FOURTEEN people have been kidnapped by suspected bandits at Dogon Noma- Ungwan Gamo community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident comes barely a week after 61 people were kidnapped in Buda community also in Kajuru LGA. Police authorities have not confirmed the attack. However, a youth leader, Sani Musa, told this newspaper that the bandits in large numbers had in the early hours of Saturday invaded the Dogon Noma community. They started shooting sporadically, during which they abducted fourteen people while one person sustained injury. He gave the names of the kidnapped victims as Bulus Dandaura,…
Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson
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THE Kogi State House of Assembly has approved two commissioner nominees sent to the house by the Governor of the State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. The Assembly confirmed the commissioner nominees on Tuesday during the house plenary in Lokoja. The Commissioner nominees confirmed include; Dr Adeniyi Helen Aderibigbe, (Ijumu) and Atuluku Levi Victor, from Omala State Constituency. Speaking to journalists shortly after her confirmation on Tuesday, Aderibigbe promised to put in her best in realising the campaign promises of the present administration. Aderibigbe reiterated her commitment to making Kogi State and Nigeria proud through hard work and diligence in her…
A SQUADRON leader, Nurudeen Popoola of the Nigerian Air Force, who was kidnapped in December last year by suspected bandits, has been released. This newspaper gathered on Saturday that the Airforce officer is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Popoola was abducted along with his wife, Ganiyat Olawale-Popoola, and one of their cousins, Abdulmumin Folaranmi at their residence adjacent National Eye Centre Quarters, Mando, Kaduna. A family member had earlier in February this year, appealed to the concerned authorities to ensure the release of the kidnapped victims. This newspaper learnt that the Airforce officer has been released after…
THE Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of one soldier and another wounded by suspected bandits at a village in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State where troops have been deployed to keep the peace over persistent attacks in the area. The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) Major General Sunday Iserihen Igbinomwanhia who confirmed this to newsmen on Monday said one personnel was killed and one injured. He said the troops in response killed three and injured several of the bandits, adding that one AK-47 and rounds of ammunition were recovered from them. Maj. General Sunday…
THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the inspection order granted the candidate of the Social Democratic Party by the Governorship election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The governorship election petition tribunal had, on November 25, 2023, granted an Exparte Order, allowing the Social Democratic Party and its candidate in the 11th November, 2023 governorship election to carry out forensic examination of all the Bimordal Voters Accreditation system used in the governorship election, among other sundry reliefs. In a well reasoned ruling on Friday, delivered by a three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led…
INMATES at the Jos Correctional Centre in Plateau State protested on Friday over the plan to reduce their food ration. They expressed dissatisfaction over the decision, a situation that forced the prison authorities to fire tear gas canisters and gunshots into the air to bring the situation under control. Sources at the correctional centre indicated that the contractor in charge of food supply to the centre had complained to the authority about the high cost of food items, especially rice which is a stable menu of the inmates will have to be adjusted from four times to twice in a…
AT least 16 soldiers and one officer are currently facing court martial in Plateau State. The personnel facing the trial were accused of various offences, ranging from armed robbery, murder, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition, and selling same, contrary to their operational mandate within the 3rd Amoured Division. The inaugural sitting of the court martial it was learnt, took place at the 3rd Amoured Division , Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Nigerian Army in Bassa Local Government Area on Tuesday. The acting Deputy Director of Legal Services, 3 Division Nigerian Army, Maj. Aminu Mansur Mairuwa, who spoke after the inauguration of…
THE Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has begun the probe of former governor Samuel Ortom over government assets under his care from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023. As part of the probe, the governor has constituted two commissions of inquiries on income and expenditure, including contract awards, bailout funds and Paris Club refunds within the same period. During the inauguration of both commissions at the old banquet hall of the Benue State Government House, Governor Alia tasked the commission of inquiry on the sales and lease of government assets to investigate all agreements or sales that shortchanged…
MILITARY and police authorities have rescued 16 kidnap victims in Kogi State following a joint operation. The Kogi State Police Command spokesman William Ovye Aya said eleven of the victims were abducted from a Peace Mass Transit (PMT) bus. “Consequent upon the kidnap of eleven passengers from a Peace Mass Transit bus and five others from a Sienna bus along Ette Enugu Ezike Road to the bush on 25th February 2024, the Joint Kogi Police and Military team from Enugu State promptly swung into action trailed and Rescued all the victims from the bush unhurt,” he said. “Efforts are ongoing…
SECURITY operatives including soldiers, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Crops (NSCDC) have taken over the popular Yankalli Market, one of major commodity markets in Plateau State, following an attempt by hoodlums to break in to steal food and other essential commodities. Daily Trust reports that the hoodlums including both males and females, arrived at the market around 8:00 pm on Friday but were intercepted by security operatives who had been deployed in anticipation of attack. Alhaji Jamilu Kabiru, chairman of a traders’ association, confirmed the development, stating that they had earlier reported to security agencies. He said “We…
