TheNewsGuru

Tag: Attacks

  • Umahi queries Commissioner, SSA, two LG chairmen over attacks on INEC offices in Ebonyi

    Umahi queries Commissioner, SSA, two LG chairmen over attacks on INEC offices in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi State Government on Wednesday queried some of its officials over the burning of two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in the state, on May 18, by hoodlums.

    Mr Uchenna Orji, state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, disclosed this in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting.

    Orji disclosed that the affected officials include Dr Nora Aloh and Dr Chinyere Nwogbaga, Chairmen of Ezza North and Ebonyi Local Government Areas (LGA) respectively where the burnt INEC offices were sited.

    The commissioner noted that the other government officials queried include Chief Solomon Okoronkwo, Commissioner for LGA and Chieftaincy Affairs and Mr Enekwachi Akpa, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on State and LGA Affairs.

    “The affected officials should explain why disciplinary actions should not be taken against them for failing to take proactive actions that could have prevented such occurrence.

    “We are waiting for the outcome of the query which will be issued by the Secretary to the State Government,” he said.

    He noted that the executive council warned all public office holders to rise to the responsibilities of their offices.

    “They should be diligent and passionate in their duties as disciplinary actions would be taken against anyone who fails in this regard,” he said.

    Orji also announced that the governor effected a minor cabinet reshuffle which saw some principal officers of government redeployed to other offices.

    “Mrs Queen Agwu, the Chief of Staff to the Governor has been redeployed as the governor’s Principal Secretary.

    “Chief Clement Nweke, the former Principal Secretary to the Governor has been redeployed to the ministry of Housing and Urban Development as the Commissioner,” he said.

    The commissioner also announced that council deliberated on the late commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Uchechi Okah, who died on May 14.

    “The government has set up a medical committee to ensure the testing of 4,000 public office holder for hepatitis and other ailments.

    “The committee should also ensure the testing of 2,000 female public office holders for cervical cancer,” he said.

  • INEC speaks on attacks on offices, possible impact on 2023 elections

    INEC speaks on attacks on offices, possible impact on 2023 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the attacks on its offices may affect early preparations for the 2023 general elections if allowed to continue.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, stated this on a monitored Channels Television programme on Monday.

    “For us, we don’t know the motives and it is a huge setback on our preparation for some of the off-season elections we have and the 2023 elections.”

    Okoye added, “We are worried that our preparations are being distracted and distorted. We are also worried because some of our officers are now living in fear in relation to what is going on

    “There is no doubt whatsoever that what is going on is unacceptable, and it is going to divert the attention of the commission from early preparations for the 2023 elections and for the off-season elections that we’re organising.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that over the past weeks, INEC suffered losses as a result of the series of attacks on some of its offices by hoodlums in parts of the country, especially in the South.

    During the invasion, the electoral umpire’s offices were set on fire with vehicles destroyed, while sensitive and non-sensitive materials were also destroyed in some cases.

    Condemning the attacks, Okoye decried that the ugly trend was already having a negative effect on the commission’s activities.

    He explained that among the sensitive and non-sensitive materials lost to the attacks were smart card readers and generators.

    The INEC official believes while the commission may decide to rent apartments to replace its burnt local government offices, the disposition of the landlords of such properties may affect the outcome of the elections conducted there.

    “You know that we just finished verification relating to the expansion of voters’ access to the polling units; it was at the various local government offices that these were coordinated – they coordinated the geo-referencing of the old and new polling units.

    “If you attack our local government offices, you are attacking our capacity and capability of conducting elections,” he said.

    Okoye added, “So when you displace the commission, the implication is that the commission may have to go and look for a rented house and when the commission goes to look for a rented office.

    “You don’t know the political disposition and inclination of the landlords of that office; you may just come out on election day and find out that your offices are locked and there is absolutely nothing you will do about it.”

  • Attacks: Police authorities order officers to stop escort services for VIPs in South East states

    Attacks: Police authorities order officers to stop escort services for VIPs in South East states

    Police authorities have directed its operatives not to accompany their principals to Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States until the security situation in the region improves.

    The order was sequel to the unceasing attacks on security operatives and formations in the South-East and part of South-South zones by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    According to a report by The Nation, the directives was contained in a wireless message with reference CB: 0900/DTS/DOPS/VOL.47/812X, titled ‘Attack on policemen, snatching of rifles by IPOB,’ by the Commissioner of Police, Asaba, Delta State.

    Findings revealed the police copied the Chief Security Officer, Government House, Chief Superintendent of Police, Department of Operations, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Delta State House of Assembly, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation annex, among others.

    The wireless message reads: “Sequel to the incessant attacks on policemen and snatching of arms and ammunition by the proscribed IPOB/ESN (Eastern Security Network) elements in the Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo States and Rivers State, COMPOL DOPS directs you warn personnel that escort of their principals to the six eastern states is suspended forthwith until security situation improves. Ensure strict compliance, please.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that since last year, many operatives have been killed during coordinated attacks on security formations in the South-East and South-South regions.

