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Tag: mourners

  • Police engage gunmen disguised as mourners in Imo, kill one

    Police engage gunmen disguised as mourners in Imo, kill one

    Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have killed a gunman and arrested another – both of whom were part of a group disguised as mourners.

    The spokesman for the command, Michael Abattam, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday confirmed that other members of the group fled with various gunshot wounds.

    “Sequel to the recent attacks by some unknown gunmen in the state where some innocent persons lost their lives the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini psc, directed the command’s tactical teams to ensure strict policing of the border areas and to embark on aggressive, intelligence-led stop and search/patrols to prevent bandits from entering the state forthwith,” he explained.

    “The strategy yielded positive results. On 17/11/2021 at about 1501 hours, while the ever gallant police command’s tactical teams were on a vigorous and aggressive stop and search operation along Owerri/Onitsha Road, suspected gunmen masquerading as persons mourning – going for burial ceremony somewhere in the state – approached the police checkpoint in a convoy of three motorcycles carrying two passengers on each, alongside a passenger bus with registration number Anambra NNE 725 ZG carrying passengers, and displaying in front of the bus, a belated burial poster of late Mrs Bridget Chine Nwadiozor dated 22/10/2021.

    “They were flagged down for routine search. On seeing the date on the belated poster, the police operatives became suspicious and alert. After searching the passengers on the motorcycles and nothing incriminating was seen, they went to the bus.

    “In the bid of searching the passengers in the bus, one of them pulled out a Berretta pistol and in an attempt to shoot at the police operatives, he was neutralised which led to a shootout. In the process one of the suspects, Odedira Ezuala ‘m’ aged 23yrs, a native of Umudike Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, was arrested while others, including the motorcyclists, escaped with bullet wounds.”

    The police, according to Abattam, recovered a police special Beretta pistol with breach No.90005 and 10 rounds of live ammunition, a bus with Reg. No. Anambra NNE 725 ZG, and a burial poster.

    He stated that the body of the neutralised gunman has been deposited at a morgue while the arrested suspect was already undergoing interrogation.

    According to the command’s spokesman, the suspect has made useful statement to the police and has volunteered to provide support to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.

  • Gunmen attack mourners during funeral in Benue, kill four

    Gunmen attack mourners during funeral in Benue, kill four

    Gunmen attacked mourners at a funeral ceremony in Imande Abur village, Mbategh council ward of Benue State on Saturday, the police said.

    According to a statement signed by police spokesperson Anene Sewuese Catherine, five persons sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and were rushed to the hospital, but four lost their lives while receiving treatment.

    “On the 13th November 2021 at about 0300hrs information was received that a group of gunmen numbering three (3) and identified by eyewitnesses to be known persons within Sankara area invaded Imande Abur village, Mbategh council ward and shot sporadically at mourners who were assembled at a funeral ceremony,” the statement said.

    “Police teams within the area swiftly moved to the area but suspects took to their heels on sighting the police.

    “Five persons sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment but unfortunately four of them lost their lives while receiving treatment.

    “The Command commiserate with families of the victims and assure them that justice will definitely be served as detectives are already on the trail of identified suspects.”

  • COVID-19: Obasanjo locks out aides, mourners at mother-in-law’s burial

    COVID-19: Obasanjo locks out aides, mourners at mother-in-law’s burial

    Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday personally locked the entrance to the church where his mother-in-law’s burial programme took place in Isara Remo, Ogun East Senatorial District, Ogun State.

    The move was in ex-President’s strict enforcement of the Covid-19 protocols regarding safe physical distance and minimum number of persons permissible in an enclosed space.

    At the St. Peter’s Anglican Church (Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion) Diocese of Remo, Isara Remo, Ogun State venue of the Order of Service for the remains of his mother in-law, Mrs Florence Mopelola Adenekan, Obasanjo manned the church’s enhance door and ensured that the approved limit of those to be allowed in was strictly adhered to.

    The former President ordered many of the mourners who wanted to be part of the funeral service to go back and personally shut the Church doors against them as the service presided over by the Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Remo Diocese, Most Rev Dr Matthew Olusina Fape, commenced at about 10.30 am.

    Some of the elder statesman’s close aides and associates were not spared – they too were also locked outside despite having their face masks on.

    The late Mrs Adenekan was the mother of Chief (Mrs) Bola Obasanjo. She died on April 17, 2020; two days before her 90th birthday.

    The nonagenarian was interred at the church cemetery located behind the church with Obasanjo leading the family of his in-laws to perform the dust-to-dust rites.

