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Tag: David Misal

  • Four feared dead in fresh Jukun/Tiv clashes in Taraba

    At least four persons were feared dead with several houses burnt in a fresh communal clash between Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba on Monday.

    But the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) could not immediately confirm the number from the Police as the Command’s Public Relations Officer,  Mr David Misal, did not respond to a call and the SMS inquiry put across to his line.

    However, a witness, Jerry Luka, told NAN that trouble started in Kente Village in the evening when youths from both ethnic groups clashed over a misunderstanding.

    “The misunderstanding led to the killing of two people in Kente and this morning two others were killed around General Hospital in Wukari.

    “The argument started over cultural heritage issues between the two tribes which have festered for some time now,” he said.

    Read Also: Police seek amnesty for criminals in Taraba

    Chairman of Wukari Local Government Council,  Mr Daniel Adi, who confirmed the outbreak of the crisis, said two people were killed and houses burnt.

    According to him,  trouble started on Monday when some some Tiv kinsmen were prevented from bringing goods to Kente Market.

    “One woman who defied their order and brought yams to the market for sale was molested;  the action sparked reprisal.

    “I have since reached out to the Chairman of Ukum Local Government in the neighbouring Benue and the Security Adviser to the Benue Governor and we are making efforts to stop the escalation of the crisis.

    “I have visited the area where the crisis started with the Chairman of Ukum from Benue and we have all agreed to talk to our people to give peace a chance,” he said.

    NAN reports that commercial activities have been halted at the popular Wukari Yam Market as commodities were looted and the place deserted after traders fled to safer zones.(NAN)

    NAN

  • Gunmen kidnap Taraba CPS, foreigner

    The Chief Press Secretary of the Governor of Taraba State Hassan Mijinyawa was on Wednesday abducted by gunmen in Gashaka Local Government area of the state.

    It was gathered that Mijinyawa’s driver and a foreigner were also kidnapped although they were in separate vehicles and heading towards different directions.

    Police spokesman, David Misal, said the incident occurred around 9am along Nyibango, Bali-Gashaka High Way.

    The area, thickly forested, has become a den for armed robbery operations.

    The deputy press secretary, Iliya Bekyu Akweh, who spoke on telephone from Sardauna that Mijinyawa was on his way to the Mambilla Plateau to join his principal when he stumbled on the gunmen.

    The government has not yet issued any official statement on the incident.

    Governor Ishaku and other officials had left Jalingo for Sardauna for political campaigns since Tuesday.

    The media chief was kidnapped with his driver, Hussein, who was driving their bus marked: Taraba State Government House Press Crew, with registration no: TRGH 03.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct 70-year-old retiree in Delta

    According to police intelligence report, one Ogundele Olutosi of Broadhurst Avenue Ilford IG39 DL London, who, in his case, was coming from Sardauna, was also kidnapped.

    Police said Olutosi was one of the passengers in a vehicle marked: JAL 631 XA Picnic, ash colour, coming from Sardauna, driven by one Saidu Adamu.

    Some passengers who were lucky to escape sustained injuries and their valuables were carted away.

    The wife of the kidnapped press secretary, Hajiya Sekina Mijinyawa, was all tears speaking to newsmen.

    “My husband left home for Gembu, Sardauna local government area, at about 7am today. Later in morning, I received the sad news of his abduction,” she said.

    She said: “The kidnappers should temper justice with mercy and release my husband unhurt.”

    She also passionately appealed to government and security operatives to tread extra legitimate paths to rescue her husband and the other victims unhurt.

    One of the victims who narrowly escaped the scene, Yusuf Garba, said: “Apart from the governor’s CPS, a foreign expatriate who was on his way to one of the Internally Displaced Persons camps was also kidnapped.”

    Garba, who disclosed the gunmen took over the Bali-Gashaka highway for several hours, narrated the CPS and the other victims were dispossessed of their belongings before they were led away into the bush by their abductors.

  • Gunmen shoot Taraba NUT Chairman

    Taraba State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Peter Julius, has been shot by unknown gunmen.

    Police said he was shot in Garin Dogo village of Lau local government area.

    Police spokesperson, David Misal, described the gun assault as “an assassination attempt on the life of the union leader.”

    Read Also:Gunmen kidnap six Osun College of Tech workers

    Misal, an ASP, told reporters that Julius is in a critical condition, receiving treatment at the specialist hospital in Jalingo -the Taraba State capital.

    Misal disclosed that the NUT chairman was with three other relatives before his attackers opened fire on their moving vehicle.

    The police command said it is investigating the attack to punish the perpetrators.

    “We received the report of assassination attempt on Mr. Peter Julius who is the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Taraba state.

    “As we speak, he is receiving treatment at the specialist hospital in Jalingo. He sustained gunshot injuries after his assailants opened fire on his moving car.

    “We are currently trying to establish the rationale behind the attack. We have gone all out to make sure we bring the perpetrators of the act to book.

    “Let me use this medium to call on members of the public who may have useful information to come forth with it, while we assure the good people of the state of our unrelenting commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the people at all times, especially during this Yuletide season,” Misal said.

  • Police vow to arrest, prosecute killers of ASP, others in Taraba

    The Police Command in Taraba State has vowed to arrest and prosecute the gunmen who killed three police officers and two members of the local vigilante in Bujum Kasuwa village, Lau Local Government Area, on Thursday.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP David Misal, stated this in an interview in Jalingo on Friday.

    A team of five policemen led by an ASP was on its way in response to a distress call following a report of sporadic shooting in the area when they were attacked.

    Misal explained that three of the five police officers and two members of the vigilante group were killed, while two guns and ammunition were carted away by the assailants.

    He gave the name of the ASP who led the team as Kilobas Iliya.

    Iliya was also a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the force.

    “While on their way, the team came under an ambush by gunmen, leading to the death of the DCO, two other officers and two members of the vigilante group.

    Read Also: Police arrest 11 suspected cultists

    “The assailants also made away with one AK47 Rifle and a service pistol.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Mr David Akinremi, has now ordered the deployment of a strong team led by the DCP in charge of investigation and intelligence, DCP Musa Baba, to the area.

    “The team is to investigate the incident and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to justice.

    “The commissioner wishes to extend his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen heroes and warned all criminal elements with the guts to attack Police officers to brace up for a battle that they have never had,” Misal said.

    He said the commissioner had also called on the public to avail the force with any useful information that would lead to the apprehension of those that perpetrated the killings.

     

    NAN

  • Police vow to arrest killers of ASP, others in Taraba

    The Police Command in Taraba has vowed to arrest and prosecute the gunmen who killed three police officers and two members of the local vigilante in Bujum Kasuwa village, Lau Local Government Area, on Thursday.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP David Misal, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo on Friday.

    NAN reports that a team of five policemen led by an ASP was on its way in response to a distress call following a report of sporadic shooting in the area when they were attacked.

    Misal explained that three of the five police officers and two members of the vigilante group were killed, while two guns and ammunition were carted away by the assailants.

    He gave the name of the ASP who led the team as Kilobas Iliya.

    Iliya was also a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the force.

    “While on their way, the team came under an ambush by gunmen, leading to the death of the DCO, two other officers and two members of the vigilante group.

    “The assailants also made away with one AK47 Rifle and a service pistol.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Mr David Akinremi, has now ordered the deployment of a strong team led by the DCP in charge of investigation and intelligence, DCP Musa Baba, to the area.

    “The team is to investigate the incident and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to justice.

    “The commissioner wishes to extend his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen heroes and warned all criminal elements with the guts to attack Police officers to brace up for a battle that they have never had,” Misal said.

    He said the commissioner had also called on the public to avail the force with any useful information that would lead to the apprehension of those that perpetrated the killings.

  • Taraba police commissioner attacked, scores feared killed

    The Commissioner of police in Taraba State, David Akinremi, was on Monday attacked by irate youths.

    He was stoned in the head.

    The incident occurred at Tudun Wada area of Jalingo in the morning.

    The police chief was rushed to the hospital where he was treated and later discharged.

