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Tag: Kwara Gunmen

  • Gunmen on 50 bikes kill woman, kidnap six in Kwara community

    Gunmen on 50 bikes kill woman, kidnap six in Kwara community

    • AbdulRazaq, Aliyu renew commitment to stamping out banditry in Kwara, Sokoto

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits in the early morning of yesterday invaded Motokun village, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    The invaders came on 50 bikes and attacked the village around 6 am.

    The operation, it was gathered, lasted for four hours.

    The Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

    Mr Ojo said: “Matokun village was attacked by bandits on about 50 motorcycles, six people missing, suspected to have been kidnapped.

    “A woman suspected to have sustained gunshot injuries died later.”

    Also, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq and his Sokoto State counterpart, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, renewed their commitment to stamping out banditry.

    AbdulRazaq stated this in Ilorin at the ‘strategic consultation with key stakeholders of Kwara South convened by the Kwara South Development Initiative (KSDI).

    The governor, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Princess Olubukola Babalola, said security is a collective responsibility, and that the people’s support for the security agencies was vital to wiping out the menace. He urged them to be vigilant to enable them to thwart the criminals.

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    “Let us work together to unmask them and keep our communities safe and conducive for growth.

    “Your resilience and commitment have been the bedrock of our shared progress, and I commend you for your leadership role in shaping a vibrant Kwara South. Your dedication continues to inspire us all.

    “Our administration remains steadfast in ensuring equitable development across every part of Kwara State, including Kwara South. We have prioritised infrastructure to unlock economic potential and improve lives,’’ he added.

    Earlier, KSDI’s Convener, who is also the Proprietor, Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Irepodun Local Government Area, Dr Johnson Adewumi, hailed the governor for his  performance.

    Adewumi added that “the performance of Mallam AbdulRazaq in six years dwarfs the collective achievements of his predecessors from 1999 to 2019, particularly in the areas of welfare.and infrastructural development. Ilorin which used to be the epicentre of poverty is wearing a new look wherever you turn”.

     Aliyu, spoke in Abuja when he was conferred with the Integrity Transformative Leadership award by The Nigeria First Integrity Group (NFIG), in collaboration with All Progressives Stakeholders Forum (APSF).

    Aliyu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government. Alhaji Ibrahim Adare, also sought cooperation of security agencies, and the people to to rid off banditry.

     Aliyu recalled that recently he distributed 200 vehicles to security agencies for the fight against the banditry.

    Director-General, Nigeria First Integrity Group, Dr Maryam Yunusa Danjaki, described the governor as an epitome of dignity, humility, diligence and courage.

    She explained that the governor was given the award in recognition of his impact in education, infrastructural and human development in the state.

    Danjaki cited the 25 per cent budgetary allocation to education by Aliyu as a testament of his commitment to put the state redeem the state from being educationally backward, stressing that the allocation was above international bench mark and should be commended and emulated.

    This gesture, Danjaki, who is also the National President All Progressives Stakeholders Forum would help to ensure that most out of school children in the state returned to school.

    “There are other areas of human development, including human, infrastructural and agricultural development in the state that the governor has done so well. His life is a testimony of integrity and humility, comparing his achievements with the state’s past governors shows how well he had done for the people of the state.

    “We are happy to identify with him and we pray that other governors in the North will copy from him,” she said.

  • Gunmen kill father, son, two others in Kwara

    Gunmen kill father, son, two others in Kwara

    • 12-year-old girl abducted

    Suspected kidnappers yesterday killed a father, son and two other persons in Kwara state.

    Spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the incident occurred in the early hours in Patigi LGA of the state.

    She said: “At about 0130am, armed men attacked Mari and Lile villages via Lade, killing three persons Timothy Paul, 35, in Mari village, and Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, 51 alongside his 22-year-old son, Muhammad in Lile village.

