The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen kill three in Plateau – Police

    Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed 3 persons in Dong Community of Jos North Area of Plateau.

    ASP. Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state confirmed the incident to our reporter on Friday in Jos.

    According to him, the ugly incident which occurred Thursday night, left some people injured.

    “Yesterday at about 7 p.m., we got information that gunmen invaded Dong community of Jos North and killed three persons.

    “We immediately mobilised our personnel to the area we were able to bring the situation under control.

    “Our men were also stationed in the area to forestall further attacks and break down of law and order,” Tyopev said.

    Read also: Gunmen kill two varsity students in Nasarawa

    The PPRO, who said bodies of the deceased persons had been buried, called on residents of the area to remain calm, law abiding and report any suspicious movements to security agencies.

    Gunmen had last Wednesday attacked same community where three soldiers, two mobile policemen and scores of civilians were killed.

    NAN

  • Gunmen kill 25 in Plateau attacks

    •Lalong sacks Bokkos council chair

    No fewer than 25 people were killed in an attack by gunmen in Bassa local government of Plateau state on Monday night.

    The gunmen attacked Kimakpa, Zirshe and Dundun villages in Kwall district of the local government.

    The killing were carried out as people were preparing to burry 18 of their people killed last weekend who bodies were deposited at the morgue of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

    Plateau State Police Spokesman Terna Tyopev, said policemen had been deployed in the communities to prevent further attack.

    He said: “The gunmen stormed the village at about 11pm and took residents unaware. Some residents were able to escape, but the gunmen killed 25 people before the information got to us”

    However, the special military task force code named operation safe haven (OPSH) said 21 people were killed and two injured

    Some of the villagers who escaped the Bassa attack said the gunmen that came were more than 200 and they were heavily armed.

    Many of the residents were reported missing after the attack; a rescue team put up by the villagers have been combing the nearby bush in search of the missing ones.

    Media officer of OPSH Major Adam Umar said the task force had launched a manhunt for the killers. “With the deployment of men of the OPSH to the affected villages, residents can be assured of safety”

    Spokesman of the Irigwe Development Association Ivy Gulu, said 23 persons were killed at Dundu, another village in Kwall District of Bassa.

    “Twenty-three persons were killed in an attack on Dundu village last night. We are already preparing for a mass burial,” Gulu said.

    He said that many others were missing and were feared killed.

    Gulu said that many houses were burnt down by the invaders.

    A correspondent of NAN, who visited the village, observed that smoke was still billowing from some of the houses set ablaze while many residents had fled to villages considered safer.

    Gulu expressed sadness that the attacks came on a day slated for the mass burial of those killed last week.

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has sacked Mr Simon Angyol, the Management Committee Chairman of Bokkos Local Government over incessant killings in the locality.

    Lalong made this in communication forwarded to the State’s House of Assembly and was read at Tuesday’s plenary by its Speaker, Mr Peter Azi.

    “Following certain unpleasant development in the management of Bokkos local government council, I wish to seek approval for the removal of Mr Simon Angyol as Management Committee Chairman of the Council.

    “I also wish to seek your approval to appoint Mr Tamai Simon as the new Management Committee Chairman of the Council,” he stated.

    Members of House, in a voice vote, approved the removal of Angyol and the subsequent appointment of Simon

  • Gunmen kidnap pastor in Akwa Ibom

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted the Area Superintendent of the Apostolic Church, Pastor Mfon Akpan Udoneke, in Ikot-Akoa Idem, Ukanafun council of Akwa Ibom State.

    It was learnt that the hoodlums, suspected to be members of a kidnap syndicate, stormed his home Monday, about 5 am.

    The incident occurred barely 48 hours after the Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ofuseyimi, met with stakeholders from Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun councils  on Saturday to on security.

    The clergy was said to have been kidnapped in the presence of his family while preparing for fellowship in the church.

    A source said the whereabouts of the abducted priest were unknown.

    The abductors are yet to establish contact with the victims’ family or the church.

    “The family and the church are in a state of confusion right now, because the kidnappers are yet to establish contact with the church or the family as to know what their demands are,” the source stated.

    Police spokesman Mr. Macdon Oguche said he was yet to be briefed.

    Yesterday’s abduction of the pastor is coming barely two days after stakeholders met with security agencies at Ikot-Akpana-Abia Police headquarters to find solution to incidents of killing and kidnapping.

