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Tag: thugs

  • Thugs attack general hospital staff, patients

    Thugs attack general hospital staff, patients

    Hell Thugs on Sunday invaded Orile-Agege General Hospital in Lagos, stabbing staff and patients with cutlasses, knives and other lethal weapons.

    They also invaded the engineering department and the drivers’ office and stabbed some of the staff.

    A father, who brought his daughter to the hospital, was also stabbed.

    He said: “When they attacked me, I told them I am a pastor and that made them to let me go.”

    The hoodlums, who attacked several other people in the hospital, carted away money and handsets.

    A nurse said one of the thugs had been rushed to the hospital after a fight and was being attended to by doctors when members of a rival gang arrived.

    “But the thugs were not happy that doctors in the hospital wanted to save the life of the guy. They wanted the man, whose name was given as Taye, to die at all costs, but our doctors had attended to him just to save his life. However, we suddenly saw the hoodlums invading the hospital with machetes, broken bottles and other dangerous weapons and started attacking everyone they came across,” she said.

    The urchins did not spare the old gatemen; they beat them to a pulp.

    An eyewitness said that the hoodlums also attacked Okada riders and passersby on the road leading to the hospital.

    Some of the in-patients, who spoke to our correspondent, appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to provide security in all general hospitals.

    Chairman of Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Segun Olulade promised to raise the issue of security in public hospitals as a matter of urgent public importance when the assembly resumes.

     

  • Benue rerun: PDP accuses APC of hiring thugs

    Benue rerun: PDP accuses APC of hiring thugs

    Ahead of next month’s rerun in Benue South Senatorial District, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has alleged that there is a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deploy fake soldiers and policemen to manipulate the election.

    The party Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, alleged yesterday that the APC planned to hire thugs and use fake security men during the election.

    He alleged that there was a plot to sew military and police uniform for hoodlums.

    Said he: “We have it on good authority that there are moves by the APC to infiltrate vigilance groups, sew army and police uniform and arm them for the rerun.

    “We are aware of the plot and intimidation of members of the local government caretaker committees to ensure the APC candidate wins by all means or they will be sacked.

    “But let it be noted that Benue South, otherwise called the Idoma nation, cannot be intimidated. We are a forthright people. No amount of intimidation can threaten the resolve of our people.

    “This is democracy and the will of the people must be respected. We must have the right to choose. On this rerun, only the Benue South people will decide who represents them. No external force will determine the outcome of the election.”

    Agbo noted that as federal agencies charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order, the army and the police would not condone evil.

  • Thugs loot Delta Mall, attack customers, employees

    Thugs loot Delta Mall, attack customers, employees

    Formal commercial activities at the Delta Mall complex housing Shoprite and other businesses in Effunrun, Uvwie council area of Delta State were yesterday disrupted when thugs invaded the complex, attacking customers, visitors and employees as they vandalised shops and carted away goods worth millions of Naira.

    The Nation on Saturday gathered that the hoodlums, after gaining access to the sprawling mall, made for many of the stores located within, especially telecommunication gadgets stores, many of which they looted to the last handset.

    Trouble started, according to sources, when two naval ratings, who were not in uniform, attacked former chairman of Uvwie council area, Henry Baro. The scene of the confrontation, which was metres away from the mall, was later taken over by Uvwie youths, who were attracted by the attack on their former chairman.

    The stores attacked in the mall were vandalised; attendants physically abused and effects, especially expensive phones, phone accessories, laptops and other valuables, stolen in large numbers.

    According to an eyewitness, who declined to be identified, the situation was allegedly set off by the naval ratings. He said: “Baro had run up to meet a truck, which had dented his car, but who had fled. The driver of the truck was already begging Baro for forgiveness when one guy, whom I later learnt is a naval man, ran across the road and asked Baro what the problem was.

    “When Baro asked him who he was, he just got angry and bought out a dagger, hooked him up by the neck of his shirt. In the process, Baro’s shirt and chain snapped.

    “While that was happening, another one, his colleague, also in mufti, had come across the road, with a gun and was using it to threaten those who were there. As all these was going on I guess someone must have called Baro’s boys to tell them what was happening to their boss. The next thing was when the boys came, one of the naval guys tried to run away and ran into Shoprite (Delta Mall) and they pursued him into it.”

    Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Police Command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident and that the police was already on top of the situation. “Preliminary inquiry revealed that one Henry Baron, the suspended chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council, had an altercation with a naval rating identified as Ma’arafu (surname unknown) in the shopping mall. In the process, the said Henry Baron invited his community youths who invaded the shopping mall and attacked anyone in sight.

    “Meanwhile, detectives attached to State CID Asaba have commenced discreet investigation into the incident and anyone found to be culpable would be brought to book.”

