Connect with us

Metro

Gunmen Kill 27, Including Mourners In Benue, Raze Market

Published

on

No fewer than 27 persons have been reportedly killed by an unknown armed gang in a bloody attack on Adogo Ugbaam, Akpuuna and Diom communities in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack also left several persons with life-threatening injuries.

Advertisement

It was gathered that the armed men had, on Friday night, attacked a funeral at Adogo Ugbaam community, where they killed three mourners.

And on Saturday morning, at about 11a.m., another gang invaded Akpuuna and Diom communities, where 24 persons were murdered.

According to a local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the armed men whose motive was not known, stormed the villages on motorbikes killing the three mourners at Adogo Ugbaam village at about 9p.m., after which they invaded Akpuuna and Diom on Saturday morning, when the local market in the area was busy with the day’s activities.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Death Toll In Benue Communities Attacks Hits 40

He said: “Nobody saw this coming; the armed men stormed Diom and Akpuuna on motorbikes at about 11 am, when the local market in the community had picked up with activities after killing three mourners at Adogo Ugbaam village last night (Friday) at about 9p.m.

“At Akpuuna and Diom they shot at anybody they saw, mercilessly killing the people in the market and the two neighbouring villages.

Advertisement

“There was pandemonium; people ran for their lives but many could not escape. Apart from those killed, many are still missing; and from all indications that number will rise.

“After killing the people and injuring many, the armed men set fire on people’s property and fled the scene.

“As we speak people are fleeing the attacked communities but the search for missing persons is ongoing. It is a sad day for our people.”

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Police Arrest 5 Murder Suspects, Rescue 10 Kidnapped Victims In Benue

Confirming the development, the Chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr. Kartyo Tyoumbur, said information at his disposal indicated that 24 bodies had been recovered from the two attacked villages.

He said: “I learned that after attacking Akpuuna and Diom, the armed gang fled the scene but on getting to the Tine-Nune community on the Zaki Biam-Wukari Road they met the military who confronted them.

Advertisement

“Though no one knows how many of them were killed, but I believe some of them must have been neutralised in that exchange.”

The Chairman, who decried the attack, said no one knew the motive of the attackers.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene in a statement said “At about 12 pm, a militia gang invaded Akpuna village, Ukum LGA of Benue state and were shooting sporadically.

Advertisement

Upon receipt of this information, police teams in collaboration with other security agencies rushed to the area and engaged these bandits, who were eventually repelled.

Eight corpses were recovered at the scene while many other injured persons were taken to hospital for treatment. Operation is ongoing in the area.”

Advertisement

Metro

BREAKING: Benue IDPs block Highway, Demand Return To Ancestral Homes

Published

on

Vehicular movement along the Yelwata axis of the Benue–Nasarawa highway was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, staged a protest, demanding immediate return to their ancestral homes.

The protesters, believed to be victims of persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, blocked both lanes of the busy highway for several hours, chanting “We want to go back home”.

Advertisement

The protest caused disruption, leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded.

Eyewitnesses said the displaced persons, many of whom have spent years in overcrowded IDP camps, are expressing deep frustration over the government’s delay in restoring security to their communities.

READ ALSO:Gunmen Abduct 6 Law School Students In Benue

Advertisement

We have suffered enough. We want to return to our homes and farms,” one of the protesters told reporters at the scene.

Security personnel were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any escalation, though tensions remained high as of press time.

Efforts to reach the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and other relevant authorities for comment were unsuccessful.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Metro

‘Nigerians Must Go,’ Ghanaians Protest Alleged Prostitution, Ritual Killings

Published

on

Some Ghanaians have protested against Nigerians for allegedly engaging in mass prostitution and ritual killings in their country.

In a viral video on Tuesday, the protesters in their large numbers, were seen wielding placards with various inscriptions such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop; “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution; “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians; “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals; “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” among others.

Advertisement

They also displayed a picture of a man who was allegedly killed by a Nigerian in the Accra area of the country.

Speaking in the video, a lady in her mid-30s said Nigerians must go because of their anyhowness in their country.

READ ALSO:Ghanaians Protest, Decry ‘State-sponsored’ Harassment In Abuja

Advertisement

Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go,” she yelled.

Another protester said Nigerians have taken over their major markets and are perpetrating evil of sorts in their country.

These Igbo, they are in every part of the country and have targeted our markets. Not just Igbo, Nigerians are in almost every village, and our laws have not allowed foreigners to engage in real dealings. They are perpetrating evil in our country. They even have a Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country,” he stressed.

Advertisement

Recall that a similar occurrence popularly christened “Ghana must go” happened in 1983 when the Nigerian government under President Shehu Shagari enacted a directive ordering about two million undocumented immigrants, many of whom were Ghanaians, to leave the country.

READ ALSO:June 12 Protest: Security Operatives Barricade N’Assembly Gate

If they don’t leave, they should be arrested, tried and sent back to their homes.

Advertisement

“Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever. If you break a law, then you have to pay for it,” the President had said.

This action gave birth to a checked bag called “Ghana must go” into which the Ghanaians packed their belongings, and in turn became a symbol of exclusion and intolerance.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ghanaian government has yet to comment on the situation and the plight of their countrymen on returning Nigerians to their country, irrespective of their status.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Metro

Gunmen Shoot, Abduct Anambra Bizman

Published

on

Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted a businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, at the Okpuno community in the Awka area of Anambra State.

A security expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known via his X handle on Monday.

Advertisement

According to him, the attackers invaded the victim’s residence around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, shot him in the leg, and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

He further stated that Onyekere is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and the son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

READ ALSO:Anambra Guber: No Competition, Other Candidates Just Raising Funds – Soludo

Advertisement

He wrote, “Armed men abducted a prominent Anambra businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, on Saturday night in Okpuno community near Awka, shooting him in the leg before taking him to an unknown location.

“Onyekere, who is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was reportedly attacked at about 10:30 p.m. at his residence in Ezinifite Village, a remote part of the town.

“Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus SUV, forced their way into the compound, shot the victim in the leg, and fled with him in his own navy blue Toyota Corolla. The vehicle’s registration number remains unknown.”

Advertisement

While quoting sources, he stated that the assailants escaped through bush paths in the direction of Nawfia, sparking fear among residents.

READ ALSO:Three Rescued As Police Foil Kidnap Plot In Anambra

Local volunteers and security watch groups were also said to have been combing the area in search of the victim, while efforts are being made to trace his phone and contact the abductors.

Advertisement

When contacted, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, requested a text. The text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The PUNCH reported in June that a 24-year-old suspect, Muanaenye Victor, was arrested for luring his friend to be kidnapped by his criminal gang.

READ ALSO:Anambra Revenue Service Faults Obi’s Claim On Brewery’s Tax Ranking

Advertisement

The suspect was said to have planned the kidnapping and collected a ransom in dollars, the equivalent of N5.3m, with his gang members before the victim was released.

Ikenga, however, disclosed that police operatives attached to the Uli Divisional Headquarters arrested the suspect, who also helped the police by providing information to help apprehend his accomplices.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending