Category: Crime

THE uneasiness in the Federal Capital Territory triggered by the terror alerts by the United States and the United Kingdom is beginning to affect businesses in the capital city.

Despite the repeated assurances by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the various security agencies that there was no need to panic and that people should go about their business without fear, many residents of Abuja seem to be staying away from large gatherings, shopping malls and fun spots in response to the alerts.

Our correspondents who visited different parts of the city noted that there were fewer vehicles on some major roads while there were only a few individuals at some gardens and relaxation centres.

The usually busy Lokogoma Road has fewer motorists, commuters and pedestrians, likewise the Berger, Wuse and Gwarimpa areas of the city.

Also, the Shoprite Mall, Apo and the Novare Centre at Wuse, which used to witness a flurry of activities, had fewer shoppers than usual on Saturday. The situation was not different at several other shopping centres visited by our correspondents.

Attendants at some of the malls told our correspondents that patronage and sales had dwindled since the terror alert was reported.

A sales attendant at Novare Centre, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that in contrast to what the kind of patronage they used to have, only a few customers came to the mall in the past few days on account of the terror alert.

Another attendant at Shoprite Mall, Apo, noted that her boss was considering closing the shop due to poor sales. This was however unconnected with the cost of running the shops with no corresponding sales or patronage.

A shopper at Shoprite, Lugbe, who gave her name only as Betty, noted that the turnout was low compared to what they had the previous week.

She said, “The mall is somehow dry today. If you were here last week, you would easily know the difference. People sometimes come around to take pictures outside but they are very few today. Also, people used to be in a queue to buy bread at the mall, but today there was no queue. I also noticed that the payment point which used to be crowded had very few people.”

One of our correspondents also visited Tiger Bar in Lugbe and the popular Magicland Amusement Park, where there were only a few fun-seekers.

Meanwhile, the Director of the National Children’s Park and Zoo, Aminu Muhammad, said the park conducted a search on visitors and closed at 6:30pm to make sure everyone left “in good time.”

He stated, “We make sure everyone going in is checked thoroughly, and if we suspect anything, we report it immediately. You noticed we have an army checkpoint before you got here, so we are in constant synergy and we close in good time, at 6:30 pm.”

At the Millennium Park, one of our correspondents observed two armed policemen and private security guards at the gate. A staff member explained that the park maintained its regular closing time of 6pm.

At least 10 houses at Dan Jamfari Community, Barbaji village, in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State have been burnt by gunnmen.

Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Saleh Jili, said on Friday that the agency sympathised with victims and took relief materials to them.

He said the state government would leave no stone unturned to fish out the assailants and bring them to justice.

Relief materials given to the victims were 10 bundles of roofing sheets, 20 bags of cement, 10 packs of zinc nails, 20 bags of 10kg rice, 20 bags of maize and five bags of salt.

The victims also got clothing materials, cutleries, buckets, vegetable oil and five cartons of seasoning cubes.

Jili reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the protection of lives and properties of citizens and charged residents of the community to live in peace and harmony.

A resident, Malam Magaji Audu, said the assailants were armed with sticks and cutlasses.

“More than 200 of them invaded the village in the night and went from house to house claiming they were looking for their stolen motorcycle.

“The attackers tried to stab me in the presence of my family members and I refused to produce my children whom they claimed to have stolen their motorcycle as demanded,’’ he said.

Audu explained that the assailants returned the day after and set his house and others on fire while his family members escaped.

“The hoodlums carted away food items, chickens, turkey, farming equipment and destroyed 10 houses within the village,’’ he said.

The district head of Rogo, Alhaji Muhammad Maharazu, confirmed the incident and commended the emergency management agency for the kind gesture of the relief materials.

Maharazu who was represented by his secretary Alhaji Bashir Tsoho, said the Emir of Karaye, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar II, had rendered all the necessary assistance to the victims and also reported the incident to the state government.

A trader in Anambra State, Mrs Ngozi Okonkwo, tells IKENNA OBIANERI about her struggle for justice for her grandchild who was kidnapped and his school uniform dumped at a shrine

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Ngozi Okonkwo. I am an indigene of Umunnama community in Eziowelle, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. I am 55 years old. I am a petty trader and I am married with kids and a grandchild.

Your grandson was reportedly abducted. Can you recall the incident?

