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Tag: killers

  • ASUU calls for prosecution of Agbulu’s killers

    ASUU calls for prosecution of Agbulu’s killers

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to ensure that the suspected killers of Miss Christiana Agbulu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, are prosecuted.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Ukooh David Ikoni, said the suspects should be prosecuted in line with the laws of the land.

    “We are appealing to relevant agencies involved in this case to allow justice so that maximum penalty is applied for the perpetuators,” he said.

    According to him, the death of Miss. Agbulu was painful, not only to the family, but to all who knew her, including the university community.

    He said: “If the government refuses to carry out its functions as demanded by law, the union will insist that they comply with the provision of the law because we would not allow our colleague to die in vain.”

    Miss. Agbulu was buried at her home town in Ugbokolo, Benue State, last Thursday.

     

  • Where are Ige’s killers?

    Where are Ige’s killers?

    Fifteen years after the gruesome murder of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Chief Bola Ige, his killers are still at large. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the life and times of the colourful politician, his ideas and travails and his unfulfilled hope for the country. 

    Fifteen years after, his killers are still at large. Every December unleashes the memory of the midnight gruesome murder at Bodija Estate, Ibadan. The scars have not faded. The pains linger in the minds of relations and associates. The puzzle remains unresolved. Who killed James Ajibola Ige, the most colourful Yoruba politician in post-Awolowo era?

    On December 23, 2001, the news reverberated throughout the country that Ige was no more. He was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The inability of government to unravel his assassination aptly underscores the illusion of justice and shallow commitment to security.

    Ige, lawyer, prolific writer, eloquent social critic and astute politician, was a committed Awoist. He was a dependable ally of the late sage, Chief Obafemi AwolowoIn the First Republic, he was the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Action Group (AG) . In the late sixties, he was a commissioner in the military government of Col. Adeyinka Adebayo in the Western State.  In the Second Republic, he was governor of the old Oyo State on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). In post-Third Republic, he emerged as the deputy leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group. He died as an elder statesman and top member of the Obasanjo administration.

    He was full of magnetism, charm, charisma and carriage. Ige had a caustic tongue. He was simply electrifying on the podium. On some occasions, he also ran into crisis. When he was assailed by the vicissitudes of life, he bore his ordeals with philosophical calmness. His regrets were many. In the First Republic, he labored in vain with Awo to get federal power. His leader ended up as the Leader of Opposition and later, as a political prisoner. Thirteen years after the fall of the indigenous leadership, he was governor. But, he lost re-election in controversial circumstances. Besides, he was jailed by the military. Besides, his loss of a promising son, Olugbenga, was tragic. In the camp of Awoists, Ige and his colleagues-Lateef Jakande and Bisi Onabanjo-were subjects of envy.  On some occasions, his political career was threatened by malicious colleagues. He survived the bitterness in Awo’s days. But, it was a different ball game afterwards.

    In 1999, he was rejected at the presidential primary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) by the Awoists. They said Ige lacked a national outlook, unlike Chief Olu Falae, the former Secretary to the Federal Military Government. That singular even marked the gradual of ways between Ige and his old friends in Awo camp.

    Was his participation in the Federal Government a mistake? Many compatriots disagreed with him for joining forces with Obasanjo. But, others felt that he followed the footsteps of Awo, who served as the Federal Commissioner for Finance in the Gowon administration. The controversy was not resolved in Afenifere before he passed on.

    Why was he killed? This may remain in the realm of conjecture for long. His son, Muyiwa, said the eminent politician was set to retrace his steps from the Obasanjo government before he was murdered. He explained that he wanted to resign in preparation for the 2003 elections. The motive was to rebuild the Alliance for Democracy (AD), ahead of the polls.

    Ige had no premonition about the looming disaster. Perhaps, he ignored the signs. He had informed the Owa Omiran Adediran of Esa-Oke that many guests would come to the town during the Yuletide. Ironically, the  guests came for the funeral of the Cicero.

    Before his murder, he had been molested at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, where hoodlums seized his cap and hung it on a nearby tree. Other guests at the installation of the late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo as a chief were taken aback. Many believe that the assault was the  forerunner to the murder at Ibadan. Ige’s murder provoked rage, emotional outburst and lamentation. Eminent Nigerians described the killing as too callous. At his lying-in-state, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka decried the hypocrisy of his foes crying more than the bereaved. He said: “Ige’s killers are here with us”.

    Ige was a bridge builder. He had friends across the six geo-political zones. He believed in mentoring young Nigerians from all walks of life. Fork-tongued and skilled in the war of words, Ige’s mouth was sharper than the razor’s edge. He was also humorous. He was loyal to Awo. That undiluted loyalty earned him the nicknamed, “Arole Awolowo,” a likely successor to the late sage.

