8 killed in Shi’ites protest

AT least eight people were feared killed, yesterday after unidentified men in military uniform opened fire on some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, who staged the annual Arbaeen trek at Gwarinpa district of Abuja, the nation’s capital, but Police authorities said no life was lost.

Some members of the sect were seen with placards including portraits of the sons of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who were killed during the ‘Zaria Massacre’ of December 2015.

Viral videos making the rounds of the incident showed several motorists abandoning their vehicles and taking to their heels to escape either gunshots or attacks while banks and other businesses in the affected areas quickly closed shop to avoid looting.

It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the sect members near the tricycle park at 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa around 10:00 am.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the armed men, who came in security patrol vans stormed the area without prior notice to residents.

Although details of the attack were still sketchy, one of the sources told pressmen that suspected security operatives killed about eight people, including passersby.

One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “It was around 10:00am when we started hearing gunshots along the road. The shooting lasted for about 10 minutes. But after the shooting, the gunmen appeared to have succeeded in thoroughly dispersing the Arbaeen trekkers.

“I can’t say how many people were killed but we counted eight corpses. What I can tell you is that up to eight people were killed in the incident. Some of the passersby who had nothing to do with the Shi’ites may have also been involved.”

Briefing journalists after the sect clashed with security operatives, yesterday, Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, Abdullahi Musa, confirmed that at least eight Arba’een trekkers were killed at the Gwarinpa district of Abuja, adding that like in previous killings, security agents hid some of the corpses of the slain.

The Shi’ites, however, said that despite the clampdown on their activities, the Arba’een Symbolic trek cannot be stopped for what it stood for.

According to him, the security agencies used excessive force in an attempt to control or stop their religious observance.

He said: “Sheikh Zakzaky’s followers started an Arba’een procession from the gate of Gwarinpa model city to the main bus stop, where it was terminated. Those who attended had even begun to disperse when the team of the joint security agents arrived.

“The brutality they meted out on us was of different level. First, they doused people with tear-gas, started shooting live ammunition, and gunning down many.

“Eight were confirmed dead, tens of scores injured and numerous arrested. They even carted away some corpses to an unknown location. A woman, a passer-by, was pierced by an RPG. It was all bare cruelty.

“Despite all the brutality, Arba’een Symbolic trek cannot be stopped for what it stands for. The purpose of the trek is to recall and equally experience the trial and tribulation faced by the Household of the Holy Prophet.

“Today, before the attack on us, the general public witnessed how the Arbaeen trek like those before ended without any attempt to curb the right of safe passage to other road users. No panic was created by our Arbaeen trek.”

But Police authorities later disclosed that 45 people, including 12 females, 32 males and a young boy, were arrested in connection with the disturbances in some parts of the FCT.

A police source noted that the miscreants in their numbers were discovered to have been brought into Abuja from Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Kaduna and the Borno States among other states in the north purposely to cause mayhem.

The source further disclosed that the DPO of Gwarimpa Police Station was injured by missiles/heavy stones thrown at him, adding that but for the riot helmet the officer was wearing, the situation would have been worse.

When contacted, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adeh Josephine, disclosed that operatives of the FCT command have restored normalcy, pointing out that no casualty by way of death had been reported.

Court sentences man to death for murder

A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, has sentenced one Danladi Shado from Odogomu in Ankpa local government of Kogi State to death for murder, just as a 25-year-old man was arraigned in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital for killing his mother.

The Presiding Judge of the Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, Justice Nicodemus Awulu, said the accused person, Danladi Shado, was sentenced based on sufficient evidence by the prosecuting counsel which proved beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the offence.

Shado was said to have murdered the two women, Mrs Jemila Yakubu and Rabiyetu Yusuf on June 2, 2020, and took to his heel before he was arrested on July 4, 2020.

The accused was said to have attacked three persons in their farms land, killed two while the third person was able to escape by the whiskey.

Also yesterday, a 25-year-old man, Solomon Ochadi, was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital for killing his mother.

Solomon was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Olagunju Opeyemi, told the court that Solomon was arrested in August, around the Jerusalem area, Ojoo, Ibadan after he unlawfully caused the death of a 50-year-old woman, Elizabeth Ochadi (his mother) by pushing her against the wall.

He said that the offence is contrary to section 316 and punishable under section 319 of the criminal code, cap 38, vol II, Laws of Oyo state of Nigeria, 2000.

Olagunju explained that Solomon had requested food from the deceased after returning from the farm. He got angry and pushed the deceased against the wall when she said there was no food at home.

He added that Solomon went ahead to dig a grave behind their Ibadan residence and buried the woman before his younger ones intimated the Police and he was arrested.

The Magistrate, Olaide Hamzat, did not take the plea of the suspect stating that the court lacks jurisdiction over the case.

He ordered that the case file and evidence be forwarded to the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

The case was adjourned to the 23rd of November, 2021 for mention.

Robbers kill Police at first generation bank operation 

A police inspector, identified as Hammed, was yesterday killed as some dare-devil armed robbers attacked a first generation bank in Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe local government, Osun State.

