The Nation Newspaper

Tag: killed

  • …five killed, seven injured in Gombe

    …five killed, seven injured in Gombe

    Gunmen yesterday killed five persons and injured seven others at the Bagadaza area of the Gombe metropolis in Gombe State.

    A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gunmen came to the place and met the victims playing cards at about 4 p.m., adding that they started shooting, and in the process killed five instantly.

    The source said that the injured, including a policeman attached to Government House, Gombe, had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe for treatment.

    When the NAN visited the hospital about 6.30 p.m., the injured were seen responding to treatment at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.

    The incident drew the attention of scores of relations of the victims who trooped to the hospital to know the fate of their their relations.

    A wife to one of the injured persons, Mrs. Kate Philibus, told the NAN that she was called and informed that her husband had been shot and was at the FMC.

    “I was not there. They called and informed me that he had been shot on the arm, and I am just arriving,” she said.

    A father to one of the survivors, Mr. Bulus Chiroma, told newsmen that her daughter who worked at a provision store in Gombe was lucky to have entered a house when the gunmen arrived.

    He said although his daughter was also among the victims conveyed to the centre, she was, however, safe.

    A policeman told the NAN on condition of anonymity that residents of the area stopped security personnel from conveying the corpses to their respective homes.

    According to him, the people insisted that they must see either the Commissioner of Police or the governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, before releasing the bodies.

    Contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Mohammed Sule, confirmed the incident.

    He said that he was waiting for the details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area.

    “It is unfortunate, though I have not got the real details. It is in one slum. I am just returning and I have asked the DPO to come and tell me what happened,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the police have arrested one person in connection with the killings.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Fwaje Atajiri, said the suspect was arrested at the scene of the incident.

    Atajiri said that five persons were killed and seven others injured during the attack.

    He said the suspect was being interrogated by the police.

  • Three North Korean doctors killed in Yobe

    Three North Korean doctors killed in Yobe

    Three North Korean doctors were killed yesterday in Potiskum, the commercial city of Yobe State. One of them was beheaded. The others had their throats slit.

    The night attack came after Friday’s killing of nine women health workers who were administering polio vaccination on children in Kano.

    No group has claimed responsibility for the killing of the foreign doctors, but Yobe State, along with neighbouring Borno State, is the epicentre of the activities of Boko Haram.

    The fundamentalist sect recently declared a ceasefire, saying that some criminal groups had been using its name to perpetrate violence.

    The attackers apparently struck at the North Korean doctors inside their home, said Dr. Mohammed Mamman, chairman of the Hospital Management Board of Yobe State. The North Korean doctors had no security guards at their residence and typically travelled around the city via three-wheel taxis without a police escort, officials said.

    By the time soldiers arrived at the house, they found the doctors’ wives cowering in a flower bed outside their home. At the property, they found the bodies of the men, all bearing what appeared to be machete wounds.

    An Associated Press (AP) journalist later saw the North Korean doctors’ bodies before they were moved to nearby Bauchi state for safe keeping. Two of the men had their throats slit. Attackers beheaded the other doctor.

    The doctors lived in a quiet neighborhood filled with other modest homes in the town.

    Initially, doctors at the hospital who worked with the physicians identified them as being from South Korea. The police identified the dead as being from China. But Mamman told reporters those killed were from North Korea who had lived in the state since 2005 as part of a medical programme between the state and the North Korean government.

    Yobe State Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai confirmed that the attack took place. He said officers had begun an investigation. Rufai said some arrests had been made.

    The Yobe State Government in a statement by the Abdullahi Bego the Special Adviser on Media and Press Affairs to Governor Gaidam condenmed the killings.

    The statement said: “Yobe State Government received with shock news of the murder of three doctors from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Potiskum today. The doctors, working for the State Government, were killed in the early hours of Sunday at their residence by unknown gunmen.

    “The Yobe State Government strongly condemns the murder of these doctors, who have contributed immensely to improving healthcare service delivery in the state. Arrangements are being made with the Korean coordinator to transfer the remains of the deceased to their home country as soon as possible.

    “The State Government, on behalf of the entire people of Yobe State, also expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria and the people and government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) over this sad and unfortunate incident.