A NOTORIOUS bandit leader, Boderi Isyaku, has been killed during a military onslaught by troops of the One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army. A statement by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the bandit leader alongside some of his fighters was killed in a gun battle with troops around Bada and Riwaya general areas of Chikun and Igabi local government areas of the state. According to Aruwan, the death of the bandits was confirmed to the Kaduna State Government by security officials carrying out internal security operations and diligent checks from human…
THE Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang, has been shot dead in Pankshin town, Pankshin Local Government Area of the state. An official of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, adding that the APC scribe died from injuries sustained in the attack. He stated that the late Namang was a dependable ally, and deeply committed to the development of the APC at the grassroots and state levels, adding that the party would issue a statement regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. This…
NINE persons have been killed in separate attacks in Kauru and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State, while 35 others, including a retired director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his brother and the brother’s wife were abducted by unknown gunmen. Nine other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attacks. The Kauru LGA incident, which took place in Kwasam community, occurred on Friday night a few minutes after 10pm when bandits invaded the community, shooting sporadically. Sources in the area confirmed that the bandits picked two people at gunpoint, who led them to the residence of the…
FOUR persons were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen in what looks like renewed attacks on two villages of Miango district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. According to the national publicity secretary of Irigwe Development Association, Davidson Malison, the assailants launched an attack on Nkienzha community in Miango district of Rigwe Chiefdom in the early hours of Monday where three persons were killed and one severely injured with machete cuts and receiving treatment at a medical facility. The fourth death was recorded in another attack on Teegbe village on Saturday night while a car ambush occurred on Friday…
THE Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the release of 14 Abuja-bound travellers kidnapped last Friday. The victims who were travelling in two buses belonging to God is Good Motors (GIG) and ABC Transport were kidnapped in Inyenle, Ogugu in the Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. But on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command William Aya, said they have regained their freedom following a combined effort of the military, police, hunters, and vigilantes. However, he did not give further details of how the victims regained their freedom. “I can confirm that all the kidnapped victims…
SOME ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were on Saturday held hostage at polling unit 052 in Rockhaven Zaria Road of the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The voters complained that there were not enough sensitive materials for the rerun election. There are 1,728 registered voters in the unit but only 100 ballot papers were released for the House of Representatives while the 1,728 ballot papers were released for the Senatorial rerun. The voters’ decision to hold the INEC staff hostage was due to non-availability of result sheets and incident form for complainants.…
THE National Agency For the Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons, Makurdi Zonal Command has rescued five victims and apprehended eight suspects. Among those arrested were an 80-year-old woman, Innocent Josephine, and a 56-year-old woman, Ude Rosaline, both identified as key players in the trafficking. Other members include; Samuel Takura (50), Williams Minde (35), Mrs. Celina Obiasogu (52), Virginia Okonkwo (50), Anthonia Onura (60), and Ede Sunday Ngozi (52). The Zonal Commander, Mrs Gloria Bai, told journalists on Saturday that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Mama Nnamdi, who is at large. She disclosed this in a statement issued and made available…
THE immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has dissociated himself from the campaign posters linking him to the position of the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC). A statement issued on Tuesday by the media office of the former governor blamed such a campaign on the “handiwork of some opposition leaders and some 5th columnists within the party.” The media office of the immediate past governor noted that such insinuation was aimed at discrediting the former governor. “Parts of the plans already being hatched is the circulation of campaign posters with the picture of His Excellency…
USMAN Ododo has been sworn in as the governor of Kogi State after months he was elected to take over from Yahaya Bello who has completed his second term in office. Ododo took the oath of office at around 2:24 pm at in Lokoja on Saturday. His inauguration came just minutes after Salifu Joel Oyibo took his oath of office as the deputy governor of Kogi State. With his swearing in, Ododo becomes 5th Executive Governor of Kogi state. The event had in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Ododo’s predecessor, Yahaya Bello, National Chairman of the All Progressives…
KILLINGS and burning of houses have continued in Mangu town of Mangu local government area of Plateau state despite the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government. Governor Celeb Mutfwang had imposed the curfew after fresh killings were recorded in the area, on Tuesday. But the violence continued as residents of Mangu confirmed that gunmen stormed several communities, shooting at everyone in sight. The attackers reportedly burnt houses, including the Sunnah Islamiya School located along the popular Gindiri Road. Suleiman Muhammad, a resident, of Mangu, told this newspaper that “At around 9:30 am this morning, gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons came…