Gunmen have murdered a 54-year-old prophet and leader of the Ogun State local security outfit, SO SAFE CORPS, Yomi Adetula during Sunday service at his church in the Idiroko area of the state.
The gunmen numbering about six were said to have attacked and killed him while preaching on the pulpit, while worshippers scampered for safety from the Celestial Church of Christ Parish.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola who confirmed the incident in Abeokuta, maintained that the deceased’s body was riddled with bullets and deep cuts were inflicted on his head.
The police spokesperson said the corpse had been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Ilaro and efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects who reportedly escaped towards the border area.
Speaking on the incident, the State Commander of the So-Safe Corps, Mr Soji Ganzallo, who described the death as a tragic loss also urged anyone with information to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Gunmen on Thursday Afternoon gunned down a yet to be identified Rice Hawker at Bisi market in Ado Ekiti.
According to report, the men, who were on a motorbike, shot and killed the wheel barrow pusher in the heart of the state capital.
The development forced traders and passersby to flee for safety.
The market has been deserted as those who spoke to newsmen said they would not return to the market.
Similarly in the early hours of Wednesday killed a popular Point of Sale, POS operator, known as Alfa Taofeek.
According to report, the incident happened at the shop of the victim, located adjacent the gate of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.
The gunmen who came on a motorbike shot and killed Alfa Taofeek and made away with his money including other valuables.
A source who pleaded anonymity told newsmen that Alfa was just opening his shop after dropping his kids in school when the men of the underworld struck.
Alfa Taofeek is well known in the area with the display of bread on his vehicle.
Also, two gunmen on motorcycle had on Tuesday this week shot dead a ticketer of the Okada Riders Association, Omoyajowo Samuel at Okesa Area of Ado Ekiti.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Mr Sunday Abutu who confirmed the incident, said that investigation had commenced on the matter.
In the meantime, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has condemned the recent spate of killings in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, in the past few days.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the governor emphasized his administration’s zero tolerance for cultism and violent activities.
He directed security agencies to take immediate and decisive action against those responsible for the attacks.
The governor assured the public that the government was fully committed to addressing the situation, urging them to remain calm and continue with their daily activities.
Mr Oyebanji reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens, emphasizing that such acts of violence will not be tolerated under his administration.
Some invaders in military uniform stormed the Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the men masked and in army camouflage were armed with rifles.
They were stationed at strategic points in the Secretariat, also gaining entry to the House of Assembly Complex
Informed sources said some manned the entrance to the Governor’s office gate while others were seen at the entrance to the State House of Assembly Gate and others at the main entrance among other posts.
The situation however caused panic around the Secretariat and social media with people calling on their loved ones to shun the Parliament Road where the incident occurred.
However, sources say the invaders are suspected to be members of the Oodua Nation agitators.
It was gathered that men of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies including the Oyo security network codenamed Amotekun arrived at the scene with backup personnel after the suspected agitators had already gained entry into the assembly complex premises, and hosted their flag.
An eyewitness said the situation was almost turning chaotic as the security operatives engaged in a gun duel with the invaders.
As of the time of this report, the suspected members of the Oodua Nation who perpetrated the act had been arrested by security operatives while normalcy has returned to the area.
Gunmen have attacked a concert hall on the fringes of Moscow, killing at least 60 people and wounding 100 more, Russian security services say.
At least four attackers clad in camouflage gear took part in the attack, in the north-west suburb of Krasnogorsk, BBC-verified video shows.
Crocus City Hall was about to host a rock concert when the gunmen burst into the foyer and then the theatre itself.
Much of the building was engulfed by fire and part of the roof collapsed.
Children are said to be among the casualties and the Russian foreign ministry has condemned a “terrorist attack”.
According to an unverified statement online, the militant group Islamic State said it was behind the attack.
US officials told CBS, the BBC’s partner service in the US, that it had obtained intelligence that showed IS had wanted to attack Russia. The White House said it had warned Russia earlier this month of plans for a potential attack in Moscow targeting “large gatherings”.
