporters.

Hammawa, in a phone chat, condemned the killing of Rev. Tanko, describing the murder as “brutal and shocking.”

Read Also: Cult suspects kill final year student

He said: “We received the news of his death with shock and great sadness. The diocese is mourning.

“We have been preaching peace and making efforts to bring both parties in the crisis to a round table discussion.

“For a priest who has been preaching peace to be killed in this most gruesome manner is pathetic, to say the least. A priest belongs to all.

“For now, we are not pointing accusing finger at any group.

“The police have promised me that they are investigating the case. We pray that the perpetrators are brought to book.

“Our basic concern now is to give him a befitting burial. We don’t want any group to go for reprisal. Going for reprisal will only worsen the situation.”

Rev. Fr Cyrachus Kamai, a parish priest in Jalingo, appealed to the warring factions to spare clergymen who have been praying and meditating for cessation of hostilities between Tiv and Jukun.

He said the clergy had organised several prayers for peace to reign between the two warring tribes.

Kamai condemned the killing of Tanko, saying: “I received the news of the killing of my colleague and friend with shock.

“I know the efforts he was making to end this needless violence between Tiv and Jukun through prayers and meditations.

“In times of war, you don’t kill Pastors and Imams, because if you kill them, who will pray for you for peace to reign?”

Police spokesman, David Misal, yesterday confirmed Tanko’s murder to The Nation, saying the command was investigating the incident.

The cleric’s murder is building anxiety in the state, as there are two versions to the incident.

The Chairman of Takum Local Government, Shiban Tikari, has blamed a Tiv militia group for killing the cleric.

He also blamed several other attacks that have claimed lives and property in southern Taraba on the Tiv militias, stressing that the reason for Tanko’s attack was still unknown.

But the President of Southern Taraba Tiv Youth Progressive Forum (TYPF), Kelvin Katyo, said Rev. Tanko was killed by a Jukun militia group, who were attacking Ortser village for the third time yesterday, “cutting our mango trees and razing homes.”

He said: “If we don’t like and trust Tanko, we wouldn’t have allowed him to be preaching in our village. The man of God left Amadu yesterday morning for Takum to hold a meeting with his colleagues.

“He left Takum around 3pm yesterday back to Amadu when he ran into the Jukun militia while they were attacking Tortser —a Tiv village.

“He was shot and burnt with his car by the Jukun militia. Our investigation showed that the militia had accused the cleric of serving as a spy for the Tiv militia.

“Recall that Mrs. Comfort Tai, a Kilba woman from Adamawa State, was killed in Wukari by Jukun militia on May 5. She was accused of spying for Tiv militia.

“Recall also that more than 250 churches have been destroyed in southern Taraba by the Jukun militia since the beginning of the current crisis.

“We condemn this barbaric act, because the Jukun/Tiv crisis is not a religious war. So, why can’t they spare churches and clerics?”

Gunmen suspected to be cultists have killed a final year student of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka in Lagos State.

The Nation learnt that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening.

The victim, Samuel Ajayi, the only child of his parents, was said to have been trailed to a canteen in the school and shot in the neck as he was stepping out of the canteen.

Ajayi was the fifth person to be killed on Wednesday in a resumed clash between members of Aye and Eiye cults at Oworonshoki, Akoka and their environs.

Read Also: Four feared killed as suspected cultists resume clash   

It was gathered that his killers, suspected to be members of a rival cult, had stormed the school during students’ final sign-out, announcing their presence with sporadic gunshots.

The assailants, it was gathered, left shortly after the gunshots, only to return later for Ajayi said to have gone to the canteen to eat.

It was learnt that policemen were later invited and they removed his body.

His parents, it was gathered, ran to the school when the news of the incident reached them.

The police in Katsina State said they have rescued 10 out the 15 women kidnapped by bandits on Tuesday morning at Wurma village in Kurfi Local Government.

Spokesman Anas Gezawa said yesterday in Katsina: “Gunmen invaded Wurma village in Kurfi Local Government and abducted 15 women, including the village head’s daughter and his in-law.”

Read Also: Suspected cultists kill man

Gezawa said the bandits also carted away an unspecified number of cattle from the community.

“The police rescued 10 out of the 15 abducted women. They have since been reunited with their families.

“Efforts are being intensified to rescue the other victims and possibly arrest the culprits,” Gezawa said

Four persons were on Wednesday feared killed and three others injured after suspected cultists resumed hostilities at Oworonshoki, a Lagos suburb.

It was gathered that the fight, which was between Aiye and Eiye cults, started around 6:30am at L&K bus stop and later spread to Olopomeji and Akinjuomo streets.

The cultists were said to have stormed the areas armed with cutlasses, axes and bottles, which they used to attack one another.

But for yesterday’s clash, Oworonshoki, notorious for cult wars, robberies and other violent activities, had been peaceful for some time.

Read Also: Suspected cultists kill man

Among those feared killed were Ibrahim alias Iso, Mumuni Abade and Dodo. Three others sustained deep machete injuries.

