TheNewsGuru

Tag: Hoodlums

  • Hoodlums shoot 3 NDLEA officers in Edo

    Hoodlums shoot 3 NDLEA officers in Edo

    Hoodlums have shot and injured three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo, Mr Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, said in a statement on Thursday.

    Babafemi said that the armed hoodlums blocked and opened fire on the team of narcotic officers deployed to Opuje community, Owan West Local Government Area, following discovery of thousands of kilograms of psychoactive substances stashed in warehouses in the area.

    He said that the drugs were stored for distribution nationwide ahead of the coming Christmas and New Year season.

    The NDLEA spokesman explained that the community has been known to harbour criminal drug lords who cultivate Indian hemp, and “after harvest, build warehouses inside the forest reserves and employ the services of armed youths to protect the warehouses 24/7.”

    Babafemi said that the operatives had credible intelligence that the drug cartels had stocked the warehouses in the forest.

    “Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000kgs of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.

    “The NDLEA teams however came under gunfire in the early hours of Monday Dec. 4, when they approached Opuje forest after the armed hoodlums had blocked all access roads in the community.

    “The NDLEA operatives were able to exit the area after over two hours of gun fight with the armed hoodlums.

    “Unfortunately, three of the officers were injured in the attack with one of them shot in the head while some of the vehicles used for the operation were riddled with bullets.

    “The affected officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment while the critically injured one had a major surgery on Wednesday Dec. 6, to remove the bullets in his brain,” he said.

    Babafemi recalled that 11 months ago, armed youths recruited by drug barons ambushed NDLEA officers who were there to destroy massive warehouses and tents storing over 317,417 kilograms, about 317.4 metric tons of cannabis sativa, on Jan. 18, 2023.

    “At least, four suspects: Omoruan Theophilus, 37; Aigberuan Jacob, 42; Ekeinde Anthony Zaza, 53, and Naomi Patience Ohiewere, 42, were arrested in connection with the drugs then,” he added.

    Babafemi said that the drug cartels have invested huge resources, cutting down economic trees in forest reserves and cultivating cannabis on a large scale, running into hundreds of hectares in Opuje community.

    In his reaction to the attack, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa warned those sponsoring attacks on the operatives that they would be brought before the law to reap the consequences of their action.

    Marwa commended the professional conduct of the officers involved in the operation, saying that the incident would not deter the agency from the ongoing offensive against drug barons and cartels.

    ”These are merchants of death bent on destroying the lives of innocent citizens especially the youths for their own comfort across the nook and cranny of the country; we will take them down,” he added.

  • Hoodlums attack Nigeria FM, cart away valuables

    Hoodlums attack Nigeria FM, cart away valuables

    An unknown gang of hoodlums have attacked the Federal government-owned Radio Nigeria FM station at Idofian town, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums vandalized and carted away the radio station’s cables and other valuable items from the station.

    The dare-devil hoodlums struck at about 4a.m on Tuesday and carried out their operation after they had tied the night guard and beaten him mercilessly.

    Reports said they also went away with the phones of the officers on duty during the invasion.

    The FM frequency, which is owned by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, was forced to shut down operations as a result of the damaged cables.

    In her reaction to the vandalization incident, Hajia Binta Abubakar Mora, the Assistant Director of Programmes, who represented the General Manager of the station, said that the attack is a big threat to the broadcast industry in Nigeria.

    Her words: “This is a great threat to the broadcasting industry in Nigeria. This had earlier happened to our sister stations in Lokoja, Kogi State and even in Lafia, Nassarawa State.

    “As it is now, we are off-air. The damage has been done. The affected armored cables are very expensive. What it will take to fix this is something that has become a burden on the management,” she told reporters after conducting them around the station’s premises.

    Hajia Mora said, “However, the lives of our staff who were on duty when the incident happened are worth more than whatever they have damaged, because if anything otherwise had happened, it would have been a very sad story. We thank the Almighty God that it didn’t go beyond this.”

    She expressed concerns about the location of the station and called on the Nigerian government to come to their aid to enable them resume operations.

    Hajia Mora also called on the government to assist in making their working environment more safe and conducive to work in, stressing that the location is not friendly enough.

  • Police recover weapons from hoodlums terrorising Warri, environs

    Police recover weapons from hoodlums terrorising Warri, environs

    The Police Command in Delta has recovered assorted weapons from suspected hoodlums terrorising Warri and environs.

    The spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Monday in Warri.

    Edafe added that the police had consequently launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects.

    He said that the weapons were recovered on Wednesday by the surveillance team of Ekpan Police Division following credible intelligence.

