The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen abduct NNPC chief in Kaduna

    Gunmen abduct NNPC chief in Kaduna

    An official of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr.Yusuf Abdulkadir, was at the weekend abducted by gunmen in Kaduna.

    It was learnt that he was kidnapped about 10 pm on Saturday from his home and taken to an unknown destination.

    According to a family source, the gunmen trailed him while he was returning home, “dragged him out of his car at gun point and whisked him away.”

    Information about the status of the man in the NNPC was sketchy last night, except that “he works at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, but on weekends, drives to Kaduna, where his family lives.”

    The source said the matter had been reported to the police.

    Spokesman Zubairu Abubakar could not be reached last night to comment on the incident.

  • NNPC staff abducted by gunmen

    NNPC staff abducted by gunmen

    A staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), identified as Yusuf Abdulkadir has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen in Kaduna.
    Abdulkadir, who is a staff in the NNPC Abuja office was said to have been abducted on Saturday at his residence in Rigachiku, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
    It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 10pm on Saturday when he was whisked away to an unknown destination.
    According to a family source, the gunmen trailed him while he was returning to his house and picked him up.
    ”They trailed him to the house yesterday dragged him out of his car at gun point and whisked him away.
    ”He works at NNPC Towers, Abuja, but on weekends, drives to Kaduna, where his family members reside,” the source added.
    The matter has been reported to police but efforts to reach the Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer, Zubairu Abubakar on the development proved abortive as his phone was switched off as at the time of filing this report.
    Three clergymen, Dr Emmanuel Dziggau, Yakubu Talba Dzarma and Iliya Anto who eventually died in his abductors’ custody, were kidnapped on March 21 while another Colonel Samaila Inusa was abducted and killed on 26th of March, 2016, in the state.

  • Gunmen abduct Channels TV’s Imo reporter

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers yesterday abducted the Imo State Correspondent of Channels Television, Mr. Tope Kuteyi.

    Up till the time of filling this report, the whereabouts of the reporter, who was seized from his home on the Umuguma Specialist Hospital Road at 3 a.m, were unknown.

    The gateman at Kuteyi’s home, identified simply as Thomas, said eight bandits scaled the fence after cutting the electrified anti-burglary cables.

    Thomas said: “I was in the security room with my brother when someone opened the window and pointed a gun at us. The intruder ordered us to open the gate, but I refused. While I was arguing with him, I didn’t know that other members of the gang had climbed into the compound. They ordered us to lie down and they broke into my oga’s (Kuteyi’s) house. Then they brought him out.

    “After that, they entered the next bungalow and smashed the window glasses. The man there escaped through the back fence. But they took his car and drove away with my oga.”

    Also, the abductors, who reportedly spoke with a friend of the victim, have demanded N15 million ransom to free him.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the government was aware of the incident.

    The statement said: “The young man (Kuteyi) is only a reporter who could not be said to kidnap because of money. To us, those behind the kidnapping know why they decided to inconvenience the victim and his family. They must have done that to blackmail the state government, having been commended for fighting and reducing kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state to the barest minimum.

    “Those holding him should please release him to reunite with his family. A journalist cannot afford to pay any ransom. To us, he (Kuteyi) must have been a victim of mistaken identity.”

    The Zone C (Southeast) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday expressed shock over the abduction of Channels Television correspondent in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Mr. Tope Kuteyi.

    The reporter was allegedly kidnapped at 3am from his home in Owerri.

    A statement by the zone’s Vice President, Christopher Isiguzo, and Secretary, Kenneth Ofoma, described the abduction as condemnable.

    They urged the kidnappers to release the reporter immediately.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the kidnap of this innocent citizen and journalist.

    “Kuteyi is neither a politician nor a moneybag, nor a businessman. It, therefore, baffles the union as to why he should be the target of this dastardly act.

    “We, therefore, appeal to the abductors of Mr. Kuteyi to release him unconditionally without delay. We similarly call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to secure the release of Kuteyi soonest, should his abductors hedge.

    “We regret that journalists, who are always at the forefront in the battle for social change, accountability, transparency in governance and social justice, should be made the victims of the vices they stand against.

    “Please, we plead with the abductors of our colleague to release him without further day!”

  • Gunmen abduct Channels man

    Gunmen abduct Channels man

    Some gunmen yesterday abducted the Imo State Correspondent of Channels Televison, Mr. Tope Kuteyi.

    Up till the time of filling this report, the whereabouts of the reporter, who was snatched…

  • Gunmen kill Police officer in Ebonyi

    Gunmen kill Police officer in Ebonyi

    Unidentified gunmen Friday shot and killed a policeman and wounded a Civil Defense personnel and other citizens of Ebonyi state who were going about their normal businesses in the early hours of the fateful day.

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen who were returning from a robbery operation along Abakaliki-Enugu expressway started shooting sporadically and as a result killed a policeman and wounded several others.

    Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Ebonyi state Command, Jibril Shyabu who explained that his wounded staff, a driver was already at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, (FETHA) receiving treatment described the incident as unfortunate and ugly.

    According to him, the incident has brought about the need for effective synergy among security agencies in the state and assured the members of the public of adequate protection by the security agencies in the state.

    He said his staff sustained both hand and leg injuries resulting from gunshot wounds as he is about to be taken into the theatre for emergency operation to remove the bullets inside his body.

    A source who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that the hoodlums operated on motorcycles and killed the officer at the Mobil Filling Station of the express road.

    The situation affected vehicular movements across the capital city as heavily armed police officers cordoned the roads especially the Abakaliki end of the federal highway.

