The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Two students killed in Edo cult war

    Death toll in the ongoing rival cults war in Edo State is increasing by the day since cult related killings began last week.

    Several persons have been killed in Benin City and environs.

    Latest victims are two students of the Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Ovia South-West local government area of Edo State.

    The two students were shot dead while going to attend lectures on Tuesday morning.

    Examinations that were supposed to commence at the institution have been postponed after students of the college barricaded the highway to protest the killings.

    Provost of the institution, Dr. Friday Obasogie, who confirmed the killings, said the victims were on their way to school when they were ambushed and killed by the gunmen.

    “The students were going to school when the perpetrators ran out of the bush, attacked them and ran back to the bush.

    “It is cult clash; you know that it has been in Benin for over a week now. The police have brought the situation under control.

    “The semester’s examination has been postponed by one week to enable the tension die down,” the Provost stated.

    Spokesman for Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, said investigation has commenced into the killings.

    DSP Onwochei assured that those behind the killings would never escape justice as a manhunt for them has been launched.

  • Gunmen assassinate 71-year-old cleric in Edo

    A 71-year old cleric, Reverend David Memeh, has been assasinated by unknown gunmen at his Government Reservation Area residence in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Late Rev. Memeh who worshipped at the Foursquare Gospel was shot twice after the suspected assassins forcefully gained entrance into his residence.

    The gunmen did not take anything from the residence except the cell phones of the victim and his wife.

    Wife of the victim, Deaconess Alice, said her husband begged for life before he was shot.

    She said the killers broke into their apartment through the window in her husband’s room but that her husband fled to her room.

    Alice who spoke amidst tears said the two killers slapped her husband severally before they dragged him to kill.

    According to her, “I ran out after I heard gunshot for them to kill me but the killers have left. We were only three at home and they overpowered us.”

    “My husband is dead. I will appreciate if government arrest the killers.”

    Spokesman for the Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, could not be reached for comments.

  • Gunmen kill El-Rufai’s man in Kaduna

    Gunmen kill El-Rufai’s man in Kaduna

    •Governor-elect condoles with family

    Gunmen yesterday killed Mr. Markus Ishaya, a local coordinator of the campaign for Kaduna State Governor-elect Nasir El-Rufai.

    A statement yesterday in Kaduna by El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said the gunmen trailed Ishaya to his Atuku Ward in Atuku Kasa, Jema’a Local Government Area, and shot him.

    The statement said Ishaya performed well in mobilising support for the governor-elect.

    It added: “His family informed us that gunmen stormed his home and shot him several times.

    “The two gunmen were well armed and did not pick anything from his home.

    “The police have confirmed the incident; they have visited the scene of the crime and begun investigation.

    “While we appreciate their prompt action, our expectation is that the security agencies will fully investigate this killing and prosecute the perpetrators.

    “Security agencies must adequately protect all Nigerians, irrespective of their status and standing.”

    El-Rufai prayed for the soul of the deceased.

    He said: “Our empathy and prayers go to the family of Mr. Ishaya and the community over this callous murder and desecration of the human life.

    “May Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and give his family and friends the fortitude to bear this painful loss.”

    The killing of Ishaya brought to 10 the number of All Progressives Congress (APC) members that have been killed in the state during the campaign and its aftermath.

     

  • Gunmen kill ruler, one other in Rivers

    Barely 24 hours after gunmen killed former Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State,  Christopher Adube, his four children and  driver, two persons, including the ruler of Egbada have been killed.

    Chief Okwu Osia was reportedly killed Saturday night by yet to be identified gunmen.

    The hoodlums, reportedly in military uniform, also killed a passer-by for attempting to dissuade them from kidnapping an expectant mother.

    This puts the number of persons killed in the council in two days to 11.

    ONELGA council chairman Austin Ahiamadu said Adube’s killing was politically-motivated.

    Residents suspect that the politician was murdered because of his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi has promised to set up a panel to probe the killings.

    The police said a manhunt for them was under way.

    Efforts to confirm the incident were unsuccessful as  Police spokesman Ahmed Mohammad could not be reached .