Russia’s National Guard said it had special units working at the scene to hunt down the attackers. Top Russian officials also headed to Krasnogorsk.
Two weeks ago, the US embassy put out a warning to US citizens to avoid large gatherings, saying it was monitoring reports that “extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow”. It updated its advice on Friday evening, urging US citizens to avoid the vicinity of the attack.
More than 6,000 Russians had flocked to the Crocus City Hall retail and concert complex for a concert by the rock group Picnic. One witness said the violence erupted minutes before the band were due to come on stage. Picnic’s band members themselves were unharmed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet directly addressed the nation, but according to one of his deputies has wished those injured a speedy recovery.
A security guard described how the heavily-armed attackers burst into the foyer firing bullets as he and his colleagues were working at the central entrance.
“There were three other security guards and they hid behind an advertising board,” he told Russian telegram channel Baza. “And those attackers passed 10m [30ft] away from us – they started shooting randomly at people on the ground floor.”
Inside the auditorium a woman said she and other visitors rushed towards the stage, as soon as they realised shots were being fired. “I saw a person in the stalls with a sidearm and there were cracks [of gunfire] going off, I was trying to crawl behind a loudspeaker,” she told Russian TV.
Fire and plumes of smoke rose into the sky and the hall’s facade burst into flames as glass on the top two floors of the building blew out.
The fire appeared to have started when the attackers threw some kind of incendiary device.
One man, Vitaly, described seeing the attackers opening fire while he was on a balcony in the concert theatre: “They threw some petrol bombs, everything started burning. We were led out towards an exit.”
Another eyewitness said children and teenagers were in the complex at the time of the attack, taking part in a ballroom dancing competition.
While some of those in the concert hall were able to flee to the parking area from the stage, others headed to the roof and Russian authorities said about 100 more had escaped through the basement.
Dozens of ambulance crews were immediately sent to the scene and stood outside the complex in Krasnogorsk for some time after the attack.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin responded by cancelling all public events in the capital over the weekend. “I am sorry for the loved ones of the victims,” he said.
In the following hours several other regions also cancelled events, including Russia’s second biggest city St Petersburg.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the international community to condemn the incident, calling it “a monstrous crime”.
Ukraine’s government was quick to deny any involvement in the attack, which comes more than two years after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
“Regardless of everything, for Ukraine everything will be decided on the battlefield,” presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Telegram.
Only six days ago Vladimir Putin won a fifth term in the Russian presidential elections. The vote did not include any genuine opponents and Western countries denounced the elections as neither free nor fair.
Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov suggested the attack was a “deliberate act of provocation by Putin’s special services”, without offering any evidence.
Friday night’s attack was the worst targeting civilians in Moscow for years, but it brought back memories of a theatre siege in the capital in 2002 when 40 Chechen militants took more than 900 people hostage during a musical called Nordost.
Russian security services eventually stormed the theatre, pumping sleeping gas into the hall. Some 130 hostages died.
Security has now been tightened at airports and stations.
White House spokesman John Kirby said the images of the shooting were “horrible and hard to watch”.
“Our thoughts obviously are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” he said.
Residents of Iba community, Ifelodun Local Government area of Osun State, are in palpable fear after gunmen allegedly killed a nursing mother simply identified as Khadija inside a bathroom.
It was gathered that the unfortunate incident happened on Tuesday around 10:00pm at Oke Akute area of the ancient town.
Radio Nigeria learnt that, the assailants suddenly appeared and shot Khadija, who was nursing a three-month-old baby while she was bathing.
Subsequently, she was rushed to a private hospital in Iree community for treatment by her relatives.
However, she died on Thursday at the private hospital around five o’clock in the morning.
Speaking with our correspondent, a resident of the town, Mr Sodiq Kehinde said that the people of the ancient town were still in shock over the unfortunate incident.