Yes. My grandson, Tukwasichukwuobi Okonkwo, has been missing since 2019. He was taken away alongside his classmate, Chinenye, by abductors on January 19, 2019. It was while they were waiting for their teachers and other pupils to come and conduct the morning assembly in the school compound at Uzubi Nursery and Primary School that their captors came and took them away and till date, they have not been found.

It was my daughter, Amara, who used to drop them off at their school before she would proceed to her own school. She was in secondary school also located along the same road. What happened was on the morning she dropped the children, the teachers had yet to come to school, so the children were left alone in the compound and that was what gave the captors the chance to lure the children away.

Was there no security guard at the school?

There was no security guard at the school. It was an open compound; no fence and no gate.

How old was your grandson as of the time he was taken away by the assailants?

He was seven years old in 2019, by now he ought to be 10.

What about his parents?

The mother had him when she was living with me. And when she got married, she did not take the child along.

How did you get the news of his disappearance?

I  waited for him to return from school after school hours on that fateful day as other kids were coming back home, but he did not return. While I was getting ready to go to the school to check up on him at about 3pm, a teacher from the school walked into my house and told me that my attention was needed in the school. On getting to the school, the teachers told me that someone brought the school uniforms and bags of the missing kids to the school and told them that he picked the items from a shrine known as ‘Ogwugwu’ in Eziowelle. When I searched my grandson’s bag, I found some packets of biscuits inside, even when I did not buy any biscuits for him when he was leaving for school in the morning.

And what did the school authorities say?

The school authorities told me that they did not even know that the two missing kids came to school that day because they (school authorities) had not reached the school before the kids were lured away by the suspects.

Who is the person that was said to have returned their uniforms and how is he related to you?

There is no blood relation; just a member of the community.

Did you visit the shrine where the uniforms were said to have been found?

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We visited the place, but we did not find the children. Even the person in charge of the shrine was nowhere to be found.

Did you report the matter to the police?

It was at that stage that I rushed to Eziowelle Police Station and lodged a complaint and consequently, the police first arrested the person that brought the uniforms, and in the end, investigations revealed that it was his elder brother, whose name is Onyedika, that transported those children, together with some others at large, in his tricycle. He is a tricycle operator. They lured the innocent children from the school with packets of biscuits.

What did the police do?

The police arrested and detained him, but granted him bail the following day. Not satisfied with the speed with which the police released the suspect, I went to the state Criminal Investigations Department, Awka, and lodged a fresh complaint, which prompted the arrest of the school headmistress and Tukwasichukwuobi’s class teacher and also the school manager who is a Catholic priest. At the state CID, the traditional ruler of Eziowelle sent someone to take the bail of Onyedika, because they are closely related. It was my petition to the Inspector-General of Police, and the quick response that reinvigorated the case which prompted the police to arraign Onyedika  in 2021 after two years of dilly-dally, otherwise, the case would have died off as planned by the suspect and his cohorts.

What is the state of the matter now?

The matter was charged to court in 2021 and ever since then, it has been from one adjournment to another, while the suspect and his cohorts go about threatening me and my family. They go about boasting that the matter will not see the light of the day, no matter what I do. It is a pity that this kidnap matter has gone on adjournment over 15 times. The only day we had a ruling on it was the first day when the plea for the bail of the suspects was heard and the suspects were granted bail. Ever since, it has been from one adjournment to another. All I am seeking is for all the relevant authorities, including the judicial council, to intervene in this matter and ensure accelerated hearing to ensure that justice is served for those missing innocent children. My grandson must not be allowed to die in vain; it is possible that they have killed the children for ritual purposes or possibly sold them off, but whatever, I just want justice to prevail in this matter to serve as a deterrent to others who may think that laws don’t work.

What about the parents of the other kid that was kidnapped along with your grandson?

They have been frustrated and they are tired of pursuing the matter, the frequent adjournments here and there have made them to back out. But as for me, I will see this matter to a logical conclusion, with the help of God. I am also seeking the support of civil society organisations to help prevail on the court for accelerated hearing on the matter.

Where is the case being handled and what stage is it?

It is at the Ogidi Magistrates’ Court 1 in the Idemili North LGA of Anambra State. The matter came up last Thursday, but the Chief Magistrate court One handling the matter did not sit and it was subsequently adjourned till December 6, 2022. I was hoping that, at least, trial proper would commence on Thursday, but I was disappointed when they announced that the magistrate did not sit and subsequently the matter was adjourned.

