Isah Ozi-Salami, a governing council member of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), in Kogi State has been abducted by gunmen.
The victim according to a family source was kidnapped early morning of Thursday on his way to the mosque in his country home Ogaminana, Adavi local government area of Kogi state.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command disclosed that the Board member of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, (HYPPADEC) had been kidnapped by gunmen.
The family source added that the kidnappers came with a vehicle parked opposite the victim’s residence and seized him around 5 a.m. while a young man who struggled to rescue the elder statesman was shot by the kidnappers and died three hours later.
Ozi-Salami was said to have commissioned a water project in Adavi local government on Wednesday before he was kidnapped the next day.
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a foreign contractor in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing his driver and a soldier attached to him.
An eyewitness said the assailants trailed the contractor, a Lebanese to the construction site at about 5:00 pm on Wednesday, and killed his driver and the soldier, before whisking him away.
The source informed that the armed men who were masked and were about six or seven in number suddenly stormed the site, shooting sporadically into the air, while everyone else escaped from the scene. According to him, the remains of the driver and the soldier were later discovered at the scene.
The spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, SP ‘Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident to Channels Television in a telephone conversation.
She said policemen have been dispatched to the area, hoping to rescue the expatriate and also arrest the assailants as soon as possible.
Odunlami appealed to members of the public with any relevant information that could help in the police investigation not to hesitate in doing so.
Also, the Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Adetunji Adeleye said his men are already working on the case.
Kidnapping has become an increasing security threat in several parts of Nigeria, especially in the northern regions where heavily-armed gangs pillage villages and do cattle raiding.
Recently, the gunmen have turned their focus to rural schools and universities, where they kidnap schoolchildren.
Around 1,500 schoolchildren were seized last year in 20 mass kidnappings in schools across the region, with 16 students losing their lives, according to the UN’s child welfare agency UNICEF.
Kidnap victims are usually released shortly after during negotiations with local authorities, though state officials always deny that any ransom payments are made.
Four persons, including two Catholic priests, have been abducted by gunmen in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria.
The clergymen are the Mai Kanbu Parish Priest, Father Stephen Ojapa, and Father Oliver Okpara along with two of their visitors, all boys.
“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release,” a statement from the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Fr Chris Omotosho, added.
Sources told Channels Television that the gunmen broke into the St. Patrick Catholic Church rectory at Gidan Mai Kanbu at about 1:00 am on Wednesday.
Although police authorities in the state are yet to confirm the incident, residents said the gunmen stormed the community in their numbers but this time without motorcycles.
The police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, said the command has not received any report regarding the incident. He, however, assured that details of the incident will be communicated soon.
This attack is coming barely one day after gunmen killed at least twelve people at Gakurdi village in Jibia Local Government Area of the state.
They also burnt farmlands belonging to the villagers during the early morning operation that lasted hours.
An eyewitness said the attackers, armed with weapons, arrived in the village on four motorcycles and started shooting sporadically in the air to disperse the residents.
This development, according to the eyewitness, however, caused panic in the area, leaving residents scampering for safety in the neighboring communities.
Isah said that some of the victims of the attack were villagers who had attempted to escape into their farmlands.
He explained that security operatives were already on the matter as the Commissioner of Police, Idris Dauda Dabban, led a team of security operatives including himself to the village for an on-the-spot assessment.
A photo combination of Okechukwu Okoye and Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
Gunmen have beheaded Okechukwu Okoye, the lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, were kidnapped on Sunday, along Aguluzigbo road, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state. He represented Aguata 2 Constituency in Anambra State.
Eyewitnesses told Channels Television that Okoye’s head was dumped at Chisco park in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area on Saturday, six days after he was abducted.
Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident on Saturday night.
Reacting to the murder, Governor Charles Soludo condemned the gruesome killing of the lawmaker and commiserated with his family on the loss.
Soludo in a statement by his media aide, Christian Aburime, described the lawmaker’s killing as heartless and barbaric, saying he received the news with rude shock and deep sadness.
According to him, it is probably the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia two years ago that is once again on the prowl.
The governor also reassured the people of Anambra State of his administration’s resolve and renewed determination with the security agencies to go all out against the criminals and ensure they are brought to justice.
This is even as he placed a N10m reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“Soludo condoles with his kinsmen of Isuofia, noting that it is probably the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia two years ago that are once again on the prowl. But they can never cow down Isuofia and Anambra State,” the statement read.
“The governor is still in shock over the barbaric acts against his two kinsmen, vowing that the perpetrators, as well as all criminals operating in Anambra, must be decisively brought to book.
“Governor Soludo has consequently placed N10m reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Anambra will soon be hell for these criminals.
“He wishes to reassure Ndi Anambra of the government’s resolve and renewed determination with the security agencies to go all out against the criminals and ensure they are brought to justice.
“Anambra will win against the forces of darkness. Ndi Anambra should brace up for the all-out war against the criminals.”
He said the perpetrators blocked the Akwanga/Keffi road on Friday night, shooting sporadically in the air, and in the process shot the Chairman’s orderly while carrying out the abduction.
