The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gunmen

  • Gunmen abduct Ogun lawmaker’s wife

    Four gunmen yesterday abducted Mrs. Folashade Onademunre, the wife of an Ogun State House of Assembly member, Mr. Samson Onademunre.

    Mrs. Onademuren, whose husband represents Ijebu North East on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was said to have been kidnapped at Ijebu–Ode, about 1:30pm.

    The Nation learnt that she was kidnapped with a woman described as her friend and taken to an unknown destination in an unmarked white Opel Astra car while inspecting work on her husband’s site.

    The suspected kidnappers have not contacted Mrs. Onademuren’s family.

    It was gathered that her abductors may have been on her trail, and upon sighting her on the site at Lewu Street, Obalende, Ijebu- Ode, they swooped on her and forcibly took her away.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said some hoodlums carried out the act, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, had visited the scene to strategise on how to rescue Mrs Onademuren.

    He said the police were investigating the matter.

    Adejobi urged the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the woman’s rescue.

  • Gunmen kill five policemen, four others in Borno

    Gunmen yesterday killed nine people including five policemen and two women in two attacks in Borno State.

    A divisional police station was attacked at Kala/Balge, where the slain civil war hero, Gen. Mohammed Shuwa hailed from. The centre of their operation was Rann, which is 292 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital. Five policemen were killed and another one injured in that attack.

    Sources said the gunmen used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the attacks in the early hours of yesterday.

    According to a police source, a boarding primary school, the local government’s lodge and the official residence of the council chairman were set on fire by the terrorists.

    Telecom masts were destroyed by the bandits who carted away arms from the police station.

    A resident of Rann said the attackers took the policemen unawares.

    The other attack was at a drinking joint around Bayan Quarters in Maiduguri where four people including two women attendants at the bar were reportedly shot dead.

    Spokesman of Borno Police Gideon Jibrin, in a telephone interview confirmed the row attcks but did not give details.

     

  • Gunmen free 30 detainees in Abuja police office attack

    Gunmen free 30 detainees in Abuja police office attack

    -Police re-arrest 25

    -Presidency orders security alert

    -UK issues travel
    advice to citizens

     

    The Presidency yesterday ordered a 24-hour security alert nationwide, following an early morning attack on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the Federal Capital Territory by unknown gunmen.

    The gunmen killed two policemen and set free more than 30 high-profile suspects.

    But the police said they arrested two of the attackers and 25 of the fleeing suspects.

    Inspector-General of Police M.D. Abubakar has set up a panel to probe the incident.

    Also yesterday, some embassies, especially the United Kingdom , warned their citizens against travelling to Kaduna State, following the Jaji bomb explosions and the attack on SARS.

    The UK also asked Britons to restrict their movement to some parts of Abuja

    But the Presidency has directed all security agencies, including the police, to place the nation on a 24-hour alert.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The government is deeply worried about the resurgence of bombings and attacks by gunmen since it decided to rule out dialogue with any militant group and placed ransom on some leaders of the Boko Haram sect.

    “The Presidency has directed all military formations, security/intelligence agencies and the police to beef up security nationwide. This directive became necessary because the recent gains recorded by security agencies have overwhelmed some of them.

    “I can tell you that there will be tight security nationwide with priority placed on volatile states in the Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral.”

    No group has claimed responsibility for the SARS invasion, which bears the imprint of the Boko Haram (western education is sin) sect.

    A source said it was difficult to ascertain who the gunmen were because the suspects in the SARS included armed robbers and other dangerous criminals.

    “Gang members of each group of suspects could have mobilised to invade SARS,” said the sources, adding: “The luck we had was that SARS is heavily fortified and our officers and men were able to launch a counter-attack against the gunmen.

    “Unless a group comes out to claim responsibility, we have to wait for the outcome of the Special Investigative Panel raised by the IGP.

    A statement by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, gave an ight into the attack.

    The statement said: “In the early hours of Monday (at about 2am), unknown gunmen in large number attacked the premises of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command. Policemen on duty responded swiftly and engaged the gunmen in a gun battle that lasted for some minutes, at the end of which the gunmen were successfully repelled.

    “However, in the confusion that ensued, about 30 suspects in the detention facilities of SARS broke out of the cells and attempted to escape. Tactical and coordinated efforts to re-arrest the fleeing suspects yielded instant result.

    “So far, twenty five (25) of the suspects have been re-arrested while five (5) suspects originally being held in relation to robbery related offences are currently at large. Two (2) Policemen died during the operation while two (2) of the attackers have been arrested.

    “It needs to be emphasisd here that no suspect held for terror related charges escaped from SARS detention facilities. No explosive or IED-related materials were used in the botched attack.

    “Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni has personally visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation.

    “He has equally ordered a high-powered investigative panel headed by a Senior Police Officer to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident

    “Similarly, the IGP has ordered water-tight security around all government and Police related facilities nationwide.

    “The Police High Command uses this medium to appeal to Nigerians for calm while reassuring them of the Force’s reparedness to perform its constitutional and statutory responsibilities of providing adequate security for the state and the entire citizenry.

