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Tag: kogi

  • Gunmen invade relaxation spot in Kogi, kill one, injure many

    Gunmen invade relaxation spot in Kogi, kill one, injure many

    Three gunmen attacked Royal Garden Relaxation Spot in Egume, Dekina Local Government of Kogi on Friday, killing one person and injuring many others, the police said on Saturday.

    According to state police command, the armed men shot sporadically into the premises of the relaxation spot at about 7:45 pm on Friday.

    A statement by the command spokesman, DSP William Aya said that the attackers later fled the scene.

    The statement did not disclose whether the armed men robbed their victims, but said the Divisional Police Officer in Dekina mobilized operatives to the scene immediately after learning about the incident.

    “He met one yet to be identified body lying in pool of his blood and moved him to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    “The body was deposited at the hospital for autopsy,” the statement said.

    According to the statement, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ayuba Ekpeji has deployed a team of operatives to hunt for the hoodlums.

    He assured that the police will arrest the attackers and prosecute them.

    The commissioner advised members of the public to be observant and report suspicious movements or objects around them, as well as activities of criminal elements within their neighbourhoods, to security agencies.

  • Two murdered, Police killed in Kogi robbery attack

    Two murdered, Police killed in Kogi robbery attack

    Armed robbers shot and killed two persons and wounded a policeman at a roadblock on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Expressway.

     

    The sad incident, which happened on Saturday, caused chaos on the road, with motorists abandoning their vehicles, while some commuters who sought safety in nearby houses were denied.

     

     

    It was gathered that the two persons killed were siblings.

     

    Also, during the weekend, gunmen invaded a funeral at Banigo Isile-Ogono community in Bonny council area of Rivers State, and abducted an unspecified number of guests after shooting and injuring some others.

     

    One lawmaker was injured in the attack, The Nation gathered.

     

    Sources said the bandits stormed the ceremony a few minutes after one Kenneth Banigo was interred.

     

    Bonny council chair David Irimagha and a lawmaker, among other high-profile guests narrowly escaped the attack.

     

    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni confirmed that gunmen did disrupt the funeral but fled on sighting law enforcement agents.

  • Armed robbers attack commuters in Kogi, kill brothers

    Armed robbers again struck on Saturday along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State killing two brothers and injuring a policeman on roadblock duties.

    The incident which occurred at about 6pm in between Itakpe and Kabba Junction end of the Okene -Lokoja – Abuja expressway forced commuters and travellers to scamper for safety while abandoning their vehicles in the middle of the road.

    It was gathered that the victims who were brothers and from the central part of Kogi State, went to Lagos for holidays and were on their way back to their station in Katsina State when the incident occurred.

    It was gathered that the robbers who were fully armed operated freely and later shot a yet to be identified police officer at a nearby checkpoint on the leg.

    A woman who was caught up in the ugly incident but pleaded not to be mentioned on Sunday narrated her experience to told DAILY POST.

    “We boarded our vehicle from Lagos around 7am but experienced heavy ‘go-slow,’ and not until after Ibadan, were we totally free from it.

    “We got to Osara past 6pm. Our driver was following closely behind the vehicle that was attacked. Somewhere, the driver had to stop for a passenger who was pressed, to urinate, after which we saw oncoming motors flagging us to stop; that there was a robbery operation ahead.

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    ”Some people ran helter-skelter but the residents will not allow us to take refuge in their houses. They said that if they did, the robbers would fish them out one by one.

    “After quite a while, other vehicles continued on their journey, but ours will not start. The driver made contacts and a motor mechanic came over from the Kabba Junction to attend to us.

    “When we got to the point of the attack, we heard that two brothers were shot and killed, while a policeman at the nearby checkpoint was shot in the leg. We heard that their remains were later evacuated and deposited at the State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.”

    When contacted, the Kogi State Police Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, said the command is yet to get a report on the incident but assured DAILY POST that he would furnish it with details as soon as he receives a report from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of the area.

  • Kogi shuts Union Bank branches over alleged tax default

    Kogi shuts Union Bank branches over alleged tax default

    The Kogi State Government on Friday shut branches of Union Bank of Nigeria, UBN Plc in Lokoja, the State capital for allegedly refusing to settle a tax overhang of N147.3 million.

    This was disclosed to newsmen on Friday by Barrister Isah Jamil, Director of Legal Services, Kogi Internal Revenue Service, KGIRS, the agency that sealed up the premises.

    Jamil noted that the High Court of Kogi State on August 21, 2020 granted an application by KGIRS to distrain the premises of Union Bank PLC on account of her default in the payment of the tax liability.

    He added that the bank was owing the sum of ₦147,343,407.32k noting that the premises of the bank in Kogi State were sealed pursuant to the said Order of the Court.

