The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unknown gunmen

  • Abducted Cross River Commissioner regains freedom 

    One month after the he was abducted, the Commissioner for Water Resources in Cross River State, Mr Gabriel Oji, has been regained freedom.

    Oji was abducted by unknown gunmen on April 9 in Calabar. Initial reports had it that he was abducted at a restaurant along Mayne Avenue, but the State Security Adviser, Mr Jude Ngaji, said he was kidnapped in his house.

    Ngaji told The Nation Monday evening that Oji was back home and in good health.

    He however did not disclose the details of how he was released.

    He said the circumstances surrounding the abduction was more than kidnapping for ransom, but said details about that would be made known eventually.

    He said no ransom was given the commissioner’s release. “Cross River does not pay and will never pay ransom,” he said.

     

  • Gunmen abduct two in Sokoto

    Gunmen abduct two in Sokoto

    The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of two businessmen – Labbo Giyawa and Murtala Dantata – by some unknown gunmen.

    The Command’s spokesman, El-Mustapha Sani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Monday that the two men were kidnapped at Giyawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.

    Sani said: ”I can confirm the abduction of the two businessmen on Sunday night, at around 10 p.m.

    ”They were seized by some gun-wielding men, while they were reportedly sleeping in the frontage of their various houses.

    ”They were said to have been taken to an unknown destination, but the police is suspecting that they were being held captive in the nearby Gundumi Forest.”

    He, however, said that the kidnappers were yet to establish communication with either their families or the police.

    Sani said that the command had taken stern measures to ensure the safe rescue of the captives.

    The police spokesman also confirmed the arrest of four gang leaders of street urchins at the Kwanni area of Sokoto on Monday.

    Sani said that the suspects were arrested following raids on their hideouts, adding, ”we will thoroughly drill them to unravel their various memberships.”

    NAN recalls that two local government officials in the state who were recently kidnapped were rescued from Gundumi Forest.

  • Kidnapped Akwa Ibom Ex-Speaker rescued

    A former Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Bassey Essien who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen over the weekend on his way to his farm in his country home Etebi, Esit Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State has been rescued by combined efforts of youths and the police.

    A family member who spoke with The Nation on the condition of Anonymity said that Essien who served as the second Assembly Speaker between 1999 and 2001 was rescued unhurt by the youths of Udung Uwe community in Urueffong Oruko Local Government Area of the State.

    According to him: “Bassey Essien was on his way to his Farm at Etebi Esit Eket when some gunmen numbering six blocked his vehicle and dragged him out. They forced him in their own vehicle and headed towards neighboring Udung Uwe community in Urueffong Uroko council area but unfortunately their vehicle broke down and they mobilized motorcycle and continue their journey amidst heavy rainfall in the area but again the motorcycle had flat tires.”

    The source, who said the abductors were unable to continue the journey into their forest hideout
    because of flat tires, stayed with their victim in a bush around the community when information got to the youths of the Udung Uwe community from the police that a former Speaker had been kidnapped at Etebi Esit Eket and headed towards their community.

    “A search party of youths was immediately raised and the entire bushes in the community was combed and the six abductor were apprehended with the former Speaker in their midst.” The source said.

    He added that Essien was not wounded during the abduction saga but highlighted that the youths who abducted him had done so with the intention of collecting ransom from the family.

    Some family sources said the abductors who asked for money from the former speaker to save his life told him that they were paid to assassinate him by unnamed politician in his area

    He noted that the kidnappers had been handed over to the police for interrogation and prosecution.

    When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer Akwa Ibom State ASP Cordelia Nwawe who confirmed the arrest of the hoodlums noted that investigation is ongoing and that the suspects
    will soon be charged to Court.

  • Gunmen abduct 72yr-old retired principal in Bayelsa

    Gunmen abduct 72yr-old retired principal in Bayelsa

    Unknown gunmen, Monday, kidnapped a 72-year-old retired principal, Chief Sunday Festus, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that Festus was abducted at his residence in Bomo clan of the council on Monday morning.

    The son of the victim, Leigha, said his father was diabetic and critically ill when the hoodlums stormed the residence and whisked him away to an unknown place.

    He said the hoodlums numbering four struck at about 3:10am through the Foinbiri waterside and went straight to his father’s residence.

    They were said to have shattered window protectors, forced their way into the septuagenarian’s bedroom and took him to a waiting double-75horsepower speedboat.

    He said: “We heard a big bang at the door and heard voices who commanded our father to follow them. Our brother who is 13 years old made an attempt to stop them but was seriously beaten and left with bruises. They even hit on his head with the butt of the gun.

