The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen ‘kill’ man during mum’s funeral

    Gunmen ‘kill’ man during mum’s funeral

    Gunmen have allegedly killed a 44-year-old man, Dupe Idahor, at the funeral of his mother, Deaconess Taiwo Albert.

    The incident occurred last Friday at 2, Nosayaba Lane, off Nosayaba Street, off TV Road, Benin City, Edo State, about 9pm.

    Eyewitnesses said the hoodlums stormed the ceremony venue and shot the deceased at close range.

    They said the gunmen abandoned the vehicle in which they came and escaped in another car belonging to the victim’s friend.

    Policemen from Textile Mill Police Division were said to have recovered the vehicle the next day.

    During the shooting, the body of the victim’s 82-year-old mother was abandoned, as her family and relations ran away.

    Musicians hired to perform hurriedly packed their instruments and left.

    A sister of the victim, who refused to give her name, said their mother was buried on Saturday morning.

    She alleged that her brother’s death was masterminded by one of his friends.

    Police spokesman Chidi Nwanbuzor said he was yet to be briefed.

    In April, a 35-year-old man, Bobby Usiobaifo, was killed during the funeral of his father, Pa. Abel Usiobaifo, at Osariemen Street, Akagbosun, Evbotubu, in Egor Local Government.

  • Gunmen kill popular cow dealer, three others in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kill popular cow dealer, three others in Bayelsa

    * Police hunt for killers 

    Unidentified gunmen yesterday shot and killed a popular cow dealer and Chairman Cattle Breeders Association (CBA), Bayelsa State, Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim and three others.It was gathered that Abdulkarim was killed in the afternoon along Azikoro road at Winners U-turn by the gunmen, who came in an unmarked vehicle.

    A source, who accompanied the victims’ corpses to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, said the famous Alhaji was killed within the premises of his private abattoir.

    “The gunmen invaded the place this afternoon and shot him. He is a household name because he is the highest supplier of cows in Bayelsa.

    “The gunmen also turned to his boys and killed three of them. It is a sad development.

    “But we are calling for calm because the incident is fresh and required thorough investigation”, the source, who spoke in confidence said.

    He said the motive behind the dastardly act would be uncovered by security agencies during investigations.

    He insisted that only investigation would reveal the identities of persons behind the incident, adding there was no need to panic.

    The Bayelsa Police command in a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, confirmed the incident.

    The statement said: “On 2 December, 2017, at about 1230hrs, three unknown gunmen in a Black Mazda 323 car Reg No yet unknown, went to Azikoro Road by winners U turn, Yenagoa, where one Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim, the Chairman Cattle Breeders Association, Bayelsa State Branch, was discussing with three others, shot at them on their heads and drove off to unknown destination.

    “Policemen were immediately deployed for possible arrest. The scene was visited by the Police.

    “Three of the victims one Abiso Abba ‘m’, Yunusa surname unknown and the third name unknown died at the spot, while Alhaji Jibril Abdulkarim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention where he later died.

    “There’s suspicion of internal wrangling and strife within the association, Police and other security agencies are working on a promising lead for possible arrest of the suspects.

    “Corpses of the victims have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for autopsy.

    “All units have been alerted and efforts are on going to arrest the fleeing suspects”.

  • Gunmen kill Plateau community head

    Gunmen kill Plateau community head

    Gunmen killed the head of Tarangol community, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Mr Amos Marit (57), it was learnt yesterday.

    Police spokesman Terna Tyopev told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the case was reported by Enoch Michael and Christopher Marit, both of Fokkos village in Bokkos.

    His words: “Yesterday, about 8 pm, Enoch Michael and Christopher Marit reported at Bokkos Division that gunmen broke into the house of Mr Amos Marit, the village head of Tarangol, and shot him.

    “He was rushed to Luna Hospital but died while receiving treatment.

    “Our men rushed to the scene of the incident, but the assailants had vanished.”

    Tyopev said the body was deposited at the morgue, adding that no arrest has been made.

    He, however, said investigations were on to find the culprits.

  • Policeman killed, patrol vehicle burnt in Edo

    Policeman killed, patrol vehicle burnt in Edo

    Gunmen suspected of be ex-militants have reportedly attacked a police patrol team by Ovia River bridge along Benin-Iguobazuwa road in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Police sources said the attack which happened on Monday left one policeman dead and three others injured while the patrol vehicle they were using was burnt.

    The source said the gunmen fired at the policemen from their speed boats stationed inside the river.

    One of the policemen was said to have returned fire and managed to escape with their guns into a nearby bush.

    Meanwhile, cult killings appeared to have resurfaced in Edo State following the beheading of a young man identified as Ogbe at Uwelu area of Benin City

    Policemen attached to Ogida Police Division recovered the victim’s a severed head at Iyobosa junction, Off Uwelu road few hours after the body of another boy identified as Wisdom was killed and dumped at the same junction by warring cult groups.

    Commissioner of Police in Edo, Johnson Kokumo could not be reached for comments.

  • 11 killed, 4 injured as gunmen open fire on villagers in Plateau

    11 killed, 4 injured as gunmen open fire on villagers in Plateau

    Eleven persons were killed and four others injured when gunmen opened fire on villagers returning from Rim-Dyem market in Riyom, Plateau State, Tuesday night.

    “The attack took place around 7.30 p.m.; the villagers were returning home from a local market when gunmen waylaid them, killing 11 people instantly,” Mr Terna Tyopev, Plateau Police Command spokesman said.

    He said that those injured had been taken to Christian Hospital, Vom.