Mr Kehinde lamented that similar incident occured in the town five years ago, calling on security agencies to come to fish out the perpetrators.
When contacted, the Spokesperson of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, Kehinde Adeleke confirmed the incident.
She said investigation into the crime had commenced.
Suspected gunmen have reportedly kidnapped nine travellers in Oben, a border town between Edo and Delta states.
The incident happened along Jesse-Oben Road on Friday night and had caused panic in the community.
A hunter, Mr Obehe Adika, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, said he heard gunshots and tyre-screeching sounds from the bush where he was hunting around 9pm.
He also claimed to have seen a Hilux van filled with gunmen, who attacked and kidnapped the passengers, who were in a Toyota Hiace bus heading to Delta State.
“I saw them (gunmen) dragging the people. They (gunmen) were about five or six. They carried the nine passengers and drove off in their van.
“Even the driver was not left out. Everyone was captured. I was the one who raised the alarm to the community head, who mobilised youths to begin a search, but they have not been found till now,” he added.
A yet-to-be-identified 24-year-old daughter of a newspaper vendor was reported to be among the victims.
The kidnappers were said to have contacted the unidentified distraught vendor, demanding a ransom of N10m.
Consequently, the vendor has appealed to the Governors of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his counterpart in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, to come to his aid, as he would not be able to raise the sum.
When contacted, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, said on Saturday that the area where the incident happened was under the jurisdiction of the Edo State Police Command.
However, the Edo State PPRO, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the incident was being investigated, adding that the passengers would soon be rescued and the culprits apprehended.
An 8 months old son and wife of a staff of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Osogbo, Mr Isaac Adedeji, Alfred and Eniola have been abducted by yet to be identified gunmen.
The incident is reported to have taken place on Saturday evening while the victims were transiting between Oke-Baale and Ayekale area in Osogbo, the state capital.
A visibly disturbed husband, Mr Isaac Adedeji, who narrated the incident, said his wife who called with her phone immediately after the incident, said they were going to Ayekale on a commercial motorcycle popularly known as Okada when they were waylaid and forced into a vehicle and taken away.
“Since then, noting has been heard from the abductors, though her phone keep ringing but has not been picked.”
The incident has been reported to security agency.
A call put across to the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun State Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola received no response as at the time of filing this report.
A former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Professor Onje Gye-Wado was last night kidnapped in his country home, Rinza village in the Wamba local government area of the state.
Wado was said to be abducted a few minutes before midnight on Thursday when the kidnappers gained entrance to the compound through the fence, broke his wife’s window and whisked the professor to an unknown destination.
According to the family source, Professor Onje Gye Wado had survived kidnapping attempts three times when one of his cousins was killed without succeeding.
“The wife came in for Easter and they broke into the house through her widow and took her husband away. They called around 4 am today Friday and threatened to kill him, without mentioning any amount” the family source said.
Prof Onje Gye-Wado, served under the administration of the current National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, as Deputy Governor between 1999 and 2003.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Command of the Nigeria Police has confirmed the abduction of the former Deputy Governor with an assurance by the Commissioner of Police, CP Maiyaki Baba that Prof. Onje Gye-Wado would be rescued as the Command intensifies search and rescue operations.
“Information received by the command indicated that on 7/4/2023 at about 12:30 am, unknown gunmen invaded Gwagi village in Wamba LGA, broke into the residence of one Prof. Onje Gye-wado and abducted him to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the information, Police operatives attached to Wamba Division swiftly moved to the scene, but the abductors had fled with the victim before the police arrival”, the police said
According to a statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, DSP, Ramham Nansel, the Commissioner has called on anyone with useful information that will lead to the rescue of the former Deputy Governor to contact the following telephone numbers: 09115629178, 09067877096, 08112692680 and 08104441179.
A peasant farmer, Mr Adewumi Babatunde has been kidnapped on his way from his farm in Omu-Ekiti, Oye Local government.
