The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen abduct three girls from Lagos school

    Gunmen abduct three girls from Lagos school

    Police vow to rescue victims

    Be calm, school advises shocked parents

    Three girls were yesterday abducted at a popular Lagos State secondary school in an operation that confounded security agents and the authorities.

    The abductors smashed part of the fence at Babington  Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS), Ikorodu, stormed the classrooms area and snatched the girls.

    The kidnapped girls – Timilehin Olisa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo – are Senior Secondary two (SS2) pupils. They were preparing for a test when their abductors struck.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers  also attempted to take away an SS2 boy but failed because his classmates fought back.

    The Nation gathered that the unnamed boy identified one of the gunmen as a bricklayer working in the school.

    It was gathered that the criminals entered the school from the rear after breaking the perimeter fence.

    They were also said to have all pretended to be bricklayers to have access to the classrooms at that time of the night.

    The students were having their “prep” at about 9:30pm when the armed men suddenly showed up, threatening to shoot anyone of them who moved.

    They were said to have taken the girls from their class, shooting as they fled.

    It was learnt that when the criminals got to the end of Holiness Road inside the school premises, they pulled off the girls’ clothes  and left the fabrics there.

    It could not be ascertained if they gave them a new set of clothing.

    The Nation overheard a student telling her father that the armed men were about 10.

    “They were about 10 in number and they were well armed. We were having prep when it happened. Ordinarily, the bricklayers should not have access to this part of the compound at night, but we really do not know what happened and also we did not see the Mobile policemen who are usually around here, she said, adding:

    “Please, take me home with you, I have not heard so much gunshots before. It was very scary. They took three seniors with them and we also heard that they wanted to take a senior boy but he resisted and his friends fought back as well. He was the one who said he saw a bricklayer working for the school.

    “The bricklayers have their quarters far from here. So, they should not have any business around here in the night.”

    At the time The Nation visited the school, security agents from the police, the Army and the Navy were there.

    The police have tightened security in Ikorodu, with patrol teams at all the bus stops leading to the school.

    The school sent a message to parents, saying: “Dear beloved parents, the unfortunate incident reported is under control and the three parents have been contacted. Please continue to pray with and we assure you that all will be well. Kindly keep calm, your children are safe.”

    Three Rapid Response Squad  (RRS) helicopters have also been deployed to survey the creeks and neighbouring bushes for a possible location of the hoodlums and their hostages.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone Two, Mr. Bala Hassan, who was also at the school, assured the parents that the girls would be rescued.

    Hassan, who said the Ogun State Police Command had been contacted and all routes into that state secured, disclosed that the security forces were closing in on the criminals.

    “The police and other security agencies have not slept since this thing happened last night. The Lagos State Police Commissioner (Fatai Owoseni), his deputy and also the Commanders of sister agencies all slept here.

    “We are here to assure the parents that security forces are doing everything possible to ensure the girls are rescued and returned unhurt. We are also assuring that the ongoing operation in this area shall continue.

    “The CP has given the school authorities advice on how to beef up security around here. So far, we have gotten good information on the criminals and I can tell you that everything is on course.

    “The deployments already made will not be changed and Ogun Police Command has also been alerted to properly secure all entries and exits. We are assuring the parents and school authorities that the girls will soon be back,” he said.

    Second attack in two weeks

    It was gathered that the attack was the second in the last  two weeks.

    The Nation learnt that the first one was carried out a day to the school’s Inter-house Sports Competition. Monday’s came a day to the sale of the school’s entrance form.

    Most of the frightened parents who stormed the school, demanding to see their wards, said they heard of the incident from the news.

    While some of the parents remained adamant on taking their children home, despite assurances from the police and school authorities; others said the attacks as acts of sabotage from people envious of the school.

    A parent, Mrs Biola Ategbole, said she believed the school is Nigeria’s best, adding that she will not take her child away.

    She insisted that the kidnap must be sabotage, adding that the school has urged them to pray for the safety of the abducted girls.

    “We were not called. I heard and came like other parents. So, they asked us to see our children and spoke to us and told us to pray for the kidnapped girls. My son has been here for three years now, but I haven’t heard of anything like this before. I believe some people wanted to sabotage the school since it was to commence the sale of its entrance form today (Tuesday).”

    Another parent, Tenuola Oyenuga, told reporters that she initially heard there was a fight in the school and on getting there she discovered it was kidnapping.