    He disclosed that the Union Bank of Nigeria after the judgement filed a motion before the High Court of the State seeking to set aside the Order of distrain.

    He revealed that the court having heard the application on August 26, 2020 dismissed the application of the bank for lack of merit.

    According to him “It is important to also add that in 2019, UBN had filed a case before the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) sitting in Jos disputing KGIRS assessment notice of the same liability.

    “On 29th of July, 2020, the TAT found at the end of the hearing of the case that UBN is liable to Kogi State Government in One Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Forty Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Seven Naira, Thirty Two Kobo (₦147,343,407.32) and directed the bank to pay the said amount immediately, but the bank failed to comply with the Judgment of TAT”

    He pointed out that the case of the UBN has been dismissed as the distrain of the premises of the bank will continue until the liability of the bank in the sum of ₦147,343,407.32K is fully settled.

    Jamil noted that the state is also looking at other lawful options to ensure the liability is settled by the bank without further delay.

  • Kogi Govt. announces date for reopening of schools

    Kogi Govt. announces date for reopening of schools

    The Kogi Government on Tuesday announced that primary schools, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state would reopen on Sept. 14.

    The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Wemi Jones, made the announcement during a news conference in Lokoja.

    According to Jones, the State Government took the decision after series of interaction with relevant stakeholders and assessment of both private and public schools in the state to ascertain their level of preparedness and safety for reopening of schools from COVID-19 break.

    ”You will recall that Gov. Yahaya Bello had directed the closure of all schools from primary to tertiary institutions in the state from March 23, because of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

    ”’Subsequently, upon the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, exit classes were opened for Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 in Kogi on Aug. 10, to particularly allow the SS3 classes to prepare and write the WAEC examination.

    ”Therefore, upon further review, having held several meetings with relevant stakeholders, the governor has directed that all schools in Kogi should fully reopen on Sept. 14, 2020,” he said.

    The commissioner stressed that the state government arrived at the decision after assessing the situation of schools especially for the exit classes that had resumed, saying ”we have not recorded any negative report as far as COVID-19 pandemic is concerned.

    ”Hence, the governor deemed it fit for every school to open for full academic activities,” he said.

    He, however, advised all heads of schools to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols which had been clearly set out by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

    He added that the ministry would review the state’s Academic Calendar accordingly to reflect the new development and that details would be worked out and released to relevant stakeholders in due course before resumption.

    Jones enjoined all relevant educational stakeholders like ANCOPSS, ASSUS, SUBEB, NAPPS, NUT, STETSCOM, Heads of state’s tertiary institutions, and every other stakeholders to liaise with the ministry for further clarification.

    He equally informed the general public, parents, guardians, school heads that the state government was very particular about the health and safety of learners in Kogi.

    ”So, the state government will ensure that our learners are kept in good condition as far as COVID-19 pandemic and indeed other diseases or health issues are concerned.

    ”We encourage everybody to play their roles by ensuring personal hygiene’’, reiterating that personal hygiene remained the personal responsibility of everybody.

    ”For the higher institutions, I have personally placed direct telephone calls to the heads of all state’s tertiary institutions and I had discussions with them to ascertain their level of preparedness. It appears that all of them are fully ready for schools’ reopening.

    ”We have equally asked them to get in touch with the ministry, should there be any further requirements in order for them to make their institutions safe for the benefit of students and staff,” the commissioner said.

  • Kogi Govt returns 78 destitute, beggars to states of origin

    Kogi Govt returns 78 destitute, beggars to states of origin

    The Kogi Government has returned 78 destitutes and beggars to their states of origin.

    The state Commissioner for social development and women affairs, Hajia Fatima Kabir-Buba, disclosed while addressing a news conference in Lokoja.

    She said that the destitutes were evacuated from different parts of Lokoja, the state capital and returned to Katsina , Kaduna, Kano , Bauchi and Zamfara States where they originally came from.

    According to her, the action is not to discriminate against any Nigerian but to rid the streets of Lokoja of beggars and destitutes.

    The Commissioner said that the persons were transported in six buses to their various destinations with utmost respect and dignity.

    “This action of ours should not be misconstrued. The government under the leadership of Gov. Yahaya Bello remains committed to providing for the less privilege without any form of discrimination in the state,” she
    stated.

  • Bandits murder 13 Kogi family members, one other

    Bandits murder 13 Kogi family members, one other

    Fourteen people, including 13 members of the same family were murdered in an early morning attack by suspected bandits on Wednesday in Agudu, in the Kogi/Kotonkarfe Local Government Area of Kogi State.

     

    The state Commissioner of Police, Ede Ayuba, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command, said “the 13 family members were wiped out” by the attackers, adding that another person was killed, while six persons sustained injuries.