Mr Babatunde was abducted on Sunday afternoon between Omu and Ayede-Ekiti.
Confirming the incident with Progress FM on a telephone call, the wife of the victim, Mrs Bosede Babatunde said the kidnappers had contacted the family and demanded three million naira ransom.
Also, the Owajumu of Omu-Ekiti, Oba Adeyeye Ogundeyi who lamented the incessant kidnapping of indigenes especially, farmers in the area, urged the government to provide watertight security on Omu-Ijelu-Ayede road.
When contacted, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, P.R.O, Mr Sunday Abutu said he had not been briefed on the matter and promised to find out.
A few hours before the governorship and State Assembly elections, gunmen allegedly attacked the ancestral home of Senator Teslim Folarin in Oja’gbo, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
They were said to have invaded the Oyo APC governorship candidate’s Family house a few minutes past 8:00 pm on Thursday.
According to reports from witnesses, the unknown gunmen in about 10 Toyota Hilux with covered plates invaded the Oja’gbo family house of Senator Folarin a few minutes past 8:00 pm on Thursday night.
“We escaped death by whiskers but several of us sustained varying degrees of injuries as we scampered for safety. The gunmen were wearing black dresses with face masks. They were shouting ‘Where is Folarin, Iku Lokan E (It is your turn to die) while shooting sporadically. They burgled Oja’gbo the house, in search of Oloye”.
“They dispersed hundreds of us who were waiting for Senator Folarin with gunshots. God saved our lives” said a survivor.
Senator Folarin’s media aide, YSO Olaniyi confirmed the attack to a Radio Nigeria correspondent via a telephone conversation saying “At about 8:10 pm on Thursday night, March 16th, a group of gunmen numbering about 30 driving in a motorcade of 10 vehicles, stormed the ancestral home of Senator Teslim Folarin with a mission to terminate his life”
“They thought Oloye Folarin would be there at that particular time to carry out the assassination. Senator Folarin was billed to have a family meeting with his kinsmen at his Oja’gbo home last night but could not make it due to extended interactive session with Oyo State stakeholders at YES FM Media House”
“You know Oloye Folarin is Mogaji of his family compound, Ile Baale in Oja’gbo area of Ibadan and Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadanland. He had a scheduled meeting with his family members at Oja’gbo but could not make it. The unknown gunmen thought Oloye would be at the meeting to carry out the assassination plan but thank God for his life”
“We have informed the security agencies to investigate the incident, promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice,” he said.
Olaniyi who expressed concern about the safety of his principal urged the police and the DSS to beef up security around the APC governorship candidate.
It would be recalled that the councillor representing Ward 10, Ibadan South East Local Government Area in Oyo State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Sulaimon Ariyibi and two others were shot dead yesterday by some suspected political hoodlums.
Gunmen on Monday morning launched an attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Part of the building was damaged after it was torched by a firebomb.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mike Abbatam, who confirmed the incident said three gunmen were killed while two firebombs were recovered from the scene.
This is happening eight days after an INEC office was attacked in the Orlu Local Government Area of the state.
Suspected hoodlums had similarly torched the commission’s offices in Ebonyi, Osun and Ogun States within the past four weeks, sparking fears that some people were plotting to derail the conduct of the 2023 elections.
However, the Owerri attack, carried out around 3 am this morning, was repelled as three of the perpetrators, including their commander, were gunned down.
Also, AK47 rifles and some pump action guns and eight vehicles were recovered from the hoodlums.
An impeccable source said, “This morning, gunmen launched a vociferous attack on the INEC office in Owerri, Imo State but the joint security team repelled them and killed three of the attackers, including their commander.
“Seven vehicles were recovered, including some AK47 and pump action rifles. Many of the gunmen escaped with bullet wounds. But one police vehicle was burned by the hoodlums.”
Confirming it, Abattam said AK47 rifles and vehicles were recovered.
