TheNewsGuru

Tag: bandits

  • Army kill 68 bandits, recover 17 motorcycles in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Army says it has killed 68 bandits, arrested six suspected kidnappers and recovered 17 motorcycles in Zamfara from April to date.

    The Brigade Commander, 1 Army Brigade Command Sokoto, Brig.-Gen. Udeagbala Kennedy disclosed this while handing over the six suspected kidnappers to the state Commissioner of Police Mr Kenneth Ebrimson at the State Police headquarters in Gusau on Tuesday.

    He recalled bandits attacked in Birane and Bawar-Daji villages in Anka and Zurmi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state in February and April which led to the death of 64 people.

    “The Nigerian Army and other security agencies commenced clearance operation to rid out all the bandits and curtail the banditry activities in the state.

    “Today military and other security agencies were able to carry out successful operation in all nooks and crannies of the state which led to the success recorded.

    “During the period, a number of casualties on banditry activities were recorded as follows, a total 68 bandits were killed between the first week of April to date and unfortunately we lost two of our gallant men – Capt. Muhammad and Private Mijinyawa.

    “Apart from the 17 recovered motorcycles from the killed and fleeing bandits, we also apprehended six suspected kidnappers and one-gun runner.

    “I am directed by the Army headquarters to hand over the suspects and the motorcycles to the state Commissioner of Police and Director, Department of State Service (DSS) for further investigation and I hope these activities will lead to the arrest of their colleagues,” he added.

    Responding, Ebrimson attributed the successes recorded to collaborative efforts among all the security agencies in fighting insecurity in the state.

    He assured residents that security agencies would continue to do their best to ensure that they fish out kidnappers, cattle rustlers and all other criminals in order to maintain peace and stability in the state.

    The CP appealed to communities to always cooperate and give information to security agencies in order to take appreciate security measures.

  • Bandits planning to cause war with killings – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said the recent killings across the country is targeted at instigating war.

    However, as parts of measures to end killings, the president approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up the security response to the banditry affecting the area.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

    “These persistent killings are not spontaneous; there are subterranean forces with a sinister agenda to instigate war in the country for selfish purposes.

    “Although unconventional war is particularly complicated, our security forces are making rigorous efforts to better understand these enemies with a view to decisively checkmate their evil attacks,” Shehu quoted the President as saying.

    The presidential spokesman said Buhari strongly condemned the latest massacre of innocent Nigerians in the area.

    He said his administration would do everything possible to ensure that those he described as “enemies of humanity” are defeated.

    “I am deeply outraged by this unwarranted, unprovoked and reckless destruction of lives by bandits who belong to the lowest level of civilisation.

    “I feel the pains and devastation of the families of the victims, and this administration will do everything possible to ensure we defeat these enemies of humanity,” the President was further quoted as saying.

    Buhari assured Nigerians that security remains a priority for his government.

    He said that his administration would not tolerate the persistent killing of innocent people in order to set Nigerians against one another.

    The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Kaduna State over the tragedy.

    He assured them that his government will never abandon them to their fate.

    According to the statement, the new Army Battalion and the Police Area Command are the latest in a series of law enforcement measures to ensure more effective protection of lives and property, in and around Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Nasarawa states.

    It recalled that last week, the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of two new helicopter gunships for deployment to parts of the country affected by banditry.

    It added that a Quick Response Wing has also been established by the Nigerian Air Force in Taraba State, while a Joint Military Intervention Force is fully on ground in Benue.

  • Scores feared dead as bandits attack two Zamfara villages

    Bandits have on Wednesday attacked two villages in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara, killing some people.

    The bandits attacked a mining site at Kuru-kuru village and also ambushed some people from the neighbouring Jarkuka village as they mobilised to bring help to Kuru-kuru.

    A witness, Sadi Musa, said scores of people were killed at the mining site on Wednesday evening which forced the miners to flee for safety.

    Musa said when residents from the nearby Jarkuka came later to join the Kuru-kuru survivors in burying the dead, the gunmen attacked again, and killed more people.

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Mohammed Shehu said,’’ we are aware of the attack but I cannot give you details now until my commissioner is fully briefed’’.

    The bandits had attacked Bawan Daji village in the same Anka Local Government Area two weeks ago and killed over 30 people.

    They returned the following day and killed mourners at a graveyard.

    This led to the deployment of Air Force and Army personnel to the area to contain the situation.

    The soldiers had since swung into action and killed several bandits.

  • Killings: What we recover from criminals, bandits in Kaduna – Police

    The Police in Kaduna state on Friday said it had recovered 84 arms and 120 live ammunition in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Austin Iwar, stated this at a media briefing in Kaduna.

    Iwar said that the recovered arms comprised 20 AK-47 rifles, 42 dane guns, 15 pump action guns, four locally-made pistols and three revolver guns.

    Also recovered, according to him, are three Boxer motorcycles, three military boats, two berates, two bows and arrows, 40 “weaponized’’ clubs and 30 cutlasses and charms.