    “The Yobe State Government will offer every possible support to the security agencies to track and prosecute the perpetrators of this criminal and condemnable act. The state government will also continue to partner the security agencies to ensure the safety of people’s life and property.”

    Boko Haram (Western education is sacrilege) has been attacking government buildings and security forces over the last year and a half. In 2012 alone, the group was blamed for killing at least 792 people, according to a count by AP.

    “Unknown attackers scaled over the fence of an apartment in Potiskum housing the three doctors around 1:00 am and slit their throats,” Yobe State Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufa’i told AFP.

    “Unfortunately, when they were posted and assumed duties as expatriates, the police were not notified to give them adequate security coverage.

    “As I am talking to you now, I am in Potiskum. The three male health workers have been confirmed dead while we are still working to uncover the details,’’ he said.

    “It is still premature to point any accusing fingers but we have commenced investigation to unravel the killings,” he said.

    A local resident said the bodies of the Koreans were found in their room Sunday morning by neighbours who alerted the security agents who in turn forced the door open.

    They were found slain after “people became worried when the doctors did not open their door in the morning,” a resident who did not want to be named told AFP.

    He said the victims had their throats slit, but it was not immediately clear if the assailants also came with guns.

    A resident Adamu(not real name) said six walked straight to the compound tied up the doctors and slited their throats one after the other with other two taking position at the gate while the gruesome act was going on.

    He said: “I was peeping through the window when six armed men walked to the house of the doctors in this area. Two of them took positions at the gate, while four entered the house. Ten minutes later, I started hearing the cries; and yelling probably from the gunmen giving orders to their colleagues. But I cannot tell you whether all the three doctors were killed or not, because I did not hear the sounds of any gunshot fired by the suspects that night.”

    Another resident said he woke up and saw the head of one of the doctors placed in front of the gate.

    The Emir of Fika, and Chairman of Yobe State Traditional Council of Chief, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Mohammed Idrissa Abali, also condemned the killing. He urged the JTF and the police to deploy more troops in Potiskum, as the town have continued to be targets of the insurgent.

    The chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state condemned the killings. In a statement, Dr Adamu Umar, said: “The NMA in Yobe State is saddened by the news of the gruesome murder of the three Korean health workers in Potiskum. ’’

    Yesterday’s attack also followed a spate of killings of Chinese nationals in the northeast in recent months.

    In November last year, gunmen shot dead two Chinese construction workers in Borno State.

    On October 19, a Chinese construction worker was killed in Maiduguri. Another Chinese national was shot dead on October 7 in Gubio, outside Maiduguri.

    The killings of the Chinese nationals at the time prompted Beijing to lodge a diplomatic protest to the Federal Government.

  • Lagos white cap chief killed

    Lagos white cap chief killed

    Lagos white cap chief, Kayode Onimole, was shot dead yesterday in his home by yet unidentified gunmen.

    The gunmen stormed his home at Onimole Court, Iga-Iduganran, a few metres away from the palace of Oba Rilwanu Akiolu of Lagos.

    The 73-year-old chief, who is also the Opomulero of Yoruba land, was last seen on Wednesday evening during the celebration of the Super Eagles’ victory over Mali in the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations.

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen broke into his home about 3am yesterday.

    Police chief Umaru Manko told The Nation on telephone: “Two boys walked into the man’s bedroom around 3am and shot him dead. They did not steal anything; so they are not armed robbers.

    “We have commenced investigation into the matter already. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba is leading the investigation team and they have already swung into action.”

    The late Onimole’s widow, Matilda, sat in the midst of sympathisers yesterday at their Lagos Island home.

    The bereaved family’s spokesperson, Maj-Gen Segun Ajiborisha (rtd.) described the incident as “very pathetic”.

    He said the family would miss Baba Oloye Onimole, adding that people had been calling from within and outside the country to confirm if the news was true.

    Gen. Ajiborisha described the late Onimole as “a very lovable man who could not hurt a fly”, adding: “As a man, he could get annoyed but he did not have any enemy. He lived an exemplary life.”

    He said the family was confident that the police would find the killers.