He stated, “We killed three of the attackers and recovered three AK47 rifles and pump action guns. We also recovered two explosives and three of their vehicles.”
It was gathered that security had been beefed up in parts of Owerri, following the incident.
Gunmen in the early hours of yesterday stormed a hospital in Aguata council area of Anambra State, snatching away four newborns.
The assailants also made away with bloodstained wrappers and clothes of women who just put to bed.
As a result, the residents have raised the alarm that the incident could be for ritual purposes.
A source, who spoke with newsmen, said the gunmen did not kill anyone or burn any police station this time around, but came to take away babies.
“They didn’t shoot as usual, but they drove to the hospital early morning, took the newly born babies and bloodstained clothes and drove off.
“We were told that they threatened to kill anybody who opened his or her mouth in that hospital. Everybody is living in fear now in Anambra,” the source said.
It was reported recently that some of the gunmen called one of the medical doctors in Awka South local government area, threatening to visit his hospital if he failed to support the Biafra project.
They threatened to make the State ungovernable for Soludo, since according to them, he had been using security operatives to harass them.
One of the medical doctors, who did not want to be quoted, said since they succeeded in the latest strategy, they were likely to continue with it.
The doctor said security in State is porous, adding that only God would protect His people during the yuletide period.
“No place is safe anymore,” he said.
Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu said the command had not received any information about it, but he promised to make enquiries to ascertain the authenticity of the report.
Gunmen have killed a commercial bus driver and abducted eight of his passengers in the Abonema/Degema/EmuohaEmuoha/Kalabari area of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
It was gathered that the killed driver, identified as Salvation Harry, who ferried his passengers from the Mile One park in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, was travelling to Buguma before he was ambushed in one of the bad spots.
It was gathered that the gunmen shot the driver dead in a commando-like fashion and immediately took all passengers into a forest on Saturday night, even as they fired shots into the air to ward off any threat and escaped unchallenged.
Our reporter later learnt that one of the kidnapped travellers was freed after parting with about N150,000, while others were still in captivity.
A driver plying the route, who did not want his name in print, lamented that despite a protest calling on relevant security agencies to rise to the occasion, the frequent attacks had now led to the death of one of them.
“We had protested on our Kalabari-Emuoha-Buguma road because of the series of kidnap incidents and the shooting of our drivers and passengers.
“Even the Commissioner of Police sent a representative. After then, there has been an increase in kidnapping attempts and incidents.
“But yesterday, the worst of it happened. They (miscreants) killed one of our drivers by name Salvation Harry, who is from Buguma. As I am talking to you now, he is in the Buguma mortuary. And the occupants of the vehicle are in the bush with the kidnappers.
The eyewitness said the presence of security personnel on the road had not solved the challenge in the area and accused the policemen of paying attention to people carrying illegally refined petroleum products.
“Their concern is the number of illegally refined products they will carry. Otherwise we have not seen a situation whereby we have nine to ten security checkpoints on that road, yet they killed our driver last night and took the occupants of the vehicle” he said.
A monarch and Chairman of the Abissa Council of Chiefs in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, High Chief Matthew Opoto, has been kidnapped by gunmen on the high sea.
High Chief Opoto was abducted on Friday on his way to his community in the Abissa waterway by a group of gunmen driving in a speed boat.
The gunmen were said to have intercepted the boat he was in and some of his council of chiefs.
After identifying Chief Opoto, it was gathered that they dragged him out into one of their boats and drove off with the speed of light.
A native of the area, Minaibiye Dolphin, who confirmed the incident on Monday, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the monarch was a few minutes to his destination when the gunmen struck.
“The chairman of Abissa council of chiefs, High Chief Mathew Opito, was traveling with some of his chiefs and about five minutes to arrive the community, when gunmen came in a speed boat, identified him and took him away.
“We have no information about him. The entire community is worried, the chiefs, elders, youths and women, everybody is worried because there is no information about him until now,” he said.
