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Tag: attack

  • ACF condemns Biu attack

    ACF condemns Biu attack

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned last Saturday’s suicide attack at Biu market, Borno State. It urged parents to be watchful of their young girls, who are easily used as suicide bombers.

    ACF noted with dismay that fleeing Boko Haram insurgents are now infiltrating communities to commit heinous crimes.

    The forum, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, said: “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) learnt with shock, the death of 17 persons in two bomb attacks by two female bombers, at Biu market, Borno State.

    “These dastardly acts by remnants of Boko Haram terrorists using innocent children to perpetrate these barbaric acts are worrisome and condemnable.

    “The recent spate of suicide bomb attacks in Konduga, Borno State and that of Mubi mosque and Madagali in Adamawa State, are really disturbing.

    “The fleeing Boko Haram insurgents are now infiltrating various communities, having been dislodged by our gallant soldiers from their cells in the Sambisa forest and other places.

    “ACF, therefore, urges the various communities, especially in the Northeast, to be more vigilant, security-conscious and heed security advice by reporting suspicious persons, movements and objects to the military and other security agencies to avert a recurrence.

    “The forum urges parents of young girls to watch their wards who are easy prey to the sect, in the mistaken belief that God needs them to fight His cause. There is nothing like killing for God.

    “We hail the military, other security agencies and the civilian JTF in their fight against Boko Haram insurgency, and other crimes, and urge them not to relent but sustain the onslaught and constant surveillance in the affected states until security is properly restored.

    “ACF extends its condolences to the families of the deceased, the Biu Emirate Council, the government and people of Borno State, at this unfortunate incident. It equally praises efforts of Borno State government and other humanitarian organisations for their prompt responses in providing free medical treatment to the injured persons.”

  • 235 dead in deadliest terror attack on Egypt’s mosque

    235 dead in deadliest terror attack on Egypt’s mosque

    No fewer than 235 worshippers were killed in bomb ang gun attack on an Egyptian mosque yesterday.

    The attack on the packed mosque located in Egypt’s restive North Sinai province is regarded as the deadliest in Egypt’s recent history.

    A bomb was said to have gone off at the Rawda mosque dominated by Muslims of the Sufi order before gunmen also opened fire on worshippers that gathered for the weekly Friday prayers.

    According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants surrounded the mosque with vehicles and planted a bomb outside. They then mowed down the panicked worshippers as they attempted to flee, using the congregants’ vehicles they had set alight to block routes to the mosque.

    State television reported that at least 235 people were killed while 109 others were wounded in the attack, prompting the government to declare three days of mourning.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to the government and people of Egypt over the heartless attacks on a mosque in North Sinai that left many dead after prayers yesterday.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, condemned the dastardly act on innocent worshippers.

    He said the attacks had further reinforced the position that terrorism has no relationship or respect for any religion, and should be visited with the full wrath of the law.

    The President reiterated that the workable panacea to such mindless and irresponsible attacks on citizens would be a global joint action that continually shares intelligence, simulates scenarios and regularly updates on both local and international threats.

    He prayed that the Almighty God will receive the souls of the departed, and comfort the families of those directly affected

  • ‘Satan prompted me to attack my stepdaughter’

    ‘Satan prompted me to attack my stepdaughter’

    A 46-year-old woman, Mrs. Rose Michael, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for injuring her stepdaughter, Blessing.

    The woman, who lives at 10, Onafowokan Street, Ita-Oluwa, Ogijo near Sagamu in Ogun State, reportedly attacked Blessing with a blade, lacerating her hands and thigh.

    The Nation learnt that a fight between Rose’s daughter and Blessing made her to attack the latter with a blade.

    But the woman told neighbours and the police that the devil prompted her to attack Blessing.

    “I knew the gravity of the action later,” she said.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said in a statement that Mrs. Michael was arrested following a complaint by her husband, James.

    He said Police Commissioner Ahmed Iliyasu instructed that the case be transferred to the Anti- Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit for investigation.

  • Six dead, five injured in Plateau attack

    The Plateau State Police Command yesterday confirmed six persons dead and five others injured in Saturday’s attack on Tegbe, Bassa Local Government Area.

    The spokesman, Terna Tyopev, said the attackers invaded the village, about midnight. Ten houses were burnt.

    The injured had been taken to hospital.

    The attack happened a day after Governor Simon Lalong imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the council, as part of measures to curtail attacks.

