The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: gunmen

  • Niger: Gunmen Invade Mining Site, kill 10

    Niger: Gunmen Invade Mining Site, kill 10

    It was another day of massacre in Niger state on Wednesday night as gunmen invaded a mining site in Ajata Aboki in Erena district of Shiroro local government area of Niger state killing three Soldiers, seven Mobile Policemen and six civilians working at the site.

    The gunmen who invaded the mining site in their large number, succeeded in abducting unspecified number of Chinese Nationals which the local said was the target of the gunmen.

    The mining site, according to a reliable source close to the community, is owned by a powerful figure in the state, and the area has remained a-no-go area for both the people of the community and any visitor, and has remained heavily guarded by both soldiers and mobile policemen.

    The mining site which the Chairman of the local government, Mallam Suleiman Chukuba is said to be fully aware of It existence, has survived every attacks by gunmen who have continued to raid communities in the area with reckless abandoned in the last five years but have avoided it.

    The State Government while confirming the attacks by the gunmen did not give number of casualties but said a joint security team were mobilized to the scene in response to the distress call.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for internal security, Mr. Emmanuel Umar pointed out that “there were yet to be determined number of casualties from both sides.

    “However, a yet to be ascertained number of workers in the mining site including two Chinese nationals were reported to have been abducted.

    According to the Commissioner “Security forces mobilized reinforcement for the manhunt of the remaining terrorists as some of them were neutralized and rescue of the injured victims including security personnel that sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to a government medical facility in the state for treatment”

    The statement further added that “state government acknowledged all the efforts of the joint security operatives and that of the communities in the State towards taming the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state, hence, security personnel are enjoined not to be discouraged in discharging their sacred duties of protecting citizens against all forms of threats as government will continue to be steadfast in providing them with the needed support in all ramifications”.

    (Sun)

  • Suspected herders invade Enugu communities, kill three villagers

    Residents of Imama Ugbawka in Nkanu East and Umuhu Eha-Amufu in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State have been thrown into mourning following the killing of three persons by suspected herdsmen in separate attacks.

    City Round gathered that several others were wounded in the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    Our correspondent learnt that while the attack in Ugbawka occurred on Tuesday when the herders allegedly invaded a farmland and killed two labourers hired from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to cultivate crops on the farm, Eha-Amufu’s incident occurred on Wednesday at Agba-Esher.

    A community leader in Umuhu, Eha-Amufu, who gave his name as Odo Francis, said the herders numbering about seven with AK-47 blocked Nkalagu-Eha-Amufu Road.

    “Unfortunately, an Okada rider from Amade Eha-Amufu who was carrying two persons got to the point. They killed him and abducted the two men. Our people were alerted when a man from Umuhu Eha-Amufu identified as Okibe Odo, who escaped death by a whisker broke the news.

    “Now, our forest guards and neighbourhood watch (members) are on their trail. The body of the victim, Ifeanyi Odoebe, has been deposited in the morgue.”

    A community leader from Imama Ugbawka, Chima Nwodo, who confirmed the attack in his community, said the residents were alerted by one of the labourers who escaped from the herders when they invaded the farm.

    The President-General of Imama Ugbawka Autonomous Community, Chief Osita Ogbu, described the attack on his community as callous and unprovoked.

    “These herdsmen, according to one of the labourers that survived, were six in number. When he (the survivor) alerted our people, we sent our vigilantes to the farm who discovered the bodies of the victims and, subsequently, informed the police, Department of State Services, and the military. They came and saw the mutilated bodies. The victims’ throats were slit.

    When our correspondent contacted the spokesperson for the police on the state, Daniel Ndukwe, on the telephone, he declined to comment.

    But the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Information, who also oversees the Ministry of Information, Chief Steve Oruruo, confirmed the attack and called on security agencies to fish out the criminals.

    PUNCH

  • Anambra: Gunmen invade Soludo’s hometown, injure policemen

    Three policemen sustained gunshot injuries when gunmen attacked their security post in Isuofia community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Isuofia is the hometown of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

    Although some reports claimed that one policeman was killed, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, told Saturday Sun that no police officer was killed.

    He said that the gunmen did not attack the community but that they were passing along the road connecting Isuofia and Ekwulobia.

    “Gunmen did not invade Isuofia. We created observation points where we monitor the activities of criminals. We also embark on stop and search. So, what happened was that one of our observation points along Ekwulobia Road came under attack by hoodlums. Three of our men there unfortunately sustained gunshot injuries and they’re currently receiving treatment.

    “I can tell you that the operation is still ongoing. More personnel from Awka here have since been sent to the area to help restore normalcy. No policeman was killed,” he said.

    (Sun)

  • Gunmen attack commissioner for entrepreneurship, shoots him on his hands and leg

    Fresh facts emerged on Monday on how gunmen shot the Imo State Commissioner for Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition, Iyke Ume.

     

    The PUNCH had reported that there was panic in Owerri, the state capital, as gunmen shot no fewer than four motorists in a Sunday night robbery attack.

     

    The incident happened at Orji, on Owerri- Okigwe Road very close to the Orji Divisional Police Headquarters.

     

    One of the motorists who was shot was driving an unmarked security vehicle.