Dolphin called on the security agencies, including the Nigeria Navy Ship, Pathfinder and the Rivers State Government, to intervene and facilitate his release.
“We are appealing and calling on the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the police, Army, the NNS Pathfinder, and other security agencies to help secure his release.
“There is no information as to why they kidnapped him since we are not able to get in contact with the kidnappers.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying already a manhunt and thorough investigation had begun to ensure the monarch’s release.
“Yes, we are aware. We are making frantic efforts to ensure his early release as well as to apprehend the abductors,” Iringe-Koko said.
Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have killed a man, popularly known as Spanner, in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
He was killed on Friday afternoon in the Oke-Ijetu, Ilesa-Garage area of Osogbo.
Spanner was a close ally of the chairman of the Osogbo branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kazeem Oyewale popularly called “Asiri Eniba”.
Spanner, according to information was shot dead alongside his 7-year-old daughter, simply identified as Fatia.
It was gathered that Spanner was killed some hours after his wife was put to bed on Friday.
According to the source, the unidentified gunmen attacked and shot him at his first wife’s shop at Ilesa Garage.
He was said to have gone to the shop to buy biscuits which were to be given to those who came to rejoice with his family.
“He was running away with blood while they followed him and shot him dead. Bullet hit his daughter and she was rushed to the hospital before they broke the news of the death of the daughter too.”
Seven more abducted passengers of the Abuja- Kaduna train attack have been freed.
According to report, the son of Ango Abdullahi, chairman of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, is among the seven freed victims.
Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, confirmed the release of the abducted passengers.
On March 28, a train on its way from Abuja was attacked by bandits in Kaduna. Several persons were killed, dozens injured, while others were abducted.
Eleven of the abducted passengers had earlier been released in June.
Mamu identified the newly-freed passengers as Muhammad Paki, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Aliyu Usman and Muhammad Abuzar Afzal, a Pakistani.
“I want to assure the nation that everything that was achieved today was singlehandedly initiated and arranged by me with the full support and prayers of my principal, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,” he said.
That is why I keep emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of these innocent victims in one day. This is just one individual that sacrifice his life and even integrity.
“There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria. When you sincerely engage them, these guys even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening.
“I have sufficient evidence to prove that they do listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted to the release of these seven victims.”
Abdulfatai Jimoh, the coordinator of the families of the abducted passengers, confirmed the release of the seven victims.
Yes, it is true seven people were released today, I just spoke with the family of one of those released,” Jimoh said.
The development comes four days after insurgents attacked and freed inmates of the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja.
Gunmen struck along Oke Ako–Irele Road in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Wednesday evening and allegedly whisked away no fewer than four persons.
Sources alleged that the incident which occurred at about 7.30pm involved occupants of two vehicles, a commercial car and a mini-truck, waylaid at a bad portion of the road.
A source at Oke Ako alleged that the driver, a native of the neighbouring Ipao-Ekiti and a passenger were abducted in the commercial vehicle while the driver and his assistant were taken away in the mini-truck, which he said was conveying charcoal.
Other sources, however, said they could not ascertain the exact number of the victims whether lower or higher than four.
A community source at Oke Ako said, “We were in a meeting at about 8pm on Wednesday when we got information that there were two vehicles with doors opened and the headlights were on on the road, but that there was nobody in the vehicles.
“On getting there, we saw a commercial vehicle and a mini-truck. But before we got there, the occupants of the two vehicles had been abducted by the kidnappers. The abductors had been calling since Wednesday night requesting N20million as a ransom for the victims
“In the course of the phone call from the den, we got to know the victims are four and that the passenger boarded the commercial vehicle at Irele Ekiti and heading to Ayedun Ekiti.
“The commercial car driver said he did not know where they were in the bush but that all he knew was that they were near a river as they could hear sounds of a flowing river. However, men of the Police Rapid Response Squad, Ametekun Corps, and local hunters have been combing the bush to rescue them. It is our prayer that they get them hale and hearty.”