I am not satisfied with the way the case is being handled. First, the police tried to bury the matter, before it was charged to court. Now at the court, it has been from one adjournment to another without any concrete thing done yet.

Are you suspecting any foul play as regards this issue?

I am suspecting that my grandson’s suspected abductors may have the backing of some powerful individuals, if not, how will you describe the incessant setbacks they have deliberately introduced in the matter?

Where are the school uniforms that were found in the shrine?

They have been tendered as exhibits and in the custody of the police.

Have you for once suspected any ritual killing in the incident?

A lot of things are being suspected, especially as they said their school uniforms were found in a shrine, but I want to remain positive so long as it has not being stated in that direction. Other thoughts like the possibility of the children being sold also flash through my mind, but it is better that the children were sold and are still alive than being ritually killed or whatever, although, no parents pray for either of these.
PUNCH

Even though kidnap for ransom has been in prevalence in Enugu state for some years now, a worrisome trend recently manifested, in the past two months, in several parts of Enugu state, compounding the insecurity situations in the state.

The recent kidnappings came to a head on Thursday with the abduction of a former secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr. Dan Shere, along Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road. In the past one week the kidnappers suspected to be Fulani bandits laid siege along the road and abducted passengers almost every day of the week. Among those kidnapped is an official of Enugu state government, Mr. Foster Ugwuoke who was abducted within the week among other commuters that travelled along the road.On Sunday, a number of students returning to the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) after the eight months ASUU strike were also packed into the bush along the road and report has it that the kidnappers demanded N300 million ransom, while the relatives pleaded to pay N500, 000.

A cleric who escaped the kidnappers by the whiskers along Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road alleged the complicity by the security agents who were in charge of a check point before the Maduka Onyishi University in Ekwegbe. The cleric who pleaded for anonymity said he was surprised that instead of the normal stop-and- search duty of the security personnel, they rather urged them on until they ran into the kidnappers, adding that they escaped by the grace of God.

However, there are allegations that the kidnappers have some insiders among security agencies.

Kidnapping along the Enugu-Nsukka new road actually resumed in September 2022 when a good number of travelers along the road were packed into the Ekwegbe forest, sending shivers down the spine of commuters along the only serving road to the northern parts of Nigeria from Enugu, since the over eight years collapse of 9th  mile- Makurdi road.

At the resumed kidnap operations along the road, a community leader in Ugwuogo autonomous Community,  Enugu  East Local Government Area, and former member of  Enugu  State House of Assembly, Chief Joseph Agbo Ugwumba had asked the Enugu state government to establish a police station in Ugwuogo community so that it can help to checkmate series of  kidnapping  and other crimes that take place along the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka road and Ugwuogo-Neke-Ikem road.

Ugwuogo is an interchange for roads leading to different parts of  Enugu  north Senatorial district, Isi-Uzo local government areas, Benue, Kogi States and other parts of Northern Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The road became fully functional after former Governor Sullivan Chime developed the road that bypassed the old 9th mile-Makurdi road. More pressure was added to the road following the complete failure of the 9th Mile road, hence different attentions  were diverted to the new gateway.

Unfortunately, crime reigned on the road, hence  kidnapping  by suspected Fulani herdsmen and other violent crimes have been taking place along the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka road as well as the Ugwuogo-Neke-Ikem road. Despite security checkpoints along the roads, the spate of crime increased on the roads.

A Security expert who spoke on the condition of anonymity confided that both the federal and state governments have security reports that the bandits have remained in the forests of communities in Ojebogene, Nike, Igboetiti and Isi-Uzo local government areas from where they have continued to operate along the 9th mile -Nsukka road, the old 9th mile-Opi-Nsukka road and their recent relocation to Ugwuogo areas because of increased traffic in the area.

The security expert lamented that the Commissioners of Police in the south east states have soft spots for the bandits that operate in the south east.

He therefore urged the governors of the south east, particularly the  Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to take the issue of the protection of the lives and properties of the people of his state seriously by implementing recommended measures.

In his private message to Governor Ugwuanyi, Hon. Agbo Ugwumba said: “To address the insecurity along Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka road, Your Excellency, Ugwogo Nike community constructed four blocks of buildings to house Police stations, but owing to lack of funds the police station was abandoned. If the state government can help to complete the buildings, Police will leave in Ugwogo and patrol the roads 24 hours daily. This is an easy solution.”

