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Six people were killed in the US state of Iowa after a series of shootings that appeared to stem from a domestic dispute, police said.

The suspected shooter also was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Muscatine Police Department.

The victims are believed to be family members of the suspect, identified as Ryan Willis McFarland, 52, of Muscatine, the department said.

Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies called the shooting an “act of evil”.

The shootings took place on Monday at multiple locations within the city of Muscatine.

Police received a report of a shooting just after noon on Monday. When officers responded to a home, they found four people with gunshot wounds, police said.

All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

McFarland had left the residence before officers arrived, but officials found him shortly after on a riverfront trail near a pedestrian bridge.

He had a self‑inflicted gunshot wound, police said, and received medical aid, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives later found another man dead from an apparent gunshot wound in a different residence. A further search led officers to a business, where they found another victim, also dead of an apparent gunshot wound.

Online maps show a metal workshop at the address provided by police.

“Preliminary findings indicate the shootings stemmed from a domestic‑related dispute,” McFarland police said in a statement. “All victims are believed to be family members of the deceased suspect.”

Kies did not give the names or ages of the victims and noted that the investigation is ongoing.

He confirmed the suspect had an existing criminal record but did not share any further details.

Muscatine, in the southwest of Iowa, sits on the Mississippi River and has a population of approximately 23,500 people, according to US government data published last year.

Mayor Brad Bark wrote in a post on Facebook: “Our hearts are heavy tonight after the tragic shootings that claimed innocent lives.”

Source: BBC

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Two policemen have been feared killed after suspected hoodlums attacked the convoy of the Chief of Staff to Anambra State Governor, Dr. Ben Nwankwo, along the Amansea–Ufuma Road.

Dr. Nwankwo escaped unhurt in the attack, which reportedly occurred on Sunday night.

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to police formations and operational units across the state to track down and arrest those responsible for the attack.

The directive was issued during an emergency security meeting at the State Police Command Headquarters, where senior officers and heads of tactical units were briefed on the urgency of the situation.

Orutugu described the attack as a direct assault on the authority of the state and vowed that it would not go unpunished.

“I want you to fish out the attackers and the killers of our officers. I demand immediate action to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act. I want results. The people of Anambra State must know that the police are fully in charge and ready to protect them,” he said.

He warned that criminal elements would no longer be allowed to operate under the cover of darkness to carry out violent attacks in the state.

“This kind of killing cannot happen under my watch. We must bring the perpetrators to justice and put an end to their activities,” the CP added.

Orutugu also expressed concern over emerging criminal tactics, noting that intelligence reports suggest some attackers now disguise themselves in police and military uniforms to evade detection.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant, especially while travelling along vulnerable routes.

The police commissioner specifically cautioned motorists and commuters using the Amansea–Ufuma Road, describing it as an isolated route that has recently become a hotspot for criminal ambushes.

“The Amansea–Ufuma Road is a particularly isolated route. Commuters and members of the public should exercise caution while using the road, as it has, in recent times, become a den of criminal elements,” he said.

Orutugu assured residents that the command remains fully committed to restoring normalcy and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.

He added that intelligence-led operations had already commenced, expressing confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended within the 48-hour window.

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A notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, has established communication with relatives of the abducted retired senior military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari, Daily Trust learnt on Monday.

Sources told our correspondent that the bandit kingpin, who operates in parts of Katsina State, opened a line of communication with the family of the retired General on Monday morning.

The retired Major General and his wife were reportedly abducted on Saturday in Katsina State.

Their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area by gunmen, who, according to witnesses, emerged from hiding, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to a halt before abducting the retired officer and his wife into a nearby forest.

The road, according to residents of the area, is unsafe due to repeated bandit attacks.

A senior local government official in Batsari, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed to our correspondent that he personally spoke with the abducted officer during the conversation facilitated by the bandit leader.

“I spoke with Major General Rabe through Kachallah Muhammad. He told us that he is hale and hearty and that his wife is also fine,” the official said.

According to the source, the retired general assured his family and associates that they are being adequately taken care of by their captors, a development that has somewhat eased anxiety among relatives and residents of the area.

The official further disclosed that during the interaction, Kachallah Muhammad made his demands clear, insisting on the release of his relatives, allegedly being held by Nigerian security authorities.

“He said what he wants is the immediate release of his relatives in government custody,” the official added.

The bandit leader, the source said, also expressed willingness to return to negotiations, indicating openness to dialogue aimed at restoring peace in Matazu and other areas under his influence.

“He said he is ready to go back to the negotiation table to achieve peace in Matazu and neighbouring communities,” the official said.

Family, residents express concern

Relatives and residents of Batsari have expressed deep concern over the abduction of the retired senior military officer, describing the incident as a devastating blow to both his family and the community that has benefited from his years of service and philanthropy.

A family member, Mariya Ibrahim, said the retired general, whom she described as the family’s breadwinner, was travelling to Katsina for a wedding with his wife when they were abducted.

“He served this country with dedication and deserves protection even in retirement. We want him and his wife rescued alive and unharmed,” she said.

A resident, Ibrahim Mamman Batsari, said: “If a retired senior military officer can be kidnapped, then ordinary citizens are even more vulnerable. Government must rise to its responsibility.”

Another relative, Aisha Abubakar Batsari, described the retired officer as the pillar of the extended family and appealed for his safe rescue.

Residents noted that the general had remained actively involved in community development projects in Batsari.

A community leader, Haruna Mai Maganin Kwari Batsari, said the retired officer was expected in the town on the day of the incident to discuss community matters.

Security expert, Abubakar Ibrahim, said the incident reflects a dangerous escalation of insecurity in Katsina State, warning that criminal groups appear to be growing bolder.

“The kidnapping of a retired Major General shows how emboldened bandits have become. It exposes the vulnerability of major highways and rural communities. If urgent and decisive action is not taken, the situation could further deteriorate.” Source: Daily Trust