The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen abduct Bayelsa community leader

    Gunmen abduct Bayelsa community leader

    A community leader in Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Chief Geoffrey Agorodo, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    The Nation gathered that Agorodo was whisked away to an unknown place on Friday at about 8:30pm by the four-man kidnap gang.

    The gunmen were reportedly dressed in army uniform when the struck at Ogbia waterfront and seized their target.

    They were said to have bundled Agorodo into a waiting speedboat and sped off after shooting sporadically to scare people away.

    The Chairman of the Ogbia Clan, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Osaanya B. Osaanya, condemned the incident saying it was one abduction too many in the council.

    Osaanya said: “Kidnapping has become a worrisome development in Ogbia. Kidnappers have laid siege in our council and at the last count over five persons were abducted in the past one month. This is unacceptable. Most of the victims were elderly men and women including traditional rulers.”

    Osaanya urged youths to desist from criminality and engage themselves in legitimate means of livelihoods.

    He asked the state government and security agencies especially the police to evolve a better productive approach of tacking criminality in the council.

    He asked the Ogbia local government area to float a security programme to tackle the trend.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, confirmed the development and said investigations were ongoing to unmask the identities of the abductors and rescue the victim.

  • Tension as gunmen attack army post in Bayelsa

     

    There was tension in Bayelsa State yesterday following an attack on an army post at Kolo Creek, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state by unknown gunmen.

    The military post is primarily stationed in the area to guard an oil field operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    The gunmen, who operated in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), were said to have stormed the post, carting away arms and ammunition.

    A civilian guard working at the facility was said to have been shot dead by the bandits. A security source who spoke in confidence said it was still a mystery how the gunmen stole the weapons.

    “What we learnt was that the gunmen, who rode on an SUV, stopped close to the army post, walked majestically into the post and dismantled the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). They took the GPMG and other riffle and ammunition, entered their vehicle and zoomed off.”

    He said the gunmen may have killed the civilian guard on a suspicion that he recognised them.

    “We are still trying to know what happened to the soldiers. It was either they were asleep or that they were overpowered by the gunmen. The incident happened at about 5:30am. You know election is also around the corner,” he said.

    It was learnt that the incident has heightened fears of violence ahead of the governorship election scheduled to hold on December 5.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Chief Seriake Dickson, are the main rivals in the poll.

    The corpse of the deceased, identified as Mr. Austin Igwe, was reportedly evacuated by policemen from Ogbia Division and soldiers of Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) and was later deposited in a mortuary.

    Confirming the incident, the Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia Clan, Mr. Osanya B. Osanya, condemned the attack.

    He called on security agencies to be vigilant, especially in view of the coming elections in the state.

    He said some politicians were desperate and could do anything, including sponsoring violence and bloodshed to win the election.

    “The leadership under my watch will, as a matter of importance, partner with the security agencies to rid our area of criminality. We also advise our youths to be at alert and not to allow some politicians to use them as willing tools to destroy our council,” he said.

    The Spokesman of OPS, Lt.-Col Isa Ado, could not be reached for his comment.

  • AIG kicks as gunmen abduct woman in Bayelsa

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 5, Musa Daura, has called for community cooperation to curtail kidnapping in Bayelsa State.

    Daura spoke yesterday, following the abduction of Mrs. Adioyili Okorie Agidi.

    The 55-year-old woman was reportedly snatched on Sunday by gunmen who operated in a speedboat.

    It was gathered that the six gunmen stormed Mrs Agidi’s home at Opume in Ogbia Local Government Area and took her away.

    The hoodlums were said to have shot severally into the air to scare Agidi’s neighbours before kidnapping her at 9am.

    The Chairman of Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC) in Ogbia, Mr. Osaanya B. Osaanya, urged the abductors to release the woman immediately.

    He appealed to security agencies to check incessant kidnappings in the area, saying Mrs Agidi’s abduction was one too many.

    Osaanya said: “We are sending a strong message to community leaders, especially in Opume, to be vigilant. We have noticed that each time a prominent chief visits the community, there will be a kidnap case.

    “Ijaw youths in the council under my leadership will assist security agencies to ensure that the woman is released.”

    Daura, who is the AIG in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, said the police were taking measures to check kidnapping and other acts of criminality.

