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Tag: Security Operatives

  • Man escapes security operatives stray bullet that landed on his bed while raiding Yahoo boys hotel in Abuja (Photos)

    Man escapes security operatives stray bullet that landed on his bed while raiding Yahoo boys hotel in Abuja (Photos)

    A Nigerian man has narrated how he narrowly escaped security operatives stray bullet while raiding a popular hotel in Kubwa a satellite town of Federal Capital Territory FCT allegedly harbouring Yahoo boys in the early hours of Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG while probing into the alleged security operatives raid stray bullet had a chat with the victim who only agreed to an interview provided he won’t be quoted.

    He said:”At about 12.48am on Monday morning I heard gun shots then suddenly I discovered a bullet by my side on the bed.

    “My brother I was scared because I was confused as I started querying myself whether it was a dream or a reality.

    “I looked at my bedroom roof behold the bullet pierced through the roof and landed on my bed, see the hole my brother.

    “On further enquiry from neighbors in the morning I was reliably informed that there was a raid by security operatives at the Top glass Lounge on Gado Nasko Way here in Kubwa and the armed men shot several shots into the air.

    “It’s an unfortunate development because if that bullet had hit my chest while sleeping only God knows what would have happened.

    On further probe whether he has reported to the Kubwa police command to formally lodge a complaint, the man who is apparently still in shock said:”My brother I am still in shock I will do that once I recover from the shock.

    “I will do that once I get my bearings right but right now let me attend to my relatives who came visiting after hearing of the stray bullet that landed on my bed.

  • 2024 Edo Guber: INEC accredited CSOs caution politicians, security operatives against truncating democracy

    2024 Edo Guber: INEC accredited CSOs caution politicians, security operatives against truncating democracy

    …warns the judiciary not to further cause confusion

    A coalition of INEC accredited CSOs under the aegis of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness lon Friday cautioned politicians, security operatives against truncating democracy as Edo Guber draws close.

    Addressing a press conference alongside other CSOs, Director General of INEC recognized organisations, Dr Gabriel Nwambu noted that:

    “It is exactly 36 days to the Edo state governorship election. As part of our mandate, we observe the pre-election, election and post election activities. We also observe the conduct of the Election Management Body (EMB), the conduct of the Police, which is the lead agency in charge of internal security, the NSCDC, the Military and all the security agencies of government deployed to the field to ascertain if their conduct is consistent with the extant laws and the provisions of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigerian.

    “First and foremost, we emphasize the importance of impartiality and neutrality from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is crucial that all eligible electorates, including those who registered during the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise, are issued Permanent Voters Cards promptly. INEC’s commitment to fairness and transparency in the electoral process is a fundamental requirement for the success of the election on the 21st of September.

    “Secondly, we call upon the law enforcement agencies, including the police, the DSS, the NSCDC, and the military, to refrain from harassing law-abiding Nigerians who carry out legitimate election duties in Edo state, including electorates and members of all registered political parties in Edo state irrespective of whether they are opposition political parties or the ruling party.

    Nwambu explained that: “Their role should be to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the electoral process, without fear or favor in line with the established rules of engagement.

    “The Judiciary is brought to perspective here. We have observed with dismay the fragrant abuse of court processes with conflicting court orders being issued indiscriminately. We urge the Judiciary to uphold the principles of equity, fairness, and justice, and to resist any attempt by desperate politicians to manipulate the system or truncate the wish of Edo people. The judiciary must remain independent and vigilant in its pursuit of justice, free from any external influences especially by desperate politicians.

    “Disturbingly, we have become aware of plans by some disgruntled individuals to use security agencies to manipulate and rig the elections. This is unacceptable, and we call upon all relevant authorities to investigate, arrest and prosecute the intending perpetrators of such crimes. This would mitigate the occurrence of such actions on election day.

    “Furthermore, we denounce any plot to arrest or detain individuals on baseless, fiction, and unfounded grounds, with the intention of keeping them away from the election environment until after the 21st of September 2024. Such actions are not only against our laws, but they consistently portray Nigeria as a laughing stock before the league of nations especially as foreign election observers are also accredited to observe our electoral processes. Such actions also contradict the principles of democracy and the right of citizens to participate in the electoral process.

    “Voter inducement, including the buying and selling of votes, is an issue that needs to be tackled head-on. With the increasing poverty level in Nigeria, this has become a common feature in most elections. Perpetrators of such practices should be swiftly arrested and brought to justice.

    “Additionally, it is crucial that the public witnesses the prosecution of these offenders to demonstrate a commitment to preserving the integrity of the electoral system. This would also serve as a deterrent to individuals who intend to perpetrate such crimes in the future.

    “We also condemn the recruitment of youths for election thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, engaging in electoral related violence and any other actions that aim to manipulate election results.
    As a coalition of rights organizations, we remain firm to ensuring that things are done right to reflect the wishes of Edo electorates in the coming election, hence, we will not hesitate to reach out to the US, the EU, Canadian Embassies and all known embassies in Nigeria, urging them to impose visa restrictions on these politicians, erring agents of state, electoral offenders and their families globally.

