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Terrorists, herdsmen on the rampage in Kaduna, Ondo, Plateau; kill 9, abduct 12

Published

5 years ago

January 12, 2022

Terrorists and herdsmen have in the last 24 hours gone on the rampage in Kaduna, Ondo and Plateau states, killing at least six persons and kidnapping several persons.

In Kaduna, a man was killed when the bandits attacked Gbagyi village on Monday night, while his pregnant wife was abducted. 10 other persons were also taken away by the bandits.

The bandits were said to have attacked the community in several motor bikes, shooting sporadically to subdue the villagers.

Vanguard reported a resident of the community who preferred anonymity, as saying, ‘’Those on bikes were later joined by several other bandits who sneaked into the community from a river side and moved stealthily like monkeys.

“When they came into the community, people were running away but the man who looked like a vigilante stood and attempted to make a call with something like a walkie-talkie. The bandits shot him in the head, he fell and died.’’

He alleged that apart from the deceased‘s wife picked by the bandits, they also kidnapped over 10 residents of the community in an operation that lasted over an hour.

In Ondo State, five persons were killed by suspected herdsmen at Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of the state.

This was despite the riot act read by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and other security agencies in the state that such killings would no longer be allowed in any area of the state.

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Many others sustained various degrees of injurries during the Monday attack over the refusal of the villagers to allow the herdsmen feed on their farmland.

Attack in farm

Sources said the community youth leader, Augustine Lucky, was among those killed by the herdsmen.

Speaking on the attack, the community youth secretary, Nweke Izuchukwu Jude, confirmed the killing of the five persons in two separate attacks.

“They attacked the first set of people on the farm and killed two of them. It was those injured in the first attack that called other villagers for help.

‘’While those who went to rescue them were trying to take the injured back home for treatment, the armed herders appeared again and killed three more people.

“The herdsmen are in our bushes and farmlands, all we need is the support of security men to chase them away and arrest as many as possible.”

He lamented that “all the policemen, except one, who came to the community left with the governor on Sunday, and the only one left could not enter the bush.’’

Contacted, the state command spokesperson, Fumilayo Odunlami, confirmed the latest attack but said she was yet to get the details.

Amotekun

Similarly, the state commander of Amotekun , Chief Adetunji Adeyeye, said his men who were earlier deployed to Molege, rushed to the area.

Adeyeye pointed out that his men were still combing the forest in a bid to apprehend the killers but declined to give the number of casualties.

In Plateau

In Plateau State, gunmen suspected to be bandits, kidnapped Dorcas, wife of Silas Vem, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor of Plateau State.

Mrs. Vem was abducted in front of her house, close to Government House in Rayfield, Jos while returning from an outing.

Another set of armed men also abducted a Director in the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Samuel Audu, in front of his house in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

For Mrs. Vem, a source who did not want to be named, said: “For three days now, the whereabouts of the wife of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Dorcas Vem has remained unknown.

‘’She is a staff of the University of Jos. Their house is at the Little Rayfield in Jos, very close to Government House.

“The woman was just driving to their house when some gunmen accosted her in front of their gate.

“They forcibly dragged her out of her vehicle and took her away to an unknown destination. The incident happened on Sunday and since then, we have not seen her.”

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar, confirmed Dr. Audu’s abduction, saying the abductors had demanded N50 million ransom.

The commissioner said: “Yesterday, (Monday) when we closed here, we went to the house of one of our staff, because we lost a deputy director in the ministry. We went for a condolence visit to the family. It was Dr. Audu that led us there, when we finished, we parted ways.

“This was about 5.30pm, and as he got home, he asked his wife to open the door for him, and lo, the kidnappers were waiting there for him. They took him away as the wife came out.

‘’By 12 midnight, they called that they have Dr. Audu, that we should bring N50 million. Where will we get such money?”

The state police command could not confirm the incidents as calls put across to the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Gabriel Ubah, were not connected.

However, last night, Plateau State police command confirmed the release of Mrs. Dorcas Vem and Dr. Samuel Audu.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Uba, said: “They have been released and reunited with their families by the joint operations of the Police and other security agencies.

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‘’They were rescued today by the joint operation, comprising the Police and other security agencies. Efforts are on top gear to apprehend the suspects.”

3 killed

In another Plateau attack on Monday night, three persons were killed, while two others were injured at Tyana community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The deceased were said to have been ambushed and killed while returning to the community from Riyom town.

In a statement issued by the Berom Youth Moulders’ Association, the umbrella body of Berom youths, and signed by Rwang Tengwong, its National Publicity Secretary, a visit had been paid to the survivors of the attack who are receiving treatment in a hospital.

The statement read in part: “The Berom Youth Moulders’ Association, BYM has condemned the killing of three persons from Tyana community of Riyom Local Government Area by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

“Five persons were ambushed on their way home on Monday, 10/01/2022 at around 9:30 pm. Three persons; Joel Yohanna, aged 27; Daniel Bitrus, 25, and Christopher Ezekiel Mwantiri, 22 were murdered while two others, Paul Luka Zam, aged 22, and Philibus Bulus Mwantep, 25 sustained severe injuries.

