… Gunmen demand N350m ransom

A top director at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja, Dr. Adekunle Raif Adeniji has been abducted by gunmen.

Dr Adekunle who is the Director of Administration in the National Secretariat of the ruling party was kidnapped two weeks ago in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It was learnt that his abductors had contacted his family to demand the sum of N350million ransom for his release.

Neither the APC National Secretariat nor security operatives have officially commented on the incident, but sources privy to the incident have confirmed that the director is being held captive.

SAHARA REPORTERS

Makurdi was thrown into chaos on Monday as a violent cult clash in the Wadata area left three people dead.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed the killings, revealing that 10 suspects had been arrested in connection with the bloodshed.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that rival cult groups engaged in a deadly confrontation, leading to multiple fatalities.

She stated that security operatives swiftly moved in, restoring order and evacuating the corpses to the morgue.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, has launched a full-scale investigation into the gruesome incident.

Residents of Wadata, however, expressed fear over the resurgence of cult-related violence in the area, calling on security agencies to step up efforts in curbing the menace.

Meanwhile, the police have assured the public that those responsible for the killings will be brought to justice.

Anene urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stating that the command had intensified surveillance to prevent further violence.

Meanwhile, heavily armed officers have been deployed to the troubled area to prevent further violence.

As the police tighten their grip on suspects, residents remain on edge, fearing fresh eruptions of gang warfare.

The Police Command in Gombe State has finally confirmed the killing Reverend Buba Galadima the pastor of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Lubo community of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident which led to the death of the pastor happened in the early hours of Sunday.

Confirming the incident, Buhari Abdullahi, the Command’s spokesperson told NAN that it was a case of robbery leading to the death of the clergyman.

Abdullahi stated that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bello Yahaya, who visited the hospital where the body of the deceased was taken to, had deployed a special squad of police personnel to the area.

He expressed optimism that the culprits would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The issue is a robbery because they entered into the house at night and maybe they attempted to rob him but unfortunately from the way he was shot at the back, maybe he was trying to escape which is natural and normal and he was shot,” he said.

Abdulahi said that Yahaya was at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe that same night up till 5am to see things for himself.

He stated that Yahaya had deployed a team of smart and technical personnel to the area and he expressed optimism that the police would get down to the root of this incident.

He debunked issue linking the incident to suspected bandits, noting that the state had no history of banditry.

We have coordinated a special operation and we are confident that the culprits would be arrested.”

On why the incident happened in spite of the ban on night-time movement by the police, Abdullahi said the restriction was only effective in Gombe metropolis.

He, however, said that Yahaya had directed all Area Commands in the state to replicate the restriction on night-time movement across the state.

Narrating the sad event to NAN, a resident of Lubo and an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the gunmen entered the town around 1am, announcing their presence with multiple gunshots.

stated that the gunmen first visited the ECWA in the community before proceeding to a nearby compound where they stole some money.

He said that they entered the compound, stole N300, 000 and then ransacked the houses in the compound and afterwards asked for the deceased’s house which was a fence away.

The witness said on getting the information they proceeded to the pastor’s house where they shot him at the upper part of his back.

He said that in view of the incident, the community had been thrown into mourning and fear as many of the residents were yet to recover from the sad event on a Sunday morning.

(NAN)