Politics

UNKNOWN gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, have again killed over 32 people of Tiv ethnic stock at different locations across the southern senatorial district of Nasarawa State in coordinated attacks over the weekend.

This is as suspected Fulani herdsmen killed about nine mobile policemen deployed to Logo Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State on Sunday.

The Nasarawa attackers are said to have launched the massacre simultaneously on Tiv villages across Awe, Keana, Obi and Doma Local Government Areas of the state.

Nineteen other people were left with varying degrees of injuries from severe gun shots and machete assaults.

DAILY INDEPENDENT gathered that over 10,000 Tiv villagers were trapped along the Agwatashi-Jangwa Road axis in Obi LGA of the state shortly after the attackers sacked over 200 villages, including Uvirkaa, the home town of a serving commissioner in the state, Gabriel Akaaka.

Our correspondent, who visited some of the affected communities, reports that about 15,000 fleeing Tiv villagers were stranded in streets of Lafia, the state capital.

This number is apart from the over 100,000 who are taking refuge in different Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at Agwatashi, Aloshi, Awe, Adudu, Obi, Keana, Doma, Agyaragu, among other locations.

A visit to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, where eight victims of the latest onslaught are currently receiving treatment due to injuries sustained from the attacks, also revealed that five dead bodies were deposited at the hospital mortuary out of which three were later released by the police for burial.

Confirming the development to newsmen in Lafia, President Tiv Youth Organization, Nasarawa State chapter, Comrade Peter Ahemba, said the entire Tiv villages in the southern part of the state have been sacked.

He noted that most of the affected villages were being occupied by the invaders.

“As I speak to you, seven corpses of our people killed this morning by the Fulani terrorists in Wurji village of Keana LGA have just been recovered and brought to Keana town by the police,” he disclosed.

“Also last night, five of our people were killed in the coordinated attacks with seven others still missing at Kertyo and Apurugh villages in Obi LGA.”

He added, “Three days ago, we recorded eight dead bodies from similar attacks in Kadarko area, four from Aloshi axis, one person from Agberagba, all in Keana LGA.

“Another six persons were shot at Imon village and were rushed to Obi General Hospial as a result of which one of them later died.

“This is just few out of the deaths we recorded within the last three days as a result of these senseless attacks.”

The Tiv youth leader, who alleged that the gun-wielding herdsmen were conveyed in trucks and brought into the state to carry out the cold-blooded slaughter, averred that it was now clear that the incessant attacks on the Tiv people were by no means in reaction to any enacted law.

“The attacks are a calculated attempt to exterminate the Tiv community of the state”, he stressed.

He therefore restated his appeal to the Nasarawa State government to urgently stop the carnage, calling on the international community to intervene in order to save the state and country from the current bloodbath.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Idrisu Kennedy, said the command is aware that some communities have been destroyed by suspected herdsmen, but has yet to get accurate figures of those who lost their lives.

 

Herdsmen Kill Nine Police Officers in Benue

 

Meanwhile, suspected Fulani herdsmen may have killed about nine mobile policemen deployed to Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State on Sunday, according to residents.

The state police command has, however, confirmed the death of four policemen.

The incident took place in Anyibe, Tombo Council Ward of the LGA.

At least 11 policemen have been declared missing.

A vehicle belonging to the security personnel was reportedly set on fire while some houses were burnt during the attack.

Richard Nyajo, Chairman of Logo LGA, also confirmed the incident while speaking with DAILY INDEPENDENT in a telephone conversation.

He disclosed that several mobile police officers were killed in the area.

He said many others were injured while some were still missing.

Nyajo explained that the policemen came in contact with the herdsmen at about 7p.m in Tombo council ward, but many of the policemen managed to escape.

According to him, “It has not been completely confirmed the number of police officers killed, but many are reported dead.

“This is what those who managed to escape told me.”

Some sources claimed that the attack began around 6:00p.m. Sunday evening when gunmen opened fire on two police officers who were riding on a motorcycle between Anyibe and Ayilamo, two communities in Logo Local Government Area where hundreds have been killed in suspected herdsmen attacks since January 1.

One of the police officers died on the spot, while the other reportedly escaped.

Some officers were dispatched to retrieve the body of the slain officer, but they, too, came under attack on their way back from the mortuary where they deposited the remains of their colleague.

According to reports, the gun battle that followed reportedly left nine officers killed and several others still missing.

Reports claimed that the bodies of the nine officers were discovered on Monday morning.

The Benue State Command of the Nigeria Police also confirmed the incident, and explained that its personnel came under attack by the insurgents at Anyibe, Tombo Council ward of Logo LGA at about 6pm on Sunday, April 15, and in the early morning of Monday.

