Tag: Gunmen

Gunmen Kidnap Bayelsa SSG’s Mother

Gunmen dressed in military camouflage have stormed the residence of Betinah Benson and kidnapped her to an unknown destination.

The victim, aged 80, is the mother of Kombowei Benson, Secretary to the Bayelsa State government.

The attack was carried out on Tuesday night in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

Confirming the incident, Bayelsa State Police Command in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Asinim Butswat said some of the suspects have been arrested.

READ ALSO: Abductors Of Bethel Baptist School Students Demand N60m Ransom

“The Bayelsa State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the rescue of Madam Betinah Benson and arrest of the suspects.

“Madam Betinah Benson 80 years was kidnapped on 20th July 2021, at about at about 2300 hours at her residence at Old Legislative Quarters, Azikoro Road, Yenagoa. The kidnappers who were dressed in military camouflage stormed the residence and kidnapped the victim to an unknown destination,” the statement read in part.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, Mike Okoli, and other detectives have visited the scene and investigation is in progress.

Bayelsa has seen a surge in the activities of gunmen in recent years.

In 2020, a police officer was shot dead while trying to prevent an attack at the residence of Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa, in Sagbama LGA of the state.

A year before, gunmen attacked a security post within the country home of former President Goodluck Jonathan at Otuoke, Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa.

Also in 2019, gunmen abducted the mother of former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia at her residence in Adoni community Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

Panic As Gunmen Injure Customs Officers, Soldier In Igangan Community

File photo of a man bearing fireman used to illustrate the story. PHOTO: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels TV

 

Residents of Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State have been gripped by panic following an attack on the community and neighbouring towns of Igbo ora, Tapa, and Ayete.

Eyewitnesses said they did not know the number of persons killed by the gunmen, but that one of the sources claimed that the Amotekun commander in the local government was killed.

While residents claim that the attack was carried out by armed herdsmen, the Nigeria Customs in a statement on Saturday said they were smugglers.

According to the Nigeria Customs, three officers and a soldier were injured during the attack carried out which was carried out on Friday night.

RELATED:

11 Killed As Gunmen Invade Igangan Community

S/West Govs Condemn Igangan Attack, Direct Amotekun To Intervene

Igangan: Makinde Vows to End Insecurity In Oyo State

Customs spokesperson, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Theophilus Duniya in a statement on Saturday said smugglers attacked after they were sighted by customs officers in eight trucks conveying contraband items.

“The injured Customs Officers who are operatives of the Zone A, Federal Operations Unit, sighted eight trucks carrying smuggled foreign parboiled rice whose drivers and armed accompanying passengers launched an attack on the officers.

“One of the attackers was shot and disarmed while the others retreated with their smuggled wares,” the statement read in part.

The attackers were however repelled by the joint efforts of local vigilante groups.

The statement added that an investigation has been launched to arrest and prosecute the attackers and the attacked customs officers and a soldier, including one that was shot in the head, are receiving treatment.

Acting Controller of the Unit, DC Usman Yahaya, condemned the attack and reiterated the resolve of the service to suppress smuggling.

The Unit, according to the Acting Controller, will never relent or be intimidated by attacks carried out by criminal elements unlawfully bearing arms and unleashing same on officers on legitimate duties.

Igangan has been under the spotlight for more than five years with clashes erupting intermittently between farmers and herders.

At least 11 people were killed after gunmen attacked the community earlier in June.

Some of the assailants were killed with houses and vehicles burnt during the attack.

Gunmen Abduct Kogi Monarch, Demand N30m Ransom

A file photo of a man carrying a gun.

 

Gunmen have abducted a first-class traditional ruler in Kogi Stata (the Adogu of Eganyi) in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi State Alhaji Mohammed Adembe on Tuesday evening along Okene-Adogo road.

The Police Public Relation Officer, Kogi State Police Command, Mr William Ayah, confirmed this on Wednesday evening.

The kidnapping of the royal father is the latest of several in recent times.

It comes three days after the kidnap of AbdulAzeez Obajimoh, the  Managing Director of AZECO Pharmaceutical company at Ozuwaya in Okene, Kogi State.

READ ALSO: FG Approves ₦309bn For Federal Road Contract

The abduction of Obajimoh resulted in gunshots that killed one Habeeb Anda and injured two others before the kidnappers escaped.

A source and an indigene of Eganyi told Channels Television via the phone that the royal father who was alone in his car left Okene town around 4:00 pm on his way to the Eganyi community, but was abducted between Ebiya and Eganyi by hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers.

According to him,  the kidnappers around 1:00 pm on Wednesday called the family of the monarch and demanded a ransom of ₦30 million to enable him to regain his freedom.

Ayah said the police command has deployed a special squad to trail the abductors.