    In Law and politics, Ige distinguished himself, to the delight of the indomitable Awo. Yet, he was an ardent critic of Awo and the AG before he joined the fold. He had criticized the AG for lack of an articulated articulate a foreign policy. Awo opened a file where he kept the thought-provoking articles written by Ige, especially his documented attacks against his party. When Awo’s lawyer friend, Chief Morohundiya, under who Ige later took off as a pupil lawyer, took  the rebellious young lawyer to the AG leader, Ige told Awo that he stood by the position he had taken. Indeed, Awo admired that candour, for only a few could call a spade a spade. Recognising his potentials, he resolved to groom him, encourage him and moderate his views.

    Consequently, Awo made Ige a member of the AG Committee for Review of Foreign Policy, along with the late Prof. Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, Akin Mabogunje, Tunde Oloko, Olumbe Bashir and Aluko. He was also an active member of the AG Youth Association led by Remi Fani-Kayode, and later, Ayo Fasanmi, the socialist chemist. He was also given the assignment to defend the oppressed United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) chieftains when the leaders of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) hounded them into detention. When the House of Representatives primary on Lagos Mainland between Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Secretary of the AG Youth Association, and Adewale Thompson, son of the licensed surveyor at Odaliki Street, Ebute-Meta, was deadlock, Ige was the young AG leader sent to hold a fresh shadow poll. He reported to Awo that although both Shitta-Bey and Thompson were popular, it appeared to him that the pendulum of victory tilted more to the direction of the son of “Seriki Musulumi” of Lagos. Awo ratified Ige’s report.

    He stirred many controversies in the First Republic. He was a critic of the Balewa government. On the eve of the Commonwealth of Nations’ Head of Government meeting in Lagos, Prime Minister Balewa had to stop a live television programme in which Ige was a discussant. After dissecting the agenda of the meeting, Ige described the Commonwealth as an organisation where the wealth was not common. The programme was stopped immediately.

    When Premier Ladoke Akintola boasted that the ring of power had been fixed on his finger and nobody could remove it. Ige went on air, saying that, if the ring could not be removed, the finger could be cut off. Ige was detained along with prominent AG leaders. He was detained in Kwale, old Midwest Region during the six month emergency period. Ige, a wordsmith, was fluent in Hausa. In Kano, he narrowly escaped death when the NPC tough boys pounced on his campaign train.

    Ige was dropped as commissioner in the Western State for being  a rebel criticising other agencies of government. Out of government, he returned to his legal practice. In1975, he became a member of Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) set up by Muritala/Obasanjo Administration to fashion out a new constitution, preparatory to the return of power to civilians. The committee was chaired by the late Chief Rotimi Williams. Awo declined to serve in the committee.

    As a member of the “Committee of Friends”, Ige became a founding leader of the UPN led by Awo. In 1979, he vied for the governorship of Oyo State, defeating his rival and former Vice Principal, Venerable Emmanuel Alayande, to the discomfort of Awo, who had favoured the cleric for the slot. Asked to step down for the old man by Awo, who promised to make him a minister after winning the presidential election, Ige was said to have retorted: “I cannot leave certainty for uncertainty”. After his victory at the poll, he mounted pressure on Alayande to serve as his Special Adviser on Education.

    The 1979 governorship election was a tough contest between him and Chief Richard Akinjide, the candidate of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). At a television debate, there was a hot argument between the two lawyers. The old “NCNCer” was said to have, in Ige’s view, politically disparaged Awo’s Free Education Policy. Ige’s reply was harsh. He asked: “ How many of your relatives who benefitted from the programme are armed robbers, charlatans and social miscreants”. Tempers rose. Some scolded Ige for extreme polemics. Others laughed it off.

    Curiously, relations Ige and his deputy, the late Chief Sunday Afolabi, was strained. Their mutual friend, Obasanjo, offered to mediate in the crisis. It became Ige’s undoing. His rivals in the UPN came up with charges of disloyalty against in at the Yola Conference of the UPN. In that delicate moment, he narrowly escaped expulsion from the Awo’s political family. Historians have referred to the difficult moment as the “night of long knives”. Ige’s saving grace was Awo, who employed wisdom in handling the sensitive matter. Afolabi later defected to the NPN to team up with ChiefsAdisa Akinloye, Akinjide, Busari Adelakun, Lamidi Adedibu and Victor Olunloyo to sack Ige from power.Following the 1983 coup, Ige was detained, tried and sentenced to imprisonment by the military tribunal. He was released by former President Ibrahim Babangida,  who dethroned Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as Head of State.

    But in private life, Ige courted controversy. At a public lecture, he referred the Olubadan of Ibadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso as Baales upgraded into first class obaship by former Governor David Jemibewon. There was uproar in Ibadanland. His Ibadan title, the “Aare Alasa” was withdrawn  by the Olubadan-In-Council and conferred on the Ewi exponent, Olarewaju Adepoju.

    Ige refused to participate in the Babangida transition programme, in obedience to Awo’s advise to the progressives to dine with the devil with a long spoon. In 1986, Awo had shunned the Political Bureau set up by IBB and chaired by Dr. Cookery. He doubted the sincerity of the military President, warning that the nation had embarked on a fruitless search. Awo said: “When we imagine that the new political order has arrived, we will be terribly disappointed”. The prophecy came true with the annulment of the presidential election of 1993 won by Chief Moshood Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate.