  • Gunmen storm polling unit, set materials ablaze in Bauchi

    Some unidentified gunmen on Saturday stormed a polling unit in Bagurun Primary School of Darazo local government area of Bauchi state, firing gunshots sporadically into the air and forcing voters to scamper for safety.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, and made available to newsmen.

    The statement said the gunmen arrived at the place in six vehicles and thereafter gathered all election materials and set some of them ablaze.

    “The timely intervention of combined security forces, comprising the Police and Army, forced the suspects to abandon their mission and escape to unknown destination,

    “This enabled the electorate to put off the fire and save both the sensitive and non-sensitive materials.

    “Normalcy was restored in the area and the electorate continued casting their votes unhindered under tight security,” he said.

    Mohammed also confirmed the arrest of a 24-year-old man, Abdul Umar, in possession of a locally made pistol, seen loitering around Katako ward of Warji town in the state.

    The statement said Abdullahi Samaila and Nasiru Adamu also found in possession of 29 permanent voter cards at Marga Primary School Polling Unit of Ganjuwa local government area were also arrested.

    According to the statement, INEC Smart Card Reader machine and some election materials at Jauro Gani Village Polling Unit of  Alkaleri local government area of the state were snatched by unknown persons.

    However, the Community Head of Goro area of Dutse Alhaji in Bwari Area Council of Abuja, Mr Abubakar Bako, said the 2015 elections could turn out to be the country’s best.

    Bako, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the electorate had shown unparallel zeal to ensure their votes counted.

    He said the elections had put an end to voter apathy and complacent toward politics by the people.

    “What we are witnessing today in this community is unprecedented and we hope to keep flame burning.

    “The turnout is so impressive because since I began participating in elections this has been the most participated,’’ he said.

    Mr Bryan Sims, an international election observer, expressed displeasure on the attitude of some of the electoral officers.

    “In Abuja city, there were incidences of late delivery of INEC materials and these had caused the delay in the process in some areas.’’

    He, however, described voters’ calmness to expression of maturity and readiness to nurture the country’s democracy.

     

  • Lekki robbery: gunmen were professionals, says police chief

    Lekki robbery: gunmen were professionals, says police chief

    LAGOS Police Chief Kayode Aderanti yesterday described as professionals the gunmen who raided a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in Lekki last week, killing six persons, including three of his men.

    Police sources told The Nation that the hoodlums may have had military training.

    Parading some suspected kidnappers and robbers at the Command Headquater in Ikeja, Aderanti, responding to questions, said the gunmen displayed professional traits.

    He said that the police were working to get the suspects, promising that such incident would not repeat itself in Lagos.

    Aderanti said: “In as much as I do not want to comment much on the Lekki issue to avoid jeopardising our investigation, I agree with you that the perpetrators were fully prepared for that operation.

    “The types of arms that they displayed and the proficiency in terms of expertise, require that we do a thorough job to get to the root of the matter and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

    From the video footage of the incident, the police, The Nation learnt, believe that the gunmen must have military background.

    The source said: “The gun handling experience exhibited by those men was beyond just any armed robber. They were fully prepared for that exercise and were very generous with their bullets. The marksmanship they exhibited was even beyond the police.  It takes people with higher experience to have acted that way.

    “Then, the weapons are not just what you get off the shelf easily.  Those are high weapons and so, we know where to channel our investigations to. I can tell you that the police will fish them out before Easter. They cannot go unpunished for the lives they have wasted, I swear,” he said.

    A senior police officer, in a separate chat, said he was sure the gunmen have military experience.

    “I can stake my life on it. Those hoodlums have military experience. They have had something to do with the armed forces. If you see their coordination and their gun handling proficiency, even me as a senior officer I cannot match them.

    “Did you see their complete armour, they even had bullet proof vests, how many policemen have that? It would have even been better for them to just steal and go but the fact that they were so heartless as to open fire on harmless citizens, is evidence that their cup is full,” he said.

  • Gunmen kill three policemen, others in bank raid

    Gunmen kill three policemen, others in bank raid

    It was like a movie scene. Gun-totting robbers dressed in military camouflage invaded yesterday a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in Lekki, Lagos, shooting sporadically.