He added that search teams have been deployed to the area comprising of a joint team of Mobile Police personnel, Conventional Police Officers, Vigilante, Hunters and the Military.
Baba and his entourage were on their way to Lafia from Keffi when the incident occurred.
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked the home of the chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Steve Orogwu in Akwa Ibom State.
The state governor in a statement by his Special Assistant Francis Nwaze condemned the attack, describing it as an act of “inhumanity.”
He decried the situation where the home of the Chairman was set ablaze and some of his relatives killed by the hoodlums, referring to it as vicious and barbaric.
“We received the disturbing news of the attack in the home of the Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area by unknown gunmen, the attack is unwholesome and inhuman, it is vicious and barbaric.”
Governor Udom called on security agencies to expedite action and unravel the perpetrators of the dastardly act to enable them to face justice.
“I call on the Security Agencies to speedily hunt for and arrest the perpetrators to bring them to justice.”
The Governor commiserated with the Chairman of the Council Area, Hon. Steve Orogwu and all those who lost their loved ones in the senseless attack. He appealed to them to be consoled and remain calm as Government works hard to track the culprits.
Six hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been killed in Imo State, following their attempt to unleash terror at the palace of the state’s Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze Dr E. C Okeke.
Police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam, in a statement on Monday said that hoodlums in their numbers were sighted in three Hilux vehicles shooting sporadically, fiercely advancing towards the palace.
On receipt of the information, the Command’s Tactical Team joined by the military immediately mobilized and rushed to the King’s house.
When the hoodlums sighted the combined team, they the security operatives in a gun duel, throwing petrol bombs.
CSP Abattam noted that the “gallant team responded, positioning themselves professionally.
“In the exchange of gun fire that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed due to the superior fire-power of the combined team and in the process, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries”.
According to him, the combined team did not relent in their effort, they chased the hoodlums recovering one pump action gun, three blood stained cutlasses and three Hilux Vehicles suspected to have been snatched from innocent citizens.
The police spokesman said calm has been restored in the area and the corpses of the neutralized criminals have been removed and deposited in the mortuary.
He further revealed that on the side of the combined team, no life was lost, but one of the police vehicles got burnt due to the fire from the petrol bomb.
Meanwhile, the police say efforts are in top gear to arrest other fleeing hoodlums, adding that security in Orlu and its environs have been beefed up to forestall any further attacks in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, while commending the combined team for their gallantry, urged them not to relent in their efforts until all criminal elements and their cohorts are made to face the full wrath of the law.
CP Barde thanked Imolites for their constant support and advised them to always assist the police and other security agencies with credible and timely information.
He urged them to promptly report any person seen with bullet wounds to the nearest Police Station or call the Police Emergency Control Room numbers; 080347773600 or 08098880197.
The Commissioner of Police called on the peace loving people of Imo State to go about their lawful businesses without fear of any molestation as all the security agencies are working assiduously in synergy to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
He said the Anambra State Police Command had launched a manhunt for the kidnappers to rescue the lawmaker.
Although the details of the abduction are still sketchy, a viral video show the lawmaker’s vehicle stuck inside a drainage system in the area where the incident occurred.
The latest attack is coming a few days after the state governor, Professor Charles Soludo visited the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
Soludo, who shared pictures of himself and Kanu via social media on Saturday night, said the IPOB leader condemned the violence and senseless killings going on in the Southeast and wished he had the opportunity to a broadcast to address the situation.
Some unidentified arsonists have burnt down Court Three Magistrate Court and other buildings housing several offices on the premises of the secretariat of Idemili Local Government Area in Ogidi, a town in Anambra State.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident happened on Sunday night as the hoodlums destroyed files and properties in the secretariat, including the secretariat building.
While the entire buildings were left in ruins, vehicles parked inside the local government secretariat were also razed.
In another attack close to the local government secretariat, the office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), was badly torched.
The main office building and several shuttle buses used by the company for their operations were all destroyed completely.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incidents to Channels Television on Monday via telephone conversation.
Although he stated that no life was lost in both attacks, the command’s spokesman regretted that several buildings and vehicles were destroyed.
He explained that it took the intervention of the police to contain the attacks, thus reducing the level of damage that would have occurred.
Ikenga, hjowever, said the command has deployed a team of operatives in the area for heavy surveillance operation and with a view to restoring normalcy.
These attacks come a few days after the state governor, Professor Charles Soludo, visited the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is being remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
Governor Soludo, who shared pictures of himself and Kanu via social media on Saturday night, said the IPOB leader was against the attacks and killings by gunmen in the South East.
According to him, the IPOB leader wished he has the opportunity to give a broadcast to address the situation.
Reverend Father Joseph Bako was kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State on March 8, 2022.
Mr Joseph Bako, a reverend father of the Catholic Church in Kaduna State who was kidnapped by bandits two months ago, has died in the custody of his abductors.
The victim reportedly spent eight weeks in captivity before his death.
Although the police authorities have yet to confirm the incident, the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Reverend Father Christian Okewu Emanuel, disclosed this on Wednesday.
According to the chancellor, Father Bako was ill before his abduction and the abductors did not allow him go with his drugs for proper medication.
