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Bandits on Rampage, Kill Pastor, Abduct 19 in Niger Communities.

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From Dan Amasingha, Minna

The spate if killing and kidnapping by Bandits in Niger state has shown no sign of abating soon  as  a pastor  was killed and  least nineteen persons have been kidnapped by gunmen in Ogu and Tegina communities in Rafi local government area of Niger State.

The latest community  to come under the unrelenting attack of bandit , Daily Asset gathered is Ogu  a settlement close to Wayam about two kilometres away from Kagar town, the  headquarters of Rafi local government.


Details about the latest attack were sketchy but, a senior official in Rafi Local Government Chairman who  craved  for anonymity confirmed the incident to our correspondent via telephone.


A source from the area who refused to be named for fear of reprisal by the rampaging bandits also said a clergy man was killed by the bandits.
Narrating their ordeal an eye witness, Kamal Mamman Wayam from Ogu community,explained that the attackers stormed Ogu on Sunday morning and they started shooting into the air.


According to Wayam, “The gunmen in their large number arrived Ogu on motorcycles. “Before we knew what was happening, they started shooting into the air. They ransacked people’s houses, and whatever valuable they could lay their hands on, they carted away. They also abducted six persons from Ogu. Four of the persons abducted were members of the same family , while the other two were visitors to the community.”


The attack on Tegina was said to have happened at the early hours of Monday, the 14th of December around 12:30AM.


A resident of the community, Sani Gamachindo confirmed the development to our correspondent adding that “the gunmen entered the room of my daughter early this morning  but she hid herself under the bed, while her husband went up the ceiling.

“When the gunmen entered their room, they spent like 30 minutes and ate almost all the food in the kitchen. Thank God, they were not abducted. But, 13 persons were kidnapped,” Gamachindo explained.


The latest attacks in Rafi local government came barely four days after gunmen abducted a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress Congress(APC), the District Head of Gunna and two children of two health workers in Garin Gabbas and Yakila communities in the same local government Area.


Last week Friday, the bandits had also blocked the major road between Zungeru and Tegina for hours, shooting sporadically and causing gridlock.


When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer to the Niger State Police Command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun said he would get back to our reporter on the matter, but was yet to do so as at the time of filing the report.


Meanwhile, a Pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), has been killed by gunmen in Chukuba, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.


The clergyman identified as Pastor Jeremiah Ibrahim, was serving with ECWA Gospel Kubwa, Kuta in Shiroro LGA.


According to a senior official in ECWA Goodnews Church Minna, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, Pastor Ibrahim had gone to check his farm in Chukuba and decided to visit a colleague who was the Resident Pastor of Chukuba, when he was attacked and killed.


“It’s quite unfortunate, because the assassination of Pastor Jeremiah Ibrahim is coming barely two weeks after six of our missionaries alongside wife to one of them were abducted,” he added.
He said, the deceased had been buried.

CRIME

Okuama Crisis: Reps Assures Justice as Committee Commences Probe

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From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The House of Representatives has said it will ensure the crisis in Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State is brought to a logical conclusion.

Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson, gave the assurance while addressing newsmen on Thursday, at the Governor’s Office Annexe in Warri.

Benson led other members of the committee to a public hearing on the carnage that occurred in Okuama Community in Delta resulting to the death of 17 soldiers and consequent destruction of properties.

The committee convened on Thursday at the Governor’s Office Annexe in Warri without the presence of the locals in attendance.

It would be recalled that the investigative hearing was in line with the 10th Assembly House of Representatives’ resolution of March 19, 2024.

The resolution was prompted by the March 14 massacre of 17 soldiers in the Okuama Community.

The lawmaker said that the committee had so far received about 23 memorandum from stakeholders.

“We came to see members of the community in camera and by way of memorandum. We have received a lot of memorandum from them but they have not turn up physically.

“We have gotten enough memorandum and we intend to work with the memorandum. Though, the window is opened till Friday next week, so we are still expecting more from them.

“We have assured everyone including the Delta State that the House of Representatives will ensure the matter is looked into from both sides and come to a logical conclusion.

“That is why we are asking them to send memoranda and they are complying. We gave them a week and the period will elapse on Friday.

“If you do not want to show up, please send us your documents so that we will be able to act on them, and get to a logical conclusion,” Benson appealed.

The legislator said that the committee was fully ready to ensure that justice was done on the matter.

On why the committee could not visit the troubled Okuama Community, the lawmaker said that the activities of the committee regarding the crisis had not ended.

