Crime

Otukpo DPO, 3 Officers among Benue Bank Robbery Causalities – Police

By Web News 557

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Otukpo, Chief Superintendent, CSP, John Adikwu and three other police officers lost their lives in bloody Friday afternoon bank robbery in Otukpo town.

Recalled that heavily armed men in two Hilux vans and a car stormed commercial banks in the town with explosives and sophisticated weapons, killing several persons including police personnel, vigilante members and a Local Government Councillor after which they carted away large sums of money from the banks.

The Command in statement issued weekend by its Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene disclosed that security personnel who chased after the gang, successfully intercepted them along the Otupko-Taraku road where they abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest after two of them were gunned down in the gun battle that ensued.

The statement read: “On October 20, 2023 at about 4:15pm, armed robbers invaded Access bank, First bank, Zenith bank, UBA and Stanbic bank in Otukpo simultaneously.

“The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP. John Adikwu and other Police teams in the area engage them in a gun dwell but were unable to prevent their attack on the banks.

“More Police teams in collaboration with other security agents were deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilizing the area and prevent these robbers from escaping.

“The robbers who were intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku road engaged officers in a gun duel and two of the robbers died in the process. Other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area and are being chased by the police.

“The DPO who sustained a gunshot injury on his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital. Other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment. Investigation is ongoing at the moment.”

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Buhari Condemns Benue Bloodbath, Preaches Peace

By Web News 374

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the swift identification and prosecution of the perpetrators of the recent attacks and killings in Benue State.

Condemning the insensitivity, in which tens of people were killed in the Umogidi community of Entekpa-Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, the President calls for an end to using terrorism as a tool in inter-communal conflicts.

In a statement, the President conveys his grief and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives in the attacks, urging security agencies to enhance surveillance on every front and to immediately review the security management in the affected areas.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those murdered. The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” said the President.

Abdullah Bello

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Security

Buhari Orders Review of Security over Benue Killings

By Web News 436

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday, condemned the recent killings in Benue State which left over 46 people dead in the Umogidi community of Entekpa-Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

  He also directed the secret services, police and military commanders to enhance surveillance on every front and immediately review the security management in the affected areas.

“The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” Buhari said in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

  In the statement titled ‘President Buhari calls for end to extreme violence in Benue’, the president condemned the use of terrorism as a tool in inter-communal conflicts, urging that the attackers be found and dealt with swiftly under the law.

He also conveyed his sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack.  

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those murdered. The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” said the president

. In a sustained attack on Wednesday, armed herdsmen reportedly killed at least 46 people in Umogidi community of Entekpa Adoka district in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack came a day after suspected herders invaded the community and killed three persons on Tuesday.

He said, ‘I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Umogidi and as of this morning, the causality figure, from those who were seen physically from what I was told, was 46.

  “But the figure may be higher because some people are still reported missing.

 Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

22 Killed in 3 Separate Attacks in Benue

By Web News 547

A report from Benue State says 22 people have been killed in 3 separate attacks on Monday night by people alleged to be armed herdsmen. 

Our correspondent reports that a traditional Leader, Chief Unongo Shaayange from Ukemberagya in Logo Local Government Area was shot and killed while others had various degrees of machete cuts.  

At Tse Sumaka village near branch Umenger in Guma Local Government, 9 persons were feared dead with 10 others injured. 

In another attack at Tiortyu village in Tarka Local Government, 12 persons were gunned down while 3 others including a woman were abducted.   

Reports from the affected areas indicate that the attackers who were many stormed in between 7 pm and 11 pm in buses and started shooting at sight.   

Following the incident at Tiortyu, youths of the area have blocked the highway with the corpses of victims of the attacks for several hours calling for the attention of the Government. 

The development brought traffic to a halt for several hours but an intervention by the Benue State Police Commissioner, however, led to the reopening of the highway.

Emmanuel Gwaza/editing by Muzha Kucha

Lifestyle

Teenage Girl Fakes Own Death to Escape Financial Demand

By Web News 751

A teenage girl, Margaret Ikumu, 19, of Oni community in Oju Local Government Area of Benue, has faked her own death on social media to avoid financial pressure from her mother.

 A statement signed by DSP Bala Elkana, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, made this known on Sunday.

Elkana said that Ikumu, through her Facebook account, reported having died a few days ago and was secretly buried by her two friends, Marvelous Mary and Nneka Buddy, at Ajah area.

“The family of the fake deceased further stated that they were able to establish contact with the said friends who confirmed to them that their daughter is dead.

“To make them believe that the girl is dead, they sent WhatsApp chats to a member of the girl’s family with picture of a casket showing that the girl is buried

“The family also got in touch with a man on phone who claimed to be her boyfriend.

He corroborated the claim that she is dead,” he said. Elkana said that the girl was eventually found by the Police to be alive and was working as a housemaid in an estate at Ajah.

 “When her employer saw the report of her purported death, they quickly informed the Police and she was brought to Ajah Police Station.

 “In her statement, she (Ikumu) confessed to have created the Facebook account and posted her obituary with intent to keep her family away from her.

 “She said that her mother was putting financial pressure on her by constantly demanding that she sends money to her,” he said.

Elkana said that the girl was apparently bitter with her mother and uncles over their inability to sponsor her education after the death of her father.

He said that Ikumu came to Lagos to work with a view to saving some money and returning to school.

Vanguard