Another source, who said that the kidnappers were requesting N20m ransom, added that the communities in Ekamefa comprising Irele, Ijowa, Oke Ako, Ipao, Itapaji and Iyemero were living in fear of the kidnappers, who he said had surrounded the area.
The spokesperson for Ekamefa, Oluwafemi Abayomi, said, “Insecurity is a big problem in our area here. Our people are not safe, nobody can go to the farm again without being kidnapped.
“We, Ekamefa, call on the state and federal governments to help us, we are helpless in the hands of the gunmen. There are soldiers at Ipao, there are soldiers at Oke Ako. This kidnap incident happened around there, we need help,” Abayomi said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the kidnap incident, however, said he was still expecting the detail.
The bodies of two Catholic priests and a tour guide who were shot dead inside a church in northern Mexico have finally been found.
The three were killed last Monday after a suspected run-in with a wanted drug trafficker in the state of Chihuahua.
Report says, the priests were gunned down while trying to help the guide, who ran into their church for help.
Pope Francis condemned the killings, calling it a shocking reminder of the level of violence in Mexico.
“We’ve found and recovered… the bodies of the Jesuit priests Javier Campos, Joaquín Mora and the tour guide Pedro Palma,” Chihuahua Governor Maria Eugenia Campos said in a video posted to social media.
Palma was fleeing an armed gang when he sought refuge in a church in the town of Cerocahui, before being shot dead along with the two priests who tried to intervene, the Chihuahua prosecutor’s office said.
The three bodies were then taken away by a group of men in a pickup truck, Luis Gerardo Moro, head of the religious order in Mexico, said in a radio interview.
The suspect, who was identified by another priest who was in the church, was already wanted for the murder of an American tourist in 2018, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said. The suspect has been named as Jose Noriel Portillo Gil.
The president added that Palma’s wife was one of two people who were kidnapped on Monday before the killings, and is still missing
Pope Francis expressed dismay over the killings.
“So many murders in Mexico. I am close, in affection and prayer, to the Catholic community affected by this tragedy,” the pontiff said at the end of his weekly audience at the Vatican.
A reward of 5 million pesos, $249,300; £203,000, for information relating to the suspect’s whereabouts has been announced.
Some 30 priests have been killed in Mexico in the past decade, according to the Centro Catolico Multimedial, a Catholic organisation.
Gunmen have reportedly killed one Mr Sylvester Ntefre , in his home residence at Ekparakwa, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state on Sunday morning.
It was gathered that when the hoodlums stormed Ntefre residence around 8am on Sunday in a black Jeep, they dragged him outside from his house and escaped with him through the bush
According to sources from the area, the gunshots fired severally by the hoodlums attracted good number of the youths of the community who came out and chased them.
It was gathered that before the youths arrived the residence of Ntefre who was the former chapter Chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), the kidnappers had escaped with him into a nearby bush where they eventually shot him dead.
Some members of the gang who were waiting in a standby black Jeep were said to had abandoned the vehicle and also escaped through the bush.
“And when the youths were searching the bush for the kidnappers in order to rescue Chief Ntefre they discovered the corpse in the pool of blood. The Community people came out and rolled the Jeep away from that place.
” I don’t know where they took the vehicle to. But the only thing that I am sure of is that the kidnappers ran away leaving their car behind”, a source simply narrated
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Odiko McDon said he has not received official report regarding the incident, and he promised to speak on it once briefed.
A poultry farmer in Ekiti State, name withheld has been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ago-Aduloju area of Ado Ekiti.
According to witnesses, the farmer had just rounded off work on his farm and entered his vehicle but unknown to him that the evil men were already waiting for him.
The man was said to be shot on the head while the killers fled.
When contacted, the Spokesperson for Ekiti State Police Command, ASP Sunday Abutu confirmed the incident.
He said “A distress call was received yesterday being 09/03/2022 at about 18:30hrs by Odo Ado division that a man was shot by two unidentified gunmen right in front of his poultry farm at Ago Adeloju area.
