Humanity Watch

  Heavily-armed gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly invaded Emokpae community, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where they killed three persons. The invaders were said to have also hijacked a bus conveying 13 passengers, including school children and market women, and marched them into the forest. he people of Emokpae community staged a peaceful protest to the State Government House in Benin on Friday. Spokesman for the community who gave his name simply as Egua, told journalists that the 13 passengers were still being held captives by the gunmen. Egua, who claimed to be the local leader of Edo State Security Network, disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the family of a female hostage, demanding for a whopping N20 million ransom. “Yesterday, as at 3 pm, when our children were returning from school from the neighbouring community, the herdsmen invaded the road, took our children, even the bike men that went to take them from the school...

  Gunmen on Friday abducted a First Class traditional ruler in Plateau State, His Royal Highness Dr Isaac Azi Wakili. He was kidnapped at his Palace in the Angware area of Jos East Local Government. According to sources, the assailants stormed the palace around 3 a.m. on Friday, shooting sporadically and engaging the palace’s security personnel. But it was learnt that the gunmen eventually overpowered the security operatives and took away the traditional ruler. Two security officers were injured to varying degrees in the battle with the gunmen. DSP Alfred Alabo, the Plateau State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the traditional ruler’s kidnapping and the officers’ injuries. A tactical team has been sent to Izere land to find the kidnapped monarch, according to the police spokesperson.

  At least 1,773 members of Civilian Task Force have died fighting Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists alongside the military in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad area in Borno State. The CJTF operatives died while repealing attack from the terrorists against Maiduguri, the Borno State capital or stopping havoc by suicide bombers by hugging them. Chairman of CJTF, Babashehu Abdulganiu, who revealed this in an interview on Saturday, however, said the operatives remained resolute in their determination to support the military to rid Borno of terrorists. Abdulganiu noted that the CJTF which is now backed by law began in 2012 out of the need to stamp out terrorists out of Maiduguri. “It started in 2012 when our youths picked up sticks and said no more Boko Haram and we successfully pushed the terrorist group out of Maiduguri to their enclaves in Sambisa Forest andLake Chad. “In 2015, the Borno Dtate Government established the Borno Youths Empowerment Scheme(BOYES), where the 23,000 Civilian Joi...

 Unknown  gunmen, on Saturday morning, killed the Ebubeagu Security Network Commander of Ogboji Ward in Ezza North local government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr. Charles Nwankwo. According to Leadership ,  the gunmen invaded his house at Ogboji community at about 1am and shot him dead and made away with his motorcycle and Pump Action gun.  It was also gathered that unknown gunmen earlier on Friday evening invaded Mkpuma Akataka in Izzi local government area of the State where members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were holding their consultative meeting and opened fire on them. It was revealed that two persons were killed by the gunmen while two others sustained different degrees of gunshot injuries. It was also revealed that the hoodlums, who were said to be two in number, reportedly operated with a motorcycle and were said to have quickly zoomed off after carrying out the attack. Confirming the incidents, the State Commander, Ebubeagu Secu...

  A six-year-old child deliberately shot a teacher at an elementary school in   Virginia   on Friday afternoon, according to police. Police said in a  statement  that they have arrested the boy accused of shooting a female teacher at Richneck elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, a city in the south-eastern part of the state. Police said they were notified about 2pm that the teacher had been shot inside the school during an altercation of some kind. “We did not have a situation where someone was going around the school shooting,” Newport News police chief Drew told reporters. “We have a situation in one particular location where a gunshot was fired.” He added that the shooting was not an accident. The student has since been taken into custody, and the teacher, a woman in her 30s, was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries that were “believed to be life-threatening”, according to the police department. Drew told reporters the teacher’s condit...

  The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has approved the redeployment of senior officers in an effort to ensure administrative and operational efficiency in the Nigerian Army (NA). The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Saturday, said the new postings and appointments was aimed at sustaining the recent operational successes recorded in combating emerging security challenges in the country. Nwachukwu said that the officers affected are Major Generals and Brigadier Generals amongst several other senior officers across army formations and units. He added that those affected in the redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, Commandants of Army Training Institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding officers and several others. In the new appointment, Nwachukwu said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, moves to the North East as Theatre Comman...

  The Plateau State Police Command, in its aggressive fight against crime and criminality, has again foiled the attempted kidnapping of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda. According to a statement issued in Jos by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, he said three unidentifield gunmen operating in an grey-coloured CR-V Jeep arrived the Speaker’s residence at the Federal Low-cost Housing in Jos South LGA of the State on Thursday. He explained that after trailing the Speaker to his residence, the hoodlums attempted to enter his house to kidnap him but their mission was made impossible by the intrepid Police officers on guard duty, and the timely response of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Ayuba, and his men, who joined forces with the men on guard duty to repel the assailants. Alabo further added that the Command was making concerted effort to track down the fleeing suspects and get them arrested. The PPRO thanked me...

  The Kebbi State Government has donated six operational vehicles and 30 motorcycles to the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, towards fighting banditry in the state. Retired Maj. Rabi’u Kamba, Special Adviser to Gov. Abubakar Bagudu on Security, presented the items to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Division at a ceremony in Birnin Kebbi. Kamba said the gesture was aimed at supporting the military in its quest to end kidnappings and banditry in the state. “We are committed to intensifying the pursuit of tackling security challenges in the state through the provision of necessary moral and material support to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. “The presentation of six new Hilux vehicles and 30 motorcycles to the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto is part of our commitment as a government with the primary responsibility of securing its people,” he said. Receiving the items, Yusuf assured that they would be effectively utilized in fighting banditry and crimi...

