Metro
Niger residents abandon farmlands over killings
Farmers in Niger State are currently living in fear after the killing of 13 farmers in the state.
Some of the farmers were said to have abandoned farming to avoid being shot by the bandits.
Suspected bandits on August 19 killed 13 farmers after tracking them to their farms in the Allawa community of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The bandits were said to have killed them over claims that they supplied intelligence about their (bandits) movement to security agencies.
This was as the state Police Command said they did not have an update yet regarding the whereabouts of the fleeing bandits.
Bandits have been rampaging local government area in Niger State killing and abducting residents.
They have even subjected some of the communities to payment of levies in order to enable them engage in their farming activities.
Some farmers who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on the development expressed fear over the action of the bandits, saying that the security agencies and the state government had shown that there was nothing they could do to arrest the situation.
A yam farmer, Musa Abdullahi, told our correspondent on Friday that he had not been himself since he heard the news of the killing of the farmers.
According to him, farmers are an endangered species in Niger State and the government or the security agencies were helpless.
“Since the news of the killing of the farmers broke out, I have not been myself. I have been wondering and imagining how we farmers go into the bush on our own without security men to protect us.
“This action of the killing of our fellow farmers has shown that it could happen to anyone at anytime and nothing will come out of it.
“It is obvious that both the state government and security agencies cannot do anything about these bandits who go about with sophisticated weapons.
“Every farmer is now afraid of going to his farm. Some of us don’t go the farm for the fear of being killed by bandits. We are begging the state government to invite the Federal Government to come into this issue,” Abdullahi said.
A senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture, who preferred anonymity, said the tragic incident took everyone by surprise. He pointed out that if nothing was done to apprehend these bandits the agricultural plans of the farmer government for this year may be in jeopardy.
“This killing took all of us by surprise. Even the minister has been dumbfounded since that incident. How can those criminals just accuse the farmers of leaking information to security agencies and wasted them just like that?
“Governor Bago must have to sit up and confront this challenge headlong or else his plans of bumper harvest will become a pipe dream.
“Only recently, the Etsu Nupe prayed for rain for our farmers to experience a bumper harvest but now these bandits have struck farmers in the state. Where do we go from here,” the ministry official asked
Efforts to get state government officials to react to the killing of the farmers and the danger posed to the farming community in Niger State on Friday proved abortive.
None of the officials, including the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mohammed Bello, Commissioner for Agriculture Musa Bosso, Commissioner for Information Binta Mamman and the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Bologi Ibrahim answered calls put across to them.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who was also called to react to the incident and provide an update on the possible arrest of the bandits, said the police did not have any update but were still investigating the incident.
A 77-year-old Nigerian Uber driver, Olatunji W. Bolaji, was killed in a shooting outside a hookah lounge in Philadelphia, United States.
Bolaji, who lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, was on duty around 2 a.m. on Wednesday when he picked up a passenger, a 22-year-old man, outside the Byblos Hookah Bar near Rittenhouse Square in Centre City, CBS reports on Friday.
Police said shortly after Bolaji picked up the young man, another vehicle pulled up behind his SUV, and two men got out.
One of them opened fire, shooting both Bolaji and the passenger.
Despite being shot in the head, Bolaji managed to drive a short distance before crashing into a pole at 17th and Chestnut Streets.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His passenger, who sustained gunshot wounds to the arm, leg, and stomach, was rushed to Jefferson University Hospital in critical condition.
Police say the shooting was captured on surveillance cameras, and the attackers were in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee believed to have Massachusetts number plates.
Authorities are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack. Investigators believe there may have been a physical altercation between the passenger and the suspects before the shooting.
Ride-hailing platform Uber has expressed sadness over the incident.
“Our hearts break for the driver’s family and loved ones in the wake of this devastating loss.
“We’ve reached out to police to offer our support as they work to bring those responsible for this heinous act of violence to justice,” the company said in a statement.
Neighbours have expressed grief over the killing of Bolaji, describing his family as quiet and hardworking.
A long-time family friend who once lived with Bolaji told NBC10 that he was a kind man who was always ready to help others.
He described Bolaji as a dedicated worker, a loving partner, and a proud father whose son is a college graduate.
According to the friend, Bolaji’s family is devastated by his death and is seeking justice.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Bolaji’s family.
The funds will go toward funeral and memorial expenses, as well as living and counselling costs during their period of mourning.
The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued six kidnapped victims following a search-and-rescue operation.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the victims were rescued on Friday when a joint police and Community Protection Guard team on highway patrol along the Anka-Gummi Road noticed an abandoned ash-coloured Peugeot 206 by the roadside.
Abubakar said, suspecting a kidnapping incident, security operatives immediately launched a search operation, leading to the safe recovery of the six victims.
Those rescued, according to him, were Bakiru Muhammad Masama, Alyh DanTani Masama, Aminu Aliyu Bukkuyum, Ahmad Muhammad Masama, Umar Sa’idu Ruwan Jema and Shehu Mulluwa.
Parts of the statement read, “The rescued persons have since been reunited with their families.
“The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, commended the operatives for their prompt response.
“He reassured the public of the command’s relentless effort in collaboration with sister security agencies to rescue all kidnapped victims and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
“CP Maikaba further urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency for immediate action.”
Abubakar stressed that the state police command remained resolute in its mission to dismantle criminal networks and restore lasting peace in the state.
In what can be said to be a mystery, two suspected lovers were found dead in a room on Friday at Alo in Ankpa local government of Kogi State.
The duo suspected to be lovers were found dead stark naked on the man’s bed.
The deceased persons were identified as Sheriff Salifu and Blessing Adama both from Ankpa.
Confirming the incident, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Ovye Aya who described the incident as sudden and unnatural, said the command was investigating the cause of the deaths.
SP Aya narrated that one Salisu Ibrahim from Alo in Ankpa came to the station at about 12 noon to report that his tenant, one Sheriff Salifu did not come out of his room as usual at about 09:31am.
“So, the brother of the deceased entered the room through the ceiling and met his brother and one Blessing Adama of Ojogobi Road Ankpa lying lifeless in the room. Both deceased were seen naked,” he said.
As a result, the PPRO stated that the Divisional Police Officer in Ankpa detailed detectives to the scene where they saw the bodies of the deceased persons, took photograph of them and the bodies to the zonal hospital in Ankpa where they were confirmed dead.
The state police spokesperson stated further that the bodies were also taken for postmortem examination to determine the cause of their death.
“But the family of the Sheriff requested that the body should be released to them. So, he has been buried according to Islamic rites, while the remains of Blessing Adama is still deposited at the mortuary,” Aya said.
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