    Iwar attributed the successes recorded by the command within a few weeks, to the diligence of officers and men of the command.

    He said that the operation that led to the recovery of the arms was in response to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris’ directive, adding that the command was supported by Kaduna State Government Disarmament Programme.

    According to him, following the directive that all Police commands should immediately commence mop-up of all prohibited and unauthorised firearms to solve the problem of proliferation of firearms in the country, the command swung into action.

    Iwar, however, said that recovery of firearms in the state had been gradual as it involved extensive negotiations, adding that the effort was yielding result.

    He said that the command had always collaborated with community leaders on crime prevention in the state, adding that the relationship helped in developing the renunciation of violence and crime and retrieval of firearms programme.

    “This process led to renunciation by a total of 760 criminals, bandits in Anchau Local Government Area in the state.’’

    He said the programme would be sustained in the state as the command was currently engaging with community leaders across the state to bring criminals into mainstream society.

    The police boss said a total of 70 street gangs called “Sara Suka’’ were arrested, with various dangerous weapons around the state.

    “The weapons include daggers machetes, Weaponized clubs and iron bars,’’ he said

    He said that 20 of the suspects had been charged to court while the remaining were still under investigation and were making useful statements.

    Iwar urged residents of the state to remain law-abiding and report to the police or nearest security agency any suspicious activity for prompt action.

  • Bandits attack: Police recover 10 corpses in Benue communities

    The Benue Police Command says it has recovered 10 corpses of villagers killed by suspected armed bandits in Tse-Audu and Enger villages in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.

    In a statement on Friday in Makurdi, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Moses Yamu said the corpses were victims of the Thursday attacks on the villages.

    He said they had been found by the mobile police contingent deployed to Naka, the capital of the local government council.

    He attributed the deaths to armed bandits, claiming that the police had in their routine surveillance, also encountered the bandits.

    “Eight dead bodies were found in the bush around Tse-Audu and Enger villages in Gwer West local government.

    “This is in addition to the two bodies that were removed from the same area on the same day,’’ he said.

    The Police spokesman, however, assured residents of the communities of the safety of their lives, pointing out that a detachment of police team on counter insurgency had been deployed to the area.

    He also advised members of the public to promptly report any suspicious movements to security agencies for immediate action.

     

  • BREAKING: Bandits storm Kaduna community; kill village head, five others

    There was pandemonium on Thursday afternoon at Sarari Village in Kaduna State as armed bandits killed the village head and five others.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Sarari village is near Kuriga town in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    According to a report by Premium Times, the incident which happened around 2 p.m. left ‎about eight people injured.

    One of the injured victims, who identified himself as Henry and was shot on the leg, confirmed the death of their village head.

    He said the bandits stormed the village, going house to house shooting people.

    “I don’t know where they came from we were just sitting down when we started hearing gunshots from all directions.

    “They came on motorcycles in large number. They go house to house shooting people. Our village head and five other people were killed. I was shot on the leg while trying to escape,” Henry said.

    It was also learnt that all the dead victims were ‎male adults.

    Henry gave the names of the dead as Sule Sarari, the 60 years old village head, ‘Lado, Yunusa, Jonah, Tela and one other person.’

    The victims were rushed to a Primary Health Centre in Oduwa town, few kilometres from where the incident occurred.

    The nurse in charge of the PHC where the victims are receiving treatment, Silas Ayuba, ‎confirmed that six bodies were brought to the clinic.

    “Yes we have six bodies right now at the clinic; all males. Eight people were injured and we are doing our best to stabilise their condition,” he said.

     

  • Bandits abduct new bride, 10 others while moving to groom’s house in Kaduna

    There was pandemonium at Birnin Gwari Town in Kaduna State on Saturday night as suspected bandits abducted a newly wedded bride and ten others who were conveying her (the bride) to her husband’s house.

    The incident took place at about 8 p.m, according to a report by Premium Times.

    Confirming the kidnap, a former chairman of the local government who asked not to be named for security reasons said the gunmen operated with impunity as nobody challenged them.

    “They simply stopped a bus that was conveying the bride to her husband’s house with her relatives and friends numbering about 10. The incident took place about 55 kilometres from Birnin Gwari main town,” he said.

    It was however learnt that three of the people abducted including a member of the bride’s entourage escaped and returned to the town on Sunday morning.

    “The Funtua road is now a danger zone because at any point they (bandits) can strike. They operate with impunity along that highway because it’s bordering Birnin Gwari and Katsina.

    “Our ‎vigilantes need little support to engage these bandits. The government needs to mobilise the vigilantes and support them to enable them discharge their work effectively,” the ex-council chairman said.

    In a similar development, on Friday, two young men riding a motorcycle were also abducted along Uduwa community in Birnin Gwari.

    One of the victims is the son of the Deputy Imam of Uduwa village and the abductors are demanding N3 million ransom.

    Hussaini Iduwa, a community leader and resident of Oduwa town in Birnin Gwari, confirmed the abduction in a telephone interview.

