41 Deaths, 23 Abductions; Nigeria's Weekly Conflict and Security Threat Report: June 19 - 25, 2023
Sunny Dada
Journalist/Peacebuilding/Governance and Electoral Processes/Development Professional/Data Analyst/Rotary Peace Fellow
There was no respite for citizens in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and South-Eastern regions as killings and abductions continued unabated in the week (June 19 – 25, 2023) under review. Although there was a significant drop of 46.053% in the number of recorded deaths?and a reduction of 11.111% in recorded abductions compared to the preceding week - June 12 – 18, 2023, the killings and abductions by bandits mostly in Plateau and Kaduna states, underlines the fragility within Nigeria’s security architecture.
A disaggregation of fatalities and location of threats shows that just like last week, Plateau State recorded the highest number of deaths with 24 victims compared to the 38 deaths it recorded in previous week. Other states with fatalities in the week under review include Abia – 3; Anambra 3; Ebonyi 2; Enugu 2; Kaduna – 3; Kogi 1; Kwara 1; Plateau 24; Rivers – 2 fatalities. Out of the 41 total recorded deaths, 7 are non-state actors while 34 are farmers, electoral officer and traditional rulers. A further disaggregation of the killings of non-state actors indicate that three non-state actors were killed by the Anambra State Vigilante group while 3 other non-state actors were killed in Abia state by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). ?The NPF also killed one other non-state actor in Kogi state.
A disaggregation of those kidnapped according to states include: Bauchi 4; Ebonyi 1; Enugu 9; Katsina 4; Kogi 2; and Kwara 3.
All data used for this report are generated through secondary sources as indicated in the curated sub-headings of the stories below.
Vigilante kills three gunmen in Anambra June 19, 2023
Three suspected gunmen have been killed by members of the Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the incident took place Monday morning in Okija, Ihiala local government area of the state around 3.30 am.
It was also gathered that the gunmen numbering about 15 stormed the camp of the vigilante members, thinking they were sleeping.
The report was confirmed by one of the Senior Police officers in the state, when the state police public relation’s officer, Tochukwu Ikenga could not be reached. The officer said the command was working in tandem with the vigilance groups in the state and other sister agencies to make Anambra state the safest state in the country.
Gunmen kill INEC official, farmer June 19, 2023
Gunmen on Sunday killed two people in Ishiagu, a community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Among the slain is Ajah Okafor, father of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing member, Damian Okafor.
The other victim, it was gathered, is an official of the?Independent National Electoral Commission, Emmanuel Igwe.
His wife was reportedly abducted by the gunmen, who intercepted their car along the Ishiagu-Mpu Road in the area.
A security source in the area said the incident happened around 12 midnight.
The police spokesperson in the state, Onome Onvwakpoyeya, also confirmed the incident.
She said the gunmen, suspected to be herders, shot the man in the head through the windshield of his car.
Gunmen kidnap Kogi monarch, wife June 19, 2023
A traditional ruler, Oba Shedrack Durojaye Obibeni, and his wife were abducted along Makutu-Idofin road in Kogi West Senatorial District of the state at about 5 p.m. on Monday.
The Chairman of Yagba East Local Government Council, Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, confirmed the incident and described it as “very shocking” and “sad.”
Asiru expressed his disbelief as such an incident had not occurred in the area for almost two years. He stated, “I, as the council chairman and the people of Yagba East are in great shock over the kidnap of our respected Oba and his wife this evening.”
However, the Kogi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, stated that he had not yet received a briefing from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the affected area regarding the incident.
Bandits Kill 21, Burn Houses In Plateau Midnight Attacks June 20, 2023
At least 21 people were on Tuesday night killed in two separate attacks by suspected Fulani bandits in the Bwai and Samba villages of Mangu and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State.
The member representing Mangu South Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Bala Fwangje and the member representing Riyom State Constituency, Hon. Timothy Dantong confirmed the attacks. Fwangje who confirmed the attack to our correspondent said the attacks occurred around 11 pm, “we had a call that herdsmen came into Chisu and Bwai, this morning we confirmed the killings of 14 of my constituents while several houses were destroyed, properties burnt.
Also confirming the killings, Hon. Timothy Dantong said seven persons were killed on Tuesday night in Samba Village of Riyom Local government of the state.
Police kill notorious criminal, recover weapons in Kogi June 22, 2023
The Joint Security Team in Kogi State has gunned down a notorious criminal, Kabir Bala, who was responsible for the killing of Mrs Salome Abu, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Woman Leader in Ofu Local Government Area in her residence in November 2015 in Ochadamu.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Akeem Yusuf, disclosed this on Thursday at the state Police headquarters in Lokoja while addressing newsmen.
He stated, “It would be recalled that in October 2018, the Kogi State Government granted a pardon in the prerogative of mercy as part of rehabilitation to a notorious gang leader named Kabir Bala, also known as ‘Okwo,’ in Ejule, Ofu LGA.
