The Nation Newspaper

Tag: vigilante

  • Mob razes vigilante office, vehicles over death of man in custody

    Mob razes vigilante office, vehicles over death of man in custody

    Angry mob on Monday evening burnt down the office of the Vigilante Corps, two vehicles and several motorcycles seized by the vigilantes over the death of a man with mental case, who was killed in their custody.

    The Nation gathered that the vigilantes, who were on duty during the time the mob besieged their office, which is located on Government College Road, inside Works Department, behind VIO Office in Bida, managed to escape being burnt to death by the mob.

    Trouble began when the deceased identified as Yanda with the nickname Ekawucha, who lived around the Emi Alhaji Haruna area in Bida, was arrested on October 1 by a vigilante officer named Mallam Edota around the small market area of Bida, taken to the office and locked up in the cell for allegedly constituting a nuisance.

    It was learnt that the deceased had severe mental health challenges and was mistakenly arrested by the vigilante officer, a development which was explained to the vigilantes by the family members, who had to look for him on October 2, only to discover him in the cell of the vigilantes corps.

    A family member, who spoke in confidence, said they approached the vigilante group and lodged a complaint about the health condition of Yanda, but the vigilantes demanded payment for bail before he would be released, making the family to leave the office in search of money for bail.

    It was also learned that during this period, another vigilante officer arrested a Igbo man whose identity is yet unknown and put him inside the same cell with Yanda, as that was the only cell the vigilante had in their office.

    Read Also: ‘Vigilante operative’ shot dead in Delta

    Sources among the vigilante officers said inside the cell, there was a fight between Man Yanda and the Igbo man, and in defence, the man used the wood and cutlass placed by the vigilantes inside the cell to defend himself, which resulted in him using the cutlass to hit Yanda, leading to his death.

    Some hours after the death of Yanda, his family members returned to bail him, but found him dead. Angrily, the family tried to descend upon the Igbo man, but were prevented when one of the vigilantes fired a gun into the air and took the Igbo man away to save his life.

    This made the family to call out for help and angry mob gathered to burn down the vigilante office, two of their vehicles and several motorcycles seized from people.

    Efforts made to get the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, was not successful, as his phone did not go through, neither did he reply to the messages sent to him.

  • Oyo regenerates vigilance committee

    The Oyo State Government on Wednesday re-inaugurated the State Coordinating Committee on Vigilante Activities after a three-year break.

    Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, said at a meeting that all stakeholders must abide by the aims and objectives of the body.

    According to her, the committee was re-inaugurated to sustain the existing peace that has been achieved in local communities within the state.

    Osunkoya,  who called for more women and youth engagement and inclusion in safeguarding peace, said that women were critical to peacebuilding in local communities.

    According to her, the vigilance group was established to complement the efforts of security agencies in reducing the rate of social vices in local communities.

    Read Also: 2019: Akintola and Oyo APC succession battle

    “Vigilante groups were established in all local government areas of the state to complement the efforts law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police in order to reduce crimes such as burglary, vandalism, drug abuse and addiction, arson, kidnapping and other vices.

    “In order to achieve these goals, it is important to promote women’s engagement and inclusion in safeguarding the peace and security of our local communities.

    “The aim of the coordinating committee is to collect grassroots security reports and disseminate such to the relevant agencies for prompt action.

    “I want to commend the community leaders of Ibadan South-East and South West Local Government Areas for steps taken to pacify the youths in these areas when there was a threat to the security of lives and properties in October 2017.

    “It is my prayer that the Almighty God will continue to sustain the existing peace and tranquillity enjoyed in the state,” she said.

    “Our meeting today is crucial when we take into cognisance the gap that has been created due to the non-existence of a coordinating committee in the last three years.

    “We are to deliberate on how to sustain the existing peace in the state and I also urge us to be committed to harmonising our responsibility for maximum service delivery.

    “I want to urge us to be committed to this call to duty and make ourselves available as the need arises,” she said.

  • Vigilante kills three at a funeral in Delta

    An unidentified member of Otokutu Community Vigilance Group, suspected to have taken doses of a drug, at the weekend allegedly killed members of a social club and a fish seller, who attended a funeral at Otokutu Primary School, Ughelli, in Ughelli South Local Government of Delta State.

    The three people allegedly killed by the vigilante were Mr. James Efemine, aka Senator; Mr. Sharp Omosohwofa and another man identified as a fish seller at Agbarho market.

    A source, who preferred anonymity, said until the incident, the funeral was peaceful; adding that he did not know what could have led to their deaths.

    The source said: “The manner the vigilance group members brandished their guns made us to suspect that they had taken drugs. If not, what would have made them to shoot three people?”

    The Nation learnt that two of the deceased, Efemine and Omosohwofa, were members of Eyerikugbe Social Club.

    It was gathered that immediately the vigilante allegedly killed the victims, he bolted, threatening to kill anybody who tried to apprehend him.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident, saying the head of the vigilance group had been invited for interrogation.

