The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the release of the 13-year-old boy via a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, adding that the victim has since been reunited with his family members.
It was gathered that the gunmen about six in number laid ambush on Ajibola’s family as they were returning to their house on Saturday night.
The victim, his mother and grandmother were returning from their shop after attending the Redeem Christian Church of God programme where the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye had ministered when the gunmen came calling.
They were said to be hiding in a nearby bush close to the victim’s house, pounced on the family when Ajibola alighted from his mother’s car to open the gate.
The kidnappers are said to have reached out to the family of the abducted boy demanding ₦50m as ransom.
It is however not clear whether a ransom was paid before the boy was released this evening.
A combination of file photos of the map of Kaduna State and a gun recovered from crime suspects.
Bandits have again attacked Wawan Rafi village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing a man, his seven-year-old son and two other persons.
The bandits also burnt seven houses, one car and one motorcycle in the attack.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said that security patrols that were mobilised to the area repelled the assailants who retreated into the forests adjoining the location.
Aruwan also said the troops recovered eight empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition at the scene of the attack.
Similarly, armed bandits stormed a sugarcane farm on the outskirts of Iyatawa in Giwa local government and killed one person
In another development, a bandit lost his life during an operation in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner explained that the bandits invaded Rugan Bello, a settlement located along the Kajuru-Buda road in Kajuru local government in the early hours of today in an attempt to kidnap the locals.
He noted that as they were intercepted and resisted by community vigilante members, the bandits retreated, shooting sporadically, and in the process, one of their members was hit by a shot and died instantly.
Daredevil armed robbers have killed two private security guards working with a filling station located along Ondo road, in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, DSP Tee-Leo Ikoro told Channels Television on the telephone that the incident was reported to the police by the Manager of the station on Sunday.
Ikoro disclosed that an unspecified amount of money was carted away by the robbers.
File photo of Plateau map and gun seized by suspected criminals.
Gunmen have killed eight miners at a mining site of Cabitex company in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims, comprising five women and three men were attacked by suspected herdsmen on Saturday night, with several others sustaining injuries.
Secretary-General of Kuru Development Association, Chapo Daniel condemned the incident, describing it as a heavy loss to the community considering that the victims went for their legitimate business and were ambushed by the assailants after the day’s business activities.
Reacting to the attack via a statement, Governor Simon Lalong, asked security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to book.
The governor expressed anger over what he described as another desperate attempt by criminals to destabilise the state and create fear among the people which is not acceptable considering the commendable level of peace achieved in recent times.
Lalong also commiserated with families of those killed during the attack and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He called on citizens to assist law enforcement agencies with useful intelligence and embrace various structures such as the traditional institutions, community police constabulary, vigilante groups and other associations in tackling the security challenges.
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest in Imo State, Reverend Father Marcel Izu Onyeocha of the Mother Theresa Of Golgotha Catholic Church in World Bank, Owerri.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Orlando Ikeowku, confirmed the incident via a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the priest was driving from Enugu State in a Nissan external SUV in the company of a friend when his car developed fault around the Ihube community in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police spokesman, as they were trying to fix the vehicle, a group of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen emerged from the bush and inflicted a matchet cut on the other man while the Catholic priest was abducted.
Ikeowku said the State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Mohammed, has activated all the tactical teams of the command with a view to rescuing the priest and possibly arrest the culprits.
The incident is coming less than four months after gunmen kidnapped the Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri, Bishop Moses Chikwe.
Similarly, last Wednesday, a traditional ruler of the Umueze autonomous community in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise Mbaise Local Government Area, Eze Charles Iroegbu, was abducted alongside five members of his cabinet and two palace guards.
They were however released on Friday.
SEE STATEMENT BELOW:
IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND BULLETIN
KIDNAP OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST, REV. FR. MARCEL IZU ONYEOCHA
On 11/04/21, one Bissong Isa Atugu “m”, reported that on 10/03/21, at about 7:45 pm, while driving from Enugu to Owerri with a Nissan Exterra SUV, in the company of one REV. FR. MARCEL IZU ONYEOCHA of Mother Theresa of Golgotha Catholic Church, World Bank Owerri, the vehicle developed fault around Ihube in Okigwe LGA, and as they step down to check the vehicle, a group of people believed to be Fulani herdsmen emerged from the bush and inflicted matchet cut injuries on him, while the priest was kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.
Sequel to the above, the COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE, CP NASIRU MOHAMMED, has activated all the tactical teams of the Command, with a view to rescue the priest, and possibly arrest the culprits. He however calls for calm as the Command will do everything possible to ensure the rescue of the priest.
A file photo of a gun recovered from crime suspects.
Gunmen have abducted the General Manager of a filling station situated in Isan Ekiti, the home town of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu confirmed the abduction to Channels Television on Friday, adding that the operation was carried out by close to 10 gunmen on Thursday evening.