    The situation has sparked panic among security personnel.

    Confirming the development, the Force Public Relation Officer, CP Frank Mba said the step was taken to save the officers and their principals from gunmen.

    Mba said the signal originated from Delta State Command and it was issued on the authorities of the Commissioner of Police, in Delta State.

    He said the signal is clear, adding that: “That signal did not come from Force headquarters, so is not a nationwide directive.

    “And any reasonable person will understand that this is a very good directive. The Commissioner of Police acted within his powers and he gave the directives to cure certain mischief”.

  • ONSA clears air on notice of attacks to airports nationwide

    ONSA clears air on notice of attacks to airports nationwide

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Thursday assured members of the public that there is no threat to the nation’s airports.

    It said it only sent an advisory to security agencies to liaise with airport management to upgrade existing security measures at the nation’s airports.

    ONSA described the advisory as a “routine threat assessment” to ensure the preparedness of all relevant agencies.

    The clarifications were made in a statement by the Head of Strategic Communication in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Mr. Z.M. Usman.

    The leakage of the advisory to all security agencies on Thursday caused panic in all airports among aviation workers and air travellers.

    But ONSA reassured the public and all aviation stakeholders of the safety of the nation’s airports.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to reports of a threat to the nation’s airports from an internal government correspondence.

    “The correspondence was a routine threat assessment to ensure the preparedness of agencies and not meant for public dissemination.

    “In the period covered by the correspondence, threat analysis identified the need to advise airports’ management nationwide to upgrade existing security measures around the nation’s airports.

    “Regrettably, the unauthorised release of this advisory is likely to raise fear among airport users home and abroad.

    “Accordingly, this statement is issued to reassure the public and all aviation stakeholders of the safety of our airports.

    “The security and intelligence services will continue to monitor security threats and provide the assessment and timely advice required by airports’ management to continuously upgrade security measures in the airports.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had earlier received an alert from the Ministry of Aviation over planned attacks on airports in the country.

    These airports are those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja and Lagos State.

    The report of the threat was contained in a memo signed by FAAN’s Deputy General Manager of Administration and Logistics, S.M. Mamman, and addressed to airport chiefs of security.

  • Buhari condemns ‘barbaric terror attacks’, killing of three abducted Kaduna varsity students

    Buhari condemns ‘barbaric terror attacks’, killing of three abducted Kaduna varsity students

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of three students of the Greenfield University in Kaduna State by bandits, describing the incident as barbaric.

    The President in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the bright youngsters were cut down by evil people in their prime.

    “My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace,” President Buhari was quoted as saying.

    He extended his condolences and that of the Federal Government to the relatives, associates of the murdered students and the Kaduna State Government.

    While lamenting the recurring incidents of kidnappings and killings, President Buhari described as “unfortunate the tenor of some political and religious leaders that seem to further incite and stoke the pain and anguish of mourning families who are forced to confront these tragedies.”

    “Addressing this scourge requires a great show of empathy and coming together as a society to squarely confront these elements and the danger it poses to our democracy and peaceful life in the country.”

    He gave strong assurances that those who think that profits can be made, either from money paid as ransom or in politics, “will suffer from an equal measure of recompense under the full weight of the law for their wickedness and brutality.”

    President Buhari also reassured his administration’s commitment to tackling the numerous security challenges in the country, noting that “Banditry, kidnapping and the politics of murders will be fought with all the resources available to our country.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the president’s reaction comes barely 24 hours after the three students of the Greenfield University were discovered dead.

    The students were among those that were abducted by bandits from the private university located along the Kaduna- Abuja highway on April 20.

  • FG again alerts FAAN of planned attacks on six airports

    FG again alerts FAAN of planned attacks on six airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed the receipt of an alert from the Ministry of Aviation over planned attacks on airports in the country.

    These airports are those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja and Lagos State.

    The report of the threat was contained in a memo signed by FAAN’s Deputy General Manager of Administration and Logistics, S.M. Mamman, and addressed to airport chiefs of security.

    The memo was dated April 9, 2021, and airports on the list are those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos.

    “I am directed to convey an alert from the Ministry of Aviation regarding security threats by criminal elements against airports in Nigeria and to also request for the immediate enumeration of necessary countermeasures for the protection of all airports/facilities under your purview.

    “Specifically, the airports top on the list for which criminals are considering carrying out attacks include those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos among others. However, all airports are hereby alerted and requested to operate at a heightened threat level,” the memo read.

    The airport chiefs have been directed to “submit a list of existing and additional countermeasures to address the threats, along with their cost implications where applicable.”

    Also, they are expected to urgently convene an emergency meeting of airport security committees “to review the status of airport security, jointly recommend appropriate measures and share responsibility for effective implementation.”

  • Bandits flee back to forest after police foil fresh attacks on Zamfara communities

    Bandits flee back to forest after police foil fresh attacks on Zamfara communities

    The Zamfara State Police Command has repelled an attack on Yarkala village in Rawayya District of Bungudu Local Government Area by suspected armed bandits.