    A statement by Lalong’s Director of Press, Emmanuel Nanle, expressed the government’s anger at the killings.

    The statement reads: “Governor Lalong has expressed shock at last Saturday’s attack on Tegbe Village, after the failed attack on Nzoruvho Village, which resulted in the death of six persons.

    “The attack, coming on the heels of the 12-hour curfew imposed on Bassa council, leaves the government with concerns that these criminal elements are finding refuge among residents.

    “The government has warned, and is reiterating, that it will not relent in its efforts at identifying and prosecuting those behind this heinous crime. It is, therefore, pleading with residents of these conflict areas in Bassa and surrounding border villages, to volunteer information that will lead to arrest of the criminals.

    “The government warns that any person or group of persons, identified to have been providing refuge and escape for these criminals, will not be spared the wrath of the law.

    “The governor extends his condolences to families of the bereaved, and has directed the State Emergency Management Agency and Ministry of Health to coordinate medical services for the injured and provide humanitarian relief materials to the attacked areas.

    “The governor appeals for calm, and promise that security has been reinforced; intelligence and security search and patrol has also been intensified to ensure arrest of the culprits.”

    Some villagers have allegedly fled their homes for security reasons.

  • Many injured as robbers attack Ibadan community

    Scores of residents of Tella Estate in Akobo area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were injured on Saturday when a seven-man gang of armed robbers invaded the area and carted away their valuables.

    It was gathered that the robbers arrived the estate around midnight and carried out house-to-house attacks on the residents.

    When our correspondent arrived the community around 7 a.m on Saturday, bullet cartridges littered the ground while a night guard, identified simply as Victor, sustained machete cuts on the head.

    Other injured residents were said to have been taken to the hospital.

    The Chairman of the landlords association, Mr. Basiru Shodeyinde, told reporters that the robbers arrived the area at 12 a.m, adding that the landlords had reported the incident at Akobo Police Station.

    According to him, the valuables the robbers stole included laptops, undisclosed cash, mobile phones and iPad.

    He said: “From available information I have, the robbers had been in the community since midnight. I was not aware until around 2 a.m when a fellow landlord called me about it. I called other landlords to inform them about the incident. It was then we were aware they had entered seven houses.

    “They carted away mobile phones, laptops, iPad and other valuables. They collected huge sums of money from the victims.

    “We reported the incident to Akobo Police Station around 10 a.m on Saturday and we were given a police officer to inspect the damages they did to our people.

    “Though we couldn’t get the police at that time, but we have been given numbers to dial in case we have a similar experience again.”

    A victim, who did not want to be named, told our reporter that the seven robbers were huge men without masks. He said they arrived his house at 12.15 a.m and operated for 45 minutes.

    He said: “They had almost removed the window when my wife woke up. She told them not to disturb themselves, that she would open the door for them. That was because they had destroyed the window beyond expected. She opened the door for them and we dropped all the money we had on the table so that they would not begin to threaten to kill us. When they told me to bring more money or they will kill me, I said there was no more money. They attempted to shoot me. That was when my wife dragged it with them and she was hit with the gun butt. Thank God, my wife has been responding to treatment at hospital.”

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said he was going to get back to our correspondent as soon as he was able to get information on the incident.

    But he did not reply last night.

  • APC wrong to attack Sagay

    SIR: It is almost unbelievable – the name – calling of Prof Itse Sagay by  some  APC ‘leaders’ or “stalwarts”.  Events recent and remote do not justify the abuse.  Never  in the political history of Nigeria – and I have been watching it  since the debacle of   1952 in the  then Western Regional House – has  one man stood out boldly, accusing, with figures and data, crooked politicians in Nigeria.  The loyalty of this man to Buhari and to the Nigerian nation is certainly not in doubt.  He is doing solo what the battalion of political appointees together, yes together, has not and may probably not do.  He calls and describes people as they are.  Sometime the naïve or lazy may not comprehend his language or stand his guts, yet he makes good impression on perceptive, reasonable Nigerians.  

    It is idle and fruitless to accuse Prof Sagay of disrespecting President Buhari.  The President, being what he is, will understand differently and better.

    By the way who is Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi?  Is it true he is the Publicity Secretary of the APC?  Has that party had any Publicity Secretary after the tenure of Lai Mohamed?  Where has he been while the political waters turned muddy?  Is he not generally regarded as the Publicity Secretary of his godfather the Senate President?  Who does he think Nigerians are?  Let him please keep his peace.