    Police spokesman, David Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the commissioner was in good health, as at press time. Although, he did not pick call when The Nation rang his telephone line.

    Misal told reporters in Jalingo -the Taraba State capital, that the police commissioner and his men had gone to Tudun Wada to restore normalcy, following reports of youths unrest, “only for him to be stoned in the head.”

    Several arrests were made.

    Unconfirmed reports suggested that some of the youths were killed by the police, which Misal denied knowledge of.

    The police spokesman said: “On Monday, some irate youths armed with dangerous weapons including cutlasses, axes and other objects started disturbing the peace of residents around Tudun Wada and Gada Boboji areas of Jalingo town.

    “Our men were deployed there and normalcy returned. However, this morning we got reports that the boys had come out again in large numbers brandishing these weapons and the situation was so bad that the commissioner of police decided to go there himself with other officers.

    “In the course of addressing the youths, to calm them down, he was stoned in the head.

    “He was immediately rushed to the hospital and treated of the injury. For now, he has been discharged and is taking his rest at home.

    “As we speak, a serious operation in going on there to calm the situation and forestall further breakdown of law and order in the area”.

    Read Also: Taraba killings: Police arrest four suspects

    Misal warned that the command would never sit back and watch people take the law into their own hands and unleash mayhem on the people.

    “I can assure you that the command would make sure that normalcy is completely maintained in the area and the perpetrators of this crime be are brought to book. Several arrests have been made already and thorough investigation would be carried out.

    “Let me use this opportunity to call on members of the public to always report any suspicious elements to the police, with assurance that their identities would be safeguarded.

    “The police in the state operate with the best professional practice and would not tolerate anyone assaulting officers who are making huge sacrifices to ensure the protection of lives and property of citizens”, Misal said.

  • Nine killed in Taraba attack, say police

    The Police Command in Taraba on Wednesday confirmed the death of nine persons in early morning attacks on Tutuwa community in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP David Misal, told newsmen that a yet-to-be identified armed militia must have carried out the deadly attack.

    Misal said that Alhaji Aliyu Tafida, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the command, and heads of other security agencies in the state had already moved in to assess the situation.

    Mr Rimansikwe Karma, the Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, while also confirming the attack to newsmen, added that three people were injured.

    Karma said that the attackers rounded up the village at about 5 a.m. and launched the attack when members of the community were going for early morning prayers.

    “Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid-week service and most of them were on their way, when the armed militia attacked them.

    “Nine persons were killed and three others sustained life threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Takum General Hospital.

    “The unfortunate thing is that the attackers left before the arrival of security personnel,” he said.

  • Rain storm kills 5, injures Catholic priest, others in Jalingo

    No fewer than five people were killed and many others sustained various degrees of injuries by windstorm in Jalingo, Taraba State on Saturday morning.

    The windstorm also destroyed several houses, offices, schools, police officers Mess, worship places among others.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state ASP David Misal confirmed the incident to our reporters in Jalingo.

    “Yes we can confirm that four people died opposite the Specialist Hospital, Jalingo when a mast fell on them due to the rain storm, ” he said.

    He said with the level of destruction, it is possible that more people might be affected.

    Dr Dashe Dasogot,  Chairman Medical Advisory Committee of the Taraba Specialist Hospital, Jalingo told our reporter that five corpses were brought to the morgue of the hospital after the rainstorm.

    Dasogot, who showed our reporter the affected buildings and trees in the hospital, added that two persons with various degrees of injuries were receiving treatment at the emergency unit of the hospital.

    “Four of the dead were from a GLO mast that fell opposite the gate of our hospital here and one other was brought from the town,” he said.

    An eyewitness, Mrs Henrietta Anthony, told our reporter that three of her cousins, Aisha Useni, Felicia Istifanus and Istiah James, were among the four people that were killed when a telecommunication mast fell on them during the rainstorm.

    Anthony, who operates a restaurant, opposite the gate of the hospital explained that her cousins left the house early for work in the restaurant when the incident occurred.

