The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Policeman killed, others injured as gunmen attack checkpoint

    A police sergeant was yesterday killed following an attack by gunmen at a checkpoint, at Kolo in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    The Nation learnt the hoodlums also injured a corporal, two civilians and carted away arms and ammunition.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred about 8a.m. and created confusion, as residents ran for safety.

    Sources said the four attackers were armed with guns, machetes and other weapons.

    The policemen were said to have flagged down a vehicle conveying the suspects during a stop-and-search and discovered illegally-bunkered kerosene.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The attackers came down from the vehicle and shot dead the policeman. They attacked the corporal with a machete.

    “The other two policemen ran into the station. The hoodlums chased them, but left later.”

    The police alleged in a statement that members of the community aided the gunmen to attack them.

    Spokesman Asinim Butswat confirmed that a sergeant was killed.

    He said the hoodlums stole firearms.

    Butswat said: “Bayelsa State Command wishes to use this medium to inform the public that on September 4, about 2030hrs, policemen on vehicular patrol at Kolo 2 in Ogbia Local Government were attacked by gunmen.

    “Following a tip-off, the policemen intercepted a vehicle conveying suspected militants.

    “Two of the suspects were arrested and handcuffed, but they resisted attempt by the policemen to search their vehicle. Members of the community gathered round the vehicle and rescued the hoodlums. Policemen were attacked.

    “The command lost a sergeant, arms and ammunition. A corporal and a civilian were injured. They are responding to treatment in hospital.

    “People are advised to assist the police to fight crime.”

  • Gunmen kill Makurdi businessman

    Gunmen have killed a businessman, Tochukwu Felix, in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

    The deceased was a popular electronics dealer at Benue Crescent, Makurdi, where most of his shops are located.

    He was popularly known by his business name, Sunny Kriss.

    Tochukwu was shot dead on Inikpi Street, Makurdi, about 9 pm. on Saturday, while driving his Sienna Toyota vehicle in the rain.

    There are conflicting reports on how he was killed.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamua told The Nation Tochukwu returned to his Nyiman Layout home after he closed.

    He said: “As his son opened the gate for him, gunmen followed him into the house and robbed his wife of N20,000 and the victim of an undisclosed amount.”

    Another account said the late Felix was trailed and shot three times in the chest and stomach at Inikpi Street, Makurdi.

    Yamua said the wife told the police that after the robbery, the victim headed for the station to report the incident, but the gunmen waylaid and killed him.

    The police said he was taken to hospital, but died on the way.

    Attempts to speak with the deceased’s wife were unsuccessful.

    The incident occurred two weeks after the killing of Governor Samuel Ortom’s aide.

    Yamua said there was no cause for alarm, as the police were on top of the situation.

     

  • Militants kill four soldiers, civilian in Bayelsa

    Militants kill four soldiers, civilian in Bayelsa

    Gunmen suspected to be militants have ambushed and killed four soldiers and a civilian along the waterways of Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    Multiple security sources confirmed that a team of soldiers returning from Letugbene community on Monday became victims of an ambush laid by armed youths believed to be militants.

    It was gathered that the militants overpowered the soldiers, seized their arms, moved them to a location in the creeks and shot them dead.

    While one of the civilians, a boat driver was said to have escaped, the only survivor of the attack reportedly jumped into the water before he was shot by the hoodlums.

    An Ijaw youth leader and Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Central Zone, Mr. Tare Porri, who confirmed the development condemned the killing of the soldiers describing it as bizarre and unprovoked.

    Porri said they were killed in cold blood adding that his zonal leadership would meet on Thursday (today) to discuss the issue and other problems affecting the zone.

    He was, however, worried that the action of the suspected militants had pushed the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) to begin a military operation in Letugbene and Ebelabiri.

    He said residents in the area accused the military of burning down houses and destroying properties in the operation launched to fish out the perpetrators.

    He said: “Two days ago, four military officers were killed in cold blood alongside other civilians. Military officers went to Letugbene community and on their way back, some persons accosted them and killed all of them.