    “The heartless kidnappers dragged my father, a diabetic patient on the ground to the waterside, after shooting sporadically into the air to scare and scuttle any resistance from the community.

    “They headed towards Opuama community and at Oyeregbene they attempted to steal an engine boat, and later engaged an oil and gas surveillance patrol gun boat while escaping with their victim in a bid to pave their way from the security patrol on the waterway.

    “They got to Oyeregbene and Sangana waterways in Brass Local Government area and meandered into a small creek and disappear into thin air, as nobody could ascertain their next location”.

    He said the kidnapping could be an attempt to extort money from his elder brother, Mr. Daumiebi Festus, a real estate mogul and stalwart of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    He said the whereabouts and condition of his father were known as the abductors had yet to establish contact with their family.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the matter had not been officially reported to him.

  • Gunmen kidnap two nurses in Rivers

    Gunmen kidnap two nurses in Rivers

    Unknown gunmen Thursday abducted two nurses Mr. Awaji-Owa Ntendeng Hebron and Mrs Nwikina Felicia who were under the employment  Erama General Hospital in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government area of Rivers State.

    As at the time of filing in this report, a source from Era general hospital said Mrs  Nwikina who was brutalized alongside with the colleague escaped from the hands of the gunmen bleeding seriously.

    The source said Nwikina told them that the gunmen thought that as a woman she will not be a problem to them and they treated her with levity which led to her escape at the forest.

    Narrating how the gunmen abducted the two nurses, Mr. Obi Gentle Welly, a nurse working in the hospital where the incident took place said the gunmen broke into the hospital compound and abducted the two nurses.

    Welly who is the General Secretary, National Association Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) said before the victims were abducted the gunmen descended on them with their safety boots, guns and machetes.

    He said the gunmen have demanded for N5million ransom, adding that the remaining nurse in captivity like other nurses who were engaged the same year with him has not been paid by the State government for more than three years due to issue relating to their employment letter.

    He called on his abductors to unconditionally free the victim considering his financial status.

    Welly said: “About 1:30 am yesterday, a group of armed men numbering about eight broke into the compound of Erama General Hospital. The first thing they said was where is the money. And the next thing they forced the two nurses out and made away with them.

    “Not only that, they also made away with some of our phones, money, laptops and other valuable, that was after beating the two nurses.  We want to thank God that Mrs. Nwikima escaped from the forest where she was taken to. We are also pleading and praying for the return of the other nurse.

    “The gunmen have contacted us demanding for N5million, as a group our hearts are in serious pains as we do not know the state of our abducted colleague. The entire nurses in Erama General Hospital and ONELGA unit of NANNM are weeping helplessly and calling for the immediate release of our colleague.”

    When contacted the Rivers State Police Public Relations, DSP Nnamdi Omoni after   a text message on the issue was forwarded to his phone, said the police is yet to get the detail of the kidnap issue.

     

     

  • Ortom’s aide assassinated in Benue

    Ortom’s aide assassinated in Benue

    Unknown gunmen in the early hours of Friday shot and killed Mr Denen Igbana, Senior Special Assistant ( SSA) on security to Governor Samuel Ortom .

    Before his brutal killing, Igbana was a police officer who served with the Benue State Police Command and a crack detective who busted many criminal cases in the command

    He retired at a very youthful age and was appointed security coordinator of Ortom- Abounu Campaign Organisation 2015.

    A community leader Thomas Ayakpam, who also reside in Tionsha settlement, a suburb of Makurdi, where Igbana was killed told Governor Ortom and his entourage who was on condolence visit that the assailants waylaid the late security aide on his way back home in the night ,and spread bullets on his Nissan Hilux .

    The late security aide according to the eyewitness jumped down and took to his heels but the gunmen who were many in their numbers went after him.

    The witness aid they shot him severally given him no chance to survive, he was rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, but later died.

    He said they could not come out to rescue the security aide because of the sporadic gun shots that rented the air in the community as they were scared because the gunmen seem to be many.

    The Late Denen Igbada recently led a team of security men to rescue the father of a oil mogul in Makurdi popular know as Kyazi, who was kidnapped and #10 million ransom placed on his head.

    When news of his killing filtered into town, many wept uncontrollably for the late crime buster who was love by many.

    The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) Moses Yamu, a DSP confirmed the incident and said detectives have launched a man hunt investigations to fish out the suspects and appealed for information from members of the public.

