Crime
Plateau massacre: Bandits shot, beheaded victims in their homes —Survivors
Following the massacre of 78 persons in some Plateau communities on Sunday, the residents have fled the affected areas to homes of relations in safer communities in Garga area of Dengi, headquarters of Kanam Local Government Area.
Some survivors of the attack, which also led to the burning down of scores of houses, also said, yesterday, that their communities were attacked through the land donated for ranching in the areas.
Though mourning their loved ones, who had since been given mass burial, the survivors said they had to leave for fear of further attacks.
One of the survivors, Ahmadu Salim, from Kukawa said: “The attackers came on several motorcycles, riding dangerously, firing shots at fleeing natives and setting buildings ablaze.
“As they swooped on the villagers, some of them with long swords were running into homes, slashing people and beheading some as we tried to escape.”
Another survivor, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The gunmen attacked us after invading our community through land donated for the ranching programme of the Federal Government.
“You know the controversy that trailed this ranching programme when it was conceived by the government. We fought against it, knowing that a time like this will come, but government had its way.”
Yet another survivor said he lost many members of his family, adding that he managed to escape being killed by the grace of God.
“The bandits shot and killed running into the bushes, slaughtered those they caught up with in their homes. The number of deaths being reported is an understatement because many people were chased into the bush and killed there.
‘’I suspect many dead bodies would still be in the bushes, yet to be recovered,’’ said the survivor who pleaded not to be identified for security reasons.
Although the state government has ordered security forces to go after the killers and directed the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and the Peace Building Agency to immediately visit the areas, assess the situation and provide relief as well as trauma management to the survivors, nothing has happened.
But Director-General of the Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang, said: “SEMA has such statutory responsibility. As at yesterday, they were preparing to go together with the National Emergency Management Agency.
‘’The work of the peace building agency depends basically on some relative level of security as well, so SEMA is supposed to carry out that assessment before we can go in to start a dialogue.
“However, we are not sure whether what is happening in Kanam is a question of criminality or an issue of conflict but an assessment will give us an insight into how we can design our intervention.
“I think the governor’s instruction, probably is in the context of collecting information for humanitarian intervention first. It is not necessarily about calling conflicting parties because we don’t know if it is a conflict and who the parties are.
“What we know is that there was an attack that is criminal, we are also joining other people, including the government, to call on the security agencies to fish out those responsible for this heinous act and ensure they face justice, with a mechanism put in place to forestall a recurrence.”
While help is being awaited, it was gathered that suspected criminally-minded people are taking advantage of the situation to swindle people, and this has forced chairman of the council, Mr. Dayyabu Garga, to issue a disclaimer.
Taru Dugub, the SSA on Media and Student Affairs to the chairman, yesterday, cautioned the public to disregard any form of humanitarian service request for the victims, as some person or group of persons were parading themselves, seeking donations in the name of Kanam local government.
Dugub said the chairman was also assessing the level of damage to property, houses, and the actual number of people killed and displaced.
He added: “We are collaborating with State Emergency Management Agency to resettle the people at a convenient camp, while mourning our slain brothers and sisters.
“In times like this, corporate bodies and individuals may wish to donate to the victims of the Kanam massacre, they may do that through the social services department of the local government council, HRH Ra’an Jhar of Jhar Chiefdom, or through the Kanam Emirate council.”
Senators Dimka, Dadu’ut beg FG to help survivors with relief materials
Meanwhile, the senator representing Plateau Central, Hezekiah Dimka, his Plateau South counterpart, Nora Dadu’ut, and a gubernatorial aspirant, Caleb Mutfwang, have frowned at the killings.
Dimka, who visited the council’s headquarters in Dengi to commiserate with the chairman and people of the area, described the massive killing and wanton destruction of property as disheartening and reiterated his call on the federal government to come to the rescue of the state.
He said: “I wish to most heartily, on behalf of the people of Plateau Central, condemn these dastardly acts of taking the lives of innocent people and destruction of property and to console the families of those who have lost their loved ones in the course of these senseless attacks.
Senator Dadu’ut on her part, urged the Federal Government to expeditiously apprehend the perpetrators of the act and bring them to book.
Similarly, the gubernatorial aspirant, Mutfwang called on citizens to rally against the ravaging insecurity, kidnapping and other criminal activities that had become injurious to the economic growth of the state.
Don’t spare or forgive perpetrators, Buhari warns security agencies
Reacting to the killings, yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari directed security agencies not to spare or forgive those behind the attack.
The President, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, ordered law enforcement agencies to work strenuously with the government of the state to bring the situation under control and take steps to bring the culprits to justice quickly.
The statement read: “As full details emerge on the scale of the brutal terrorist attacks in Kanam and Wase communities in Plateau State, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killings as heinous, saying the perpetrators should not be allowed to escape justice.
“They should not be spared or forgiven. He ordered law enforcement agencies to work strenuously with the government of the state, to bring the situation under control and take steps to bring the culprits to justice quickly.
“President Buhari expressed condolences over the terrorist incident, saying as a matter of priority, peace must return at all costs to the state and the entire country.”
According to a statement on Friday, the arrested officers are: “AP/No. 207454, ASP Elomore Sodayo; AP/No. 332012, Inspector Adefila Adewale; AP/No. 332449, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi; and AP/No. 332369, Inspector Odusola Peter.”
Speaking at the command headquarters in Akure on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, said the police had zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.
He added that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved.
He added that officers were expected to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, respect human dignity and comply strictly with the Force’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution that does not condone any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence, promoting ethnic division, or bringing the Force into disrepute,” the commissioner said.
