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Tag: shooting

  • Shooting in Ado-Ekiti as RTEAN members clash

    There was sporadic shooting yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, when members of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) battled for the leadership of the body.

    There was panic in the city for several hours as many residents were reportedly wounded during the clash.

    Loyalists of the incumbent chairman, Samuel Agbede, and former chairman, Rotimi Olanbiwonnu, reportedly launched attacks against one another, following the alleged  takeover of RTEAN motor parks by supporters of the former.

    Agbede is a loyalist of outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose while Olanbiwonnu is a loyalist of incoming Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    Areas like Okeyinmi, Old Garage and Ijigbo were turned to war zones by the rampaging drivers.

    Several gunshots sent many residents scampering for safety.

    The attack sacked the popular Erekesan Market, also called Oja Oba, as business activities were paralysed.

    The mayhem forced shop owners in the areas to hurriedly close for the day and headed home to avoid being caught in the crossfire among the unionists.

    Many residents sustained injuries in a bid to escape from the scene while traffic came to a standstill.

    Motorists and motorcyclists diverted to other routes.

    Armed policemen were drafted in the flashpoints while many residents were reportedly arrested.

    There has been a crisis in RTEAN following the discharge and acquittal of Olanbiwonnu and six others, who were on trial for alleged complicity in the murder of former National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman, Omolafe Aderiye.

    Aderiye was killed on September 25, 2014 and the trial of the accused at an Ekiti State High Court ended on January 27 when they were set free after nearly four years in prison custody.

    The latest violence reportedly started with the arrest of Olanbiwonnu which his loyalists believed was another attempt to detain him perpetually.

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), claimed last night that nobody had been arrested over the mayhem.

    He said the situation had been put under control while the warring factions had been invited to ensure peace.

    The spokesman said policemen had been deployed in the affected areas and given the mandate to protect life and property.

  • Mob attacks policeman for ‘shooting’ civilian

    A mob on Sunday afternoon attacked the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Sagamu Road Police Station, Opawoye Adetunji, a Superintendent (SP), for allegedly shooting a civilian.

    The incident occurred at Alapere in Ketu around 3pm.

    It was gathered that Adetunji attempted to shoot a commercial driver, who violated traffic laws.

    Although the real facts of the case were sketchy as of yesterday, The Nation gathered that the bullets hit a civilian bystander on the head.

    The sight of the injured civilian was said to have angered other road users, who descended on the policeman.

    According to a source, the mob beat the policeman to coma and was about lynching him when policemen from Alapere and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) intervened.

    Both the policeman and his victim were said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

    Police spokesman Chike Oti said Commissioner Imohimi Edgal directed that a comprehensive query be issued to the cop.

    He said Edgal frowned at the unwarranted use of firearm by the senior police officer, describing it as firearm abuse.

    Oti said: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Imohimi Edgal, deeply regrets the unwarranted use of firearm by a Superintendent attached to Sagamu Road Police Station as the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), SP Opawoye Adetunji.

    “He has directed that the officer be issued a comprehensive query for shooting a civilian on April 15, for a yet to be determined reason.

    “The officer is currently recuperating in an undisclosed hospital alongside his victim. He has not been able to give his statement because he is still unconscious as a result of the beating he received and injuries sustained when the mob attacked him at the scene of incident.

    “The CP further directs that as soon he regains consciousness, he should be served with the query. The command has never and would never tolerate the use of firearm outside the provisions of Force Order 237.”

  • Civil Defence probes shooting, vandalism

    Civil Defence probes shooting, vandalism

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday began investigation into an allegation that its officials shot and injured a resident of Ikarama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    It was learnt that the civil defence team stormed the community after pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) were vandalised.

    The operatives were said to have gone to the community on Monday night to arrest a suspect, Orukari Udoji.

    Sensing danger, he reportedly ran away, compelling the team to arrest a woman, Deborah, identified as his wife.

    It was gathered that as they were leaving the community, members of a vigilance group confronted them. There was a confrontation, leading to gunshots.

    A youth leader, Mr. Ben Warder, alleged that a member of the vigilance group, Perekurofa Odoyibo, was shot twice in the arm and leg.

    “The local vigilance team noticed the NSCDC van about 3am and was trying to find out why they had to take away a woman, who is having children under her care, for an offence allegedly committed by her husband.

    “They shot one of them and sped off with the woman. They came from the oilfield at Ikarama operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company. The youth mobilised and blocked the road to Okordia manifold”, he said.

