Metro

136 Communities In Five Plateau Councils Overrun By Armed Men

Published

7 months ago

February 7, 2025

Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State have been identified to have the most deserted settlements, having little or no evidence of human activities, as well as being the most over-ran and occupied by strange people following a series of coordinated attacks which have affected the areas over the years, a recent finding by the Stefanos Foundation revealed.

Mark Lipdo, the Programme Coordinator of Stefanos Foundation, a Christian faith-based nongovernmental organization disclosed these at the end of a three-day prayer conference held at Miango, Bassa local government area, organized in collaboration with the Flame International, United Kingdom, and warned that the trend is fast spreading to other parts of the country.

His words, “Stefanos Foundation organized the National conference with a specific focus on praying for the land. The conference drew Stefanos representatives from the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A team of six Flame International members led by Janice Ransom facilitated the conference, which featured teachings on Self Re-dedication, Forgiveness, and Emotional trauma and was capped by prayers for the land.

“This Prayer Conference was necessitated by a Stefanos Foundation research which revealed worrying evidence of strangers occupying most violence-affected areas in Nigeria. Between 6th and 20th December 2024, the Stefanos Foundation began research on occupied territories around violence-affected areas in Nigeria. The research, which started with a look at Plateau State, focused on the Northern and Central Senatorial zones of the State.

“Some 171 GPS coordinates were collated, their status situation ascertained and were mapped in terms of: Deserted (no building and no living being present), Partially deserted (presence of building relics and very few people living), Mixed Fulanis and locals (community had been attacked but a mixture of locals and Fulanis were seen occupying the spatial space), Overran/occupied (communities taken over by Fulanis).

“The spatial analysis revealed Barkin Ladi and Riyom as the LGAs with the most deserted settlements having little or no evidence of human activities; these same LGAs also have the most over-ran and Fulani-occupied settlements. The partially deserted communities were mostly in Bokkos, Riyom, and Bassa. Bokkos is the only LGA that has settlements where the Fulanis and Locals are still seen living mixed together, even though they have experienced Fulani attacks before.”

He further stressed “79 communities are deserted, 33 communities are overrun and occupied by Fulani, 21 communities are partially deserted, three are mixed Fulanis and locals, and the total number of communities is 136. The findings came from Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, and Bassa. Some churches have been turned into mosques. Most of Stefanos Foundation’s delegates at the conference have reported similar situations observed in their States as well. In the future, Stefanos Foundation intends to also carry out such detailed research in those areas, all over the country.”

Also, volunteers of the Foundation in the South West reported some worrisome trends as one of them, who spoke anonymously, stated, “I am a missionary, and I work among diverse people, including the Fulanis. I traverse Oke Ogun, Ibarapa, Iseyin, and other places in Oyo as well as Odeda in Ogun State. Before now, the Fulanis were peaceful, but these days, there is an influx of some other influential powers among them, and they are beginning to be very hostile.

“Kidnappings are a new order now, and recently, we have begun to make some shocking discoveries. For instance, we have HISBAH members who are on the payroll of Kano State in States in the South West. They are in Iseyin, Oke Ogun, Sarki, Ibadan, Akala Way, Elebu axis. They are in Osun along Ilesha exit 2 to the expressway to Ibodi. They are in Lekki, VI, in Lagos. When some people discovered them, they said they were vigilantes, that they were just there to caution their people.”

Earlier, the Team Lead of Flame International, Janice Ransom led the delegates into rededicating their individual lives to God as well as His service and into praying for God to redeem their land. Some team members, including Stephen Stewart, Sharon Borland, and Robert Barlow, encouraged survivors of violence in Plateau State in the communities they visited not to lose hope in God as the team taught about the healing of the spirit, forgiveness, reconciliation, being free from trauma and fear, among others.

Metro

Tragedy As Traders, Ocha Brigade Clash At Onitsha Market

Published

4 hours ago

September 9, 2025

Editor

Tension gripped Onitsha on Tuesday following reports that operatives of the Anambra State government-backed OCHA Brigade allegedly opened fire at the bustling Onitsha Main Market, Emeka Offor Plaza axis, which allegedly left four people, including a pregnant woman, dead.

But the police in Anambra State, which confirmed the incident, stated that one of the female victims died on arrival at the hospital, adding that seven persons sustained injuries from the incident.

They also confirmed that the seven victims who received gunshots have been evacuated to the hospital, adding that normalcy had been restored to the market.