    Ige continued with the “siddon look” style during the Abacha regime when he dismissed the five political parties of the era as the five fingers of a leprous hand. When he later teamed up with pro-democracy fighters and “June 12” agitators coordinated by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), he was on the collision course with the military.  When Abdulsalami regime came, he traversed the two parties, PDP, which had majority of his colleagues in “G 34” as members, and All Nigeria Peoples Party (APP). Although he wrote the constitutions of the two parties, he could not cohabitate with the hawks of Abacha era. Although the closing date for party registration had elapsed, the Federal Government, based on the advice of Admiral Mike Akhigbe, registered AD, to forestall the exclusion of credible Southwest leaders from the transition programme.

    The AD was seized by crisis from the onset. At D’Rovans, Awoists rejected Ige in preference for Falae as presidential flag bearer. Ige never forgave his colleagues. He fought back. Against Afenifere’s wish, he joined the Obasanjo government. He was mocked by Afolabi, Minister of Internal Affairs, who described his former boss as a visitor, who was invited to eat, only to hold the hand of his host. Ige replied that he had not come to eat, but to serve his fatherland.

    It was an understatement. In the Power and Steel ministry, Ige was like a stranger. But, it was a different ball game at the Ministry of Justice, where he motivated the celebrated suit on resource control and laid the template for the anti-graft war.

    Before his death, Muyiwa, a former Commissioner for Physical Planning in Osun State, said he was contemplating a disengagement from the Federal Executive Council. He was said to have written to Obasanjo, intimating him of his desire to bid farewell to the cabinet. He said he would focus his attention on strengthening the zone, ahead of the 2003 election.

    Ige was an advocate of restructuring and the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to discuss the basis for mutual co-existence. But, rebuilding AD was the immediate priority. “I have a pivotal role to play in my party, AD, while you are engineering your party,the PDP. I need to strengthen my own, so that in 2003, there will be a credible, strong and clean national government in which the major parties will be represented”, he wrote. Ige prayed that “nothing will happen adversely which will frustrate the fond hope”. It was an unanswered prayer.

    What would have been Ige’s position on the Boko Haram insurgency, Niger Delta militancy, agitation for the Republic of Biafra and cries of marginalization in some zones? What would have been his opinion of the anti-corruption war, the evolution of a mega party in 2014/15, the doctrine of necessity, constitution amendment, zoning or rotational presidency and regionalism?

  • Police arrest suspected killers of ex-FIRS chief’s mum

    •How she struggled to stop robbers from collecting N2m, by witness

    The Edo State Police Command has said it arrested three suspected members of a robbery gang that robbed and shot a retired Magistrate and former Chairman of the Rent Edict Tribunal in the Lagos State Government Judiciary, Madam Grace Onaiwu Omoigui.

    The late Madam Omoigui, the mother of a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ifueko Okauru, died from complications arising from the injuries she sustained from the bullet wound.

    She was reportedly shot in the thigh after an unsuccessful struggle to stop the suspected robbers from collecting the N2 million cash she collected from a new generation.

    The shooting occurred on October 24 inside a hotel opposite the family’s home at Liberty Avenue in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    It was gathered that driver of the deceased, in an apparent move to escape, drove inside the hotel after the robbers shot the tyres of the Toyota Corolla they were .

    When our reporter visited the family’s home yesterday, the vehicle was parked inside the compound. But the security guards on duty said the family was in Lagos State.

    One of the security guard, who did not want his name mentioned, recalled that he was in the compound when he heard sporadic shootings.

    He said one of the robbers stood in front of the hotel as the second was driving while the third was with the late Madam Omoigui.

    The security guard said: “The incident happened three weeks ago. Mama was coming from the bank, but we saw the driver drive into the hotel. There were three of them. We heard when the one standing outside was telling the one arguing with Mama that the money was in a blue bag. This was after Mama had given them the wrong bag.

    “It was that time they shot Mama on the thigh and they took the money. But some fell on the ground. We quickly used another car to rush Mama to the hospital.”

    Police Commissioner Haliru Gwandu said the three suspects had been arrested since October 28 and had been charged to court for robbery.

    Gwandu gave the names of the suspects as Austin Orene, Isaiah Ngbekeu and Esogie Aigbede.

    The police chief said items recovered from the suspects include one double-barrelled cut-to-size gun, two single-barreled cut-to-size guns, assorted handsets, different identity cards, and receipt booklets.

    He said investigations showed that the driver and the security guards watched helplessly as the woman struggled with the robbers before she was shot.

  • Police nab suspected killers of corps member

    The police in Kaduna State have arrested two persons suspected of killing a youth Corp member, Lawal Auwal Kontagora, 26.

    Kontagora was murdered in Kaduna last Monday when he and a friend visite a female friend, Murdja.

    While inside his Peugeot 407, the hoodlums approached the car and asked them to alight.

    When they alighted, they were asked to kneel and the assailants demanded for their mobile phones. But Lawal had left his in the car and while trying to open the car door to retrieve the phone, he was shot in his right leg.