    “They finished cooking and were already to sell food to customers around 6:00 am, when the rainstorm fell the mast behind the restaurant.

    “Three of them, including a customer, a driver to the state Commissioner for Water Resource, Mr Emmanuel Gowon, who came to buy food died instantly.

    “Miss Konah Danjuma, who was also in the shop, sustained shoulder and head injuries,” she said.

    The Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo,  Rev. Fr. John Jerome, also told NAN that the Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy, Taraba State University,  Jalingo,  Rev. Fr. Pontianus Jaffla and seven university students sustained injuries when the temporary shelter serving as church fell on them.

    Jerome said that the priest and students of the University were in the morning Mass when the church collapsed due to a heavy storm that accompanied the early morning rain.

    “Rev. Fr. Pontianus sustained a head injury and was treated at the Federal Medical Centre Jalingo and discharged.

    “One of the students was also treated and discharged but the remaining six are still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo,” he said.

    the first rain in Jalingo two weeks ago was also accompanied by rainstorm and destroyed many property, especially at the Taraba State University.

  • 10 die in Taraba tanker auto crash

    Ten persons were reportedly feared dead in an auto crash involving a petrol tanker and a trailer in Zing town, Zing local government area of Taraba State.

    20 others who sustained injuries in the accident are receiving treatment at the General Hospital Zing and the Federal Medical Center Jalingo.

    According to eyewitnesses, a patrol tanker, loaded with premium motor spirit (PMS), heading to Yola, Adamawa State, lost brake and crashed into a trailer in Zing town on a market day.

    The tanker got into flames which engulfed many traders who were in the market for the purpose of buying or selling.

    Many buildings, vehicles and motorcycles, including other valuables, were burnt in the tanker blaze.

    The latest auto crash is coming three weeks after a truck crushed the Taraba State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Ben Ubeh to death in the same town.

    An eye-witness, Nyanshako Ishaya, said: “a tanker, traveling at high speed, lost control when its automated break system (ABS) failed. He rammed into a moving trailer and immediately bursted into flames.”

    “I saw a man riding on a motorcycle in front of the tanker telling people to clear off the road, saying the tanker had lost its brakes and was unable to decelerate. Within a blink of an eye,  the tanker crashed into a moving trailer.

    “An expectant mother and three others burnt in the inferno. I saw them burning but I could do nothing to help them. The fire was too much and I had to run for my life.

    Ishaya could not ascertain the number of casualties, but said “many people died in that accident, which happened in the heart of the town on a market day when people were busy buying and selling.”

    Police spokesman David Misal, an ASP, confirmed the incident.

    Misal, who gave an up-date on the death toll, said: “We recovered eight dead bodies after the accident. Later in the evening, we discovered a burnt corpse inside one of the vehicles and this morning again, one of the injured persons died on his way to federal medical centre Jalingo.

    “So, all together, we have recorded 10 deaths from the accident. I can also confirm to you that several houses and shops were burnt, because the accident happened in a densely populated area,  more so that it was on a market day,” he said.

  • Several people killed in police, miners clash in Taraba

    Several people killed in police, miners clash in Taraba

    An attempt by policemen to disperse illegal miners from a mining site in Taraba State turned bloody on Thursday after the suspects launched a violent resistance.

    Residents of Mayo Sina area of Mambilla in Sardauna local government area of the state claimed several people were killed.

    The police confirmed one death and said a policeman, one of those deployed to dislodge the illegal miners, was missing.

    Thousands of miners have been operating at the site for more than 10 years.

    A team of policemen was said to have stormed the area on Thursday, destroying make shift structures which served as shelter for the suspects.

    Various items being used as tools by the suspects to extract precious stones from the ground were similarly confiscated by the police.

    Angered by the police action, the illegal miners set ablaze the equipment of the company to whom the site was allocated by government.

    The police, apparently in response, opened fire.

    The spokesman for the state Police Command, David Misal, confirmed the clash on Friday.

    He said a policeman went missing as a result of the clash.

    He said the police had on Monday directed the illegal miners to vacate the site within 48 hours, but refused to comply with the order.