The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen kill

  • Gunmen kill APC ward chairman in Imo

    Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Logara/Umuohiagu Ward, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, Ifeanyi Ozoemena.

    It was gathered that Ozoemena was killed at home on Tuesday night after he presided over a party meeting.

    A community leader, Chief Martin Opara, who confirmed the killing, said the community was mourning.

    According to him, the community had never witnessed such an incident before. He urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the killers. He said: “This murder is strange to our community. Reports said he was shot severally until he died. We have met with the Eze-in-Council, and sent a delegation to the DPO requesting that the killers be arrested immediately.

    “Logara community is known for peace and we won’t jeopardise that. The deceased finished hosting a meeting of APC members after which gunmen, operating in a jeep, came and requested to see him. On sighting him, they shot him severally before they left.”

    Commissioner of Police Dasuki Galadanchi, who confirmed the murder, said the police have evacuated the body.

    He said: “Investigation is on. The gunmen came in an SUV jeep and shot him dead. The incident happened at a time we were busy with the preparations for Saturday’s elections.

    “We have visited the scene and evacuated the body. We have done the preliminary investigations, including taking of photographs, and we have launched an extensive investigation into the killing. We will get the killers.”

  • Gunmen kill APC chair in Benue

    Gunmen have reportedly killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, Mr. Boniface Okloho.

    The Nation learnt that Okloho was killed while returning from a party function.

    APC governorship candidate Mr. Emmanuel Jime condemned the killing.

    He urged security operatives to arrest the suspects.

    Jime expressed sorrow about the gruesome murder of the chieftain.

    He sued for peace and brotherliness in politics in the state.

    Jime said: “I condemn in very strong terms, this unnecessary politics of violence and bloodshed that has claimed the life of Mr. Okloho, our beloved brother and staunch member of our great party in Ohimini.

    “Okloho was one of the committed leaders of our party in Zone C. We regret that he lost his life in such a horrible circumstance, in the service of his state and his party. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

    APC Chairman Comrade Abba Yaro condemned the murder, calling on security men to fish out the perpetrators.

    He described the killing of Okloho as sad and unfortunate.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamu confirmed the killing.

    He said the police commissioner has ordered investigation into the murder to bring the perpetrators to book.

    Yamu called for calm.

  • Gunmen kill policeman in Edo

    Gunmen have killed a policeman, Oisa Monday Ehigie, in Edo State.

    The deceased was the police orderly to the Chairman of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, Dr. Eric Osayande.

    He was shot dead last Saturday night at Nomayo junction, along Upper Sokponba Road, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government.

    It was learnt that his killing might be connected to the cult war in Benin City in which several persons had been killed.

    Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosun, who confirmed the incident, said he had visited the bereaved family.

    He said efforts were on to arrest the killers.

    Last week, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Owan West Constituency, Michael Ohio Ezomo, was kidnapped. His police orderly was killed.

    The abductors are yet to contact the victim’s family.

  • Gunmen kill, rape, abduct woman

    Nando community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State was thrown into mourning at the weekend, following the killing of a middle-aged man by gunmen.

    The gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, reportedly shot the deceased, Maxwell Ezeudu, while he and his mother and sister were returning from a church vigil at Igbariam.

    The Nation learnt that the deceased was going home at Aguleri in company of his mother and sister when they rammed into a roadblock mounted by the gunmen, who laid ambush for them.

    A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deceased nearly escaped from the gunmen before he was shot dead.

    He said: “On getting to Nando, a neighbouring community, they rammed into a roadblock mounted by the gunmen and their vehicle suddenly stopped after it veered off the road.”

    The resident said the gunmen allowed the aged mother to go, while they raped the deceased’s sister and kidnapped her.

    The Nation gathered that the kidnappers later demanded N350,000 ransom after establishing contact with her relations.

    Contacted, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed pleaded for time to reach the DPO for confirmation.

    “I will find out from the DPO please,” he said.