    Additional information showed that the hoodlums shook his head with a sickle and his brain gushed out.

    Murdja, however, called for help. Sensing that people may come to Kontagora’s rescue, the hoodlums shot sporadically into the air to scare people away before running away.

    According to Kontagora’s sibling, Yusuf Ma’aji Kontagora, they received the information around 10pm and rushed to the scene. Kontagora was rushed to Garkuwa Hospital on Sultan road where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

    State NYSC Coordinator Muhammed Momoh described his death as a huge shock and a big loss to Nigeria.

    He said: “NYSC has confirmed the death of a corps member who was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at Malali. It is unfortunate that at a time the country is developing potential young Nigerians like Lawal, some people are bent on frustrating the effort.

    “NYSC condoles with the family while urging the police and security agents to fish out the perpetrators. It is a condemnable act and the culprits must be brought to book.”

    Police spokesperson Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects are being investigated to ascertain their level of participation in the crime.

    It was gathered that one of the suspects, Jamiliu, also known as Baba Lado, is a bus driver who lives at Kwaru, Malali Badarawa District in Kaduna North.

    The deceased was said to have just returned to Nigeria four months ago for the compulsory one year service after graduating from a university in Malaysia.

  • Police vow to nab killers of officer

    Imo State Police Commissioner Mr. Taiwo Lakanu has said the command has intensified investigation into the murder of ASP Celestine Onwumere.

    Lakanu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri yesterday, said those behind the murder would soon be arrested.

    He said: “There will be no hiding place for the murderers. They will be nabbed. The killers have stepped on the lion’s tail.

    “We have stepped up our investigation to arrest the suspects.”

    Onwumere, who would have retired in December, was killed on the premises of the Mbieri Police Station by gunmen last week.

  • Police arrest four suspected killers of Oyo Assembly member

    Police in Oyo State have arrested four suspects in connection with the killing of a member of the state House of Assembly, Gideon Aremu.

    Aremu was shot dead by three gunmen in his Alakia, Ibadan home on July 1. The assailants were said to have trailed him to his house on a motorcycle.

    The late lawmaker represented Oorelope State Constituency on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

    Until his death, he was the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Public Relations and Security.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi offered a N5 million bounty for members of the public that could supply useful information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen.

    Police Commissioner Leye Oyebade, in a statement yesterday, said the arrest of the suspects was made possible by a combined team of Intelligence Response Team of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and detectives from the state police command.

    The statement reads: “Refer to gruesome murder of Hon. Gideon Aremu on July 1, 2016 by some gunmen, who made away with his Samsung phones and some money, I wish to inform you that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.

    “The arrest was made possible by combined efforts of the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and detectives from the Oyo State Police Command.”

    The four suspects would be paraded today at the police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

  • Killers on the prowl

    The Nigerian society appears to have become unusually brutal and bestial in recent times. This is following the intractable spate of atrocious killings of fellow citizens by hoodlums operating under different names and forms. Like the vicious practice in the jungle where animals pounce on one another and kill without any sense of remorse, herdsmen, robbers, militants, cultists, kidnappers, and ethnic militias gleefully move about killing their targets without restraints.

    Security operatives are not left out of the abominable acts as they have been severally being found responsible for the death of many lives either for pecuniary reasons or in the guise of doing their work.

    From one part of the country to another, hardly does a week end without Nigerians being inundated with distressing stories of gruesome murder of innocent citizens. It has thus becomes a common sight to find dead bodies riddled with bullets and machete cuts littering  various parts of the country with their blood drenching the ground like those of animals slaughtered at abattoirs.

    Findings showed that the despicable development has been generating palpable fears in the society and consequently fuelling fears among the people.

    Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubarkar Tsav, said he gets disturbed each time he hears of the horrendous killings that take place in the country.

    “I get worried whenever I hear those distasteful reports because it means that nobody is safe. The implication is that anyone of us could be attacked and killed and nothing will happen at the end of the day. In Gboko where I live, people kidnap for as low as N50, 000. It is that bad. The implication of all these is that everybody will begin to devise means of defending themselves. This could eventually lead to anarchy.

    “If those in the  positions of authority fail to do something because they have security around them, they should remember that they will leave office one day and those security details will be withdrawn from them. At that point, they will become like the rest of us and face similar challenges that we are facing,” he said.

     

    Groups at the forefront of major killings

    Herdsmen

    In recent times, the menacing activities of some criminal-minded herdsmen have threatened the state of security in the country as they moved from kidnapping their targets to killing people in their numbers. Their nuisance generated overt tension in the society as aggrieved citizens threatened a reprisal should they continue to perpetrate their unholy acts. Top among the leaders of the country that threatened to avenge further attacks by the herdsmen was Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose. The tension was so rife that retired Catholic Archbishop of Lagos State, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie warned that the challenge could snowball into civil war if not properly managed.