According to Abutu, the abductors took a bush path with about six motorcycles and started shooting sporadically before whisking the victim away.
The State Police Command said it has deployed a rescue team to ensure the release of the victim and the arrest of culprits.
A similar incident occurred in January when a popular petrol dealer in the state was kidnapped at one of his filling stations in Ado, the state capital and later released after about seven days.
A file photo of policemen on a stationed patrol van.
Gunmen attacked another police station in Imo State late Wednesday injuring two officers and leading to the disappearance of another.
Mbieri Divisional police headquarters located at Mbaitoli local government area of Imo state was the latest victim.
The attack on the Mbieri station is the seventh police station to be attacked by gunmen in Imo state between January and April, which includes the attack on the Imo state police command headquarters on Monday.
According to sources, the gunmen vandalised the police building and freed suspects in detention.
They reportedly arrived in the late hours of Wednesday night with sophisticated weapons and shot sporadically before gaining access into the police facility.
About two police officers were injured and another reportedly kidnapped.
The Imo state police command has confirmed the incident.
Spokesman Orlando Ikeokwu said although the Mbieri police station was attacked very late on Wednesday night, the attackers were repelled by the officers on duty.
Ikeokwu said one of the officers is still missing while two are injured and receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
He also confirmed that some suspects in the police custody were freed.
‘Blame aggrieved politicians’
Meanwhile, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has blamed the recent attack on security facilities in the state on aggrieved politicians, saying their aim was to destabilise his government and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He stated this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, three days after gunmen stormed the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Police Headquarters in Imo State, freeing an unspecified number of prison inmates.
When asked if the tragic incident was a direct attack on his government, the government replied in the affirmative.
He explained that security agencies have gathered intelligence on the sponsors of the thugs and their planning leading to the attack on government establishments on Monday.
A file photo of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
“It is not only on my government, it is both on my government and the Federal Government. We have credible evidence leading to those who paid the hoodlums, where they met, and how they met. Security agencies are already working with this information,” he said.
“Some people are trying to sponsor a synchronise national crisis to bring the government of Muhammadu Buhari to disrepute, otherwise tell me why these things are happening at this time, particularly in Imo, APC state.
“People are sponsoring these people. Some of them already caught have made confessional statements. I am going to forward my report to the central government.”
The gunmen who stormed the security agencies on April 5 set the facilities ablaze.
During the attack, one person suspected to be a fleeing inmate was hit by a bullet while carrying his travel bag.
His lifeless body was visibly seen on the ground in front of the correctional centre.
The gunmen also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters situated in Owerri and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.
They were said to have operated from 1:00 am till 3:00 am during which they sang solidarity songs at the Government House Roundabout for about 30 minutes before attacking the facilities.
A file photo of a gun recovered from crime suspects.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed three farmers in the Wukari local government area of Taraba state.
The attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday in Assa village a suburb of the Wukari local government area.
Confirming the incident to Channels Television via a telephone interview, the Chairman of the council, Adi Daniel, said the attackers came in their number through a bush path and orchestrated the mayhem.
Daniel noted that five other farmers who escaped the attack were badly injured and are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital Wukari, adding that the farmers were residing in their farmstead when they were attacked unprovoked.
The attack is coming barely 24 hours after two mobile policemen were killed at a checkpoint in Dogon-Gawa community, a suburb of Takum local government area which is also in the Southern zone of Taraba state.
The police are yet to confirm the incident though claim it is still expecting full details as regards the ugly occurrence.
The Southern zone of Taraba state has recorded various crisis prominent among which is the Tiv Vs Jukun Crisis that lingered for 21 months before relative peace could return to the affected areas.
Similar attacks and counter-attacks as witnessed now was what played out before it was fully blown out of proportion with the security agencies invited to douse the tension.
The crisis which lasted for 21 months started in April 2019 with lives and property not spared.
A map of Ehime Mbano, a local government in Imo State in south-east Nigeria.
It’s more worry for the residents of Imo State as the insecurity rate appears to be on the rise as a result of continued attacks on police facilities in the state.
A day after gunmen attacked the Police Command Headquarters in Owerri, a group of armed men invaded another police facility in the state on Tuesday.
The latest attack was carried out on the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area – just about an hour-and-a-half drive from the state capital.
Sources said the gunmen, who came in buses and in a large number, arrived at the police station and freed all the suspects in detention before setting the building ablaze.
Police authorities in the state confirmed the incident to Channels Television, although they insisted that the armoury at the station was intact.
“Ehime Mbano (Police) Division has just been attacked, no casualty on the part of the police, no loss of arms, three vehicles burnt,” Orlando Ikeokwu who is the Police Public Relations Officer said in a text.