    As for the APC ‘National’ Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, he has brought down his image by collaborating with Bolaji Abdulahi to impugn the integrity of the only man who tells it as it is.  Odigie’s body language does not show a man really committed to a change or to the tempo and ethos of the current administration.  Don’t be deceived – Nigerians, even in the remote parts know what is happening and can give correct assessment of the present political players.  Let these negative, unproductive people keep their peace.  I am not in politics, so are millions of Nigerians are not, but the truth must not be allowed to stand on its head.  Prof Sagay is certainly working for this administration and particularly for PMB.  Admitedly the professor talks loud and clear, but should that be enough to call him names when he labours for this country night and day?

     

    • Deji Fasuan MON; JP

    Ado Ekiti.

  • Govt: Attack on Ilori is assault on Osun

    Govt: Attack on Ilori is assault on Osun

    The Osun State government yesterday said the attack on its Commissioner for Regional Integration, Bola Ilori, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the All Progressives Congress (APC) restructuring summit is barbaric, reprehensible and an assault on the sovereignty of the state.

    Ilori was part of the delegation that presented Osun State’s position at the forum last Thursday.

    A statement by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, said hoodlums’ attack on Ilori was said to be political motivated and sponsored by a top-ranking Ondo State Executive Council (Exco) member.

    ?The statement noted that the attack was indirectly meted out to Osun State, which Ilori represented at the programme.

    It said: “The statement credited to Yemi Olowolabi that ‘what happened is sad but it is avoidable. It is apparent the Osun delegates came prepared with thugs, charms, ammunition and cudgels to an event, which was supposed to be an all-APC event’ was highly undiplomatic and not expected from a commissioner of that status.

    “This state of affairs was far from the truth as Olowolabi made people to believe. The Osun delegate simply went armed with their intellect to marshal the position of the state.

    “Why would a delegate ?go with dangerous objects to a conference on restructuring when Ondo and Osun are not at war or in confrontation over any issue?

    “Ilori represented the government and people of Osun State. Therefore, he deserved to be accorded the courtesy and respect due to the state. He deserved to be protected by the Government of Ondo as well as security agencies at the venue of the conference.

    “All these safety measures were not in place. Rather, Ilori was exposed? to attack by some top government official, who reportedly had an axe to grind with him over election matters in the state.

    “The attack on Ilori is barbaric and reprehensible, to say the least. It is no doubt an attack on the people and Government of Osun, which Ilori represented at the meeting. We condemn this affront on the people and Government of Osun, which the attack on our delegate signposted.”

  • Four killed in midnight terror attack in Delta

    A midnight gun attack on the Hausa community in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has left four persons dead.

    The Friday night attack by unknown people occurred at  Abraka market area of the city.

    The Nation gathered yesterday that the assailants who were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons stormed the settlement while residents were asleep, and started shooting indiscriminately.

    Dead were three men and a woman.

    Several other people were injured.

    A source who spoke to The Nation said the assailants also threw an explosive device into a mosque at Cable point.

    A resident was said to have picked up the bomb, and threw it into the river before it could explode.

    Witness said armed soldiers and policemen razed to the scene to give the invaders a chase.

    The security agents took the injured persons to the hospital for treatment and deposited the bodies of the dead at the mortuary.

    The State Police command confirmed the incident and said it had arrested two suspected IPOB members in connection with the incident.

    Police spokesman, DSP Andrew Aniamaka said detectives were on the trail of a third suspect simply known as “Last Burial”.

    Aniamaka said the suspects were arrested from their hiding place in the rafters of a major hotel in Abraka area in Asaba-the Delta State Capital.

    He said: “The Delta Police Command has in the early hours of Saturday, 16th September, 2017 arrested two suspects namely: Abraham Ndudi ‘m’, 24 years old from Kwale, Delta State and Okereke Ifeanyi ‘m’, 21 yrs from Ogbaru in Anambra State for their involvement in the dastardly shooting and killing of four persons at Abraka market, Asaba yesterday, Friday, September 15th, 2017 at about 10.45pm. The suspects, who were arrested from their hiding place on the ceiling of a major hotel in Abraka, Asaba, where they had fled into in their dire bid to escape arrest, are already helping the police in their investigation. Meanwhile, efforts are on top gear to arrest the third suspect, whose real name is yet unknown but simply identified as Last Burial”.