    Speaking after two farmers were killed in Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of the state, Fayose said; “I am sounding a note of warning to the Fulani herdsmen and those who can talk to them should also do so now. If they continue with these wanton attacks, killing of the people and destruction of farmlands in Ekiti, I cannot guarantee that there won’t be reprisal attacks.I can also not guarantee the level that the reprisal attacks can get to because as a governor, it is my responsibility to defend and protect my people.”

    Just in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State alone, the herdsmen have allegedly killed over 300 victims in the last six months. On several occasions, they invaded the villages namely:  Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku and Aila, murdered the natives and set their houses and farms ablaze.

    Before the citizens could recover from the Agatu massacre, the herdsmen moved eastward  and killed 40 natives of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of  Enugu State. The incident reportedly took place barely 24 hours after stories filtered out that about 500 heavily-armed herdsmen sneaked into the community preparatory to launch an attack. About seven villages in Nimbo (Nimbo Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Enugu Nimbo, Umuome and Ugwuachara) were among the areas attacked.

    In April this year, some of the blood- thirsty herdsmen shifted their attention to the South south, Delta State to be precise, and unleashed monumental havoc on Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government of the state. The attack, according to the residents, brought the number of their kinsmen that were allegedly murdered in recent times by the rampaging herdsmen to 31.

    The community’s President General, Chief Ogarivi Utso, said the herdsmen wrecked havoc on the Uwheru community, including assault, rape and killings.

    He said: “The genesis of the problem started in 2004 when Ohoror community, in Uwheru, was invaded by the herdsmen with the collaboration of some soldiers. Many houses were razed, including the home of a former President General, Mr. Emmanuel Enivwegha. Many residents were forced into exile, while 10 youths and men, including the younger brother to the former president general, Edjerigho, were killed by the suspected herdsmen.

    Within the same month, the herdsmen invaded two villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State and killed several people. While the residents of Dori and Mesuma, the attacked villages,  claimed that 40 people were killed and several houses razed, the police chief said only 15 people were killed in the attacks.

     

    Militants

    The renewed activities of militants in the Niger Delta region of the country opened up a fresh security challenge in the country recently. Within the short time they resumed their agitation, the militants have killed countless number of lives, including those of soldiers carrying out surveillance on oil facilities. Like the herdsmen, they have equally been spreading their bloodletting to different parts of the country.

    In what appeared like a war situation, militants numbering about 100 invaded Ogun State community penultimate weekend and wasted the lives 15 members of the community.

    Armed with guns and cutlasses, the militants stormed Imushin community in the Ogijo area of the state killing almost every resident in sight. The attack, reports said, was a revenge of the killing of two members suspected to be vandals by operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad.

    When the residents were still mourning, the suspected militants returned to the area and adjoining communities and spilled more blood than they did the first time they attacked the area. No fewer than 50 residents were reportedly killed during the attack, although officials sources said only six died.

    In May, three soldiers working with the Joint Military Force deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta were killed in a gun duel with pirates and militants. Col. Isa Ado, Spokesman of the force, codenamed, “Operation Pulo Shield, said that the military patrol team was attacked by a combined team of suspected militants and sea pirates, but that the team fought gallantly to ward off the attack. “The location came under fierce attack and three of our soldiers, who were hit by bullets, died on their way to the hospital. There were so many casualties on the side of the militants, but we cannot precisely know the number”.

    Moving on from there, the unrepentant militants early last month attacked and killed two soldiers and four civilians at Ijere community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

    “Some militants suspected to be the Avengers attacked a houseboat stationed at pipeline junction at the back of Ijere community. The militants came through Omadina creek in the Itsekiri axis. During the exchange of gunfire, the houseboat sank while the army recorded casualties. The militants escaped through the Omadina community axis,” military sources said.

     

    Boko Haram

    In spite of the decimation of  Boko Haram, the dreaded Islamist sect by the present administration, the  militants have continued to wreak occasional havoc. About a fortnight ago, members of the sect invaded Kuda Village in Adamawa State and   shot dead 18 women at a funeral.

    The sect showed it had not gone into oblivion early in the year when its members raided two villages in Mairi and Malari in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno, killing four persons and razing houses in the communities.

    Before the attack in Mairi and Malari, the sect had attacked and killed over 100 people in Dalori village, a suburb of  Borno State.

     

    Cultists

    Also compounding the security situation in the country is the activities of cultists who go about killing rival cult members and innocent citizens without minding whose ox is gored.

    Just last Sunday, suspected cultists in Rivers State killed two policemen attached to the Rumuji Police Divisional Headquarters and five other persons during a clash in the area.

    The bloody clash erupted between the Icelanders and the Greenlanders cult groups in Rumuji and Ovogo communities, in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

    Before the incident last Sunday, a  nursing mother and 22 others were reportedly killed in Aluu community, a suburb of Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state in early part of last month.

    Aside from Rivers State where the activities of cultists are highly pronounced, Lagos State has also recorded innumerable deaths resulting from cult clashes in recent times. Their activities have been found to be endemic in Ikorodu, Bariga, Shomolu, Mushin and Ojo areas of the state.

    Early in January this year, a clash between Aye and Eiye confraternities left five people dead and several injured in Ikorodu area. The cultists were said to have freely used axes, cutlasses and guns during the clash.