    Edafe added that the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aliyu Shaba, led the surveillance team in the operation to the hoodlums’ hideout.

    The police spokesman said that the suspects’ hideout was located at Aladja Grammar School in Udu Local Government Area of the state.

    “Based on credible intelligence gathered over the activities of some criminals operating within Warri, Udu, Koko and environs,

    “CSP Shaba led the surveillance team and trailed the hoodlums to their hideout located at Aladja Grammar School in Udu Local Government.

    “However, upon sighting the police, the hoodlums took to their heels. A search was conducted immediately around the uncompleted building and a bag was found,” he said.

    Edafe said that the items recovered from the bag included: one AK-47 rifle, and one magazine loaded with seven rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

    Others were:  one English pump action gun with three live cartridges and two cut-to-size double barrel guns.

    He added that effort was on to identify and apprehend the hoodlums.

  • Attack: Police launch manhunt for armed hoodlums in Enugu

    Attack: Police launch manhunt for armed hoodlums in Enugu

    The police in Enugu State has launched a manhunt of armed hoodlums who allegedly attacked its Isi-Uzo Police Division in Ikem community of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Ndukwe said that the hoodlums attempted to attack the divisional station in the wee hours of the morning of Tuesday.

    “Tactical Police Operatives of the Command are on the trail of armed hoodlums suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) wing.

    “The outlawed IPOB/ESN group members, who in their numbers today, at about 4:30am, attempted to attack Isi-Uzo Police Division of the Command, were repelled by police operatives on duty.

    “Many of the miscreants escaped with gunshot wounds while one of the police operatives who sustained gunshot wounds is receiving treatment and in stable condition,” he said.

    The police spokesman assured the people of the state that further development on the matter would be communicated.

  • Hoodlums invade Ogbomosho, destroy properties worth millions of naira

    Hoodlums invade Ogbomosho, destroy properties worth millions of naira

     

    Ogbomoso town in Oyo State was yesterday thrown into pandemonium as persons suspected to be hoodlums invaded some parts of the town and wreaked havoc on cars, house and properties worth million of naira.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums invaded the town in the early hours of Wednesday to cause mayhem.

    The areas affected destroyed by the hoodlums were Aaje, Exchange, Ladanu and Ijeru areas.

    The suspects according to sources who are indigenes of Ogbomosho invaded the areas around 12am on Wednesday and operated for many hours destroying houses, cars, and other property.

    Findings show that the family house of former lawmaker, Jacob Adejumo Ajao, located at Eleruko compound, was also destroyed.

    Ajao represented the Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire federal constituency located at the Eleruko compound.

    The main reason for storming of the town by hoodlums have not been ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

  • Hoodlums attack FRSC officers in Bauchi

    Hoodlums attack FRSC officers in Bauchi

    Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC officers were at the weekend attacked a patrol team of the Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on the Bara-Gombe road.

    Though details of the attack were sketchy as of the time of filing this report, a first information report by the RS 12.15 Bara unit of the sector command, disclosed that the attack on the operatives occurred at about 3:05 pm.

    It was gathered that the patrol team had an encounter with a Mitsubishi Pajero, with registration number BAU 976 HB.

    As a result of the encounter, the patrol vehicle was set ablaze and was burnt completely,” it stated.

    It added that the offender had been arrested and was under police custody.

  • Hoodlums vandalise Zamfara anti-thuggery secretariat

    Hoodlums vandalise Zamfara anti-thuggery secretariat

    Suspected hoodlums vandalised the Zamfara anti-thuggery agency’s secretariat during the March 21 post-election violence in the state after announcement of governorship election results.

    The Commandant, Bello Bakyasuwa, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Gusau on Saturday.

    Gusau, the state capital, on March 21, recorded post election violence as hoodlums joined the PDP in celebration of the governorship election victory.

    The violence led to vandalism of APC offices, billboards, destruction, and looting of government’s offices and properties worth millions of naira.

    The state police command in a statement, said it had arrested 40 suspected hoodlums for the alleged violence.

    Bakyasuwa described the violence as an ugly incident.

    He condemned the level of theft and destruction by some alleged party supporters in the state.

    He noted that the agency remained apolitical and was established by Gov. Bello Matawalle to complement security agencies, to promote peace and stability in the state.

    According to him, two operation vehicles of the agency, including a Hilux and Pegeout 406 saloon belonging to the agency, were stolen by the hoodlums.

    He said properties worth N50 million at the Secretariat were stolen by the hoodlums.

    “As a I am speaking to you, the main gate of our Secretariat has been removed, windows, doors and furniture of our offices were removed and stolen by the hoodlums

    “All our offices, including conference room, store, kitchen clinic and pharmacy were vandalised and all properties inside stolen.