    “Only one of them escaped. Military, yesterday morning retaliated, invaded the communities and burnt down houses. The operations are still ongoing and it is spreading to other communities like Ebelabiri.

    Also a security commander, who confirmed the murder of soldiers, lamented rising cases of killing of security agents and said measures must be adopted to stop the trend.

    “Security operatives are now endangered species. It is unacceptable the way security agents, are killed by people they dedicated their lives to protect. In Bayelsa, policemen, civil defenders and soldiers are constantly killed. It is barbaric”, the commander, who spoke in confidence said.

    A police source, who also spoke in confidence, said only soldiers were killed in the attack adding that the civilian attached to the soldiers escaped.

    Efforts to get responses from the Commander, JTF, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, yielded no results as he failed to reply to text messages sent to him on the matter.

  • Suspected gunmen kidnap four in Ondo

    Suspected gunmen kidnap four in Ondo

    Unknown gunmen Monday reportedly abducted four commuters travelling in a commercial bus along Owo-Ikare road in Ondo state.

    The victims were said to have taken off from Ikare, headquarters of Akoko Northeast heading to Akure,the state capital when they were said to have been seized at Ose-Oba axis of the road.

    It was learnt that one of the passengers said to be a Pastor,who confronted the gun men was shot on the head.

    Sources said it was the same spot where the Oluyani of Iyani-Akoko,Oba Sunday Daodu was kidnapped few months ago with his second-in-command.

    They were released from captivity after spending almost two weeks with the kidnappers where they celebrated the last Easter period with their captors inside the bush.

    Reacting to the incident, the Oloba of Oba-Akoko, Ona Nurudeen Adegoroye called for more police men and another military checkpoint between the dangerous spot within Owo and Oba-Akoko.

    One of the passengers who witnessed the incident, Mrs Janet Adeyemi, wife of the Information Officer, Akoko Northeast local government said the gunmen demanded N1m each from the victims.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Johnson, a Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed the report.

    According to him, investigation has begun while Police men were combing the whole area,assuring that the culprits would be apprended soon.

    It would be recalled that on this same spot, a catholic priest and former Regent of Akungba-Akoko,Princess Toyin Omosowon among others were kidnapped at different times.

  • Gunmen kill policeman, civilian in Anambra

    Some people suspected to be gunmen yesterday shot dead a policeman and a civilian near Assemblies of God (AG) Church on Oguta Road at Onitsha in Anambra State.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen stopped near the church, adding that on sighting some policemen nearby, they opened fire on them.

    The source also said the attackers took away the rifle of the slain policeman.

    The eyewitness said: “When the firing became too hot, the policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and ran away for safety.

    “The gunmen moved to their patrol van and took a gun belonging to the policeman they killed.”

    The eyewitness said he could not identify the number of armed men involved.

    Another eyewitness said: “Gunmen on Okada (a motorcycle) shot a policeman and collected his rifle.

    They also shot dead an Okada man while escaping; the passenger he was carrying was injured.

    The policeman was the one armed among his colleagues. They were providing security while church service was going on at Assemblies of God Church on Oguta Road at Onitsha.

    Police Commissioner Garba Umar confirmed the incident to journalists.

    Umar said it was not an attack on the church, adding that the gunmen took away a rifle belonging to the slain policeman.

    He said: “My men were on patrol near the church when they were attacked by some gunmen. It was not an attack on the church in the real sense of it.”

  • Gunmen kill one, abduct filling station owner in Nasarawa

    Gunmen kill one, abduct filling station owner in Nasarawa

    The Nasarawa State Police Command said on Friday gunmen had killed one person and abducted a businessman in Keffi.

    The command’s Spokesman, DSP Kennedy Idirisu, told journalists on Friday in Lafia that the gunmen stormed a Mobil filling station in Keffi on Wednesday night and shot sporadically before whisking away the owner, Alhaji Yaro Talle.

    According to him, the gunmen shot the manager of the station, Saidu Abdullahi, in the leg during the operation and he later died in the hospital.

    Idirisu said the Keffi Division of the command had received a distress call on the incident and promptly mobilised to the scene and trailed the kidnappers.

