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Bandits, vigilante clash in Sokoto market, six killed

Published

7 months ago

April 20, 2024

Spokesman for the Sokoto Police Command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i

Bandits, vigilante clash in Sokoto market, six killed

Six persons have lost their lives in a clash between suspected bandits and vigilantes, locally known as Yan Sakai in the Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The vigilantes, according to a source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, were said to have avenged the killing of their leader, one Alhaji Dahiru by a suspected bandit.

Eyewitnesses said the clash started when a leader of the Gidan Hashimu village vigilantes made a move to arrest and interrogate a notorious cattle rustler seen loitering in the market.

The suspected bandits, at the height of the crisis, reportedly shot and killed the vigilantes’ leader, which sparked reprisal by members of the vigilantes.

One of the eyewitnesses said before the arrival of the police team at the market, more than six people were said to have been killed some with bullet wounds from gunshots while running for cover to save their lives.

“The vigilantes in the area, provoked by the killing of their two leaders, went on reprisal attacks on Fulani communities in the area where over 50 people were alleged to have been summarily executed by the rampaging group.

“As speak to you now, I and my family are in hiding to avoid another reprisal attack by the suspected bandits.

“There is tension in Gada town, as suspected Fulanis vow to attack the town to avenge the killings of their members.

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“Today is Kiri village market day, but you cannot spot a single Fulani male or female in the market area,

“The attack launched by the Vigilantes in many Fulani communities in Gada Local Government Area on Thursday saw the killing of many Fulanis in the area.”

Also confirming the incident, a member of the state House of Assembly representing the area, Kabiru Gada said, “The incident occurred when a suspected bandits leader was said to have been seen in the Gada market making purchases and some vigilante leaders identified him and demanded his arrest and interrogation.

“He later resisted and instantly shot and matchet the Vigilantes leader of Gidan Hashimu village to death which prompted reprisal against the Fulanis from members of the vigilantes.

“The report at my disposal shows that many people were killed, some with injuries sustained from gunshots fired by both sides. Some Fulanis and Vigilantes lost their lives.”

Another eyewitness, Usman Gada, who spoke with our correspondent, said the leader had trailed and intercepted the suspect who was in the company of his kinsmen on their way to the local cattle market on Thursday.

The suspect was said to have resisted arrest and in the process brought a knife and stabbed the vigilante leader which led to his death.

“When the news about his death reached his colleagues, they mobilised and stormed the market, killing any Fulani man on sight. We counted about eight corpses of Fulanis which were later deposited at the mortuary.

“It was the quick intervention of security operatives that saved the situation because the Yan Sakai, who was about 100, wanted to set the police station where some of the Fulanis ran into ablaze.

“Soldiers surrounded the police station and dispersed them. However, the vigilantes razed down all the Fulanis settlements in the area.”

Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the state police command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, said six persons lost their lives during the incident.

“We are still investigating to unravel the remote cause of the problems and bring those behind it to book,” he said.

Bandits, vigilante clash in Sokoto market, six killed

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Related Topics:Bandits Sokoto market vigilantes

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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9 mins ago

November 14, 2024

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

Published

19 mins ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

Published

44 mins ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.