2 killed, many injured, over 200 houses razed, 5000 displaced
Nigeria News
*As Indigenes, settlers clash in Benue
A communal clash between two sister communities, Mbaivur and Mbasombo, in Ayati Ikpayongo, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State has claimed the life of a middle-aged man, Dekuran Nor, with many sustaining severe injuries.
The crisis, which has left about 5,000 persons displaced also led to the burning of close to 200 houses, huts, economic trees and food barns in Mbaivur.
Among the houses touched was the home of the Health Coordinator, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Peter Paleve, whose parents and siblings narrowly escaped being murdered by the attackers.
An eyewitness said that the crisis, which started in early hours of Monday, led to the sacking of the entire Mbaivur community by the armed youths from Mbasombo, who shot sporadically, chasing the residents from the community.
According to him, “it is shameful that people, who have lived together and had children even up to great-grandchildren in their present locations, can get up to accuse their brothers of being settlers in the same community.
“That is how the Mbasombo people ignited this shameful crisis. They suddenly woke up and asked all the people of Mbaivur, who are the immediate neighbours of the Catholic Pilgrimage Centre on the Makurdi-Aliade road to vacate their homes and move to another location in the community.
“They claimed that they gave Mbaivur people the land several years ago for the purpose of farming and not to bury their dead and vowed to sack them from the land.
“On Monday they stormed Mbaivur, shooting sporadically, burning down houses, food barns and economic trees of the people. They left many people injured and killed Dekuran Nor, whose corpse was discovered in the bush while over 5,000 persons fled to Ikpayongo town.
“The people felt betrayed because while the attack was going on, the Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government Area, Mr. Nickolas Utukwa, who rushed to the community, also fled the scene for fear of being killed by the armed youths.
“Again, the people are accusing the traditional rulers in Gwer Local Government Area of not doing enough to stop the crisis, which has taken a worrisome dimension.
It was reprisal attack — Abar
Reacting, President Mbasombo Development Association, Mr. Anchongo Abar, said the attack was a reprisal, adding: “The people of Mbaivur macheted our son, Igbasue Ayagwa, in the farm last Saturday evening.
He is still receiving treatment in the hospital and on Sunday night the same youths killed his aged father, Ayagwa Amu, at home.
“The killing angered our youths, which sparked Monday’s attack and reprisal on Mbaivur though I am not aware that anybody died in the attack.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, who confirmed the crisis said she was yet to receive update on the conflict but added that security had been beefed up in the area.
Police Inspector found dead, 45-year-old man commits suicide in Imo
*As Police dismiss cop who killed female colleague in Rivers
Residents of Shell Camp, Owerri, the Imo State capital, were jolted, on Monday, when the lifeless body of a serving police inspector was found lying close to the Shell Camp Primary School.
The deceased, identified as Haruna Kaura, was reportedly posted to Imo State Police Command and deployed to the Government House, Owerri, after his demobilisation from the Police Mobile Force, PMF.
It was not clear at press time, when he was demobilised, how long he had worked in Government House or what killed the inspector, but an unconfirmed report had it that there was evidence of violence on his body.
Late Inspector Haruna’s colleagues told Vanguard, yesterday, that he lived in the Shell Camp Police quarters. His remains were removed by the police medical team.
Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Orlando Ikeokwu, said it was a case of suspected murder.
The police said when the report got to them, a team of policemen was dispatched to the scene, “where the body was identified as Inspector Haruna Kaura, attached to 18PMF Squadron (now posted) to Government House.
“He was observed to have his identity card in his palm and his trousers pulled down, with his service pistol taken away, while marks of violence were visibly seen around his back/neck region.
“However, the corpse has been removed to the morgue, while the investigation progresses accordingly.”
45-year-old man commits suicide
Meanwhile, the police command has begun an investigation into the death of a 45-year-old man (name withheld), who reportedly hanged himself.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, yesterday, said the reason for which the young man hanged himself was not known to the police.
He said the incident was reported by the operatives of the Divisional Police Headquarters in Mbieri.
He said: “On the 27/4/2020, acting on a report, operatives of the Divisional Police headquarters Mbieri moved to Umudafa, Awo Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in a house belonging to one Osita Ezuruike “M” 45 yrs old.