    “The Force, therefore, enjoins the public to continue to go about their lawful duty without fear or intimidation as adequate strategies have been put in place to guarantee the general security and safety of all Nigerians.”

    It was also learnt that some cells being used by some militant groups and criminals have been identified and demolished in the FCT and its environs.

    The source added: “We are on the trail of some groups and sect commanders who had been operating in the FCT-Niger State axis. We will rout them out of their operational bases.

    “We will ensure that we protect lives and property in the FCT and its environs.”

    But, despite the assurance, some embassies were yesterday gripped with anxiety.

    A diplomatic source said: “Some embassies made consultations on the need to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the actual security situation in Abuja .

    “They became anxious because SARS is not far away from Asokoro District, which is hosting some embassies. And the embassies in Asokoro District felt the impact of the crossfire between the gunmen and SARS police.”

    While the enquiry is in progress, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK, through its High Commission in Nigeria, at about 5pm yesterday updated its travel advice to its citizens following the Jaji and SARS incidents.

    The travel advice reads in part: “This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Travel Summary (bomb attack on 25 November on church in Jaji, Kaduna State : security incident at police station in the Guzape area of Abuja ). The overall level of the advice has not changed. We advise against all travel to some areas of Nigeria and against all but essential travel to other areas, including Kaduna , and Zaria cities .

    “We advise against ALL travel to: Borno State ; Yobe State ; the riverine areas of Delta; Bayelsa; Rivers; Akwa Ibom; Cross River State ; Warri city; and Kano city.

    “We advise against ALL BUT ESSENTIAL travel to: Bauchi State ; Jos city; Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas in Plateau State ; Gombe State ; Mubi Town in Adamawa State and the area north of Mubi town that borders Borno State . Non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States ; Abia State ; Kaduna City ; Zaria City.

    “There was a bomb attack on 25 November on a church in Jaji, Kaduna State . Initial reports state that this resulted in a number of deaths. You should exercise vigilance and caution, and monitor the local media for further information.

    “In the early morning of 26 November there was a security incident involving a police station in the Guzape area of Abuja . The nature of the incident is still unclear, but we advise British Citizens to avoid the area for the time being.

    “There was a bomb attack on a church in Kaduna City on 28 October, resulting in deaths and injuries. You should exercise vigilance and caution, and monitor the local media for further information.

    “There have been violent clashes between ethnic groups in Agyaragu, Nassarawa State on 22 November which has led to a number of deaths. British nationals in the area should exercise vigilance and caution, and monitor the local media for further information.”

  • Gunmen attack police station, banks, PHCN office in Auchi

    Gunmen attack police station, banks, PHCN office in Auchi

    Auchi, the major town in the northern part of Edo State, was under attack last night.

    Unknown gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons and dynamites, stormed the polytechnic town between 5:30 and 6.30pm. They bombed a police station, the Etsako West Local Government secretariat, three banks and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) office.

    An unspecified number of people were reportedly killed.

    The bombed banks were behind the Federal Polytechnic campus.

    The PHCN office on Alhaji Musa Street was bombed. The police station was set on fire along with some vehicles.

    A resident of the area where the PHCN office is located said the sheer force of the explosion brought down at least one gate and a fence in the neighbourhood. Several buildings lost louvres, windows and doors frames.

    A resident living directly behind the PHCN office said: “We are under siege; they just bombed PHCN office; we heard the police station has been razed and we are afraid because there’s a filling station nearby and if they bomb it, we will be in a bigger danger.”

    As at 8:35pm, our sources said the police engaged the invaders in a gun duel to prevent them from pushing ahead.

    A resident, Mr. Williams Oriaghe, posted on twitter at about 6:27 pm: “Gunshot all over Auchi town.” He followed up with another tweet at 6:55pm: “Gunshot still raining here in Auchi.”

    At 7pm, he said silence as of a grave yard had descended upon his part of the town.

    Residents were holed up inside their homes following the heavy bombardment.

    Another resident said on the telephone: “I am sitting somewhere now. We are hearing heavy bombardment.”

    Another said they were advised to stay indoors to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

    It was gathered that the gunmen first attacked a police station with dynamites and explosives.

    Some policemen were said to have died in the attack.

    Another source added that a combined team of policemen and soldiers had cordoned off roads leading out of the community.

    The source said the gunmen drove through villages, shooting sporadically.

    The Acting State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hurdi, said he was on his way to Auchi and would issue a report later.

    “I don’t want to lie about the incident. Call me later and I will brief you on the accurate information,” Hurdi said. But he could no longer be reached last night.

     

  • Gunmen kill two in Zaria, say police

    The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two people, following an attack on the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Sabon-Gari, Zaria.

    Police spokesman Aminu Lawal, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the attackers, who are yet to be identified, also injured two other people.

    He said investigation has begun on the matter.

    The police identified the victims as Mr Benjamin Sule and a director of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Mr Nnamani Daniel.

    It also named the injured as Uba Mamuda and John Oguche.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen attacked the hotel between 9.30pm and 10pm on Saturday.