    The Nation learnt that the woman suspect was quizzed and released.

    Attempts by the security team to arrest more suspects yesterday caused protest by youths, who allegedly cut off a bridge leading to the area to deny the team access.

    A visit to Ikarama oilfields showed that youths protested and barricaded the road, chanting solidarity songs.

    Wife of the injured victim, Rebacca Odoyibo, lamented that her husband was shot and left in a pool of blood.

    “Look at what they did to my husband who volunteered for the community vigilance work? He is there in pains. We lack the resources to take him to hospital. We have resorted to local treatment because of lack of money,” she said.

    Udoji denied involvement in pipeline vandalism, saying he went to the forest for logging when security operatives came to his home.

    State Commandant Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu said the community experienced attacks on pipelines.

    He said following the determination of the command, it compiled a list of persons alleged to have been involved in the sabotage.

    Nwachukwu said the suspects were being arrested for interrogation, alleging that Udoji ran away to evade arrest.

    He said: “But the team apprehended a woman in his home for interrogation. Some people tried to stop them from doing their job, thereby endangering their lives. They hauled stones at them.

    “The team only shot into the air to escape from the scene. We are looking into the allegation of shooting to know where the gunshot emanated from. But our men are trained to handle arms professionally.

    “No matter how they try to blackmail us, we cannot fold our arms and watch people vandalise oil pipelines in that community. It is a national security issue and an economic sabotage, which is against the law.”

  • Gunman kills 27 in Texas church shooting

    Gunman kills 27 in Texas church shooting

    No fewer than 27 people have been killed after a gunman opened fire at a church during Sunday services in United States (U.S.), the police have said.

    The attack happened at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small town in Wilson County, Texas.

    Police official Albert Gamez Jr confirmed the number of fatalities to CBS News.

    The gunman, who is reported to have been killed in the aftermath, entered the church and opened fire at around 11:30 local time (17:30 GMT).

    “The details are kind of sketchy but what I know right now, what they’re telling me, like 27 deceased and over 20, 25 injured,” Mr Gamez Jr said.

    “They’re talking about the shooter is dead also,” he added.

    About 50 people usually attend the service, locals said. Local media outlets reported that children were among the dead.

    Donald Trump, who is on a five-country tour in Asia, tweeted: “May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.”

    Witnesses close to the small church reported hearing a rapid barrage of about 20 shots. Pastor Frank Buford of the neighbouring River Oaks church, just a few blocks away from the scene of the shooting, said relatives of victims had started to congregate at a makeshift community center.

    “We’re holding up as well as we can – we are a strong community, we are strong in our faith,” he told local reporters.

    Buford described Sutherland Springs as a close-knit community. “We have a post office, two churches and a dollar store,” he said.

    His church received word that a shooting was under way at their sister place of worship at about 11.15am local time, he said. “We started praying for everyone involved in it,” he said.

    The pastor of First Baptist, Frank Pomeroy, and his wife were said to be out of town on Sunday and not present when the shooting happened.

    First responders converged on the small town of around 400 people. Television stations KSAT and KENS reported a large police presence. A sheriff’s department dispatcher said everyone was at the scene and was unavailable to comment.

    KSAT reported that two Airlife helicopters were at the scene and broadcast video of several fire and police vehicles at the church and a photograph of a helicopter that the station said was arriving to take victims to hospitals.

    Read Also: Fire destroys 10m property at Abuja fun spot

  • Police detain two personnel for reckless shooting

    Police detain two personnel for reckless shooting

    The Nigeria Police Force says it has detained and tried two of its personnel in orderly room for alleged reckless shooting in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that a video in circulation on social media showed two policemen allegedly shooting into the air on the street in a moving vehicle in Lagos.

    The Head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit ( PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle, told NAN that following complaints by members of the public, the case was immediately registered by the unit.

    “On Aug. 1, PCRRU was notified about a video in circulation on social media in which some men alleged to be policemen were seen shooting in the air on the street in a moving vehicle,” Shogunle said.

    He said that the Commissioner of police in charge of Police Mobile Force ( PMF ) at the Force Headquarters, had identified the men following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.

    Shogunle said that the incident happened on July 31 at 5 p.m. along the Murtala Mohammed International Airport road in Lagos.

    He explained that the two policemen who were attached to the 20 Police Mobile Force Squadron, and were attached to a private security company, Infinity Security Company.