Bandits Kill Three, Abduct Many In Kaduna Community June 22, 2023
Bandits have reportedly attacked Sabon Layi community in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing three people and abducted several others.
A community leader, Anas Musa who confirmed the attack to Channels Television on Friday said the bandits stormed Sabon Layi village at about 12pm on Thursday and started shooting sporadically
The community leader disclosed that the bandits killed three farmers in the process, namely Anas Sabonlayi, Abubakar Dankibiya, and Harisu Un-Guwar Lemu.
The Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Usman Kasai, also confirmed the attack, saying they are trying to ascertain the exact number of those kidnapped and still with the bandits inside the forest.
Gunmen Kill Community Chief, Abduct 3 Others In Kwara June 23, 2023
Gunmen on Friday night invaded?Iwo community in Isin local government area of Kwara State, killing?a chief and abducting?three persons.
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LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the gunmen attacked a filling station at Sabaja area at about 9.00pm and abducted the manager and a security guard of the station as well as a cleric of the Christ Apostolic Church.
It was also gathered that a chief of Sabaja community identified as Raphael Adewuyi was killed by a stray bullet in his room.
The spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, Okasanmi Ajayi said;
“We have sent our men and the vigilante members to go after the abductors and rescue the three people, but we are yet to record success. I’m sure they will be rescued.”
The Katsina State Police Command foiled two separate terrorists attack on Katsina communities and arrested two of the suspects while the hoodlums whisked away four victims.
Spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq who disclosed this in a statement on Friday said: “The command succeeded in arresting two of the suspects: one Sa’idu Sule, age 20 years of Arawa village, Dandume LGA, Katsina state, and one Sani Beti, age 26 years of Dariya village via Galadimawa in Giwa LGA, Kaduna state, a suspected notorious terrorist-bandits.
The Department of State Services has raised the alarm of planned attacks on worship and recreational centres before and during Eid Kabir celebrations.
According to the agency, the recovery of Improvised Explosive Devices from terrorists in joint operations by the service, personnel of the Nigerian Army and Police lent credence to the planned attack.
In a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson,?Peter Afunanya, the DSS urged operators of malls among others to be vigilant.
“The DSS calls for vigilance before the Eid celebrations more so that reports had indicated plans to attack worship and recreational centres before and during the festivities
Unknown gunmen kidnap four in Bauchi June 23, 2023
Reports have it that the gunmen attacked Gamji village where they went away with a businessman named Daniel demanding for ransom.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the village at about 8:40pm on Friday, shooting sporadically to scare people away which enabled them to get to Daniel, an Ibo Man who was believed to be their target.
Gunmen Kill Three Miners In Plateau Community?June 23, 2023
Gunmen on Friday, 23 June, 2023 shot dead three miners at a mining site around Tanjol in Jol community of Riyom local government area in Plateau State.
The National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youth Movement (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, saying other miners and farmers have fled the area.
Tengwong explained that two other persons were injured in the incident that happened at about 11am when everyone around the area was going about their activities.
?Gunmen kill 2 in Rivers State June 24, 2023
Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed two men in the Ubeta-Owube axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
On Saturday, the gunmen ambushed and killed the victims, identified as Confidence Chiadikobi Franco and the driver of the commercial vehicle they were traveling in.
Major Elleh, a resident of the Ubarama community, stated that the driver of the vehicle and the owner of the building materials were on their way to Owube.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the killings in Ahoada West and assured that an investigation is ongoing to arrest the hoodlums.
Gunmen abduct Enugu-bound passengers, kill two June 24, 2023
Gunmen operating in the Imo axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway reportedly kidnapped nine Enugu-bound passengers, killed two and robbed others of their valuables.
The victims, who hail from Amangwo Olokoro in?Umuahia, were said to be travelling to Enugu on Saturday for a burial when they were attacked.
Narrating their ordeal to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Sunday, one of them, who identified himself simply as Francis, said their Sienna Bus was flagged down at gunpoint near the Arondizuogu Junction on the expressway.
Francis (not real name) said the vehicle was later diverted off the expressway to Arondizuogu Road in Imo, from where they were led into a hamlet far into the bush.
He said: “I have never had this kind of experience in my life before.
Meanwhile, the deceased persons have been identified as Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, a pastor, who passed a comment after their vehicle was flagged down, and Ifeanyi Onwunkwe, who attempted to escape. NAN could not immediately reach the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, for comments.
A senior police officer at the Abia State, however, claimed he was aware of the incident but said a “formal entry” had yet to be made.
“I am aware of the Saturday attack, but you know the incident happened in Imo. So, as we speak, nobody has made any formal entry here,” the source said.
The police in Ebonyi have reportedly killed three of the suspected killers of Emmanuel Igwe, an electoral officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On June 18, Igwe?was killed?when some gunmen attacked him and his wife along the Ishiagu-Mpu road while returning from Anambra state. His wife was abducted during the attack.
Confirming the news, Emmanuel Aja, chairman of Ivo LGA, said the police rescued Igwe’s wife and arrested eight of the suspects
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