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Tag: Attacks

  • Police IG warns against attacks on officers in uniform

    Police IG warns against attacks on officers in uniform

    The Inspector-General of Police ( I-G), Mr. Usman Baba, has warned against the increasing attacks on police officers In uniform in different locations across the country.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Adejobi condemned the recent trend of assault on police officers in uniform, carrying out official and lawful duties.

    He said attacks on police officers, who were uniformed agents of the state were both illegal and an affront on the rule of law.

    He warned that attacks on police officers in the line of duty would no longer be tolerated under whatever guise, as the force holds the lives of its personnel sacrosanct.

    Baba was quoted as directing all police commands and formations to ensure that individuals who engaged in assault on police officers, irrespective of preceding factors, were made to face the full wrath of the law.

    He reiterated the commitment of the force to ensure protection of lives and property.

    Baba was said to have also called on the public to accord respect to the fundamental rights of police officers and other security operatives.

    The police boss said, ”the call was to enable the officers advance their sacred mandate of protection of lives and property and maintenance of law and order.”

  • FG flays spate of attacks on churches

    FG flays spate of attacks on churches

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described as unacceptable the recent spate of attacks on Churches in some parts of the country.

    In a statement issued by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja, the president said the attacks were clear indication that some enemies and wicked people were bent on causing religious tensions in the country.

    He said: ”From the tragedy in Owo two weeks ago that shook our nation to its core, to the killings and kidnappings just this weekend in Kaduna State, it is clear that there is a design by wicked people to put the country under religious stress.”

    The president believed that “our religious freedom, our diversity, is what makes Nigeria great. It is this diversity that gives Nigeria its strength. That is why Nigeria’s enemies seek to destroy it, by putting us against one another.

    “We will not let them. The nation will not be distracted or divided by these obviously planned and politically motivated criminal outrages.

    “The perpetrators are cowards; weak and wicked men with guns murdering, in cold blood, unarmed women and children at their places of worship.”

    Buhari noted the starkness of the contrast between the actions of those hateful cowards and those of true Nigerians in the aftermath of Owo.

    The president observed that “seeing the crowd of Nigerians voluntarily rushing to donate blood after the attack, thronging the local hospitals, even in the midst of mourning, I was proud of my country. I was filled with hope.

    “As for the cowards, they will be punished for their crimes. We will bring them to justice. Rest assured that the full might of Nigeria’s formidable security and intelligence forces are involved in that endeavour.

    “For now, I urge all Nigerians to come together in prayer – whether Christian, Muslim or any of our great faiths – let us hold the victims and their families in our hearts and minds.

    “Let us show the cowards who seek to divide us along religious lines that we will not be divided. Let us show them that Nigerians will continue to cherish what we share while respecting each other’s differences,” the statementread in part.

    The president therefore enjoined the citizens to always show the enemies of peace that Nigerians would never be bullied by cowards, extremists or terrorists.

  • I-G warns against Police attacks in South-East

    I-G warns against Police attacks in South-East

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has warned against attack on police officers, facilities and other police operational assets across the country, particularly in the South East.

    The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja.

    Baba said attacks on officers in the line of duty would no longer be tolerated under whatever guise, as according to him, the force holds the lives of its personnel sacrosanct.

    The I-G was giving the warning against the backdrop of recent spate of ruthless attacks and murders of Police officers in the line of duty, particularly, in the South East, where police stations were also attacked.

    He said the unwarranted attacks and the destruction of critical national infrastructure would be strictly treated in accordance with extant laws.

    The I-G therefore, ordered the immediate deployment of additional operational assets to complement officers and men attached to ‘Operation Restore Peace in the South East.’

    He said the deployment was also to compliment other launched operations in the region to flush out criminal elements, who hide under the guise of aggrieved citizens to perpetrate criminal acts.

    Baba pledged the commitment of the force to the protection of lives and property adding that it was also important to respect the lives and fundamental rights of Police officers and other security operatives.

  • Canada warns Russia over carrying out attacks in Ukraine

    Canada warns Russia over carrying out attacks in Ukraine

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday condemned Russia’s “egregious” and “unprovoked” attack on Ukraine, calling on Moscow to immediately withdraw from the country and saying its aggression “will not go unpunished.”

