The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen invade farm settlements in Ondo

    Gunmen invade farm settlements in Ondo

    Gunmen yesterday invaded farm settlements at Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo, in Odigbo Local Government of Ondo State.

    Nobody died, as their mission, according to farmers in the settlement, was to scare them away, to allow further destruction of their cocoa plantations.

    The farmers, who protested in Akure, said the armed men shot into the air to scare them away, but they managed to apprehend one of them and handed him over to the Police Area Command in Ore.

    Chairman of the farmers, Mr. Abayomi Isinleye, alleged that the gunmen were hired by the firm, which the state government allotted their cocoa farm to.

    He alleged that the firm had been destroying their cocoa plantations despite a court order restraining it from taking over the land until the determination of the suit instituted by the farmers.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct councillor, others in Niger community

    Isinleye said some farmers fought back and snatched a pump action and an air rifle from the attackers.

    He said: “In flagrant disobedience to order of the court, in Suit No. HOR/14/2023-the company resumed further grading under heavy armament, despite an interim injunction.

    “In the course of the encounter, we pursued the attackers, who were shooting and we recovered two guns, motorcycles, some bullets and a cap from them belonging to men of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria, which were taken to the Police Area Command to lodge former complaint.

    Counsel for the farmers, Tope Temokun, called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to stop the company’s desperation to dislodge the farmers from their farmland at all costs, in disregard of order of court and pendency of suit.

    Police spokesman SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya confirmed the arrest of one suspect believed to be one of the armed men, but said investigation was on. 

  • Gunmen inavde farm settlements in Ondo

    Gunmen inavde farm settlements in Ondo

    Gunmen have invaded farm settlements at the Oluwa Forest Reserve in Odigbo, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo state.

    They didn’t anybody as their mission, according to farmers in the settlement, was to scare them to pave way for further destruction of their cocoa plantations.

    The farmers, who protested to Akure, said the armed men shot sporadically into the air to scare them but they managed to apprehend one of the them who was handed him over to Police Area Command in Ore.

    Chairman of the farmers, Mr. Abayomi Rotimi Isinleye, alleged that the gunmen were hired by the firm the State Government alloted their cocoa farm to.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct councillor, others in Niger community

    Isinleye said the firm has been destroying their cocoa despite a court order restraining it from taking over the land until the determination of the suit instituted by the farmers.

    Lawyer to the farmers, Tope Temokun, called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to stop the company’s desperation to dislodging the farmers from their farmlands at all costs in disregard of order of court and pendency of suit.

    Ondo Police spokesman, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya confirmed the arrest of one suspect believed to be one of the armed men but said investigation was ongoing.

  • Gunmen abduct councillor, others in Niger community

    Gunmen abduct councillor, others in Niger community

    Gunmen have killed one person and abducted several others, including a supervisory councillor at Ijah Gwari ward in Tafa Local Government of Niger State.

    The incident occurred last Friday at about 8 pm.

    Read Also: FG, labour to meet on 15-point MoU implementation

    The Chairman of Tafa Local Government, Danladi Iya, who confirmed the incident, said scores were kidnapped and three people were shot, with two sustaining injuries, while one died immediately. He added that a member of a vigilance group was also shot at Gyedna community, Garam ward.

    The chairman expressed concern about the safety of residents of the local government.

    He implored the state government to intervene.

  • Gunmen behead policeman in Aba

    Gunmen behead policeman in Aba

    Gunmen on Thursday attacked police operatives on stop- and- search operation along Umuode/Isiahia in Osisioma Ngwa local government area of Abia State.

    Sources said the incident, which happened around 4pm, threw Umuode community into panic as over possible police invasion of the community.

    One of the operatives was beheaded by the gunmen.

    Other members of the team were said to have run to safety with their ammunition as the gunmen made away with the beheaded policeman’s head, abandoning the other parts of the body in the car.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill 58-year-old mother in Gombe

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen trailed the police team, which has been operating in the community recently.

    It was learnt that the team was attached to the Eziama Police Division, raising questions over the legality of their operation in the community considering that the area is not under their jurisdiction.

    An Assistant Superintendent of Police was few months beheaded along East Street in Aba South local government area by some gunmen.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Maureen Chinaka did not answer several calls placed to her.

  • Gunmen abduct three in Kwara community

    Gunmen abduct three in Kwara community

    Gunmen have invaded Kwara community and abducted three persons. The incident happened early this week in Ora, Ayetoro community, Ekiti local government area.

    Eyewitnesses said that the gunmen were nine in number with four of them wearing masks.

    The account added they stormed the area wielding AK-47 rifles and fired gunshots sporadically.

    The abductors were said to have also attacked the palace of the traditional ruler in the community, Oba C.O Odeyemi and burgled into the shop of his wife, Olori Odeyemi, carting away some items and cash.

    Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chair of the local government, Mr Kayode Bayode, confirmed the incident.

    Read Also: Kwara Gov exemplary in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, says FG, Global Fund

    Bayode said that local vigilantes had been empowered and were working with the police and other security agencies to rescue the victims.

    “They only destroyed the palace of our traditional rulers and looted indomie, spaghetti and other items and cash from his wife’s shop because they were not around.

    “We have supplied the vigilantes with weapons and ammunitions for them to be able to confront the kidnappers.

    “I am very optimistic that they will be rescued before the end of tomorrow (Friday),”
    he added.