    Shogunle said that a popular Nigerian Musician, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, engaged them to provide escort for him to his house while returning from abroad.

    ” Along the way as seen in the video which has been confirmed from investigation, the two policemen involved started shooting into the air for no just cause.

    “They have been identified and they have been in detention since then because investigation was conducted and after that they have been tried in orderly room and punishment has been recommended.

    “We are only waiting for the appropriate police authority to review the punishment then we will make the full details known to the public.

    “One thing is clear that the conduct of those policemen as seen in that video is unacceptable, that is not part of what our officers should be engaged in.

    ” They are no longer involved in any duty where they will carry any weapon. They will be in detention until the process is over before they will be released.

    “Investigation has shown that they have no justifiable reason to have expended or fire their weapons into the air,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Shogunle has assured members of the public that officers dismissed for corruption would also be prosecuted in court in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s directive.

    “Apart from dismissal, we are also going to see the prosecution of such unethical officers in the court of law, “he said.

    The PCRRU was established by the Nigeria Police Force in November 2015, with a mandate to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against its officers.(NAN)

  • Anambra church shooting regrettable- Catholic Diocese

    Anambra church shooting regrettable- Catholic Diocese

    The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra, has described Sunday’s attack on worshippers at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, by a gunman as regrettable.

    The church, in a statement signed by Rev. Hygi Aghaulor, Director of Communications of the Diocese, and available to newsmen, said that the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Jude Onwuaso escaped unhurt.

    He described the act as a sign of loss of what is sacred and consoled the families of victims of the attack.

    “It is regrettable that our people are more and more loosing a sense of what is sacred.

    “What on earth would make people open fire on innocent unarmed worshippers including children and women on a Sunday morning?

    “We condemn this ungodly act in its totality; we pray Almighty God to console the families affected and assure them that our hearts are with them as we pray for the quick recovery of the wounded.

    “For the entire parishioners, we call on them not to be discouraged in their usual practice of faith.

    “It is when the forces of darkness attempt to overshadow goodness that the light of God shines even brighter than ever just as it happened on Easter Sunday.

    “Evil may make attempts but God and goodness will always triumph; we call on the good people to continue to pray for the deceased worshippers and their families,” Aghaulor stated.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state Mr Garba Umar, has said that the command would leave no turn unturned to bring the attackers to justice.

    Umar, who spoke at a news conference in Awka on Sunday, gave the updated figures of casualties as 11 dead and 18 injured.

    He ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, and spoke about an isolated feud between individuals in the community.

    He said that the command had invited some suspects who would be useful to the investigation.

    The CP advised residents to go about their lawful businesses, assuring them that churches and public places were safe.

    “At about 6.30 a.m. today, Aug. 6, I got a distress call that gunmen had invaded and shot at worshippers at St. Philips Catholic Church, Umuezekwe, Ofufe, Amakwa Village in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Located Government Area.

    “As a result I, the Commissioner of Police, led my operatives immediately to the scene to rescue worshippers.

    “The command, under my watch, will leave no stone unturned in locating and prosecuting those behind the massacre of innocent worshippers.

    “The intelligence report and preliminary investigation showed that the incident was as a result of a feud between two individuals from the same community living outside Nigeria.

    “One of the individuals built the church where the shooting occurred; it is definitely not a terrorist attack in the mould of Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen attack.

    “The command will brief the public after investigation is concluded; I commiserate with all those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident.

    “I also encourage `ndi’ Anambra to be vigilant and to promptly report suspicious movements or strange observation of persons and actions in their localities to the security agencies.’’ Umar said.

  • We ‘re saddened by shooting, says Chi Ltd

    The management of Chi Limited has expressed sadness and shock over the death of one of its workers during the scuffle that took place in the company’s premises late last year.

    In a statement endorsed by it Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Bode Sojobi yesterday, the firm explained that in the evening of Friday, Decem agber 30, 2016, some workers succeeded in forcefully taking away several cartons of company products, damaging company property and endangering the lives of other personnel within the premises in the process.

    This development, it said prompted management to invite men of the Nigeria Police Force stationed at Ajao Estate to enhance security around the factory, adding that police responded by placing their men outside the entrance of the factory to avert any further looting.

    “As an organisation that places high premium on human life, the death is immensely painful to us. Management immediately sent a delegation to condole with the family of the deceased,” he said.

