The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen kill 18 in Zamfara

    Gunmen kill 18 in Zamfara

    Eighteen people have been killed in an attack by gunmen in Birane village in Zurmi Local Government Council of Zamfara State.

    Zamfara police spokesman Muhammad Shehu, stated this in a statement in Gusau yesterday .

    Shehu said on February 13, hunters from Birani Village of Zurmi Local Government Area intercepted and accosted a herder in the bush with some suspected stolen cattle and sheep.

    “The herder abandoned the animals and escaped into the bush, but unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler went to Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State and mobilised bandits to attack the hunters.

    “On February 14, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatality on both sides.

    “Police/Military and other sister agencies reacted by combing the bush and it’s environs to salvage the situation and discovered 18 dead bodies.

    “It is believed that the bandits took away their own members that were killed. Meanwhile, bush combing is in progress so as to further profile the area.

    “Mobile policemen/special forces and other security personnel from other sister security agencies have already been deployed to the area to restore peace and stability,” he said.

    The spokesman also said that the command’s Intelligence Unit had already embarked on investigation to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.

  • Gunmen kidnap NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kidnap NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Gunmen yesterday kidnapped two contractors working on a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) project at Otuogiri in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    Confirming the incident, spokesman Asinim Butswat said in Yenagoa that the police had arrested the accomplice, adding that he was undergoing interrogation.

    Lucky Moses, one of the Community Development Committee (CDC) executives, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gunmen stormed the area in the morning.

    “The gunmen exchanged fire with soldiers before whisking away their targets.

    “The victims were two, but one was released on the spot, the other was whisked into a waiting speed boat, which zoomed off to an unknown destination.

    “The community caught the accomplice, who confessed that he gave information to the abductors. He has been handed over to security operatives,” Moses said.

  • Gunmen kidnap two NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kidnap two NDDC contractors in Bayelsa

    Suspected Gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped two contractors working on one of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects in Otuogiri Community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, DSP Asinim Butswat, said in Yenagoa that police had arrested the accomplice and that he was undergoing interrogation.

    Lucky Moses, one of the Community Development Committee (CDC) executives in the community, told our reporter that the gunmen stormed the area in the early hours of Tuesday.

    “The gunmen came and began to exchange gun fire with soldiers before whisking away their targets.

    “The victims were two but one was released on the spot, while the other was whisked into a waiting speed boat which zoomed off to an unknown destination.

    “The community caught the accomplice who confessed that he gave information to the abductors; the accomplice has been handed over to security operatives,” Moses said.

    NAN

  • Gunmen abduct octogenarian, grand-daughter in Imo

    Gunmen abduct octogenarian, grand-daughter in Imo

    Gunmen have kidnapped a 95-year-old man, Azuoma Akagba and his 13-year-old grand-daughter, Chiamaka, in Irete community, Owerri West local government area of Imo State.

    A relative of the octogenarian said the victims were abducted at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

    He said the kidnappers stormed the compound and picked Pa Azuoma who was relaxing outside his room.

    He said: “When they entered into our compound, they saw Papa sitting down. They immediately knew it was him and the next thing they did was to demand for the granddaughter who was inside the house. They grabbed her and took them to their car and sped off.”

    He said one of Pa Azuoma’s sons, Pastor Abraham Akagha, was released recently by kidnappers an unspecified amount of money was paid as ransom.

     

  • Suspected gunmen kill four in Kwara

    Suspected gunmen kill four in Kwara

    Suspected gunmen have allegedly killed four vigilance group members in some Kaiama, Kiana local government area of Kwara state.

    The gunmen who attacked the villages also injured several others.

    But the state police command confirmed the death of a member of the local vigilante group.

    It added that three others were missing.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar said that the gunmen mounted a camp in the National Park to move from one community to another to terrorize the residents.

    The affected villages, he said, were Tunga Maje, Nukku and Woro.

    The National Park covers about 50 kilometre of land between Kaiama local council in Kwara and Borgu local government area of Niger state.

    Abubakar added that the hoodlums would enter the villages robbing the residents of their belongings particularly foodstuff, cows and goats and then return to the camp to survive on it.