    Although the police spokesperson stated that Baro had the altercation with naval ratings, the former council boss denied going to the mall, adding that he had nothing to do at the mall and that he would not do anything to jeopardise the operations of the business concern in which he also had considerable investment.

  • Thugs invade Gabros FC’s screening in Nnewi

    Thugs invade Gabros FC’s screening in Nnewi

    SportingLife has been told that hell was almost let loose in Nnewi yesterday when alleged loyalists of Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah were said to have disrupted the screening session of Gabros International FC before security operatives  calmed down the situation.

    The General Manager of Gabros FC, Olisa Onuchukwu told SportingLife that some thugs allegedly sent by the oil magnate and some police officers who were wrongly briefed stormed their screening session at the Gabros International Stadium, Nnewi with strict instructions that it must be halted.

    He said it took the wisdom of the owner of Gabros FC, Gabriel Chukwuma who told the thugs that they do not belong there and that they must have been poorly briefed on what was obtainable as he has not done anything that contravenes the law that would make his programme to be disrupted.

    Onuchukwu disclosed that after Chukwuma was able to calm the thugs, others from another group came few minutes later with the same orders that the screening exercise should be discontinued because they were told that there is a court order that has placed embargo on the activities of the club.

    The club’s GM further said that it took the intervention of  Chukwuma who dispersed the group telling them that he got no court summons stopping him from overseeing the club he has reclaimed from Ifeanyi Ubah for alleged breach of agreement.

    He added that the District Police Officer (DPO), Central Police Station, Nnewi, the Area Commander and the Commissioner of Police who were spoken with on phone all confirmed that there was a breach of public peace and hence they allowed the club to go ahead  with it’s activities.

    Meanwhile, Gabros FC have taken back the club’s camp at FESTAC Hotel situated at Ozubulu area from FC IfeanyiUbah while the club will continue with their screening exercises today with over 100 professional players expected from various top clubs in Nigeria.

    Gabros FC have also made new appointments with Boniface Adinde as Physical Trainer and Izuchukwu Ejiofor as Protocol/ Welfare Officer.

  • Kogi assembly crisis: Suspected thugs attack lawmakers

    Kogi assembly crisis: Suspected thugs attack lawmakers

    Four factional principal officers of the Kogi State house of assembly Wednesday escaped death by the whiskers as suspected thugs launched an attacked on them at the Reverton on Hotel, Lokoja, where they have been holed up since last week when they attempted to impeach the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Momoj Jimoh-Lawal.

    The suspected political thugs allegedly loyal to the embattled speaker stormed the hotel around 1pm with armed cutlasses and other dangerous weapons in search of the lawmakers suspected to have spearheaded the move to unseat Jimoh-Lawal as speaker.

    Addressing newsmen in Lokoja the factional speaker, Hon. Godwin Osiyi expressed shock at the attack on the members at Reverton Hotel.

    He explained that following the intervention of the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada who advised that they should take the part of peace, they decided to shift sitting to a later date.

    He pointed out that he and other members remain resolute and that they have been sleeping from one hotel to another for fear of attack.

    Osiyi stated that it was a shock when the younger brother of the embattled speaker led thugs numbering over 50 in a convoy of official vechicles to where they were, smashing three Prado Toyota jeeps and KIA Sportive SUV cars and carted away over N3 million.

    According to him, the cars belong to him, as the new speaker, the deputy speaker, Hon. John Abbah, the majority leader, Hon. Mathew Kolawole, and the minority leader, Hon. Idachaba Salifu Isah.

    The factional speaker said that their lives have been under threat since the speaker was impeached last Thursday, adding that no amount of intimidation can stop the group for carrying out their functions as members of the house.

    Reacting to the insinuations that his younger brother led thugs to attack other members of the house, Jimoh-Lawal stated that he was not aware of any such attack.

    He described the allegation as an attempt to give a dog a bad name, adding that mentioning his name was to tarnish his image and that he is from humble background.

    He noted that his brother is equally from a humble family and could not have led thugs to attack members of the house of assembly, stressing that after all they all met with the state governor, with view to find lasting solution to the crisis.

  • PDP thugs attacked, killed, our members – Bayelsa APC

    PDP thugs attacked, killed, our members – Bayelsa APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter, Friday, raised the alarm over the attacks on its members at communities in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state by thugs it identified as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The party, in a statement signed by the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO) said the wave of attacks sweeping across the state left of its members, Mr. Andrew June, dead.

    SICO’s Director, Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, said June was murdered at Oweigbene community in Ekeremor when suspected PDP thugs ambushed members of the APC.

    Egba said the thugs also went on rampage in Otuan community ward 5 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area destroying buildings belonging to APC members and all other APC campaign banners and billboards.

