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Tag: kogi

  • Gunmen abduct Catholic priest, RCCG pastor in Kogi

    …demand reduced to N8 million

    A Catholic priest, Revd. Fr. Leo Michael was Tuesday evening abducted by unknown gunmen at Irepeni village, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    He is the presiding priest at St. Micheal Catholic Church Obajana.

    An unconfirmed source also had it that a yet to be identified pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was abducted at the same spot and time, while on his way to Okene.

    A Chemistry lecturer with the Kogi State College of Education (Technical) Kabba, Mr. Aronimu Samuel Babatunde was also said to have been kidnapped along the Okene-Kabba road.

    According to Bishop Peter Adinoyi, the Diocesan Chancellor of Lokoja Diocese, the abductors emerged from the bushes near Irepeni village, close to a mounted roadblock, dragged down Fr. Micheal and one other person, believed to be a pastor with the RCCG and dashed back into the bush, leaving the two vehicles parked along the road.

    The Bishop stated that the abductors have established contact with some members of the Church, adding that they have brought down the ransom from N50M to N8m, and threatening they ‘await the worst’ if their demand is not met before 1 pm Thursday.

    He noted that the DSS and the Army have swung into action to track down the perpetrators.

    He lamented that abduction is mostly targeted at the poor, stressing that by now the insecurity of lives and property should have improved but is rather getting worse by the day.

    He called on the government to quickly address the ugly situation.

    The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) William Aya confirmed the abduction of the Catholic priest.

    He however said that he was unaware of the kidnap of the two others.

  • Melaye condemns burning down of his school projects in Kogi [Photos]

    Melaye condemns burning down of his school projects in Kogi [Photos]

    Sen. Dino Melaye on Wednesday condemned the burning down of a block of four classrooms he donated to Government Girls Secondary School, Sarki Noma, Lokoja by unknown arsonists.

    Melaye, who spoke with journalists shortly after inspecting the burnt section of the classroom block at the school premises, described the incident as barbaric and uncivilised.

    He also condemned the vandalisation of a block of four classrooms he built at UBE Junior Secondary School at Lokongoma area in Lokoja by hoodlums, urging the police to bring the perpetrators to book.

    Melaye, who is representing Kogi West Senatorial District, said that the action of the hoodlums was an embarrassment to the state that was well respected for its exploits in education in Northern Nigeria.

    He wondered why some people would want to bring down the state for selfish reasons , pleading with the hoodlums and their sponsors to stop smearing the image of the state.

    Melaye promised to rebuild and repair the burnt and damaged blocks of classrooms, saying that no amount of intimidation and harassment would divert his attention from providing qualitative representation to the people.

    He also said that the incident would not stop his planned one -week thank you tour of the senatorial district and inauguration of some of the 143 projects he had executed in the past three years at a cost of N7 billion.

    The senator later inaugurated the two blocks of four classrooms he built at LGEA Primary School, Tawari, and LGEA primary School, Manyare, the 10- kilometre Manyare -Gegu Beki road and the 15-kilometre Orehi – Irovomi road, all in Kogi Local Government.

    He charged the people of the communities where the projects were located to protect them from vandals and make the best use of them.

    Melaye, who also inaugurated a borehole he built at Felele area of Lokoja, said other projects to be inaugurated in the next few days include classroom blocks , rural roads, boreholes, skills acquisition centres as well as rural electrification schemes.

     

  • BREAKING: Dino Melaye Arrives Kogi In Ambulance

    BREAKING: Dino Melaye Arrives Kogi In Ambulance

    The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has arrived Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    Melaye was conveyed in an ambulance by the police authorities and is due to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja later today.

    The Senator who is presently at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in the north-central state is under the guard of armed policemen.

    According to the police, Melaye is being arraigned for an alleged criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

    Melaye’s arraignment in court today follows his discharge from the National Hospital after he was confirmed fit for trial.

    The Senator landed in the National Hospital after he jumped out of a moving police vehicle on April 24 while being conveyed to Kogi State.

     

  • Kogi youth threaten INEC officials, oppose Melaye’s recall

    Voters in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi have shunned the ongoing verification exercise organised by INEC to authenticate the signatures of voters seeking to recall Sen. Dino Melaye (APC/Kogi West).

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), monitoring the exercise in Mr Melaye’s Kogi West Senatorial District, observed that the polling units were empty, with many people claiming that they were not aware of it.

    At some areas, youth protested against the move to recall the senator who they described as “an excellent representative”.

    An NYSC member, Opemipo Solomon, the INEC officer at Akafe Lane polling unit, said that no one had showed up since they arrived the voting venue at 6.45 a.m.

    “No one has come to sign the recall papers; what we have had so far are threats from people asking us leave this place.

    “The people do not appear interested in what we are doing. Some youths have come to warn us against staying here,” she said.

    Another corps member, David Adah, INEC presiding officer at the Odo Akete polling unit also in Kabba, said that many youth were angry over the recall process.

