The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousin in Otuoke

    Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousin in Otuoke

    • They hit him on the head, collected N400,000 from wife before whisking him away – inlaw

    Without fear of President Goodluck Jonathan, ten gunmen sneaked into Otuoke, his hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, and whisked away his first cousin, Chief Inengite Nitabai.

    In a daring move, the heavily armed men stormed the expansive compound of Nitabai located before Otuoke bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia Road and isolated their target without a gunshot.

    Nitabai said to be about 70 years old is a compound chief in Jonathan’s Ebele family.

    He has been acting like a father to the President since Jonathan’s real biological father died, sources from the family said.

    Commotion and panic reigned supreme in the compound of Nitabai when the bandits gained access to the area between 8 and 9pm on Sunday.

    The victim, his wife, his wife’s sister and three of his children were in the house when the assailants stormed the compound.

    His wife’s sister, 37-year-old Akinobebh Jin, said Silas, one of the sons of the victim first sighted the criminals and raised the alarm.

    “We came back from somewhere around 8pm. Silas was at the verandah doing his assignment while my inlaw, my sister and two other siblings were in the living room together.

    “After sometimes, Silas came shouting and saying that some people had jus entered into the compound. As we sprang on our feet, we were confused because we didn’t know where to run to.

    “Shortly After that five heavily armed men entered into the house, barking. We ran into the kitchen and some of them followed us to the kitchen. They asked us to lie down. They hit my sister on the head and asked her to give them money.

    “They also hit my inlaw with the butt of their guns and demanded money. They threatened to shoot us. My sister told them she had small money and they followed her to the bedroom where she gave them money”,she said.

    Jin said after collecting about N400,000, the gunmen still took their victim forcefully into a car parked at the compound.

    She said the car a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonged to the victim and was parked in the compound.

    “Five of the gunmen entered the compound while five others were hanging around the premises. They locked us inside the house before leaving”, she said.

    Jin who sustained injury at her finger said she had yet to recover from the shock.

    When our correspondent went to the compound, there was uneasy calm around the area.

    A detachment of Joint Task Force(JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, and operatives of the police had been deployed to the place.

    Sympathisers were seen trooping into the compound while the wife of the victim was said to have gone to the clinic for treatment.

    People were seen in groups discussing the incident just as a road leading to Otuoke had been cordoned off by soldiers.

    It was learnt that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, and the Deputy Commander, JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa, had earlier visited the crime scene.

    Opara said he and his men had murdered sleep since the incident happened.

    He said the police alerted other sister security agencies and prompted them to swing into action.

    He added that two gunboats had been stationed at the Onuebum waterside disclosing that the police had so far patrolled Edebiri, Kiambiri, Anyama and Ogobiri creeks.

    Opara revealed that two suspects had been arrested so far.

    “The other two suspects saw my men and ran away. We know them and we will get them”, he said.

    The Media Coordinator, JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the incident and said the assailants abandoned the victim’s car at the Onuebum community water front.

    The confirmation showed that the assailants must have escaped with their victim into the creeks through Onuebum waterways.

    Nwachukwu said: “Information available to me is that a certain Chief Nengite Nitabai was abducted by about 10 gunmen yesterday at about 9pm at Otuoke community in Ogbia LGA using his private vehicle.

    “The vehicle was later recovered at Onuebum community water front. The Deputy Commander, JTF, Commodore Ime Ekpa and a team of security agents have visited the crime scene and investigation is in progress to unmask the kidnappers and rescue the victim”.

    Further investigations in Otuoke revealed that there were two Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of the Nigerian Army stationed in the community.

    While one and detachment of soldiers have been guarding the mansion of President Jonathan, the other was stationed at the former hotel belonging to the wife of the President.

  • Gunmen kidnap two registration officers in Ebonyi

    •Abductors demanding N2m ransom

    •Police: no official signal yet on incident

    Gunmen at the weekend kidnapped two registration officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    The kidnappers were said to be demanding N2 million from the families of the party officers.

    The victims are: Donatus Omenyi and Moses Anyior.

    They were reportedly abducted from their homes at Nwekeisioffia, Umuezekoha community, by five armed men at 2am.

    The wife of one of the victims, who spoke in confidence, said the gunmen were allegedly led by a brother to a top official of the local government, simply identified as Okey.

    The abductors were said to have threatened to deal with members of the family, if they refused to dump APC for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    She said: “Five men, armed with weapons, invaded our house at 2am. They forced the door open and demanded to see my husband, who was hiding behind the door. I told them that my husband was not around, but Okey ordered the men to enter into our house. They found my husband and took him away. Later, they called, demanding N2 million or we forget APC.”

    The member representing Ezza North/Ishielu in the National Assembly, Peter Ede, confirmed the incident.

