The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Assasination

  • APC Chieftain escapes assassination attempt

    APC Chieftain escapes assassination attempt

    A chieftain of All Progressives Congress in Abia state, Mr. Destiny Chibuike Ukauwa has reportedly escaped assassination attempt by yet-to – be identified gunmen.

    Ukauwa at a media briefing after the incident along a road leading to the State House of Assembly also accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party of plot to assassinate him.

    He called on the police authority in the state to investigate attempt on his life.

    Recalling how he miraculously escaped assassination along BCA Road in Umuahia last week when four men operating in a Camry car suspected to be hired killers attempted to double cross and shot him, Ukauwa said his escape was by the grace of God.

    He claimed that the alleged attempt on his life by gunmen was the handiwork of agents of those he described as his political opponents in state government was due to his aspiration to govern Abia and his consistent criticism of the PDP in Abia state.

    According to him, “I’m in a deep fear. Because I know the plot to assassinate me has to do with my ambition to vie for governorship seat of Abia come 2019. I strongly believe that this attack is coming from the ruling PDP in the state.

    “It happened two days ago around 8:00pm as I was driving towards BCA road, Umuahia. Some men about four of them followed me up, I stopped, they also stopped and double crossed me. Before I knew what was happening, I heard sound of gunshots everywhere; it was only through God’s grace that I escaped,” he said.

    Ukauwa who feared he could be attacked again, called on police in the state to investigate the alleged attempt on his life with a view to arresting and prosecuting the culprits.

    The Ohuhu, Umuahia-born politician reiterated that no amount of harassment and intimidation will deter him from vying for the governorship seat of the state, saying he was on a mission to better the lives of the people of Abia state

  • Police confirm assassination of Benue governor’s aide

    Police confirm assassination of Benue governor’s aide

    The Benue Police Command has confirmed the assassination of Mr Tavershima Adyorough, Principal Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Samuel Ortom on Knowledge Economy and Investment.

    Adyorough was also a member of the Benue Economic Team.

    Mr Bashir Makama, Police Commissioner in Benue, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi, that Adyorough was assassinated in the early hours of Sunday.

    “He was killed in his house by bandits, who also shot his wife. The woman is currently responding to treatment at a government hospital in Makurdi,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the motive of the killing was yet to be established, but expressed optimism that the culprits would be apprehended and brought to book.

    “We shall fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice,” he vowed.

    He appealed to members of the public with any clue to volunteer same to the police to assist the search for the murderers.

    NAN reports that Adyorough’s is the fourth assassination case involving one elder statesman and top government officials in Benue, since Ortom became governor in 2015.

    Among those murdered are Mr Denen Igbanan, Ortom’s Special Assistant on Special Security, Mr Joseph Tondo, Buruku Local Government Chairmanship aspirant, and Chief Atoza Hindan, an elder statesman.

    Meanwhile, Ortom has challenged the police to immediately arrest and prosecute the killers of his aide.

    The governor, who spoke though his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase, said that the killing was “unacceptable” and ordered security agencies to swing into action so as to arrest those responsible.

    He described Adyorough as a “competent and dependable aide, who delivered on assignments with dedication and honesty”.

    Ortom sympathised with the immediate family of the deceased, the government and people of Benue on the loss, and pledged to support security agencies in apprehending the culprits. (NAN)

  • Gunmen kill Okiitipupa PDP Chairman

    Gunmen kill Okiitipupa PDP Chairman

    The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, Mr Niyi Pirisola was Friday assasinated by suspected hired killers.

    Pirisola who was also the former Chairman, Caretaker Commitee  in the Local Government was reportedly killed in his house in Ilutitun via Okitipupa in the early hours of the day by unknown
    gunmen.

    Details of his killings were still sketchy as at press time.

    The state chapter of the PDP has called on the Police and other security agencies in the state to investigate the killing of Pirisola.

    The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Banji Okunomo said the killing of the PDP leader called for serious investigation as the state is approaching an election period.

    Okunomo who expressed shock at the inhuman act, also called on all security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

    According to him “this is necessary because of the sensitivity of the times that we are in Ondo State considering that the state is preparing for its governorship election, which holds in November 26, 2016.”

    “The PDP cautions against anything that could heat up the polity and impede the transition process that is being prepared for in our dear Sunshine State.”

    Okunomo stressed that the state has been widely acclaimed as one of the most peaceful States in the country, saying;”we must not allow hoodlums to tamper with this track record or dent our image in any way.”

    A relative of the deceased politician said the deceased politician was killed at the gate of his house by suspected assasins.

    His words; “the deceased went to church for vigil on Thursday evening and returned in the wee hours of the day and he was shot at his gate when he was about to enter his compound.”

