The Nation Newspaper

Tag: shooting

  • Shooting without thinking

    •Two recent incidents demonstrate impunity from uniformed men

    Abuse of might is always wrong. This is the lesson a former Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Segun Fabunmi, is probably learning the hard way. He was on December 14 sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter. This followed the fatal shooting of Ademola Ade (or Ademola Aderintola Daramola) in January 2012, in the heat of a fuel subsidy protest in Lagos.

    Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos State High Court also found Fabunmi, a dismissed chief superintendent of police (CSP), guilty of shooting and injuring three others: Alimi Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and Chizorba Odoh.

    Justice Akinlade said: “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the defendant recklessly shot his rifle and in the process the bullet hit the deceased. He definitely knew that shooting an AK47 can cause grievous bodily harm to anyone the bullet hit. The fact that he was on a lawful duty did not mean that he should have shot his gun sporadically.” She added: “The defence of provocation will avail the defendant. It is evident that there was no time for his passion to cool before the gun was fired.”

    The deceased, a fashion designer, was shot in the thigh and was rejected at a hospital because he could not produce a police report. The other three had testified that by the time they were taken to Ikeja General Hospital, it was too late. The deceased bled to death before treatment could begin.

    Fabunmi, who joined the police in 1984, was arraigned in May 2013 by Lagos State and tried for murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm. At the time of the incident, Fabunmi was the DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege. A report said: “He led his men to Yaya-Abatan in Ogba, following reports that there was a disturbance and hoodlums were holding people hostage. The ex-DPO testified that when he got there, the hoodlums threw bottles, sticks, cutlasses, stones at him and his seven colleagues. Fabunmi said during the attack by the mob, his rifle, containing 60 bullets, went off. But he denied shooting the deceased or anyone else”

    Ironically, trigger-happy law enforcers pose a threat to the society they are armed to protect. Such dangerous official protectors constitute an unwanted threat to any civilised community.  Fabunmi’s punishment makes a correct statement about the limits of official might, and the need to punish anyone who goes beyond the boundaries.

    Lamentably, the rampant culture of reckless shooting in security circles was further highlighted by a December 15 incident in which a policeman died after reportedly being shot by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS).  Two cops were shot on the premises of the DSS in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, leading to the death of one of them.  Sergeant Sylvester Malik and Corporal Mough Tergwu of the Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force were attached to a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, who was invited for questioning by the DSS. The two policemen were said to have accompanied Thomas to the DSS office.

    A report quoted a source as saying: “Nobody knew what transpired afterwards, but suddenly there were sounds of gunshots and soon after, the two policemen were lying in a pool of blood. The policemen did not quarrel with them, so I don’t know what happened. Malik was shot thrice in the stomach. It was a real mess.” This case is particularly messy because the alleged attackers and the victims are state security agents.

    It is reassuring that the Police Force spokesman, Olabisi Kolawole, said: “The culprits will be prosecuted.” Those whose responsibilities make them qualified to carry guns should handle the weapons responsibly. It is inexcusable to shoot without thinking.

  • Reps to debate Aba market shooting

    The shooting on July 31 at Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State will be tabled on the floor of the House of Representatives, a member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige has said.

    One of the victims of the shooting has been buried, while others wounded are still nursing their injuries at various hospitals.

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command who invaded the market said they were searching for drug offenders, and had to shoot into the air when the traders allegedly attacked them.

    The police have started investigating the incident.

    Hon. Prestige who visited the scene of the incident, promised to table it before his colleagues on the floor of the House.

    Prestige visited the injured victims at Holy Wounds Christian Hospital at 169 Faulks Road and Horstman Orthopedic Hospital along Okigwe Road where they are receiving treatment, promising to their medical bills.

    He also urged the doctors to ensure that the victims get the best treatment.

    The lawmaker who was visibly angry over the unprofessional conduct of the NDLEA personnel vowed to ensure that those involved in injuring and killing innocent Abians and Nigerians would be brought to book.

    While appealing to the shoe makers to remain calm and go about their normal businesses described the shooting in such a crowded market and the height of insensitivity and unprofessional conduct of personnel who were assumed to have been properly trained on how to handle firearms at all times.

    He used the opportunity to reiterate his campaign commitment with the people of his constituency that he had promised to dedicate his time at the National Assembly to serve their interest.

    Some of the injured victims who spoke at the two hospitals thanked the lawmaker for his kind gestures and thanked him for coming to their rescue.

     

  • Shooting as rivals clash over motor parks in Warri

    Shooting as rivals clash over motor parks in Warri

    There was confusion yesterday in Uvwie and parts of Warri South local government areas of Delta State when a group said to be loyal to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa attempted to take over the leadership of Uvwie Public Motor Park.

