Metro
Terrorists Kidnap 50 In Kaduna Community
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
Terrorists have abducted 50 locals at Damari community in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident which happened on Saturday night forced hundreds of locals to flee the communities.
Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union, Ishaq Kasai, made this known in a statement on Sunday night.
Kasai noted that in the last five days, relevant authorities, as well as the general public, had been alert on the heartless attacks by terrorists in the community (Damari) following the withdrawal of Ansaru, a splinter group of Boko Haram from the area.
He said, “The sad event in the last 72 hours in Damari town of Kazage Ward in the Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area Kaduna State has reached a catastrophic situation.
“As at Saturday, bandits encircled Damari and abducted about 50 people, shortly before and after troops from Military field-base from Dogon-Dawa went to the town and escorted some remnants of the residents who were willing to move to comfort zones in neighbouring communities and even to as far away Zaria.
“The most worrisome situation is where a pregnant woman was running away alongside her colleagues and was left away by the fleeing groups where she fell down and delivered a baby boy. Unfortunately, both the mother and the baby lost their lives instantly.”
Kasai added, “Damari is considered as the largest town in the entire Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari and with this worrisome development, about 20,000 persons, including women and children, are rendered internally displaced.
READ ALSO: Bandits Raid Kaduna Community, Kidnap Scores
“Even today, the bandits returned to the town unchallenged, burnt a vehicle, kidnapped scores, intercepted and maltreated people, a serious development that reflects the level of serious insecurity situation facing our community.
“These calamitous atrocities of bandits have made the people of Damari, the agrarian community that yearly produced over 600 tonnes of maize grains, abandon their ancestral homes and farms for safety.
“BEPU is highly concerned over the ugly situation of the citizens of Birnin-Gwari LGA, particularly those in the local communities where despite all efforts to draw the attention of higher authorities for action as entails in their constitutional responsibilities has failed.
“BEPU is deeply sympathizing with all the people of Damari over these trials and assures them of continued efforts towards supporting them in all possible ways, especially in humanitarian emergency needs, and would never relent on advancing engagement with Government, whose major and primary responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution is the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry, to do the needful.”
PUNCH
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Metro
Abuja Chief Imam’s Son Shot Dead Over Land Dispute
Published
1 hour agoon
August 4, 2025By
Editor
The family of Abubakar Yaqub, Chief Imam of the Kuchibuyi community in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, is in mourning after his son, Attahiru Abubakar, was allegedly shot dead by police officers during a land dispute in the area on Saturday.
It was gathered that Attahiru died instantly after being hit by a police bullet, while his elder brother, Abass, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently battling for his life at a hospital.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, in a statement released Saturday, had stated that the police were responding to a civil disturbance in the area.
According to her, “The FCT Police Command received a distress call regarding a civil unrest incident stemming from a land dispute at Kuchibuyi community under Byazin Division.
“The Divisional Police Officers of Byazin and Kubwa swiftly mobilised to the scene and brought the situation under control. Arrests have been made, and the investigation is currently ongoing.”
READ ALSO:Police Unveil Operation To Tackle ‘One-chance’ Robberies In FCT
Adeh stressed that the conflict was not instigated by the police, saying, “It is important to clarify that the issue is a communal dispute and not in any way related to the police.”
She also quoted the Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, as saying, “The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns the actions of youths attacking police officers who were on a mission to restore law and order.
“Such behaviour will not be condoned, and firm action will be taken against anyone who attacks police or other security personnel responding to distress calls.”
However, members of the Kuchibuyi community have contested the police account, claiming that the incident involved indiscriminate shooting by the officers that resulted in the fatality and injuries, which the official statement failed to acknowledge.
Speaking to The PUNCH, the deceased’s brother, Sanusi Abubakar, said their father, the Chief Imam, was also shot during the incident.
READ ALSO:FCT Police Arrest Man Over Death Of 3-year-old Boy Who Drowned In Uncovered Septic Tank
He accused the police of acting on the orders of an estate manager attempting to forcibly grab community land.
He said, “There was one estate manager who wanted to take over a large portion of the community land without our knowledge. He arrived with some soldiers and vigilantes.
“Later, he called the police. After some boys blocked the road during the standoff, and it was seemingly resolved, police officers and the task force returned and started shooting at residents.
“My brother, Attahiru, was shot dead on the spot. My second brother, Abass, was also hit and is in the hospital. Our father, the Chief Imam, was also shot.”
A resident who witnessed the incident but requested anonymity for fear of victimisation corroborated Sanusi’s account in a chat with The PUNCH.