He assured the public that the investigation would be conducted to determine the facts of the case, adding that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.
This was said to be part of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity.
Disu gave the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to the IG, the order followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the persistent insecurity in Benue State must be brought to an end.
He stressed that only authorised security personnel were legally permitted to bear firearms, warning that the era of passive policing was over.
“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he said.
Disu disclosed that police officers had been empowered under Force Order 237 to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for directives from superior officers.
“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow.
“They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you.”
He called on residents to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against armed criminality.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of property.
The federal government has continued to deploy additional security personnel and adopt tougher measures aimed at restoring peace in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Fresh fears have gripped residents of Ifite Awka following an alleged plot by suspected gunmen to establish camps in the area where four Fulani herders were killed two days ago.
Security reports indicate that the attack may have been aimed at scaring away visitors to the bush in an attempt to facilitate the establishment of new camps in the area.
Residents recalled that similar tactics had allegedly been used by criminal elements to take over communities, often with the assistance of local collaborators.
The area shares boundaries with Awka North Local Government Area, where there have been reports of gunmen operating in some communities.
Following the development, youths from Ifite Awka have stormed the Ifite Agu area in a manhunt for the suspected gunmen.
The development comes as Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has issued a fresh directive to traditional rulers and President-Generals (PGs) of communities to take charge of the security architecture in their respective areas in conjunction with local security operatives and the mayors of the 21 local government areas.
It was gathered that as early as 5 a.m., some youths in the area had moved into the bushes in search of the suspected gunmen and cattle reportedly missing following the incident.
The youths were accompanied by local hunters who assisted in the search.
Speaking with reporters, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Aburime, confirmed the fresh directive to traditional rulers and President-Generals of communities across the state.
He said, “We have a government that is people-oriented and that is the government of Prof. Charles Soludo, who is a man that loves the people, is at home with the ordinary people and feels their pains.”
Aburime described the incident as unfortunate and urged the police and other relevant security agencies to take immediate action.
He noted that traditional rulers and President-Generals are the first points of contact when it comes to the security of lives and property in their communities, adding that the governor had reiterated his charge to security stakeholders to take control of security in their respective areas.
He, however, said the possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out, but added that it would be premature to draw conclusions before the completion of investigations by the relevant security agencies.
“The issue of sabotage against security in Anambra State cannot be ruled out, and that could just be an attempt to undermine the efforts of the government. But I cannot categorically tell you that it is an act of sabotage. We have to wait for the investigations of the security agencies before drawing conclusions,” he said.
He added that the Agunechemba Security Squad was working to improve security in the state, noting that residents had commended the governor for the improved security situation.
“We have a good security architecture in place, and I can tell you that this could just be an isolated incident. Everything necessary that needs to be done will be done in that regard,” Aburime said.
He stressed that security was the responsibility of everyone, regardless of social status or position.
“It is very simple, and the governor has always said that security is everybody’s business. When it happens, it affects everyone, irrespective of class or position,” he said.
According to him, “The President-Generals and traditional rulers are the first points of security in their communities and should be able to ensure that there is no security breach in their respective localities.”
He urged residents to provide useful intelligence to security agencies, assuring them that their identities would be protected.
“If you see something, say something. These people doing these things are human beings, and they live in the localities. People should be able to know them. They should avail us of intelligence reports, and that will help us fish them out. Your identity will always be protected,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Sanusi, has urged residents, particularly youths, to resist attempts by police officers to search their mobile phones during stop-and-search operations.
Sanusi said such searches violate a directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, stressing that officers are not permitted to randomly search the phones of members of the public.
The commissioner made the remarks during a press conference shared by News Central Television on Tuesday.
He explained that although mobile phones could be used as evidence in criminal investigations, they should only be examined after a suspect has been lawfully arrested and taken to a police station.
According to him, officers are not authorised to stop people on the road and demand access to their phones merely on suspicion that they may be involved in internet fraud or other criminal activities.
Sanusi urged residents confronted by officers demanding to search their phones to seek assistance by contacting the police emergency line or nearby police officers.
He reaffirmed the FCT Police Command’s commitment to enforcing the Inspector-General’s directive, warning that officers found violating the order would face disciplinary action.
He said the command would continue to take action against officers who abuse their authority or engage in extortion under the guise of conducting stop-and-search operations.
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 39-year-old man, Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, for allegedly impersonating a medical doctor and defrauding a woman of ₦500,000 under the guise of securing employment for her children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday in Calabar.
According to the statement, Ekpeme was arrested by officers attached to the Uwanse Division in Calabar South Local Government Area following a petition by a 45-year-old woman, Mrs Edemawan Samuel.
The complainant alleged that the suspect falsely presented himself as a medical doctor and collected ₦500,000 from her after promising to facilitate employment for her children at UCTH.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly used the false representation to deceive the woman into handing over the money.
Relevant exhibits believed to be connected to the alleged offences were also recovered during the investigation, while the suspect remains in police custody.
The police spokesperson said the suspect is being investigated for alleged impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence and unlawful use of medical equipment.
The Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, has directed detectives to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any other possible victims or accomplices.
The command said the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations if sufficient evidence is established.
The police assured members of the public that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
The arrest comes weeks after the Edo State Police Command announced the arrest of a 46-year-old man, Osaze Okungbowa, who was accused of impersonating a medical doctor and allegedly delivering babies and trafficking newborns.
The Edo suspect was arrested following a complaint by a woman, Princess Oke, who reported that the baby she delivered under his care had gone missing, leading to a police investigation.
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