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Fear grips Benue community over bandits N20m tax demand

Published

5 days ago

June 26, 2024

Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene

Fear grips Benue community over bandits N20m tax demand

Residents of Torough community in Ukum Local Government Area are grappling with fear and desperation as bandits have threatened an attack unless a tax of N20 million is paid within days.

The audacious demand has forced locals to sell their farm produce and livestock, with each household tasked with raising N500,000 to meet the bandits’ ultimatum.

Sources within the community, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, revealed that the levy has been distributed among households, with the smallest amount being N50,000. “Some have started disposing of their farm produce and livestock to raise the levy, while others have contacted their relatives outside to avert the attack,” one source disclosed to Punch.

The gravity of the situation is such that even the village head is reluctant to report the threat to security forces, fearing further provocation of the local militias.

Victor Iorzaa, chairman of Ukum Local Government, confirmed the threat and identified the notorious militia leader known as Full Fire as the mastermind behind it. “He has been terrorizing the area for the past five years, working with Fulani herdsmen to attack our people,” Iorzaa said. He recounted a recent military assault on Full Fire’s house, illustrating the ongoing efforts to curb his influence.

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Iorzaa reported the extortion attempt to both the police and the state security council, highlighting the pervasive fear that grips the community. “The people of the area are living in fear; it’s the most troubled place in the local government,” he noted.

State Police Public Relations Officer SP Catherine Anene mentioned that such an incident had not been officially reported to the command. Meanwhile, Joseph Har, the Security Adviser to the Governor, dismissed the likelihood of bandits successfully collecting the tax, stating, “The criminals have been having a very tough time recently and can’t have the balls to wait and collect any tax.”

Har acknowledged the global trend of bandits imposing illegal levies but assured that the state government and security operatives are actively working to dismantle these criminal activities. “The criminals have been feeling the heat and most have fled their camps. We intend to sustain the momentum until we run them down or they surrender,” Har asserted, noting a recent reduction in bandit impunity.

Despite the government’s efforts, the threat remains imminent for the people of Torough, who continue to raise the demanded funds in a bid to avoid the feared attack.

Fear grips Benue community over bandits N20m tax demand

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Bandits storm Abuja council, kill one, kidnap four in fresh attack

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Trends Admin

FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh

Bandits storm Abuja council, kill one, kidnap four in fresh attack

At least one person was killed when a clutch of bandits attack Guto in Bwari Area Council in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The rampaging armed non-state actor also reportedly abducted four others during the invasion.

Over thirty men were said to have carried out the attack which began around 12:30am on Sunday.

According to Vanguard, the attack started on the outskirts of Guto and Piyawe communities before spreading to Tudun-Fulani and Sabon Gari areas, both in the Council.

The armed men were said to have split into two groups and attacked the communities from different points, having entered Piwaye through the swamps.

They were consequently said to have killed a woman, Madam Alice, who was in her mid 40s and then kidnapped a man.

Alice was said to have gone to the area to visit her sick mother who was being taken care of by her brother when she was killed.

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Two victims were allegedly abducted from their homes in Guto, while another person was kidnapped from Tudun-Fulani, which is less than a kilometre from the council Secretariat.

A resident who preferred anonymity, said the attackers operated from 12:30am to 2:30am with no challenge from security agencies.

He said; “What happened last night was very unfortunate. We couldn’t sleep from 12:30am when they stated till almost three o’clock. Initially we thought it was the vigilance teams who were shooting, but when it became persistent, we knew these people were back again.

“We have had peace for sometime now but unfortunately they have resumed and this time with full force because it was two groups that entered Bwari that night. One was in Guto while the other group was in Piyawe. It was obvious those ones came prepared, because the sounds we heard through the night, suggested they came with sophisticated weapons.”

Another resident of Tudun-Fulani who would not like to be mentioned, alleged that the police failed to show even when frantic calls where made to the divisional headquarters in Bwari.

“We felt so helpless because the kidnappers operated for over an hour, but there was no police or army to challenge them. I called my neighbour when the shooting started and he said he had already called the police. We waited for them to show up for 20 minutes and when we didn’t hear sounds of sirens, we called again but they kept telling us they were on their way. We never saw them until the kidnappers left on their own.”

Bandits storm Abuja council, kill one, kidnap four in fresh attack

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Sexual intercourse with minors under 13 attracts life jail – Delta PPRO

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright

Sexual intercourse with minors under 13 attracts life jail – Delta PPRO

Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, has warned that having sexual intercourse with a child under 13 years old is considered defilement and is punishable by life imprisonment.

In a post on X.com, Edafe emphasized that consent is not a valid defense, and covering up such crimes can result in charges of aiding and abetting.

He also highlighted that taking the matter to court or swearing an affidavit will not suffice, urging parents to report any instances of defilement to the authorities.

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He wrote: “A sexual intercourse with either a boy or a girl under the age of 13 years is defilement and the punishment, if found guilty, is life Imprisonment.

“Section 218 CC. In this case, consent is immaterial and such offences can’t be compounded.

“So going to court and swearing to an affidavit won’t work. In fact, any parent who tries to cover defilement could be charged to court for aiding and abetting.”

Sexual intercourse with minors under 13 attracts life jail – Delta PPRO

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Bandits abduct traditional ruler, others in Kaduna

Published

6 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Bandits abduct traditional ruler, others in Kaduna

Bandits on Saturday kidnapped Ashiru Sherehu, the traditional ruler of Tunburku in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Sherehu was abducted while returning from his farm.

The area, part of the Fatika district, has been plagued by banditry, making it increasingly dangerous for local residents. Ahmadu, a resident, noted that fear of abduction or death has kept farmers from working their fields just a few kilometers away from the town.

Hussaini Umar, the Sarkin Fadan Galadimawa and another traditional leader in the community, confirmed the kidnapping. He stated that the village head was taken around 5:00 pm on Saturday while returning from his farm.

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“The bandits stopped him and took him away. We haven’t heard from them yet,” Umar said.

On Sunday afternoon, two more farmers were kidnapped in Sabon Layi under Kidandan Ward while working on their farms.

Witnesses were unable to intervene due to the bandits being armed.

Umar expressed his concern over the increasing attacks on farmers and acknowledged the efforts of soldiers in the area. However, he urged the government to deploy more security personnel to address the escalating insecurity.

The Kaduna State Police Command has yet to comment on the incident, and attempts to reach the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful.