The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Vigilante group.

  • Woman loses husband, son same day

    Woman loses husband, son same day

    A 60-year old woman who gave her name as Helen Odiazor has cried out for justice over the killing of her son, Melody, the same night her husband died.

     

    Already, State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has waded into the matter by inviting the Divisional Police Officer of Saint Saviour Police Station and the vigilante group that killed Melody.

     

    Late Melody, a tipper driver apprentice, was said to have been shot by some local vigilante at Tipper Garage along Saint Saviour road at about 9pm when he was returning home after being informed about his father’s death.

     

    He was said to have been shot alongside two other boys and their bodies were displayed at the St Saviour Police Station.

     

    His mother, Helen, who was in tears said it was painful for her to lose her husband and her son the same day.

     

    Helen said her husband died in a hospital on November 8th while she was informed about her son’s death at about 4am the following day.

     

    She stated that her son was on his way home on hearing the death of his father when he was shot by Vigilante Men in St Saviour.

     

    The widow insisted that her son was not an armed robber.

     

    Sister of the deceased, Rachel, said policemen told the family that their brother was not dead but being treated for gunshot injuries.

     

    She said the police refused to disclose the hospital or take the family to the hospital.

     

    “They said they were three of them that were shot that night. Police said one died instantly, my brother was seriously injured while one is in custody.”

     

    However, CP Kokumo said he has invited all parties to a meeting this evening for proper briefing.

     

    He said the impression given to the police was that vigilante group had an encounter with armed robbers but that another information has emerged about the killing.

  • We rescued Emefiele’s wife, says vigilante group

    We rescued Emefiele’s wife, says vigilante group

    • Accuses the Police, Emefiele of abandoning slain colleague

    Members of the Vigilante Group in Emuhun Community in Uhunmwode local government have accused the Nigeria Police and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele of abandoning one of their colleague who was killed during the rescue of Emefiele’s wife, Margaret, from kidnappers den.

    The Vigilante group said they were responsible for the rescue of Margaret and not the Police or the Nigerian Army.

    They claimed that they shot and held two of the suspected kidnappers whose confessions led to the arrest of five others.

    Speaking at a news conference in Benin City, Secretary of Emuhun Community, Deacon Samson Osagie, gave the name of the slain Vigilante member as Gabriel Okorare aged 64.

    Deacon Osagie said the late Gabriel joined other Vigilante members to mobilise into the bush to apprehend the kidnappers after the police from Okhuaihe Police Division called on them for emergency help.

    Osagie said the police described the kidnapping of Emefiele’s wife as an embarrassment to the state police command and Nigeria in general.

    He stated that Gabriel was shot dead in the rescue attempt and his cross was recovered by the police who deposited it at the Abudu Hospital Mortuary.

    His words, “It may interest Nigerians to know that late Gabriel was the bread winner of his family and left behind two wives and 11 children.

    “Since Gabriel’s death, feeding of the family has been a major challenge particularly at this harsh economic recession in the country. A situation that has forced his children out of school.”

    Osagie further said the State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwand, promised to convey the matter to appropriate authorities but failed to pay a condolence visit to the late Vigilante family.

    One of the Vigilante who said he was in the forest with late Gabriel when he was killed, Wilson Igbinosun, said they knew the kidnappers were in the area because women returning from the farm claimed they were harassed.

    Wilson narrated that when they fired the first shot, the kidnappers responded with torrents of gunshots during which Gabriel was hit.

    He said policemen and soldiers did not enter the forest during the encounter.

    His words, “Gabriel died instantly and the kidnappers took away his gun while  I lay down flat without making a noise. They shot more than 180 times.

    “We were surprised that the police did not give us credit. If the police were in the bush, they would have killed all of them but we shot two who were later handed over to the police.

    “We saw two bags of money which the police took away. The police and Emefiele should visit the family because his wife was rescued alive. Three other women and one man were also rescued.”

  • Gunmen murder vigilante member in Rivers

    Gunmen murder vigilante member in Rivers

    Unidentified gunmen on Friday gunned down a member of a vigilante group in Omoku town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The vigilante member, Mr. Nodi Nwachukwu Osam, according to a community source who spoke on condition of anonymity was killed while on duty.

