Category: Crime

The outlawed Yansakai vigilante group have allegedly gone on rampage and accused of killing and maiming innocent villagers in Zamfara State.

Specifically, the Yansakai Vigilante group was set up by the immediate past government of Hon Abdulazeez Yari however on assumption of office two years ago the Governor Bello Mattawalle led administration outlawed the vigilante group and was abolished from operating in Zamfara State.

But the said group have allegedly remained adamant causing mayhem and killing people under the alleged leadership of the State former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon Bello Dankande Gamji.

Gamji is under EFCC investigations alongside former Governor Yari over allegations of official corruption and misappropriation of public funds running into Billions of naira ,award of fictitious contracts for personal enrichment.

There is also an allegation that Hon Bello Dankande Gamji is suspected to be the brains behind the nefarious activities of the outlawed vigilante Yansakai to divert the attention of the members of the public on his corruption allegation charges.

During the tenure of the former Governor Abdulazeez Yari he was alleged to have recruited 500 Yansakai across the 17 Emirates in Zamfara State without the act of State House Of Assembly backing their operations and existence.

There is information alleging that the outlawed vigilante group had planned to go into Fulani settlements and kill them so that the armed bandits will regroup to launch deadly attacks on innocent people in the villages all aimed at mischievously blackmailing the Governor Bello Mattawalle government and the President Muhammad Buhari led Federal government that they failed to provide security for the lives and property of the people of Zamfara State.

The issue of security which comprises armed banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, killings and the setting of villages ablaze by gangs of armed bandits and criminals elements came into existence before the inception of Mattawalle administration.

There is an allegation of camping of Ansaru from Niger State and Boko haram insurgents cited in some villages trying to collaborate with armed bandits assembled to cause serious security havoc in Zamfara State to blackmail the Governor Bello Mattawalle for selfish and political reasons ahead of 2023 elections.

There is also an allegation that there is the camps of Ansaru from Niger State and Boko haram insurgents cited in some villages trying to collaborate with armed bandits assembled to cause serious security havoc in Zamfara State to blackmail the Governor Bello Matawalle for their selfish political reasons towards the 2023 elections.

According to investigations the rampaging Yansakai Vigilante group had on June 19th, 2021 in the early morning attacked the Mashekarin Fulani settlement of Balgare village in Danmanau district in Gamji District of Bakura Local Government area of Zamfara State.

Rampaging Yansakai group in hundreds on top of motorcycles, wielding Dane guns, clubs, matchets and other weapons, from Dogon karfe forest axis, have stormed the settlement searching for Fulani natives, where in the process four (4) Fulanis were confirmed killed , with three (3) others brutally injured.

The Injured victims are currently on admission at Bakura and Talata Mafara general hospitals.

Meanwhile, the mobilization of these Yansakai is observed from Tureta LGA of sokoto state. From Kuruwa, Damri, Sabon garin Damri villages and from Anka, Bukkuyum and Talata mafara LGAS.

It was however noted that the worst side of it was that, they mostly don’t discriminate between who is a Bandit and who is not. The possibility of recording more casualties cannot be underestimated, as other settlements like Dandutsi was equally ransacked.

Furthermore, it was gathered that more Yansakai group are now sighted going back into Dogon karfe forest, as armed bandits are said to be regrouping. The possibility of deadly clash cannot be ruled out.

A trigger happy policeman Sunday shot and killed 5 innocent citizens in Enugu leaving four others hospitalized.

The incident happened at Golf Estate, GRA, Enugu, where a Police Inspector attached to Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9, Umuahia, Abia State, started shooting sporadically, leaving five victims dead and four persons with gunshot injury..

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who visited the victims at ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu, where the injured are receiving treatment expressed shock over the dastardly act.

Gov. Ugwuanyi was received at the hospital by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu and the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Hyacinth Onah.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh said the governor empathised with the victims and wished them quick recovery.

He also condoled with families of the deceased.

Gov. Ugwuanyi announced that his administration will pay all the medical expenses and deposited some money with the hospital to ensure that all that is required to treat the patients will be provided.

Gov. Ugwuanyi equally charged the hospital management to ensure that victims receive adequate medical attention.

The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force had in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed that the Police officer was “said to be on duty at RC Lotto Company located in the Estate” and “has been arrested and taken into custody pending the conclusion of investigation”.

The statement confirmed that “four of the persons said to have sustained gunshot injury are receiving treatment and five others whose injuries were critical, have been confirmed dead by doctors on duty and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy”.

It added that the CP has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (State CIID), to carry out thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident.

The CP also called on eye witnesses “to volunteer useful information to aid swift conclusion of the investigation and ensure justice prevails”.

Unknown gunmen have beheaded the gateman member of the Imo House of Assembly member representing Orsu state constituency, Hon Ekene Nnodumele.

The attack took place at the hometown of the lawmaker, in Orsu local government area at about 02:15 am, Wednesday.

Apart from the gate man whose head was cut off by the “unknown gunmen” the house of Nodumele was burnt and hundreds of motorcycles set ablaze.