“And we met the lifeless body of the said Osita hanging, the reason for taking his own life could not be ascertained.
“However, the corpse has been removed to the morgue, while an investigation into the incident has commenced.”
Police dismiss cop who killed female colleague in Rivers
Also, a Police Sergeant attached to Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Trading and Illegal Road De-congestion, who killed a female colleague on duty in Rivers State, has been dismissed from the force.
This is just as the police have allegedly withdrawn its men attached to state task force till further notice.
The Rivers State State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, disclosed in this at Ozuzu Etche, Etche Local Government Area of the state, when he led officers of the command on a condolence visit to the home of the murdered female cop, Sergeant Lovender Elekwachi.
Mukan conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, and those of the officers and men of the command.
He noted that the command was deeply touched by her untimely death and assured them that the interest of justice will be served in the circumstance while praying to God Almighty to grant her soul eternal rest.
Youths chase away herdsmen in Delta community
YOUTHS at Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, rose against suspected herdsmen, who stormed the Admiralty Neighbourhood Estate in the town to kidnap a victim, Monday, and chased them away.
It was gathered that some concerned residents of the estate were at Police Headquarters, Asaba, to lodge a complaint about the frequent abductions in the area when the alleged kidnappers struck in broad daylight.
Our source said: “While we were with a senior police officer that we were referred to, as the Commissioner of Police had not returned, the wife of one of us, Mr Ovie, called that the herdsmen came, in an attempt to attack Ovie’s house.
“A senior officer, Usman Dimka, immediately acted with full armoury and men straight to our neighbourhood, but before we could get there, the youths had chased them away. The bandits did not know that youths in the area have resolved to repel them.
“I must commend Usman Dimka, I do not know his position as he took some men to look at the bush on the side of our estate where the herdsmen usually come from and promised to take urgent action."
“What happened was that the herdsmen were yet to bring out their guns, probably still in their bags when Ovie’s wife raised alarm. It destabilised them as youths immediately responded to her distress call and they ran, away.“
Culled from Vanguard
*As Indigenes, settlers clash in Benue
A communal clash between two sister communities, Mbaivur and Mbasombo, in Ayati Ikpayongo, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State has claimed the life of a middle-aged man, Dekuran Nor, with many sustaining severe injuries.
The crisis, which has left about 5,000 persons displaced also led to the burning of close to 200 houses, huts, economic trees and food barns in Mbaivur.
Among the houses touched was the home of the Health Coordinator, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Peter Paleve, whose parents and siblings narrowly escaped being murdered by the attackers.
An eyewitness said that the crisis, which started in early hours of Monday, led to the sacking of the entire Mbaivur community by the armed youths from Mbasombo, who shot sporadically, chasing the residents from the community.
According to him, “it is shameful that people, who have lived together and had children even up to great-grandchildren in their present locations, can get up to accuse their brothers of being settlers in the same community.
“That is how the Mbasombo people ignited this shameful crisis. They suddenly woke up and asked all the people of Mbaivur, who are the immediate neighbours of the Catholic Pilgrimage Centre on the Makurdi-Aliade road to vacate their homes and move to another location in the community.
“They claimed that they gave Mbaivur people the land several years ago for the purpose of farming and not to bury their dead and vowed to sack them from the land.
“On Monday they stormed Mbaivur, shooting sporadically, burning down houses, food barns and economic trees of the people. They left many people injured and killed Dekuran Nor, whose corpse was discovered in the bush while over 5,000 persons fled to Ikpayongo town.
“The people felt betrayed because while the attack was going on, the Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government Area, Mr. Nickolas Utukwa, who rushed to the community, also fled the scene for fear of being killed by the armed youths.
“Again, the people are accusing the traditional rulers in Gwer Local Government Area of not doing enough to stop the crisis, which has taken a worrisome dimension.
It was reprisal attack — Abar
Reacting, President Mbasombo Development Association, Mr. Anchongo Abar, said the attack was a reprisal, adding: “The people of Mbaivur macheted our son, Igbasue Ayagwa, in the farm last Saturday evening.
