The Nation Newspaper

Tag: killing

  • Three held for killing Abia businessman

    The Abia State Police Command said it has arrested three suspects on the killing of a popular businessman, Chief Iroeke Ukaku, and the abduction of his two daughters last Friday at his Abiriba home in Ohafia Local Government.

    Addressing reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, Police Commissioner Ambrose Aisabor said the matter was not a kidnap but murder caused by revenge.

    He said: “It is a case of murder. This is because the scenario we saw and the things we met on ground showed that it is a revenge mission and not that of kidnap or murder, as people are speculating.”

    The police chief explained that on that fateful day, he got a report about 8.30pm from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area on the incident.

    Aisabor said he immediately deployed his men to the scene.

    According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the late Ukaku, on December 24, reportedly hired a “Bakassi group” from Aba.

    The group allegedly arrested some boys in the community and extorted others.

    Aisabor said he got information that on the day Ukaku was allegedly murdered, his assailants had killed two Bakassi men at the gate to his home.

    The killers, he said, went upstairs where the businessman was relaxing.

    After several attempts to enter his room, by firing several shots at the bulletproof door, the assailants allegedly held his eight months grand-daughter.

    They alledgedly threatened to smash her head on the wall if the busienessman refused to come out, it was learnt.

    Ukaku reportedly offered himself following the threats.

    The police chief said the assailants killed him on the spot.

    Aisabor said from police investigation, no ransom has been demanded by the abductors of the two daughters of the late Ukaku.

    He added that investigation is still ongoing on the matter.

    “We shall let the public know what happened in the end,” Aisabor said.

  • Military panel probes killing of six in Bayelsa

    A military panel of investigation into the killing of six youths in Agge, Bayelsa State, last weekend took the evidence of eyewitnesses and members of the bereaved families in Warri, Delta State.

    The Captain I.A Suleiman-led panel, sitting in the Effurun Barracks of the Nigerian Army, took evidence from the parents, wives and children of the deceased.

    A source at the meeting said one of the women broke into tears while recounting the last hours of her late husband.

    The six youths were killed by troops of the Joint Task Force, code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, around Agge, Bayelsa State, on July 23 in unclear circumstance.

    The Coordinator of the JTF Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col Onyeama Nwachukwu, in a statement after the incident, said the deceased were sea pirates, who engaged troops in a gun fight.

    “On sighting our troops, the sea pirates opened fire and the troops retaliated immediately, leading to the killing of six pirates,” he said.

    Nwachukwu’s claim was contested by an Ijaw human rights group, the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI), which accused the JTF of cold-blooded murder.

    IPDI, in a statement by Comrade Austin Ozobo, said the youths were taken alive by the troops and were later paraded in Agge before being taken to an unknown destination where they were shot dead.

    Ozobo backed his claim with a photograph, which was allegedly taken during the parade of the six youths in Agge Community.

    The photo showed six youths handcuffed and naked to the waist.

  • NANS condemns Mubi, PH students’ killing

    NANS condemns Mubi, PH students’ killing

    THE leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has added its voice to the condemnation of last week’s mass killings of students of Mubi Polytechnic and University of Port Harcourt.

    Comrade Ken Okorodas, Vice President (Special Duties) of the association, in a statement in Yenagoa expressed deep sadness over the killing of harmless students in Mubi and Port Harcourt, while advising the government to always put on standby armed security personnel to protect all institutions of higher learning in the country.

    Describing the killings as the height of evil, NANS advised the governments of Adamawa and Rivers States to take proactive steps without delay to bring the perpetrators to book.

    While enjoining students all over the country to observe a period of mourning for the murdered students, Okorodas added, “We should coordinate ourselves in the most peaceful manner possible, and await further directives from the central body of the association.”

     

  • •President’s aide, Akwa Ibom NUJ condemn killing

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth, Comrade Jude Imagwe, yesterday blamed loss of values among youths for the killings of the four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    Speaking at the National Youth Conference on Constitution Review in Abuja, he decried the situation where youths watched the killing of other youths.

    Imagwe said: “I came back from Port Harcourt yesterday and I saw what happened to the ALUU Four. The question is: Were young people involvedin these actions and inactions that were carried out by these Nigerians ?

    “Where was the conscience of the onlookers? Where is the unity among young people? Where is the togetherness and at what time did we decide to lose our conscience?”

    Also yesterday, the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned the killing.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Joe Effiong, the union said the murder was another sad reality of how human life has been undervalued in Nigeria.

    It urged security operatives to bring the culprits to book.

    The statement reads: “It is the opinion of the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, that nobody has the right to take anybody’s life unless such has been expressly sanctioned by the appropriate laws, which apart from giving time for adequate investigations, also provides the accused with the possibility of appeals.

    “We condemn this act of cannibalism perpetrated by people who are not only exposed to the statutory, but also the cannon and other laws and injunctions which forbid extra-judicial killing.

    “We sympathise with the families of the slain students, who have been forced to watch the horrific massacre of their children in the films callously appropriated and broadcasted by the cannibals of Aluu.

    “Our hearts also go to the authorities and students of UNIPORT, who have been thrown into quandary by this unfortunate but avoidable incident.”

  • Outrage over killing of UNIPORT students

    Outrage over killing of UNIPORT students

    THERE was outrage yesterday over the mob killing of four university students accused of stealing mobile telephone sets and laptops.

    Ugonna, Ilyod, Tekana and Chidiaka, 100 and 200 level students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State were stripped naked, beaten to a pulp and set on fire by a mob in Aluu, near the university. They were in their 20s and studying Engineering and Theatre Arts. The course of the 100 level student among them was not known last night.

    Two of their parents – Mr. Messiah Obuzor and Mrs Toka Mibe – were in tears yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital. They wondered why the youths got such a jungle justice.

    Mrs. Obuzor and Mrs Mike said they were shocked, sad and displeased at the killings. They described their wards as “brilliant”.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, which occurred on Friday.

    Amaechi, at an emergency State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, described the mob action as barbaric, sad and really unfortunate.

    He warned against lawlessness and impunity, and asked the security agencies to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of people involved in the dastardly act, to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications Mrs. Ibim Semenitari confirmed the arrest of a traditional ruler, among others.

    Rivers State police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam confirmed the arrest of 13 people, including a king, last night. He urged UNIPORT students not to embark on reprisal.

    Ugwuegbulam said: “The Rivers State police command unequivocally condemns the gruesome killing of four UNIPORT students on Friday by an irate mob from Aluu community. The command sympathises with the families of the slain students and also appeals to them not to take the laws into their hands.

    “Students of UNIPORT are urged not to engage in any reprisal, as such can lead to chaos and anarchy. The command has commenced diligent investigation into the ugly incident. Amazing success has been recorded in that regard, as 13 persons, including the chief of the community, suspected to have been involved in the reprehensible and barbaric act, have been arrested, based on credible intelligence and video clips of the killings.

    “The suspects are being interrogated by crack detectives from SCID (State Criminal Investigations Department). The Rivers police command is unwaveringly committed to protecting lives and property of Rivers people and will not rest on its oars, until the perpetrators of the horrendous act are not only arrested, but also brought to justice.”

    A UNIPORT don, Prof. Ben Naanen, in a telephone interview, described the lynching of the students as “very sad” and “shocking”.

    Naanen, who is the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, said the mob should have handed over the victims to the police or other security agencies for thorough investigation, rather than taking the law into their own hands.

    Most UNIPORT off-campus students live in Aluu. The area thickly populated, with a lot of commercial and social activities.

    Aluu is off the ever-busy East-West Road, currently being dualised by the Federal Government through Setraco Construction Company.

    Residents of Aluu are fleeing the ancient community to avoid indiscriminate arrest by policemen.

    The owners of the expensive mobile phones, including BlackBerry, and laptops at the off-campus hostel, raised the alarm, which attracted indigenes of Aluu and passersby.

    The missing phones and laptops were later traced to the killed students, who were said to have denied knowledge of the development. They were beaten to pulp and set ablaze by the angry mob.

    The blood-soaked bodies of the victims were deposited at the morgue of an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.

  • Police accused of killing newly wedded man

    Police accused of killing newly wedded man

    A Nigerian based in the United States has accused the police of killing his friend.

    He alleged that his friend Ugochukwu Ozuah was killed at UPS bus stop on Oshodi/Oworonshoki expressway, barely five days after his wedding, by policemen on stop-and search last Thursday.

    Ozuah was allegedly murdered five days after he got married.

    His friend, who was simply identified, as Omene, came from the United States to witness the wedding.

    Ozuah, who lives in Oke Oluwo Estate in Anthony Village, had gone to drop Omene when some policemen, stopped them for a search.

    It was gathered that before he stopped, the policemen, who thought that the late Ozuah was not going to stop, opened fire on the car, killing him instantly.

