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Bandits, vigilante clash in Sokoto market, six killed

Published

2 weeks 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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Terrorists kill eight vigilantes in Kaduna community, abduct two village heads

Published

13 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Trends Admin

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan,

Terrorists kill eight vigilantes in Kaduna community, abduct two village heads

Eight vigilante members and two others have been killed by terrorists at Kakangi and Unguwan Matinja communities in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The local leaders of Kakangi and Kisaya villages in Kakangi Ward were also abducted.

A resident of the LG, Idris Khalid, confirmed the event, saying the gun-wielding men invaded the villages early Thursday.

Bala Kamba, Abdurrahman Musa (Ubale), Kabiru Dan Dugui, Hambali Abu, Aliyu Abu, Nura Jika (Maleka), Mubarak Musa (Dan Wamba), and Ikra Hantsi were the eight vigilante members killed at Kakangi.

Khalid also revealed that the two victims in the Ungwan Matinja neighbourhood of Gayam Ward were Christopher Abubakar and Isah Gambo.

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He claimed the vigilantes were attacked while tracking down the kidnapped victims, who were abducted on their way to a funeral between Kakangi and Sabon Layi.

“The vigilantes engaged the terrorists, killing scores of them, but could not rescue the two traditional rulers and others.

“Normally, anytime there is a kidnapping incident, the vigilantes always trail the terrorists to rescue the victims.

“It’s unfortunate that in the process, eight gallant officers of the vigilantes who have been sacrificing to ensure the safety of our people were lost,” the resident said.

When contacted, the State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, stated, “We are investigating the matter to determine the true story because the area where the incident occurred had a network problem.”

Terrorists kill eight vigilantes in Kaduna community, abduct two village heads

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Repentant Boko Haram members burn NDLEA, Customs checkpoints in Borno

Published

21 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Trends Admin

Repentant Boko Haram members burn NDLEA, Customs checkpoints in Borno

A group of suspected repentant Boko Haram insurgents, on Wednesday stormed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Customs Service checkpoints at Kasuwan Fara, a suburb of Maiduguri metropolis, chasing away the personnel on duty and setting ablaze all structures at the checkpoints.

The incident, according to security analyst and counter insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, followed a fierce encounter between the former Boko Haram combatants and the police at the Kasuwan Fara Divisional Police Office.

The suspected repentant insurgents, reportedly wearing military uniform, had pounced on the police office to forcefully set free their eight colleagues arrested at the suburb over criminal activities bordering on dealing in hard drugs.

The arrest was made on April 24 during a raid carried out by the police on the notorious spot at the criminals-ridden Kasuwan Fara.

“Due to the rise and persistence of criminal activities and sinister operations by drug peddlers comprising dismissed military personnel, repentant insurgents and other hoodlums, who assemble there to conduct nefarious activities, the area had since been earmarked for closure by Borno State Government.

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“The April 24 raid, where the eight suspected repentant insurgents were arrested and 426 bottles of spirits such as dry gin confiscated, was conducted to sanitize the area, pending the final closure.

“The arrested persons were detained at the Kasuwan Fara police division since the day of their arrest.

” Subsequently, at about 7:40 am of Thursday, May 2, a dozen of the suspected repentant insurgents in military uniform, stormed the Kasuwan Fara police station in an attempt to rescue their arrested fellows.

” The Divisional Police Officer alongside his men were able to repel the attack while the perpetrators fled.

” Consequently, the assailants, in an apparent transfer of aggression, reverted to attacking NDLEA and NCS personnel checkpoint along the Maiduguri-Gubio road Kasuwan Fara, where they burnt down the checkpoints alongside the sandbags heaped on the road and fled the scene, ” Zagazola Makama said.

Borno Police Command spokesman, ASP Kenneth Daso, who confirmed the incident, said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the attackers, adding that the arrested eight suspects have been handed over to relevant security quarters.

Repentant Boko Haram members burn NDLEA, Customs checkpoints in Borno

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Police identify officer who shot man dead at fuel station

Published

22 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Trends Admin

Police identify officer who shot man dead at fuel station

The Police Command in Lagos State has identified the officer who allegedly shot a man dead at a filling station in the Obalende area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a post he shared on his verified X handle@ben Hundeyin on Thursday.

He said that the officer had been identified.

“The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.

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“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available, ” he said.

According to Hundeyin, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.

It could be recalled that the deceased, Toheeb Eniasa, was shot dead by a policemam on Wednesday while struggled to buy fuel.

It was learnt that two officers drove into the station to purchase fuel but motorists asked them to join the queue.

In the process, an argument ensured which resulited into a fight and one of the officers shot Eniasa and ran away.