  • Gunmen kill moneychanger after snatching $80,000 from him

    •Police launch manhunt for killers

    The police are investigating the killing of a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Victor Thorpe, in Lagos by assailants who snatched his company’s $80,000 (N28.8m).

    The incident occurred at 11am on Friday when the BDC operator went to his company’s vault, said to be at LEGICO building, on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, to pick up the money.

    It was gathered that the assailants, who were on a motorcycle, double-crossed the commercial bus he boarded, went inside, snatched the money and shot him in the chest at close range.

    According to a source, Thorpe dropped his car for fear of being trailed, not knowing that his killers were already monitoring him.

    A family friend said the killers went straight for him inside the bus.

    She said: “They demanded the money, which he released. After that, they shot him in the chest at close range.

    “No other person was attacked in the bus. There were other passengers. He was a very humble and kind man and a good Christian. It is painful that he died like that. He was in his early 50s. His children are still young. The oldest is about 15 years old.

    “He was rushed to the Military Hospital on Awolowo road where he died. The incident occurred by EcoBank/LEGICO building on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. He was on his way to his office from the vault.”

    She wondered why the assailants killed him after collecting the money.

    “Why did the robbers kill him? He did not struggle with them. Why did they not take the money and leave him? I hope that the police would investigate this case and arrest all those behind it,” she said.

    The matter has been transferred to the command headquarters in Ikeja according to Lagos State Police spokesman Chike Oti, who said seven suspects had been arrested.

    In another case, gunmen killed a female Bank customer at Suru-Alaba shortly after making some withdrawals.

    The victim, Uchechi Njoku, was said to have been shot on the head by two armed robbers who accosted her as soon as she left the bank.

    Oti said six suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

     

  • Gunmen kill five in fresh Plateau attack, as President visits

    Gunmen kill five in fresh Plateau attack, as President visits

    Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen killed five persons in Dantako and Nzharuvo communities in Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State even with President Muhammadu Buhari on a visit to the state.

    ASP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Jos.

    According to him, the incident that occurred on Thursday night left scores severely injured and many properties destroyed.

    “Yesterday (Thursday), gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked and killed four Irigwe persons at Dantanko and a Fulaniman at Nzharuvo communities in Miango district of Bassa local government.

    “The deceased persons are identified as Emmanuel Joseph, Christopher Joseph, Peace Joseph, Henry Audu and Samuel Isah.

    “Samuel Isah has since been buried, but the remaining four are deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital’s (JUTH) mortuary,” he said.

    The PPRO explained that those injured, including a four-year old child were receiving treatment at Enos hospital, Miango.

    He said investigations were ongoing to unravel those behind the dastardly act.

    Buhari returned to Abuja yesterday at the end of his two day visit to Plateau.

  • Gunmen kill two Nigerians in South Africa

    Gunmen kill two Nigerians in South Africa

    Two Nigerians have been shot dead in South Africa, the association of Nigerians living in that country – The Nigeria Union in South Africa – said yesterday.

    According to the organisation, the Nigerians both of them from Anambra State, were killed in the Western Cape Province.

    Chairman of the Union‘s chapter in the province Mr. Mike Ibitoye  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Cape Town that the Nigerians were  shot by unidentified assailants.

    Giving the account of how they were killed, Ibitoye said: “Mr Ernest Ughakwesili, 42, a native of Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, was shot in a night club by gunmen at Strand Area of Cape Town on Sunday.

    “The assailants escaped after the shooting and the victim died before being rushed to the hospital

    ”The second victim, Chimezie Oranusi, 26, from Oba town in Anambra State, was  shot with a friend in a car at Delst area of Cape Town.

    “The friend is a South African and is still in the hospital receiving treatment.

    “The incidents have been reported to the police and  the national secretariat of the union,” he said.

    The chairman said that the motive behind the shootings had not been ascertained, adding that the police had commenced investigation.