    “Investigations have begun to apprehend the actors behind this dastardly act. In a separate incident, gunmen invaded Aiyetoro Fulani Camp and abducted 12-year-old Hassana Abdullahi, daughter to Mr Abdullahi Jowuro. The scene of the crime was secured and documented.

    In response, joint tactical teams comprising police operatives, vigilantes, and local hunters have been deployed to conduct bush combing and rescue operations.

    “The command remains committed to public safety and urges residents to remain alert and report suspicious activity promptly.”

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    Also, gunmen numbering about four suspected to be kidnappers have killed a-45 year old transporter and farm produce merchant, Alhaji Dauda Isma’il in Kwara state.

    The gunmen on Sunday stormed the residence of the merchant in Takare area of Okuta, Baruten Local Government of the state and went away with him.

    Police source said that the kidnap victim was later found in the bush in a pool of blood with multiple machete cuts.

    Ejire-Adeyemi said on learning about the abduction, a swift response team comprising operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Vigilantes, and local hunters were immediately mobilised for a bush combing operation aimed at rescuing the victim unhurt.

    ”In a follow-up operation the next day, the joint search team encountered the kidnappers at Korori Village. A fierce gun duel ensued, wherein one of the kidnappers was neutralised during the exchange of gunfire, his AK-47 rifle loaded with 13 rounds of live ammunition was recovered. While the remaining suspects fled into the bush and are currently being trailed.

    ”Sadly, a vigilante named Haruna Tasusuno sustained a gunshot wound on the stomach and was rushed to the General Hospital, Okuta, where he was later confirmed dead.”

  • JUST IN: Gunmen abduct five persons in Kwara

    JUST IN: Gunmen abduct five persons in Kwara

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted five individuals in the Odo-Eku camp, located within the Odo-Eku community of Isin Local Government Area, Kwara State. 

    The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 am on Wednesday when the assailants stormed the community, firing sporadically to instill fear.

    Among the abducted are two males and three females, who have been taken to an unknown location. 

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    Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stated that security personnel, alongside local vigilante groups, have been deployed to rescue the victims. 

    “The Kwara police command is aware of a kidnap incident that occurred at about 0115 hours on 15/01/25 at the Odo-Eku camp in the Odo-Eku community of Isin LGA, where five persons—two males and three females—were abducted. Immediate deployment has taken place; the Police, alongside the Vigilante, are on a rescue mission. Further updates will be communicated as they unfold,” she said. 

    The police have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring the safe return of the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

  • Gunmen kill 43-year-old hotelier in Kwara

    Gunmen kill 43-year-old hotelier in Kwara

    Gunmen suspected to be cult members on Thursday night shot dead the manager of a hotel in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

    The deceased, whose name was given as Anthony Balogun, was the one running the hotel owned by his mother before the incident.

    The incident occurred at about 8pm on the ill-fated night inside the premises of the hotel located in Olunlade area of the Ilorin metropolis.

    Our correspondent gathered that gunmen numbering about two had come into the hotel and requested to see the manager.

    The deceased, who thought they were prospective customers, came out of his room to meet them at the reception.

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    The assailants were said to have called him out of the reception and shot him in the chest at close range.

    They were said to have stabbed him in the head, hands and legs.

    Speaking to our correspondent, an elder sister of the late hotelier, who did not want her name in print, said she had reported the incident to the police.

    She said: “I called around 6:30pm on that day. At about 7pm, he called me back, wanting to pass a piece of information to me.

    “I told one of children to pick the call, that I would call him back as I was in the kitchen.

    “At about 8pm I returned his call but the phone had been switched off. I repeated the call three times to no avail.

    “A few minutes later, the wife called me that I should come to the Kwara State General Hospital, now Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.

    “It was at the hospital I met his lifeless body badly mutilated.”

    A source at the Ganmo Divisional Police Station, on the outskirts of Ilorin where the case was reported described the incident as a possible case of homicide.

    Spokesperson of the state police command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, did not respond to a message sent to her WhatsApp page.