“A team of police personnel had moved to the scene where the victim was met in the pool of his blood.
“He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
ASP Abutu said that, investigation had commenced to unravel the identities of the perpetrators, and bring them to book.
Residents of Okeluse Community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have fled the area after an attack on a petrol station in the area by gunmen resulted in the death of the dealer and attendant.
The five man gang reportedly stormed the Community on motorcycles around 9pm on Monday.
The dealer, identified as Oladimeji Aborowa was reportedly killed on the spot while the attendant rushed to the hospital later died of the injuries he sustained.
The residents said to be in panic after the attack took to their heels for safety.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident saying the suspects came to Kidnap the owner of the filling station.
She said a team of policemen and vigilante operatives have begun a manhunt for the assailants.
The Imo state Police Command on Sunday confirmed that the former governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, is in their custody.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, made this known to newsmen in Owerri.
He said he wanted to make clarification based on the report that Nwosu was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. However, the detail for which Nwosu was arrested was yet to be given.
According to Police, “This is to inform the general public that chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in the police custody. “This is to refute the earlier news that has being making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown persons / gunmen.
“The Commissioner of Police while using this medium to assure Imolites of the command’s commitment in ensuring the safety of Life and prosperity this yuletide seasons , advised the general public to always shun fake news.”
Gunmen have attacked farmers in Alapata village of Modakeke, Osun State killing two people, while three others were kidnapped.
It was gathered that the incident occurred when the farmers were working on their farm and gunmen abducted five of them.
Report has it that one of the abducted farmers escaped from captivity and raised the alarm of attack on them by the gunmen to the leaders of the community.
A credible source in the community who pleaded not to be named explained that immediately the information got in, a search team was put together in conjunction with the police to trace the abducted farmers.
He said in the course of the search, two corpses of a male and female were discovered and taken to Obafemi Awolowo University hospital, Ile-Ife.
In a telephone interview, spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola confirmed the incident.
She said, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olawale Olokode had relocated to the area to ensure peace and make arrest.
Mrs Opalola hinted that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime.
Recall that five people were killed in Modakeke Osun State on August 20, 2021, which caused tension between Modakeke and Ile-Ife.
Also, a mother and her son were killed at Alapata area of Modakeke by suspected cultists in May, 2021.
What looks like recurrent abductions of pupils and students in recent time by gunmen in some parts of Nigeria has no doubt created panic and tension among parents, governments and relevant stakeholders in the education sector.
In this report, correspondent Kayode Babatuyi finds out the level of preparedness of education stakeholders in Ekiti State against possible attacks on schools in the state.
Residents of Olofa Way, Ofatedo community in Egbedore Local Government Area, Osun State are living in palpable fear following a letter allegedly written by some suspected bandits threatening to kill all members of the community.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the threat was contained in a handwritten letter on three pieces of papers, dropped at strategic places in the community.
The authors of the letters are demanding a ransom of twenty million naira from the community to avoid the invasion.
The three letters which were written in English and Yoruba language sighted by our correspondent read:
“Kere o eyi ni lati so fun yin wipe Awa ole bo wa si gbogbo adugbo yin, kosi ile ti ani wo. Tabi ki e da ₦20 million si owe Chairman yin. Ti a bati de ki egbe fun wa”.
“We are informing you that, we are coming to invade your community and we are visiting every household or contribute ₦20 million to your Community Chairman, when we come, you will hand it over to us,”.
The letters further read, “We will kill all the hunters that attempt to waylay us, we are coming fully armed and your security will be killed.”
One of the residents, Mikael Lateef told Radio Nigeria that following the discovery of letters the residents had been living in panic, while some of them were considering relocation.
In an interview, the Field Commandant of Osun Amotekun Corps, Chief Amitolu Shittu, confirmed the incident, while reassuring the People that the security of the area had been fortified.