    He said the command would ensure the release of the victim unhurt.

    He appealed to members of the public to be vigilant and always avail the police with useful information to help rid the state of criminal elements.

    NAN

  • Gunmen attack ex-Bayelsa Ag. governor  

    Gunmen attack ex-Bayelsa Ag. governor  

    Gunmen yesterday attacked former Acting Bayelsa State Governor Wenipreye Seibarugu.

    Seibarugu home at Okaka, Yenagoa, the state capital, was invaded by the gunmen at about 2am. The former acting governor sustained injuries. He was taken to the hospital for treatement.

    The gunmen reportedly scaled the fence of his expansive compound and tried to gain access into the main building through the kitchen’s door.

    The hoodlums, who were said to be masked, shot sporadically creating panic among occupants of the house and the politician’s neighbours.

    Seibarugu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was also a two- time Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, deputy governor to former Governor Chief Timipre Sylva.

    The gunmen were said to have been repelled by security operatives and youths, living in some flats in the compound.

    Seibarugu was injured on his left arm following the confusion arising from the attack.

    Scores of APC members and stalwarts of the party trooped into his house to sympathise with him.

    Seibarugu, described the attack as “worrisome” and wondered the motive behind the incident.

    “l don’t know what they were looking for in my house but we were able to repel them. They tried to gain access into my main building through the kitchen door”, he said.

    Policemen from the Ekeki Divisional Headquaters led by a DPO visited the house at about 4.30pm to assess the scene of the crime.

    Prior to the incident, gunmen attacked homes of two stalwarts of APC, former acting Governor, Nestor Binabo and Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, erstwhile Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson.

  • Gunmen abduct passengers in Rivers

    Gunmen abduct passengers in Rivers

    Gunmen yesterday hijacked a commercial bus on East West Road, kidnapping the passengers on board.

    There were reports last night the kidnappers freed some victims and held on to two.

    The hijacked bus belonged to a popular transport company (name withheld); the driver is among those kidnapped. But his whereabouts remain unknown.

    The incident took place on Emohua axis of East West Road in Rivers State, as gunmen barricaded the dualised road and opened fire on the bus.

    The bus, riddled with bullets, was abandoned by the roadside.

    It was gathered a combined team of security operatives, comprising the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Anti-Cultism Unit, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and personnel of the Joint Task Force were deployed in the forest, bordering Emohua and Ikwerre local government areas, to ensure quick rescue of victims and arrest of the criminals.

    Rivers police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, stated that the command was analysing the information it received from witnesses, promising that the Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, was on top of the matter.

    Omoni said efforts were being made to apprehend the hoodlums.

    He urged the public to be vigilant and assist the police and other security agencies with information on suspicious movements in their neighbourhood.

  • Gunmen strike in Anambra, kill worshippers in Church

    Gunmen strike in Anambra, kill worshippers in Church

    Gunmen on Sunday stormed the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra.

    An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the gunmen went into the church during the 5:45 a.m. mass and identified a particular man and shot him.

    He said that they later went on rampage and shot at the remaining worshippers numbering over 100.

    Scores of people were killed in the church while other critically injured worshippers died on the way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

    The source, however, said the priest of the church was not wounded in the incident.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Garba Umar, confirmed the incidence, adding that more details would be given after investigations. (NAN)

  • Gunmen kill middle-age woman in Osogbo 

    Gunmen kill middle-age woman in Osogbo 

    Unknown gunmen on Saturday shot dead a yet-to-be identified middle-age woman in Osogbo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports

    The incident occurred at about 9.00 am at Old Garage area of Osogbo.

    An eyewitness said the deceased was a labourer who was on her way to Old Garage, where labourers usually assemble for daily engagements, before she met her untimely death.

    The source said that the deceased was hit by stray bullets from a gun fired into the air by some men on a motorcycle before they sped off from the scene.

    The police spokesperson in the state, Mrs Folashade Odoro, confirmed the incident to journalists, saying four suspects had been arrested.

    Odoro also gave an assurance that others connected with the incident would be apprehended and prosecuted.