    Customers, motorists and road side vendors scampered for safety.

    The robbers trained their guns on a police van parked beside the bank.

    The policemen fought back, but three of them were killed.

    Police spokesman, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed casualty figure, but eyewitness said no fewer than eight persons, including the policemen, and a banker were killed.

    Many motorists abandoned their vehicles on the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge for dear life during the gun battle between the police and the robbers around 5pm.

    The robbers were said to have entered the bank, held customers hostage and carted away a large sum of money.

    Eye witnesses said on their twitter handles that the gunmen came prepared and overwhelmed the police.

    One Akintayo Disa (Teeboy), who posted pictures of the robbers allegedly taken through his Hi Resolution Canon EOS 1100D, claimed that they escaped through the waterways.

    He said the gunmen left after shooting sporadically for over 10 minutes and holding people hostage

    “The armed men, he added, shot someone around the waterfront.

    He said: “It appeared somebody got ‘whacked’. Crowd gathered around the waterfront. “The guys came prepared.  Car to car assassination taking place at Lekki 1, Road 14 Junction.”

    An eyewitness, told our correspondent on the phone that the robbers raided a bank at Lekki Phase 1 and attempted to escape through the link bridge to Ikoyi when they encountered policemen.

    Another witness, Ijeoma Okolie whose office is a few metres from the bank, said more than three people were killed.

    She said the robbers escaped in a speed boat after the bank operation.

    “It happened around 4:50pm or 4:55pm. We have closed for the day but we wasted about three minutes before leaving. It was while we were still waiting that we started hearing gunshots. So, we did not leave again.

    “It was terrible. The armed robbers were just shooting anyhow. They killed three policemen and one other person. They took their time and it seems they have studied the area very well because they just jumped into a boat and left.

    “The attack caused serious traffic on the road because most people abandoned their vehicles and ran for safety. So, for the robbers to have left through the water, it means they planned their movement thoroughly, “she said.

    One Oludayo said about four policemen and three civilians were killed by the robbers whose number he gave as 12.

    The civilian casualty, he said, included a member of staff of the bank, a nearby fish seller and a passerby.

    One Rose-Mary Motunrayo, who said she passed through the road more than an hour after the incident, described it as “really bad”, adding: “May God continue to help us.”

    But FCMB’s spokesperson, Louis Ibe said he was not aware of any attack when The Nation contacted him on telephone.

    Nwosu said the robbers sustained gunshot wounds, appealing to the public to report anyone with such injuries.

    He said the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, had visited the scene, adding that investigations are on.

  • Gunmen attack LP candidate’s home in Calabar

    GUNMEN,  on Tuesday evening, attacked the home of the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbuna in Ekorinm, Calabar, Cross River State.

    The incident, it was gathered, occurred about 7pm when four young men stormed the home in a black Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    They were resisted by the security men on guard, but a policeman was said to have been shot and his rifle taken. The policeman is receiving treatment in a hospital in Calabar.

    Egbuna, a former chief of staff to Governor Liyel Imoke, was not home when the incident occurred.

    This is the latest in a spate of violence that has characterised this election season in the state.

    In his reaction,  Chairman of the state’s Inter-Party Advisory Council Mr Goddie Akpama called on leaders to call their supporters to order and urged security agents to curb the violence.

    He said: ‘’Do or die politics is bad. If candidates want to win votes and you are killing the people that are coming out to vote how do you get the votes?

    “Again, people may stay away because they don’t want to be killed. This will not help our democracy and can contribute to voter apathy. Our state is low in terms of voting strength. If you now start the do-or-die politics, by way of killing ourselves, who will come out to vote?

    “We won’t even have the strength to talk at the national  level. So, the party leaders should call their supporters to order. It is a viral thing. It is not the best. I am calling on security agencies to bring calm to the situation. They should sign a peace accord. They have to sign undertakings.”

    Police spokesman ASP Hogan Bassey could not be reached for comments.