It was gathered that the robbers stormed the community dressed in black suits in different vehicles, including a Toyota Picnic space bus, two 18-seater buses and wielding assault rifles.

According to residents, the armed robbers attacked the bank and Iragbiji police division located around Idi-Mangoro, as well as the Motor Traffic Division located beside the bank simultaneously to avoid being caught.

Wale Olaide, a shop owner around the palace area, said the robbers arrived at the community around 3 pm and operated for over an hour.

“A billion van drove into the bank a few minutes past 2 pm and about an hour later, the black suit wearing guys alighted from some vehicles and the other car drove towards the local government area, where the divisional police headquarters was located. The armed men around the bank entered the banking hall smoothly. And they came out after spending about an hour with bags,” he said

Another source, Ismail Abiola, said the armed men at the police station caught the policemen unaware and prevented them from accessing the Armoured Personnel Career (APC) stationed outside the station.

“The robbers suddenly came out of a vehicle after parking in front of the station with guns and shot sporadically into the air to scare residents away.''

“We all ran for our lives and resorted to watching the scene from the windows of our houses. They all put on smart black dresses like security operatives. A few minutes later we heard gunshots from distance and we learned it was those at the bank.

“Later, a policeman attempted to sneak into the APC vehicle but he was shot by one of the robbers before he accessed the heavy equipment”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer, Osun state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Daniel Adigun, while confirming the incident, said the robbers were about 20 in number.

He added that the robbers after the operation escaped through Iragbiji-Ada-Obokun road.

“There is a casualty but I cannot confirm his identity now. The robbers came in two 18-seater buses and escaped with their loot through Iragbiji-Ada-Obokun road”, he said.

Meanwhile, Police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said tactical units were led to the scene by Deputy Commissioners of police in charge of the Operations and Criminal Investigation Department.

She, however, added that details of the incident are yet to be made available to her.

Petrol-laden truck rams into stationary vehicle, killing 2

l3 killed, another injured in Benue mine pit collapse

Omerelu Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State was, yesterday, thrown into mourning as two people lost their lives while many had second-degree burns as a truck loaded with petroleum product rammed into a stationary vehicle that went up in flame.

It was gathered that the driver of the truck conveying the petroleum product was dodging alleged extortion by some security operatives on the Port Harcourt-Owerri road before it veered off the road.

A source in the area, Henry Ezeorgu, disclosed that the incident happened around 6:00 am.

Ezeorgu narrated: “This morning(Tuesday) a truck loaded with petroleum products was moving towards Imo State when some security people that wanted to collect money from them stopped the truck.

“The truck driver while trying to escape lost control and hit a parked truck. The accident caused a fire. Two  people in the truck were burnt to death while others sustained serious fire burns.”

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the development said he was not sure of the casualty, but added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Friday Eboka, has ordered an investigation into the incident.

However, Mr Chris Omordu, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the LGA, noted that the Chairman, who was disturbed by the reports, visited the scene.

Omordu, who described the incident as sad, said many property were damaged in the fire, adding that the government would not hesitate to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.

He noted that the chairman of the LGA, Mr Samuel Nwanosike, has promised that the government would reach out to the people that lost their property in the fire.

Also , yesterday, no fewer than three persons were reportedly killed and another injured during a mine pit collapse at Torjir, Duejime area, Anyiin in Logo local government area of Benue State.

According to a source, Baba Ngutor, “three of the workers died instantly while others were seriously injured and were transferred to a hospital in Anyiin.

“It was one of the workers who managed to escape from the site that ran to town to inform the people who mobilised to rescue the victims.”

The Logo LGA Council Chairman, Mr. Terseer Agber who confirmed the development however said neither he nor the state government knew anything about the mining operation in the area.

“I don’t know anything about their activities. They just came here with their papers and the chiefs there gave them permission to start work.

2 killed, one wounded as cultists clash in Delta community

*As LG imposes curfew

*Everyone is living in fear — Resident

AT least two persons were reportedly killed at Obiaruku, headquarters of Ukwuani Local Government Area, Delta State by suspected cultists.

The cult-related issues that have been lingering in the community, degenerated with the killing of a youth in the area.

The attacks, which began weekend, came after some police officers stormed a bar at nearby Obinomba community and reportedly shot dead a birthday celebrant.

The incident sparked a protest by youths and women of the community against what they described as the extra-judicial killing of the birthday celebrant.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “It is a purely cult issue. As the police were killing the birthday celebrant in Obinomba, some cultists were killing the young man in Obiaruku.

“The following day, another person was shot in his barbing saloon in Obiaruku, but he survived the attack. Then in the early hours of today (yesterday) one other youth whose name was given as Zeky was shot dead in the community.

“Everybody is living in fear because there is so much tension in the town. This morning at about 8.30 am all shops were closed, okada were few, but all schools in the town were open. It was later that people started opening their shops. It is terrible.”

Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr Bright Edafe, said “As of now, there is no tension in the place.”

Edafe who could not confirm yesterday’s killing said: “It is almost impossible because the patrol teams that are there are up to 10.”

Culled from Vanguard