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Worsening insecurity worries Nigerians, as gunmen kill, abduct Katsina residents in fresh attack

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Abimbola Abatta

Nigerians have decried the spate of insecurity in the country as bandits, on Sunday morning, attacked Shola Quarters in Katsina metropolis barely two months after terrorists invaded the same community.

The gunmen, it was gathered, killed two vigilante members and abducted several residents of Shola Quarters while some were injured in the attack that lasted for over an hour.

Nigerian NewsDirect reports that some of the kidnapped victims include a newly married couple.

A resident of the area who confirmed the incident said the injured have been rushed to the neighbouring Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina for medical attention.

According to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “It was the vigilante members that even stood against them but they (bandits) killed two of them and wounded the other two. The vigilante members had to retreat to their houses when the bandits overpowered them and it was just now (morning) that we retrieved the two corpses and took the wounded ones to the hospital.”

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, said, “Our officers are on operations and will communicate with details in due course on the operation.”

Meanwhile, in the earlier attack on June 14, six persons were abducted in the same community by terrorists riding on motorcycles at about 2:00 am.

Following the recent attack, some Nigerians took to social media to express their concerns regarding the growing insecurity.

@Komrade_Konrade said “The supposed President of Nigeria is supposedly from Daura in Katsina which is a little over 100km away from where this happened. Well, he’ll issue threats and maybe summon service chiefs later.”

@mohrazz, who tagged the Nigerian Police’s Twitter handle said, “I think you are overrelaxing in Katsina on this issue of bandits sneaking into Shola Quarters directly behind FMC most time unchallenged. This might make bolder and attack the hospital knowing well they are animals. Please do something.”

For @drabdulusy1, “This is the daily happenings in katsina within this week alone 3 attacks occurred in the Metroplolis. First one was innoncent farmers in Dan tsauni just behind Ring road was attacked in broad day light and some where killed some injured second one is the one in Natsinta which is just Behind Army Barrack they operated for hours and the 35 Battalion is less than a KM away and now this and people are still saying there is government in this country. Where? May Allah come to our Aid and help this country. Ameen.”

Sharing her concerns on the incident, @blessedamao said, “How did these terrorists enter the country? How do they bring in arms in large quantities? How do they move millions of dollars around the country? How do they move around the country with large weapons? Buhari has a lot of questions to answer.”

Crime

Traditionalist attacks late members’ residence

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…threaten to kill his children if they fail to fulfill rites

There was a pandemonium at the Alasoro Annex, Oluwo Nla, lbadan on the 1st May, 2024. At the early hours of the day, around 7am, a group described as the Yoruba traditionalists stormed the residence of Alasoro. Passersby described the incident as a very terrible one as it is highly unusual for traditionalists to invade a house in the city. Members of the group were dressed in all-white robes with their leader, possibly the head priest, holding a sort of sceptre which was believed to possess some kind of metaphysical powers.

Our correspondent interviewed an eyewitness, Mr. Tayo Akinsanya, who narrated that he watched the event unfold from a considerable distance out of fear.

According to Akinsanya, “The gate seemed to open by itself, which was strange. I can’t explain how the gate opened for these people to gain entrance. All l saw was that they got inside the house, leaving three men burning incense to man the gate. At this point, I could not see anything more. All I heard were various incantations of different kinds and so, I had to run as everyone fled for their lives.”

Further investigation by our reporter showed that the house was thoroughly ransacked, while the gateman sustained extensive injuries when he attempted to stop the traditionalists from gaining entry into the main house.

The question in the mind of everyone was why those traditionalists would invade the house in question? However, Mrs. Bukola Oni, the wife of the late owner of the residence, revealed that attackers were after the lives of her children because of their refusal to have their deceased father buried according to traditional rites.

The wife who broke down in tears while speaking with our reporter, said: “My life and my children’s lives have been miserable because of these people.”

“We have been running helter skelter in fear of these dreaded traditionalists. They want my children to surrender their father’s corpse for rituals. They also want my children to perform some traditional and occultic rites which they totally refused to do due to their Christian faith. We have been battling with this for a while and it is not a good experience at all, I must confess.”

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Crime

Delta Princess on the run alleges threat to life

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The story has emerged of a Delta princess Mrs Timi Josephine Princess who has since run for dear life following several life threatening messages and calls to her and her husband.

Mrs Timi Josephine princess, 50, a native of Ugbomoya kingdom in Delta, Delta state and the only daughter of the late king Of Ugbomoya kingdom, king Efetobo Hope, came out of her hiding place to narrate why she disappeared to seek refuge at her friends place somewhere in Abeokuta.

With over seventeen years together as a couple, Mrs Timi Josephine and hubby, Mr. Timi had relocated to Abeokuta the Ogun state capital shortly after their marriage when the husband was transferred at work to their Abeokuta office branch.

Being the apple of her father’s eyes and the only daughter, the late king had kept and entrusted all the documents of all his properties in her custody because she was believed to be the most trusted and honest of all his children. But that will be the cause and beginning of her many travails.

Trouble started for Mrs Timi Josephine sometimes around November 2023 immediately after the demise of her father. She disclosed that her father’s siblings had been after her life and that of her brothers over the property documents in her custody.

During a short interview with this reporter, while showing a copy of the affidavit deposed to by her and also a police report to that effect, Mrs Timi, revealed that his two brothers had since got missing with their whereabouts still unknown and allegedly in connection with this matter.

She disclosed that she was forced to move away from their apartment to live with a friend when they begin to notice that some people believed to be assassins have been stalking them for weeks.

According to her, her husband with whom she has enjoyed matrimony for close to two decades has just deserted her and the kids when he could no longer cope with the incessant threats and the perceived stalking.

When pressed further about the reason why she has held on to the documents in question in spite of the perceived threats, she disclosed that her father the late king had begun the process of transferring the ownership of the properties to her and her elder brothers but couldn’t finish the process before death came knocking.

She also revealed that her father warned her sternly to not relinquish the possession of the properties to any of his siblings or extended family but make sure that the properties be shared equally between herself and her elder brothers.

When contacted on phone to hear their side of the story, two of the father’s- the late king Efetobo- siblings declined comments and when contacted again as at the time of filing this report, none of them responded to the calls nor returned the calls.

Mrs Timi Josephine is however, appealing to all security agencies in the country to come to her aid and guarantee her safety and that of her husband and kids.

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Crime

NDLEA smashes int’l drug syndicate, arrests 5

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.
The  Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said the unravelling of the drug cartel started on April 20, when their cargo containing four suitcases arrived the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NACHO) shed on an Airpeace flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to him, after days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Peter Umeh was arrested on April 24.
“This was after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.
“The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contained a total of 17.6 kilograms of loud and drug candies.
“Another member of the syndicate, Mrs Chiwendu Ugbe, whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Ugbe, sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra.
“This was where NDLEA officers arrested her on April 27, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband,“ he said.
Meanwhile, no fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-week intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra.
Babafemi said the arrest followed the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
Also, two other suspects: Onyejakor Chimezie and Naaji Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were arrested in parts of Lagos on April 29.
“Their arrest led to another operation in Abia, where Mrs Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels.
“They were containing loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony, who is equally operating from South Africa,“ he said.
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