    The witness said the attackers arrived at the hotel on a motorcycle and opened fire.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the bodies of the deceased were taken to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika.

     

     

  • Gunmen kill two in Zaria

    Gunmen kill two in Zaria

    The Police Command in Kaduna State on Sunday confirmed the killing of two people, following an attack on Cosmopolitan Hotel in Sabon-Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawal, said the attackers, who had yet to be identified, also injured two people in the attack.

    He, however, said that investigation into the matter had begun.

    The police identified the victims as Mr. Benjamin Sule and a Director of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Mr. Nnamani Daniel.

    It also named the injured as Uba Mamuda and John Oguche.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen attacked the hotel between 9:30p.m and 10 p.m on Saturday.

    The witness said the attackers arrived at the hotel on a motorcycle and opened fire.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the bodies of the deceased were taken to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika.

     

  • Gunmen kill Kano Assembly member

    Unknown gunmen yesterday in Kano shot dead a member of the State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abba Garko, and representing Garko constituency. The gunmen who came on two motorbikes shot the legislator on his chest, head and arm.

    The incident happened at Farawa Quarters where they said Garko usually took his leisure in company of his friends. Sources said the assembly member after observing his prayers at 7.30 pm headed to the area, but unknown to him he was being trailed. He met his end at the hands of the four gunmen on the motorbikes who opened fire on him.

    Police authorities after several calls declined comments. But in reaction to Garko’s death, a member of the state assembly, Alhaji Salisu Ruruwei, described Garko as a steadfast member who maintained the integrity of the House.

     

  • Gunmen kill man in Kano

    Gunmen yesterday shot dead one person and injured two others at Kawo bus stop in Kano metropolis.

    An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano yesterday that the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. when some people were busy carrying out their daily businesses at the junction.

    According to the witness, the suspected gunmen arrived at the place on two motorcycles, ordered people around to leave the place in their own interest.

    It was gathered that shortly after giving the order, the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately and shot one person dead, injuring two others.

    The gunmen were said to have shot in the air before fleeing the area on their motorcycles.

    Spokesman of Kano Police, Mr Mustapha Abubakar, confirmed the incident.

    Abubakar said the injured persons were taken to the hospital.

    He said security had been beefed up in the area to ensure the arrest of the attackers.

     

  • Gunmen kill six in Yobe, Bauchi

    Gunmen kill six in Yobe, Bauchi

    Gunmen at the weekend shot dead five residents of Gaidam in Yobe State and a policeman in a Bauchi State town, the police said yesterday.

    The gunmen stormed the home of the people believed to be Igbo in Gaidam late Saturday and shot them dead before fleeing, police commissioner Patrick Egbuniwe said.

    “The gunmen broke into the home of the Igbo iron welders after they had closed from work and shot them dead. The attackers escaped and no one has been arrested for the attack,” he told AFP.

    Gaidam, which lies 135 kilometres (84 miles) from the Yobe State capital Damaturu and near the border with Niger, is the hometown of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

    Egbuniwe did not say whether Boko Haram was behind the killing.

    Also on Sunday, gunmen have killed a policeman and wounded another in a raid on a police station in Bauchi State, a police officer said yesterday.

    The gunmen launched the attack late on Saturday in the town of Itas, about 200 kilometres from the state capital, Bauchi, hurling explosives into the police station and opening fire on policemen, leading to an hour-long shootout, according to the AFP

    “The gunmen threw explosives into the police station, setting it on fire,” and killing a police inspector inside the building at the time, said the police officer who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak about the incident.

    Another policeman was wounded in the shootout and two nearby police homes were burnt.

    Bauchi State Police Commissioner Mohammed Ladan confirmed the attack but said he had no details yet.

    On Friday, gunmen killed three policemen and set ablaze three churches and a school in Bonny Yadi in the volatile Yobe State, a military spokesman said.

    Nigeria’s northeast has been hard hit by deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram.

    In November last year, the Islamist militant group launched coordinated bombings and shooting attacks on the town.

    Armed with Kalashnikov rifles, the Islamists hurled explosives at Gaidam police station, freed suspects, stole arms, rampaged through the town, burning six churches, a high court, a shopping complex and robbing a bank.

    On Friday, gunmen killed three policemen and set ablaze three churches and a school in the town of Bonny Yadi in the volatile state, a military spokesman said.

    Nigeria’s northeast has been hard hit by deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram.

  • Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

    Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

    Gunmen on Friday attacked the Divisional Police Station in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and killed three policemen.

    The spokesman of the Joint Task Force security outfit in Yobe, Lt. Eli Lazarus, confirmed the killings in a statement in Damaturu.

    The statement said, “in the early hours of today, gunmen attacked the Divisional Police Station at Buni Yadi and three policemen were killed with some arms carted away.”

    He said the JTF drafted its personnel to the area to beef up security to forestall further attacks in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Fika, Gashua and Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Fika, Bade and Gujba local government councils, respectively, had in the week suffered attacks from gunmen.