    The source said the victim was attacked and killed by the yet to be identified gunmen at about 1:00p.m along Palace Road, Omoku town.

    Osam, a 27-year old man was until his gruesome murder the Provost Marshall to the commander of the operating vigilante team in the area.

    The source told The Nation that the bandits opened fire at the vigilante boys who were on patrol in the area.

    He disclosed that the vigilante men could not respond to the attack from the hoodlums, adding that they were not equipped properly to counter the superior force of the assailants.

    The source said, “The vigilante men were on patrol when cultists opened fire on them. They killed one of the vigilante members. His name is Nodi Nwachukwu Osam. The other of his members escaped because the guns they had were not good enough to face the hoodlums.

    “They killed him around Palace road. He was dressed in the vigilante uniform and wearing his identity card when he died.”

    Condemning the attack, the vigilante Commander, Mr. Adah Nwachukwu, said the killing of one of his men restated his commitment in fighting crime in the area.

    Nwachukwu appealed to state government and good spirited individuals to help in providing security facilities to the group in order to face invaders.

    He begged that the government to equip the force with patrol van, and other logistics to enable them carry out operations at ease.

    Nwachukwu stated that over 20 of his boys had been killed by hoodlums terrorizing the LGA within the period.

    “The cultists have been attacking us since they know that we want to restore peace and sanity in this area. They have killed over 20 of by men. I am calling on the state government to provide help to us. We want them to equip us so that we can face these boys that are terrorizing our communities.”

    Meanwhile, the immediate passed Caretaker Chairman of ONELGA, Prince Isaac Umejuru has described the killing of the vigilante member as unwarranted attack.

    Umejuru lamented the resurfacing security challenges in Omoku, stressing that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would never go unpunished.

    At press time, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni said he was not aware.

    Omoni, who said he had not gotten report of the attack, promised to reach The Nation when fully briefed.

     

  • Vigilante group arrests three armed bandits

    Vigilante group arrests three armed bandits

    Three armed bandits were at the weekend arrested by the anti-robbery squad of the Lagos State Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN).

    According to a release from Lagos command of VGN signed by its PRO, Remi Aderibigbe, the culprits, Kingsley, Michael and Odor and their accomplices, were nabbed in their hideout, at Number 39, Anjorin Street, Egbeda Lagos, following a tip-off for alleged theft of some mechanized equipment and household utensils belonging to an Abuja based business woman.

    “The three member gang of armed robbers who are currently under special interrogation at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police, Abuja, disposed-off their loots and relocated to Lagos, couple of months ago.”

    The release disclosed further that another crime was recorded in Ipaja Ayobo area of Lagos where three militants were apprehended during an operation led by the VGN Anti-Robbery Squad, Assistant Commander, Santoz Omerudu.

    One of the terrorists, identified as David is now cooling his heels off at Ipaja Ayobo headquarters of the Divisional Police Station for further interrogation.

    “In another development, two women who are professional hair stylists have were arrested by the vigilante members in Ejinrin area of Epe, Lagos, for an act of terrorism.

    “This followed an intelligent report that the women are the food vendors to some militant groups who have been terrorising the residents of Ejinrin and Epe.

    “According to VGN Assistant Commander in Epe Division, Aseshina Mabayomije, the suspects have since been released to the Agbowa Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police.”

    Speaking with The Nation on the development,  Lagos State Commander of the VGN, Otunba James Udoma called on residents in Lagos to always promote community policing by providing pertinent information to the security operatives, as part of efforts, to nib criminal activities in different areas in the bud.

    He maintains that coupled with persistent aerial surveillance and serial anti-robbery operations by the vigilante members; particularly in different rural areas in Lagos and its environs, activities are now beefed-up by his men in marine areas such as Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Badagry, as part of efforts to chase away the sea pirates in those areas

     

  • Umahi condemns killing of man in Ebonyi

    Umahi condemns killing of man in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi Monday condemned the killing of a man in Isu, Onicha local government area by members of a vigilante group.

    According to the governor, the members of the vigilante outfit seized the man, killed him and tied his legs with bags of sand and threw him into the river.