    Four persons were killed in Ilorin, dur­ing a supremacy fight between members of two rival cults in April. The cult clash occurred at Babako, Ita-Amodu and Agbo-Oba areas of Ilorin. The clash heightened tension in the affected areas while residents scampered to safety.

    About the same time, suspected cultists in Kogi State killed seven people as they shifted their activities from the campuses into the city centres. They chased their targets to their residences and killed them in public glare.

    Within the first half of the year, Ondo, Imo, Delta among others have also recorded series of bloody cult clashes that claimed several lives.

    In February, two persons were reportedly killed in Ondo town, during clashes involving two cults groups that took place in the Okesida and Odojomu areas of the state. Earlier in March, two persons were killed when a deadly cult war en­sued between two gangs in Owo Local Gov­ernment areas of the state.

    Nine people were also killed in various cult clashes in Imo and Delta states in March. In Imo, about five people died in cult clashes between Mgbolo Okuku and Obogwu communities in Owerri West Lo­cal Government, while four people were killed Agbor, Delta State, in a clash be­tween Aiye and Black Axe Baga at Owa in Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state.

     

    Politics

    Politically motivated killings reared its head early in the year during the governorship elections in Bayelsa State. About 14 people were reportedly killed during the supplementary governorship election that took place after the main election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) .

    The victims included four policemen, two soldiers and eight civilians.

    The build up to the federal and state legislative rerun elections in Rivers State in March equally turned bloody as two people, a major in the Nigerian Army and a soldier, were slain  in cold bold in the Abonnema creek in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the A troop of soldiers from the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, which was on patrol, was ambushed by people suspected to be pirates. In the exchange of gunfire, the major and soldier were gunned down, while two other soldiers were said to have sustained serious injuries.

    The state witnessed additional killings on the elections day as five people lost their lives during the violence that erupted during the polls.

    In spite of the huge presence of security operatives at the polling centres, dynamites, guns and other weapons of violence were freely used by hoodlums.

     

     

    Communal clashes

    Clashes between various communities and tribes have also accounted for the growing incidents of murder across the country.

    For instance, the lingering boundary crisis between Cross Rivers State and Ebonyin State has continuously led to avoidable  loss of human lives in the area. No fewer than eight persons were feared killed in renewed clashes between the two communities recently.

    The skirmish occurred between Ochienyim community in Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Before the clash in June that claimed eight lives, many people were gruesomely  killed in April in one of the  communal clashes in Cross River State.

    Fighting was said to have broken out between four communities in Cross River Central Senatorial and Northern Senatorial districts. In the Central Senatorial district, the crisis involved Ebum community in Obubra Local Government Area and Inyima in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.

    However, in the Northern Senatorial district, people from Ukpe community fought against their counterparts from Mbagede both in Ogoja Local Government Area.

    The multiple clashes were said to have been  triggered by protracted land disputes.

    A clash between Wurukum and Shomo communities in Taraba State in the same month also left 15 persons dead. The incident occurred in Karim-Lamido local council, during which several houses and valuables were allegedly burnt.

    The relative peace enjoyed in Lagos State was shattered in the early part of March after a clash between the Yoruba and Hausa communities at the popular Mile 12 market left about nine people dead. The incident compelled the state government to shut down the  market.

     

    Killings by security operatives

    The agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra resulted in another carnage of in the  South-east and South-south regions of the country when  when thousands of protesters clashed with security forces in Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Delta, Cross River and Ebonyi States.

    The protesters, who were mainly members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), had gone out en masse to mark Biafra Day in memory of the former leader of the defunct Biafra Republic, the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu when the attack took place.

    The bloodbath was followed by additional killing of over 30 members of the agitators in Onitsha allegedly by security operatives in May.  During  rally in Onitsha, Anambra State, a combined team of the military and police clashed with members of the IPOB during the celebration of Biafra Day in the commercial city.

    The gun battle, which led to the killings, started when an IPOB member allegedly shot at a soldier who was patrolling where the protesters had converged to begin a procession in honour of the late Ojukwu around the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha.

    Earlier, nine people were reportedly killed by security operatives  in December after taskforce members opened fire on protesting IPOB members in Onitsha.

     

    Nigerians speak

    The Nation’s investigations have shown that Nigerians have been living in overt fears because of the incessant killings across the country. Those who spoke with our correspondent said they now rely more on divine protection.

    A civil servant who identified himself simply as Gabriel, said: “ The rate of killing is alarming. How would one not be disturbed when all you have everywhere is killing, killing and killing? Unfortunately, the security operatives appear incapable of arresting the situation. I am really afraid because nobody is safe. It is only God that can protect one in this kind of situation the country has found itself.”

    A banker who gave her name as Bridget said: “There is nobody that would not be disturbed by the security situation in the country because there is nowhere that is safe. As banker, I am always scared of robbery attacks. When walking on the road, one will be praying against accidents and attacks. When you are at home, you are equally scared. It is fears all the way. Depending on security forces for protection is out of it because we have severally read about how their stations were attacked by gunmen.  God is my only security.”

