Tag: Gunmen

A Higher National Diploma (HND2) student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, identified simply as Prince, has been shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, around 1 a.m., along Abuja Street in Ikot Osurua, the community hosting the institution.

Prince, a final-year Computer Science student, was reportedly attacked in the presence of his girlfriend.

Eyewitnesses told The Nation that Prince had recently completed his final exams and was preparing to defend his project ahead of mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

Sources revealed that the gunmen stormed the compound, went directly to Prince’s room, and shot him in the abdomen, leaving him in a pool of blood.

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A neighbour, who requested anonymity, stated that the victim’s girlfriend raised the alarm, prompting neighbours to rush him to the hospital for treatment.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but the incident has heightened fears of cult-related violence in the area. Authorities have yet to comment on the matter or confirm any arrests related to the crime.

“The gunmen didn’t steal anything from the house. They did not even rob anybody in the compound. They just shot him and escaped.

“I met the victim yesterday at about 4 pm with his girlfriend. Both of them wore Facemask. Jovially, I asked them why they were dressed in that manner. We all laughed.

“The victim was very popular in the neighbourhood and a strong member of the choral group in his church. We are shocked by the way he died.”

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa DSP Timfon John said there were robbery and cult operations in the area where the victim’s compound was robbed while the students were shot dead.

“Information at our disposal is that there was robbery and Cult operations in the area. They invaded and robbed where they shot somebody who was later identified as a student. But the investigation is ongoing”, he said

A middle-aged man, whose identity remains unknown, was shot and killed by gunmen on Monday afternoon in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The tragic incident occurred around 3 p.m. at Anfani Junction along Ring Road.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, riding motorcycles, trailed the victim to the location before opening fire.

He said: “We heard gunshots. He was shot twice. At first, we thought it was a tire burst, but then we saw the young man lying in a pool of his blood.

“He was shot in the abdomen. They didn’t take his phone, but they took something from him that was likely to be money. We suspected that he must have been coming from a bank.

Another motorcycle rider who witnessed the scene said: “I first thought it was police pursuing Yahoo boys. But when he was shot, we all had to run for safety. By the time we realized they were killers, they had moved toward Anfani Road.

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When reached for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, CSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident. 

He stated that an investigation was underway and efforts were ongoing to ascertain the identity of the deceased.

Osifeso assured that updates would be provided as the investigation unfolds.

No fewer than 46 persons, including women and children, have been kidnapped in Gana town in Zamfara State.

According to residents, the attack took place around 10pm on Sunday.

No official confirmation yet about the attack from the authorities, but a traditional leader in the community, Alhaji Garba Haure, told Reuters that dozens of gunmen on motorbike  invaded the community  and set fire to several homes and businesses, residents said.

“We have 46 men, women and children that have been abducted altogether, and are still counting,” Haure said.

He said the quick intervention of government security forces prevented the assailants from setting the entire town ablaze, adding that no life was lost in the attack.

But another resident, Bala Harauma, told Reuters that the actual number  of abducted people could be higher.

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“Six people managed to escape while the armed gang moved the captives in the early hours of Monday,” Harauma said.

Another resident, Yusuf Mohammed, explained that the bandits set ablaze dozens of houses and silos containing foodstuff.

The Northwest  has been experiencing a severe security crisis, with terrorist and bandit groups wreaking havoc on local communities. These groups have been responsible for a multitude of violent attacks, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread kidnappings.