    He said the destruction was carried out as part of preparations for the visit of the PDP candidate and the Governor of the state, Mr.Seriake Dickson, for his campaign rally.

    He said: “This unwarranted attack is coming on the heels of warning by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to deal with anyone who perpetrates violence and violates electoral laws during the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

    “Mr. Andrew June, an APC stalwart in Oweigbene community was murdered by a mob of PDP supporters alleged to have been sponsored by a PDP chieftain.

    “The deceased, Mr. June and several APC supporters who sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of the attack were ambushed at Toru-gbene community en route Oweigbene after the APC rally in Ekeremor town, Ekeremor Local Government Area on Wednesday, 18th November, 2015.

    “The deceased and other APC supporters sustained injuries from machetes cut and were rushed to Ojobo General Hospital in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, where Mr. June later died.

    “The injured APC members are still receiving treatment in different hospitals in the area while the remains of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary at Oporo.”

    He said in Otuan, the thugs were allegedly led by two serving Special Advisers to Governor Dickson, and members of the Bayelsa Volunteers Force (BVF) to unleash terror on innocent APC members.

    According to him a well-known member of BVF reportedly brought in thugs from outside Otuan community while one of the thugs reportedly chopped-off the ear of an APC supporter during an inspection tour of damaged APC campaign materials.

    “The attack continued later in the evening of Thursday, 19th November till the morning of Friday, November, 20th, 2015 as PDP supporters kept shooting sporadically to intimidate and scare APC supporters.

    “Residents of Otuan community, a strong-hold of the APC have now deserted the community as people had to run for their lives.

    “Already, the leader of the party in Otuan ward 5, Prince Coronation Tokpo, forwarded a petition on the incident to the Commissioner of Police to investigate the provocative attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    “We call on Governor Seriake Dickson to respect the peace accord he signed by calling his supporters to order to avoid further blood-shed.

    “Bayelsans could now confirm the party and candidate that is violent and desperate to use force in a bid to win the election at all cost.

    “The Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, was billed to tour communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in continuation of his campaign before the reported attack on the members,” he said.

  • Akure thugs batter referees

    • Match officials taken to hospital in ODSFA chairman’s car  

    • Game abandoned in 79th min

    Unknown thugs unleashed mayhem at the Akure Township Stadium during yesterday’s Glo Premier League game between Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars leaving the center referee and his two assistants severely battered.

    Abdulrahman Bashir had put Lobi ahead in the early minutes of the game but the drama started at half time when the visitors refused to go back to the dressing room alleging threat to their lives.

    Second half resumption was temporarily delayed as match officials tried to ensure that the atmosphere was calm and the game started eventually.

    In the early stages of the second half, Lobi Stars’ cameraman was attacked by hoodlums and his camera broken into pieces. The official was later taken out of the stadium in an ambulance.

    In the 79th minute, the game was brought to an inconclusive end when the centre refree was thoroughly hit by the hoodlums who stormed onto the pitch.

    Players of both teams as well as top management officials stayed on the pitch until the injured match officials were driven to hospital in the vehicle allegedly belonging to ODSFA chairman.

  • Thugs steal Sokoto teachers’ N1m salary

    One million naira for the payment of the August salary of 53 primary school teachers in Sokoto State has allegedly been stolen by suspected thugs in Isa Local Government Area.

    The incident followed an attack on the Education Officer of Bargaja area of the local government, Alhaji Umar Kwambe.

    The education officer told reporters that some thugs, allegedly sponsored by the District Head of Isa, Alhaji Nasir Ahmed, stole the cash last Saturday.

    He said the hoodlums set his room on fire with the intention to burn him to death and go away with the money.

    Kwambe said: “They (thugs) attacked me and set my room on fire. They prevented me from escaping from the room and, in the process, took away the money.

    “The money was meant for the payment of teachers’ salaries, ranging from N10,000 to N60,000.”

    A resident, Alhaji Sani Dallatu, accused Ahmed’s younger brother, Alhaji Aliyu Sarkin-Yamma, of spearheading the attack.

    He said: “This led to the destruction of his (Kwambe’s) vehicle and the smashing of the windows of his house.”

    But some residents absolved the community leader of wrongdoing.

    Sarkin-Yamma, who is also the village head of Tsabre in the area, described the allegations as “lies, baseless and unfounded”.

    The community leader said he and his brother were running the affairs of the area with the fear of God.

    He said: “We are not afraid of any probe.”

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Ilyasu Tanko, confirmed receiving a formal complaint from Kwambe and Dallatu.

    He said: “We have received these complaints and they are being investigated with a view to finding out the truth.”

  • Thugs protest suspension of Edo council boss

    Thugs protest suspension of Edo council boss

    Suspected thugs have taken over the secretariat of Ovia South West Local Government Area following the suspension of the council boss, Morrison Ogunrobo, and the Secretary, Oyomire Idahosa.