     

    He was driving in the vehicle, when they double crossed him, shot him before attacking other vehicles, including commercial buses.

     

    The incident caused abrupt end to commercial activities within the area as people, including those drinking at nearby bars who scampered for safety.

     

    Investigation by The PUNCH revealed that the commissioner was riding with the Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs, Domic Uzowuru, to his home in Orji, when the armed robbers double-crossed him and shot him on his leg and hand.

     

     

     

    Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that the attacked commissioner was shot while dropping Uzowuru at his house in Orji after a service of song with another commissioner.

     

    When contacted, the special adviser to the governor on Inter-Party Affairs, Dominic Uzowuru, confirmed that the Commissioner was shot.

     

    He said, “I was not shot. The Commissioner was shot. My phone and that of the commissioners were snatched. We were coming from a service of song of one of us, Austin Nnawuihe. He was dropping me when the robbers struck. I am fine to the glory of God.”

     

    When contacted, the Police spokesperson, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that the victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Center, Owerri, by the police

  • Gunmen Attack Soludo at Isuofia

     

    Gunmen, at about 5pm, yesterday, attacked the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, killing three policemen guarding him.

     

    Soludo, who is a governorship aspirant for the November 6 election, on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was addressing youths of Isuofia at their civic centre when the gunmen struck.

     

    Unconfirmed reports have it that the state Commissioner for Public Utilities, Emeka Ezenwanne, was taken away.

     

    An eyewitness at the event, who preferred anonymity, told Daily Sun that the gunmen also made away with the policemen’s rifles.

     

    “We were at a meeting in Isuofia, gunmen came there and started shooting. They killed our three policemen there. Prof. is safe, but we don’t know his whereabouts at the moment.

     

    “Prof was addressing Isuofia youths. As he was speaking, gunmen invaded there and started shooting. I was there. Everybody started running. They  killed three policemen.

  • Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen kill 7 in Edo State

     

    GUNMEN suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly killed seven persons, including farmers at Ugboke, Oshodi, Okokodo, Ariyan and Yoruba Camp in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

     

    Meanwhile, the PPRO of the State Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident and said all efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators.

     

    According to Mrs Janet Ighodaro, an indigene of the area, the residents were caught unawares by the blood-thirsty herdsmen.

     

    She said, “The suspected herdsmen took over the popularly know Yoruba camp located in Ovia North-East as a base to launch attack into various communities in our state.

     

    “Four of the victims were returning from their farm when they were shot and killed on the spot. I was lucky to escape and I am currently in Benin where I am putting up with family members.”

     

    She lamented that the gruesome attack on the camps and communities was reported to the police, adding that security presence in the locality was zero.

     

    Ighodaro stressed that the policemen, who came to the area on Thursday after the dastardly act, only stopped at Okokhua community.

     

    She added that the policemen insisted that they would not to go further, but instructed the affected communities to bring the dead bodies to them at Okokhuo.

     

    Nwabuzor confirmed the incident and promised that the criminals would be arrested and brought to justice.

     

    He said, “The DPO and his operatives visited the crime site and evacuated the bodies while moves are on to ensure that the place is calm and liv es return to normalcy.”

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Delta Community Head murdered

    The immediate past Chairman of Ugbori community in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Godwin Metie, has been shot dead by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

    PUNCH Metro gathered that the gunmen perpetrated the act around 9pm on Monday at Merogun, a volatile area of the Warri metropolis.

    According to sources, the deceased was waylaid by the mask-wearing hoodlums, who opened fire on him at close range.

    He reportedly gave up the ghost on the spot.

    In a similar development, a bricklayer, identified only as Uruese, has been murdered by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

    Uruese, also fondly called Iron Monkey, was killed at Orerokpe in the Okpe Local Government Area of the state last Friday.

    The deceased, who lived around a street close to the council’s secretariat, was reportedly shot through the window of his room while asleep.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said she was not aware of the alleged killing of the former Ugbori community chairman.

    Onovwakpoyeya promised to react after making enquiries on the matter.

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    She, however, confirmed Uruese’s death.

    “The one that was shot while asleep is true and investigation is on,” she stated.

  • Socialite killed by gunmen in Ibadan

     

    Fondly called, ‘Gatuso, he was reported to have gone to the hotel at a time the gunmen that just robbed the hotel were leaving. 

    It was learnt that he was making a call as he entered the hotel’s premises and that the gunmen shot him in the stomach at a close range, probably thinking that he was calling security agents.

    It was also learnt that armed robbers had successfully completed their operation when the deceased encountered them.

    “The late socialite was 46 years old and has never been married. He had bought an engagement ring, which he wanted to use to propose to a lady of her choice on Sunday January 24, before he met his untimely death the previous day,” a source told Daily Sun.

    “He  also planned to travel out of the country as soon as possible and somebody that wanted to help him, paid N18million into his bank account to perfect his travel processes. The person was said to have been agitated on how the deceased’s family members would believe him towards getting back his money.”

    Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, when contacted, said: “I am busy now. I cannot confirm anything to you. We are moving from Igangan to Ago-Are to ensure peaceful co-existence of the people. I will confirm and get back to you when we return to Ibadan.”

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com