    Another respondent who identified himself as Taylor said he is tempted to flee the country because of the state of insecurity. “It is not that there is no security breach in other places but when it does happen, security forces will always respond promptly but that is not the situation here. All you hear every time   is that the perpetrators will be brought to book or fished out but nothing happens after all. What is more worrisome is that so many violent groups are springing up everyday and they are made up of young boys who use all manners of weapons to attack their targets”.

     

    Why killings are increasing

    Security experts have blamed the proliferation of arms and level of poverty in the society for the rising cases of killings in the country.

    In a chat with The Nation, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Institute of Industrial Security Wilson Esangbedo,  said: “There is proliferation of arms in the country. This is often  caused by the porous nature of our borders which makes it possible for criminal- minded people to bring in all manners of weapons into the country. The level of unemployment and poverty in the country is another reason.  Apart from that, most children in the society are not brought up in accordance with good family values. When some of these children get to the university, they join cult groups and the moment they cannot get a job after graduation, they take to criminal activities such to achieve their goals. Another challenge is that some security men are working hand in hand with these criminal elements. This is making the efforts to tackle the menace difficult.”

    His views were also shared by Hon. Dipo Okeyomi, a security expert and consultant. “Aside from poverty and unemployment, the flamboyant lifestyles of public office holders and the privileged ones in the society encourage this kind of vice in the society. When people who have no idea of where their next meal will come from see their lifestyles, they will be tempted to do everything possible to come out of poverty and live like them.”

    On his part, Alhaji Abubarkar  Tsav said: “There is frustration, anger and suffering in the land and this pushes people to be violent. With a very little sum of money, some people will make themselves available to kill their fellow human beings.

    “Another problem is that we don’t have enough policemen to contain aggression in the country. This is made worse by the fact that a good number of policemen who are supposed to be protecting the people  are attached to politicians. You can find as many as six policemen attached to one politician and when there is a security challenge, there wouldn’t be enough people to attend to it.

    “Another challenge is that some security men work with hoodlums in carrying out all manners of criminal acts. Unfortunately, when you report such things, nothing is done about it. Added to the problem is that there is dereliction of duty by the government and the police. “

    Former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, Colonel Edor Obi, blamed politicians for the state of security in the country. He said: “Most of the boys doing these dirty jobs are people that were used and dumped after the elections by politicians. There is no election in Nigeria that you don’t have an army of youths  that are armed by the politicians. They use and dump  them and at the  end of the day, they begin to take it out on the society. Why do we have all the kidnapping across the country? Why do we still have so much armed robbery? Where do they get all the sophisticated weapons to operate so freely across the country? The present administration should do everything possible to put a stop to electoral violence. When people, the youths in particular, are no longer armed by politicians, the spate of killings will reduce”.

     

    Solutions

    Proffering solutions to the menace, the experts advised the Federal Government to organise a national security conference where stakeholders will come together to map out solutions to the challenge.

    Okeyomi said: President Buhari should as a matter of urgency convoke a national security conference where experts will come to rub minds and come up with lasting solutions. Besides, The government should do everything possible to re-jig the economy so that the pains of the masses can be alleviated. If people have something tangible doing, they will not have time for criminal activities.”

    Besides mopping up arms from the society,  Tsav said: “ Most of the policemen on duty are not properly supervised. Some of them wear mufti and stop and search vehicles on the road. This is worrisome because in most cases, you don’t know if they are armed robbers or policemen. The Federal Government didn’t do well by retiring a lot of senior officers. They didn’t put experience into consideration in arriving at the decision.

    “They can still engage some of these people who are vibrant and willing so that they can provide vital assistance. They should also reduce the  number of policemen attached to politicians and employ more officers. The 10,000 they are planning to employ is grossly inadequate in the situation that we have found ourselves. I totally support the idea of convoking a national security conference to address security challenges in the country.”

    Esangbedo said: “The present administration is doing everything possible to salvage the economy and has also provided the necessary tools for the security operatives to work. The security operatives need to purge themselves of bad eggs before they can truly tackle the challenge.”

  • Blasphemy: CAN calls for open trial of killers

    Blasphemy: CAN calls for open trial of killers

    •JNI: killing unislamic
    •Murder unacceptable, says Kalu

    The northern  branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for an open trial of the killers of Madam Bridget Agbahime, who was accused of blasphemy.

    Madam Agbahime, 74, was lynched last Thursday at Kofar Wambai market.

    Spokesman Rev. John Joseph Hayab, who addressed reporters, wondered why the police, who claimed to have rescued the deceased’s husband from the mob, could not rescue her or arrest the culprits. He also wondered why people would kill a fellow human being just because they are angry with such an individual.

    “So, if your enemy is angry with you, the best thing to do is to raise a false alarm, using religion as a cover to kill. Our religious leaders must preach the true tenets of religion, because this arrogance is getting too much,” he said.

    CAN appealed to the government to make deliberate policies aimed at stopping this type of extremism, adding that, “these type of issues are giving the state a bad name and image. The state government must ensure that the trial of the man who raised the false alarm and his cohorts is not done in secret so as to deter others.”

