The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Breaking news: Gunmen abduct six pupils in Lagos

    Breaking news: Gunmen abduct six pupils in Lagos

    Gunmen suspected to be militants have attacked Igbo-Nla Model College, Epe and kidnapped six children.

    This is the second time since October last year that kidnappers have invaded the school.

    In the earlier incident, gunmen cladding in military camouflages entered the school premises from a hole at the back gate and whisked away pupils and teachers.

    Although details of the latest kidnap are still sketchy, it was gathered that security forces have been deployed to comb surrounding bushes for the children.

    Details later…

  • Gunmen demand N20m ransom for kidnapped chief

    Gunmen demand N20m ransom for kidnapped chief

    Gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler at Ibeju-Lekki, Baale Salino Kareem.

    The 75-year-old Baale was whisked away around 2am on Sunday when the gunmen invaded his palace through the waterways.

    The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically before taking the man away in their speedboats.

    According to residents, the kidnappers established contact after 48 hours and demanded N20 million as ransom.

    This is just as five persons kidnapped in the area in March have regained their freedom. It was gathered that the victims were released after paying N3million ransom each.

    The Baale’s kidnap was said to have thrown the community into panic, with residents fleeing for safety.

    It was gathered that the development prompted the Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni to visit the area and assure the residents of security.

    During the interactive session with Owoseni, a monarch, appealed for proper monitoring of the waterways.

    He said: “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed anymore. Kidnappers have taken over Ibeju-Lekki. We want proper monitoring of the waterways by providing us with marine police and gun boats.

    “We know police are doing their best but the best is not enough. We want adequate security of our waterways.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Monarch, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen kidnap Monarch, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler at Ibeju-Lekki, Baale Salino Kareem.

    The 75-year-old Baale was whisked away around 2am on Sunday when the gunmen invaded his palace through the waterways.

    The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically before taking the man away in their speedboats.

    According to residents, the kidnappers established contact after 48 hours and demanded N20 million as ransom.

    This is just as five persons kidnapped in the area in March have regained their freedom. It was gathered that the victims were released after paying N3million ransom each.

    The Baale’s kidnap was said to have thrown the community into panic, with residents fleeing for safety.

    It was gathered that the development prompted the Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni to visit the area and assure the residents of security.

    During the interactive session with Owoseni, another monarch, Oba

    Muyiwa Ogunbekun appealed for proper monitoring of the waterways.

    He said: “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed anymore. Kidnappers have taken over Ibeju-Lekki. We want proper monitoring of the waterways by providing us with marine police and gun boats.

    “We know police are doing their best but the best is not enough. We want adequate security of our waterways.”

    Tosin Oshinuga said: “The kidnappers are not ghosts and live in our mist. Some of our youths should work with the security agencies to contain kidnapping and other vices.”

     

  • Gunmen abduct Ondo Permanent Secretary

    Gunmen abduct Ondo Permanent Secretary

    Gunmen have abducted the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Hospital Management Board (OSHMB), Dr. Niran Ikuomola.
    He was reportedly kidnapped with his driver on Sunday evening on Lokoja/Abuja Expressway.
    Ikuomola was on his way to Abuja for an official assignment when his vehicle was stopped by the gunmen.
    State’s Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Roland Arohunmolase, who addressed reporters in Akure, confirmed one of the kidnappers informed them of the abduction and that the victims were in their custody.
    He said the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding N70million ransom.
    Police spokesman Femi Joseph could not confirm the incident last night.
    He said since the kidnap occurred outside the jurisdiction of Ondo State, the police in Kogi would take it up.
    Joseph said: “We are determined to wipe out crimes and ensure protection of life and property.”

  • Gunmen kidnap community leader

    Gunmen kidnap community leader

    Gunmen have reportedly abducted a community leader in Ikaram-Akoko, Ondo State, Chief Ojo Omotayo (aka Oluomo).
    The incident occurred two weeks after a monarch in Akoko land, who is the secretary of Akoko Traditional Council, Oba Joel Daodu, was kidnapped with his second-in-command, Chief Olugbenga Giwa, the Shaba of Iyani Akoko, on Owo-Ikare Road.
    The duo spent the Easter holidays in the kidnappers’ den.
    Sources said Omotayo, a former councilor, who represented Erusu/Ikaram Ward, was abducted on Akunu-Ikakumo Road in Akoko Northeast Local Government.
    The Akala of Ikaram, Oba Andrew Momodu, said the abductors had not contacted them since the victim was kidnapped on Saturday night.
    He urged the police and other security agents to rescue the ex-councillor.
    Police spokesman Femi Joseph could not be reached for comments last night.

  • Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa lawmaker’s mum, sister

    The sister and mother of the lawmaker representing Akwanga South in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, were  kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday.

    Police spokesman Kennedy Idirisu confirmed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia, yesterday.

    According to him, the gunmen stormed the lawmaker’s home at Moroa, Akwanga, about 8pm, shooting sporadically, before whisking the two women away.

    He said the police was collaborating with the vigilance groups to locate the victims.

    “As we speak, our men are already searching for the victims and to arrest the perpetrators,” Idirisu said.

    A family source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the abductors have contacted the family and demanded a ransom of N30 million.

    Efforts to speak to Mohammed-Kassim were unsuccessful.