He called on the general public to assist the police with useful information to enable security agents to rescue the royal father.

Gunmen Abduct, Kill Businessman In Bauchi

A file photo of a man carrying a gun used to illustrate the story.

 

Gunmen on Tuesday night shot dead a 47-year-old businessman, Alhaji Tasi’u Abdulkarim in Tilden-Fulani town of Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State.

His younger brother Isah Tilde told Channels Television that the gunmen stormed the deceased’s pharmacy located in Tilden-Fulani market around 10:00 pm and collected money; his phones and then whisked him away.

He was shot dead, metres away from the location he was kidnapped.

Locals also confirmed that they heard sporadic gunshots when the gunmen invaded the community.

The police public relations officer, Ahmed Wakili confirmed the incident noting that the deceased was shot dead while trying to resist a kidnap attempt.

READ ALSO: Wife Of Former LGA Chairman Kidnapped In Jigawa

He said: “at 22:50, we received a distress call from a good Samaritan who reported that gunmen had stormed the medicine store of Alhaji Tasi’u.

“A combined patrol team comprising police, army, and civilian JTF moved to the scene immediately and rushed the victim to the general hospital in Toro where he was certified dead.”

He added that the Commissioner has given marching orders to all DPOs and area commanders to fortify their stations and also intensify search efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Wife Of Former LGA Chairman Kidnapped In Jigawa

A file photo of guns retrieved from bandits used to illustrate the story

 

Gunmen have abducted the wife of the former chairman of Kaugama Local Government Area, Alhaji Ahmed Yahaya Marke.

The gunmen numbering about 10 were said to have stormed the residence of the former local council in Marke town, Jigawa around 1:00 am on Wednesday.

The victim identified as Hajiya Fatima is the first wife of the former LGA chairman.

One of the children of the kidnapped victim, Aliyu Ahmad, who confirmed the incident to Channels Television, said the gunmen came in motorcycles.

READ ALSO: Panic At Ladipo Market As Union Members, Traders Clash With Military

He added that the family members have been contacted, but no ransom has been demanded.

“Four of the gunmen entered our father’s home all armed, while six others were outside. They beat the women in the house and whisked away my mother on their motorcycle.

“They have called us but they are yet to tell us the amount we have to pay for them to release her. We have also reported the case to the Kaugama divisional police station,” Ahmad explained.

The police public relations officer in the state, ASP Lawan Shisu also confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

He assured that the police are working together with vigilantes and local hunters in the community to trace the kidnappers and subsequently rescue the victim.

NURTW Vice-Chairman Shot Dead In Lagos

A file photo of a man carrying a gun.

 

The Vice-Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Samuel Kayode, popularly known as Ekpo Kinkin, has been killed at the Agboju area of Lagos State.

Ekpo who was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress was at a rally organised by the party at Oriade Local Development Area when the gunmen invaded the rally on Thursday and shot him dead.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

Eyewitnesses said a gunshot was heard from the crowd outside while the meeting was on, forcing residents involved at the rally to scamper to safety.

When those inside the hall rushed to the scene, Kayode was found in the pool of his blood.

However, NURTW in Lagos State confirmed the incident to The Punch, noting that the deceased was trying to protect a fellow politician when he was killed.

“He was protecting a fellow politician, Wale Yusuf, from harassment when the gunmen shot him dead,” said Jimoh Buhari, the spokesman for the NURTW Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya.

 

Three Policemen Injured As Gunmen Attack Station In Akwa Ibom

Police Arrest 10 Suspects For Political Violence In Akwa Ibom

 

Gunmen have attacked the police headquarters in Akwa Ibom State, leaving at least three officers severely injured.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Udung Uko on Sunday.

“Gunmen on Saturday night attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Read Also: Seven Kidnapped As Gunmen Attack Leprosy Centre, Police Station In Kaduna

“At least three officers sustained fatal injuries, resulting from heavy gunshots as policemen on duty tried to repel the attack,” he said.

The PPRO, however, commended the officers on duty for their gallantry, noting that the situation would have been worse but for the policemen on duty who repelled the attack.

He said that the officers who sustained gunshot wounds are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state.

Seven Kidnapped As Gunmen Attack Leprosy Centre, Police Station In Kaduna

A map showing Kaduna, a state in Nigeria's North-Central region.
A map showing Kaduna, a state in Nigeria’s north-west region.

 

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Zaria, Kaduna state, abducting no fewer than seven people including nursing mothers.

The incident was said to have happened in the early hours of Sunday when the bandits invaded the centre and started shooting sporadically.

Among those kidnapped were seven staff of the centre (two male and five female) and two others who are non-staff.

Read Also: Bandits Kill Seven, Kidnap 10 In Fresh Kaduna Attacks

The gunmen also attacked the Saye Divisional Police Headquarters also in Zaria and damaged a patrol vehicle with bullets.

