3-month-old baby, 12 others killed, 2 women abducted in Benue

Thirteen persons, including a three-month-old baby were Tuesday and Wednesday morning killed by suspected herders in different communities in Guma local government area of Benue state.

The attacks came barely 24 hours after eight persons, including two aid workers were allegedly killed by herdsmen in the same local government area where Governor Samuel Ortom hails from.

Local sources told Blueprint that a bus loaded with some mourners who were returning from a burial at Umenger, was attacked by gunmen around Torkula village resulting in the death of three persons, including the baby.

Blueprint further gathered that the gunmen who were still hovering around waiting for their victims, attacked a certain Terver and Solomon Kumaiin from Uvir conveying their wives on a bike, killed them while their wives were taken away by the marauders.

As at the time of this report, the corpses of  both Terver and Solomon were deposited at a mortuary in Daudu, while those injured were taken to  hospital for treatment.
It was also learnt that the three-month-old baby killed was shot in the chest while his mother who narrowly survived the attack was also shot on the lap.
Similarly, at Udei Branch, also in Guma local government area, the criminals were said to have attacked residents during which eight persons were reportedly killed.

Confirming the attacks to journalists, the council chairman, Caleb Aba, said 13 persons were killed in the three separate attacks on Udei Branch, Uvir and Torkula.

 “It is true that there was an attack yesterday and this morning. There was a burial in Torkula and people who were coming back from the burial came under attack and about five people were killed.
“At about 10pm yesterday, there was another attack at Branch Ude where about eight people were killed, totalling about 13 people only yesterday.

“Two people were injured by the information I received and they are now receiving treatment in the hospital,” Aba added.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene confirmed the incident but said she was yet to be fully briefed on the number of those involved.

Kidnappers abduct 6  in Abuja

Also in Tungan-Maje community in Gwagwalada area council, Abuja, gunmen abducted six residents of the area.

A resident, identified as Yahaya, said the incident happened Monday around 11:46 pm when the armed kidnappers in their numbers, invaded some houses at Anguwar Dabiri and Anguwar Sarki within the metropolis.

He said the kidnappers divided themselves into three groups before attacking three houses in the area, adding that some of the gunmen shot into the air while matching the victims out of the community.

“Some of the kidnappers positioned themselves at strategic positions, while other entered the house and whisked away the victims into the bush,” he said.

The district head of Tungan-Maje, Alhaji Hussaini Barde, confirmed the latest kidnap incident.

“In fact, activities of kidnappers in Tungan-Maje have been causing a nightmare to my people. And I can tell you that since September last year till date, we have recorded 9 deadly attacks by kidnappers,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed to the security authorities to come to the aid of his subjects by deploying enough personnel to the area in order to put the kidnappers’ activities under check.

Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, ASP Maryam Yusuf, could not be reached for comment, while a text message sent to her phone was not replied.

100 Zamfara kidnap victims rescued

And in Zamfara state, the Police Wednesday announced the unconditional release of 100 kidnapped victims  abducted from Manawa village of Mutunji District in Dansadau Emirate of Maru local government area of the state.

The command said the rescue effort was an outcome of collaboration between the police and the state government. 

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the development in a statement in Gusau , a copy of which was made available to Blueprint. 

According to him, the released victims who were in custody of their abductors for  42 days were released without giving any financial or material gain.

He said the released abductees would be medically checked and debriefed before being reunited with their respective families.

 The state’s commissioner of police, Hussaini Rabiu, warned the  bandits to renounce criminality  and embrace peace or face the full wrath of the law .

 The command called on the good people of Zamfara state to support the Police and other security agencies with credible information about the hideout, movements and other activities of criminal elements.

 Blueprint reports that, on the 8th June, 2021 some bandits stormed Manawa village and abducted 100 villagers, including nursing mothers and children among others.

Medical doctor freed in Kogi

Also, a medical practitioner, Solomon Nidiamaka, kidnapped Monday in Kogi state has regained freedom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Nidiamaka of General Hospital, Ugwolawo in Ofu local government area of the state, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen around 8:30 a.m. from the premises of the hospital.

A statement jointly issued by Chairman and Secretary of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state, Omakoji Oyiguh and Famotele Tolorunju respectively Wednesday said the kidnapped doctor was released Tuesday.

“The State Officer Council (SOC) of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kogi, wishes to update all concerned that our member, Dr Solomon Nidiamaka, who was kidnapped on July 19, regained his freedom from the cruel hands of kidnappers yesterday (Tuesday).

“He is being currently managed by his medical colleagues. NMA appreciates the government of Kogi, security agencies, Chairman of Ofu Local Government Council, vigilantes and Hunters’ Association who all responded to the distress call and all those who called to show solidarity.

“We wish to inform the Federal Government that the kidnappers told our kidnapped colleague that they were in the business of kidnapping to be able to feed,” the association said.

It called on the federal government to continue to prioritise youth employment in order to de-escalate kidnapping, “which had become a national malaise, leading to disruption in healthcare delivery, including brain drain”.

NAN reports that the association did not, however, disclose if any ransom was paid to secure the release of the kidnapped doctor.

 80-year-old mum of Bayelsa SSG

In a related development, some gunmen in military camouflage reportedly abducted Madam Betinah Benson, the mother of Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Mr Kombowei Benson.

The octogenarian was abducted at her residence in old Legislative Quarters, Yenagoa, the state capital around 11pm Tuesday.

The 80-year-old Madam Betinah, who was also reportedly abducted in 2013, was said to have been whisked away to an unknown destination.

The aged woman was said to have been kidnapped for ransom.

Efforts to get insights into the likely reasons for Betinah’s kidnap failed as his son, Kombowei Benson, a former Bayelsa Speaker, didn’t respond to calls or text messages.

Bayelsa Police Command however confirmed the abduction.

Its spokesman, Mr Asinim Butswat, said the Command had launched a manhunt for the rescue of Madam Betinah and arrest of the suspects.

In a statement on Wednesday, Butswat said: “Madam Betinah Benson, aged 80, was kidnapped on 20th of July 2021, at about at about 2300 hours at her residence at old Legislative Quarters, Azikoro Road, Yenagoa.

“The kidnappers, who were dressed in military camouflage, stormed the residence and kidnapped the victim to an unknown destination.”

Butswat, a Superintendent of Police, said Commissioner of Police Mike Okoli and other detectives had visited the scene as investigation progresses.

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