    When contacted, the Kaduna State police spokesperson, Aliyu Muktar, said the command was not informed of the incidents.

     

  • Nigerian military give befitting burial to 11 soldiers killed by bandits in Kaduna

    …as Gov El-Rufai donates N5.5m to grieving families

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday buried the 11 soldiers killed by bandits at Kampanin Doka Village in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The soldiers were said to be a special force executing the Nigerian Army’s Exercise Aya Akpatuma (Rat race).

    With full military honour, the remains of the soldiers, who were killed on March 20, were buried at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Kaduna.

    The slain soldiers are Private Olabode Hammed, Private Bamidele Adekunke Emmanuel, Private Owhochukwu Christian Chigoziri, Private Adamu Muhammed, Private Lamara Ahmed, Private Mubarack Suleiman.

    Others included Private Bashir Dani, Private Usman Abubakar Halo, Private Nafiyi Iliyasu, Private Sefiyanu Ahmed and Private Alhassan Ibrahim.

    Speaking at the burial ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, said the death of the soldiers would not deter the Army from protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

    He said the bandits that carried out the dastardly act won’t be spared as the Nigerian Army would do all within its powers to arrest and bring them to book.

    Buratai told the families of the deceased to accept the death of the gallant officers as an act of God, saying, “From God we came, and to God we will return.”

    The General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, stood in for the Chief of Army Staff.

    The Chief of Army Staff said, “On the morning of 20th March 2018, some able bodied men who came into this job barely a year ago to serve the country told their relations I have joined the Army. Now they have paid the supreme sacrifice defending their country.

    “Could they have paid with their lives to aid those who killed them? All of us will join them, it’s only a matter of time. To have been trained for six months and additional training, to be cut short is really painful.

    “We assure those who killed them that we will not relent our efforts. Their blood was not shed in vain. Their memories remain with us.

    “We assure Nigerians that we would continue to do our duties, regardless of this. We assure that every part of this country, every part under 1 Division would be secured,” he said.

    He assured their families of the Army’s continuous support.

    “If any other member of the family wants to join the Army, do not discourage them. We condole with you on the loss of your people, but we assure you that their death is not in vain.”

    They were honoured with 21 gun salutes.

    Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai during the burial, announced N500,000 each as support to the slain soldiers’ families.

    El-Rufai made the announcement through the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Lawal Balarabe, who represented him at the event.

    The cheque of N5.5m was presented to the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed.

    According to the governor, the soldiers fought gallantly to protect our lives and property but paid the supreme price.

    He noted that the state government would not relent in supporting security agencies in ensuring that their killers were brought to book.

  • Nigerian Army to give befitting burial to 11 soldiers killed by bandits on Thursday

    The Nigerian Army has concluded plans for the burial of eleven of its soldiers killed by suspected bandits at Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State last week.

    The army said a beffiting burial will be given to the slain soldiers at Commonwealth Cemetery Kaduna on Thursday.

    This was contained in a short statement signed by Muhammed Dole, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, made available to journalists in Kaduna.

    The statement reads: “One Division Nigerian Army will conduct a befitting burial ceremony for its personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice during exercise AYEM AKPOTUMA.

    “The burial will take place on 29 March, 2018 at Commonwealth Cemetery Kaduna.”

    Recall that the 11 soldiers were killed at Kanfanin Doka, along Funtua road about 45 kilometres from Birnin Gwari town last week.

    The bandits were said to be on a revenge mission over the killing of their kingpin, Buharin Daji. They also injured nine vigilantees who were on their way to support the soldiers.

     

  • Bandits attack Nigerian military base, reportedly kill 11 soldiers

    Some armed bandits on Tuesday nights attacked a Nigerian military detachment at Kamfanin Doka, along Funtua road in Birnin Gwari Local government Area of Kaduna State.

    According to a report by Premium Times, eleven soldiers were reportedly killed in the attack.

    A former chairman of the local government who pleaded not to be identified because he has no authority to speak on it confirmed the incident.

    He said three other soldiers and nine members of a vigilante group sustained gunshot injuries.

    “The bandits attacked the military based at Kamfanin Doka along Funtua road. 11 soldiers lost their lives while three sustained injuries,” he said.

    “The bandits also ambushed our vigilantes at Maganga, about 44 kilometres from Birnin Gwari this morning (Wednesday) when they were rushing there to assist the soldiers. About nine sustained gun shot injuries. They were rushed to General Hospital Birnin Gwari for treatment,” he said.

    He explained that the attackers rode to the scene on motorbikes at 10.05 p.m. ‎on Tuesday night to engage the soldiers in gun fights.

    A religious scholar in the area also confirmed the attack. He said many people were reported killed.

    “The incident occurred at Maganga area in the night and the bandits killed soldiers there and others sustained injuries,” he said in a telephone interview.

    When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, One Mechanised Division, Muhammed Dole, a colonel, said: “We are already in the bush trying to ascertain the situation. We will issue a statement, please be patient.”

    Kaduna State governor’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, also said the government will release a statement on the development as soon as possible.

     

    Details soon…