  • Suspected gunmen assassinate Rivers’ monarch

    Suspected gunmen assassinate Rivers’ monarch

    • Angry youths set houses ablaze

    Unidentified gunmen have killed the paramount ruler of Orokpor village in Mgboshimini, Rumueme Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chief Charles Miniku,
    It was gathered that Minikwu was assassinated by assailants during a meeting with other chiefs of the area at the village hall
    A reliable source from the community said youths believed to be loyal to the murdered chief have gone on rampage and allegedly burnt down houses of the people they suspect have hand in the killing.
    It was learnt the development has caused panic while two other persons have been killed in the area with several buildings set ablaze.
    Police Public Relations officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nnamdi Omoni, yesterday confirmed the incident.
    He said Rivers police command has mobilised policemen to the area, adding those behind the heinous crime must face the full wrath of the law.
    A source, who pleaded his name should not be mentioned, said the gunmen stormed Council of Chiefs meeting attended by some traditional rulers and chiefs and shot the monarch dead.
    Minikwu was the secretary of a faction of the community leadership, which has been in dispute until his death.
    He escaped assassination last year after he was accused of killing a rival chief in the community.
    The riot then led to destruction of properties in the community until the intervention of security agencies.

  • Gunmen kidnap eight sailors in Bayelsa 

    Gunmen kidnap eight sailors in Bayelsa 

    Naval troops are making frantic efforts to locate the whereabouts of eight sailors kidnapped in the Atlantic Ocean close to Brass waters in Brass Local Government Area Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the victims identified as employees of Tethys Nig. Ltd and Sylver Global Ltd were abducted on April 19 about 17 Nautical Miles off Brass terminal.

    The unidentified gunmen were said to have forcefully boarded the vessel after firing gunshots in the air to scare the sailors.

    The victims were identified as Smart Kungborde, Isaiah Ebiewe, Christopher Wisben, Gabriel Enayon, Sylvester Ovwigho, Mathew Enegbuma and Kelly Shaka.

    The abductors were said to have stolen all their victims’ valuables, hounded them into their speedboats and drove them to an unknown place.

    It was however gathered troops of the Forward Operation Base (FOB) Fomoso at Egweama in Brass were making some efforts to free the captors.

    Navy authorities in the state kept mute on the matter following an indication the affected vessel belonged to a powerful politician and retired senior naval officer from the state.

    But the politician with the companies was said to have established contacts with the gunmen and gone far in negotiation for a ransom to free the abductors.

    A senior security source, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development and said the victims were still held by the kidnappers.

  • Gunmen kill police inspector at checkpoint

    Two armed men on a motorcycle yesterday killed a police inspector in Ogidi, near Onitsha in Anambra State.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogidi Police Station, Mr Hassan Musa, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoodlums collected the AK47 riffle the deceased was carrying.

    He said that the incident occurred at about 2.45 p.m. at a police road block near Ugwunwasike Roundabout in Ogidi, where a police team was conducting “stop and search”.

    An eyewitness had told NAN that the armed men took the policeman unawares as they rode straight and shot him at a close range while he was flagging down a vehicle for a search.

    “Other policemen who were with him took cover on hearing the gun shots while the armed men escaped,” the source said.

    NAN gathered that the incident, which happened within minutes, caused people in the vicinity, including motorists and commuters, to abandon their vehicle and scamper for safety.

    The DPO said that the remains of the late inspector had been deposited at Iyi-Enu Hospital’s mortuary.

    He said that the police had commenced investigation into the incident.

  • Gunmen kill journalist in Bayelsa

    Five gunmen, suspected to be assassins, yesterday, killed an employee of the Bayelsa State-owned radio station, Glory 97.1 FM, Mr. Famous Giobaro.

    The broadcaster, a Desk Editor, was reportedly attacked in his home at a mini-estate in INEC Road area of Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The gunmen were said to have broken into his apartment at 5 a.m, shot him several times in the stomach at close range and left without taking away anything.

    It was gathered the killers entered Giobaro’s by scaling the fence with a ladder, after cutting the barbed wire.

    The suspected assassins, who seemed to have a good knowledge of the house, reportedly pulled down the kitchen door and forced their way into the broadcaster’s bedroom through the living room.

    Two unidentified men, who were said to be in the bedroom with the deceased, reportedly attempted to prevent the gunmen from entering the room.

    But they were said to have hidden in the wardrobe and the toilet when the gunmen started shooting at the door.

    A neighbour of the deceased, who spoke in confidence, said the gunmen made many bullet holes on the door.

    He said Giobaro, who tied a piece of wrapper round his waist, was first hit by a bullet when he scrambled out of his bed on hearing the gunshots.

    The neighbour said: “They went to his house. They cut the barbed wire and climbed the fence with a ladder. They went to the kitchen, cut the protector, passed through the kitchen door and entered his living room.

    “When they got to the room and found it locked, they started marching the door. Two other guys there with him tried to resist them. But they started shooting at the door and, in the process, one of the bullets hit him and he raised the alarm.

    “One of the two guys ran into the wardrobe while the other hid in the toilet. When the gunmen entered and saw him lying on the floor, they shot him again many times at close range and left through the way they came.

    “They didn’t steal anything and they didn’t go to any other flat. It was a case of assassination.”

    The source said the children of the deceased were not at home when the gunmen struck.

    Giobaro was said to have sent them to stay temporarily with his separated wife.

    The source added: “They (gunmen) were on a mission to kill him. They shot many bullets at the door. They still came to him in the pool of his blood to shoot him several times in the stomach.”

    It was gathered the police took the body to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    But sources urged the police to look for an unidentified lady, who allegedly had a failed romantic relationship with the deceased.

    The late journalist was said to have received multiple threat messages in connection with the relationship before he was killed.

    The state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the incident as sacrilegious.

    Its Chairman, John Angese, said the killing of Giobaro was a big blow to the journalism family in the state.

    He urged the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat said the command was investigating the incident.