    Sympathisers, who thronged the late Onimole’s residence, recalled his fatherly role in the community.

    One of them, Lateef Ahmed, said the late Onimole was always ready to listen to people’s problems.

    “We will miss him because he was a man of the people; a likeable character. He would always be part of whatever positive activity we were engaged in and he was always there to offer words of advice,” Ahmed said.

    The Onimole seat was vacant for about 105 years following a dispute in some Lagos families before the late Onimole, a Nigerian Railway retiree and businessman was installed by the then Oba Adeyinka Oyekan in 2002. The late Onimole was 62 when he assumed duty as the Oba’s adviser, soothsayer and spiritualist.

  • Killed on rescue mission

    Killed on rescue mission

    She was killed last month by hoodlums, but when news of the death of Doris Nnadi, a Corps member, reached her junior colleagues at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, where she studied Law, tears flowed freely. UCHE ANICHEBE (500-Level Law) reports.

    The Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, the Anambra State capital was in grief last week.

    A former student of the faculty, Doris Nnadi, was killed on Christmas Eve. Tears flowed freely when students, who knew her learnt about her death.

    Doris graduated with a Second Class, Upper Division, in 2011. She proceeded to the Law School, Abuja where she also made a Second Class, Upper Division. A month after she was called to the Bar, Doris was killed by yet unidentified gunmen.

    The deceased was a Corps member serving at the Kwara State Ministry of Justice before the incident.

    It was gathered that Doris left her place of primary assignment to visit her family in Warri during the Yuletide. In preparation for the Christmas, she was accompanied by her sisters to shop at a supermarket. The girls rode in their father’s car.

    They returned to their family house at 7:44pm. Chidinma, her sister, who drove, parked at the gate on getting home. Then, Doris and others began to move the bought items into the compound. After they had emptied the trunk of the car, Chidinma stayed back in the car with her other sisters.

    The assailants, according to Chidinma, approached the car from the corner of the house. One of them, she said, came to the passenger’s side, knocking on the windscreen. He forced the door open and two of them, aged between 22 and 25, got into the car. “One sat at the front; the other sat in the back. The last one watched out for rescuers,” she recalled.

    She continued: “Immediately they got in, I noticed that the boys had guns with them. Then, one of them pointed a gun at me, demanding for the car key. I begged them to leave the car, pleading that it did not belong to me. I offered to part with all the money I had in my bag. While I was still begging them, I saw Doris, who seemed to have noticed them from the house, coming out. She approached the boys, obviously unaware that they were armed. She scolded them for harassing and intimidating us. Immediately, the boy outside the car shot at her. They fled the scene, without taking anything.”

    Doris was rushed to Mazon Clinic, close to their residence. The family hoped she would survive. Their hope was dashed an hour later, when a doctor told the waiting sympathisers that Doris was having “severe internal bleeding”. The doctor reportedly said there was nothing he could do to remove the bullet, which penetrated Doris’ back bone.

    In an unconscious state, the late Doris was moved to Syracus Clinic, Warri, where she was admitted for surgery. Four hours after the operation, her family was asked to get blood for the completion of the treatment.

    The family bought the blood to continue the operation. On the fifth pint of blood, the condition of the late Doris, who was said to have started talking, became worse. She jerked uncontrollably and died. Her remains were buried three days later in Amaigbo, Nwangele Local Government Area, Imo State.

    Amaka, the late Doris’ younger sister, said: “Everything happened so fast. It was seven hours of agony. I am very much convinced that it was incompetence on the part of the doctor that cost my sister her life. My sister was a strong girl who died defending our interest. She was bold and that was why she came to our defence, even in the face of danger. She died our hero.”

    Doris’ death shocked her mates in the university. Blessing Onwubiko, her roommate at UNIZIK, lamented the death of her best friend. She told CAMPUSLIFE: “I cannot believe that Doris is no more. Whenever I close my eyes, I still remember vividly the times we spent together. The late Doris was more than a roommate to me. She was my friend and confidant. She was the one that helped me through school works because of her brilliance. I pray that God bring her killers to book.”