    Face – off between school employees and reporters

    Some employees of the school decided to vent their anger on reporters who were trying take pictures.

    The attack started as a verbal assault after a male employee suspected to be a security guard, warned journalists to stop taking pictures of some students who were outside.

    He was told that the target was not the students but an inconsolable woman who was said to be the mother of one of the victims.

    This disclosure further angered the guard, who demanded that the tools of the reporters be seized.

    The woman, dressed in a green Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) tee shirt and a black skirt who was sobbing, suddenly joined the mob, screaming that journalists be sent out of the premises.

    For about 15 minutes, the situation was tense – until some senior officials of the school brokered peace.

  • Gunmen kill three Mali soldiers at checkpoint

    Gunmen attacked a checkpoint southwest of the Malian town of Timbuktu on Tuesday night killing three soldiers and wounded two others.

    A soldier in the town said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday that the attack took place at Lere, a town near the border with Mauritania.

    A Defence Ministry spokesman confirmed the toll but gave no further details about where or how the attack occurred.

    Mali is facing a growing threat from militant groups including al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb that have staged a series of high profile raids in recent months with numerous attacks on army and UN Nations personnel.

  • Gunmen kill Abia community’s monarch

    Gunmen kill Abia community’s monarch

    Traditional ruler of Ikeala Ahiaba Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze James Nwabekee is dead. Residents woke yesterday to the news of his assassination by gunmen.

    It was gathered that the incident happened around 10pm on Monday. The gunmen attempted to kill one of his son’s. He, however, escaped.

    Igwe Nwabekee’s body has since been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary.

    A community source said the gunmen, after killing the monarch, injured his relations, though they are yet to ascertain the number of injured persons. They are also yet to unravel the mystery behind the murder.

    According to him, the incident has thrown the community into panic.

    Police spokesman Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed the incident. He said the gunmen were four, stressing that the incident happened around 01:25hrs.

    Udeviotu said Igwe Nwabekee’s wife was shot and is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    “From the look of things, the hoodlums were ready to take more lives, because after killing the monarch, they went to one of his son’s room and shattered it with bullet. But he escaped.”

    The spokesman said investigation has begun and appealed to the public to come up with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the hoodlums.

  • Again, gunmen abduct Jonathan’s 72-year-old foster father

    Again, gunmen abduct Jonathan’s 72-year-old foster father

    •Businessman kidnapped in Port Harcourt

    Gunmen have again kidnapped 72-year-old Chief Inengite Nitabai, a first cousin and foster father to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The septuagenarian was snatched away from his residence in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday.

    Nitabai was first kidnapped on February 23, 2014 during the administration of the ex-President.

    His first abduction attracted attention as the Federal Government activated all security networks within the Niger Delta region to rescue him.

    After spending over two weeks in the kidnappers’ den, Nitabai was rescued on March 13, 2014, by the police, which claimed no ransom was paid to the abductors.

    The 2014 operation was carried out by10 armed men, who stormed Nitabai’s expansive compound at about 9 pm and took him away without firing a  shot.

    Another attempt to abduct Nitabai was also made by a gang of kidnappers, whose operation was foiled by the police.

    It was gathered that the latest incident at 3:30 am was carried out by seven gunmen.

    An uncle to the victim, who spoke in confidence, wondered how the gunmen managed to abduct the septuagenarian, who enjoyed the protection of two police guards.

    Alleging insider collaboration, he asked the police to begin their investigation with the people around the old man.

    “I woke up this morning to hear that my uncle, who is the head of former President Jonathan’s compound, has been kidnapped. It is disheartening that he has fallen into the hands of kidnappers again.

    “It was by divine intervention he survived the first abduction. We are appealing to his assailants to release him unconditionally”, he said.

    Details of the abduction were sketchy yesterday. Sources said the gunmen might have entered Nitabai’s residence from the creek behind his compound.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident.

    He said: “A massive manhunt have been launched by a team of Marine Police and Anti-Kidnapping Unit, to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors. Investigation is on.”

    Amid sporadic gunshots, a businessman, who owns Jossy Class Super Store at No. 9, Abakaliki Street, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State was kidnapped yesterday.

    Jossy, whose full name could not be ascertained as at press time, is a wholesale and retail dealer of wine, alcoholic and soft drinks, in a shop not far from the Mile One Divisional Police Headquarters.

    The businessman was kidnapped around 5 p.m. by some young gunmen, while sitting in front of his shop with friends and associates, with his aides attending to customers.