    “So many youths from the community are angry; they have alleged that their signatures were forged to endorse the recall process.

    “Most of the youths, who saw their names among those that signed for the recall of Melaye, have disowned the signatures and insisted that they are happy with the Senator,” he said.

    At the embattled senator’s polling unit in Ayetoro Gbede, a traditional ruler, Ojo Adekunle, who led some youth to protest against the recall process, said they were not aware of Mr Melaye’s offence.

    “Melaye has done so well and we are happy with him; we have no reason to want to recall him,” he said.

    Mr Adekunle told NAN that Mr Melaye was the best Senator Kogi West had ever produced, and urged his people not to betray their representative at this trying period.

    Vicoria Ajewole, APC Woman Leader in Kabba Local Government, expressed surprise at the recall process, and declared that “it won”t work”.

    “Melaye is our son; there is no way anyone can recall him,” she said.

    At the central area of Kabba town, youth were seen chanting songs in praise of Mr Melaye.

    They vowed to resist attempt to disgrace him.

    Efforts to speak with INEC officials at the commission’s office in Kabba proved abortive as they refused to comment on the exercise

    Policemen keeping watch at the polling points also refused to comment on the exercise.

  • 10 Killed in gunmen attack on Kogi community

    10 Killed in gunmen attack on Kogi community

    Five people have been killed by gunmen who invaded Kpanche community in Bassa area of Kogi state, North-central Nigeria, police in Lokoja have said.

    TheNewsGuru.com gathered that five of the armed bandits were shot dead by security agents.

    The bandits, according to the commissioner of police, Ali Janga, invaded the sleepy agrarian community in the early hours of Sunday but they were quickly repelled by a combined team of policemen and soldiers.

    “Yes, five lives were lost in the village but operatives of the police mobile force and soldiers repelled them and succeeded in killing five bandits and recovered some weapons,” Janga told newsmen.

    Reports also say five houses and unspecified number of vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and other properties were set ablaze by the bandits.

     

  • 10 dead, houses burnt as gunmen invade Kogi community

    There was panic on Sunday morning as gunmen invaded and attacked Kpanche community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    Ten people were reportedly killed and several houses burnt during the invasion.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga, told journalists that the dead included five residents of the community while five of the armed bandits were killed during a cross fire with security agents.

    He said that the bandits invaded the sleepy agrarian community in the early hours of Sunday but they were quickly repelled by a combined team of police officers and soldiers.

    “Yes, five lives were lost in the village but operatives of the police mobile force and soldiers repelled them and succeeded in killing five bandits and recovered some weapons.

    “So far, normalcy has been restored in the area,” Janga said in response to a message sent to him on the incident.

    According to him, five houses and unspecified number of vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and other properties were set ablaze by the bandits.

    He said that security agents would remain on ground in Kpanche while full investigation into the incident had commenced.

  • Melaye: Police rearrest three escaped suspects in Kogi

    The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that three out of the six suspects who escaped from custody on Wednesday have been arrested.

    The outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Janga, while confirming the news, however, did not disclose the names of the rearrested suspects.

    He said, “Yes, it is confirmed, but note that I am no longer the CP, I have been removed. So, talk to the new CP.”

    According to findings, the suspects were rearrested on Friday at an undisclosed location.

    It was gathered that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds while trying to flee from the police.

    They were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, the capital, as of the time of filing this report.

    Janga was fired by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, following the escape of the suspects from custody.

    The suspects are Kabiru Seidu, a.k.a Osama; Nuhu Salisu, a.k.a Small; Aliyu Isa; Adams Suleiman; Emmanuel Audu; and Musa Mohammed.

     

  • DSS arrests alleged sponsor of Kogi kidnap gang

    The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday confirmed arresting a suspected major financier and armourer of the dreaded Basalube kidnap gang in Kogi, Lawal Mohammed.

    A statement issued by the DSS spokesman in Abuja, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said the suspect was arrested on March 23, at Japama in Obajana local government area of Kogi.

    Opuiyo said the suspect was apprehended with two other members of the gang – Mohammed Tukur and Abubakar Ibrahim – by the joint team of DSS and the military during the operation.

    He said Tukur was identified as the Chief surveillance officer of the gang who coordinated the gang’s movement across Rivers, Edo, Delta, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, preparatory to the execution of their operations.

    Opuiyo said items recovered from the suspects included three cell phones and 25 bottles of psychotropic inducers.

    In a related development, the DSS said it has also arrested five suspected members of the Basulube kidnap gang at Ughelli North local government area of Delta State.

    The suspects are – Ali Abubakar, a top ranking member of the gang, Abubakareem Idrisa,Bashir Tsoho, Sanusi Abubakar, Nuhu Muhammadu and Abubakar Abdulhammeed.

    “This arrest was effected while Abubakar was perfecting plans to carry out kidnap operations in Obajana, Kogi,” he said.

    He said in its determination to decimate the gang, the DSS on March 26 arrested Abubakar Danlansu, driver and weapon courier of the group at Dikko area of Niger.

