12 killed, others injured in fresh gunmen attacks on Benue communities

Gunmen have reportedly taken the lives of at least 12 people, leaving several others injured in recent assaults on communities such as Anyiin, Ayilamo, Iorza, and Gbeji in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. Allegedly, the attackers are identified as Fulani herdsmen.

According to reliable eyewitnesses, the unprovoked attacks commenced last Monday, claiming the lives of three innocent individuals.

The violence persisted throughout the week, with a total of nine more casualties reported.

An anonymous eyewitness, who managed to escape the onslaught, revealed that the attackers, aside from entering homes, brazenly blocked roads in Anyiin, Iorza, and Gbeji during daylight hours.

This resulted in additional fatalities, with villagers also forced to part with varying amounts of money.

Expressing concern for the safety of the defenseless residents in Anyiin and surrounding areas, the fleeing eyewitness called upon the Benue State Government to urgently provide security.

The eyewitness emphasized that these attacks occurred on a daily basis over the past two weeks, seemingly without intervention from security forces.

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The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Sewuese Anene, officially confirmed the incidents to members of the press.

In an effort to reassure the public, Anene conveyed that the command had taken steps to deploy personnel with the aim of restoring peace in the communities affected by the attacks.

Despite providing this assurance, she encouraged individuals affected by these unfortunate events to maintain a sense of calm and composure in the face of these challenging circumstances.

Benue State is grappling with significant challenges as it confronts frequent attacks perpetrated by both bandits and Fulani, resulting in tragic loss of lives.

The region is currently contending with a series of security issues that have led to a distressing impact on its population, with incidents of violence causing widespread concern.

The ongoing attacks in Benue State have created a pressing need for comprehensive and effective measures to address the complex security situation and safeguard the lives of its residents.

12 killed, others injured in fresh gunmen attacks on Benue communities

BREAKING: 3 NDLEA officers injured after heavy gun battle with Drug Dealers in Edo (Photos/Video)

Three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been injured, and one is set to undergo brain surgery after a fierce gun battle with armed hoodlums.

In a statement released on Thursday by the agency, the suspected hoodlums attempted to block their access to a drug warehouse hidden deep within the Opuje forest in the Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

“The NDLEA operatives were able to exit the area after over two hours of gun fight with the armed hoodlums,” the statement said.

The incident occurred on Monday, December 4, 2023. According to the statement, NDLEA officers, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the forest to destroy the warehouse containing tons of processed psychoactive substances believed to be destined for distribution across the country during the upcoming festive season.

This operation comes just 11 months after a similar raid on the same community led to the arrest of four suspects and the destruction of a massive cannabis warehouse storing over 317 tons of the illicit drug on Wednesday 18th January 2023.

“At least, three suspects: Omoruan Theophilus, 37; Aigberuan Jacob, 42; Ekeinde Anthony Zaza, 53, and Naomi Patience Ohiewere, 42, were arrested in connection with the drugs then,” the statement said.

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It added: “The Opuje community is notorious for cannabis cultivation, where the cartels invest huge resources, cutting down economic trees of the forest reserves and cultivating cannabis on a large scale, running into hundreds of hectares. After harvest, they build warehouses inside the forest reserves and employ the services of armed youths to protect the warehouses 24/7.”

“Following credible intelligence that the drug cartels had again stocked their warehouses in the forest to start distribution of the psychoactive substance to various parts of the country ahead of the yuletide season, teams of NDLEA officers were mobilized to enter the Edo forests and block the distribution of the illicit drug by destroying their warehouses. Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000kgs of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.”

“The NDLEA teams however came under gunfire attack in the early hours of Monday 4th December when they approached the Opuje forest after the armed hoodlums had blocked all access roads in the community.”

Reacting to the attack, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), warned those sponsoring violence against the agency’s operatives, saying the agency would not relent in its efforts to bring these individuals to justice and dismantle their criminal networks.

BREAKING: 3 NDLEA officers injured after heavy gun battle with Drug Dealers in Edo (Photos/Video)

Court sends Lagos man to prison over vote buying

One Wahab Hameed has been remanded over alleged conspiracy and vote buying in the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday ordered the remand of the suspects in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Justice Ismail Ijelu remanded the defendant after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and bribery brought by the EFCC.

The judge adjourned the trial until December 7 for a review of the facts and judgment.

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According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), when the accusations were read to the defendant, he told the court that he couldn’t speak or understand English.