    The kidnappers, who came to Jossy’s shop in a black saloon car, picked their target, pushed him into their steaming car and zoomed off to an unknown destination, while shooting sporadically, to avoid confrontation in the densely-populated area.

    Rivers police spokesman Muhammad Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he had not got the details from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mile One divisional police headquarters.

  • Gunmen kill 18 in Rivers PDP chairman’s home town

    Gunmen kill 18 in Rivers PDP chairman’s home town

    A supremacy battle between rival cult groups has left no fewer than 18 persons killed in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers state.

    It was gathered that the incident took place on Friday night in the densely-populated town, which hosts the Federal College of Education (Technical).

    Omoku is also the hometown of Rivers Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah.

    Sources said a cult group known as the Icelanders invaded the community around 11pm to carry out the killing and injure many others.

    Among those killed, according to eyewitnesses, were a couple and two brothers of the same parents.

    It was learnt that many of the deceased were beheaded with the killers allegedly making away with their corpses.

    Elder John Awo, who hails from the community, told one of our correspondents that the killers operated freely despite security presence and checking points mounted on major junctions in the area.

    He alleged cultists have taken some villages in the area in the last six months the past six months, pointing out four of his cousins were among the victims.

    Omoku town, which plays host to some multinational oil companies, has become desolate as residents have fled their homes for safety.

    The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident.

    It said six corpses of the suspected cultists have been recovered.

    The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that the situation was under control.

    Ahmad said: “The incident is reasonably believed to be battle of supremacy between rival cult groups in the town (Omoku).

    “As it is now, the situation is under control, as more anti-riot policemen have been drafted to reinforce the existing security in the town.

    “As for the casualties, six dead bodies of the suspected cultists were recovered.”

    The situation has further heightened violence in Rivers State.

    Last Thursday, a former member of the Rivers House of Assembly, Monday Eleanya, who represented Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni constituency on the platform of the PDP, was shot dead as he was driving out of his residence on Ada-George road in Port-Harcourt.

    Eleanya just recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Finebone, while reacting to the assassination of Eleanya, popularly called World Bank, insisted that it was part of the threats by PDP leaders to eliminate most leaders of the party ahead of the March 19 legislative reruns.

    3 Senatorial, 12 of 13 House of Representatives and 22 of 32 state’s House of Assembly seats are open for contest at the ordered reruns.

    Finebone said APC leaders and members in Rivers would never be cowed or intimidated.

    He urged security agencies to be alive to their responsibility of protecting lives and property.

  • Uneasy calm in Ugborodo as gunmen abduct youth leader

    Uneasy calm in Ugborodo as gunmen abduct youth leader

    Fresh crisis is looming in oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state following Monday night’s abduction of a prominent youth leader and leading candidate in an imminent election into the community’s youth body.

    Ugborodo community, host to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s $9bn gas-to-liquid plants, CNL’s Tank Farm and and proposed $16bn EPZ among other national assets, is one of the richest in the Niger Delta and elections into the community’s trust and youth body usually lead to tension and bloodbaths.

    Various sources said Mr. Ofe Penda, a leading candidate in the coming election, was abducted by armed men in front of a hotel on the busy Airport road in the Oil City, on Monday evening.

    The incident is generating tension in the area because it was gathered that it occurred shortly after Ofe met a factional leader and key player in the community’s leadership crisis.

    “We suspect that the gunmen trail us from the venue of the meeting.

    “They rode in a Toyota hilux van and they were six of them. The three who came down were heavily armed and they wore military fatigue and bulletproof vests.”

    The victim, whose whereabouts was still unknown at the time of this report on Tuesday, was taken away the Toyota Camry saloon car he was riding in at the time of the incident.

    Local sources said the abduction was not unconnected with election into the youth body of the oil-rich community.

    Mr. Temi Eyoyibo, who is related to Ofe, told our reporter that some persons in the clan sees him as the leading candidate in the running for Youth President, adding that his abduction was a ploy to stop the election and to cause another mayhem in the community.

    “We all know that some unscrupulous elements see the community’s leadership as their only claim to relevance and are desperately trying to postpone the elections to ease the way for their candidate and stooge, this might be one of the tricks up their sleeves to carry out that plot.

    “But we trust on the leadership of our esteemed king, Ogiame Ikenwoli, to restore peace and orderliness to all Itsekiri communities, including Ugborodo,” Temi told our reporter in a telephone chat.