Although the police authorities are yet to confirm the incident, sources from the area told Channels Television that the gunmen in large numbers had invaded Saye village, blocked the bridge leading to the Leprosy centre, while some others attacked the Saye Divisional police Headquarters, in an attempt to prevent the operatives from foiling the operation.

Gunmen Kidnap Six Ceramic Workers In Kogi

Gunmen Attack Kogi Communities, Kill Policeman And Three Others
A map of Kogi State in Nigeria’s north-central.

 

Gunmen on Wednesday morning kidnapped six staff of West African Ceramic Company in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident happened in the early hours of the day within the Emiworo community under the Ajaokuta Council.

Sources say the workers were abducted while loading stones which were expected to be delivered in the ceramic site located at Itobe in the same council area.

The suspected criminals who were fully armed whisked the six victims away to a yet-to-be-disclosed destination.

READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests Couple Over Alleged N935m Ponzi Scheme In Lagos

Kaduna has been a target for kidnappers in recent times.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Police Command DSP William Aya, said officers are operating in collaboration with other security agencies to see that the victims are rescued.

According to him, the operatives are still combing the bushes in the local government to see if the gunmen might be lingering close by.

Gunmen Kill One, Abduct Two Chinese In Taraba

A file photo of a man carrying a gun.

 

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed one person and kidnapped two nationals of the Republic of China in Taraba State.

The incident was said to have taken place on Monday night at a mining site at Arufu community in Wukari Local Government Area of the state.

Mr David Misal, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a telephone interview on Wednesday.

He gave an assurance that the police were on top of the situation and have already begun a manhunt for the fleeing bandits with a full-scale investigation ongoing.

The command spokesman noted that two abducted foreigners were staff of a mining company in the state.

He added that several others who sustained various degrees of injury while scampering for safety have been taken to various health facilities within the community for treatment.

The said community is a boundary town between Benue and Taraba States and has been in the news for attacks arising from mining activities in the area.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, no contact has been established with the abductors to know what their demands are.

This incident comes after weeks of no reported case of kidnap or attack and counter-attack in the area.

Gunmen Kill Five Security Personnel In Zamfara

In this file photo, a man is seen holding some guns tied together.

 

Gunmen have killed four policemen and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Zamfara State.

The gunmen also left another person critically injured.

The spokesperson of the state police command, Shehu Mohammed confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

It was gathered that security operatives were killed in an ambush by heavily armed bandits along Gora Community in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

Mohammed said the ambush followed the killing of an unspecified number of bandits who blocked the Bakura – Gusau road on Sunday afternoon.

He said, “Yes, they ambushed our troops killing four policemen, one Civil Defence personnel and another was critically injured but receiving treatment in an undisclosed Hospital”.

The Command according to him has sent a reinforcement of troops and traced the bandits to the forest.

He disclosed that six rifles belonging to the police were recovered from the bandits after a gun duel that lasted for hours, noting that peace has returned to the area.

Gunmen Kill 12, Injure Five Locals In Plateau Attack

A file photo of guns displayed on a table.

 

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed 12 people in an attack on Kuru community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

No fewer than five other locals were injured during the incident, eyewitnesses told Channels Television on Monday morning during a visit to the scene of the attack.

They narrated that the assailants stormed the community at about 9pm on Sunday and began to fire sporadic gunshots.

Residents noted that thereafter, the gunmen went to some houses where they shot at the occupants, leading to the death of some with others injured.

They said following the attack, the injured victims were taken to a primary healthcare facility within the community for medical attention.

READ ALSO: JAMB Asks Applicants To Complete UTME Registration By Tuesday

Police authorities in Plateau have confirmed the incident, but they gave a lesser number of those killed by the gunmen.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Gabriel Ubah, noted that the command received a report that 10 persons were shot dead.

He explained that the persons were killed at a drinking joint in Sabon Layi in Kuru by yet-to-be-identified gunmen who drove in a Hilux van and shot sporadically.

“Personnel of the command and the military have been deployed to the affected area.

“The Commissioner of Police has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and to bring the perpetrators of that dastardly act to book,” Ubah said in a text to Channels Television on Monday.

Mr Musa Bagos, the lawmaker representing Jos South/ Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was among those who visited the community where residents narrated their ordeal in the unprovoked attack.

He condemned the heinous crime which he described as an attack too many, stressing the need to stop the trend to prevent the further killings of innocent people in villages in the state.

The Management Committee Chairman of Jos South LGA, Gideon Davou, who was also at the scene, appealed to the residents to allow the security agencies to carry out a proper investigation into the incident.

He also urged members of the community to remain calm and not resort to reprisals with an assurance that the state government would ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were apprehended.