They identified the victims as Ebuka Orakwe (male), Orum Oluebube (male), Anthony Kosisochukwu (male), Ifeoma Ezema (female), Chinwe Igwe (female), 22 years old, and two others, whose names they could not disclose.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, sparking panic and outrage among traders and residents who fled the scene for safety.

According to reports, the victims, who had merely gone out to earn their daily bread, were shot by armed men allegedly operating for the state government OCHA brigade. The reasons behind the gunfire could not be determined.

A trader had said: “This is heartbreaking. Four innocent people who left their homes this morning have been cut down in cold blood. Among them is a pregnant woman. Anambra people are now living in fear because criminals have been handed guns and uniforms in the name of government enforcement”.

However, confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Command, in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that it swooped in to restore order in the troubled market after receiving a distress call.

He stated that an altercation had ensued between the personnel of the Ocha Brigade, an Anambra State Environmental Law Enforcement outfit, allegedly with some traders, during which seven traders sustained gunshot injuries. He said the incident triggered unrest within the market.

“Upon receipt of the report in early hours of today 9th September, 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, immediately deployed tactical teams and other security agencies led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, in company of the Area Commander Onitsha, the Divisional Police Officer Main Market, and the Commander of the Anti-Cultism Squad, to the scene.

“The Operatives swiftly addressed and calmed the traders, restoring order and dispersing them back to their shops and lawful businesses. The victims of the gunshots were promptly evacuated to a hospital and were identified as Mr. Ebuka Orakwe (m), Orum Oluebube (m), Anthony Kosisochukwu (m), Ifeoma Ezema (f), Chinwe Igwe (f), 22 years, and two others, names yet to be identified.

“Regrettably, one of the female victims was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital. Her body has been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy and preservation. The other victims are currently receiving treatment, have been stabilised, and are responding positively”, Ikenga stated

He added that normalcy had since been restored in the area, while patrols and monitoring continue to ensure sustained peace.

Metro

Lifeless Body Found Inside Car at N’Assembly Complex

Published

1 day ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it has begun investigations, following the discovery of a lifeless body inside a vehicle at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

Some reports had stated that the body was that of a 55-year-old man, identified as Gaddafi Iwar, who was a construction worker, working on one of the sites within the complex. According to the reports, the vehicle had been parked in the same spot for days before the discovery of the decomposed body.

Only recently, the Police said it had launched an investigation into the suspected suicide of a 30-year-old man identified as Ik Ojo, in the Kagini–Dei-Dei area of Abuja.

The probe follows the discovery of Ojo’s today, as seen in a viral video on Saturday, with friends and neighbors stating suspicions of foul play in the situation.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Josephine Adeh, on Monday, the security agency said the corpse was believed to be that of a labourer found around 9 am on Sunday, September 7th, inside a red Peugeot 406, parked at a construction site within the complex.

Adeh said Officers from the National Assembly Division responded to the distress call and evacuated the body to Asokoro General Hospital, where medical staff confirmed the body was already in advanced state of decomposition.

“On September 7, 2025, at about 09:00 hours, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting the discovery of an unidentified male, suspected to be a labourer, found lifeless at a construction site within the National Assembly Complex.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), National Assembly Division, immediately responded to the call and, upon arrival, discovered the deceased inside a red Peugeot 406 motor vehicle with registration number BWR-577 BF. The body was promptly evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed that it was already in an advanced state of decomposition,” the statement partly read.

The Police Spokesperson stated that the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, had ordered a discreet probe to determine the circumstances of the incident, and that efforts be intensified to establish the identity of the deceased.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has ordered a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and directed that efforts be intensified to establish the identity of the deceased. Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” she s

Metro

JUST IN: Bandits Abduct Kwara APC Chairman’s Wife, Daughter

Published

1 day ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

Armed bandits have kidnapped the wife and daughter of the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Patigi Local Government, Kwara State.

Alhaji Muhammad Swasun’s family were abducted late Sunday night in Sakpefu community.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the area around 11 p.m., with sporadic shootings apparently to scare off “uninvited” guests, before heading to the chairman’s residence.

The assailants reportedly forced their way inside and whisked away his wife, Hajia Fatima, and daughter, Amina.

Local vigilantes, who arrived late, were said to have mobilised in search of the victims, but no report of any rescue as at when filing this report.