    “To ensure a smooth electoral process, we call upon the network service providers, such as MTN, Glo Mobile, and Airtel, to ensure uninterrupted service in Edo state throughout the duration of the election.

    “They must refrain from any form of sabotage that could hinder the effectiveness and proper function of the BVAS, an Android technology deployed by INEC for the authentication and accreditation of eligible electorates in Edo state. The transmission of election results from the FORM EC8A series should not be hampered including the viewing of election results in the INEC viewing portal online and real-time.

    “In conclusion, we appeal to all stakeholders, including INEC, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and network service providers, to play by the rules set forth in the 1999 Constitution as amended, as well as the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. It is only through the collective adherence to these principles that we can ensure a free, fair, and credible governorship election in Edo state.
    We believe that a new Nigeria is possible.

  • Bandits kill 6 security operatives, 20 others in Katsina

    Bandits kill 6 security operatives, 20 others in Katsina

    The Police Command in Katsina State has confirmed the killing of no fewer than 20 people, four police officers and two operatives of the state-owned Community Watch Corps by some suspected bandits.

    ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement in Katsina on Monday.

    According to him, the attack occurred on Sunday, at Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages, all in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.

    He said, “Yesterday, June 9, 2024, bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the villages, shot and killed 20 people, injured two, and ambushed our Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team.

    “The team was responding to the distress call, killing four police officers and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC).

    “The fact of the case is that on the same date, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters.

    ”That bandits in their numbers, riding on motorcycles, armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked Gidan Baki village, Kankara LGA, killing unsuspecting villagers.

    “Immediately, the nearest APC patrol team was dispatched to the scene. While en route to the village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village via Yar Goje village, all in Kankara.

    “The team quickly redirected towards the scene. Upon reaching Kurmeji village via Yar goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a firefight ensued between the team and the bandits,”  Sadiq-Aliyu  said.

    According to him, upon receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, swiftly the DPO mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy.

    He explained that during preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injuring two others.

    “They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four police officers, three Inspectors and one Corporal and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC).

    “Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, shot and killed five persons. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds,” according to Sadiq-Aliyu.

    He revealed that the command has deployed additional operational assets to the area to work with all the relevant stakeholders towards preventing the recurrence of the attacks and ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, while expressing his utter dismay over the tragic incident, extended his condolences to the families and friends of those affected by the incident,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.

  • Security operatives nabs man with explosives inside premises of commercial bank

    Security operatives nabs man with explosives inside premises of commercial bank

     

    A young man, whose identity is yet to be known, has been nabbed with explosives inside the premises of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) bank located in Dadin Kowa town in Jos South in Plateau State.

    The man was with belts packed with what appeared to be an Improvised Explosive Device.

    In a viral video it was stated that the young man was arrested on Monday when people discovered that the apparent bomb was strapped to his body.

    Intelligence sources said the vigilante security at the bank prevented the attack after they spotted the suspect.

    They immediately apprehended him before he could achieve his aim.

    The suspect was later surrounded by an angry mob who demanded that he should be killed.

    It is, however, not clear if the suspect is linked with the Islamic State of the West African Province or Boko Haram.

    He was taken to the police station where he was undergoing investigation.

    All efforts made to reach out to the State Police Spokesman, Alfred Alabo for comment on the development proved abortive.

    He did not pick up repeated calls made to him on Tuesday morning.

  • Security operatives rescue 17 abducted passengers in Katsina

    Security operatives rescue 17 abducted passengers in Katsina

     

    A combined security force has rescued 17 abducted passengers mostly males from the clutch of violent extremists in the Solar General Area of Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    A military source said the success followed a distress call received on May 11, 2024, at about noon.

    He said the Nigerian Army Team 9 Troops, in collaboration with the Katsina Police Command, State Community Watch Corps, Special Hunters, and local hunters from Batsari were consequently and swiftly mobilised and deployed to the scene.

    Upon arrival, the combined security forces engaged the violent extremists in a firefight, thus abandoning their abductees and fleeing into the surrounding nearby bush.

    The military source revealed that all the abducted passengers were successfully rescued and have been released to the officials of Batsari Local Government Area of the state.

    In a Sunday statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Katsina Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed explained that the troops remain actively deployed in the general area of Katsina State to deter further criminal activities and ensure the safety of residents.

  • Five reported dead, several persons injured as security operatives, gunmen clash in Anambra

    Five reported dead, several persons injured as security operatives, gunmen clash in Anambra

    About five persons have been reported killed while several others got injured when security operatives and gunmen engaged themselves in exchange of fire  on Tuesday in Obofia Forest, Anambra state.

