Gunmen kill village head in Kwara

VISIT — Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Tayo Ayinde; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, Deputy Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Soyanwo, and Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, during the Lagos State government officials'  visit to the ruling party apex leader, in London. Photo: Vanguard.

Sheidu Madawaki, has been reportedly assassinated at Obuh Ruga cattle settlement, Oro Ago in Ifepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Sunday.

Worried by the development, Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, yesterday, met with leaders of Fulani community in the state on the need for peace to reign in view of certain security challenges within and around the state.

A family member of the slain leader said that the gunmen were three in number, adding:  “One of them was stationed outside the residence shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the residents while the other two went straight into the house and shot him in his bedroom.

“They operated with rifles suspected to be AK-47, causing panic and fear in the community.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the deceased, five days earlier had visited the office of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Oro Ago on how to find lasting solution to various security threats in his domain.

The deceased was reported to have established a synergy with the agency on how to improve and sustain the existing peaceful coexistence in his kingdom.

During his visit to the agency, late Sheidu reportedly stressed the need for protection of informants and was assured by the civil defence corps.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the assassination of the Bororo leader was due to his readiness to support security agencies to wipe out criminals in the area," said another source, who preferred anonymity in an interview with Vanguard.

Contacted, spokesman of the state police command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi, in a text message confirmed the development.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, has directed that discreet investigation into the incident be commenced immediately.

Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the state, yesterday, met with the Fulani community in the state, reassuring them of fair treatment, urging them to work with the government and other stakeholders to prevent crimes and guarantee peace and security for all.

The Fulani in Kwara, like other communities in the state, will receive government’s protection and patronage in terms of infrastructure projects and social security programmes, the Governor added.

Diarrhoea kills 35, 150 hospitalised in Borno

Chairman of Gwoza Local Government Area  in Borno, Prof. Ibrahim Bukar, has announced that about 35 people have died with 150 others hospitalised following the outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting in Gwoza.

Bukar made this known, yesterday, in Maiduguri while speaking at an interactive session with stakeholders in border communities, organised by Borno State Boundary Commission in collaboration with the National Boundary Commission.

Bukar, who did not give details, explained that the outbreak started, weekend, adding that such development is part of challenges being faced by border communities due to the lack of health and other facilities, saying the amenities were destroyed by insurgents.

"General Hospital, clinics, Customs and Immigration houses, water and all other property in the border communities have been destroyed,” Bukar said.

He called for the provision of health facilities in border areas to prevent border communities from travelling to neighbouring countries for medical treatment and other services.

He said: “Provision of clean water supply in all border communities is a top priority. Water-related diseases will be avoided when clean water is supplied to border communities.

“This is very necessary because most sources of water in the destroyed border communities have been polluted with corpses, chemicals and the rest, hence they are not good for human consumption.”

Gunmen abduct doctor in Edo, demand N100m ransom

A medical doctor, Tonnie Okoye, has been abducted by gunmen in Edo State.

The doctor was said to have been abducted on Benin-Asaba expressway, weekend.

Okoye was travelling to Auchi, in Etsako West LGA of the state, when he was kidnapped.

It was gathered that the doctor was returning from the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, which took place between Friday night and Saturday, reports TheCable.

The NMA had convened the meeting to discuss the ongoing nationwide strike action of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD.

A member of Okoye’s family said  the kidnappers were demanding   N100 million as ransom before he can be released.

“Dr Tonnie Okoye was kidnapped on Benin-Asaba expressway this afternoon (Saturday) and the hoodlums are demanding N100 million ransom for his release,” the family member said.

When contacted, yesterday, Bello Kotongs, spokesman of the police in Edo State, confirmed the incident but did not give details.

“Yes it’s true that he was kidnapped on Saturday,” Kotongs said in a message after an inquiry.

Gunmen abduct doctor in Edo, demand N100m ransomA medical doctor, Tonnie Okoye, has been abducted by gunmen in Edo State.

The doctor was said to have been abducted on Benin-Asaba expressway, weekend.

Okoye was travelling to Auchi, in Etsako West LGA of the state, when he was kidnapped.

It was gathered that the doctor was returning from the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, which took place between Friday night and Saturday, reports TheCable.

The NMA had convened the meeting to discuss the ongoing nationwide strike action of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD.

A member of Okoye’s family said  the kidnappers were demanding   N100 million as ransom before he can be released.

“Dr Tonnie Okoye was kidnapped on Benin-Asaba expressway this afternoon (Saturday) and the hoodlums are demanding N100 million ransom for his release,” the family member said.

When contacted, yesterday, Bello Kotongs, spokesman of the police in Edo State, confirmed the incident but did not give details.

“Yes it’s true that he was kidnapped on Saturday,” Kotongs said in a message after an inquiry.

12 die, 6 injured in Kaduna-Abuja road auto crash

An accident in Nasarawa Doka, along Kaduna-Abuja road in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, yesterday, claimed 12 lives while six others sustained injuries.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that the accident involved a lone Toyota Hiace bus conveying 18 passengers from Kaduna to Abuja.

According to him, “the cause of the crash has been identified as a brake failure following a tyre explosion. Twelve passengers died on the spot. The six injured passengers were rushed to hospital.

“Governor Nasir el-Rufai expressed sadness over the report, and implored citizens to continue to drive safely, pay attention to the condition of their vehicles and observe traffic rules as they ply major highways.”