    The Secretary of the union, Mr Adetola Olubajo, said the national secretariat had received the report of the killings.

    We have received report about the killing of two Nigerians in Cape Town, Western Cape Province of South Africa.

    “The union`s chapter in the province is handling the matter while the national body has reported the incident to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.

    “We urge Nigerians in South Africa to remain law abiding. We also appeal to the Federal Government to continue to  protect the welfare of our people here,” he said.

  • Gunmen kill Benue varsity teacher

    A lecturer with the University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State, Aondosoo Winifred Tondo, was killed by gunmen, yesterday.

    The university’s Information and Communication Officer, Mr. Suemo Shagba, said about four gunmen stormed Tondo’s home in the university staff quarters about 4 am, and shot him in presence of his wife. They did not touch anything else, fuelling speculations that the murder was politically-motivated.

    Tondo was rushed to Myom Hospital, and later transferred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, where he died.

    Shagba added that the deceased wanted to run for the chairmanship of Buruku Local Government.

    Police spokesperson Paul Yamu could not be reached for confirmation.

  • Gunmen kill 70 in Benue

    Seventy people were killed in a dawn attack yesterday in Benue State by gunmen, believed to be armed Fulani mercenaries.

    They invaded the Egba settlement of Agatu Local Government, killing mostly women and children.

    But Police Commissioner Hyacinth Dagala, who confirmed the attacks, gave the figure of death so far confirmed as 30.

    The member representing Apa/Agatu in the House of Assembly, Audu Sule, said over 60 bodies had been evacuated.

    He said the attackers usually crossed over from Nasarawa State to kill the people without any provocation.

    The lawmaker said the survivors were taking refuge in Obagaji/Ogbalu, the headquarters of Agatu Local Government.

    A resident, who fled the area, gave his name as Oche and claimed he narrowly escaped the onslaught.

    He told our correspondent that the casualty figure might increase to 100, stressing that he witnessed the recovery of about 80 bodies.

    Oche said most of the bodies recovered were those of women, children and the aged, adding that almost all the houses in the settlement were burnt by the attackers.

    A female lawyer and activist, Sonia Ajoko, appealed to the government to send relief materials to ameliorate the suffering as well as declare a mourning day for the victims.

    She said: “The loss is monumental especially of what we hear of women and children. I urge the government at all levels to send relief materials as well as declare a day to mourn and commiserate with the bereaved families.”

  • Gunmen kill businessman

    A businessman, Chief Bright Igwegbu, was yesterday killed by unknown gunmen in the Mile 2 area in Lagos.

    Police sources said some arrests have already been made, adding that it was too early to give details of the incident as investigations were on-going.

    The Nation also gathered from police sources that the mission of his killers has not been ascertained as investigations have been left open, adding that they were working on finding out if his killers were armed robbers or assassins.

    The late Igwegbu, popularly known as Aku or Bruzel, who hailed from Imo State, was reportedly driving in his grey-coloured ML 450 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), when his assailants emerged from nowhere and shot him in the neck and head.

    It was learnt that Igwegbu, a graduate of Economics from the Ogun State University, whose family is based in Huston Texas, was billed to visit his family next week.

    Before the tragic incident, Igwegbu, on two occasions, had close shave with death. The first incident, according to family sources, occurred six weeks ago, after some gunmen suspected to be robbers attempted to attack him. But he reportedly managed to escape.

    The second incident reportedly occurred three weeks ago after he was involved in a fatal motor accident.

    Family sources said: “Three weeks ago, he went to a pharmacy in FESTAC Town to get some drugs and he was inside his car when another car hit his vehicle. He escaped death narrowly.”

    Back in Huston Taxas, news of the tragic incident was reportedly broken to his family by some close friends.

    At the deceased’s 1st Avenue, ‘V’ Close, FESTAC home, some sympathisers were discussing his death.

    The late Igwegbu was described as a willing benefactor. His house was under lock yesterday.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braid,  a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) could not be reached for comments.