Almost simultaneously, is the same kidnap of commuters along Ozalla (4 corners)-Udi road. The road has military checkpoints, yet kidnapping goes on the road. A recent Whatsapp message went viral following an anonymous message of someone who claimed to be a victim of kidnapping along the Ozalla-Udi road.

The message read: “Re-Recent Kidnapping of 6 persons along the 4 corners/Nvene in Enugu State. (True story) SOS!!! On Tuesday 11th day of October 2022, 3 different coordinated kidnappings were successfully carried out along the 4 corners/Nvene road in Enugu State and 6 people were kidnapped. I was one of the victims. The first one happened around 1pm where one person was kidnapped and another shot dead.

“The second one was carried out around 5:30pm. Three people were taken and another one person killed. The third kidnapping took place around 7pm and a man who is a road safety official and a newly married lady were the victims. When we were brought to their hideout, some started interrogating us while some went through our phones. On getting to the road safety official, they queried him if he was a policeman but he told them he belongs to the road safety corps. They questioned him more assuring him that they will not harm him but he insisted on being a road safety official. They then told him that they will help him out. Two hours later, 2 of the kidnappers escorted the man out of the hideout and set him free. I was surprised after we paid ransom and were released to hear that the military men along the 4 corners/Nvene road claimed to the public that the road safety official escaped during a shootout with the kidnappers.

“We all paid ransoms. One of us paid Five million Naira, another paid 4 million, another paid 2 million, one of us paid 1.5million while another paid 1 million, making a total of 13.5 million Naira. All the ransoms were paid just about one pole from the military check point along that 4 corners/Nvene road. As soon as the ransoms were brought, two military men from the check point moved towards the ransom pay point and stood. To our surprise, the kidnappers carefully and comfortably counted the money in bundles right there and then without any fear. We were held by some of the kidnappers in the bush right behind them where we watched and identified our people as they brought the ransoms.

“Soon after counting the money, they signaled to our captors and we were released.

The big question is why should kidnappers decide to collect ransoms just a stone throw from a military checkpoint manned by armed military men? We plead with our peace loving Governor, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Federal Government to come to the rescue of Ndi Enugu. We also strongly recommend that the GOC of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army be transferred out of Enugu.  Enugu State has hitherto his appointment as the GOC of 82 Div been the most peaceful and safest State in Nigeria.

“How can a dog eat the bone that is hung around his neck for safe keeping? The military is supposed to protect us but they have become our nightmares. They now connive with kidnappers to deal with us. This was exactly the case in Kaduna where the current GOC, 82 Div was in charge of the military. He has now resumed his operations here in Enugu. We also call on the Nigerian Army to fish out the soldiers on duty along the 4 corners/Nvene road on Friday 14th October 2022, the day we were set free and bring them to book. They were complicit in our Kidnapping. Ndi Enugu, we must cry out now. Enough is enough!!!

From one of the kidnapped victims.”

In June 2022, no less than seven suspected kidnappers for ransom, made up of Fulani herdsmen and other natives, were arrested by both community security outfits and the police in different parts of Enugu state.  In Ibite-Awhum community of Udi local government council area, suspected Fulani kidnappers allegedly invaded the community and kidnapped six pilgrims on June 19. The victims were later rescued by forest guards.  The kidnappers reportedly nabbed the pilgrims in broad daylight as they were praying at a popular hill near the Awhum Monastery and took them deep into the forest. The victims were later rescued through joint efforts of forest guards from the Udi and Enugu East Local Government Councils.

The security agents were said to have swung into action immediately receiving the information and pursued after the kidnappers. Director of Enugu State Forest Guards, Mr. Mathew Obodoechi, said the Forest guards in the area pursued the kidnappers and contacted their counterparts at Ogbeke-Nike, Enugu East Local Government who also mobilised from their own end.

Narrating their ordeal, the victims who were evacuated to the Monastery, said they were praying on the hill when they were suddenly surrounded by about seven Fulani looking individuals wearing police uniforms.