  • Gunmen kill herdsman, 15 cows in Plateau-PPRO

    Gunmen kill herdsman, 15 cows in Plateau-PPRO

    The Police on Tuesday confirmed that unknown gunmen killed a Fulani herdsman and 15 cows at Rafin-Bauna community of Iregwe land in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

    Terna Tyopev, the spokesman of the Police Command in the state told our reporter in Jos that the incident happened at about 5:30 p.m on Monday.

    Tyopev said that two Iregwe youths were on Monday also attacked and severely injured at about 6 pm while returning from a mining site at Gyero community

    “At about 17:30hrs we received information that a Fulani man was killed and 15 of his cows slaughtered by gunmen suspected to be Iregwe people at Rafin-Bauna village of Bassa Local Government.

    “We are yet to ascertain the name and address of the slain victim.

    Read Also: Cows cause accident on Ibadan highway

    “Similarly, two Iregwe youths while returning from a mining site at Gyero were attacked by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, and as a result sustained various degree of injuries,” he said.

    The spokesman said the two injured youths were receiving treatment at Enos Hospital, Miango.

    Tyopev said investigation was ongoing to unravel those behind the acts.

  • Gunmen abduct two council workers in Ondo again

    Two workers of Akoko South East local government in Ondo state were yesterday  seized by gunmen.

    Their abduction came as an abducted lawyer Wale Ilenusi regained his freedom.

    The LG workers on their way to work in Isua from Ikare when  theri abductors swooped on them between Ise and Isua .

    The release of the lawyer was sequel to the intervention of the  Oloba of Oba Akoko,Oba Nurudeen Adegoroye, the  community and the  police .

    Efforts to speak to the freed lawyer failed as he was said to have gone for medical treatment in an undisclosed private hospital while his father,a retired soldier, Mr Olu Ilenusi was full of praises to God .

    Hon Rafiu Eniayewu, chairman, Akoko North East local government called for more presence of security personnel in the area which shares boundaries with Ekiti Edo and Kogi states.

    The National Organizing Secretary, Ansar ud Deen society of Nigeria(AUD),Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani pleaded for increased vigilance and security.

  • Gunmen rob warehouse owner in Aba

    Gunmen rob warehouse owner in Aba

    Gunmen numbering four on Thursday attacked a clothing warehouse located at No. 70 St Michael’s road by York in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The gunmen who operated using a commercial tricycle were said to have made away with cash of over N100, 000 from the warehouse which they collected on gunpoint.

    The gunmen also escaped death by the whiskers as they drove into a crowded area on sighting army patrol team ahead of them.

    According to an eye witness, “the armed men had finished robbing the warehouse successfully, but while they were heading towards St. Michael’s by Adazi, they saw army patrol vehicle ahead of them and turned immediately to navigate into a busy road (York street) which made it difficult for the soldiers to shoot at them because of the population of people on the area. In fact, the way it happened, we don’t know because initially when they arrived, we thought that they were coming to buy clothes in bell, not knowing that they were armed robbers.

    “I suggest that they (shop owners) should install CCTV to enable the security agencies to use it to track the hoodlums anytime they struck.”

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Our reporter gathered that it was not the first time the warehouse was being robbed by gunmen in such a similar manner and had carried out their operations successfully without being caught.

    Meanwhile some of the warehouse owners have called on the security agencies in the state to strengthen security around their facilities and Aba in general stressing that they have encountered losses in the hands of hoodlums who attack their members’ facilities and robbed them of cash almost on weekly basis.

    When contacted, one of the soldiers who went after the hoodlums said that they were on routine patrol some distance from the area of the incident when they noticed people running towards their direction.

    According to the source who pleaded not to be mentioned said on noticing the surge, some members of the team alighted and rushed towards the direction of the crowd, but the robbers who had sighted them turned their tricycle and headed towards a crowded area.

    The source said that when they visited the warehouse, they were told that the gunmen robbed pointed pistol on them and demanded that they should handover all the money that they have with them.

    The sources said that the shop owners told them that they handed over the sum of one and fifty thousand naira which they immediately went away with in their tricycle.

    “We were on a normal patrol and when we were passing, we noticed that people were running in opposite direction. We suspected that something was fishy and decided to head towards the direction they were running from. But before we could get there, the robbers had sighted us and turned their keke. We would have continued chasing after them, but unfortunately, when we got to St. Michael’s by York Street and started asking people where the hoodlums diverted to, they were looking at us and refused to volunteer information.”

  • FRSC official killed as gunmen abduct reporter’s wife, kid

    FRSC official killed as gunmen abduct reporter’s wife, kid

    Some unknown gunmen yesterday in Kaduna abducted the wife and child of a Voice of America (VOA) reporter.

    The abductors killed an official of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), who attempted to help the victims.

    The reporter, Malam Nasir Birnin-Yero, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that about 30 men attacked his residence in Birnin Yero, near Kaduna at about 1:30 am.

    “They came to my house at about 1:30 am. I was not at home. They forced themselves into my house and asked my wife of my whereabouts and she told them I was not at home.

    “They vandalised my television set and refrigerator before taking my wife and son away, insisting that they must take them to where I was.

    “One of my neighbours, who works with the FRSC, Mr. Sabitu Abdulhamid, was shot dead when he rushed out in an attempt to save my family.

    “The kidnappers have not made any contact yet,” Birnin-Yero said

    Kaduna State FRSC Sector Commander Umar Ibrahim confirmed the death of the corps personnel.

    Ibrahim described the deceased as a very hard working person, who was also a member of the community’s vigilante.

    “I am just coming back from the burial. It is a sad day for members of his family and the entire FRSC family, “the sector commander said.

  • Gunmen kill driver in Akwa Ibom

    Gunmen kill driver in Akwa Ibom

    •Passengers robbed 

    Suspected cultists yesterday killed a commercial bus driver at Edem Akai axis of Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak highway in Akwa Ibom State.

    The hoodlums, said to be members of Iceland cult, set ablaze the vehicle, which belonged to Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC).

    They robbed passengers. Eight escaped with bullet wounds.

    It was learnt that the cultists, who blocked the road, rained bullets on the bus.

    An eyewitness said: “The hoodlums blocked the road and robbed people. The AKTC bus ran into them, but tried to escape. About six cultists shot at it.

    “The bullets ignited fire, which burnt down the bus. When I heard gunshots, I escaped into Edem Akai Primary School with my motorcycle and watched the incident from there.

    “After robbing the passengers, the cultists snatched a Toyota Camry car and escaped with it.

    “They took the untarred road through Udianga Enem to their hideout at Okoyo village. Others followed the stolen car on their motorcycles.

    The hoodlums robbed nearby shops. Policemen, who usually block Ikot Nya section of the highway, escaped in their van.”

    Command spokesman Odiko Macdon Ogbeche confirmed the incident.

    He said he was yet to be briefed by the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer of Etim Ekpo.

  • Gunmen kidnap lawyer in Ondo

    Gunmen kidnap lawyer in Ondo

    A 40-year-old lawyer in Owo, Olumide Ilegbusi, was yesterday kidnapped by gunmen on Oba-Akoko-Owo road, near Ago-Ajayi village, in Akoko South West Local Government of Ondo State.

    The incident, sources said, occurred when the victim was travelling to Oba-Akoko, his town, to prepare for a funeral.

    The Nation learnt that the lawyer was travelling in a commercial vehicle when the gunmen with AK-47 rifles waylaid them and took two of the passengers inside a bush, while others were robbed, including the driver.

    Confirming the incident, the Oba-Akoko monarch, Oba Nurudeen Adegoroye, said the kidnappers had demanded N2 million ransom.

    He said the road that passed through his domain was notorious for kidnapping, urging the police to provide security.

    The Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Kunle Fabolude, said efforts were on to arrest the culprits.

    The Akoko Area Commander, Razak Rauf, said his men would rescue the victim.

  • Gunmen abduct APC stalwart in Bayelsa

    Gunmen abduct APC stalwart in Bayelsa

    Gunmen have kidnapped a stalwart of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Robert Desmond.

    The victim, a supporter of ex-Governor Timipre Sylva in Brass Local Government, is said to be the leader of an APC campaign group, called the New Face.

    He was reportedly taken to an unknown place last Saturday after a social gathering at Nembe Local Government.

    The Nation learnt that the incident caused confusion, as APC members expressed fears over the life of the victim.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat confirmed the abduction.

    He said: “We are investigating the incident.”

    The Caretaker Chairman of Brass Local Government, Mr. Victor Isaiah, condemned the kidnap.

    He implored security agencies to ensure the release of the victim.