    He said investigation was on.

     

  • Vigilante group gets new officers

    A para-military outfit, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has inaugurated new officers for its Lagos State chapter.

    Speaking during the inauguration held at Ikeja, State Commander of the group, Otunba James Udoma urged the new officers to see their appointment as a call to service.

    The list of the new officers include, Deputy Commander,Tajudeen Odeyemi; Administration Officers, Grace Remilekun Grace; Owolabi Amusat; Salaudeen Lateef, Finance Officers, Obayomi Osilade; Akabuike Charles and Egbemoade Saibu, among others.

    Udoma disclosed that the appointments were in response to the provision of the recognition bill of the group recently passed by the National Assembly in Abuja.

    He said:’’ We have new development from the national command due to the Bill that was passed by the National Assembly of our great country.

    ‘’With this new development, the national officers of our organisation deemed it fit to restructure the organs of our organisation to suit the new bill; this would enable the body to function according to the new Bill.

  • IGP: militia, vigilante groups must not bear firearms

    IGP: militia, vigilante groups must not bear firearms

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has warned state governments and Commissioners of Police against equipping militia and vigilante groups with prohibited firearms.

    The Police Chief also directed Commissioners of Police in charge of Commands to monitor the activities of state governments as the country enters into a political era.

    He disclosed this on Thursday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja during the monthly meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.

    He said: “Everybody is aware we are entering a tedious and serious period in this country. The political issues are coming up to the fore and I believe as officers, we must gear up in our various locations and responsibilities to ensure that we ensure law and order all over Nigeria.

    “As police officers, we know our duties. We know some issues that must be considered very seriously because we are coming into a political arena.

    “Commands should be very conversant with arming of militia men or vigilante because before a vigilante group is established by a government, there must be a bylaw which must be passed by the House of Assembly.

    “It is the responsibility of the Commissioners of Police in charge of Commands to study the bylaw and see how it conforms with the constitution and other laws of this country but where through the connivance of some Police officers,  you have a command arming militia men under several leus, I think our officers have to brace up to face these challenges.

    He further said: “No government in this country has the responsibility to approve some prohibited firearms to any Nigerian under any guise.

    “I think it is the responsibility of CPs of Commands to put a close watch to the activities of some of these governments that are arming individuals which is against the laws of this country.

    “All of us are aware of these prohibited firearms, you cannot give approval for any individual to own a pistol or AK47 rifles. These are prohibited weapons and only the government has the authority to give that approval. I call on CPs of  various Commands to closely watch the abuse of authority at various levels.”

    On the killings in Nasarawa and Benue State and the effect of his relocation as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the IG said the killings have reduced drastically.

    He also maintained that the clashes were communal.

    According to him: “To be frank, I relocated to Benue for about eight days and when I came back,  I left the DIG Operations there. I must say that the incidences in Benue State and Nasarawa State have reduced drastically”.

    On the killing in Gboko, he said: “We had an attack on some travellers in Gboko town, in Benue State where seven Fulani people were murdered. Seven of them were travelling from Taraba to Kogi State,  they stopped in Gboko and the youths there, seeing that they were Fulani, pounced on them, killed and roasted them. We are investigating that issue now. Our monitoring team have been dispatched to Benue and some arrest have been made in that regard.

    “This issue, like I said from the beginning, is communal clash. These are clashes occurring between two members of the community and like I stated in both states, as Nigerians,  we should learn to live together and tolerant of each other.”

  • Soldiers, vigilante men beat tailor to stupor

    Soldiers, vigilante men beat tailor to stupor

    A tailor, Peter Duru was yesterday beaten to coma by soldiers and personnel of Abia State Vigilante Group (AVG) aka Bakassi during the ongoing building demolition exercise at Osusu road in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Duru, who was immediately rushed to the hospital by sympathisers, is a well-known tailor at 88 Osusu road.

    The victim was attacked for trying to enquire the reason behind the extension of the demolition beyond where he said was the initial place marked by the demolition team.

    In a bid to escape, Duru fell into a nearby gutter together with one of the soldiers, which attracted booing from the crowd.

    Apparently angered, other soldiers joined them to beat the tailor.

    The incident caused pandemonium in the area as many residents and passers-by ran away to avoid being caught up in the melee.

    Some of the residents expressed disappointment over the maltreatment from soldiers and Bakassi members.

    “Before they came this morning, this man they almost killed now and most of us here volunteered and even help people to knock down some places. We cooperated with government. We never resisted the demolition. He only asked a question to ascertain if the place marked in his father’s house is not beyond the 10 fits government said we should give after the drainage.

    “You (this reporter) were here; you saw it and heard it all. There was no insult. They marked certain buildings last year, but last week, the other building which were not included were now included. This created confusion. Duru’s offense was that he tried to get an answer which was confusing to all of us. He’s now in the hospital. We just pray he survives the attack because, this man nearly died in accident last month,” Okai said.