    The religious body, therefore, appealed to Christians to be law abiding with government, as well as offer persistent prayers for the unity and progress of the country.

    Apex Islamic body in the north, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has also condemned Mrs. Agbahime’s murder. It  describing the act as unislamic, saying it was perpetrated by miscreants and criminals.

    A statement by its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said: “With pains and sobriety, JNI received with shock the unfortunate alleged blasphemy of the Prophet (SAW) by Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, reported to have happened in Wambai, Kano State, and another one that claimed four lives in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Council of Niger State.

    “These ugly incidents stand condemned and are regarded as criminal and unislamic, perpetrated by miscreants and criminals.

    “It is unbelievable that such dastardly acts could happen in the name of religion, considering the various enlightenment programmes on interfaith and mutual co-existence put in place by Muslim scholars and the leadership.

    “In light of the above, we laud the untiring efforts of the Kano and Niger State governments, and their ‘Ulama’ in nipping in the bud, the unfortunate crises that would have engulfed both states. Likewise, the proactive measures of security agencies are also commendable and we implore that same be sustained.

    “We equally commiserate with Mr. Agbahime of the Deeper Life Bible Church on the death of his wife, even as we commend him for setting the record straight by saying his wife was not beheaded as reported by the media.

    “Finally, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of JNI, calls on all to remain calm and avoid actions that could lead to the breach of law and order. Muslims are also implored to fervently pray for the restoration of peace and security in Nigeria, bearing in mind that without Nigeria there will be no Nigerians.

    “On the other hand, respective state governments must rise to the occasion in protecting the lives of the citizenry, for it is a primary constitutional responsibility upon which their legitimacy is derived.”

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has also condemned the murder.

    Orji, who praised President Muhammadu Buhari and Ganduje for condemning the act, said: “Nobody has a right to take the life of another under whatever guise, unless sanctioned by a court. This murder is unacceptable to any decent human being, and is against the laws of Nigeria.

    “I call on the authorities to spare no effort in seeing that justice is done by fishing out the perpetrators and bringing them to book as soon as possible. Because religion was wrongly evoked by those that committed this crime, I call on Islamic leaders to publicly condemn this barbaric act and distance such from Islam, which forbids the taking of innocent lives.

    “At a time like this, national leaders should take the high moral ground and ensure that acts like these are condemned and eradicated. It is by so doing that we will ensure the essence of human sanctity.”

    Orji sympathised with the family and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Kano Killing: Trial of killers must be done openly -Northern CAN

    The Northern States branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said that the trial of the killers of Madam Bridget Agbahime who was murdered by mob at Kofar Wambai market must be done in the open.
    It would be recalled thar Madam Agbahime, 74 was lynched last week Thursday at Kano market by mob in presence of her husband over a false alarm of blasphemy.
    Speaking with newsmen, the spokesman of the Northern CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, also wondered why the police who claimed to have saved the husband of the late Madam Bridget from the mob, could not rescue the woman or arrest the perpetrators almost immediately.
    CAN also wondered why people would just wake up and kill a fellow human being just because they are angry with such an individual.
    “So, if your enemy is angry with you, the best thing to do is to raise false alarm using religion as a cover to kill you,” said CAN.
    He said, “Our religious leaders must come out and preach the true tenets of religion, because this arrogance is getting too much.”
    CAN however appealed to Kano State Government to make deliberate policies aiming at stopping this type of extremism, adding that, “this type of issues is given the Kano State a bad name and image.”
    “The Kano State government has to ensure that the trial of the man that raised the false alarm and his cohorts is not done in secret in order to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.
    According to CAN “Kano State government must do something permanently about this kind of issues which keep occurring, because this whole issue give the state a bad name before the international community.”
    The religious body therefore appealed to Christians to be law abiding with government at all levels as well as offer persistent prayers for the unity and progress of the country.

  • DPP’s absence stalls suspected killer’s trial

    DPP’s absence stalls suspected killer’s trial

    The trial of Oluwaseun Oladapo, the suspected killer of a human rights activist, Kunle Fadipe, was yesterday stalled at an Ikeja High Court in Lagos.

    The trial could not go on because the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija, and the defendant were indisposed.

    The defendant was said to be in hospital awaiting a leg surgery.

    Assistant State Counsel Babajide Boye and an Ikoyi Prisons official made these known yesterday when the case came up before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye.

    The prison official, who did not give his name, said Oladapo has been admitted at the Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital because “he is seriously experiencing pains in his leg.”

    The prison official said Oladapo is scheduled to undergo surgery for the bullet wound in his leg.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Worer Obuagbaka, expressed surprise at his client’s absence in court.

    He said he was aware that the defendant would undergo surgery, but that he did not know it would be so soon.

    Obuagbaka asked for a two-month adjournment to allow his client recuperate.

    Justice Ipaye granted his prayer, saying: “In view of the circumstance of the defendant being on admission in the hospital, the case is hereby adjourned to May 31, 2016”.