    The AIG said since the police were not magicians, they relied on information from communities, especially the coastal settlements, to effectively tackle the menace.

    He urged the public to contact the police whenever they noticed strange faces in their area.

    Daura, who toured some police formations in Yenagoa and held a meeting with members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), said the police would crack down any criminal case, if they got information on time.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that we have these cases of kidnapping. There is nowhere in the world where you won’t experience such things.

    “…It was recently I got a report of a robbery in Bayelsa. The state has 80 per cent water and 20 per cent land. So, it is not possible for anybody to come from outside and kidnap in Bayelsa.

    “That is one of the reasons we have a partnership with the people. If you notice any strange happening within your domain, report to the nearest police station. We are doing everything possible to make sure we stop kidnappings in the state.”

     

     

  • 4 killed as gunmen attack DSS office

    4 killed as gunmen attack DSS office

    An unspecified number of suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Friday night attacked the Lokoja, Kogi State headquarters of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

    The insurgents, according to a reliable source, attacked the facility, close to a number of government offices, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Customs and NIPOST headquarters, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) office and the Federal High Court, the Kogi State House of Assembly complex, around 9pm.

    The attack was, however, repelled by the combined efforts of the DSS operatives and soldiers from the nearby military formation in the area, at the end of which three of the suspected insurgents were killed, while unconfirmed reports had it that two others were arrested.

    A mobile police man also lost his life.

    It was gathered that the heavily armed Boko Haram members engaged the security operatives in fierce exchange of fire power lasting several hours.

    A source told our correspondent that officers from the nearby Zone 8 police barracks were sighted evacuating their families even while the gun duel lasted.

    It was gathered that the combined efforts of a police team and the army later overpowered the insurgents who fled into the surrounding bushes, while some escaped through the Meme River.

    The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who confirmed the incident said detectives have been deployed to the area, and were on the trail of the fleeing terrorists.

    “The gunmen numbering about 40 at about 10pm (Friday) launched attack on the DSS headquarters at Hassan Katsina Road, Lokoja.

    “Before the attack they shot and hijacked one heavy duty trailer to block the road. At the end of the day, three of them were killed, while the rest fled”, the CP was quoted as saying.

    Our correspondent who visited the Kogi State Police Command headquarters around 9am yesterday met the place near desolate.

    One of the three policemen seen around the premises said that the CP just left the premises, along with a (police) cameraman.

    He said that they took pictures of “some bodies” which they later took away in a vehicle.

     

  • Gunmen kidnap 70-yr-old cleric in Ondo

    Gunmen kidnap 70-yr-old cleric in Ondo

    Barely 24 hours after the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Afenifere chieftain, Chief Olu Falae regained his freedom from kidnappers, a cleric  of the Apostolic Faith Church, Ilepa, in Ikare- Akoko, Pastor Japhet Obafemi, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    The 70- year-old clergyman was said to have been abducted along Auga-Akunnu Road near Ondo/Kogi border in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state.

    It was learnt that Obafemi’s abductors have since demanded a ransom of N16 million from his family members.

    A member of Obafemi’s church who preferred anonymity said the church and the family members of the cleric cannot afford the ransom.

    The caretaker chairman of Akoko Northeast Local Government, Alhaji Azeez Al-amam confirmed the incident.

    The Divisional Police Officer ( DPO) in charge of the area, Mr Musiliu Sogbade said efforts were being made to rescue the septuagenarian priest.

  • Gunmen kill policeman, 34 others

    Gunmen on Tuesday killed a police inspector, the district head of Allawa village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, his brother and 33 villagers in a midnight attack.
    A source said the assailants, who were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, invaded the village, brandishing weapons, including sophisticated guns. They shot at the villagers.
    The source said people were injured while attempting to escape, adding that 25 houses were torched by the invaders.
    The eyewitness said the attack lasted two hours, noting that no security agent rescued the villagers.
    The cause of the attack was unknown, as there was no clash between the villagers and the Fulani herdsmen.
    Many villagers have been displaced.
    Police spokesman Bala Elikana, who decried the incident, said the command had not got the number of casualties.
    He confirmed that a police officer was among the victims.
    Elikana said security agents could not get to the village in time because of lack of communication between Allawa and other parts of the state.
    He said the divisional officer in Kagara and the area commander in Minna had been deployed in the village to assess the situation.