Confirming Nodumele, said that, “My house was burnt, motorcycles burnt and my gate man beheaded. For now, I don’t know the extent of the other damages. The details will come later.”

Also, the house of the immediate past Attorney General, of Imo state, Cyprain Akaolisa, also was said to have been burnt by the rampaging “unknown gunmen.”

Reports say that hoodlums operating as “unknown gunmen ” have relocated to the rural areas of Imo state.

The reason is as a result of the said “water tight ” security strategies applied in Owerri metropolis by the special security forces as a result of which for over a week now there has been calmness in the Owerri capital.

It would be recalled that before the Orsu attacks, one of such latest rural attack was said to have happened at about 08:45 am last Sunday in front of St Philips Anglican church, Ohii, in Owerri West local government area, where a woman whose name was given as Mrs lkenna Onwusoroaka, was said to have been kidnapped on her way home from the church.

Fulani herdsmen have attacked Aguamade village in Eha-Amufu town, in Isi-Uzo council area of Enugu State.

The assailants were said to have kidnapped seven villagers, including a woman.

They were reported to have killed one of the victims, said to be a well-known commercial motorcyclist and demanded a ransom of N10 million for the release of the remaining six victims.

The incident came barely two weeks after another community, Mgbuji in the same Eha-Amufu was attacked and four natives killed by same suspected herders.

Village sources told newsmen Monday that the latest onslaught on the town happened around 7pm on Wednesday at Pipeline along Eha-Amufu – Ikem road.

The sources gave the name of the one killed as Odo Francis Ugochukwu said to be a commercial motorcycle (okada) operator and those abducted as Mercy Olinye, Joseph Ede, Joachin Odo, Odanxu Ala, Chidubem Nwokocha, and Chukwuma Odo.

One of the sources, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent that one of the natives that escaped assailants disclosed that Francis was killed because he recognised the attackers.

The source said the deceased recognized the assailants as some of the people he had carried in his okada as passengers before.

Meanwhile, the source said that out of the N10 million being demanded by the abductors, the community had only been able to raise N230,000 which they paid to the kidnappers on Friday.

It was not clear if the remaining victims had been freed or still in captivity.

When contacted the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Daniel Ndukwe said he has not been briefed but would get back to the newsmen.

But, he never got back to newsmen as of the time of filing this report.

The Police Command in Kaduna State says that some of its operatives have foiled a robbery attack, recovered ammunitions and an operational vehicle from the suspects.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) , ASP Mohammed Jalige, stated this in a statement he released to newsmen on Monday in Kaduna.

Jalige said that the incident happened on Sunday at Jada Road in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna South Local Government area of the metropolis.

“On June 13 2021 at about 0500 hours, the Command received a distress call through the Divisional Police Officer in Tudun Wada, that some armed men had invaded Jada Road in a bid to commit heinous crime in the area.

“In view of the report, some Police patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the area.

“The Officers involved were very tactical in their responses and their operational sagacity succeeded in repelling the attack,” he said.

Jalige said that the operatives recovered 24 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, and 30 polymer-cased 12-guage shotgun shells from the suspects.

He said that a Toyota Corolla LE, Ash colour, with Reg.No. ABJ 704 MX; a driving licence and some ATM cards were also recovered from the suspects.

Jalige disclosed that some of the suspects escaped after sustaining bullet wounds.

“The Command is, therefore, requesting for information about any persons found with bullet wounds, such should be reported to the Police for immediate action,” he said. (NAN).

The Ini Divisional station in Odoro Ikpe, Akwa Ibom State was attacked by unknown gunmen, on Sunday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon confirmed the attack.

Macdon told newsmen in Uyo that the attack on the division was repelled by officers and men of the Operation Restore Peace recently launched by the Inspector General of Police.

He, however, said the command lost one person in the attack, who was hit by a bullet and was rushed to a hospital for treatment but later died.

According to him, the officers of the command recovered the operational vehicle and three motorcycles from the hoodlums.

He added that one of the hoodlums, Imo John Udo was arrested.

“Police operatives arrested one of the hoodlums, Imo John Udo, 28, from Ikot Edem village in Essien Udim LGA of the state.

“Their operational vehicle, a Venza, they used was recovered and three motorcycles.

“As I speak, men of the Operation Restore Peace are still combing the bush as the hoodlums possibly escaped with bullet wounds sustained in a gun duel during the attack.

“The CP, Andrew Amiengheme, has already ordered discreet investigations. In no distant time, more of the perpetrators will be arrested,” Macdon said.

There was panic and confusion in Oruku Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State weekend as hoodlums terrorising the Community shot amd killed a neighbourhood watch personnel and injured another.

The victim, Okey Ogbodo was said to have been shot and killed early Saturday morning while patrolling the troubled community with other members of the vigilante group.

Ogbodo’s killing is the third since December 26, 2020 when a police spaid was accused of killing the traditional ruler, Igwe Chidiebere Mbah during the community’s annual general meeting.