    “No arrest has been made, but we are already investigating the incident; we shall not rest until the attackers are fished out,” he said.

    Tyopev appealed to the affected community to be calm and resist the temptation to take the law into their hands, adding that more security personnel had been deployed to secure the area.

    The Tuesday attack is the latest in a series of violence visited on rural communities in Plateau, in the past few weeks.

    Among communities that had come under heavy attacks are Wereh, Foron and Rim in Barkin Ladi Local Government, as well as Miango, Jebu, Taegbe and Ncha in Bassa Local Government.

    The state, which suffered massive violence for more than a decade, enjoyed uninterrupted peace for two years before the gunmen returned in September.

    NAN

  • Gunmen abduct lawyer in Edo

    Gunmen abduct lawyer in Edo

    A Benin lawyer, Mr. G.C. Igbokwe, has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

    Igbokwe, the chairman of Benin Law Week Organising Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, was abducted on Monday evening near Okhuaihe village, on Benin-Aghoro-Onitsha Expressway.

    He was said to be on his way to Enugu when he was kidnapped.

    Police spokesman Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the kidnap, described it as a sad incident.

    He said the police were searching for the kidnappers and assured residents that the lawyer would soon be rescued.

  • Gunmen abduct lawyer in Edo

    Gunmen abduct lawyer in Edo

    A Benin based lawyer identified as Barr. G.C Igbokwe has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

    Barr. Igbokwe who is the Chairman, Benin Law Week Organising Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association was abducted on Monday evening near Okhuaihe village along Benin-Aghoro-Onitsha express road.

    He was said on his way to Enugu when he was abducted.

    Edo police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the kidnapping, described it as a very sad incident.

    Nkombe said the police was already on the kidnappers trail and assured that the abducted lawyer would soon be rescued.

    Read Also: Kidnappers release monarch’s wife after collecting N2.5m

  • Gunmen kidnap council chief in Ebonyi

    •Victim locked inside coffin

    Gunmen have abducted and tortured the Coordinator of Ikwo South Development Centre, Marvin Anari.

    The incident, it was learnt, occurred at Ukwuachi playground, Amagu in Ikwo Local Government, venue of a stakeholders’ meeting.

    “Armed men invaded the venue, dragged the coordinator out, stripped him naked, defied pleas by elders, took him out of the venue of the meeting to Eke Amagu market, bought a coffin, pushed him inside in a pool of blood and closed the casket”, a source said.

    He said residents discovered where he was dumped by his abductors and took him to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

    Last night, the council chief was in coma.

    Governor David Umahi, who visited the victim yesterday, described the incident as barbaric.

    He called for investigation into the incident and urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the suspects.

  • Gunmen abduct saw miller, demands N5m ransom

    Gunmen abduct saw miller, demands N5m ransom

    Four gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly abducted a middle-aged man, Oyewale Akinwande (aka Honourable Wale) at his sawmill factory site in Idoani, Ose local government area of Ondo State.

    Sources said the gunmen operating along Ipele /Idoani road were armed with machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons.

    They were said to have entered the saw mill masked through the forest around 9.00 am.

    According to a community leader, Otunba Oladele Olapeju, Idoani town has been thrown into confusion over the development.

    He appealed to security agents to ensure the victim is ýreleased.

    He said the victim was seized while switching on the generator, stressing they shot into air to scare away workers and others around before dragging him out of the sawmill premises.

    Olapeju lamented the Fulani herdsmen had taken over the farmland in the community, stressing his over 30 hectares farm crops were destroyed through cattle grazing.

    He urged security agents to curb incessant invasion of the area by Fulani herdsmen and ensure safe release of the victim.

    It was learnt that the kidnappers demanded N5m as condition to release the captive.

    Confirming the incident, State Police Spokesman, Femi Joseph called for calm, saying Police were on the trail of the abductors.

    He assured the perpetrators would be brought to book.

  • Abia Community in tears after gunmen kill 4 persons

    Abia Community in tears after gunmen kill 4 persons

    It was a tragedy at Ihieorji in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State as unknown gunmen struck and reportedly killed about six persons in the village.

    Unconfirmed reports from the area on Tuesday night, however, gave the death toll to ten with several persons injured and currently receiving medical attention in an undisclosed private Hospital in Aba.

    It was learnt that about four persons died on the spot, while two others died at the hospital while they were being given medical attention.

    Sources at the area told our reporter on Thursday that the gunmen numbering five had struck the village at about 7.45pm in an ash colour Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and started shooting sporadically at anyone on sight.

    A source who pleaded anonymity said that while the gunmen were shooting, they overheard them telling their victims that kill them since they wouldn’t let them (gunmen) operate within the community.

    At the end of the attack which was said to have lasted well over one hour without any challenge from security agencies in Aba.

    One of the victims whose name was simply given as Herbert and believed to be the major target of the hoodlums had his stomach ripped open by bullets and his intestine splattered on the ground during the shootout.

    But another account of the incident from a resident of the area alleged that the gunmen whose identity were yet unknown shot their victims in a drug bunk and after the operation shot sporadically into the air while they were escaping in a commercial bus.

    The source who simply gave his name as Chetachukwu said that they have been living in fear since after the incident over the fear of being unduly arrested by security agents who couldn’t come to their area while the shooting lasted.

    They appealed to government and security heads in Aba and the state at large to come to their rescue, stressing that they have been sleeping with eyes open since Tuesday that the incident happened.

    When contacted, the spokesman of Abia State Police Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the shooting incident and described it as a drug war between two rival groups.

    Ogbonna stated that they were investigating the matter and would soon come out with a statement on the true account of the event.