Gunmen kill policemen, 19 others in multiple attacks

The orgy of killings continued on Sunday in Katsina, Anambra, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states.

Two policemen were killed when gunmen attacked a police station at Mkpatak, Essien Udim Local Government council in Akwa Ibom.

In Katsina and Kaduna, bandits killed 14 persons and injured four others.

No fewer than five persons were killed by gunmen in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local government in Anambra.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday warned that killing of policemen and security operatives would further expose Nigerians to insecurity.

He described attacks on police assets as dangerous.

According to a statement by Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President wondered: “If we attack institutions guarding us, who will protect us in future emergencies”?

He expressed condolences to those who had lost loved ones to what he described as “the madness going on in parts of the country.”

In the Akwa Ibom incident, the assailants also killed 12 cows in attacks which appeared coordinated about 5 pm.

It was gathered that another attack occurred in Abak LGA, but details were sketchy last night.

The attacks came barely 24 hours after five policemen and a police officer’s wife were killed in an attack on Idoro Ikpe police station in Ini local government area.

A source told our correspondent in Uyo that the policemen were killed in Ukana Ikot Ntuen while the cows were killed at Afaha Ikot Ebak in the same local government.

According to the source, one of the policemen was burnt inside his car while the other on a motorcycle was shot by the gunmen.

“Two police officers were killed in Ukana Ikot Ntuen and one was burnt inside his vehicle, while the other one was shot by the attackers.

“The situation is still tense. They killed 12 cows in Afaha Ikot Ebak village,” the source added.

Police spokesman, Odiko Macdon confirmed the attacks.

He added that Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, has ordered the deployment of a tactical team to the affected areas.

Gunmen kill five in Anambra 

Gunmen killed at least five persons in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA in Anambra.

They set ablaze the office and vehicles belonging to a vigilante group in the area.

It was learnt that a businessman was among those killed.

Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed the incident.

He said: “There was an attack in Ozubulu, not on the police station, but the vigilante office.

“They came in Sienna vehicles and motorcycles. Security operatives have been deployed to the area and normalcy has been restored.”

An eyewitness told our correspondent that, at least, five bodies were found at the scene of the incident, which occurred at about 7 pm.

The source said gunmen were up to 12.

Bandits kill 14 in Katsina, Kaduna

There was pandemonium in Katsina and Kaduna states at the weekend as bandits continued their rampage, killing 14 persons and wounding four others.

Eleven of them were shot dead in Tasatsiya, Safana LGA of Katsina Saturday night.

Three, including a retired soldier, were killed in Golkofa, Jema’a LGA of Kaduna.

Two others, however, lost their lives during a brawl in Kachia.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan said a former soldier, Christopher Madaki, his wife, Mary, and their daughter-in-law, Alice, were shot dead in their home.

He added that their son, Clement, was also injured by the bandits.

Operation Safe Haven and the state Police Command confirmed the incident.

Aruwan said: “According to the feedback, the assailants stormed the home of Sergeant Christopher Madaki (rtd), a secretary to a Ward Head at Golkofa, Jema’a LGA, and shot him, as well as his wife and his son’s wife.

“The three were later confirmed dead, while his son, Clement, survived with injuries inflicted on him by the assailants.

“The scribe’s wife was identified as Mary Christopher Madaki and his son’s wife as Alice Musa.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the killing in Golkofa village and described it as completely inhuman and ungodly.

“He prayed for the repose of their souls and charged security agencies to expedite action on the case.”

The commissioner also said that two other people died in Kachia, following a misunderstanding.

He explained that one Hamidu Nura, who allegedly killed Abba Muhammad, was in turn lynched by a mob.

Aruwan said: “ The misunderstanding, however, ended with Abba Muhammad stabbing Hamidu Nura to death.

“Some irate citizens then mobilised and captured Abba Muhammad, attacking him with knives, clubs, and other dangerous weapons, and eventually killing him in a jungle justice approach.”

Aruwan also said troops of Operation Safe Haven have commenced the search for a commercial motorcyclist who went missing last Thursday in Mabuhu village, Zonzon district, Zangon Kataf.

“Troops are coordinating efforts to locate and rescue the missing person while engaging his family and community.”

It was gathered that bandits attacked Tasatsiya village in Katsina State to avenge the killing of their alleged informant by a mob.

A source said the hoodlums, on arrival, began shooting indiscriminately, thereby killing 11 residents and wounding three.

He disclosed that four days ago, the bandits vowed to avenge the killing of another of their suspected informant by the people of Hakon Kartakawa.

He added that many residents of Tsatskiya deserted their homes to seek refuge in neighbouring Dutsinma.

The spokesman for the state Police Command, Gambo Isa, confirmed the incident.

Gunmen attack police station in Abia

Sunday morning, a policeman was injured during a gun battle to save Ubani Police Station named after former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

The police station is a few kilometres away from the Abia State capital.

Unable to achieve their objective, the gunmen set ablaze vehicles parked in the premises.

There was no suspect in police custody at the time of the attack. They had been moved from the facility because of the incessant attacks on police assets.

During the gun battle, users of the Umuahia-Uzoakoli-Ohafia road were stranded.

Residents who confirmed the incident told our correspondent that they heard heavy gunshots within the area.

Following the attack, there was a heavy presence of the police, soldiers and DSS operatives in Umuahia.

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said the gunmen came in a Hummer Bus, a Toyota Sienna and a motorcycle.

He debunked stories that the police station was set ablaze by the gunmen, but confirmed the injury sustained by a policeman, adding that no gun was stolen.

He also confirmed that the hoodlums entered the police station and burnt some of the documents in those offices.

Ogbonna said two vehicles and two motorcycles within the premises of the station were also burnt.

Bullet-laden truck seized in Anambra

The police yesterday arrested the driver of a truck loaded with bullets in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State.

The Mercedes Benz 911 truck fell along Awka Road early morning, spilling cartons of the bullets into the drainage.

Security men cordoned off the area.

It was gathered that the truck was moving the goods out of Onitsha when the driver lost control and the vehicle skidded off the road.

Another source said the truck fell at about 5 am and the driver and his conductor tried to evacuate the content.

“They could not do much before daybreak as some police operatives arrived at the accident scene only to discover the truck was laden with a consignment of bullets,” the source said.

Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed the incident and said an investigation had begun.

A senior officer, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, said the driver was arrested and the lorry impounded, but the conductor fled.

“We are going to get to the root of the matter. The conductor is being trailed. It’s a very difficult time for everybody and people have to be careful,” he said.

Credit: The Nation