    The late Doris’ parents, Mr and Mrs Silas Nnadi, were still mourning their daughter when CAMPUSLIFE spoke to them on phone last weekend. According to them, God would judge the killers of the “promising girl.”

  • One killed in Cross River car crash

    One person was killed in a crash at the weekend on the Odukpani axis of the Calabar-Itu Road.

    A car with registration number, Lagos ML854 KJA, rammed into a stationary truck.

    The deceased, an unidentified young man, was a passenger in the vehicle, which was said to be coming from Obubra.

    Five others, including the driver, were injured in the accident, which occurred at 7am.

    The truck, with registration number, Akwa Ibom XA 304 AED, was said to have been abandoned after it developed mechanical faults on Friday.

    Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police were on the scene.

    A survivor, Ms Blessing Osim, said she boarded the vehicle at Ugep.

    She said when she got in, the young man was sitting in front with another girl.

    “I do not know where he entered but the vehicle came from Obubra,” she said.

    Ms Osim said the accident happened during a rain, which caused poor visibility.

    She said the driver was on top speed.

    “The driver did not see that the truck was parked here until he got close to it. But he could not stop the vehicle,” she said.

    Ms Osim said the vehicle had five passengers, adding that the girl sitting in front with the deceased had a deep cut on her forehead while the driver sustained the same injury.

    It was gathered that few minutes after the accident, the vehicle was ransacked by hoodlums.

    It was learnt that some items were stolen from the pockets of the deceased, making it difficult for FRSC officials to identify him.

    State Sector Commander Yusuf Salami said the driver was on top speed.

    Salami also said the vehicle was over loaded.

  • Three Fulani herdsmen killed in Benue

    Three Fulani herdsmen, including a husband and his wife, were at the weekend killed at Amla village, near Otukpo, Benue State.

    Eight of their cows and settlements were burnt down.

    The Nation gathered that the killing followed the destruction of the farm produce of the host community, which the affected farmers were said to have complained about to no avail.

    The farm produce included yams, beans and cassava, which the herdsmen’s cattle allegedly destroyed during grazing.

    Besides the farm produce, the Amla and Emichi communities were said to have expressed concerns over the attitude of the herdsmen and their cows as they trespassed into streams and ponds, making it difficult for them to have potable water for domestic use.

    Also, residents of neighbouring Otukpo-Icho, Otukpo-Nobi, Odudaje, and other communities, have fled their homes for fear of reprisal from the Fulani community and are taking refuge in Otukpo.

    The Och’Otukpo, Chief John Eimonye, expressed shock over the incident and urged the residents to remain calm.

    The monarch said the matter would be investigated and the culprits brought to justice.

    Public spokesman Daniel Ezeala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the killings.

    He said investigation has begun, adding that no one has been arrested.

  • Vigilance group head killed

    The police at the weekend shot dead the chairman of a vigilance group in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nelson Denedo.

    Denedo was allegedly involved in the abduction of a worker of the State University, Abraka, Martins Denedo.

    Denedo was shot when the police stormed his gang’s hide-out at Eboh-Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government, where the victim was held.

    Martins, who was rescued unhurt, is an accountant at DELSU and the branch treasurer of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU).

    The victim was abducted at Abraka at 1am on January 1 while returning from church after the New Year Eve service.

    The vigilance chairman, it was gathered, engaged the police in a shootout before he was killed by the police.

    Three other suspects were arrested.

    Commissioner of Police Ikechukwu Aduba said as soon as Martins was seized, a team of crack detectives was detailed to carry out the rescue mission.

    He said the deceased was identified as the leader of the gang.

    The police chief said the gang had been responsible for all kidnap and robbery in Abraka and its environs.

    Aduba announced the dissolution of the local security outfit area and directed the chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the area, the council chairman and traditional rulers to assist in selecting credible persons for inauguration as soon as possible.

  • JTF: we’ve killed Boko Haram commander

    GAMBORU Ngala, a boarder town in Borno State, was yesterday attacked by about 50 gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) said it killed a commander of the sect.

    The residents fled their homes when the heavily-armed sect members invaded the town about 8.30am, sources said.

    The fundamentalist shot sporadically into the air.