“According to Paul Luka Zam, they were returning from Riyom when the incident occurred. Zam said they were approaching the community when they sensed strange movement from the bush by the road.

“He said the strangers began to shoot at them and he was shot on his left leg. He added that despite the injury from the gunshot, he managed to escape but the other three who were right behind them were unlucky as the attackers came out from the bush in their numbers and shot at them directly.

“BYM President, Solomon Dalyop Mwantiri, Esq who was at the hospital to assess the state of health of the injured, condoled the families that lost their loved ones and described as unfortunate the situation where young persons continue to be targeted by the enemies of peace in Plateau State.

“Mwantiri said communities must activate the local security systems where earlier warning signs will be dictated and prompt measures are taken to avert the attack.

Kaduna

Meanwhile, a member of the 8th Senate from Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, said yesterday that bandits had become a state within a state in the north-western part of the country.

Senator Sani, who stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, said: “Virtually now, bandits in the North West have become a state within a state.

“They have been able to establish governance structure in the sense that they don’t just kidnap and extort money, it has reached a point where they even install traditional rulers and Imams.’’

While asking authorities to step up efforts against the criminals, Senator Sani said more should be done by the government to secure the lives and properties of the people.

“This is not just happening in Mars, Jupiter, or Venus; this is happening in the state of the President (Katsina).

‘’Bandits have become an authority – they kill those they want to kill, they preserve those whom they want to preserve.

“In the states of Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Niger, a large swathe of land is virtually under the control of these bandits,’’ he said.

Zamfara

According to him, the recent attacks on several villages in Zamfara were in response to the military campaign launched against the bandits.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to contact his old friends and neighbours to get the information on the ground.

“President Buhari should spare time, go through his old logbook, look at the numbers of those his old friends and people he has lost touch with in the last four to seven years, call them and ask what is going on,” Senator Sani said.

Vanguard

Related Topics:abduction Bandits Featured herdsmen Kaduna Ondo plateau rampage

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Bauchi Woman Arrested After Co-Wife Dies in Alleged Pestle Attack

Published

20 seconds ago

September 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Bauchi Woman Arrested After Co-Wife Dies in Alleged Pestle Attack

A 33-year-old woman, Hauwa’u Haruna, has been arrested by the police in Bauchi State after her co-wife, identified as 43-year-old Jamila Adamu, died following an alleged attack with a pestle.

The incident occurred at about 4:05pm on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate in Bauchi metropolis, where the two women reportedly lived in the same household with their husband.

According to the Bauchi State Police Command, Haruna allegedly picked up a pestle during a confrontation and struck Adamu on the forehead.

The victim reportedly lost consciousness after the alleged assault.

Police said officers from C-Division, Bauchi, were alerted to the incident and responded to the residence. Adamu was subsequently taken to Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where a medical doctor reportedly confirmed her death.

Her remains were deposited at the hospital mortuary pending an autopsy, while the police commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The police said the alleged pestle used in the attack was recovered and retained as an exhibit. Haruna was also arrested and taken into custody for questioning.

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The police spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, said preliminary findings indicated that the suspect was allegedly acting under what the command described as hallucinations when the incident occurred.

However, the police description does not by itself establish a medical diagnosis or explain the cause of the alleged behaviour. Further investigation, including the circumstances surrounding the incident and any relevant medical assessment, would be required to establish the facts.

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and prosecution.

The commissioner also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged members of the public to seek timely medical and psychosocial assistance for people experiencing serious behavioural or psychological difficulties.

Police have not disclosed a specific motive for the alleged attack or provided details of what triggered the confrontation between the two women.

The incident has consequently remained under investigation as authorities work to establish the circumstances that preceded the alleged assault and the events that led to Adamu’s death.

The case is expected to be subjected to further investigation before any criminal liability is determined through the appropriate legal process.

Bauchi Woman Arrested After Co-Wife Dies in Alleged Pestle Attack

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Lagos Driver Arrested After Police Sergeant Dies During Stop-and-Search

Published

13 minutes ago

September 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Driver Arrested After Police Sergeant Dies During Stop-and-Search

A 21-year-old Lagos driver has been arrested after a police sergeant was fatally injured during a stop-and-search operation in the Egbeda area of Lagos State.

The deceased officer, identified as Sergeant Johnson Okediji, was reportedly knocked down and dragged beneath a Lexus ES 350 during the incident, which occurred at about 2:20pm on Saturday, September 26, 2026, along Olugbede Street, Egbeda.

The driver, identified by the police as Olumide Olusola, was arrested after officers pursued him following the incident. The Lexus, with registration number FKJ 223 KX, was also recovered and taken into police custody.

According to the Lagos State Police Command, officers were conducting a stop-and-search operation when they flagged down the vehicle.