  • Gunmen kidnap medical doctor in Ebonyi

    Gunmen kidnap medical doctor in Ebonyi

    A medical doctor, Dr. Johnson Obuna has been kidnapped in his private hospital at Aguogboriga Estate in Abakaliki by unknown gunmen.

    The doctor who is a pastor with Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria is an Obstetrician gynecologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

    The former state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) was kidnapped by unknown gunmen when he was about leaving his hospital after the day’s work.

    [ad id=”403656″]He was kidnapped on Tuesday around 9pm.

    Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of NMA, Dr. Agwu Umahi said the Association was going to hold an emergency meeting Thursday to sensitize members on the development so that all hands would be on deck to ensure his release immediately.

    In a statement, Ebonyi state police command assured the general public that the medical doctor would soon be released as the command was on top of the situation.

    Already, the Commissioner of police, CP Peace Ibekwe Abdullah  has  visited the victim’s family and deployed officers of the command toward the task of hunting down the kidnappers and releasing the victim without delay.

    Meanwhile, NMA has threatened to embark on strike if their colleague was not released.

    They said such episode has become a trend in the state and should be discouraged by security agencies in the state.

  • Gunmen attack Akwa Ibom fish market

    •Goods worth millions stolen  •Several injured but death

    Gunmen suspected to be robbers yesterday injured scores of people at a fish market in Itu-Itam Modern Market, popularly called T-Junction, in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Goods worth millions of naira were stolen in the attack.

    The robbery is coming a day after new Police Commissioner Muritala Mani arrived in the state.

    Mani took over from Gabriel Achong, who retired after the mandatory 35 years of service.

    Although nobody died in the attack, our reporter learnt that two persons, whose names could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report last night, were injured from gunshots and were rushed to a hospital.

    An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence for security reasons, said: “The 12 robbers invaded the area in three boats and shot sporadically into the air. They dispersed the passersby while they looted the market.”

    The victims, it was gathered, were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Itu.

    The police were said to have arrived late on the scene, as the robbers had escaped.

    Police spokesman Cordelia Nwawe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

    She said: “I know the gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, actually were at the market, which is a fish market. They came through the Opebi waterway at T-Junction to Ibeno boundary at Opebi waterside. They shot sporadically into the air and collected some valuables. But no life was lost.

    “I learnt a young man was struck by a stray bullet, but he is being treated. I can assure you that the police are on their trail. We will get back to you once we have enough information from our personnel on the waterways or the creeks.”

     

     

  • Gunmen k‎ill Edo APC chieftain

    Gunmen k‎ill Edo APC chieftain

    A gang of yet to be identified gunmen on Thursday evening shot and killed a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko- Edo local government of Edo state, Captain Samson Amineshi (rtd).

    He was shot along the Igarra-Okpe road.

    He was said to have attended a social function in Igarra and was driving back home to Okpe in his car with two other occupants ‎when they were said to have been flagged down by the gunmen, he was said to have dogded them and sped off not knowing another lay metres away.

    Other occupants were said to be hidden inside the car when suddenly the second group appeared and fired directly at the late Amineshi who was said to have died on the spot while unknown amount of money was said to have been collected from the occupants.

    But another version suspected assassination as the gunmen were said to have shot directly at him and sped off in a motorbike which they had parked close by.

    He was a former councilor in the council and was believed to be preparing for council election to be due soon in the state.

    Family sources said the matter has been reported at the Igarra police station.

    But the state police Public Relations Officer, Stephen Onwochei could not be reached as at press time.

  • Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Imo

    A Catholic priest and lecturer at the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Rev. Dennis Osuagwu was, at the weekend, killed in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    The Priest, a member of the Claretian Missionaries Eastern Province, was said to be heading for St Mark’s Catholic Chaplaincy at Obinze Barracks, where he served as chaplain, to conduct the day’s mass.

    According to eye witnesses, the assailants waylaid him at Avu junction on the Port Harcourt/Owerri Road, dragged him from his car and shot him in the chest.

    He died immediately.

    The management of the Imo State Polytechnic confirmed the incident but declined comment.

    Police spokesman Andrew Enwerem confirmed the incident.

    “We are investigating the murder and the body has been deposited in the morgue for autopsy,” he said.