    Okowa’s loyalists clashed with another group said to be loyal to the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Henry Baro.

    Both groups reportedly engaged in a gun battle.

    The gun battle was said to have spread to other motor parks in the local government area.

    Eyewitnesses said there were serious exchanges of gunshots yesterday at motor parks near Jakpa Junction, Effunrun Roundabout and the main park on the Effunrun/Sapele Expressway.

    Yesterday’s hostilities disrupted economic and sundry activities in the area and parts of Warri South Local Government Area.

    Shops were shut, especially in areas close to the hostile zones.

    The violence at Uvwie was linked to the cold relationship between Baro and a member of the House of Representatives, Evelyn Oboro.

    The lawmaker, a close ally of the governor, is said to have disputed the election of the member representing Uvwie in the House of Assembly.

    At the end of yesterday’s confrontation, the faction loyal to Okowa, led by Francis Ariyor, who contested the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) local government chairmanship ticket with Baro in the party’s primaries last year, had displaced Baro’s loyalists, led by Napoleon Adibu.

    It was learnt that the new development was part of the plot to remove Baro, who has been at loggerheads with Oboro.

    A statement by the Uvwie Local Government’s Secretary, Uvwie Emete Julius, urged the residents to go about their lawful duties.

    It said the local government’s authorities would resolve the disputes.

    The statement said: “The attention of Uvwie Local Government Authority has been drawn to the incursion of some persons into the Uvwie Central Motor Park this morning.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution, in Schedule Four, Section One and sub-section E vests the powers to establish and manage motor parks in local government areas. Consequently, the chairman, Henry Baro, on March 20, established the Uvwie Public Motor Management Committee vide a letter…

    “The headship and/or chairmanship of the aforementioned committee was placed on Comrade Napoleon Adibu. He is still recognised as such.”

    Police spokesman Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the command acted on intelligence report that hoodlums were plotting to shut down the council.

    She said some suspects had been arrested over the shooting.

  • Policemen detained for shooting at bus

    Policemen detained for shooting at bus

    THERE was panic in Ilupeju, Lagos yesterday as policemen shot at a passenger-laden commercial bus.

    The policemen are being detained at Ilupeju Police Station on the order of Lagos Command spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP). Nwosu told our reporter last night that what the policemen did was wrong.

    The policemen pursued the bus from Ikorodu Road into Adegboyega Street in Ilupeju, shooting, as passersby and residents running for cover.

    They fired at the Oyingbo-bound vehicle, with number-plate KRD 516 XF when the driver allegedly refused to stop as ordered. The bullets hit the front tyre which got burst while the bus was on motion.

    The incident happened at 9am on the one-lane Coker Road in Ilupeju in Odi Olowo-Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The bus was carrying traders who went to buy food stuff at Mile 12 Market in Ketu.

    When the driver eventually stopped in front of a church on Adegboyega Street, four policemen, riding in a pick-up marked, “Police Ilupeju Division” with number-plate MUS 04 AW, descended on the driver and his conductor, with the butts of their rifles.

    The passengers fled the scene to avoid being beaten by the policemen, who also used the sharp ends of their guns to deflate the bus remaining tyres. It took the residents’ intervention to rescue the driver from the policemen.

    Tempers rose when the residents demanded to know the offence of the driver, who was identified as Fatai Olatunji. The policemen tried to whisk him away, but residents resisted the move. The officers were also prevented from towing the bus to their station. Hot arguments ensued between the residents and the policemen, which almost led to confrontation.

    Afraid of being attacked by the mob, one of the officers, Adams Ajih with Force Number 358918, called their station, claiming that the driver attempted to kill them.

    Speaking to our reporter, Ajih said: “The commercial bus driver took the wrong lane and faced the police vehicle. We tried to stop him but he fled. This is why we chased the bus. But, it is not true that we fired shots at the vehicle. Rather, the driver attempted to kill us by driving on our lane.”

    When our reporter told the policemen that Coker Road is one-lane, Ajih insisted that the driver was driving on “one-way road”.

    Olatunji denied taking one-way, alleging that the policemen attempted to extort money from him.

    Olatunji said: “I was coming from Ketu and passed through Ilupeju to avoid the traffic gridlock on Ikorodu Road. As  I drove on Coker Road, I discovered a vehicle had broken down on the road. I moved to negotiate to the opposite lane to avoid the faulty vehicle and rejoin the lane in the front; then, I saw the police pick-up coming from the opposite direction.

    “I moved back a bit to allow the policemen go, since they have the right of way. But, they asked me to stop. I asked what my offence was, but they could not mention anything.