    Morrison and Idahosa were suspended for two months by the councillors on Thursday over alleged N13.7m fraud and the Vice Chairman, Omosede Adenomo, was asked to serve in acting capacity to enable Governor Adams Oshiomhole set a panel of inquiry.

    It was not clear whether the thugs were at the secretariat to prevent Omosede from assuming office but the embattled chairman said his supporters were at the secretariat to show solidarity when he resumed office on Friday.

    Trouble started for Morrison after a revenue contractor, Dan Owegie (Jnr), squealed that over N8m cash sum was paid directly to the chairman through the secretary instead of the council’s coffers.

    Owegie in an interview said revenue contractors were summoned to the chairman’s office two months after they were appointed and told that revenue from IGR was the only way the chairman could make some money.

    He said he was to remit N1m monthly from a quarry pit but was told to pay N500,000 to the council’s coffers and the balance to the council secretary.

    Dan explained that he had to petition the councillors after his contract was terminated for embezzling council’s fund.

    According to him, “The head of revenue in the council accosted me one day that I have not been paying. I told her I have been paying. She said I should bring the tellers, then I went to the Chairman and he told me not to worry. He said I should go and do my work.

    “I later received a letter from the councillors that I should bring my tellers that they were doing oversight function. The Secretary told me I should meet the councillors and I asked him if I should tell them that I have given him the money, he asked whether I have proof that he collected money from me.”

    Morrison on his part described the suspension as a ploy to stop his second term ambition because of his performances in office.

    He said the suspension was a nullity, as, according to him, only the House of Assembly has the constitutional powers to remove him from office.

    According to him, “They don’t have right. It is only the House of Assembly that can do that. They do not have right to suspend me if I am being investigated. It beats my imagination that they went ahead to be doing all this. I am happy they did not accuse me of carting away the council’s allocation. They are talking about IGR.”

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James, said he was yet to be briefed about the real issues and promised to wade into the matter.

  • Thugs attack union leader

    Thugs attack union leader

    A peace meeting called by Benue State University (BSU) Students Union Government (SUG) President Nathan Tavishima ended in chaos as he was beaten up by thugs. JOSHUA OBELLE (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

    What was supposed to be a peaceful meeting among students of the Benue State University (BSU) in Makurdi on Wednesday, last week ended in a fracas. The Students Union Government (SUG) President Nathan Tavishima, who convened the meeting, was beaten up by some youths, who he referred to as thugs.

    What led to the attack on the union leader could not be confirmed, but CAMPUSLIFE gathered that it might not be unconnected with the ongoing strike by the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has been on strike in the past four months.

    It was learnt that the union leader called  the meeting to mobilise students to reach out to their striking teachers to softpeddle But a few minutes into the meeting, some ‘thugs’, who are allegedly working for a political party in the state, arrived in a vehicle to disrupt the meeting.

    Some of witnesses, who spoke to our correspondent, said the incident happened at 8am, while Nathan was addressing the students. A witness said Nathan was speaking on the union’s plan to meet and pleading with their teachers to suspend their action for students to return to school, when the ‘thugs’ pounced on him.

    Some of the ‘thugs’ are identified as a BSU graduate of Political Science and a student of Department of Education, who is also executive of Community of Tiv Students (CTS).

    Nathan said he wrote to security agencies in the state and the campus about the meeting, stressing that it was not convened as a protest. He said: “As I addressed the students, some group of people I believe are thugs, disrupted the meeting and started shouting on me. Before I could explain what the meeting was about, they had started beating me. Some slapped and pushed me on the ground.”

    In the ensuing melee, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that students at the meeting felt embarrassed by the attack on their president. Tempers rose as the students challenged the intruders, leaving a tension-soaked atmosphere on the campus. But, it was gathered that Nathan pleaded with the angry students not to fight to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    The school security officers arrived at the scene to chase away the intruders, but the meeting was immediately cancelled.

    At student of Mass Communication, Mary Anyogo, described the incident as shocking, saying the intruders’ conduct showed they were sent by unnamed persons in the state to disrupt the meeting.

    Anthony Akor, a student of Public Administration, said the attack on the union president was barbaric. “I am not happy by the incident but students should remain law-abiding no matter the level of provocation. We should hope that ASUU and government would reach a compromise, so that we can resume on time,” he said.

    Nathan said he had lodged some complaints at the Department of State Service (DSS), police, and the school security office for investigation. The union leader urged Governor Samuel Ortom to look into the matter, because the assailants dropped his name during the attack.

    The campus was shut by the lecturers on March 9 over the non-payment of their salaries by former Governor Gabriel Suswam.

    Governor Ortom made a plea to staff and students to be patient as he is exploring ways to resolve the matter.