At least 36 persons were killed and nine others kidnapped in reported
violent crimes across Nigeria last week, indicating that insecurity
continues to be a serious challenge in the country.
The victims include two students killed by police officers attached to
the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi, when her convoy ran
into students of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti who were
protesting power supply shortage in their school.
Thirteen soldiers were also reported killed in attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Sunday:
Armed persons on Sunday attacked Kusherki community in Rafi Local
Government Area of Niger State, killing one person.
A resident of the community, Garba Ahmed, told PREMIUM TIMES that the
attackers ransacked several houses, manhandled many and kidnapped
three persons.
Ahmed, a civil servant, said the attackers arrived at the community at
about 1 a.m. during a downpour.
He identified the deceased as Abubakar Kaura.
He said the victim was shot dead after he told the kidnappers he was a
farmer and had no money to give them.
Tuesday:
The police confirmed the kidnap of six persons in Rijana village along
Kaduna-Abuja expressway by armed persons in military uniform.
The Kaduna police spokesperson, Yakubu Sabo, said the incident
occurred on September 7 when the kidnappers intercepted a commercial
bus with registration number ABJ 905 XC at 11.30 p.m. near Rijana and
took away the victims.
Sabo said the kidnappers later abandoned two of the victims.
Also, two students were shot dead by police officers in the convoy of
the wife of Ekiti State governor, Bisi Fayemi, when it ran into a
group of students protesting against poor electricity supply in
Federal University, Oye Ekiti.
The police refused to admit the killings, but online medium, Premium
Times obtained video and pictorial evidence. The state government
later sent delegations to condole with the families of the victims.
Also on Tuesday, Nigerian Shiite organisation, Islamic Movement in
Nigeria (IMN), said 12 of its members were killed in a nationwide
crackdown on Tuesday.
The Shiites were on their annual procession, Ashura, in many states in Nigeria.
The group’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Musa, in a statement Tuesday
afternoon said the killings took place after attacks on Ashura
mourners in Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto and Katsina states.
Wednesday:
The Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State on Wednesday
reported that gunmen killed one of its pastors in Asso, in Jema’a
Local Government Area of the state.
The association’s chairman in the state, Joseph Hayab, identified the
deceased as Alhamdu Mandadus of the Baptist Church, Asso.
He told PUNCH newspaper that the incident occurred around noon on
Wednesday on the victim’s farm.
According to him, military men deployed in the area took the corpse of
the cleric to an unknown destination.
Thursday:
Daily Trust reported how 10 bandits gangraped a woman in Durumi, one
of the communities caught up in renewed bandit attacks in Shiroro and
Rafi local government areas of Niger State.
The head of the village, Muhammadu Abubakar, said the victim was taken
to a hospital in the headquarters of Rafi, after she fainted during
the rape.
He said the bandits slaughtered a young man like an “animal” during
one of the raids, describing the act as sad and inhuman.
Saturday:
At least 13 Nigerian soldiers were killed within the last few days, in
what seemed to be a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks on troops in the
North East, Premium Times reported.
Also, the police in Kaduna State confirmed the killing of six persons
at Fadaman Rimi, a remote settlement in Chukun Local Government Area
of the state.
The incident, the police said, happened on Saturday when suspected
bandits attacked the community around 7 a.m.
The victims’ names according to the release include, Saminu, Wosha,
Isiya, Titus, Madami and Tanko, all resident in the same village.
One other person identified as Ikoniya sustained gunshot injury.
The police spokesperson in the state, Yakubu Sabo, disclosed this in a
statement issued Saturday night.
He also added the armed bandits “succeeded in rustling some unknown
number of cattle”.