He is still receiving treatment in the hospital and on Sunday night the same youths killed his aged father, Ayagwa Amu, at home.
“The killing angered our youths, which sparked Monday’s attack and reprisal on Mbaivur though I am not aware that anybody died in the attack.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, who confirmed the crisis said she was yet to receive update on the conflict but added that security had been beefed up in the area.
Police Inspector found dead, 45-year-old man commits suicide in Imo
*As Police dismiss cop who killed female colleague in Rivers
Residents of Shell Camp, Owerri, the Imo State capital, were jolted, on Monday, when the lifeless body of a serving police inspector was found lying close to the Shell Camp Primary School.
The deceased, identified as Haruna Kaura, was reportedly posted to Imo State Police Command and deployed to the Government House, Owerri, after his demobilisation from the Police Mobile Force, PMF.
It was not clear at press time, when he was demobilised, how long he had worked in Government House or what killed the inspector, but an unconfirmed report had it that there was evidence of violence on his body.
Late Inspector Haruna’s colleagues told Vanguard, yesterday, that he lived in the Shell Camp Police quarters. His remains were removed by the police medical team.
Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Orlando Ikeokwu, said it was a case of suspected murder.
The police said when the report got to them, a team of policemen was dispatched to the scene, “where the body was identified as Inspector Haruna Kaura, attached to 18PMF Squadron (now posted) to Government House.
“He was observed to have his identity card in his palm and his trousers pulled down, with his service pistol taken away, while marks of violence were visibly seen around his back/neck region.
“However, the corpse has been removed to the morgue, while the investigation progresses accordingly.”
45-year-old man commits suicide
Meanwhile, the police command has begun an investigation into the death of a 45-year-old man (name withheld), who reportedly hanged himself.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, yesterday, said the reason for which the young man hanged himself was not known to the police.
He said the incident was reported by the operatives of the Divisional Police Headquarters in Mbieri.
He said: “On the 27/4/2020, acting on a report, operatives of the Divisional Police headquarters Mbieri moved to Umudafa, Awo Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in a house belonging to one Osita Ezuruike “M” 45 yrs old.
“And we met the lifeless body of the said Osita hanging, the reason for taking his own life could not be ascertained.
“However, the corpse has been removed to the morgue, while an investigation into the incident has commenced.”
Police dismiss cop who killed female colleague in Rivers
Also, a Police Sergeant attached to Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Trading and Illegal Road De-congestion, who killed a female colleague on duty in Rivers State, has been dismissed from the force.
This is just as the police have allegedly withdrawn its men attached to state task force till further notice.
The Rivers State State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, disclosed in this at Ozuzu Etche, Etche Local Government Area of the state, when he led officers of the command on a condolence visit to the home of the murdered female cop, Sergeant Lovender Elekwachi.
Mukan conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, and those of the officers and men of the command.
He noted that the command was deeply touched by her untimely death and assured them that the interest of justice will be served in the circumstance while praying to God Almighty to grant her soul eternal rest.
Youths chase away herdsmen in Delta community
YOUTHS at Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, rose against suspected herdsmen, who stormed the Admiralty Neighbourhood Estate in the town to kidnap a victim, Monday, and chased them away.
It was gathered that some concerned residents of the estate were at Police Headquarters, Asaba, to lodge a complaint about the frequent abductions in the area when the alleged kidnappers struck in broad daylight.
Our source said: “While we were with a senior police officer that we were referred to, as the Commissioner of Police had not returned, the wife of one of us, Mr Ovie, called that the herdsmen came, in an attempt to attack Ovie’s house.
“A senior officer, Usman Dimka, immediately acted with full armoury and men straight to our neighbourhood, but before we could get there, the youths had chased them away. The bandits did not know that youths in the area have resolved to repel them.
“I must commend Usman Dimka, I do not know his position as he took some men to look at the bush on the side of our estate where the herdsmen usually come from and promised to take urgent action."
“What happened was that the herdsmen were yet to bring out their guns, probably still in their bags when Ovie’s wife raised alarm. It destabilised them as youths immediately responded to her distress call and they ran, away.“
Culled from Vanguard
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