    The council chair added the complaints of the attacks made the council to deploy its members of the local vigilante to place surveillance on the place.
    “Unfortunately, when the vigilante approached them in their camp, they exchanged fire to the extent that they killed one of the vigilante men and three others are missing.

    “We don’t know their whereabouts and for now and nobody can go into the bush and start searching for the dead body”, he said.

    The council boss stated that the armed hoodlums were fond of blocking the roads at night to dispossess people of their money.

    “One of our vigilante men is confirmed dead. While three others are missing, several other vigilante men were injured,” said the council chief.

    He, however, noted that the state government has taken charge and that about 50 soldiers have been deployed from the 222 battalion to comb the bush.

    Spokesperson of the Kwara state police command Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident.

    He said that the state command had deployed mobile police men into the area and the Commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation into the issue.

  • Gunmen kill two policemen in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kill two policemen in Bayelsa

    Guns boomed yesterday at Ogbia waterside, Bayelsa State, following an attack on a police marine base by suspected pirates.

    Two policemen attached to the base were reportedly killed.

    The gunmen stole two rifles and a 200-horsepower engine belonging to the Ogbia Local Government Area.

    Leader of the marine team, an assistant superintendent of Police (ASP), was said to have sustained injuries and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

    It was gathered that the bandits fled with their casualties after the incident, which occurred at 2 am.

    A police source, who spoke in confidence, described the exchange of gunfire as massive, adding that a G3 magazine, with 17-live ammunition was recovered from the hoodlums.

    “Eighteen expended ammunition was picked on the scene. The hoodlums came to steal the General Multipurpose Gun. It is a big gun mounted on a boat. But the policemen protected it with their lives”, he said.

    Commissioner of Police Asuquo Amba said the police were combing the creeks to locate the criminals.

    Describing how the attack was carried out, he said: “About 2 am, some unknown suspected sea pirates that came in with two boats from different directions attacked our men that were anchored at marine base at Ogbia and obviously there was a lot of exchange of fire.

    “We tried to be as defensive as possible. In the cause of that we lost two policemen who were shot in action and they were able to make away with two of our riffles and a 200-horsepower engine belonging to the Ogbia Local Government Area.

    “We were able to recover a G3 magazine, which was used by them with 17-live ammunition and 18-expended ammunition. The firing was not from one direction. It was through separate direction.

    “Prior to this time, we had secured our GMP gun which I think was one of the main thing they were looking for. So, they could not steal it and that was why we lost two police officers in action and the officer that led the team, an ASP was equally injured.”

    Amba said the police had been able to curtail activities of sea pirates but explained that reports showed a resurgence.

    The police boss said he visited the scene with other senior officers, promising that they will fish out the killers.

    He said: “For a while we have been able to curtail but it is really rearing its head again. We have appealed to our sister agencies to help. We are all out to ensure that these pirates are checked.

    “We have intelligence report that they are trying to increase their activities to sabotage the efforts of the government to secure the highway. This is a recent development and it has given us a cause to sit up. We will restrategise and secure our base and the water areas.

    “We have spread our dragnets. We have informed other security agencies and all efforts are being made to apprehend the suspects”.

  • Gunmen abduct teenage girl in Katsina

    Gunmen abduct teenage girl in Katsina

    Unknown gunmen have abducted a 14-year-old girl in Kankia local government area of Katsina State.

    Father of the victim, Alhaji Salisu Mai-Tiles, said the gunmen invaded his residence at Sabuwar-Abuja quarters in Kankia at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.

    He said that three well- armed persons broke into his residence and demanded for money, while the remaining gang members stayed outside.

    “They asked me to give them money, which I did; whatever they asked we never objected to their demand to save our lives, but unfortunately, they went with my 14-year-old daughter,” he said.

    The gang members also blocked Katsina-Kano road in Kankia and robbed motorists at gunpoint.

    In a related development, suspected armed robbers have shot dead a policeman attached to WAPA Shopping Mall in Katsina on Tuesday night and carted away undisclosed amount of money.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the state police command was not successful as its spokesman, Isa Gambo, did not respond to phone calls and SMS text message sent to him.