    “The late Pirisola was murdered by gunmen who followed him from the church to his house in Ilutitun”

    He said the deceased had no premonition of his death, as he had no personal issue with any individual before his untimely death.

    He said the matter had been reported to the Police for proper investigation, while the family will meet on funeral arrangements.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police Command, Femi Joseph confirmed the incident.

    He said his men have commenced investigation into the matter.

    Joseph added that no suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of Pirisola, adding that efforts are on top gear to bring the perpetrators of the devilish act to book.

    The PPRO noted that the Police are on top of the situation and urged admirers of the late politician to remain calm till the Police conclude their investigations.

    He urged members of the public with useful information on the killing of Pirisola to inform the Police.

  • Gunmen assassinate 71-year-old cleric in Edo

    A 71-year old cleric, Reverend David Memeh, has been assasinated by unknown gunmen at his Government Reservation Area residence in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Late Rev. Memeh who worshipped at the Foursquare Gospel was shot twice after the suspected assassins forcefully gained entrance into his residence.

    The gunmen did not take anything from the residence except the cell phones of the victim and his wife.

    Wife of the victim, Deaconess Alice, said her husband begged for life before he was shot.

    She said the killers broke into their apartment through the window in her husband’s room but that her husband fled to her room.

    Alice who spoke amidst tears said the two killers slapped her husband severally before they dragged him to kill.

    According to her, “I ran out after I heard gunshot for them to kill me but the killers have left. We were only three at home and they overpowered us.”

    “My husband is dead. I will appreciate if government arrest the killers.”

    Spokesman for the Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, could not be reached for comments.

  • Police to arraign five over killing of APC chieftain

    Police to arraign five over killing of APC chieftain

    Five suspected murderers arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police in connection with the assassination of former speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Okon Uwah, are to appear in court Wednesday.

    Until his death, the late Uwah was the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Ukanafun State Constituency.

    He was murdered last Wednesday bysuspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs at Ikot Akpan Nkek in Ukanafun Local Government Area while on a political campaign meeting.

    Speaking Tuesday during an exclusive interview with The Nation, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Gabriel Achong, said aside from the four persons arrested in relation with the killing of the former deputy speaker, his men were able to pick one more suspect on Monday.

    Achong said: “Aside from the four people arrested when I addressed press conference on Saturday, we were able to pick up more one person yesterday (Monday). By tomorrow, if you care, go to court, you will see that the people will be charged to court. Justice will take its own path. The police have actually done their own path.

    “I thank the people of Akwa Ibom for being patience with the police and assisting the police to get the number of suspects we have gotten so far. I still encourage them to assist the police so that we get remaining suspect so that everybody will be charged to court.

    “Whoever commits any offence he is not committing the offence for any political party he is committing the offence for himself and he will be charged to court for himself and he will be handled for himself.

    “I am not charging PDP to court. I am not charging APC to court. I am charging the culprits to court. Whoever commits any offence will be charged to court with his name not any political party.”

    When asked how prepared the command is for Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls, the CP said his men are in high spirit and they are fully ready to protect both the materials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and human beings that are going to cast their votes.

    The CP, who kept the number of his men that would be deployed for polls to his chest, said: “That is purely operational. I cannot tell you the number of men I am going to deploy but I am assuring you that I have sufficient men to cover all the polling units in the state.

    “We urge the citizenry to come out to cast their votes to the candidates of their choice without fear and intimidation from anybody.”

  • APGA chairman survives assassination attempt in Ebonyi

    APGA chairman survives assassination attempt in Ebonyi

    Chief Jerry Obasi, the Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi, said on Tuesday that he narrowly escaped assassination on Monday in Abakaliki.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki that four gunmen allegedly attacked him at his Hill Top residence.

    Obasi said that the gunmen waited for him near his house and waylaid him as he parked a vehicle to put a call through to a friend.

    “As I was waiting for my friend, a tall, young man with a Kalashinov gun approached me and as I asked him what the problem was, a short fellow appeared from nowhere and brandished a pistol.

    “He told me not to move or he would shoot me but I summoned courage and hit them with the car’s door which caused their fall.

    “I jumped out from the car immediately and ran for my dear life and was hearing one of them shouting ‘shoot him, shoot him”, he said.

    He alleged that the gunmen zoomed off in the car and was grateful to God for sparing his life.

    He lamented that the incident took place few metres away from a police check point, saying that the spate of insecurity had become alarming.

    “I reported the matter immediately to the police authorities in the state which assured me that the gunmen would be arrested and the vehicle recovered,” he said.

    When contacted,  the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, confirmed the incident, saying that they had opened investigation into the matter.

    “We have sent our signals around and are determined to apprehend the culprits and recover the car.

    “We want to assure the residents and citizens of the state of our readiness to reduce the crime rate and protect their lives and property,” he said.