    “Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s egregious attack on Ukraine,” Trudeau said in a statement issued in the hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of military operations.

    The Canadian leader called the “unprovoked actions” a clear further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called on Russia to “immediately cease all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine and withdraw all military and proxy forces from the country.”

    Trudeau warned of “severe consequences” for Moscow, vowing with allies “to collectively respond to these reckless and dangerous acts,” including imposing more sanctions.

    “Russia’s brazen acts will not go unpunished,” he said.

    Trudeau was due to join a virtual, closed-door meeting of G7 leaders — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — at 9:00 am (1400 GMT) Thursday.

    The G7 meeting is likely to result in more sanctions against Russia, which has long claimed it would not invade Ukraine, despite putting a huge force of tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry on the country’s borders, while insisting that Kyiv abandon its pro-Western ambitions.

  • Banditry: Pray, buy guns to defend yourselves, Katsina governor tells residents

    Banditry: Pray, buy guns to defend yourselves, Katsina governor tells residents

    The Katsina State Government has asked residents to do whatever it takes including prayer or even having to acquire arms to defend themselves against criminals.

    He also promised to assist security agencies in registering all the weapons illegally acquired by some of the good residents of the state.

    “Anyone interested in acquiring arms should do so as it’s not right for bad elements to acquire arms while good people are denied this right,” he said.

    Speaking during a press briefing at the Government House in Katsina on Tuesday, the governor also urged the people to support the efforts by security agencies to provide security in the communities.

  • Bandits kill district head, his two sons in latest attacks on Zamfara communities

    Bandits kill district head, his two sons in latest attacks on Zamfara communities

    Bandits have killed three persons during an attack on Gada community in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    During the invasion of the community very early on Wednesday, the armed men killed the District Head of Gada, Umaru Bawan-Allah, and his two sons.

    The Commissioner for Information in Zamfara, Ibrahim Dosara, confirmed the attack hours after the incident.

    He stated that apart from the killings, the bandits also razed down the house of the district head of the community

    “The security agencies, including the Nigerian Air Force are currently on the trail of the bandits,” Dosara stated.

    An indigene of the community, who witnessed the attack, said the assailants invaded the area in the early hours and unleashed mayhem on the residents.

    According to him, the armed men abducted many others from the community, in addition to killing the district head of Gada and his two sons.

    Gada community is about seven kilometres from Bungudu town, the headquarters of the local government.

  • Why I won’t resign my ministerial appointment over incessant attacks on prisons – Aregbesola

    Why I won’t resign my ministerial appointment over incessant attacks on prisons – Aregbesola

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday said the incessant attacks on correctional facilities in the country cannot force him to resign.

    He stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

    “As to whether it (the jail attacks) calls for my resignation, I still don’t see any need for that because it is not for lack of preparedness that the attacks were successful,” the minister said.

    There have been a series of jailbreaks by gunmen in parts of the country during which many inmates comprising those awaiting trial and those convicted have escaped.

    One of such incidents was the attack by gunmen on the Kabba Medium Custodial Centre in Kogi State on September 12. While two security operatives – a soldier and policeman – died during the attack, over 240 inmates fled the facility.

    A similar incident was reported a month later at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in the Abolongo area of Oyo State.

    Hundreds of inmates awaiting trial escaped from the correctional facility on October 22.

    Despite the attacks on correctional centres and the killing of some security operatives in the process, Aregbesola says he is not under any pressure to resign.

    According to him, the protracted security situation in the country and inadequate dispensation of justice are among the factors responsible for the vulnerability of prison officials in the face of attacks.

    “Even the men in uniform, the hazard of their job could lead to their death,” the minister said. “But none of them wanted to die.

    “We are upping our game and we will not allow any such opportunistic attack and even make it impossible. That is what the state must do.”

    Aregbesola, however, gave an assurance that the Federal Government was making efforts to step up security around the correctional centers.

    He noted that a number of prison officials died defending the custodial centers, and saluted their courage which he said was the highest form of honour for the country.