In a statement issued and signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, the police said they had so far suffered four casualties.

He said reinforcement (including the Air Asset of the Police) had, in addition, been deployed by the Inspector General of Police to go in pursuit of the assailants.

“They shall definitely be apprehended with their weapons of destruction and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the Police Spokesman stated.

 

Army Kills Four Suspected Herdsmen in Shootout

 

Men of the 707 Special Forces Brigade in Makurdi, Benue State, said it engaged some suspected Fulani herdsmen in a shootout on Monday.

During the encounter that took place at Yogbo, Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, the army killed four of the herdsmen.

The area is the hometown of the first class and paramount ruler of Guma LGA, Chief Ivokor Unongo.

DAILY INDEPENDENT gathered that the herdsmen had attacked the area at about 4p.m, shooting sporadically, thus sending the people of the area scampering for safety.

It was further gathered that the timely intervention of men of the Special Forces Brigade saved the day.

In a statement by the Assistant Director of Information, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the army, however, debunked rumours that military identity cards were found on the herdsmen.

This is contrary to claims by people in the area that the assailants may have been soldiers disguised as herdsmen.

Ayeni noted that the herdsmen, which numbered over twenty, were armed with sophisticated weapons during the attack but that the superior power of the army overwhelmed them.

In the course of the encounter, Ayeni said the herdsmen fled but that the army felled four of them.

He advised affected communities to have confidence in the ability of the Nigerian army.

 

Gunmen Kill Policeman, Kidnap German in Kano

 

In a spectacular commando manner, a police escort was killed and a German national abducted on Monday, in Kano, when five gunmen attacked the vehicle in which they were travelling in.

The incident happened along Sabon Titi Madobi Road, about 7:45am.

The abducted German is a staff of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company, and they were heading to a construction site.

Musa Majiya, the Police Command Spokesman, confirmed the incident.

According to him, the gunmen – who were in a motor vehicle –ambushed and opened fire on their target, killing the police sergeant who was attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) before abducting the German, Micheal Cremza.

Majiya said the command had since deployed a team of detectives and operatives to cordon of the entire axis with a view to apprehending the culprits and rescuing the victim.

“The Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, has since deployed a powerful team of operatives and detectives to cordon off the axis with a view to arresting the culprits and rescuing the victim. Manhunt of the abductors is ongoing,” he said.

He added: “Any person with useful information should report to the nearest police station or call our emergency telephone lines as follows: 08032419754, 08123821575.”

It is noteworthy that the incident is coming just a week after a Kano-based Syrian was killed while his son was kidnapped.

A resident, who witnessed the incident said he saw the abductors whisk the foreign national into their vehicle and fired shots into the air.

“They shot the policeman and fired shots into the sky, we began to run away,” he said.

Another witness said, “I heard a gunshot; I hid somewhere nearby, and when I came out after things had subsided, I saw a man from a distance lying on the ground; I ran away from the scene.”

 

Landslide Kills Two, Injures Three in Jigawa

 

The police in Jigawa on Monday said two persons, Mati Bako, 17, and Tanimu Kwalle, 25, had been killed by landslide.

The Police Spokesman in the state, SP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Dutse.

Jinjiri said three others, Sani Haruna, 31, Aliyu Yusif, 30, and Nazifi Yusuf were injured, adding that the incident occurred in Babura Local Government Area of the state.

He said the incident occurred in Barima village at about 1:40 p.m. while the victims were digging sand in a burrow pit.

“Today at about 2:20p.m., the Police in Babura Local Government Area received an information that at about 1:40 p.m., a burrow fit fell on the following people; Mati Alhaji Bako aged 17, Tanimu Kwalle aged 25, Sani Haruna aged 31, Aliyu Yusuf aged 30 and Nazifi Yusuf aged 20 all of Barima village in Babura, while digging sand.

“As a result, Mati Bako and Tanimu Kwalle died on the spot while the other three sustained various degrees of injury,” he said.

The police spokesman said that victims were taken to hospital by the policemen where the duo were confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

He said that the corpses of the deceased were released to their families for burial, while the injured ones were receiving treatment in the hospital.

“No foul play was suspected in the incident,” he said.

 

One Feared Killed As Police, Shiites Clash in Abuja

 

One person was reported killed after a stray bullet hit him during a violent clash between the police and members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

The incident occurred when the group converged on Unity Fountain, Abuja, to hold their daily sit-out protest to demand the release of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since December 2015.

It was gathered that the protesters defied the police presence at the fountain and were about to begin the protest when it became obvious that the crowd was getting out of hand.