It was learnt that those killed were mainly members of the Aiye cult, said to have been hacked to death.

When our correspondent visited the area yesterday, there was fear, as traders were seen locking up their shops.

Armed policemen were also sighted at three locations conducting stop and search on vehicles and tricycles.

Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the police were only aware of one death.

He said a suspect, Yusuf Adesafe, has been arrested, adding that peace has been restored to the area.

A REPORT that 48 villagers were abducted in the aftermath of bandits’ attack on Wurma community, Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State was dismissed on Wednesday by the State Police Command.

Police spokesman Isa Gambo in a statement last night appealed to reporters to await further clarifications on the matter from the command, reiterating the earlier statement that the casualty figure stood at 15, until further investigation by the command proves otherwise

He said: “Let’s work together to rid Katsina of banditry and other crimes. Don’t hesitate to get across for any clearance and update on the security situation in Katsina.

‘’I don’t know where you get your figures from, but this is what security men on ground have in their hands officially.’’

Read Also: Police rescue 10 women abducted in Katsina

Some reports in the social media circle in Katsina have even quoted up to 100 casualty figure, while others claim 45 to 50.”

The Nation recalled that some bandits  attacked the village on Tuesday morning, rustled unspecified number of domestic animals and abducted about 15 women.

According to the command, a team of ‘’Operation Puff Adder’’ led by the DPO Kurfi chased the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun duel, which resulted in the rescue of 10 women.

The report further had it that the hoodlums escaped into the rough Rugu forest, while search parties have been dispatched to the surrounding bush to rescue others.

The Kaduna State Police Command said last night that the three final year Law students from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, kidnapped on the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Tuesday evening, have been released.

The students were kidnapped with four other travellers on the highway when about 20 gun bearing kidnappers blocked the highway.

Spokesman Yakubu Sabo confirmed the development last night, saying the students have been reunited with their families.

He said they were the last set of abductees in the kidnappers’ custody before they were released.

Seven persons, including the three final year Law students, were abducted on the highway on Tuesday around 6pm.

An unconfirmed report has it that the kidnappers killed three other persons during the operation.

A video that has gone viral on the social media shows security men in the convoy of former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo firing gunshots to disperse the kidnappers.

Read Also: Police disagree on casualty figures in Katsina attack

A commercial driver, Ibrahim Ahmed, told The Nation: “I escaped the attack because the convoy of one former governor, which I was driving behind, arrived the scene during the operation. The guards then fired shots and dispersed the kidnappers, but they abducted many people.

“They blocked the expressway and fired at the vehicles passing before the former governor arrived. They kidnapped people during the operation and took them into a forest.

“I saw three people on the floor. I think were already dead because they did not move.

“I narrowly escaped being kidnapped too. In fact, if I had overtaken the convoy as some of my passengers had requested, we would have probably been kidnapped too.”

Another driver, Samaila Rabiu, said three people were killed during the incident.

He added: “A colleague, who escaped the attack, told us that three people, who tried to escape, were shot by the kidnappers.”

Operatives of the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested three lawyers for allegedly defrauding Pastor Adetunji Adedoyin of his property worth N20 million.

The suspects are Salman Rafiu, Sulyman Abaya and Saka Hammed.

Their accomplices on the run include Olarewaju Aluko and Na’ Allah Suyuti.

Adedoyin, the petitioner, alleged that the suspects fraudulently obtained a court order through a false representation and sold the property without his consent.

He also alleged that the lawyers did not allow him to brief them to defend him in the legal proceedings they instituted.

He said: “I was informed that I was served summons through the

court proceedings, whereas it was R. A. Salman who picked and arranged his colleagues, Abaya Sulyman and Saka Hammed to stand for me and these lawyers forged my signature on some documents purporting to consent in court to the sale of my hostel.

“The truth of the matter is, I never set my eyes on these people (lawyers) prior to or during the court proceedings, neither did I participate directly or indirectly in the proceedings. I was also not

aware of the proceedings from the beginning to the end.

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“Earlier in 2016, after seeking advice on what to do, I engaged a lawyer, Victor Okojie, in Ilorin to pursue justice for me because attempts I made failed. Victor Okojie later linked me up with the buyer, Na’ Allah and the buyer’s lawyer, Ayodele Aluko Olarewaju. The buyer felt my pain and explained that he had spent about N12.5 million for the acquisition of my property. He said he was willing to release it only if I could pay back the money.”

The petitioner further said he was able to pay N4.2 million into the buyer’s account in order to recover the property,

which they released to him at that time.

“The hostel was taken over again in March 2019 by the alleged buyer, Mr. Na’ Allah, through his lawyer, Aluko Olarewaju, on the grounds that I have not paid the outstanding balance,” he said

It was gathered that the suspects initially denied the allegations against them when confronted by the operatives of the EFCC with some forged documents that emanated from the petitioner.

EFCC source said efforts are on to arrest other suspects.