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Security agencies shield cultists in Cross River – Community leader alleges

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An economist, retired public servant, and community leader from Ketabebe Town, Ugep Urban in Yakurr LGA of Cross River, Chief Julius Inah, has indicted security agencies and government officials for shielding notable criminals, drug chiefs, and cultists who murder and wreak havoc in communities.

In recent times, there has been rising cult violence in Ugep town and other communities in the state, resulting in increasing murders, fear, and intimidation.

Chief Inah, a former council chairmanship aspirant, made the observation in a reaction to an op-ed by another senior citizen, Ubi Lekam Nkanu, titled My Voice on the Current Discussions on Cultism and Drug Peddling in Umor Otutu, Ugep (Part 3).

“We need more drastic measures to solve this problem. The current structures in place cannot address these issues because those expected to solve them are themselves involved with the perpetrators.

“There have been several deaths linked to cultism and certain individuals in Ugep, yet nothing has happened. Recently, an Assiga man was murdered in broad daylight in Ugep — a taboo in our culture. Yet the cultist involved is still in Ugep, hiding in places known to both the people and the security forces, and has not been apprehended.”

Fingering politicians as those behind heightened cultism in the state, Chief Inah cautioned them not to depend on violence to achieve their aim but on their popularity.

“Any politician worth his salt should not depend on cultists to win elections. If he or she does, it means they lack confidence and popularity. I was actively involved in politics from 1998 to 2010, when I contested for the chairmanship of Yakurr. I never depended on cultists for my political endeavours.

“Only weak politicians cultivate cultists to carry guns, machetes, and other weapons to intimidate people. As far as I’m concerned, they can never win my respect or confidence.”

He called on the national security agencies and the people to rise and speak against the activities of cultists for a safer and peaceful society.

But Chairman of Yakurr LGA, Yibala Igiri Inyang, has disagreed with Chief Inah that security agencies shield criminals.

He said, as a former DSS personnel, security forces do not condone criminality.

“As the chief security officer of this Council, I can confirm that security agencies are present and investigating the recent violence in the Council and will soon come out with their reports for action.”



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Three arrested over alleged mob killing in Kano

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Three people have been arrested after a man was allegedly beaten to death in Kano, while a woman is in police custody for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend and severing his genitals in a separate incident.

The Kano State Police Command said the first case occurred on July 24 in the Sheka area.

Police said 30-year-old Abubakar Auwal was allegedly lured by Abubakar Ali and Sulaiman Lawan over claims that he was having an affair with a married woman.

Police spokesperson CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said in a statement on Monday, “Upon receipt of the report, operatives attached to Sheka Police Division were immediately detailed to the scene. On arrival, the victim was found to have been brutally assaulted and beaten into a comatose state.”

The police arrested three suspects at the scene, including the two men and the married woman, Hafsat Umar.

Kiyawa added, “The victim was rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano for medical treatment, where he was unfortunately confirmed dead by a medical doctor on duty.”

Police said the body had been taken to the hospital mortuary for an autopsy, while investigations continued. The suspects will be charged in court after the investigation.

In the second case, which occurred on July 27 at Durbar Hotel in Badawa, police said 25-year-old Maimunatu Idris allegedly attacked her boyfriend with a knife after learning that he planned to marry another woman.

The police said she allegedly severed the man’s genitals during the attack. Officers arrested the suspect at the scene and recovered the knife.

The victim was taken to Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

Kano State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori condemned both incidents and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.

He said the command would carry out “diligent, transparent, and thorough investigations into both cases,” adding that all suspects would be prosecuted according to the law.



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Police rescue 10 passengers after bandits attack Jos-Kano highway bus

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Bandits abducted 13 passengers travelling in a commercial bus along the Jos-Kano highway in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State, but police operatives rescued 10 of the victims after engaging the attackers in a gun battle.

The incident occurred on Sunday at about 5:30 pm at the Folgore Forest axis, between Gate Two Safer Highway and Dogo Dutse.

The Kano State Police Command, in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Doguwa Division received a distress call that a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Kano had been attacked by armed men.

According to the statement, five suspected bandits armed with machetes and a firearm blocked the road, attacked the bus and abducted 13 of the 20 passengers on board.

The police said the DPO immediately mobilised tactical operatives to the scene, where they confronted the attackers in a gun duel.

“As a result of the swift and coordinated response of the Police team, nine victims were successfully rescued. One other male victim later escaped from captivity,” the statement said.

The command, however, disclosed that three victims, comprising one man and two women, were still being held by the kidnappers.

It added that the rescued passengers were taken to Doguwa General Hospital for medical evaluation and were in stable condition while receiving treatment.

The police said additional tactical teams had been deployed to the area, while intelligence gathering and search operations had been intensified to secure the release of the remaining captives and arrest those responsible for the attack.

The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended residents and road users for providing timely information that helped the police respond quickly to the incident.

He assured residents that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.



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Jigawa mob sets suspected motorcycle thief ablaze after hospital escape

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A suspected motorcycle thief, whose identity is yet to be established, was burnt to death by an angry mob at the main gate of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday after the suspect allegedly escaped from the hospital’s emergency unit, where he had been receiving treatment following an earlier assault.

Eyewitnesses said two suspected motorcycle thieves were apprehended on the hospital premises while allegedly attempting to steal motorcycles.

One of the suspects reportedly escaped, while the other was caught and severely beaten by youths before being taken to the hospital for medical attention.

According to witnesses, the injured suspect later fled from the emergency ward but was quickly tracked down after youths were alerted.

“He was caught again, beaten further, dragged to the hospital gate and set ablaze,” an eyewitness said.

A video circulating on social media showed the bloodstained suspect, dressed in a white shirt, being dragged by a crowd before he was set on fire.

The Jigawa State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.



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