  • Kaduna reps decry incessant attacks, kidnapping on Abuja/Kaduna highway

    Kaduna reps decry incessant attacks, kidnapping on Abuja/Kaduna highway

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Kaduna Caucus of the House of representatives on Thursday decried the incessant attacks by bandits, insurgents and kidnappers on the Abuja/Kaduna highway in recent times.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that there has been massive attacks on commuters and motorists on the route in the last one week.

    The lawmakers stated that with the latest killing of a retired civil servant and a gubernatorial candidate at the last governorship elections in Zamfara State Sagir Ahmedu with many abducted under sporadic gunfire shows that these bandits are getting more bolder by the day.

    The caucus called for an urgent government intervention to prevent future attacks as it is beginning to affect human and capital resources in the Northwest since Kaduna State is a gateway state to most states in the North.

    They also blamed lack of funds on the road project as accounting for the slow pace of work by Julius Berger on the Abuja/Kaduna/Kano highway which is making the attacks easy for the bandits.

    The caucus also praised the efforts of the state governor over some security measures to curb attacks without which according to the lawmakers would have made the situation worse.

  • Police confirm nine killed in fresh bandits’ attacks on Sokoto villages

    Police confirm nine killed in fresh bandits’ attacks on Sokoto villages

    No fewer than nine persons have been killed in a fresh attack on three villages in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State by bandits.

    The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the development on Thursday.

    Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sanusi, said the victims were killed in separate attacks that took place from November 15 to 17.

    He said the first attack which took place at Garin Zago in Sabon Birni local government, resulted in the death of three persons and three others were kidnapped.

    According to him, a vehicle was attacked in another attack in Gaji village on November 16, but no casualty was recorded.

    The police spokesman said another attack took place on the 17th of November, at Sangirawa village where six persons were killed by the assailants and several others injured.

    Based on the findings of the police personnel on the ground in the local government, Sanusi said the three attacks resulted in the death of nine persons contrary to the figures been circulated by different sources.

    Despite the figures released by the police authorities, sources allege that 21 persons were killed at different locations within the local government area.

    A former chairman of the local government area, Idris Gobir said the bandits killed eight persons in Sangirawa village, four in Sabindawa and an additional three in Garin Gado village.

    Gobir added that three were also killed in Gaje village, three in Gaju village and additional three others in Garin Zago with several others injured.

  • Anambra Government reacts to reports of mass departure of voters for fear of attacks

    Anambra Government reacts to reports of mass departure of voters for fear of attacks

    The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, has said that a report in the public domain that people are leaving the state in large number is false.

    Recall that reports had emerged ahead of the Saturday’s Anambra governorship election that some people are leaving the state.

    Adinuba said a large number of people, especially qualified voters, are pouring into Anambra to participate in today’s governorship election, opening in just a few hours.

    The commissioner made the claim in a press statement, made available to newsmen on Saturday morning in Awka.

    According to him, the attention of the Anambra government was drawn to a sensational news item claiming that people are leaving Anambra on account of political violence.

    Adinuba refuted the report, saying that Anambra people aren’t expressing fears of any possible political violence before and during the vote.

    He said that the report is utterly false and disinformation, saying, “Our people are very conscious of their roots, and so usually register to vote in the state even when they live and work elsewhere,” he said.

    Adinuba said that many people who work in towns and cities in Anambra usually register in their home communities and with the declaration of Thursday and Friday as work-free days for state employees, many people have travelled to their various places to vote.

    He said that a lot of people have in the last 24 hours been leaving cities and towns for their home communities where they have influence and choose to vote.

    “It is, therefore, wrong for any news medium to claim that Anambra people are leaving the state in droves for fear of political violence.

    “If the journalist who wrote the report claiming an exodus had bothered to seek clarification or explanation of the new development, he wouldn’t have written the sensational report.

    “It is surprising that a journalist could file such a report without checking with the government, despite the well-known, open-door policy of this administration towards the media,” Adinuba said.

    He, however, urged all Anambra people to disregard ill-planned reports and come out early to cast their votes for their preferred candidate.