On Monday, gunmen attacked the Police Command Headquarters in the state where they burnt almost all the vehicles parked there.
Over 1,800 Inmates On The Run
The attack, carried out in the early hours of Monday, happened at a time when gunmen also invaded the Owerri Custodial Centre, freeing hundreds of inmates serving various jail terms.
Authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) put the figure of inmates who fled the correctional facility at 1,844.
They, however, noted that six of the fleeing inmates voluntarily returned to the facility while 35 others refused to escape from custody.
The incident was condemned by the Federal Government and the state government, as well as various individuals and groups in the country.
A screengrab taken on April 5, 2021 shows some burnt vehicles after gunmen attacked the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Imo State.
Mr Mohammed Adamu, who was the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) at the time of the attacks, ordered the immediate deployment of additional units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other police tactical squads to Imo.
He stated that this was important to strengthen security in the state and prevent further attacks on security formations or any other critical national infrastructure in the state.
The former police chief had also directed the Commissioner of Police in Imo and a new Special Investigation Team to carry out holistic investigations into the incident, with a view to arresting and bringing the perpetrators of the attacks to justice.
A day after the incident, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as well as the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and Adamu visited Imo for an on-the-spot assessment of the attacked facilities.
But the attack on the police station in Ehime Mbano is said to have occurred barely three hours after the vice president, the minister, and the former police chief left the state.
Chairman of Takum Local Government Area, Shiban Tikari who confirmed the incident said the colleagues of the deceased police officers went to a nearby town to get foodstuff for all of them before the gunmen struck.
He condemned the incident and added that the gunmen came in motorbikes
”This is indeed unfortunate and uncalled for. They came on motorcycles, opened fire on the two police officers unexpectedly, killed them, and took away their rifles.
“The two police officers that were killed were left by their colleagues to man the checkpoint who went to a nearby town to get foodstuff for all of them.
“The gunmen came on motorcycles, they open fire on the two policemen, killed them, and took away their rifles.
“This has caused tension, but I have tried my best to calm the situation down,” he said.
The council chairman however revealed that the bandits usually disguise in special joint tax force uniforms to commit such heinous crime.
The police public relations officer David Misal when contacted by Channels Television said the state command is yet to get any information regarding the attack for now but promises to give more details as soon as possible.
A Lagos-based pastor, Frederick Aramuwa who was kidnapped while travelling along the Ipele/Idoani Road in Ondo State has been found dead.
Aramuwa was said to be travelling from Lagos to his hometown, Ifira-Akoko in Ondo State and was discovered to be missing since March 31.
Subsequently, his kinsmen embarked on a rigorous search for him and equally reported the case to the police. However, it was discovered that the deceased was kidnapped and his captors demanded ₦10 million ransom, which was reduced to ₦2 million after negotiations.
Channels Television gathered that after the ₦2 million ransom was paid, it was the lifeless body of the pastor that was discovered in the forest.
Gunmen on Monday attacked the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Police Headquarters in Imo State, freeing an unspecified number of prison inmates.
Channels Television gathered that the attack occurred in the early hours of today, after which the hoodlums set the facilities ablaze.
During the attack, one person suspected to be a fleeing inmate was hit by a bullet while carrying his travel bag.
His lifeless body was visibly seen on the ground in front of the correctional centre.
The gunmen also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters situated in Owerri and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.
They were said to have operated from 1:00 am till 3:00 am during which they sang solidarity songs at the Government House Roundabout for about 30 minutes before attacking the facilities.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the attacks.
Gunmen on April 5, 2021 attacked the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in Imo State.
Also, the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service confirmed the attack on its facility.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service, James Madugba, told journalists that the authorities were still trying to get the accurate data of inmates who escaped and the level of devastation caused.
He explained that details will be shared as soon as accurate information and data is collected.
“There was an attack on the Nigerian Correctional Centre very early this morning around 2:15 am and some of these vehicles were burnt.
“Fire service came to assist the much they can to stop the fire from causing more damages. We are yet to confirm exactly what happened,” Madugba said.
Gunmen on April 5, 2021 attacked the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in Imo State.
According to him, no figure has been given on the number of casualties because there was a gun battle between the police and the gunmen.
Gunmen on April 5, 2021 attacked the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in Imo State.
No fewer than 50 cars were set ablaze in the process.
This is the third attack in less than a month on police facilities in Imo State.
Some gunmen had on March 20 stormed the Isiala Mbano Divisional Police Headquarters in Umuelemai.
During the attack, the hoodlum injured a police officer and set ablaze files. They were said to have cordoned off the road before the attack.
On February 25, some gunmen razed the Aboh Mbaise Divisional Police Station in the state.
Some police officers have been killed and police facilities destroyed by gunmen who cart away rifles in similar attacks around the South-east and South-south regions, giving the impression that the attacks may have been coordinated.