    Omene said immediately the late Ozuah was shot, the policemen sped off in their vehicle.

    “I was so shocked at what had happened and I jumped down from the car and ran back to the estate to inform his wife. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Anthony Police station was also informed,” Omene said.

    The Nation gathered that when the DPO arrived at the scene, he came up with the theory that the deceased was killed by criminals in police uniform and not policemen.

    The family is asking that policeman who shot their son, be fished out and prosecuted.

    The command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, maintained that armed robbers killed the man.

    She pleaded with the family to remain calm as investigation of the incident had begun, adding that the suspect would be brought to book.

    The late Ozuah attended Kings College, Lagos and University of Ibadan (UI) where he read Computer Engineering.

    His sister, Mrs. Uzor Nwogu described his brother as a perfect gentleman and easy-going.

    “I have never seen him fight anyone. My last conversation with him was a few days ago, when he was trying to know my assessment of the wedding and inquiring whether everyone who attended was well taken care of.

    The late Ozuah left behind a 70-year-old mother, Mrs. Chine Ozuah, who has been in shock since the incident.

    Hundreds of sympathisers thronged her Maryland home yesterday to condole with her.

    The late Uzoah’s younger sister, Uju, still finds it hard to believe that her brother is dead.

    “I don’t know how to describe my brother. He was a very calm person. He taught me how to be gentle and diplomatic. It’s hard to believe that I would never see him alive again,.” she said.

     

  • Arepo NNPC killing: Police arrest six suspects  

    Arepo NNPC killing: Police arrest six suspects  

    Operatives of the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Force Headquarters Annex Lagos, have arrested six suspected vandals alleged to have participated in the incident that led to the killing of three Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) staff at Arepo Village, Owode in Ogun state.

    Those arrested are Posibi Ruben, Imerepmamu Ijebu Joel, John Aye Isaiah, Saheed Onisa Mudashiru, Ineye Okpose and Timi Gnungunu.

    Joel told investigators he knows where they buried the NNPC officials.

    He said: “I don’t know the exact spot where the killed NNPC officials were buried but my friend called Showebune told me the NNPC official were killed and buried at a land across the river.

    “I know the land where they were buried but I don’t know the exact spot.

    “Shortly after the incident, my landlord told me to be careful that my Ijaw brothers have caused trouble in the area by killing the NNPC officials who came for maintenance.’’

    He confirmed Tokuwa, Egbe, Egbekowhea, John Togo and Bashiru killed the NPPC officials, adding, “I know their houses and I can take the police there.”

    Last August, suspected vandals burst pipelines to siphon petroleum products at Arepo village, leading to a fire outbreak.

    Maintenance engineers sent by the NPPC to repair the ruptured pipeline were killed while carrying out the exercise.

    The hoodlums, using canoes and speedboats, reportedly descended on the engineers and other security operatives at the scene.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police –in- Charge of the Task Force, Friday Ibadin, confirmed the arrests.

    Ibadin said the police have been on the trail of the suspected vandals since the incident occurred.

    According to him: “We got a tip- off that the same vandals who escaped after the incident were back to continue their normal business of vandalisation.”

    Policemen led by the Lagos Sector Commander, Mr. Onaghise Osayande, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), stormed the area and arrested those suspected vandals.

    About 200 gallons of 25 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were recovered with hundreds of abandoned empty gallons.

    It was discovered the suspects knew what happened to the dead NNPC officials during investigations.

    Another suspect, John Aye Isaiah, popularly known as JTF, said: “Two weeks ago, I came back from a church programme and heard that some guys went to quench the fire.

    “I heard they exchanged fire with them and they killed the NNPC, the security and people that went there for the operation.

    “I know some of the people involved. They include Nduka, who stays around Isawo in Ikorodu and Beekay Austin, who lives at Ikorodu.

    “Others are Pasco, Epeu and Peresi, who all stay in Ikorodu.”

    He added: “I am not a vandal but sometimes I do buy PMS from them at cheaper prices.”

    Another suspect, Ineye Okpose, popularly known as pastor, advised the police to direct their search to Ondo state as he understood the remaining suspects have relocated.

    “They should look out for one notorious vandal called Togo, who happens to be my neighbour. I overheard when they were arguing with his boys that it’s time to relocate to another state as the police is coming for an arrest,” he said.

    Force Police spokesman, Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said that police are on the trail of the other suspects still at large.

    He called on the Arepo community to help fish out the hoodlums.

    The suspects, he said, would soon be charged to court after completion of investigations.