The command said the driver initially stopped but allegedly accelerated as Sergeant Okediji approached the driver’s side of the vehicle.

The officer was reportedly knocked down and dragged underneath the moving vehicle for several metres despite efforts by other police officers and passers-by to stop the driver.

Okediji sustained multiple fractures and serious head injuries in the incident.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital before being referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His remains were subsequently deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary, while an autopsy was ordered to assist with determining the circumstances surrounding his death.

The police later arrested Olusola and recovered the vehicle involved in the incident.

However, the suspect has disputed the police account of what happened.

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While being paraded by the command, Olusola reportedly denied deliberately hitting the officer, claiming instead that the vehicle suffered a brake failure as he approached the police officers.

He said he had taken the vehicle to a mechanic the previous day to replace its brake pads and was informed that the work had been completed.

According to his account, he later noticed that the brake was still slipping after he bought fuel on the day of the incident. He said he intended to return the vehicle to the mechanic when the incident occurred.

The competing accounts have not been resolved, and the police investigation is expected to establish how the collision occurred and whether the driver’s actions amounted to a deliberate attempt to evade the officers.

The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by police officers during stop-and-search operations, as well as the need for motorists to comply with lawful police checks.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani said the command would continue to enforce the law while ensuring that officers performing their duties operate within established rules.

The incident was disclosed during the command’s September operational briefing, where the commissioner also gave an account of other arrests and recoveries recorded during the month.

The police said 32 suspects were arrested during the period, while officers recovered 43 vehicles, five pump-action firearms, five locally made pistols, 20 live rounds or cartridges, 15 expended ammunition and about ₦2.5 million in cash, among other exhibits.

The command said investigations into the death of Sergeant Okediji were continuing.

The case is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death, including the suspect’s claim of brake failure and the police allegation that he accelerated after initially stopping for the search.

Lagos Driver Arrested After Police Sergeant Dies During Stop-and-Search

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Rivers Approves State Police Bill as Kano Assembly Starts Consideration

Published

24 minutes ago

September 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Rivers Approves State Police Bill as Kano Assembly Starts Consideration

The Rivers State House of Assembly has unanimously endorsed the constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services in Nigeria, while the Kano State House of Assembly has begun considering the proposal as the nationwide legislative process gathers pace.

All 25 members of the Rivers Assembly voted in favour of the State Police Bill during plenary on Monday, September 28, following consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.

The bill was transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly by the National Assembly on September 16 for consideration and concurrence.

Rivers Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule said the lawmakers had consulted their constituents before taking a position on the proposed constitutional amendment.

He said the proposal would create a constitutional pathway for states to establish their own police services while allowing the National Assembly to prescribe minimum standards for policing nationwide.

The Rivers Assembly’s resolution is expected to be formally communicated to the National Assembly as part of the constitutional amendment process.

Meanwhile, the Kano State House of Assembly has commenced consideration of the bill after lawmakers resumed plenary on September 28.

The Kano Assembly had earlier indicated that it would examine the proposal when it reconvened, with lawmakers expected to scrutinise its provisions before taking a formal position.

The Kano development is part of a wider process involving the 36 state legislatures. The National Assembly has clarified that the State Police Services Bill is the only constitutional alteration proposal so far transmitted to the state assemblies for consideration.

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Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment passed by the National Assembly requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the next stage.

This means at least 24 of the 36 state assemblies must approve the proposed amendment.

The National Assembly has given the state legislatures a 30-day administrative timeframe to consider and communicate their resolutions, although the Constitution itself does not prescribe that period as a statutory deadline.

The state-level consideration follows the passage of the executive-sponsored State Police constitutional amendment bill by the Senate and House of Representatives earlier in 2026.

The proposed amendment seeks to provide constitutional backing for a decentralised policing structure in which State Police Services would operate alongside the existing Federal Police Service.

The proposal also contains provisions intended to establish national minimum standards and safeguards for state policing.

According to the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service would continue to operate across Nigeria, while individual states that establish state police would have their own police services subject to the constitutional and legislative requirements.

The proposal comes amid longstanding discussions about restructuring Nigeria’s policing system and bringing law enforcement closer to communities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has previously backed the establishment of state police, saying a decentralised policing structure could complement the existing federal security architecture and strengthen grassroots policing.

The Presidency has also said that any new state policing framework would require provisions covering recruitment, training, funding, oversight, discipline, firearms control, complaints mechanisms and other safeguards before state police services begin operations.

The legislative process has already produced different responses from state assemblies. Osun and Edo have also backed the proposed amendment, while other assemblies, including Oyo, Nasarawa and Gombe, have begun or scheduled consideration of the bill.

The proposal, however, has not yet created State Police Services in Nigeria. It must first secure the constitutionally required support from at least 24 state assemblies and complete the remaining stages of the constitutional amendment process.

With Rivers having endorsed the proposal and Kano now considering it, attention is shifting to the decisions of the other state Houses of Assembly as the State Police Bill moves through the next phase of the constitutional review process.