Metro

Edo: Gunmen Kidnap Nine In Commando Style

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2023

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Tuesday evening hijacked vehicles plying the Afuze ihievbe road in Owan East Local Governmemt Area of Edo State and made away with over 12 persons.

According to reports the incident happened between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the victims including a child of about nine years old were kidnapped in a sienna bus.

In a viral video with a voiceover, it is reported that the kidnappers took over the lonely road in a commando style, hijacked a jeep with the occupants and drove into the bush.

The voice over, also reported that another upcoming car was lucky to have sighted the kidnappers, parked and escaped into the bush.

The sienna bus, was, however, unfortunately as it ran into the hands of the kidnappers, the voiceover reported.

In the video, three vehicles – ML 320 Jeep with registration number AGD 542 GU – were said to be hijacked by the gunmen but non of the occupants were inside, an indication that they might have been kidnapped.

A Sienna Jeep with registration number Kogi LKJ 464 YE with about 10 occupants were said to be kidnapped including a nine year old child whose mother’s was the only person that escaped into the bush.

In the third vehicle the driver and the occupants were said to have escaped unhurt.

A resident from Ihievbe who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, said nine persons were kidnapped while two persons escaped.

He said members of vigilante group in the locality have combed off forestry and bush in the locality, Warrake and other communities in rescue of the victims.

“The passengers were ambushed with some of them which include a woman who managed to escape but could not take her daughter who is said to be about 9years old along.

“The vigilantes from the Ihievbe- Afuze axis are said to be in the bush on trail of the kidnappers.

“The Auchi Afuze road is known as a notorious route for kidnappers, but the situation was, however curtailed with the presence of soldiers and local vigilantes before the present resurgence.”

Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor said he was not aware of the incident.

Metro

JUST IN: Many Killed As Soldiers, Bandits Exchange Gunfire In Kaduna

Published

7 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Scores of bandits and some military personnel have been killed following a gun battle in Niger and Kaduna States.

Nigerian Army Headquarters made the disclosure in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday.

The statement said the operations were carried out in Kwanar Dutse Mairiga and Boka, Niger State, and Aungwan Turai, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

The daredevil terrorists had launched an unprovoked attack on the aforementioned areas.

REAS ALSO:Police Neutralise Bandit, Rescue 5 Kidnapped Victims In Katsina

According to the statement, in response to the attacks, “land and air component troops launched several counter-attacks that eliminated scores of bandits in the encounters.

“Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles, while four wounded in-action troops are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds. Additional updates later.”

Metro

Police Detain 3 Nsukka Masqueraders For Allegedly Assaulting Residents

Published

19 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

The police command in Enugu State has detained three masqueraders in the Nsukka area of the state for allegedly assaulting law-abiding citizens.

The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday that police operatives, with the assistance of members of the community, led to the arrest of the suspects on June 23 at 3:30 p.m.

He said that the arrest of the suspects was in connection with the alleged physical assault of citizens by the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade group on June 22 as seen in a viral video.

“The suspects, along with others still at large, took advantage of the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade celebration to assault several innocent members of the public, inflicting bodily injuries on them.

“One of the victims was hospitalised for treatment due to injuries sustained during the attack.

“The masqueraders initially resisted police arrest and fled the scene.

“However, with the assistance of law-abiding community members, the three suspects were later identified and apprehended,” he said.

The spokesman said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had ordered a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that justice was served.

Ndukwe quoted the commissioner as saying that masquerade celebration was a sacred and symbolic aspect of the nation’s culture.

He said that the state police chief, however, decried the actions of those who exploited the occasion to commit criminal acts.

Ndukwe said that the commissioner warned against the use of cultural festivities as a cover for fomenting trouble and committing crimes against fellow citizens, as perpetrated by the ‘Oriokpa’ masqueraders.

“The command is assuring the public that all those involved in the assault of law-abiding citizens will be brought to justice,” he added.

(NAN)

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Four Suspected Cultists

Published

22 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Edo Police Command said it has arrested four suspected cultists allegedly responsible for cult violence in Auchi and its environs of the state.

In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu said, the suspects, who were arrested during a joint operation, belong to different cultist groups.

The statement reads partly, “On 22/06/2025, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit in a joint operation with Jattu and Auchi Divisions embarked on a house-to-house arrest of cultists.

“These four (4) suspects were arrested in various locations in Auchi; Musa Murphy 25yrs of No 35 Ogeneni area Jattu, Auchi a member of Arobaga Confraternity, Gabriel Moses 25yrs of ECocota-Community, Auchi a member of Aye Confraternity, Michael Ayo 23yrs of No1 Emeke Uzuire, Auchi member of Eiye Confraternity and Philip Sunday 24yrs of Ebira camp, Auchi a member of Vikings Confraternity.”

Yamu expressed the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika’s assurance to the “general public of the Command’s resolve to rid the State of cultism while the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”