    Meanwhile, at the time of this report on Tuesday afternoon, it was gathered that loads of Ugborodo women were on their way to the palace of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, to express their displeasure at the deadly drama.

    It was gathered that the action of the women was informed by their need to avoid further tragedy in the community, which is recently notorious for gunfights and bloody rival groups clashes.

    Although the Commander, Quick Respond Squad of the Nigerian Police, Mr. Alkali Lamido, could not be reached, a source in his office confirmed that the incident was being investigated.

  • Gunmen kidnap ex-Ondo council chair’s wife, demand N2m ransom

    The wife of the former chairman of Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mrs Atinuke Ogunmilade, was yesterday evening kidnapped by suspected gunmen.

    Mrs Ogunmilade was reportedly kidnapped along Ogbagi-Akoko and Ikare-Akoko while traveling in her car Toyota car.

    A community leader in the town, Alhaji Rasaq Apalowo who spoke with The Nation, said, Mrs Ogumilade was going to her shop in Ikare-Akoko from Ogbagi-Akoko where she lives when she was kidnapped.

    He said: The kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding N2million ransom. They said she has been taken to a location close to Ajasepo in Kwara State and threatening to kill her if the family fails to pay the ransom within five days. We want to appeal to the police and other security agents in Kwara State to work towards ensuring her safe release.”

    Efforts to get the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ikare-Akoko Police Division, Mr Adewale Suleiman however proved abortive.

  • Suspected gunmen kill DPO, 62 others

    Suspected gunmen kill DPO, 62 others

    Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen yesterday invaded four towns in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Vunokilang Police Station and 62 others.

    However, there was a conflicting report last night that  the gunmen were suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Nation learnt that more than 200 suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked four towns, namely Demsare, Wunamokoh, Dikajam and Taboungo and parts of Fawore at dawn, killing people.

    The DPO, the late CSP Okozie Okereofor, who had just spent two months in the command, was transferred from Okigwe in Imo State.

    An eyewitness said he was ambushed with his team, who moved into the communities to quell crises.

    A community leader, P.P. Elisha, said Okozie led his men to the areas and suspected Fulani herdsmen surrounded his vehicle and killed him.

    The bodies of the police officer and others have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

    Confirming the killings, police spokesman Othman Abubakar said the DPO and his men were attacked on official duty by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    He added that reports indicated that the attackers looted the villagers’ foodstuff and livestock before setting their homes ablaze.

  • Gunmen abduct pastor, 11 others in Bayelsa

    Gunmen abduct pastor, 11 others in Bayelsa

    Gunmen suspected to be sea robbers and kidnappers, Monday, attacked two speedboats along Bayelsa State waterways and abducted a pastor and 11 other passengers.

    It was gathered that the bandits hijacked the boats and redirected them to an unknown place in the creeks.

    The boats were said to be heading for Yenagoa from Twon-Brass when they were seized with their contents and passengers by the gunmen.

    The commercial speedboats reportedly took off from Twon-Brass through the notorious Nembe waterways to Yenagoa around 7am.

    The gunmen were said to have waylaid them immediately after the Obama rice farm in Nembe and diverted them to the Okoroma creek.

    A source who spoke in confidence confirmed that 12 passengers on board the boats were rounded up and taken away by the gunmen.

    He said:  “As I am speaking with you, we are yet to hear from the abductors or from the pastor since then, you can see the wife of the pastor over there, and she is completely devastated and has to be attended to. She is in a state of mind that I cannot explain.

    “Since we got the news I have called the DPO, Nembe, the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, the JTF Commander and all other relevant security agencies in the Bayelsa waterways to help secure the release of the pastor and the other 11 passengers.”

    When contacted the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) Asinim Bustwat, confirmed the incident.

  • Gunmen kidnap pastor in church

    Gunmen kidnap pastor in church

    •N50m ransom demanded

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Sunday stormed the Resurrection Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Kabba junction in Lokoja, Kogi State and abducted the cleric while he was preaching.

    Pastor Ayo Funsho Raphael was kidnapped about 9:30 am.

    A source said the 10 kidnappers announced their presence by shooting into the air and ordering the congregation to lie down.

    He said the pastor was dragged from the pulpit and taken to a nearby bush.

    The source said members were injured in the stampede.

    The kidnappers reportedly demanded N50 million ransom from the church elders on Monday.

    Police spokesman Williams Aya said the command was unaware of the incident.