“The bandits took all our phones and ordered us into the forest. After a long trek we got into the bandits’ camp deep in the forest where their colleagues numbering about ten were waiting for them. We also found another kidnap victim there. For reasons we didn’t know then, the kidnappers suddenly became panicky and subsequently ran into the forest leaving us alone and confused before the forest guards appeared,” one of the victims narrated.

In Ikem, Isi-uzo local government area,  about five indigenes were abducted in a series of kidnapping jointly carried out by both natives of Enugu state and Fulani herdsmen that are reportedly camped at the Isi-Uzo/Benue state border at Okpokwu local government area of Benue state.

The kidnappers den spreads down to Eha-Amufu were most farmers have been killed, kidnapped for ransom, women raped, arson and destruction of properties, with Eha-Amufu indigenes chased out from their land.

The victims in Ikem include the Catechist of Saint James Catholic Church, Ishioroto-Ikem Mr. Lawrence Ndu; an Italy based evangelist, Mr. Emeka Odo and his brother Ikechukwu Odo; Ejike Agbodo, a bus driver, Ejike Agbodo and another Okada operator was kidnapped while on commercial duty along Ikem-Odenigbo Eha- Benue state road.

Narrating his experience, an Italy-based Evangelist, Emeka Odo disclosed that the over 10 kidnappers who abducted them along Ikem- Obollo Afor road were all Fulani terrorists that welded AK-47.  Odo who quickly went back to his base shortly after he regained freedom, narrated that they were flagged down in their car, commandeered into the bush and were taken through bush tracks to Eha-Amufu and Benue state border, adding that they paid ransom before they were set free.

Odo said that his abductors spoke Hausa and Fulfude language, stating that most of them came from Niger republic. He also disclosed that some Indigenes of the community connived with the kidnappers to carry out the abductions.  “They told us that they own all bush paths from Delta to all parts of the South East and that they do anything they want to do,” Odo said.

He stated that even people from Benue state who were kidnapped were brought to their bush camp in Eha-Amufu Enugu state, where he said the kidnappers have sacked the Indigenes.

Luck however ran out of four natives who were identified as collaborators with the Fulani kidnappers, as they were arrested and submitted to Isi-Uzo Divisional police station, where it was learnt the suspects were moved to Enugu police headquarters.  On July 4 2022, an Igbo native was arrested and delivered to the Ikem police station. The Divisional Police Officer met at Ikem police station asked newsmen to go and meet the Police PRO, noting that a reinforcement police had gone back to the theatre of war at Ikem-Nkwo.

In Ezeagu local government area, a traditional ruler who pleaded for anonymity said that what the council area now suffers is insecurity caused by herdsmen kidnapping, starting from Ugwueke, shortly after Nigeria Breweries Plc Ama plant, down to Akama-Oghe, Olo and the rest of Ezeagu local government areas.

The Monarch said: “The kidnappings are too much, there have been many occurrences at Ugwueke there and some have been arrested while the DPO at Aguobu-Owa is in position to say the number arrested and other details.

“There have been kidnappings in Obeleagu-Umana, Umumba-Ndiagbu, and Olo on a daily basis,  because the Olo community is between Uzo-Uwani and Ezeagu. In fact there are serious challenges in Ezeagu that include farm lands invasion and destruction. It’s just that human kidnapping is the height of it all. It’s almost a daily affair that people are no longer sure of going to Ezeagu and coming back safely.”

Starting from January to July 2022, Fulani kidnappers invaded Abor, Mgbuji, Aguamede and other farm settlements in Eha-Amufu, which resulted in the death of over six persons and many casualties. Soldiers were deployed but the soldiers left and the attack continued.

“The herders came in full force and killed many people and burnt houses and properties. More than 20 motorcycles and houses were razed, and they have promised to come back. We have reported the incident to the appropriate authorities to intervene,” a community leader in Eha-Amufu said.

However, the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Thursday, paid an on-the-spot visit to the scene of the Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road incident with the heads of security agencies in the state with a resolve to sustain onslaught against criminal elements and kidnappers on the road.

Addressing newsmen during the on-the-spot assessment visit, the GOC, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen.   Umar Musa, who spoke on behalf of the other heads of security agencies in the state, confirmed that “the perpetrators are purely kidnappers.”

He assured the public that the combined-team of the security agencies are taking further steps into the bush to apprehend the perpetrators, rescue the victims and end the menace along the road.

“I assure you that we are going to go deep into the bush to pursue them and ensure they do not perpetrate more harm along the road,” he said.

