Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, of Ekiti State Police Command have arrested three suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, cultism and belonging to an unlawful society.

The suspects were identified as Aluko Mayowa, 33, Oparinde Samuel, 34 and Mukaila Akintayo,  37.

This was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu.

Parts of the statement read, “Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are members of the Eiye Secret Confraternity and have made statements admitting their alleged membership, as well as their respective positions and roles within the group.

“Following their arrest, the operatives conducted thorough searches of their residences and premises, during which the following exhibits were recovered: one locally made pistol, one UTC axe, one iron-made dangerous axe, one jackknife, and one cutlass.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects currently at large, while investigation continues to unravel the activities and network of the suspected cult group in the State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP FALADE ADEGOROYE MICHAEL, reiterates the Command’s commitment to tracking down other members of the group, as well as other criminal elements in the State, and ensuring that persons found culpable are brought to justice.”

The Ekiti police commissioner urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist in preventing cultism, violent crimes and other forms of criminality across the state.

A Plateau State activist, Walshak Samuel John has accused soldiers attached to the Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, of killing a Mangu youth leader, Fwangshak Dawuk, and dumping his body at the Barkin Ladi general hospital.

According to John, Dawuk, who was the Secretary of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Mangu Halle District in Mangu Local Government Area, was 

allegedly shot to death on Sunday night by military personnel in Jakatai village while he and other youths were on a vigilante duty.

In a post he shared on Facebook on Monday, John said eyewitnesses stated that Dawuk was shot at point-blank range by the soldiers who were protecting the Fulani terrorists.

In the post, John wrote:

“If accounts from eyewitnesses on the killing of Fwanshak Dawuk by soldiers are accurate, then this is not simply another casualty to be added to the long list of deaths associated with insecurity in Plateau State. 

“It is a serious allegation involving personnel of the Nigerian military and a civilian youth leader who was reportedly participating in community vigilance.

“Witnesses said Fwangshak went out with other youths to watch over his community following an attack on neighbouring Lawuru in Barkin Ladi LGA. Instead of returning home to his family, he reportedly ended up dead.

“Even more troubling are the reports surrounding what allegedly happened after the shooting, including the reported removal of his body from the scene and its transportation to Barkin Ladi General Hospital and dumping it there.

“These are serious allegations. They demand serious answers. Who ordered the shooting?

What exactly happened between the soldiers and the youths?

“Who were the personnel involved? Which military convoy was operating in Jakatai at the time?

What were their operational orders? 

“Why was the deceased reportedly taken to a hospital after the shooting?

And why did the soldiers allegedly leave the hospital without properly accounting for what had happened?

“When communities are repeatedly attacked, and people organise themselves to watch over their homes, families and neighbours, the proper response from security agencies should be coordination, protection and communication — not indiscriminate treatment of citizens as enemies.” 

Conflict journalist, Masara Kim Usman also confirmed the incident in a post on his Facebook page.

“Earlier today, terrorists reportedly invaded Arangai (Jakatai) village in Mangu LGA, Plateau State. Soldiers allegedly failed to respond to distress calls. 

“When civilian guards could no longer stand by and watch their families being slaughtered, they came out with homemade pipe guns to hold off the attackers — who were armed with assault and sniper rifles — to allow vulnerable residents to escape. 

“And this was when soldiers who had been unresponsive suddenly appeared and opened fire on the village defenders, killing this young man instantly,” he wrote.

However, the Media Information Officer of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycarp Oteh denied knowledge of such an incident. 

In a phone chat with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Captain Oteh said he was not aware of such an incident as he was currently on a course on Kaduna. 

Efforts to also get confirmation from the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo were futile as he neither picked his calls nor responded to messages sent to his phones.

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, have neutralised two suspected terrorists, apprehended a bandit and recovered an AK-47 rifle during an operation in Plateau State.

This is contained in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Abuja, on Tuesday.

According to the report, the incident occurred on August 10 at Nwur village in Langtang North Local Government Area of the state.

The report said the troops had mobilised with an apprehended suspected bandit to recover a rifle allegedly concealed by the suspect in the area.

It said the troops came under attack while approaching the village and responded with fire, neutralising two attackers.

”The arrested suspect accompanying the troops was also killed during the encounter, while no military personnel was injured.

”Troops subsequently exploited the area and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine and two rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

”The troops continued operations to apprehend and neutralise other fleeing members of the suspected criminal syndicate,” the report said.