    The statement named those killed as Usman Abdullahi ‘m’, aged 45yrs, Ali Sidi ‘m’, aged 70yrs, Ibrahim Zubairu’m’ aged 30yrs and Hauwa (surname unknown), aged 22yrs.

    It said five injured victims are currently recuperating at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba

    The Police urged the public not “to panic or even contemplate any reprisal action as the law will surely take its course’.

     

  • Policeman killed, others injured as gunmen attack checkpoint

    A police sergeant was yesterday killed following an attack by gunmen at a checkpoint, at Kolo in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    The Nation learnt the hoodlums also injured a corporal, two civilians and carted away arms and ammunition.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred about 8a.m. and created confusion, as residents ran for safety.

    Sources said the four attackers were armed with guns, machetes and other weapons.

    The policemen were said to have flagged down a vehicle conveying the suspects during a stop-and-search and discovered illegally-bunkered kerosene.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The attackers came down from the vehicle and shot dead the policeman. They attacked the corporal with a machete.

    “The other two policemen ran into the station. The hoodlums chased them, but left later.”

    The police alleged in a statement that members of the community aided the gunmen to attack them.

    Spokesman Asinim Butswat confirmed that a sergeant was killed.

    He said the hoodlums stole firearms.

    Butswat said: “Bayelsa State Command wishes to use this medium to inform the public that on September 4, about 2030hrs, policemen on vehicular patrol at Kolo 2 in Ogbia Local Government were attacked by gunmen.

    “Following a tip-off, the policemen intercepted a vehicle conveying suspected militants.

    “Two of the suspects were arrested and handcuffed, but they resisted attempt by the policemen to search their vehicle. Members of the community gathered round the vehicle and rescued the hoodlums. Policemen were attacked.

    “The command lost a sergeant, arms and ammunition. A corporal and a civilian were injured. They are responding to treatment in hospital.

    “People are advised to assist the police to fight crime.”

  • Cultists attack four LASPOTECH students

    Cultists attack four LASPOTECH students

    FOUR students of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Ikorodu, were on Monday night injured during an attack by suspected cultists numbering about 20.

    The cultists attacked the students’ at night at their Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

    Most of the students were asleep when the attackers arrived.

    The students were identified as Masud Sanusi, Sherif Muhammad, Kazeem Adebayo and Salawu Jamiu.

    The Nation learnt that earlier in the day, the cultists visited the premises claiming to be looking for a rival cultist and some items he might have hidden there.

    When they did not find anything, they left but returned around 9pm and started attacking occupants of the hostile.

    According to the state’s MSSN President, Dr. Saheed Ashafa, the attack was to forcibly initiate a Muslim student.

    He said: “Our members in Ikorodu were attacked by cultists in their hostel last night (Monday). According to the report sent to me on Tuesday, they (the attackers) were actually trying to initiate a brother (Muslim student) in Ordinary National Diploma (OND) one (part-time).

    “So, they wanted to intimidate the MSSN hostel where he resides to get their way. I was informed that the cultists have been threatening him from school with the support of a lecturer.

    “They had access to the hostel at first by claiming that they are searching for their missing item but later said they were looking for a student who usually hangs around the hostile.

    “They left and around 9pm, returned numbering about 20 and started attacking our brothers. One was seriously injured and three others sustained minor injuries.

    “When I got there four of the suspects had been arrested and handed over to the school security. They were interrogated and released but the school management said they would investigate the matter and get all those involved.

    “They said they allowed them to go because they need to get all those who took part in the attack. They also said that some of the suspects already had previous cases hanging on their necks.”

    Irked by the attack, MSSN LASPOTECH chapter described the attack as “injustice of the greatest order”, which they would not condone.

    Meanwhile the police said 13 suspected members of the Eiye confraternity were arrested yesterday in Lekki.

    They were arrested around 12am, at Last Quarters, Jakande Estate, where they were having a meeting.

    It was gathered that detectives had earlier caught one Felix Balogun, who burgled the home of one Tunji in a bid to rob.

    He confessed to being a member of the cult group and led detectives to Last Quarters, where the others were apprehended.

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the suspects had been terrorising and robbing residents of Jakande Estate and Ilasan.

    “The said Balogun led a team of policemen to their criminal hideout at Last Quarters by Ontop Sand, Jakande Estate, where 12 suspects were rounded up in their meeting room.

    “They confessed to having guns and other dangerous weapons. Further investigation led to the recovery of weapons from their hideout.”