    “We are surprised and saddened by this event because prior to this incident there had been no dispute between the company and its workforce. We later learnt that some workers felt that there had been discrimination in the distribution of products of the company as Christmas gifts, and then decided without authorisation to take company products for themselves as their own Christmas gifts.

    “We are currently engaging with all parties and stakeholders to better understand what went wrong and address any related issues,” Sojobi said.

    Recalling how it happened, Sojobi said the night shift workers resumed work without any problems until around 4:30 am when some of them decided to stop work two hours to the end of the shift, switched off the lights and proceeded to cart away company’s products without authorisation. In the course of doing this, they attacked other personnel in the premises and police men deployed to prevent further danger to lives and property.

  • 50 killed in U.S. nightclub shooting

    50 killed in U.S. nightclub shooting

    •ISIS claims responsibility

    A gunman yesterday killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States . He injured 53 others before being killed by police in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

    The shooter was identified as Omar Mateen, a Florida resident who a senior FBI official said might have had leanings towards Islamic State militants.

    Officials called the rampage a “terrorism incident.”

    Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the attack was the deadliest single U.S. shooting incident, eclipsing the 32 people killed in the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech University.

    “Today we’re dealing with something that we never imagined and is unimaginable,” Dyer said.

    He said the casualty doubles an earlier estimate that about 20 bodies were found in the Pulse nightclub.

    A police officer working as a security guard inside the club, which has operated in downtown Orlando since 2004, exchanged fire with the suspect at about 2 a.m. (0600 GMT), police officials said.

    A hostage situation quickly developed, and three hours later SWAT team officers used armoured cars to storm the club before shooting dead the gunman.

    It was unclear when the gunman killed the victims.

    Police said one officer was injured after he was hit in his helmet while exchanging fire with the gunman.

    “Do we consider this an act of terrorism? Absolutely,” said Danny Banks, special agent in charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

    “Whether that is domestic terrorist activity or an international one that is something we will certainly get to the bottom of,” Banks said.

    The Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency said the Islamist militant group was responsible for the shooting.

    The Islamic State media outlet said the perpetrator of the attack was a member of the extremist organisation.

    “The armed attack that targeted a gay night club in the city of Orlando in the American state of Florida which left over 100 people dead or injured was carried out by an Islamic State fighter,” Amaq said.

  • 50 killed, 53 injured in US club shooting

    Not less than 50 people have been reported killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, United States on Sunday.
    Agency reports said a gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun opened fire inside the crowded club.
    The gunman was killed in a shootout with security officers
    At least 53 people were hospitalised and are in critical condition according to the officials said. A surgeon at Orlando Regional Medical Center said the death toll was likely to climb.
    “There’s blood everywhere,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

  • Court remands 38-yr-old hunter in prison for allegedly shooting colleague dead

    Another kept in custody for shooting couple

    A 38-year-old hunter has has been arrested for killing his colleague in Ilawe, a community in Ekiti State.

    Emmanuel Lamidi allegedly shot Benjamin Patrick dead during a hunting expedition at Awelewa Farm in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti South West Local Government Area, on May 8.

    Lamidi, however, told the court that he mistakenly took his colleague for an animal during the expedition.

    He was subsequently arrested and charged before an Ado Ekiti Magistrate’s Court.

    Police prosecutor, Seargent Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that Lamidi committed the offence at about 23:00hrs on May 8 at Awelewa farm, Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South West Local Government Area.

    She said the accused unlawfully killed his victim by shooting him dead with a locally made gun.

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Section 325 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    Ikebuilo said she had forwarded his case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    The plea of the accused was not taken as he said that he killed an animal and not his friend.

    His counsel, Chris Omokhafe, prayed the court for a short date of adjournment as they await advice from DPP’s office.

    Magistrate Doyin Akosile consequently ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending DPP’s advice.

    She adjourned the case to June 16 for further hearing.

    In another case heard by the court, a 62- year-old man, James Sunday, was also remanded for allegedly shooting a couple in front of their house.

    Police Prosecutor, Seargent Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 6, 2016, at Ago Aduloju area, Ado-Ekiti.

    She alleged that the accused, on the said date, unlawfully attempted to kill a couple, Nwankwo Emmanuel and Chiwodu Emmanuel, by shooting at them in front of their house.

    According to her, the offence contravened Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    She said the duplicated case file had been forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    The plea of the accused was not taken as his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, prayed the court for short adjournment.

    Magistrate Akosile consequently ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody pending the advice from DPP’s office.

    She adjourned the case to June 16 for further hearing.