    “The suspect was arrested enroute Edo from where he was to convey weapons to Obajana in Kogi for the gang’s planned kidnap operations,” he added.

  • 74 days after, Kogi doctors suspend strike, resume treatment of patients

    Normal medical and healthcare services have resumed at Kogi State Government-owned hospitals, seventy-four (74) days after the doctors embarked on a statewide strike to press home their demands.

    This followed the suspension of 74-day old strike by members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state.

    A NAN correspondent who monitored developments at the State Specialist Hospital (KSSH), Lokoja, on Thursday confirmed that healthcare activities had returned to the hospital.

    Some patients were seen waiting for doctors for consultations at the Outpatient Department of the hospital, including the hospital laboratory and pharmacy.

    A patient, Mrs Alimat Abdulrahman, told NAN that she was happy that the strike had been suspended, saying she had spent exorbitant amounts on the health of her sick child at a private clinic to no avail.

    “I am appealing to the government and doctors to always use dialogue as a tool to resolving industrial disputes.

    “Government at all levels need to do more for health workers to avoid incessant strikes,” Abdulrahman said.

    Mr Omeiza Adavi, a male patient, said he was glad that the strike was suspended after a very long period, saying many patients have suffered a lot due to the strike.

    He commended the doctors for sheathing their sword by suspending the strike in spite the fact that all their demands have not been met by the state government.

    One of the doctors, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said: “I am personally not happy about the whole situation as many doctors are in the state.

    However, Dr Ahmed Attah, the Special Adviser to the Gov. Yahaya Bello on Health Matters, expressed his gratitude to God for seeing them through the challenge of the prolonged industrial action by the NMA.

    “We thank God that in spite the strike action, the people of Kogi, who are at the receiving end, were able to get services for their health challenges from FMC, Lokoja, and private hospitals within the state, but some had to travel outside the state for medical treatment.

    “So, it is a period of reflecting over what has happened, a period to call on everyone to see what is possible to ensure that the people of Kogi are protected,” Attah said.

    He noted that the governor had taken healthcare as one of the top priorities of his administration, stressing that Bello has continued to maintain that the life and health of every citizen is very important to him.

    The special aide added that the governor was ready to do everything possible within his power to make sure that residents get the best healthcare service.

    “So, what has happened is now behind us, the important thing now is for everybody to join hands to work together to ensure that the vision of the governor succeed in the health sector.

    “The health sector is one delicate place that is full of emergencies and His Excellency understands that, and has put us on the field to continue to engage with the doctors until we got the strike suspended.

    “You can see that the doctors have resumed to their duty posts today. We commend the NMA for their consideration.

    “Of course, we are aware there are challenges of the arrears of salaries but the governor has not rested in ensuring the full payment of all emoluments of doctors and all other health workers in the state,” Attah said.

    NAN recalls that the NMA suspended the strike on March 19, and directed its members to resume on March 22, to facilitate further negotiations with the state government.

  • Group to Police: Dino Melaye’s case must prove no one is above the law

    A pressure group in Kogi State, Save Kogi Initiative, has charged the Nigeria Police to ensure Senator Dino Melaye faces justice to give hope to the common man that the rich is not above the law.
    The group stated this in Lokoja after an extraordinary meeting through its Director of Communications, Comrade Ignatius Adeoye.
    According to Adeoye, the people of Kogi State are anxiously waiting for the prosecution of Senator Dino Melaye to explain what he knows about arms proliferation in the state.
    “The Save Kogi Initiative is not like the Save Kogi Group which one of its members has now been indicted for arming young people to foment trouble and wage violence on our defenseless people. The Group should have been called ‘Kill Kogi Gang’. Issues of security should not be politicized. Whoever promotes insecurity must be brought to book. Only God knows how many people those boys would have killed.
    “The conflicting reports on the whereabouts of the embattled Senator is further proof that he has questions to answer on the recent mind-boggling revelations. Why is he running if his conscience was clear?
    “As a group, we commend the Nigeria Police and other security agents for working hard to keep Kogi safe. We however urge the Police to ensure Dino is arrested in the next few days to come and answer charges against him.
    “The Dino we used to see on the floor of the Senate is not the Dino we are hearing about now. We never thought he could run away and attempt to evade arrest. He should be charged to court immediately.
    “We recall how he always play-act on the floor of the Senate whenever issues of security in his home state was discussed. Now we know the real enemies of our dear State. We urge highly placed people like him who have been involved in arms-running to desist from doing so and embrace a safe Nigeria.
    “We also deliberated on the recent attacks in Omala and Dekina. The Governor did very well by promptly mobilizing for effective security of the area and for personally visiting the places affected. This is the kind of leadership we crave in this state, especially when similar attacks under the immediate past administration didn’t attract government attention.
    “We call on security agents to ensure the perpetrators of the heinous acts are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.”
    The SKI calls on the Federal Government to expedite action on the completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Company in order to boost the economy of the state as well as create job opportunities for the teeming populace.