  • Vigilante kills Auchi Poly student celebrating graduation 

    A female student of the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State Uloko Apaume has been shot dead while dancing at her graduation party.

    Apaume was reportedly killed on Friday night by a member of the Auchi community vigilante group invited to provide security at the all- night party.

    Witnesses said Apaume, who studied Banking and Finance, was killed by a stray bullet from the yet- to- be identified vigilante member.

    It was learnt the students traditionally invited members of Auchi Community vigilante group to provide security at the party organised to celebrate successful completion of Higher National Diploma (HND).

    The witness said when the vigilante member attempted to fire some shots into the air as part of the celebration the bullet failed to discharge.

    “The vigilante was lowering the gun to know why it failed to release bullet after firing and in the process the bullet discharged itself and accidentally killed the girl who was dancing on the spot

    “The incident caused panic as the celebrating students scampered for safety but the suspect was later arrested by the police.” Commissioner of Police Babatunde Kokumo, who confirmed the incident, said it was clearly a misadventure and not intentional killing.

    According to him: “It was not an intentional killing as there is no record of any sort that there had been malice between the late student or any student for that matter and the vigilante men.

    “The suspect is already in custody. We are assuring the police are doing everything to pacify the students so that there would be no reprisal attack on innocent citizens.”

  • Vigilante kills student celebrating graduation

    Vigilante kills student celebrating graduation

    A female student of the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State identified as Uloko Lauretta Apaume, has been shot dead while dancing at her graduation party.

    Lauretta was reportedly killed on Friday night by a member of the Auchi community vigilante group who was invited to provide security at the all night party.

    Witnesses said Lauretta who studied Banking and Finance  was killed by a stray bullet from the yet to be identified vigilante.

    It was learnt that the students, as a tradition, invited members of Auchi Community vigilante group to help provide security at the party organised to celebrate sucessful completion of Higher National Diploma (HND).

    The witness said that the vigilante attempted to fire some shots into the air as part of the celebration but the bullet failed to come out.

    “The vigilante was lowering the gun to know why it failed to release bullet  after firing  and in the process the bullet discharge itself and accidentally killed the girl who was dancing on the spot

    “The incident caused panic as the celebrating students scampered for safety but the suspects was later arrested by the police.”

    State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the incident, said it was clearly a misadventure and not intentional killing.

    Kokumo stated that the female student was celebrating that she was done with school when the incident occurred.

    “The vigilance men, according to the report of the divisional police officer on ground, had been invited by the students and it was in the night.

    “It was clearly a misadventure; it was not an intentional killing as there is no record of any sort that there had been malice between the late student or any student for that matter and the vigilance men. So, the vigilance man had an accidental discharge so to say while the celebration was on,”

    “The suspect is already in custody, assuring that the police are doing everything  to pacify the students so that there would be no reprisal attack on innocent citizens.”

  • Police parade vigilante for alleged ritual killing

    The Police in Anambra  on Saturday paraded a vigilante operative alleged to have killed an unidentified person for ritual purposes.

    Parading the suspect in Awka, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, alleged that the suspect later buried the remains of the victim in a shallow grave.

    “On the night of June 22, 2017, the suspect while on duty as a security guard, on the premises of a distributor to NBL located along Oko road, Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area, killed a person yet to be identified.

    “The suspect buried the corpse in a shallow grave within the premises and failed to report the incident to anyone including his employer and co-workers,” he said.

    According to him, on June 26, 2017, workers who perceived an offensive odour within the premises searched and uncovered an unusual sight at a portion of the premises.

    Umar said workers confronted the vigilante with their findings and forced him to dig out the area after he denied knowledge of what was in the ground.

    “He did and confessed to killing an intruder into the premises on the night of June 22.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed the suspect beheaded the corpse, burnt it, before burying it in the shallow grave.

    “The suspect is helping in the investigation as ritual killing is suspected,” Umar added.

    He said items including a pump action, revolver gun, cell phones, sim cards, blood-soaked blanket and wrapper, among others were recovered from the suspect, who would be charged to court.

    The police commissioner said that his administration owed the people of the state a duty of ensuring a peaceful and crime-free society; and was determined to make the state a no-go-area for criminals.

    Umar said the command had put in place intelligence-led policing and crime prevention strategies to clamp down on criminals. (NAN)

  • Four die as vigilante, youths clash in Kontagora

    FOUR people have died in a clash between youths of Angwan Yaman in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State and men of the Vigilante Corps.

    The irate youths allegedly set ablaze a patrol vehicle and office of the Vigilante Corps following the death of a 17- year -old boy who was arrested, detained and tortured by the Vigilante Corps The incident occurred on Thursday night.

    The Vigilante men had arrested the 17 year old boy who was returning home late during the Ramadan period, and he was allegedly detained and tortured till the next morning.