In his reaction, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Reverend Matthew Ndagoso, has sympathised with the family of the late clergymen over the incident.
He also commiserated with the entire Catholic community of St John Kudenda and assured them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.
Father Bako was kidnapped by bandits at his pastoral residence of Saint John’s Catholic Church, Kudenda in Chikun Local Government Area on March 8, 2022.
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked Yadagungume and Limi villages in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, killing three locals.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ahmed Wakili, confirmed the attacks via a statement, saying one other person was injured.
While identifying the dead victims as Shuaibu Salihu, Ruwa Ali Mai Inji Limi, and Sunusi Isah Burra, he said the injured victim has been taken to a hospital for treatment.
“We received the news of an incident of kidnapping which was reported today, 11th May 2023 at about 5.00am,” he said. “It was reported at our Yadagungume outstation and it was transferred to Burra Divisional Headquarters.
“The incident happened around 02.00hours. Some gunmen invaded Yadagungume village and shot the following two persons: one Shuaibu Sani, 25 years, and one Ruwa Ali, 35 years, all males living in Limi village via Sama Ward, while one Yusuf Sani, 30 years old of Yadagungume sustained bullet wounds on his body and was rushed to General Hospital, Ningi. he is presently on admission receiving treatment.
“One Shuaibu Bala, a 26-year-old of the same Yadagungume was abducted and was whisked out to an unknown destination by the unknown gunmen.
“The command received a distress call and the DPO of Burra Division led a team of policemen and went to the scene of the crime where 13 empty shells of AK-47 were recovered. Presently, the suspects are still at large.
“Two corpses were taken to a hospital in Yadagungume for medical examination where they were certified dead by a medical doctor and their remains were released to their families for proper burial.
“One of the victims I mentioned above that was kidnapped, was later found with a bullet wound on his body. He too, his corpse was taken to the hospital, we are still waiting for his medical report.”
In his reaction, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Umar Sanda, directed the Area Commander and the DPO Burra to intensify all efforts to see that the assailants were arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to the maintenance of law and order, as well as the safety of the residents of the state.
A file photo of a police officer displaying the crest of the Nigeria Police Force. PHOTO: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels TV
Police operatives in Katsina have repelled terrorists’ attacks at Marina, Garin Zaki, Kadage, and Yar-tsamiya villages in Safana, Batsari, Kurfi, and Musawa Local government areas of the state.
In the course of repelling the terrorists’ attack, one terrorist was neutralised and three kidnapped female victims were rescued. Three AK-47 rifles with fifteen (15) rounds of 7.62MM live ammunition and two (2) operational motorcycles of the terrorists were recovered.
The Police Spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
“On 26/04/2022, at about 0010hrs, a distress call was received that terrorists in their numbers, armed with AK-47 rifles, attacked Marina village, Safana LGA. Consequently, DPO Safana led a combined team of police and vigilante groups to the area and engaged the terrorists in a gun duel.
“The team succeeded in repelling their attack, recovered one (1) AK-47 rifle and two (2) operational motorcycles belonging to the terrorists.
“On 26/04/2022 at about 0900hrs, a distress call was received that terrorists in their numbers, on motorbikes, shooting sporadically with AK-47 rifles, attacked Kadage village, Kurfi LGA and rustled some domestic animals,” his statement read.
“DPO Kurfi Division led a team of policemen to the area, engaged the hoodlums into a fierce gun duel. One of the terrorists was neutralized and all the rustled animals were recovered. Many terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds.
“On 26/04/2022 at about 0900hrs, based on credible intelligence, the Command succeeded in recovering two more AK-47 rifles and eleven (11) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in connection with the incident of 21/04/2022 that occurred at Tsamiyar Gamzako village, Kafur LGA of the state in which two terrorists were neutralized, one AK 47 rifle and two locally fabricated pistols were recovered. An investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting the fleeing hoodlums.”
The statement further noted that “On 25/04/2022 at about 0010hrs, a distress call was received that terrorists, on motorbikes, shooting sporadically with AK-47 rifles, attacked Garin Zaki village, Batsari LGA, kidnapped three women and rustled some domestic animals. The DPO led a combined team of police and vigilante to the area, engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, and rescued three kidnapped women and fifteen (15) rustled cows belonging to the villagers.
“Today, 28/04/2022 at about 0930hrs, based on credible intelligence, the Command intercepted and recovered one motor vehicle, Toyota, Corolla, 2003 model, Silver colour, with registration number EPE 704 FQ, LAGOS, stolen at gunpoint from Abuja. On receipt of the report, DPO Danja Division led a team of policemen and blocked Bakori – Hunkuyi Road, Danja LGA. On sighting the police team, the hoodlum abandoned the motor vehicle and took to their heels. The Command has already established contact with the owner as investigations are ongoing.”
The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, therefore, commended and appreciated the efforts of the police and vigilante in repelling the terrorists.
He assured members of the public that the police will continue to deal decisively with recalcitrant terrorists until they are all brought to book. The commissioner also urged them to continue to cooperate with security agencies by giving out useful information that will assist them.
