Crime

Shootings In Benin As Awaiting Trial Inmates, Convicts Clash

By Web News 923

An uprising in one of the custodial centres in Edo State known as White House on Sapele Road on Thursday created panic among residents, as gunshots rent the air.

Commuters, drivers, passersby and business owners around the prison vicinity scampered for safety when they heard the gunshots around 1 pm.

Many thought, there was an ongoing jailbreak, as they took to their heels not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.

A woman, who works in a business centre close to the custodial centre and identified herself only as Jane, said she started to hear the gunshots around 1.30 pm.

“I started noticing that something was wrong in the prison with noise coming out from the facility. We thought it was a small issue until men in the facility started shooting and everyone nearby took to their heels,” she added.

Another source said he thought the prisoners attempted a jailbreak as they did during the #EndSARS protest last year.

The spokesperson for the custodial centre, Aminu Sulaiman, in a statement, said the situation had been brought under control.

The statement read, “Around 12.30 pm, some awaiting-trial inmates, especially the recaptured escapees, started a protest which led to a confrontation between them and the convicted inmates. Reinforcement was immediately mobilised from the state headquarters to enforcing law and order.

“The situation has been completely controlled and the custodial centre is calm. There was no escape of any inmates or death.

“Sister security agencies showed solidarity by drafting their men around the outer perimeter fence to compliment the correctional service armed squad personnel to ensure total security of the custodial centre.

“Meanwhile, the investigation into the incident has been instituted by the controller to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance.”

Adewumi Faniran/EverydayNewsNgr

Security

Gov. Abiodun Orders Investigation Into Farmers/Herdsmen Clash in Ogun

By Web News 593

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has set up a Special Security Task Force towards maintaining peace in all areas of the state prone to herders/farmers conflict.


Governor  Abiodun who announced this in a statement in Abeokuta, also ordered the security agencies in the state to investigate the recent clash between herdsmen and farmers in Eggua, Yewa North local government area of the State.


Governor Abiodun also directed that those behind the recent violence  that led to loss of life and destruction of property in the area should be brought to justice, adding that his administration would not condone any act of criminality in the state.


While commiserating with the family of the deceased, Governor Abiodun also  sympathized with  those who lost their farmlands as well as cows during the unfortunate incident.


The Governor also announced that  stakeholders’ meeting  involving farmers and herdsmen would take place next week in order to identify specific and practical initiatives that would bring about  a lasting peace.


He urged the residents of the State to continue to go about their lawful businesses and report any strange movements or threats to peace in their neighbourhoods to the security agencies.


Bolanle Adesida