The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Armed gang

  • Armed men attack warehouse, made away with cash

    Armed men attack warehouse, made away with cash

    A three man gang of robbers have reportedly attacked a warehouse located opposite St. Michael’s Anglican Church, along St. Michael’s road, Aba, Abia State.

    The gunmen who were said to have struck the place in a commercial tricycle at about 5pm on Monday were reported to have made away with undisclosed huge amount of money which the owner of the warehouse was said to have been paid to by his customers who came to buy goods from him.

    The Nation learnt that the hoodlums before leaving the place shot at one of the workers in the warehouse that was later rushed to an undisclosed private clinic where treatment was being administered. It was however not clear if there was any confrontation between the robbers and the victim.

    The robbers who many believed have been carrying surveillance on the area before they struck was said to have left the scene with the same tricycle with a commercial plate number which they came with.

    The incident was said to have caused pandemonium and forced business owners in the area to close shop abruptly.

    An eyewitness who gave her name as Grace described the incident as surprising, stressing that the hoodlums executed their plans as if they had someone carrying surveillance for them in the area.

    “The owner of the shop, we learnt offloaded goods at the weekend and since Monday morning he has been making sales as many people have been coming to carry bell of clothes. The place has been busy and no one would have suspected that such a thing could happen. In fact, it took everyone by surprise. They even want to release gun in the air while they were leaving, but the short gun which they came with couldn’t shoot again while they were driving off,” the eyewitness narrated.

    Business and economic activities have since returned to the area when our reporter visited the area on Tuesday as many shop owners who said that it was the first time such a thing was happening around the area said that they have become more vigilant than ever after the incident.

  • Police smash kidnap gangs in Enugu

    Police smash kidnap gangs in Enugu

    The Police in Enugu state have smashed two kidnap gangs operating in and around the capital in the past two months.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ekechukwu Nwodibo, who announced this at a news conference on Wednesday in Enugu, said two cars, guns, handsets and a fake army ID card were recovered from them.

    Nwodibo said that the feat was achieved through careful planning after a tip off and warned criminal elements to steer clear of the state.

    “Enugu State is a no go area for all criminals and that any criminal that manages to succeed, we will pursue him swiftly, decisively and zealously until we hunt him or her down.

    “We are putting behind us the misdeeds of some few elements, who try to cause anxiety.

    “You will recall that one Barrister (John) Abugu was kidnapped in front of his house; you will recall that one Mrs. (Jane) Ekweremadu was kidnapped at Agric. Bus-stop around Independence Layout.

    “You will recall that one Mrs. Sandra Onu was equally kidnapped around there. And of course, there was another victim, Dr Brooks (Okwara).

    “Our promise to the people of Enugu State is that any criminal that manages to succeed; we will use professional skills and expertise to make sure that he accounts for his misdeeds and that is what we have precisely done.

    “So, Wednesday, the leader of this dangerous gang and some of his members were ambushed by our men in a carefully planned operation somewhere at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.

    “When they discovered that our men were closing in on them; they opened fire on them and of course in the ensuing exchange they were gunned down.’’

    The commissioner said the syndicates also kidnapped Elder Edwin Chime on April 2 from his house and took him away in a Volkswagen car with registration number DWK 929 PP.

    He said that the suspects snatched the car from its owners at Umunede in Delta State, adding that they had confessed to the crime.

     

  • Armed gang takes over Delta community

    Armed gang takes over Delta community

    Knocks for governor

    RESIDENTS and business operators in Effurun, Ekpan and other communities in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State now live in perpetual fears as armed gangs continue to unleash mayhem on them.

    Investigations by our correspondent revealed that no fewer than 10 persons have been killed, while over 100 have been wounded since the beginning of the year. Properties worth several millions of naira, including Shoprite and other shops in the Delta Mall, have either being destroyed or looted within the same period.

    Distressed residents condemned the seeming nonchalant attitude of the state government for the mindless killings, robberies, abductions and breach of the peace in Uvwie and environs.

    A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The governor seems to have ceded Uvwie to armed gangs, while residents live in perpetual fear, sleep and wake up to the sound of gunfire and flying bullets.”

    Reports that could not be independently confirmed indicated that at least three persons were killed on Thursday morning in a renewed bedlam in the area.

    While speaking with The Nation, a victim of Thursday’s mayhem, Mr Olatuden Daniel, stated: “I don’t know what Delta State government is doing about this high level of insecurity, especially in Uvwie LGA, Ekpan and Jakpa.

    “I almost got killed by flying bullets early on Thursday morning on my way to office because some youths were fighting. A responsible government shouldn’t fold its arms and allow youths to take over the government.

    “This has been on for a month now and I hope Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa will wake up to his responsibility. “

    It was gathered that, in another violent fracas, hundreds of persons who were on their way to their places of work were trapped in another bloody shootout around the Ekpan area of the community.

    According to sources, the latest spate of violence in Ekpan and other parts of Uvwie was triggered by a battle for the control of motor parks in the area and its subsequent face-off between the council chairman, Chief Baro Henry and the state governor.

    Sources said the interplay of forces working for Baro’s return and those bent on perpetrating the current occupant on the seat is responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the council.

    “There are those working hard to demonise Baro in order to ensure that he does not return and there are those working to ensure that the council becomes ungovernable if the elected chairman is not allowed to return to his seat,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity added.

  • Knocks for Okowa as armed gangs take over Delta community

    Knocks for Okowa as armed gangs take over Delta community

    Residents of Effurun, Ekpan and other communities in Uvwie Local government area of Delta state are living in fears as armed gangs unleash mayhem on residents and business owners in the area.

    Our investigations revealed that no fewer than 10 persons have been killed and over 100 wounded since the beginning of the year. Properties worth several millions of naira, including Shoprite and other shops in the Delta Mall, have either being destroyed or looted.

    Distressed residents slammed the perceived nonchalant attitude of the state government, led by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for the mindless killings, robberies, abductions and breach of the peace in Uvwie and environs.

    “The governor seems to have ceded Uvwie to armed gangs, while residents live in perpetual fear, sleep and wake up to the sound of gunfire and flying bullets,” one resident lamented.

    Reports that could not be independently confirmed indicated that at least three persons were killed on Thursday morning in a renewed bedlam in the restive area.

    A victim of the Thursday’s mayhem, Mr Olatuden Daniel, stated: “I don’t know what Delta state government is doing about this high level (of) insecurity especially Uvwie LGA, Ekpan and Jakpa in particular.

    “I almost got killed by spraying (flying) bullet early this (Thursday) morning on my way to office because of youth wahala (restiveness). A responsible government shouldn’t fold its arms and allow youths to take over the government.

    “This has been on for a month now and I hope Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa will wake up to his responsibility. Up to this moment (1.20pm) from 5am there is still gunshot everywhere. No security.”

    Hundreds of persons on their way to their legitimate business were trapped in another bloody shootout around the Ekpan area of the community in the latest fracas.

    The latest spate of violence in Ekpan and other parts of Uvwie was triggered by battle for the control of motor parks in the area and its subsequent face-off between the council chairman, Chief Baro Henry and the state governor.

    The face-off led to the suspension of the embattled governor and his replacement with an interim chair.

    Sources said the interplay of forces working for Baro’s return and those bent on perpetrating the current occupant on the seat is responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the council.

    “There are those working hard to demonise Baro in order to ensure that he does not return and there are those working to ensure that the council becomes ungovernable if the elected chairman is not allowed to return to his seat,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity added.