    Mrs Obasanjo was absent at the ceremony, as she was said to have travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) and could not make it.

    The former President later paid homage to the four traditional rulers at Ode and Isara communities in company with his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, among others.

    The visited monarchs include Oba Mukaila Akanbi Olabinjo (Isara); the Iraye Remo, Oba Samuel Olatunji Kalejaiye; the Eleposo Eposo Ode Remo, Oba Albert Adebose Mayungbe and the Alaye Ode, Oba (Suvr.) Adetunji Osho.

    Oba Osho said Obasanjo had demonstrated “how true and respected Yoruba son he is by visiting their domains despite coming on personal engagement to the area.

    “We shall continue to learn from your wisdom. The entire people of Ode is proud and appreciate this visit,” the traditional ruler said.

  • COVID-19: Results of improperly kitted mourners at Abba Kyari’s burial announced

    COVID-19: Results of improperly kitted mourners at Abba Kyari’s burial announced

    All the improperly kitted mourners at the burial 18 April of Malam Abba Kyari have tested negative to coronavirus.

    Dr Mohammed Kawu, Acting Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, made this known in Abuja on Sunday.

    Kawu said they have completed 14 days in isolation and been reunited with their families.

    There was a national uproar after a video of the mourners went viral.

    The video showed some of them without masks.

    One of the mourners also dumped a protective suit carelessly at the burial ground in Gudu, Abuja.

    Their actions breached the burial protocol outlined by the World Health Organisation and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

    The FCTA swiftly moved to arrest all the mourners.

    Some of them, who were staff of the Presidency, were barred from coming to the office, until they completed 14-day isolation.

    Abba Kyari, President Buhari’s chief of staff died in Lagos on 17 April from COVID-19 complications.

    He was buried 18 April in Abuja.

  • Eight mourners die in Yola-Numan road crash

    Eight of a number of people carrying a deceased relation for burial have died in a road crash along the Numan-Yola Road in Adamawa State.

    According to reports, the accident occurred around Afcott, a company near Ngurore, in Yola South Local Government Area, on Wednesday.

    About 14 people were said to have sustained injuries.

    Sources said the accident involved a number of vehicles, including one with people conveying a corpse from Jada towards Guyuk, which was hit by a Starlet car trying to overtake it.

    According to a witness, “The Starlet started to overtake the corpse-bearing vehicle without knowing of an oncoming Toyota Corrola. Both the Starlet and the Toyota coming from the opposite direction were on top speed. Before the starlet could brake, the accident occurred.”

    The Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Adamawa State, Mohammed Hussaini, confirmed the accident, describing it as being a result of reckless driving.

    A reaction to the accident by the state government, obtained Thursday, indicated that the victims were mostly members of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), an indigenous church to which a large number of Adamawa Christians belong.

    A press statement from the Government House, Yola, quoted Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as noting that six of the victims were Bonetem Diocese members of the LCCN who died in the accident while going for a funeral.

    The statement which was signed by the Director General, Media and Communications, Mr Solomon Kumangar, said the governor described the deceased as a great loss not only to the bereaved families and the Church but Adamawa State in general.

    The governor prayed that God would grant rest to the soul of the departed and speedy recovery to those in hospital.

  • Buhari reacts to massacre of over 60 mourners in Borno

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday condemned the dastardly attack on a funeral procession in Borno, which caused the deaths of over 60 mourners.
    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in a statement in Abuja, said the President had received assurances from the armed forces that the terrorists who committed the killings would pay a “big price” for their action.
    “The Federal Government is firmly and resolutely committed to taking necessary measures to safeguard the nation’s security.
    ”This administration is determined to end the menace of terrorism,” Shehu quoted President Buhari as saying.
    According to the president, already a major exercise has begun to hunt the attackers with air patrols by the nation’s Air Force and ground operations by the army.
    He assured the residents of Maiduguri and the citizens settled in IDP camps that they would receive increased protection from further attacks by the assailants.
    The insurgents on a reprisal mission attacked Badu village in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno and killed over 60 persons and wounded 11 others.
    The Chairman of the local government council, Muhammad Bulama, who spoke on the incident on Sunday, said the insurgent had recently attacked Badu village but they were repelled by the villagers and members of the vigilante group.
    “The villagers resisted the attack, killed 11 insurgents and recovered 10 AK-47 rifles in the encounter.
    “On Saturday at about 11:40 a.m., the insurgents came on a reprisal mission, attacked mourners at a graveyard, killed over 60 persons and injuring 11 others.