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Gunmen attacks Benue communities, kill 13

Published

2 months ago

July 16, 2024

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

Gunmen attacks Benue communities, kill 13

Makurdi—No fewer than 13 persons were feared dead and one other sustained injury in two separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in communities of Agatu and Gwer West Local Government Areas of Benue State.

In the attacks, 12 persons were said to have been killed Sunday evening in an unprovoked attack by the marauders at Egwuma village in Agatu LGA while another was killed at Tse Iyo in Sengev Council Ward of Gwer West LGA, same Sunday evening, where one person sustained injury and five others were declared missing.

The lawmaker representing Agatu state constituency, Mr. Godwin Edoh, who confirmed the attack, said the victims were killed when the armed men attacked the village Sunday evening.

The lawmaker, who lamented the ceaseless attacks on his constituents by armed herdsmen, appealed to the government to take decisive action to end the mindless killings.

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He said: “12 people were killed in the attack. We are tired and the problem is still there, that is why I am complaining. Government has to be decisive on what to do about the area.

“The communities are so porous. Ogbumogbo, Ejima and all those areas down to Ikpele, those villages have been deserted for close to one year. So, it is like a colony of herdsmen.

“What they do is that they come over with their cattles from morning and they stay there to graze until they want to go back.

“And they come back there anytime because the people have left the villages and nothing is being done about it.”

Meanwhile in Gwer West, a youth leader and survivor of the attack in Tse Iyo, who narrowly escaped death, Cheghza Igbasue said they were ambushed by the armedmen, while on their way from the farm.
According to a source in the area, “The armed herders attacked and killed 30-year-old Ikyumbu Aondowase while 45 years old Mr. Achin Terzungwe was badly wounded and taken to Naka, the LGA headquarters for treatment.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene said she received information that five persons were killed in the Agatu attack but yet to receive details of the Gwer West attack.

Gunmen attacks Benue communities, kill 13

metro

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Shawulu Dan-Mammam,Commissioner of Police, Niger State

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

In a tragic turn of events, kidnappers who abducted a hotel owner, his manager, and a guest in Gauraka community, Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State, have executed their captives despite receiving a ransom of N25 million.

The incident, which occurred early on August 17, 2024, has also claimed the lives of two local vigilantes, Abubakar Muhammad and Ibrahim Garba, who were killed while delivering the ransom.

According to reports from City & Crime, the bodies of the victims were found in the Dogon-Daji Forest, a border area between Kaduna, Niger State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They were subsequently transported to an air force base near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Hussaini Abubakar, the commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Tafa, confirmed that the remains of the vigilantes were buried on Saturday following military clearance.

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Additionally, a man previously abducted from the community about a month ago was rescued with gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at an army medical facility in Abuja.

The abduction began around 1 am when the kidnappers raided the hotel, forcibly taking all the lodgers. Witnesses reported that the bandits fired shots while leaving, drawing attention to the crime. Despite the presence of a security hunter nearby, the individual fled upon seeing the attackers.

Community residents have expressed growing frustration over the escalating attacks, noting that the bandits frequently operate in nearby forests and along major roads, including the Ijah-Koro and Ijah-Gwari roads leading to Bwari town in the FCT.

Gauraka has experienced at least five kidnapping incidents in the past four months, underscoring the urgent need for increased security measures in the area.

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

metro

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested five Chinese nationals suspected of illegal mining activities in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibieno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The EFCC announced the arrests on Sunday, stating that its Special Task Force on Illegal Mining, operating in Uyo, carried out the operation based on credible intelligence regarding illicit mining activities conducted by foreign companies in Eket and Ibieno LGAs.

This development underscores the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to clamp down on illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s natural resources from exploitation by foreign entities.

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The agency’s vigilance in addressing illegal operations continues to support the country’s broader fight against environmental degradation and economic sabotage.

“The five arrested Chinese suspects are Zhon Qinping, apprehended on 10 September, and Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, arrested on 29 August.

“They were arrested at an illegal mining site, where a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, was being extracted.

“The suspects will face charges in court once investigations are concluded,” EFCC said.

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

(NAN)

metro

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Umar Shehu

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

The Katsina Community Watch Corps (CWC) has apprehended Umar Shehu on allegations of supplying illegal injections and drugs to bandits involved in kidnappings in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The arrest was reported by Bakatsine, a security expert and Conflict and Crisis Journalist in the Northwest region, via a post on X.

Accompanying the post was a video showing a significant quantity of syringes and Umar Shehu’s confession to his involvement in the illegal activities.

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“GOOD NEWS: The Katsina Community Watch Corp (CWC) in Ɗandume Local Government Area has successfully apprehended a man named Umar Shehu, who was involved in trafficking illegal injections and drugs to supply to bandits engaged in kidnappings in Sabuwa LGA all in Katsina State,” the post reads.

“The security team gathered crucial information from Umar and others, but only Umar’s information appeared in the video while others were not recorded for security reasons, according to an insider.”