    “One of them came down and broke my side mirror. Another officer also shot at the vehicle, which made me drive away from the scene. The policemen made a turn and ran after my bus. I later found out the front tyre had burst after being hit by bullets.”

    A passenger, who gave his name as Taofeek, said the passengers were terrified by the policemen’s action.

    As the mob grew, the policemen left, saying they were going to get a towing-vehicle to remove the bus from the road. They did not return.

    Another officer identified in the police vehicle is Monday with Force Number 362282.

     

  • Shooting in Anambra council

     There was shooting yesterday at Ihiala Local Government headquarters in Anambra State, following a scufle between Chief Ifeanyi Ubah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Ernest Obiejesi (Obijackson) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Results of elections in the council were yesterday cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In the ensuing fracas, APGA and PDP supporters, mostly youths, burnt tyres on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.

    People scampered for safety. Security operatives later dispersed the youths.

    The spokesman for the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Frank Egbo, told The Nation yesterday that he was not aware of the cancellation of the results.

    The state All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the cancellation of the results in Ogbaru.

    In a statement yesterday in Awka, the party’s spokesman, Okelo Madukaife, said they were disappointed that there were no result sheets.

    He said: “We warn that Anambra State cannot continue to be a laboratory for election perversion.

    “We advise INEC to cancel the elections in the areas where card readers did not work.

    “We also urge an independent investigation into the failures in the use of the Card Readers, even in Igbo Ukwu Ward 1, where, being the pilot ward for test-running the Card Readers in Anambra State, on March 7, the gadgets succeeded above 80 per cent.

    “Our conclusive position on the Card Readers and elections in Anambra State will be the subject of further consultations and subsequent statements.

    “Regarding areas or constituencies where result sheets were not supplied, APC calls for the cancellation of the elections, as they are void by  the Electoral Act. This affected  Ogidi Ward, Oba Ward 1, parts of Dunukofia, Ogbaru, among others.

    “We enjoin INEC to cancel the elections in Ogbaru Local Government, which is a federal constituency and hold  proper elections.”

  • A shooting range for combatants

    A shooting range for combatants

    These days when insecurity is not just a northeastern challenge but also a huge national concern, the revival of a shooting range in Imo State is something to cheer. At a comfortable location in Obinze, Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, soldiers have been taking position, sizing up targets and squeezing the trigger at practice sessions.

    The army is happy about the development. And so is the community which hosts the 34 Artillery Brigade off Owerri/Port Harcourt Expressway which operates the practice facility.

    It was a joyful moment for soldiers and officers at the brigade as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Shehu Yusuf inaugurated the reconstructed small arms shooting range.

    He disclosed that the shooting range which was abandoned will enhance the professional skills of soldiers in the brigade.

    Speaking at the ceremony held at the Obinze Barracks, the GOC described the reconstruction of the range as a milestone and commendable achievement by the Army, adding that it was not a mean feat to construct the practice facility.

    THe noted that the reconstruction of the range ended the challenges encountered by the brigade in taking soldiers to other places like Elele in Rivers State for routine shooting exercise.

    He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) would be impressed with the reconstruction of the range, pointing out that Soldiers need regular training to ensure they are alive to their responsibilities at all times.

    He further observed that the 34 Artillery Brigade by the “feat achieved in reconstructing the shooting range has made it a veritable stage for the annual range classification exercise by the Army which helps to test its capability based on the training they received”.

    The GOC expressed satisfaction with the representation of all security Agencies in Imo State at the commissioning ceremony, stating that it clearly demonstrates the cooperation among the Agencies in the state.

    He described the synergy as the most effective way of combating crimes and other security challenges that may arise in the state.

    Earlier in his address, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Lanre Bello observed that the shooting range was constructed in the 1990s but later abandoned until the recent reconstruction.

    He said, with a good measure of pride, that soldiers under his command will no longer have to travel to Elele Shooting Range for routine exercise, stressing that good man-hour was lost on a daily basis conveying Soldiers to Rivers State, hence the need to renovate the abandoned shooting Range.

    The Commander noted that the shooting range is fully functional and available for use by soldiers and other security agencies in the state and expressed optimism that the 2015 range classification would take place at the Obinze Barracks.

    The event which was attended by all heads of federal security agencies in the state and other dignitaries, featured a demonstration shooting exercise by the special guests led by the GOC 82 Div.

    Obinze, a boisterous community in Owerri West Council Area of Imo State, plays host to the 34 Artillery Brigade and this informed the high level of security in the community located along the Owerri/Port Harcourt Expressway.

    Today the sprawling community has become one of the safest and fastest developing autonomous communities in Imo State. Some of the residents, who spoke with The Nation, attributed the growing commercial activities in Obinze to the presence of the Army.

    Mr. Chinaza Ilechukwu, an Obinze based businessman, stated that, “We are grateful to have the 34 Artillery Brigade because Obinze is now the safest place in the entire Imo State as a result of the soldiers. Crime is at the barest minimum and you can hardly hear of any case of kidnapping or other heinous crimes. Nobody intimidates anyone; we live our lives freely and everybody is happy”.

    Chuks Mbata, a civil engineer, said, “The presence of the brigade has actually secured Obinze community and unlike in other places where residents are assaulted by soldiers from barracks, the soldiers here are very disciplined and friendly”.

    “In Obinze people go about their businesses till dawn without fear of molestation and the soldiers are always around to provide security.”

     

  • Shooting at Lagos APC Senatorial candidate, Yayi’s office

    Shooting at Lagos APC Senatorial candidate, Yayi’s office

    Thugs believed to be sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday attacked the campaign office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

    The thugs, who stormed the office at No 32, Adeniyi Jones Ikeja about 7:15pm, reportedly fired shots into the office and damaged property.

    The bullets, according to the Media Adviser to Adeola, Chief Kayode Odunaro, in a statement, damaged the rear windscreen of the candidate’s Toyota Land Cruiser.

    He said the pellets also “damaged the exterior of the office room of Adeola’s office.”

    Odunaro alleged that the PDP’s senatorial candidate for Lagos West, Segun Adewale, personally led the thugs and some policemen on the attack.

    “The attack today is a brazen assassination attempt as both the vehicle and personal office of Adeola were hit by bullets fired by PDP aspirant who came in his branded campaign vehicle to carry out the attack,” Odunaro further alleged. When contacted, Adewale denied neither he nor his supporters carried out the attack.

    He said: “What happened was that I was driving by Yayi’s office and stopped at the gate to lodge a complaint to Yayi through the mobile policemen on duty.

    “How can I go to someone’s office and be shooting? For what?”

    Adewale accused Adeola’s supporters of destroying his billboards and posters, vowing to retaliate such moves.

    “Henceforth, it is tit-for-tat. If they destroy one car or billboard, I will destroy one thousand. Please quote me. He has his billboards everywhere; no one is destroying them.

    “Why should mine be different? I don’t fear him. I only respect Governor Fashola, who has appealed to me to maintain the peace.

    “Recently one of my campaign vehicles was destroyed. The car is still at Area M police command. I have lodged a complaint with the Police and SSS.

    “Yayi should call his people to order.”

  • Police deny shooting mourners in Imo

    Police deny shooting mourners in Imo

    The lawmaker representing Abia Central, Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, at the weekend survived an assassination attempt on her and members of her campaign team.

    The incident, The Nation learnt, occurred when the only woman in the Abia governorship race was returning to Aba after visiting Eze Enweremadu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, whose community held the new yam festival last Friday.

  • Shooting Federation boss blames insurgency

    Gradually it is becoming clearer as regards the reasons why the Nigeria Shooting Federation (NSC) did not participate in the ongoing Commonwealth Games despite the fact that the shooters and their officials all made the trip to the Glasgow venue of the competition.

    The President of the Nigeria Shooting Federation (NSF) has revealed exclusively to SportingLife that the rampant insurgency in the country is one of the factors that caused the ‘no show’ of Shooting in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

    Speaking on the allegation that the present insurgency in the country contributed to the bottleneck which prevented the agency that supposed to authorize the moving of the weapons out of the country for the Nigeria Shooting Federation and this hindered the equipments from reaching Glasgow, venue of the ongoing Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

  • That shooting by Rivers Police

    SIR: The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) wishes to unequivocally condemn in strong terms the shooting that took place during the rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement, a mobilisation group of the All Progressives Congress, on Sunday, January 12, at the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State which led to the murder of five children and brutalizing of Senator Magnus Abe, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Tony Okocha and several others by the men of the Rivers State Police Command.

    It is shocking and barbaric that the police who are assigned the constitutional role of safeguarding lives and property would unleash terror on the public they are meant to protect as witnessed in Rivers State.

    It must be made clear that true democratic practice has room for the voice of opposition in the country. The January 12 shooting by the police was nothing but a total act of callousness and declaration of war on Rivers State and its people on grounds of their democratic expression. This is unacceptable and must be condemned.

    TMG calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate probe into the alleged killing of the innocent children as well as the attempted murder on the two prominent members of the opposition party allegedly shot at during the aborted rally and several others injured in the process. Justice must be served in this matter to serve as a deterrent.

    TMG urges Nigerians in general and the people of Rivers State to remain resolute in their bid to entrenching enduring democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.

    • Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi & Eddy Ezurike

    TMG, Abuja