Crime
Burial turn awry as gunmen attack, kill 20 persons
**”Gunmen kill renowned Professor of economics, Onyemelukwe
A burial ceremony in Umuogbuefi village, Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has turned awry as armed men suspected to be members of a secret cult invaded the ceremony, kill 20 persons
It was gathered that the burial ceremony was that of a suspected leader of a cult, Ozo who was killed by a rival cult last year.
The suspected cult gang stormed the venue of the ceremony while the corpse of Ozo was lying in state in his compound and sent the mourners scampering for safety, while shooting at them.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said that it was a case of cult rivalry.
He said: “Yes, this morning (Saturday), there was an incident at Ebenebe. A burial was going on, when some people suspected to be cultists invaded the area and started shooting.
“I do not have details of casualties now, but I will keep you informed once the picture becomes clear.
“For now, the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng has despatched tactical squads comprising of various units to the area to maintain calm.”
In another development gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have killed Prof I.O.Onyemelukwe.
Onyemelukwe, a professor of Economics until his death is the father of Prof Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, a Canadian scholar and winner of the Nigeria prize for Literature, 2021, with prize sum of $100,000.
It was learnt that gunmen had on Thursday night struck in Oko, Orumba South Local Government Area, where they blocked vehicles coming from Umunze, Ufuma, near Oko town.
Sources said the gunmen killed an unidentified man in less than one hour operation, while abducting two men who were said to have been unable to answer questions about the self determination struggle of IPOB.
A social media user with the name Onyi has identified the slain man as Prof Onyemelukwe.
Onyii in the post said: “South East is indeed going down. Just lost my Godfather to the hands of the marauding killers devastating the Southeast environment.”
“An 88 year old man, first class brain, Prof I.O.Onyemelukwe. He was the former permanent secretary in the old Anambra State. Later a Professor of Economics at UNIZIK.”
“He studied Economics with OAU scholarship at Adis Ababa, Ethiopia at the age of 22. He is the father of Dr Cheluchi Onyemelukwe that won LNG $100,000 literature prize last year.”
“He (Onyemelukwe) was returning to Nanka from Enugu with his wife and decided to follow Oji, Ufuma, Amaokpala, Oko axis instead going through Awka when he was attacked by these hoodlums.
“He is the cousin of the former Bishop of the Niger, Bishop J.A.Onyemelukwe. “May his soul rest in peace,Amen!
His daughter, Dr Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, winner of the 2021 NLNG Prize for Literature with the novel; a Son of the House, had in January been named one of the Canadian Black Writers to look out for in the future.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga when contacted on Saturday said he was aware of the shooting incident in Oko community but had no detailed information on the matter
***CP restates commitment to safety of lives, property in Kogi
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
The Nigeria Police, Kogi State Command has confirmed the killing of two suspected kidnappers during a gun duel in Ankumi forest, near Obajana in Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.
A statement from SP William Ovye Aya, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Tuesday in Lokoja said that the two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded in an exchange of fire with the Police and died as they were being taken to the hospital.
Aya said the operation which was in continuation of the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crime in Kogi State also led to the recovery of one AK 47 Rifle with two magazines and two live Ammunition.
He explained that the operation was consequent upon a tip off received on Monday, May 27 at about 11:30hrs, that some armed hoodlums numbering about three were sighted inside Ankumi forest.
“Immediately the Divisional Police Officer of Obajana Division, CSP Oguche Richard, mobilized his patrol team in collaboration with the Fulani Vigilantes and moved to the area at about 14:30hrs”, he said.
According to the PPRO, on sighting the team, the hoodlums opened fire on them, attracting corresponding response from the team resulting in a gun duel that lasted a while.
Aya said, “Due to the superior firepower of the Police team, two of the hoodlums were fatally wounded while the other escaped with bullet wounds.
“Items recovered from the scene include, one AK 47 rifle with two magazines and two rounds of live Ammunition. Effort is on going to trail and apprehend the fleeing suspect.”
The Command’s Spokesman further told newsmen that the suspects were confirmed dead in a hospital at Obajana and their bodies were brought to the command headquarters in Lokoja.
He said that the bodies were deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital morgue in Lokoja.
Aya further said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha, commended the officers for their unwavering commitment and dedication in sustaining the tempo in the ongoing onslaught against crime and criminality.
The Commissioner, he said, also assured Kogi people that the Police “is ever determined to sustain the tempo, in synergy with other Security Agencies, in ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.” (Ends)
An unspecified number of workers of Dangote Cement Company Plc, Okpella, Etsako West local government of Edo state have been abducted after unknown gunmen Wayland the staff bus
The unfortunate incident was said to have happened on Monday.
The workers were in a staff bus conveying them back to Okpella town after the close of work when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.
An eyewitness confirmed to this online newspaper that the incident happened after the gunmen laid ambush for the workers after emerging from the bush and forcing the bus to a halt at gunpoint before taking their victims into the bush.
“They were in a Coaster bus coming to Okpella after work when they were kidnapped by gunmen. But, we don’t know the numbers of the workers that have been kidnapped,” the source added.
The alleged rape of a female student of the Ajayi Crowther University by two security guards is not being treated with kids gloves as the authorities of the institution have commenced investigations
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Olufemi John Atoyebi.
Atoyebi said, “Management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo received with shock a report of an alleged rape of one of our female students last night, Thursday May 9, 2024 by two members of our vigilance group.
“The Management promptly handed over to the police, the two people alleged to have committed the crime while the university has set up its own internal panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation.
“The Management wishes to assure all stakeholders that ACU will not tolerate any act of misconduct capable of tarnishing its enviable image.
“Raising Godly intellectuals is our primary goal in ACU and we will not allow any act of misconduct capable of diverting our attention from our goal.
“Heavy penalty awaits anyone who is found culpable after our thorough investigation.
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