    The governor, who said the incident came after he directed the scrapping of all vigilante in the state, said the Council Chairman and the Coordinator of the Development Centre will have to answer to him for flouting his directives.

    He said: “Another incident happened while I was away. The Chairman of the local government and the Coordinator of the Development centre will have to answer to me.”

    “They must answer to me because I directed that there should be no vigilante for now. It was my directive and vigilante killed somebody, it is terrible. The vigilante just ceased the man according to report, killed him, tied his legs with bags of sand and put him inside the river.”

    “So I want the Chairman and Coordinator to give me report.”

    Umahi who was away on his annual vacation when the incident happened revealed that another development Centre Coordinator is wanted by the police in two states.

    “We have another one in Ohaukwu involving one of the Coordinators in the local government, Offorbuike.”

    “After seven days, I will get rid of him and declare him wanted because the security agents have been on me. He was declared wanted in Enugu and declared wanted in Ebonyi.

    It was gathered that that the coordinator, Offorbike Onwe is wanted for various criminal offences ranging from gun running and car snatching.

    Umahi said the Police will be allowed to do their job in all the cases before the state government will act.

    “So, we are using the opportunity to report to police, SSG who will bring him to see me and I will now make him available the way the Deputy Governor made Ogbonnaya Eneh available in the case of Uzoamaka”.

    The governor also condemned the stripping and flogging of Miss Uzoamaka Chukwu by some persons in the area led by the Coordinator of Ohaozara Development centre, Ene Odii.

    “Stripping the young girl naked and flogging the girl. I watched the video and I felt so terribly about it. It is very inhumane to have so acted but sometime you don’t follow the masses”.

    He, however, condemned pressures being put on the state government to sack political appointees when the police have not concluded their investigations.

    While maintaining that no one is guilty until proven otherwise, Umahi promised that the government will act at the right time.

    “People were expecting that we should sack the Coordinator, no.  I directed the police to prosecute all those involved in the crime and I will act when the police would have finished their work”.

    “They must not do it the way the social media wants us to do it or very ungrateful elements would want us to do it.”

    “We condemn that in totality and we encourage the law enforcement agents to act accordingly, after that we act but the law enforcement agents must prosecute the person”.

    “The security agents respected us so much by not going after our appointees or elected people without first getting clearance from us and I think it is enough respect and we have to also give them their own respect”.

    “Let me emphasize that we can’t sack people anyhow. These are people that were appointed or elected, so if they commit offence, we must allow the law to take its cause and then we can now react”.

    Police spokesman George Okafor confirmed the killing of the man.

    According to him, the Police have arrested six persons over the matter.

    Okafor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police said the command sent divers into the river who recovered the corpse of the victim.

    He promised that all those found culpable of the murder will be prosecuted.

  • APC will adopt new leadership style – Borno governor

    APC will adopt new leadership style – Borno governor

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Monday in Maiduguri said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will adopt a new leadership style and offer exemplary leadership to Nigerians.

    Shettima told reporters that the party would tackle poverty in the country by addressing their underlining causes.

    “Governance is not about having large sums of money in bank accounts, it is about changing peoples’ lives for the better.

    “The APC will no doubt meet the aspirations of the people, especially those at the grassroots by improving their living conditions,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying to journalists.

    He said the party would create jobs in the agricultural, industrial and other sectors of the economy, to address the root causes of poverty at the grassroots level.

    “We have to evolve strategies to create jobs for our youths because youth employment is crucial to the survival of the nation.

    “Very soon we will leave office and all the security apparatus around us will be gone and we will return and live with the people,’’ he said.

    The governor urged Nigerian leaders to safeguard the future by striving hard to tackle unemployment among the youth.

    He commended the Borno Youth Vigilante Group for tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, and described them as God sent.

    According to him, the emergence of the vigilante group can best be described as divine intervention; hitherto everybody is afraid to talk about Boko Haram.

    “By now a group of youths, armed with only sticks and cutlasses have succeeded in chasing and apprehending the gunmen known as Boko Haram militants,’’ he said.

    Shettima said that government would soon offer employ opportunity to members of the group as a reward for their courage.