READ ALSO:FCT Polls: APC Releases Names Of Primary Election Committee Members
“The police lied in their statement. They didn’t mention that three people were shot—two sons of the Chief Imam and the Imam himself. Attahiru died instantly from a gunshot to the chest while his brother is in the hospital in Bwari.
“After that, the police arrested about six young men they saw on sight. What happened yesterday (Saturday) was frightening, and they’re trying to cover it up. That same estate manager brought soldiers to the community just two days earlier.”
Photos seen by The PUNCH showed Attahiru’s lifeless body with a gunshot wound in the upper left chest, and another image displayed his body wrapped in cloth after the incident.
When contacted again on Sunday for clarification on why the statement didn’t mention the shooting and fatality, police spokesperson Adeh simply referred PUNCH Metro to her initial release and did not respond to further enquiries.
Attahiru’s death adds to the growing list of Nigerians, including women and youths, who have lost their lives in alleged incidents of police brutality.
Metro
Foreigner Escapes Death In Abuja Building Collapse
Published
1 hour agoon
August 4, 2025By
Editor
A 27-year-old Nigerien, Aliyu Salisu, was rescued from a three-storey building that collapsed on Saturday in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
While several other persons escaped, Salisu was trapped under the rubble for 10 hours before he was rescued.
Confirming the rescue in a statement on Sunday, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said Salisu was successfully pulled out of the debris at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.
READ ALSO:One baby, Adult Injured As Three-storey Building Collapses In Umuahia
She said he was taken to Cedar Crest Hospital in Gudu, where he is currently receiving medical attention and is reportedly responding to treatment.
Adeh said, “On August 2, 2025, at approximately 6:15 PM, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting the collapse of a three-storey building in the Lifecamp area of Abuja. Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Lifecamp Division, promptly mobilised a rescue team to the scene, cordoned off the area, and commenced a coordinated rescue operation in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Development Control Department, Zeberced Construction Company.
“At about 4:00 AM on August 3, 2025, rescue teams successfully extricated Aliyu Salisu, a 27-year-old male and citizen of the Niger Republic, the lone victim who had remained trapped in the rubble for close to 10 hours of a lifesaving operation. He was immediately rushed to the Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu, for medical evaluation and comprehensive medical care. He’s currently responding to treatment.”
READ ALSO:Four Dead As 3-storey Building Collapses In Kano
She said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, who was present at the scene, commended the swift and professional response of all agencies involved in the operation.
Adeh also urged residents to remain vigilant and to promptly report emergencies or suspicious activities to the police control room.
Metro
Beninese Arrested Over Human Trafficking In Ondo
Published
2 hours agoon
August 4, 2025By
Editor
The Ondo State Police Command on Sunday, in Akure, the state capital, said it had arrested no fewer than 10 nationals of the Republic of Benin over an illegal human trafficking business in the state.
According to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawal Adebowale, who spoke with journalists on the development, the suspects were Atouh Joel, Mohamed Amidou, Saibou Akateliwe, Abdul Jahao, and Ndah Severin.
Others include Kumpori Ruth, Kumpori Martin, Tatiana Dianne, Martias Sossa and Ndapola Oba Giov.
The CP said, “On July 31, 2025, at about 20.30 pm, operatives of the command apprehended 10 foreign nationals at their respective residences along Oda Road, Akure. These individuals were discovered to have illegally smuggled themselves into Nigeria from the Republic of Benin. Some of them had expired passports, while others had no valid travel documents whatsoever.
READ ALSO:FG Announces Return Of 115 Nigerians Trafficked To Ivory Coast
“Investigations revealed that these suspects criminally conspired to bring one Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse (male, 29 years, Congolese) into Nigeria without his consent. The victim was deceived under the pretence of receiving assistance to start an online business.”
“He was later abandoned by the group upon arrival.”
The police boss noted that the offence allegedly committed by the suspects constituted a clear violation of Nigeria’s immigration and anti-trafficking laws.
“The case has since been transferred to the relevant departments, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation and prosecution.
READ ALSO:Police Rescue 18 Malnourished Children In Onitsha, Arrest 3 Suspects Involved In Trafficking
“The victim is safe, in the custody of the authorities, and receiving appropriate support,” Adebowale stressed.
The CP urged the people of the state to field the command with useful information that could assist it in the fight against crimes and criminality across the state.
“The command will continue to count on the support, vigilance, and credible information from the good people of Ondo State. We reaffirm our resolve to provide a safe and secure environment for all residents through lawful, ethical, and responsive policing.”
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