However, as on Friday, nothing had been heard of the former Secretary to the Government of Enugu State, Dr. Dan Shere, who was among the victims of the kidnap incident on Thursday. The spokesperson for the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe promised to provide updates on Shere, and other abductees.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) Senatorial candidate for  Enugu  North senatorial district, Chief Okay Ezea, (popularly known as Ideke) has asked for a declaration of State of Emergency on the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka road, following the reemergence of banditry along the road.

Ezea said: “There is hardly any week there would not be reports of  kidnapping  and other heinous crime along that road and the  people we elected as Chief security officers are plying the road with loads of security personnel and in bullet proof SUV vehicles all to themselves and their cronies.”

The Enugu State Police command through its Spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe said that the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, has ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the Command to ensure adequate security on Ugwuogo-Nsukka road, rescue unascertained number of persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums.

Ndukwe said that the Commissioner has reassured users of the road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained.

He also announced the arrest of three kidnap suspects at Ugwuaji community of Enugu South LGA, and rescue of their male victim, adding that there was also an arrest of six kidnap suspects in Udenu local government area of the state. “The suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded,” Ndukwe said.

Source: Vanguard

….Youths randomly select people, torture them to death for being witches and wizards

It is difficult to separate the facts from myths as they relate to witchcraft activities and practices in Cross River State.

In spite of the fact that after Badagry in the West, the next place Christianity berthed and took roots in Nigeria is Calabar yet,  allusions to  witchcraft activities and beliefs in related practices  are still predominant in the people’s daily existence, giving credence to the fact that  their mindset is steeped  in primordial thoughts.

For instance, if a governor abandons a project or a programme,  the general assumption is that he has been bewitched; if a young man  over speeds, crashes his car and dies in the process, the conclusion would be that witches took hold of his mind; if a young girl aborts pregnancy and dies in the act, witches must be  responsible and if a cat meows at night, then witches congregating.

Basically, nothing happens naturally in the state, be it death, sickness, poverty, sack from work or any calamity of sorts.

Most often, innocent people have been tagged witches and made to bear the brunt through various forms of punishment like being subjected to public flogging, being burnt to death, banished from the community, tied hands and legs and thrown into the river. You name it,

In the past one year, reports from all parts of the state indicate some brutal killings, attacks and dehumanization of so called witches.  For example, One General Iron, a criminal warlord in Boki in the  central part of the state lined several elderly men and women including his mother and cut them to death with machetes for being witches and wizards. In that same Boki, some months later, two widows returning from church were accosted by youths who accused them of being behind the frequent deaths of young people in the community. The women were bound hands and legs, tortured for several hours to death

The most recent was carried out in the outskirts of Calabar where   five out of fifteen persons picked randomly by youths in Ndon Owong community in Odukpani Local Government Area  were tagged witches, beaten to death with sticks and buried in shallow graves.

Recent visit to confirmed that the community was completely deserted. Except for a few “bold” persons everyone had fled for fear of police arrest. One of the  bold persons, Johnson Nyong said what precipitated the attack was the confession by a nine year old girl, Ekanma who identified fifteen members of the village as witches.

“Some weeks ago, Efa  the father of the only lawyer in our village died in his sleep and  a few days after the burial the lawyer also died and fingers point to witches being responsible and as God would have it Ekanma confessed and so the youths had no choice but to take action”

He said the community was constantly under attack from witches and the only way was to kill or do away with them

“ A young man will secure a job, soon after that he is sacked under questionable circumstances, a young person would graduate from school few months after that death takes him away, a man  will drive his car to this village on his way back to his place of abode he is involved in an accident and dies all because of these wicked people you claim are being killed unjustly. Witches are the ones that are wicked, not the youths who are bringing peace to the community”

Before the recent incident, a man in this same Odukpani in  Okurikang village  took his twin daughters to the outskirts of the town and laced malt drink with  poison,  gave to them, killing the innocent girls. The reason for his action was that the twins were witches causing  the hardship afflicting him.

A walk round Calabar depicts many children popularly called “Skolombo” roaming the streets and sleeping rough because they were thrown out of their homes by their parents and relatives who accused them of being witches and wizards.

Surprisingly, the witchcraft belief is not restricted to the less educated members of the society but also the well educated including pastors, lawyers, academics etc.

A lecturer in the University of Calabar Dr Ndim Eyo said witchcraft is not a myth but a reality which affects many people.

“I have been a victim of this wickedness. I graduated with PhD in Linguistics and all efforts to secure a job were to no avail.

During the era of Senator Imoke as governor my name was listed for appointment but overnight my name disappeared from the list when it was due for announcement.  My mother had to do some findings only to discover that her younger sister was behind my predicament. We had to take some drastic measures before I got this teaching job. Witches do not like good things and anything that happens to them is brought by their wickedness”.

Chief Okon Ita, a village of Ikot Mesembe village said, most times when the youths carry out the action, the traditional rulers and elders of the community are helpless and any attempt to stop them, the youths turn their anger on them.

The police on it’s part says it has been doing it’s best to stem the spate of killings on witchcraft allegations across the state.

Ms Irene Ugbo, the Cross River Police Command spokesman said she several arrests are usually made and after investigations some are charged to court.

“Our duty is to arrest and charge to court after due investigation but what the court does is left to it. Some culprits have been sentenced to jail, others set free”.

Vanguard

Terrorists have abducted the District Head of Birnin Tsaba in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, identified only as Alhaji Hashimu along with his younger brother, Danbalange, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress in the area.

An indigene of the area, Mohammed Faruku, told City Round that the district head and his brother were kidnapped at their homes around 4.30am on Friday.

Faruku said, ‘’Both men were seized from their homes in Birnin Tsaba by a group of terrorists who road on motorcycles.’’

A family member of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of attack, said, “The attack on the two victims was launched by a notorious terrorist leader. He called us on  phone and confirmed the abduction of the victims by his gang.’’

He added that the abduction of the victims was as a result of the confiscation of two brand new motorcycles belonging to the terrorists’ leader by the security agents.

The family member noted, “The terrorists’ kingpin has also threatened that since the government was aware of his confiscated motorcycles by the security agents, the victims will face his wrath.”

Another relative of the two victims, Idris Abdullahi, said, “We are making every effort to see to their immediate release. We have started talking with the kingpin for negotiation.”

The state police spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached on the phone for comments as of the time of filing this report.

The Police in Enugu state have arrested a gang of kidnappers who lure their victims by pretending to be cheap clothes sellers online.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, made this known in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.

The statement reads “Police Operatives serving at Udenu Police Division of the Command, on 16/10/2022 at about 1.25pm, promptly responded to a distress call and arrested six (6) kidnapping suspects and rescued two (2) of their victims, at Igbokwube Village, Amalla in Udenu LGA.

“The suspects include: Okechi Chijioke (male) aged 29 and Ugwu Christiana (f) aged 24 (principal suspects), Ndidi Ekwueme (female) aged 27 (jujuist), Chinwe Okoro (female) aged 35 (ransom receiver), Nwabueze Friday (male) aged 26 (tricyclist) and Titus Ekeh (male) aged 70 (provider of accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims)”.

“Ongoing investigation reveals that the male principal suspect lured the victims through Facebook, with the promise of selling cheap clothes and bags to them. But instead, took them to the said location working with his cohorts, and obtained a combined ransom of about five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) without releasing them, before they were apprehended and the victims rescued. One (1) Dane gun, one (1) mock gun, one (1) tricycle, one (1) gas burner, one (1) 8-inches Winco foam, four (4) bags containing clothing materials and other incriminating items were recovered from them”.

“Consequently, the Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained”.

“Meanwhile, Police Operatives of the Command serving at Independence Layout Police Division, on 20/10/2022 at about 2.30pm, arrested three (3) kidnapping suspects namely: Chidi Jobbison (male) aged 24, Emmanuel Ogbu (m) aged 25 and Ogochukwu Nweke (f) aged 17, at Nkwo in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South LGA, and rescued their male kidnapped victim.

“Their arrest is due to the Operatives swift response to credible information alleging that the trio and other members of their gang that escaped, wearing masks and operating in a mini bus, abducted the said victim from his house to a bush in the mentioned location and obtained a ransom of six hundred and fifty thousand naira (N650,00.00), through a POS Operator.

“However, the Operatives clamped down on them, arrested the suspects and recovered the yellow-coloured Suzuki mini bus with reg. no. UKP 270 YP and two (2) masks”.