    They thoroughly searched vehicles and motorcycles which they impounded and stuffed them into big operational vans.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, confirmed the incident noting that the investigation into the matter has commenced.

    She said: “The command is preparing a release on the matter and would make it available to the press soon.”

  • Suspected cultists kill one in Kwara

    Suspected cultists kill one in Kwara

    Suspected cultists Sunday shot one person dead in Ilorin, Kwara state.

    The victim simply identified as Wasiu was said to have been killed around Ikokoro/Sakamo area of Ilorin at about 4pm.

    Wasiu, in his 30s, it was gathered had hitherto fled the area to avoid being attacked returned recently.

    He was said to have belonged to a rival cult group.

    The gunmen said to be four in number, were said to have arrived the area in a commando style and shot the victim at a close range.

    An eyewitness said the armed men shot the deceased in the face.

    There was anxiety at the scene of the incident as residents and passersby scamperwd for safety.

    It was learnt that the sporadic shooting rented the air forcing motorists and motorcycles plying the area to run for their lives.

    “It was like a theatre scene when the gunmen arrived. They started shooting that everybody around had to runaway. We didn’t know what happened, we only discovered that the style of operation of the gunmen appeared like they are cultists.

    “Before now, we have been observing Wasiu (the victim) because his action too was suspicious. He might be a cult member that is why he was away for sometime now before yesterday’s incident,” a source said.

    It was learnt that the remains of the victim were evacuated from the scene by a relative before the arrival of a detachment from the state police command.

  • Gunmen shoot motorists on fuel queue in Kwara

    The-yet-to-abate fuel scarcity in the country assumed a dangerous dimension on Saturday in Ilorin, the Kwara state as three gunmen opened fire on motorists queuing for petrol.
    The incident happened at one Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Filling Stations in the metropolis.
    In the ensuing melee, it was gathered that the gunmen left two young men and a lady with serious injuries.
    Some others on the queue and other officials of the station were said to have scampered for safety.
    The incident according to eyewitnesses occurred in the early hours of the day. It was gathered that the three men were part of some youths who had forced themselves on the station, located along Offa Garage Road, to manage the gates to reduce the practice by many motorists to jump the queue in their desperate bid to get fuel.
    An eyewitness said “it was due to an argument among the boys; you know they are thugs and they have been at the gate but we don’t really know what led to the argument but we just suddenly heard the gunshots and it was later discovered that some people were seriously injured.”
    The three victims it was gathered were rushed to a private hospital, Yusjib Industrial Medicare, along the same axis.
    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the facility, Dr Yusuf Abdulraheem, told newsmen the three victims were in stable conditions. He said one of them had been taken to a laboratory where the bullets in him would be extracted.
    Kwara police command’s spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the development.
    He said that one of the gunmen has been arrested adding that a locally made pistol and some live cartridges were recovered from the suspect.
    Management of the filling station could not be reached, as the Manager only promised to call back after several calls to him. He also did not respond to text messages from reporters.

  • Gunmen kill six in reprisal attack on Zamfara village

    Gunmen kill six in reprisal attack on Zamfara village

    Gunmen have killed six residents of Fanteka Village in Daraga District of Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State in what the police termed a reprisal attack by the hoodlums.

    The villagers had on Thursday fought back an attack by the gunmen who invaded the village.

    Three of the suspected hoodlums were gunned down by the villagers, forcing the remaining invaders to beat a retreat.

    A few hours later, the gunmen returned to the village better armed and launched their reprisal which claimed six lives.

    The State Police Command confirmed the attack.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sanusi Amiru, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police had restored order to the community.

    He said a combined team of security men was on the trail of the gunmen.

    He, however, warned that the law prohibiting illegal possession of firearms was still in place and advised people against taking the law into their hands.

    An eye witness, Sule Musa, said the gunmen fled after they sensed that they were being overpowered by the villagers when they first invaded Finteka.

    Musa said the gunmen returned later on the same day with   more men who stormed the village on motorcycles motorcycles, shooting arbitrarily and killing six.

    Several other people were wounded, he said.

  • Breaking News: Gunmen storm Rivers community, behead one

    Breaking News: Gunmen storm Rivers community, behead one

    Unidentified gunmen in the early hours of Thursday stormed Mgbuitanwo, in Emohua Clan, Emohua Local Government Area of the Rivers State and beheaded 28 years- old man boy and abducted another resident of the area.

    It was the home country of the Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the Saturday’s rerun elections, Chief Andrew Uchendu.

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen who laid siege to the community also whisked away one of its victims to an unknown destination.

    An eyewitness Mr. Nwoka James said: “The assailants entered the community in what is suspected to be a cult reprisal and mercilessly murdered a young man of about 28 years identified as Mr. Ukeoma and abducted one Mr. Eruchi.

    “As I am talking with you now people are running away from the community, and I don’t think anybody will be ready to vote by Saturday with what has just happened,” he said.

     

  • Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s step-mum

    Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s step-mum

    •Demand N50m ransom

    Gunmen have kidnapped the aged step-mother of Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Doguwa.

    Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident to reporters in Kano yesterday, said the hoodlums abducted the woman on Sunday in Ririwai town, near the notorious Falgore forest.

    It serves as a den for rustlers and criminals.

    Ibrahim said: “My step- mother, Hajiya Hafsat Abubakar, was in her room when they invaded the house,” adding that the abductors demanded N50 million ransom.

    Police Commissioner Muhammad Katsina confirmed the incident.

    He said four suspects had been arrested.

    “We have arrested four persons in connection with the incident and they are helping us in our investigation.

    “Their intention was to kidnap the legislator,” the police commissioner said.

    He said the command’s anti-kidnapping squad was combing Falgore forest to rescue the victim.