     

    He said when the police got to the village, the bandits had left, adding that sanity had been restored to the area.

     

    The CP, who noted that the attack could have been triggered by age-long communal disputes in the community, described it as unfortunate.

     

    He said, “A man and 12 family members were killed. His son is the only survivor. Another person was killed, while those injured have been taken to the hospital.”

     

    The police chief further revealed that the killers of the late Innocent Ofodile, owner of popular Chuck’s Supermarket in Lokoja, who was murdered on Lokoja-Abuja Road, had been arrested.

     

    He explained that one Vincent Omogor, who was detained for kidnapping, confessed that he and his gang members were responsible for the killing of Offodile.

     

     

  • Gunmen wipe off family of 13 in Kogi

    Thirteen members of the same family were on Wednesday killed by suspected bandits in an early morning attack in Agudu, a community in Bassa, Kogi/koton-karfe LGA of Kogi State.

    Kogi Commissioner of Police Ede Ayuba confirmed this to reporters on Wednesday.

    He added another person was also killed while six persons who sustained varying degree of injuries were evacuated to medical facilities.

    The CP, who added on receiving the distress call, he immediately moved to the scene, however said the bandits had left the scene before their arrival.

    He said normally has however been restored to the area.

    The CP noted the attack could have been triggered by an alleged long communal dispute in the community.

    He described the attack as unfornate “for a man to lose his life and 12 other members of his immediate family leaving a son as survivor calls for concerns.”

    He also the killers of Innocent Ofodile, owner of popular Chucks Supermarket in Lokoja, who was killed along the Lokoja-Abuja highway have been arrested.

    He said one Vincent Omogor was arrested after the incident whose confessions led to the arrest of other cohorts who remain at large carried out the dastardly act.

    According to Omogor, the gang carried out the killing on the order of one of his shop attendants, who complained of not being attended to when he approached the deceased for financial assistance when his father died.

  • Just in: Gov Bello heads Ondo APC Primary Election Committee

    Just in: Gov Bello heads Ondo APC Primary Election Committee

    Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has been appointed to head a nine-man Ondo All Progressives Congress(APC) primary election committee.

    The primary is slated for Monday, July 20.

    The Caretaker/Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CEONCPC) of the party also approved Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe to head a nine-man Primary Election Appeal Committee.

    A statement by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, on Thursday in Abuja said the National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the constitution of the committees.

    The Governorship Primary Election Committee has Olorogun o’tega Emerhor as Secretary while Alwan Hassan, Chief Samuel Sambo, Hajiya Binta Salihu, Mr. Emma Andy, Dr. Adebayo Adelabu, Abdullahi Aliyu and Mrs. Margret Ngozi Igwe are to serve as members of the committee.

    Arch. Abdulmimuni Okara is to serve as Secretary to the Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, while Mr. Festus Fientes, Mr. Okon Owoefiak, Mr. Abba Isah, Alh. Umar Duhu, Hon. Sani El-katuzu, Mrs. Osuere Eunice and Emeka Agaba are appointed as members

    Nabena further said both Committees will be inaugurated by Buni at the party National Secretariat on Friday.

  • Politicians playing games with COVID-19, says Kogi Gov

    Politicians playing games with COVID-19, says Kogi Gov

    Kogi Governor of Kogi Yahaya Bello has accused politicians of playing games with Nigerians through the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Bello spoke on Thursday while playing host to the members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Sir Amadu Bello Memorial Foundation, who paid him a courtesy call in the Government House Lokoja.

    He called for cessation what he described as the game having a negative impact on Nigerians.

    His words: “Let us stop this game. Nigerians are suffering. Instead of the lockdown with its attendant negative effects on the people, why can’t we turn it into employment opportunities; providing clothes for face masks to be exported to those countries who have the disease?

    “Covid-19 is not a new disease in our clime. We have our own way of treating it and that is what we should be exploiting, rather than subjecting our people to hardship, hunger and starvation through lockdown.”

    He asserted that it was wrong for anyone to attribute the death of late Chief Judge of Kogi, Justice Nasir Ajanah to COVID-19, when he had been managing his health since 2016, adding the complications that eventually led to his death was as a result of his inability to access medical attention due to the lockdown.

    “We know his medical history; he was my brother. We know we have been managing him since 2016, but this time, he was completely isolated; no one was allowed to even speak to him until he passed away. We cannot afford to be playing games with the lives of Nigerians This must stop,” the Governor added.

    The Secretary to the board of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, who led the delegation, presented 30,000 facemasks to the government and the people of the state as well as flag off public awareness advocacy against rape and other forms of gender-based violence in Nigeria.