  The Imo State Police Command has announced the arrest of one Christopher Obilor a suspected armed robber and Higher National Diploma student of Federal Polytechnic Nekede. In a press statement by Imo State Police PRO, CSP Michael Abattam, the suspect was arrested after report that the suspect has been terrorising Nekede community. He was arrested at his hideout along Nekede Polytechnic Road by the Imo State command’s tactical squad. A locally made cut to size double barrel gun, one short axe, a saw blade and substance suspected to be hard drug were exhibits recovered when the suspect’s house was searched. CSP Abattam also noted that the suspect confessed to being a member of the dreaded Black AXE confraternity and also a member of a robbery syndicate with operational base in Nekede After Christopher’s arrest, he led police officers to the house of his accomplice who sold the gun to him on Wednesday. Ebere Michael aka “Dede,” was arrested after the operation. An iPhone, Zenith Ban...

  B andits on Thursday afternoon struck at Federal Government College in Birnin-Yauri, in Kebbi state and abducted scores of students. A policeman who tried to challenge the bandits was gunned down, according to witnesses in the town. Birnin-Yauri is in Yelwa-Yauri LGA of the state. Early in June, no fewer than 88 people were killed by bandits in communities in in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area the State.

  President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, challenged security forces not to give terrorists and criminals in the Northeast any breathing space until the battle is won. Buhari also said the nation owes a debt of gratitude to military men and women, and security agencies currently tackling security challenges in the country, particularly the many who paid the supreme price, assuring family members that the government will continue to support all the loved ones. The President, on an official visit to personnel of the Armed Forces and security agencies in Operation HADIN KAI at the Maimalari Cantonment, charged the military and security agencies not to give breathing space to terrorists and criminals in various parts of the country, saying the war must be concluded with the restoration of peace and reconstruction of all the affected areas. “I am delighted to be with you this afternoon, to address you on this special occasion of my official visit to Borno State...

  Daredevil gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias have reportedly invaded Shikaan Mbagena Kpav community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, killing 36 people. The incident according to reports occurred on Thursday night when the armed men invaded the community and slaughtered scores of people. According to a source, 36 bodies have been recovered while scores are still missing after the attack. Reports also have it that some students of the College of Education in Katsina-Ala were also killed. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anene Sewuese Catherine said she was yet to receive report of the incident as the time of filing this report. In her words, “I have not received this report from officers on ground yet.” This development has sparked on outrage on social media with users using the hashtag #BenueUnderAttack.

  Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma on Monday disclosed that over 400 people who caused mayhem or attacks in the state have been arrested and charged to court. This is contained n a statement in Owerri by Uzidunma’s Chief Press Secretary Oguwike Nwachuku. ”Over 400 of those who carried out the threats on the state in the past have been arrested. ”The good thing is that over 70 per cent of them are not Igbo. We will crush anybody that attempts to cause mayhem or attack Imo people again. ”Government cannot surrender to blackmailers, hoodlums, and perpetrators of violence,” he said. He also advised those planning to visit the state with any form of violence to have a rethink as “government is more than ever ready and prepared to keep Imo safe and secured.” Uzodinma  called on the people to go about their businesses without fear of molestation or harassment. ”What happened in the past weeks will never repeat itself again,” he added. NAN

  There was shed loads of emotions and tears as the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo visited the wife and family of late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru. Mrs Osinbajo who paid a visit to seven of the families, all of whom reside in Abuja, conveyed the message of the President and First Lady. She was among early callers at the residence of the COAS on Friday soon after the news got out. Since then reports say she has been visiting the relatives of the departed everyday. In what was a very emotive scene, Mrs Osinbajo could be seen embracing the wives of the departed officers. When she arrived at the residence of Mrs Attahiru, she was received by Mrs Victoria Irabor, the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor. She assured Mrs Attahiru and family that both the President and his VP would ensure that the memories of the COAS and all the military officers involved would not be forgotten. She was then accompanied by leaders of the Defence and ...

  Daredevil gunmen on Sunday attacked Dong Community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau killing seven persons . “At about 8 p.m. on Sunday, we received a distress call that gunmen invaded Dong Village and killed seven persons, police spokesman in Plateau, ASP Ubah Ogaba, said in a statement issued on Monday in Jos. “A combined team of policemen, personnel of Operation Safe Haven, and Vigilance operatives raced to the scene but the hoodlums had fled into the bush. “Investigation is ongoing, frantic effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects. “Meanwhile security has been beefed up in that area to prevent escalation of violence or reprisal,’’ he added. Ogaba called on members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the criminals to report to security agencies. He also advised residents of the community to be law-abiding, insisting that the security agencies would do everything to fish out the perpetrators.

  Anambra State Police Commissioner, Chris Owolabi said there were no police casualties in the attacks launched by hoodlums against its ‘B’ Division and the office of INEC on Sunday night in Awka. On the contrary, he said four of the gunmen who attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were shot dead during gun-battle. Owolabi said: “It was a 95 percent success for us on Sunday because God was on our side. The attack on our charge room at B Division was a decoy to attack INEC office. “We demobilised their three vehicles, recovered six pump action guns, one AK -47 and one General Purpose Machine Gun from them. “It was unfortunate that they succeeded in burning collation centre of INEC and four vehicles, but it was a huge success for us. We didn’t record any casualty but investigations are still going on and after it, we give you full details.” Owolabi spoke at a press conference in Awka Monday, according to a report monitored on Anambra Broadcasting...