The police were said to have fired several shots of teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

In the ensuing commotion, the protesters scampered for safety and dozens were arrested.

According to an eye-witness, who identified himself as Ali Musa, the police fired live bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters at close range, injuring many of them.

He stated that the police descended on the group and beat them up while many scurried for safety.

The situation was said to have been compounded when the members of the group, in retaliation, launched an attack, hurling stones at the water cannon vehicle and police officers on sight.

One of the protesters was said to have died instantly as a result of the injury he allegedly sustained from the stray bullet fired by the police.

The tension in Maitama District quickly spread across the city as news of the unrest made the rounds, even as security operatives launched a manhunt for the fleeing protesters, firing sporadically into the air.

All roads leading to Transcorp Hilton Hotel were barricaded, leading to heavy traffic gridlock within the city.

Several vehicles parked along the roadside were vandalised by the angry mob.

Army and the armed mobile police squad were later drafted to the area to halt further breakdown of law and order.

When a phone call was put to the Public Relations Officer of FCT Command of Nigeria Police, Manzah Anguri, to confirm or deny the death of a member of the sect, he told DAILY INDEPENDENT that the command would issue a statement in respect of the incident.

It would be recalled that a human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, was arrested and released on Friday at the Unity Fountain forcing the leader of OurMumuDonDo, Charles Oputa (Charly Boy), to rush to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Sadiq Abubakar Bello.

The commissioner had reportedly told Charly Boy that the police would no longer allow any group to organise protest or rally at the Unity Fountain, adding that protesters were obstructing other road users by blocking the roads along the Federal Secretariat axis.

In reaction to the encounter with the police, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) disclosed on Monday that though many of its members voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election, it would not do so again in 2019 if the president emerges the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Speaking in a chat with DAILY INDEPENDENT, Ibrahim Musa, Spokesman of IMN and president of its media forum, said many of the group’s members were unhappy with the treatment being meted to their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who had been in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since December 2015.

He added that though the movement did not make any official position directing its members to vote for either Buhari, who was the candidate of the APC, or Goodluck Jonathan, who was the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), many of its members voted massively for Buhari in the last election.

He said: “As a movement, we didn’t support any candidate in the 2015 presidential election, but individually many of us gave our support to Buhari, but as a movement, we didn’t take it as an official position that we should either support Buhari or Goodluck Jonathan.

“We, in the movement, believe that election in Nigeria is not conducted the way it should be. It is more of selection rather than an election.

“So, up till now, we haven’t taken any position but I believe that based on President Buhari’s actions, a lot of us who voted for him the last time will not cast our votes for him this time around.”

DAILY INDEPENDENT also gathered from reliable sources that the shutdown of major parts of Abuja last week by the Darikar Tijjaniya Movement in Nigeria might not be unconnected with the 2019 presidential election.

The worshippers, in their thousands, from all parts of the North, took over the major streets in the Central Business District as they parked their vehicles indiscriminately on the roads and set up camps on major highway while celebrating Maulud Nabiyy, the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, leader of the movement, urged his followers to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2019 general election.

According to Bauchi, the PVC is the most sophisticated weapon that could be used by the electorate to choose whoever they wanted to direct the affairs of the country.

He called on his followers to use their PVCs wisely and vote for people who had credible record and ability to satisfy their yearnings and aspirations.

He noted that voter registration was the right of all eligible citizens to participate in the affairs of their government and also one of the cornerstones of democracy.

Our source said the Tijanniya sect who supported President Buhari in 2015 deliberately chose Abuja as their meeting place to intimidate the president, who – after winning the election – had since dumped them for the Izala sect.

He added that if the opposition can partner with the Tijjaniya sect ahead of 2019, it would be difficult for President Buhari to secure a second term.

According to him, “In Nigeria, we have basically four stand-out Islamic sects: the Izala; the Shiites, with their leader El Zakzaky incarcerated by the DSS; the Tijjanniya, who held prayer sessions in Abuja and Kaduna, and the Qadriyya sect.

“The Tijjaniya who held prayer sessions in Abuja are not supporting President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019 because they supported him in 2015 but he has since after the victory of 2015 pitched his tent with the Izala sect whom he was clearly romancing with.”

“So, the decision to hold the prayer session in Abuja was to show him who they are and intimidate him.

“They are well-organised and if the opposition properly harnesses a good working relationship with them and deny President Buhari their votes, then I can’t see how he could make it in 2019.”

– Apr. 17, 2018 @ 13:05 GMT

AE

Tags: Herdsmen Kill 32 in Nasarawa Nine Police Officers in Benue