Two months later, February 24, 2021 deputy Caretaker Committee Chairman of the community, Chief Samuel Ani was shot and killed by gunmen.

The murder of the community leaders in which some members of the community were fingered sparked off chain of crisis leading to the burning of over 77 houses and the only market in the community.

It was gathered that since soldiers were stationed in some strategic locations in the community, peace was gradually returning until Friday evening when soldiers and policemen left their posts and the hoodlums took over.

The hoodlums according to sources, were said to have seized the absence of the law enforcement agents, ransacked the community, robbed households with heavy shootings through the night.

A community leader, Mr Agozie Anih who spoke to our correspondent on the development, said that Mr Ogbodo was shot and killed in the early hours of Saturday while on patrol with other neighbourhood watch members.

He said “there is heavy fighting in Oruku now as the governor refuses to implement the report of panel he set up to unravel those behind the murder of Oruku traditional ruler, Igwe Chidiebere Mbah.

“One Okey Ogbodo, a member of the Neighbourhood Watch group in the community was killed this morning. Another one with gunshot wound has been moved to the state capital.”

The Chairman Neighbourhood Watch Group, Mr Ndubuisi Ani confirmed the killing of Mr Ogbodo, describing it as unfortunate.

He said, “the same people who conspired with policemen from Abuja and killed our monarch, our deputy caretaker chairman, burnt our houses have also killed the neighborhood watch personnel.

“As I am speaking with you, we are taking his body to the mortuary in Enugu State capital.”

When contacted on telephone the Area Commander, Agbani Area Command, Zainab Pembi, said she hadn’t been briefed.

Traditional ruler elect of Akama Oghe Community, Ezeagu LGA, Enugu Dr. Ozor Christian Akpata has raised the alarm over alleged plots to attack him and burn his house.

In a petition to the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, through his Counsel Sir OAU Onyema, the monarch said the plot was revealed by a good Samaritan.

He narrated how an anonymous informant came to his house on Wednesday June 9, 2021, when he was not around, met his wife, informing her that she should tell her husband not to sleep in his house on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The informnt he said, claimed to have overheard plan of some people who want to come and attack him and burn down his house.

The informant was quoted as saying that the Igwe elect has been a very nice person to him and his friends and used to gift them money at car wash.

He further informed that he overheard the plot when a man inside a dark brown Sienna bus with tinted glass parked along the road somewhere at Coal Camp.

The man, he said, was conversing with another and mentioned the Monarch’s name giving instructions to someone on the phone that he will likely be at home this weekend; either Friday or Saturday.

That from what he heard while pretending to urinate near the car (when he overheard the Monarch’s guy name ‘Alusi Ogwugwu) the man inside the Sienna was instructing people to finish him and burn down his house so that it will be attributed to action of unknown gunmen.

Chief Akpata said he could not phantom who will be planning such evil against him but only knows he he has serious land matter with some people in his village and another serious Chieftaincy Matter, wherein he is seeking the Court to validate his traditional rulership being challenged by some people in his community.

He therefore called for the Inspector General’s intervention to save his life and that of his household.

No attack on Imo Govt. House – Police
Imo Police Command has rebutted the report in some social media platforms that gunmen attacked the Government House and Obinze Army Barracks.

Reacting to the report in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bala Alkana, urged the public to disregard the report.

He described it as “a false alarm, which only existed in the imagination of the writer”.

The social media report also stated that 15 soldiers were killed in the attack.

The PPRO described the report as “the handiwork of mischief makers and conflict entrepreneurs.

“The command, therefore, warns the public to be wary of such posts,” he stated, adding that it was aimed at causing tension and instilling fear in Imo people.

“It further warns mischief makers to desist from such fake alarms, else they would be made to face the full wrath of the law”.

Alkana, who said that peace had returned to Imo, advised “night crawlers and hospitality patrons to feel free, come out en masse in pursuit of their regular pleasure”. (NAN)

Following allegations of diversion and misappropriation of N5.480billion being the statutory allocations to the 14 Local Government Areas in Zamfara State the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute former Governor Abdulazeez Yari and his erstwhile Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Bello Dankande Gamji.

In a petition to the Commission’s Chairman routed through the Sokoto Zonal Office the Executive Director of PAPSD Dr Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi stated “we hereby humbly request the commission to invite, investigate and possibly prosecute the allegation of fictitious award of contracts, abuse of office and illegal deduction of fourteen (14) Local Government Statutory Allocation Funds.

“Fictitious award of the contract for supply of Grains from Alhaji Rabiu Maihatsi Dandume at the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2,000,000,000.00k) only. Supply of Agricultural Inputs from NamudukaVentures Limited for distribution across the fourteen (14) Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Three Billion Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N3,000,480,000.00k) only

“In view of the above narration .
we hereby urge the commission to carefully examine all the documents enclosed in the petition to help you in the investigations and possibly prosecute the fraudsters in accordance with EFCC Establishment Act 2004”