    They reportedly raided three churches and set them ablaze after the worshipers abruptly ended services and fled on hearing gunshots.

    Sources said the gunmen attacked Customs and Immigration posts. Officers of both services abandoned their duty posts and fled into the bush.

    The gunment reportedly attacked a police station but they were resisted by the policemen on duty.

    Though there were unconfirmed reports that the fundamentalist killed two policemen in the siege, they were, however, repelled after about 30 minutes of gun battle.

    A source, who said the sect lost its members in the attack, could not confirm the casualty figure last night.

    Many telecommunication masts belonging to GSM providers have been destroyed by the sect members.

    Police Commissioner Abdullahi Yuguda could not be reached for confirmation. He did not answer his phone.

    But Police spokesman Gideon Jubril confirmed the incident. He, however, could not give details.

    In a statement, JTF spokesman Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa said: “In a follow-up operation to arrest some key commanders of the Boko Haram sect in Bulabulin area of Maiduguri on November 29, where the JTF lost an official with one other injured, the task force, with members of the Department of State Security and the Nigeria Police Force Dog Section, in a combined operation (yesterday) launched a special raid on Damboa–Biu Road to capture a major terrorist Commander, Abdulkareem Ibrahim, top on its wanted list.

    “During the operation, Ibrahim and two of his lieutenants were killed and an AK47 rifle with other arms and ammunition were recovered.”

    Col. Musa claimed that Ibrahim was a notorious terrorist Commander who has been responsible for recent assassination and bomb attacks in Maiduguri.

    “He is one of the top”Amirs” (Commander) recently declared in the Bounty list released by the JTF to members of the public,” Col. Musa added.

  • Five killed in Taraba religious crisis

    Five killed in Taraba religious crisis

    Troops were yesterday deployed in a Taraba State community following the outbreak of religious crisis in which five people died.

    A church vigilance group reportedly killed a man who insisted on going through the checkpoint set up to prevent attacks on the church building during service. This triggered riots that led to the death of four people.

    The clash was reportedly between Christian and Muslim youths in Ibi Local Government Area of the state.

    Rioters burnt down houses and shops in the remote area of Ibi, about 230 kilometres from the state capital of Jalingo, said Ibi Local Government Chairman Isiaku Adamu.

    Abubakar Bello, an Ibi resident, told The Associated Press (AP) that churches and mosques were also torched as he stood outside his home to protect it. He said residents were fleeing the town.

    A Taraba State government spokesman, Emmanuel Bello, said authorities had sent troops to the area to quell the violence.

    Only a few days ago, an innocent taxi driver was allegedly killed by military men in the state, after nine other people were abducted in Jalingo by unknown gunmen.

    Six of the nine abducted persons were found dead a day after their abduction.

    The insecurity in Taraba continued to worsen when yesterday, violence broke out in Ibi.

    Police Spokesman Amos Olaoye confirmed the crisis, saying “our men are already there to maintain law and order.”

    The Chairman of the Local Government said he is aware that “one person was killed in the crisis”.

    He said: “From all indications, the crisis is no longer a religious skirmish. It is a political crisis.

    “I am yet to visit the crisis area, but security men, including soldiers, have been drafted to the area to maintain law and order”.

    An eye witness told The Nation that even law enforcement agents drafted to the area were finding it difficult to contain the situation.

    A source said the violence started in a small way, but snowballed into a political crisis. The source said: “It could be a retaliation by the offended Muslim. I saw more than five persons killed. Many others were injured; they are receiving treatment in the hospital.

    “I also saw the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN) on fire. For now, I don’t know the number of churches and mosques that have been razed.”

  • Police inspector killed in Bauchi

    A police Inspector has been shot dead by unknown gunmen on Nasarawa Road in Bauchi.

    It was learnt that the policeman, who was identified as Babangida Dambaba, was killed at 5.40am yesterday after praying at a mosque in the area.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Babangida went to a nearby mosque to observe the early morning prayer (Subuhi). After the prayer, he left the mosque and was returning home when he was shot by the gunmen.”

    The source added that the gunmen escaped.

    It was learnt that the late inspector was one of the policemen attached to Government House in Bauchi.

    He has been buried according to Islamic rites.