    He said the community had begun moves to reach the local government chairman and the traditional ruler on how to rescue the kidnap victims.

    Edeh said he held a meeting with the monarch of Umuezekoha community, Ezeogo Igboke Ewa, on the incident.

    The lawmaker condemned the political intolerance of the PDP in the community.

    He begged APC supporters to remain calm, assuring that the party was planning to rescue its abducted officers.

    Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said he was aware of the incident but had not got an official signal from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area.

  • Gunmen kill polytechnic lecturer

    Three gunmen, suspected to be assassins, yesterday killed the Head of Science Department at the Niger State Polytechnic, Abdulrashid Abdullahi, on Zungeru-Tegina road.

    He was said to be on official assignment to Kaduna.

    Abdullahi was shot at an abandoned check point after the Zungeru bridge at 8am. The gunmen did not take any thing.

    Abdullahi was tipped as the next rector in May.

    The cousin of the slain lecturer, who drove the car, Malam Hussaini Babangida, told reporters in Zungeru that they left for Kaduna at 7 am before they ran into the abandoned check point after the Zungeru Bridge, where the gunmen attacked them.

    Recounting their ordeal, Babangida said: “When I was stopped I thought they were security men, but when I stopped the gunmen headed for his (Abdullahi) side and attempted to force his door open by hacking it, but I drove away.

    “In that situation, the only thing I heard from him was that he has been shot as they could not open his door. Even as I was escaping, the gunmen were still shooting at the car, especially his side. On getting back to Zungeru, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.”

    He said nothing was taken from the vehicle.

    “It is sad that they killed my cousin for undisclosed reasons.”

    Commissioner for Tertiary Education Bashar Nuhu described Abdullahi as a humble and hard working lecturer.

    Police spokesman Richard Oguche said the attack was a robbery and that investigation had begun.

  • Gunmen kill five in Kwara

    Gunmen kill five in Kwara

    Armed robbers numbering about 30 yesterday allegedly invaded two banks in Offa, Offa Local Government area of Kwara State.

    The dare devil robbers who were said to have acted in a commando-like killed five people in the process.

    The men of the underworld, who according to report, struck about 5pm also allegedly attacked the police divisional headquarters in the ancient town.

    The robbers were said to have overpowered the policemen with their more sophisticated arms and reportedly freed some inmates.

    When contacted on phone command spokesperson, Femi Fabode (DSP), said he was yet to receive any information .

  • Gunmen kill varsity lecturer in Ogun

    A senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State, Dr. Segun Onabanjo, was killed yesterday by suspected robbers.

    His assailants broke into his Odomolasa home in Ilese-Ijebu around 1am. Sources said the hoodlums stole the late Onabanjo’s belongings and shot him.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said policemen responded to a distress call in the area and engaged the gunmen in a shootout, injuring some of them.

    Adejobi said: “The incident was unfortunate. The police are seriously investigating this case and the suspects would be brought to justice. We are already working on some leads. We combed the area and found blood stains at the back of the lecturer’s house. We traced the blood and hopefully, it will help in this case.”

    Also yesterday, armed robbers struck in Sabo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, killing the Director of Works, Akinyele Local Government, Mr. Kola Popoola.

    It was learnt that the hoodlums traced the late Popoola from a bank in Dugbe and shot him while he was driving.

    Sources said the deceased continued driving his Infinity Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), but had an accident less than 200km from where he was shot.

    Police spokesperson Bisi Ilobanofor said Popoola died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    She said: “The late Popoola, who was driving his Infinity SUV, marked KSF 893 BC, was shot while coming from a bank. He managed to drive himself to the spot where he had an accident. He was rushed to UCH where he died.”

  • Gunmen abduct Ukrainian, Greek

    Gunmen suspected to be pirates have abducted an Ukrainian captain and a chief engineer after attacking a vessel 35 nautical miles off Brass waters in Bayelsa State.

    The attacked ship, which was said to have a Marshall Island flag, was identified as MT. ALCHE.

    Security sources identified the ship engineer as a Greek.

    A security source said 18 crew members were onboard the ship when the hoodlums struck on Monday night.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, said while the gunmen robbed 16 others, they isolated the Greek and the Ukrainian and whisked them away to an unknown place.

    “We don’t know their whereabouts. They attacked other crew members and dispossessed them of their belongings. They took the captain and the chief engineer away,” he said.

    The source, however, said the victims’ employers have established communication with the kidnappers.

    “Our waters, especially at the Brass axis, have become a death trap. Almost every day pirates harass and abduct expatriates. It is terrible,” he said.

    The Media Coordinator, Joint Task Force (JTF), Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said he was yet to be briefed.

  • Gunmen kill poly worker in Bayelsa

    Unknown gunmen, suspected to be assassins, have shot dead a 35-year-old employee of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe in Bayelsa State, Mr. Frank Moses.