    Kwara Police Command spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident.

    He said:“Security operatives working with vigilantes and local hunters, have been deployed to the bush for a possible rescue of the victims.”

  • Bandits kill three, abduct 50 in Zamfara community attack

    Bandits kill three, abduct 50 in Zamfara community attack

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted 50 people, including a district head, women and children in an attack on Bagega, a mining village in Zamfara State.

    It was gathered that the bandits killed three others on Tuesday when they invaded the village, shot indiscriminately and set several houses ablaze.

    The latest event is one of the many kidnapping and killing in the state by terrorists.

    Read Also: Bandits’ abduction of female students

    Villagers involved in mining in the region, who confirmed the incident, said the armed assailants arrived at the village on motorcycles, shooting into the air and setting houses ablaze.

    The Village Head, Malam Abubakar Uba, told reporters that assailants abducted the district head and subsequently kidnapped dozens of other villagers.

    “They stormed the village on motorcycles and their first stop was the district’s head’s residence. They took him and three members of his household away before they entered the town and unleashed more harm,” he said.

  • Gunmen abduct Kwara lawmaker’s wife, two children

    Gunmen abduct Kwara lawmaker’s wife, two children

    Gunmen have allegedly abducted the wife and two children of a Kwara State lawmaker, Lawal Soliu.

    The legislator represents Ipaiye/Malete/Olooru Constituency, Moro Local Government, in the House of Assembly.

    Read Also; Edun: 84m living in poverty not acceptable to Tinubu

    The abductors, armed with AK-47 rifles, were said to have invaded the home of the lawmaker around 1am on Monday and shot into the air before kidnapping the victims.

    The source said their whereabouts remained unknown.

  • Gunmen flee as police foil operation in Anambra community

    Gunmen flee as police foil operation in Anambra community

    Police in Anambra State have foiled a planned robbery operation along Ebenebe-Achalla Road in Awka North Local Government Area.

    Anambra police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Tuesday, said the feat was recorded by Men of Rapid Response Squad, while on anti-kidnapping patrol.

    He said two AK-47 Rifles loaded with several rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and shells of expended rounds were recovered from the robbers.

    According to him: “Men of Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu of Anambra State while on Anti Kidnapping Patrol were tipped off by a public spirited citizen who saw two gun men being conveyed on a motorcycle along the road.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill Civil Defence personnel, abduct one person in Bauchi

    “The Operatives went in pursuit of the gang and encountered them where they had positioned to rob mororists.

    “On sighting the approaching Operatives they tried to engage them in a shootout but the battle-ready Operatives quickly overwhelmed them forcing them to abandon their weapons and fled into the bushy environ.

    “Operatives combed the Bush and recovered two AK-47 Rifles loaded with several rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and shells of expended rounds.”

    Ikenga further noted that the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, while praising the team for their gallantry, urged them to step up proactive operations in that part of the State until all criminal elements tormenting citizens were completely flushed out.

  • Gunmen kill Civil Defence personnel, abduct one person in Bauchi

    Gunmen kill Civil Defence personnel, abduct one person in Bauchi

    Suspected gunmen have killed a personnel of the State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the Burra District of Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    The gunmen also attacked a Fulani settlement known as Rawul close to Gamji village where they abducted one person.

    The incident was said to have occurred last Thursday.

    Read Also: Georgieva: IMF mediating to resolve debt crisis between debtor and creditor nations

    Confirming the incident, the Caretaker Chairman of Ningi LGA, Ibrahim Zubairu Mato said the NSCDC personnel who were part of the security agents in the area were killed at Gamji village.

    He said: “The gunmen abducted one man, a Fulani, and killed a security personnel, one, Inspector Haruna Mohammed when he went to ease himself outside the duty post and went away with his gun, a G-3 model.”

    When contacted, the Spokesman of the Police Command PRO, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakili simply replied, “Contact NSCDC PRO, please.”

    The PRO of the State Command of the NSCDC, DSC Ibrahim Abubakar Gabdo, also did not respond to messages sent to him nor did he pick up several calls put across to him.

  • Gunmen kidnapped four varsity students in Nasarawa

    Gunmen kidnapped four varsity students in Nasarawa

    Four students staying off-campus of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), have been kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

    The incident, according to a source occurred at Angwan Kare area of Keffi on the evening of Monday, October 9, around 10:30 pm.

    This is coming barely 24 hours, after former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of NSUK, Professor Haruna Ayuba Kuje, was kidnapped on Sunday, October 8.

    The affected students are Rahila Hanya (SLT), Josephine Gershon (Computer Science), Rosemary Samuel (Business Administration), and Goodness Samuel, of the Geography Department of the institution.

    Senator Solomon Timmy, the student union, confirmed the sad incident and added that they are all 100-level students.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Gunmen abduct Katsina varsity students

    The SUG Secretary-General, Comrade Riwonga Lucky Ali, also confirmed the unfortunate incident in a statement issued on Tuesday morning.

    He however urged students to remain calm as efforts are in place to secure their release unhurt, also called on them to be on alert and report any suspicious movement for swift response.

    In the meantime, the Chairman of NSUK Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Comrade Samuel Alu, said in a statement that Professor Kuje has been released early hours of today and has since re-united with his family.

    The former DVC was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Sunday night at his private residence in Keffi.