    “All the properties in our tailoring unit with uniform worth millions of naira, ICT Centre have been vandalised and stolen.”

    He said the agency was working with security agencies to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.

    In his reaction, the Secretary, Publicity Committee, PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Ahmad Shatiman-Rijiya, said PDP had no hand in the post election violence.

    Shatiman-Rijiya said PDP had been existing in the state since 1999 but never record violence.

    “Our members have no hand in attacking, destruction, or stealing of APC supporters or property.

    “How do you expect, we the PDP that recorded victory to cause violence, I am telling you this is not true,” he added.

  • Armed hoodlums kidnap electoral officers in Imo

    Armed hoodlums kidnap electoral officers in Imo

    Armed hoodlums have abducted the electoral officer, the returning officer and the collation officers in the Isu Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State during the collation of results of the Assembly election.

    An eyewitness said: “They abducted the EO, the returning officer and all the collation officers.”

    According to the spokesperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State, Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, the election went smoothly and peacefully until the collation time when unscrupulous elements invaded the local government council – allegedly working with the local government area council – and violently found their way into the premises with tear gas and guns and drove everyone away.

    She added that all the INEC officials were beaten up and the office destroyed as all the windows, roof, chairs, and tables were broken while some of the staff escaped.

    “All the staff were beaten up and the office was destroyed, all the Almaco windows, chairs, and tables were broken. Some of us managed to escape for our dear lives,” she said.

    The INEC spokesperson said the development has been reported to security operatives for possible action.

    She explained on Sunday that the officers had been rescued.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that 19 Ad-Hoc staff of INEC, who were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday in Imo State, were rescued by police operatives in the state.

    According to officials, the 19 INEC Ad-Hoc staff were on their way to seven different polling units in Ugbelie ward 06 in Ideato South LGA of Imo state when they were abducted.

    INEC spokesperson said the rescue took place after a distress call and information about the incident was made to the operatives who immediately swung into action.

    She added that even though they were rescued, all the election materials which include BVAS and sensitive materials were not recovered.

  • Hoodlums hijack, burn election materials in Bayelsa

    Hoodlums hijack, burn election materials in Bayelsa

    Hoodlums have hijacked and burnt election materials for three wards in Ogbia Constituency 2 in Bayelsa State during the ongoing state assembly poll in the state.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deployed to the constituency are already moving back to Yenagoa for safety, as the hoodlums are on the rampage in the area.

    It was gathered that the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are scrambling for the Assembly seat in the area, and both parties are also struggling to form majority in the next state Assembly in Bayelsa State ahead of the November 11, governorship election in the state.

    INEC’s Head Voter Education and Publicity in Bayelsa State, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, who confirmed the development said the commission will issue a statement to that effect later.

    He said: “We received a report that materials meant for the State Assembly election in about two or three wards in Ogbia Constituency 2 were hijacked and burnt, maybe later we will get a statement on it.”

    At the time of filing this report, it appears there will be no election in Ogbia Constituency 2, as INEC officials are already heading back to Yenagoa.

    Source: Daily Trust

  • Hoodlums attack Ogun APC supporter’s house, destroy property

    Hoodlums attack Ogun APC supporter’s house, destroy property

    About 20 hoodlums have reportedly attacked the residence of one Michael Yomi Agboola, a strong supporter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Itele-Ota area of Ogun State.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums stormed the residence located at No 12, Agboola street, Itele -Ota, in the early hours of Sunday following the victory of APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the area.

    The house was ridden with bullets, while Agboola’s aged mother who was at home when the attack took place was beaten and injured by the hoodlums.

    It was also learned that the security guard in the house was seriously wounded and is currently at Intensive Care Unit.

    An eyewitness said the hoodlums numbering about 20 shot sporadically at the building and also threatened to fish out Agboola wherever he was hiding.

    The eyewitness said the hoodlums were shouting, “Why Will he support APC? We will attack all supporters of Jagaban on this axis. We are looking for him, we must not see him.”

    While speaking from his hideout, Agboola with a trembling voice, said he was sad and shocked by the attack.

    He lamented that properties worth millions were destroyed, while his mother was also wounded in the attack.

    Agboola urged the police and other security agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the evil acts were brought to book.

    Agboola added, “I am very sad about this attack on my house. Why on earth will the evil people attack me because of my support for the APC candidate? My mother was beaten. A car parked in the compound was destroyed too, and my security guard was wounded.

    “They did this to me because I am a strong supporter of Tinubu here. My house was ransacked and I learnt they threatened to deal with me when they get hold of me.”