    The deceased was reportedly killed at Agudama in Yenagoa Local Government.

    Prior to the incident, Moses was said to be the financial secretary of the labour union in the polytechnic.

    The father of two was shot dead last Friday, a few minutes after celebrating the victory of the Golden Eaglets over their Mexican counterparts.

    He was said to have rejoiced with his neighbours over the match before the bandits attacked and killed him.

    Moses was said to be a cousin to the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas.

    He was an indigene of Okiki in Ogbia Local Government.

    Sources said he was killed a few metres away from his home.

    Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, a source alleged that Moses must have been shot, following the labour crisis rocking the polytechnic.

    The source, who craved anonymity, said the family reached the conclusion after conducting preliminary investigations through text messages in the deceased’s mobile phone.

    He said the victim was in the forefront of fighting for workers’ rights.

    “The gunmen laid an ambush for my brother in an uncompleted building close to his home and shot him in the head.

    “Neighbours tried to pursue the assassins but they failed. They, however, arrested a woman,” the source said.

    It was further learnt that a worker in the Accounts Department was apprehended and taken to the police station.

    Commissioner of Police Hillary Opara confirmed the incident.

    He said the police had arrested a female suspect.

    “But we are keeping an open mind on the investigation. We will give you an update when we complete our investigation,” Opara said.

  • Gunmen kill mum, three kids in Jos

    A mother and her three children were killed on Monday by gunmen in Rantis village at Barakin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.

    Two members of the village escaped with injuries, following the attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The injured have been taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Barakin Ladi General Hospital.

    It was gathered that about eight gunmen shot sporadically to scare the villagers as they stormed the compound of Mr. Joil Pam, where they killed his wife and three children. But Pam escaped.

    Sources said the victims were buried yesterday.

    Spokesman of the Special Task Force Capt. Salisu Mustapha said the area had been fortified by men of the Task Force.

    He said: “We received the report of the attack and immediately mobilised our men to the area. Right now, the area is calm and people are going about their business.”

  • Gunmen kill man at meeting in Ekiti

    Gunmen have killed a timber merchant, Mr. Foluso Ogundare (37), in Emure-Ekiti, Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    The incident occurred on Sunday while members of the Ekiti Bibiire Coalition (EBC) were meeting.

    A woman, Mrs. Beatrice Ige, was injured.

    EBC is the campaign outfit of House of Representatives member and governorship aspirant Opeyemi Bamidele.

    It was learnt that the gunmen stormed the venue of the meeting and started shooting.

    Sources said those at the meeting ran for safety, but the gunmen caught up with the Ogundare and shot him in the stomach.

    A source said the victim was killed because he could identify some of the hoodlums.

    Ogundare died around 10:25pm on Sunday at the Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti.”

    The source said: “When the killers came, they shot into the air and everyone ran out. But they went after the late Ogundare and when they caught up with him, they said he should be killed because he knew some of them.

    “Mrs. Ige was lucky as she was shot in the buttocks. She is receiving treatment at the State Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

    “What happened caught us unawares. We have been meeting for a long time at a specific place in Ward 3 at the local government. We never disturbed anyone. It was not a secret meeting.”

    Police spokesman Victor Olu-Babayemi said details of the incident were not yet known.

    Olu-Babayemi said: “Immediately we got the alert, we sent our men to FMC, Ido-Ekiti, where the body was deposited, and Emure-Ekiti, where the incident happened.

    “We must wait for the reports of our detectives and the autopsy to know the cause of Ogundare’s death.”

    In a statement yesterday, EBC alleged that Governor Kayode Fayemi could not stand opposition and accused him of sponsoring the attack.

    The Ekiti chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) debunked the allegations.

    In a statement by its Publicity Director, Segun Dipe, APC condemned the Emure incident, alleging that it was caused by a supremacy battle between two factions of Bamidele’s supporters.

    APC alleged that the factions were fighting over some money that they were expecting from Bamidele.

    It said: “APC is a law-abiding party. Fayemi has consistently warned that no blood of an Ekiti man is worth shedding for his or anyone’s political ambition. We urge the public to join us in the no-bloodshed, no-mayhem campaign as we move into another election period.”

     

  • Gunmen seize Sylva’s aide

    SIR Tonye Okio, an aide of former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, was yesterday abducted by gunmen yesterday.

    He was abducted in his Abuja residence with his mobile phone also confiscated, it was gathered.

    Okio served in Sylva’s administration and remains his representative in Abuja.

    A group, Bayelsa Democratic Front (BDF), alleged the development was not unconnected with his membership of the New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    A statement by its President-General, Promise Okpoebi, said: “Until evidence is adduced to the contrary, we strongly suspect that Sir Okio’s abduction is linked to his current political convictions, including his open membership of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in Bayelsa State.”

    It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Okio.