According to him, the committee will visit the locals and also invite the military to give account of what happened at the community.

“We are definitely going to meet the locals but we are going to arm ourselves with information,” he said.

Among the 10-man committee was Rep. Francis Waive, member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency.

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CRIME

Gunmen Attack Ortom’s Ex-Chief-of-Staff, Abduct Wife

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Suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on Friday, attacked former Chief of Staff to Benue State Governor, Honorable Terwase Orbunde, and abducted his wife and house help.

Orbunde, a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in Benue state served under the administration of the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Samuel Ortom.

The attack, it was learnt took place close to the “Genocide Cemetery” along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital at about 6.

00 PM.

The former Chief of Staff escaped with a gunshot on his right arm, while the attackers whisked away his wife, Mrs Abigail Kashimana Orbunde and her house help, Patience Ogute.

Eyewitnesses told DAILY ASSET that Orbunde, his wife and the house help, had gone to inspect the their farm when the incident happened.

The eyewitnesses said after the inspection of the work and payment of the workers five gunmen suddenly attacked their victims as they walked back to their car.

The attackers were said to have opened fire and Orbunde received a bullet on the right arm, while they ordered him and the women to follow them to an unknown destination.

The shooting was said to have caused villagers and passersby to scamper for safety in different directions.

As they marched along, the former Chief of Staff was said to be bleeding profusely, witnesses further said.

The witnesses who watched from a distance said the leader of the group ordered him to walk away while the gunmen took the women to an unknown destination.

An unidentified ‘good Samaritan’ was said to have conveyed the former Chief of Staff to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

The State Police Commnad could not be reached for comments at the time of this report.

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CRIME

AONN Seeks Multiple Approaches to End GBV

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The Association of Orphan and Vulnerable Children (AONN) has advocated for the adoption of a multifaceted approach to combat Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) both within Nigeria and on a global scale.

Speaking during a one-day GBV sensitization in Apo-Dutse, Abuja, marking the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls, Kiema Ogunlana, the AONN FCT coordinator, stated that this has become necessary due to the increasing complexity of GBV in recent times.

 

More women are coming forward to report abuses by their wives and partners.

Additionally, there is a rising trend of children being reported as perpetrators of violent acts against their peers.

“We intervened in a recent case where a girl slashed her best friend with a razor over claims of emotional abuse,” she said.

 

Mrs. Ogunlana said AONN as an organization that focuses on children welfare, thought it wise to sensitize them irrespective of the sexual difference.

“Children within the age range of 10-17 years old were selected inline with the year’s 16-day  activism theme: ‘Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.’

“When we say ‘unite,’ we mean the total involvement of everyone to achieve a violence-free society. 

“Including the males in such sensitization is important because the boys will grow up to become men and husbands to the girls. If they are ignorant of the forms of violence, they will continue perpetrating violent actions against the female folks,” she said.

Mrs. Ogunlana mentioned that the children were also taught how to deal with an abuser. “Every child is a product of learning from his or her society, and we have emphasized the need to speak out given the recent rise in mental health cases. The children were able to internalize the lessons learned and called out for the end of violence,” she added.

The District Head of Apo Dutse, Ishaku Sagbede, highlighted the wisdom of engaging children in such sensitization while welcoming members of AONN to his palace. 

“Indeed, the increase in violence among children is a reflection of the entire society, but with such sensitization Nigeria will become like London,” he asserted.

The Daisy Oak Program’s Manager, Chibueze Okechukwu, admonished the children of the consequences of SGBV, using rhymes to press the message home.

Program Manager of the Catholic Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (CACA) noted that most children suffer from abuse but do not know that they are being abused.

“When children come to understand the term ‘abuse,’ that is the only time they can speak out,” she said.

Chito Obiora-Anaekwe further said that the organization has caseworkers who follow up on cases of abuse in the community. She added that victims are beginning to speak out as a result of such activism over the years.

Segun Samuel, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Board, said girls and women are mostly affected by Gender-Based Violence as a result of early or forced marriage. “Women are denied access to medical services as a result of cultural practices. These have ripple effects. The most commonly experienced issues are Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), obstructed labor, and maternal risks.”

The event also included a session on personal hygiene carried out by Sam Empowerment Foundation, Communication Officer, Chiamaka Nwankwo.

Additionally, free services such as HIV/AIDS Testing Services, Hepatitis testing, Malaria Testing, Drug dispensary, and counseling services were offered to the children.

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