    It was gathered that the incident took place when the Anambra Joint Security Force, JSF, invaded two camps of the gunmen in Aguluezechukwu, Aguata council area and Ogboji, Orumba South council area respectively.

    Findings also show that during the raid by the security operatives, some items like locally fabricated rocket launchers, charms, police uniforms among others were recovered.

    However, Ikenga Tochukwu police chief in the state, hasn’t disclosed the casualty figures, it learnt that four gunmen and a police operative died during the shootout.

    A statement by the Police Command in Awka on Wednesday explained the hunt for the gunmen had been extended to Obofia Forest, Aguluezechukwu and Ogboji areas.
  • Imo election: Security operatives foil attempt to abduct INEC officials, materials

    Imo election: Security operatives foil attempt to abduct INEC officials, materials

    Vigilant security operatives in Imo, on Saturday, foiled an attempt by alleged political thugs to abduct INEC officials and cart away election materials.

    The incident happened at a Registration Area Center in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that the attempt by the thugs to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle was quickly repelled by the security personnel deployed in the centre.

    An eyewitness account said that the armed security operatives fired into the air from a distance, when voters in the area raised an alarm over the presence of the thugs.

    “The thugs quickly retreated into their bus and sped off on hearing the sound of the gun,” the eyewitness told NAN on the condition of anonymity.

    An unarmed Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) operative at the scene told NAN that “the thugs were coming to hijack the INEC officials and election materials.

    “But luck ran out on them when some people started shouting during a stampede caused by fear.

    “It was their shouting that alerted the armed security personnnel, who quickly shot into the air, forcing the thugs to take to their heels,” the NSCDC operative said on the condition of anonymity.

    There was also heavy presence of security personnel on major roads in the state.

    In Owerri, the state capital, and its environs, armed security personnel mounted checkpoints at strategic locations as early as 6:00a.m. to enforce restriction on movements.

    Heavily armed soldiers were seen at different entry points into the city, stopping and searching vehicles, as well as interrogating the drivers and passengers before allowing them to go.

    A correspondent monitoring the poll also reports that all the polling units in Isu Njaba had materials and INEC officials on ground as early as 8.00am.

    Consequently, the accreditation of voters commenced at about 8.30am in the area without any security presence at the time of filing the report.

  • Niger state massacre: We lost many gallant officers – Army spokesman

    Niger state massacre: We lost many gallant officers – Army spokesman

    The Nigerian Army has revealed that many security operatives, including soldiers and police, were killed by bandits during an attack in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

    According to reports, at least 43 people, including 30 soldiers and seven mobile police personnel and civilians were killed when the armed men stormed the Gold mining site.

    They also abducted several Chinese nationals.

    Confirming the attack, Nwachukwu said that some bandits were also gunned down during the attack.

    “Sadly, a number of personnel paid the supreme price in the fierce firefight that ensued.

    “Subsequently, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralized.
    .

    “The GOC 1 Division has moved to the location to take charge of the follow up operations”, the statement reads.

  • Tight security in Ekiti ahead of governorship election

    Security operatives have tightened security in Ekiti ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, according to reports.

    Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, and other law enforcement agencies were observed on patrol in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, and other parts of the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

    A correspondent, who monitored security preparations for the election in Ekiti, also saw personnel of the NSCDC and Police at some strategic points in different parts of the state keeping vigil to ensure a hitch free election.

    The NSCDC had deployed no fewer than 9,747 personnel while the Nigerian police deployed over 17,000 men in the state to ensure adequate security.

    A resident in Ado-Ekiti, Mr Joshua Aremu, in an interview, described as impressive the security personnel deployed in the state for the election.

    He said that the massive security deployment had allayed the initial apprehension of residents over the peaceful conduct of the election.

    “I hope their presence encourages people to come out and vote because we all need to vote in all forthcoming elections for those we feel are fit for the respective positions,” Aremu said.

    Also, a trader, Mrs Kemi Odesanya, said that the presence of security operatives and others for the election in the state had led to increased sales.

    She said since the arrival of visitors and security operatives to the state, sales had increased, “which implies more money for all traders”.

    Odesanya said that she intends to perform her civic obligation by coming out to vote in the governorship election because the state deserves a leader worthy of the position.

    NAN

  • One dies, few injured as security operatives repel jailbreak attempt in Port Harcourt

    One dies, few injured as security operatives repel jailbreak attempt in Port Harcourt

    Some Inmates at the Port Harcourt correctional center tried to escape when a fight broke out amongst them.

    Findings show that the fight resulted into attempted jailbreak from some inmates on Monday afternoon but got repelled by combined team of security operatives attached to the prison.

    In the process of trying to escape, 12 inmates sustained gun shot injuries and are receiving treatment at the moment.

    It was gathered that two inmates were engaged in a fight leading to the death of one of them, even as a protest ensued amongst other inmates.

    The spokesperson for the correctional facility in Port Harcourt, Juliet Ofoni confirms the incident, assuring that the situation is under control.