  • Police Sergeant, one other killed by hoodlums in Rivers

    Police Sergeant, one other killed by hoodlums in Rivers

    Unknown gunmen Thursday killed a Police Sergeant Sunday Adoga, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    Also killed by the suspected criminals was a man whose identity was yet to be known. He was hit by stray bullet.

    The state Police command confirmed the deaths.

    The Police spokesman, Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the hoodlums laid ambush and opened fire on Adoga’s patrol Van, killing him on the spot.

    The incident reportedly happened between Garrison and waterlines junction between 9 and 10 am. The Police have vowed that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will never go scot-free, although they are yet to be apprehended.

    The statement by Mohammad said, “We are deeply saddened by the senseless killings of Sgt. Sunday Adoga, and the other innocent citizen, who were ambushed at different locations by the marauding gang Thursday, along Garrison and waterlines junctions.

    “Sadly, today’s event once again demonstrated the profound danger our men face and witness in daily bases. Police officers put their lives on the line every day to confront crime and violence in our communities and society at large.

    “As for the criminals, they can run but it’s just a matter of time, we will caught up with them and bring them to justice.”

    The incident Thursday led to commuters and motorists in the area of crime to scamper for safety as the gunmen shot sporadically, between the busy Garrison and waterlines area of Port Harcourt/Aba road. Both passengers and motorists reportedly abandoned their vehicles and ran for their lives.

    Some of the passengers who were close to the scene of crime jumped through bus windows some of them sustained injuries especially on their legs and arms. They thought the boys invaded the INEC office which is close to the waterline junction, where the Police officer was reportedly killed.

    One of the passengers who narrated his ordeal to the Nation said, “We boarded the coaster vehicle at Park, going to Eleme junction. When we got to close to Garrison junction we began to hear sound of gunshots, before we got there (Garrison), we noticed that vehicles ahead of us had all parked and none was coming from Waterline area. We also parked, after a while, the sound dowsed and movement continued.

    “When we got to waterlines we saw boys with guns alighted from a bus, and began to shoot, carelessly, everybody began to look for escape route, passengers, drivers; private car owners abandoned the vehicles and ran. I jumped through the coaster window other followed, i ran into a small hideout everybody came and fail on me, I am now in serious pain.

    “A policeman and another man were killed by the suspected hoodlums,” he said.

     

  • Rangers coach shot by unknown gunmen

    Rangers coach shot by unknown gunmen

    Rangers coach Charles Offordile is in hospital after he was shot by unknown gunmen in Enugu on Monday.

    Rangers spokesman Foster Chime confirmed the incident, but said the coach is responding to treatment in an Enugu hospital.

    “He is getting better and responding to treatment. The team management has visited him already,” Chime disclosed.

    Sketchy details suggested the assailants may be known to the coach.

    Rangers are due to face El Kanemi Warriors in a Federation Cup quarterfinal in Abuja today.

    They are 10th on the league table with 32 points from 22 matches.

  • Unknown gunmen kill woman in Okene

    Unknown gunmen, allegedly dressed in an army camouflage, last Friday killed a 30-year-old woman, Grace Abata, a Master’s degree holder in Sociology from the Bayero University (BUK), Kano.

    A source said the woman was killed when the armed men invaded the home of Hajiya Juwa at Agasa GRA, Okene and attacked the occupants. A stray bullet reportedly entered Grace’s room through the window and hit her. She slumped and died on the spot.

    The source said the deceased, who went into cloth business after her studies, came to Okene to participate in the coronation of Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sanni-Omolori as the Ciroma of Ebiraland.

    She was said to be in her room, preparing for prayers, when the stray bullet hit her.

    The gunmen, who were reportedly dressed in army uniform and wore masks, fled after the attack.

    The Commander of the Special Task Force (STF) in Okene, Lt.-Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, in a telephone chat with The Nation, confirmed the incident.

    He denied that the attack was carried out by miscreants in army uniform.

    While stressing that investigation is on to arrest the culprits, Lt.-Col. Olorunyomi said he had urged the people to inform the STF of any strange movement.

    He said: “During my meeting with some Ebira leaders in Lokoja, I made it clear that we are in Okene to maintain peace. That we are not here to kill innocent people.

    “We heard a rumour that some people wanted to use the army uniform as a cover to kill the former Okene Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Karaku. STF had nothing to do with that. We only looked for Karaku to make some explanations. We had no intention to kill him.”

    The deceased’s mother, Hajiya Ozohura Abata, in tears, told our reporter that her daughter was the family’s bread winner and her wedding was slated for April.

    Said she: “I don’t know what wrong I did to them. I don’t know what offence I committed that warranted their killing my daughter. “