  • Gunmen attack LP candidate’s home in Calabar

    Unknown gunmen on Tuesday evening attacked the house of the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbuna, in Ekorinm, Calabar, Cross River State.

    The incident, it was gathered occurred at about 7pm as four young men stormed the house in a black Toyota SUV shooting sporadically.

    They were resisted by the security on guard and a policeman was shot and his rifle taken, a source said.

    The policeman is receiving treatment in an undisclosed Calabar hospital.

    Egbuna, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Liyel Imoke, was not home when the incident occurred it was learnt.

    This would be the latest in the spate of violence that has characterized this election season in the state.

    Reacting to the development chairman of the Inter party Advisory Council in the state, Mr. Goddie Akpama, called on political leaders to call their supporters to order and also on security agents to check the growing menace.

    He said, “The rate of this do or die politics is very bad. If candidates want to win votes and you are killing the people that are coming out to vote how do get the votes?

    “This would also be a problem to voters because a lot of people would stay away because they don’t want to be killed. This is not helping our democracy and would be contributing to voter apathy. Our state itself is low in terms of voting strength. If you now start the do or die politics, by way of killing ourselves, who will come out to vote?

    “We won’t even have the strength to talk at the national. So the party leaders should call their subjects to order. It is a viral thing. It is not the best. I am calling on security agencies too to call these leaders to order. They should sign a peace accord. They have to sign undertakings at various levels so as to stop this problem.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hogan Bassey, could not be reached for comments.

     

  • Suspected gunmen kill family of seven in Jos

    A 62-year-old retired police officer, Baba Jacob Wangte, his wife, Mrs. Ruth Jacob, 50, and five other members of the family have been killed by suspected gunmen.

    The incident occurred on Sunday night at Sabon Layi in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    Government troops said two Fulani men were ambushed and killed in the renewed fighting in the local government. This brings the casualty figure to nine.

    The Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, accused the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis of failing to protect the victims and failing to arrest the suspects.

    The victims included the son of the retired police officer, Katop Jacob, 27, his wife Rachael, 21 and three of his grandchildren.

    Loman said: “The attacks started since last week in some villages and continued on Sunday. About 10pm, Baba Jacob and seven members of his family were attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who killed the entire family.

    “The deceased would have been saved if operatives of the STF had responded to a distress call when residents noticed the gunmen a day earlier.”

    The council chairman confirmed that the retired police officer belonged to the Mupun ethnic group from Pankshin Local Government Area of the state and lived in Barkin Ladi since he retired.

    He said he wondered why such a big family could be wiped out in one day.

    According to Loman, “women protested the inability of the STF to stop the attacks on their communities on that day.

    “That protest was not enough to attract the government troops in charge of the area. Unfortunately, that night, the gunmen returned and wiped out an entire family. Instead of going after the gunmen, the soldiers were chasing villagers, who gathered to defend themselves and their community.

    “The soldiers were busy arresting youths, while the Fulani, who launched the attack, were allowed to escape.

    “The women were angry when two of their children were apprehended. Instead of arresting the attackers, the soldiers arrested innocent youths, who were defending themselves.”

    He said he had informed the authorities to take action on the behaviour of the STF members. He condemned the incident, saying the attackers were well-known to some members of the STF. The spokesman for the STF code-named ‘Operation safe haven’, Capt. IKedichi Iweha, who confirmed the attacks and killings, denied STF complicity as alleged by Loman.

    He said: “The attack started three days ago in Rim, Sho and environs. Our men were deployed there to restore peace. We contained the attacks and reprisals. However, two Fulani men were ambushed and killed. The attack and counter-attack continued this morning, but our men are trying their best to restore peace.

    “The STF will do its best to prevent further killings. We urge the residents to give information to the security agencies and desist from taking the law into their hands.

    “We have arrested some people in our efforts to restore normalcy. We arrested two youths with AK 47 guns. We don’t think these youths have our permission to use such weapons in self-defence. So, the claim of the women that the weapons were for self-defence is not acceptable to us.

    “We will continue to do our best to stop further killings. It is unfortunate that some have died. I don’t know if the victims were members of a family.”