    In a statement signed by the police spokesperson Mohammed Shehu an AK 47 Rifle and a Magazine containing 10 Rounds of live ammunition was recovered from the bandits.

    “On 8th April, 2021 Police operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder deployed to Rawayya – Yarkala axis were alerted about the presence of a large number of armed bandits who were moving to Yarkala village on an attack mission. On receiving the distress, the operatives quickly mobilised and dislodged the bandits; as a result, they fled back to the forest with possible gunshot wounds.

    “In the course of mopping up the scene, an AK 47 Rifle with breech no. 1983NI2328 and a Magazine containing 10 Rounds of live ammunition belonging to one of the fleeing bandits was recovered and is now in Police custody,” the statement read in part.

    Also on Friday, April 9, the Zamfara State Police Command in collaboration with the ministry for Security and Home Affairs have secured the unconditional release of 11 kidnapped victims abducted by a group of kidnappers and taken to a forest near Gobirawan Chali in Maru Local Government Area.

    Ten out of the 11 kidnapped victims are natives of Kyakyaka, Tungar Haki and Gidan Ango villages of Gusau Local Government Area, while the other victim is from Kaduna state respectively.

    The release of the kidnapped victims was part of the ongoing peace process enunciated by Governor Mohammed Bello Matawalle.

    All the rescued victims have been debriefed by the Police and later handed over to the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs who will reunite them with their families.

    Investigation regarding the abduction of the victims has commenced and the outcome will be made public.

  • Uzodinma reveals sponsors of Imo crisis, says attacks meant to destabilise Buhari’s government

    Uzodinma reveals sponsors of Imo crisis, says attacks meant to destabilise Buhari’s government

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has blamed the recent attack on security facilities in the state on aggrieved politicians, saying their aim was to destabilise his government and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Uzodinma stated this on Wednesday during a monitored interview on Channels Television three days after gunmen stormed the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Police Headquarters in Imo State, freeing an unspecified number of prison inmates.

    When asked if the tragic incident was a direct attack on his government, the governor replied in the affirmative.

    Uzodinma explained that security agencies have gathered intelligence on the sponsors of the thugs and their planning leading to the attack on government establishments on Monday.

    “It is not only on my government, it is both on my government and the Federal Government. We have credible evidence leading to those who paid the hoodlums, where they met, and how they met. Security agencies are already working with this information,” he said.

    “Some people are trying to sponsor a synchronise national crisis to bring the government of Muhammadu Buhari to disrepute, otherwise tell me why these things are happening at this time, particularly in Imo, APC state.

    “People are sponsoring these people. Some of them already caught have made confessional statements. I am going to forward my report to the central government.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the gunmen who stormed the security agencies on April 5 set the facilities ablaze.

    During the attack, one person suspected to be a fleeing inmate was hit by a bullet while carrying his travel bag.

    His lifeless body was visibly seen on the ground in front of the correctional centre.

    The gunmen also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters situated in Owerri and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.

    They were said to have operated from 1:00 am till 3:00 am during which they sang solidarity songs at the Government House Roundabout for about 30 minutes before attacking the facilities.

  • ‘No Nigerian deserves to be in prison’, Nnamdi Kanu says hours after massive jailbreak, attacks on police building in Imo

    ‘No Nigerian deserves to be in prison’, Nnamdi Kanu says hours after massive jailbreak, attacks on police building in Imo

    Few hours after a correctional facility and police investigations department in Owerri, the Imo State capital were set ablaze by unidentified gunmen, leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has stated no Nigerian deserves to be in prisons.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that there were reports of massive jail break after the attacks.

    Unverified reports say over 2,000 inmates were freed the gunmen.

    However, reacting to the incident, the IPOB leader said some groups and individuals get freed and rehabilitated by authorities while others languish in custody.

    Kanu tweeted on Monday “If Miyetti Allah terror herdsmen & other murderous #Fulani groups, including Boko Haram insurgents, can be arrested, freed and rehabilitated by this neo-colonial Fulanised @NGRPresident, then no single soul deserves to be in any prison in Nigeria. If you know you know! #UGM.”

  • What we know about massive early morning attacks on Owerri prison, Police headquarters, others

    What we know about massive early morning attacks on Owerri prison, Police headquarters, others

    Owerri, the Imo State capital on Monday came under massive attacks by unknown gunmen who invaded specific federal and state government owned facilities.

    According to social media accounts, the attacks started as early as 2am on Monday morning with heavy gun shots heard throughout the metropolis.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the gunmen in their numbers attacked the correction centre and police command headquarters, both facilities close to Government House in Owerri.

    Reports have it that several number of inmates from the correctional centre were freed. Ammunition were also carted away.

    Residents in Owerri confirmed the development on Monday though neither the Governor Hope Uzodinma led Imo State Government nor the State Police Command have issued a statement.

    See comments on the incidents below;