    NAN

     

  • Gunmen dispossess policeman of rifle, phone

    Gunmen dispossess policeman of rifle, phone

    Three men, who allegedly robbed a policeman of his phone and AK 47 rifle at gunpoint, were yesterday remanded in prison by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Kazeem Oladipo, 30, Rasaq Owolabi, 26, and Segun Alabi, 32,  are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and possession of illegal weapons.

    Chief Magistrate T.O. Shomade ordered that they be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons until January 24.

    Prosecuting Inspector Raji Akeem told the court that the offence was committed on July 17 on Victory Road, Meiran.

    Akeem said the accused waylaid Corporal Aladejare Adedeji at midnight when he was about to enter his apartment.

    “The accused robbed the policeman of his mobile phone valued at N40, 000,  his AK 47 and 30 rounds of live ammunition, belonging to the police,” he said.

    Akeem said the accused also shot the complainant on his left leg after dispossessing him of his service gun. The complainant was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated.

    “During investigation, the stolen mobile phone was tracked and someone in Abeokuta was found using it. The police traced the phone to the location and made some arrests,’’ he said.

  • Gunmen demand N30m for NCDMB worker

    Gunmen demand N30m for NCDMB worker

    •Ijaw youths decry abduction

    Ijaw youths, yesterday, decried the abduction of a senior worker of the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Chief Numudogio Micah, by gunmen.

    Micah was reportedly kidnapped Friday from the Brass-Nembe waterways.

    The hoodlums were said to have contacted his family and demanded N30 million ransom.

    But Ijaw youths, who frowned at the development, demanded immediate  release of the worker.

    Youths, under the auspices of Brass Local Government Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), called on security agencies to unmask the  kidnappers and facilitate release of the victim.

    Describing the abduction as unwarranted and unprovoked, IYC Chairman in Brass, Mr. Beledanyo Barass, said the victim, who he described as a philanthropist, must be released unharmed.

    “We are calling on the kidnappers to spare him and release him unharmed. He is a man of peace with love for youths

    “This is a man who deserves praise from us for the relative tranquillity he has brought to us. What happened to him is undeserving and we condemn it”.

    He added that Ijaw youths are ready to storm the creeks to search and rescue the victim.

    Barass called on governments to mobilise to ensure the freedom of Micah.

    He appealed to state and local governments to review the security of Brass, especially the Nembe-Brass waterways, by mounting checkpoints in strategic positions.

    “On the part of the state government, we are calling for policies and programmes to promote peaceful co-existence. We are calling for the creation of job opportunities for youths in the area, including good road network, hospitals and schools to control the menace of crimes in the area.

    “We also call on citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious persons or group of persons to the police and other security agencies”, he said.

    Police spokesman Butswat Asinim confirmed the abduction and said the police had begun investigation.

     

     

  • Gunmen kill Chief of Numana, pregnant wife in Kaduna State

    A traditional ruler in the southern part of Kaduna State, the Etum Numana, Mr. Gambo Makama and his pregnant wife have been killed in Arak, his home town, in Sanga local government area of the Kaduna in the early hours of January 1.

    Makama, a second class traditional ruler had traveled to his village to celebrate new year.

    The Nation gathered that, gunmen who were said to be wearing masks invaded his residence few minutes after midnight, opened fire at the traditional ruler, his wife and 45 years old son.

    The chief and his second wife said to be some few months pregnant died on the spot, while the son sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

    The bandits allegedly set the chief’s residence ablaze before escaping into the bush.

    Chairman of Sanga Development Association, Prince Bala Audu, told journalists that, the chief and his wife went to the village to celebrate the new year.

    According to him, “he was seated with his second wife who is pregnant, then suddenly gunmen which I was told covered their faces with masks invaded the house and opened fire at them, alongside his son who is about 45 years.

    “The chief and his wife died on the spot, the son did not die but he sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

    “The gun men set the house ablaze and burnt a vehicle which was recently given to the chief as a gift. Immediately they committed the dastardly act, they fled into the bush and escaping,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, Aliyu Mukhtar confirmed the incident, saying that, “We got a distress call about 4am that armed men stormed his house and shot him with his wife. Before our arrival to the house, the hoodlums set place ablaze and fled”.

    He said, no arrest has been made, but they were intensifying efforts to ensure that the bandits are arrested.