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Bandits kill 13 soldiers, five policemen in Kebbi (photos)
Bandits have killed 13 soldiers and five policemen during a gun battle in Kanya village, Danko-Wasagu district in Zuru emirate, Kebbi State.
The battle erupted in the village on Tuesday, March 8, days after about 63 members of the vigilante otherwise refer to as Yan-Sa-Kai, were massacred in Zuru emirate.
According to Punch report, hundreds of gunmen invaded Kanya, engaging a combined military and police detachment in a three-hour gunfight.
“The death toll stands at 19. They include 13 soldiers, five policemen and one vigilante,” a security personnel, who did not want to be identified,” security source and residents told AFP.
He said eight other security personnel, including four soldiers, were hospitalised with wounds.
“It was an intense fight that lasted more than three hours. The terrorists had the upper hand because of their sheer number.”
Local resident Musa Arzika, who gave the same toll, said the attackers came on “around 200 motorcycles riding three on each” and laid siege on the village.
“The bodies of 13 soldiers, five policemen and one vigilante killed in the fight were taken to Zuru this morning. We believe they were the same bandits who killed the vigilantes that attacked our village,” he said.
Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, confirmed the attack on Wednesday when he received the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Birnin Kebbi, Daily Trust reported.
Although the governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Babale Yauri, did not give the number of the soldiers killed, he added that his government is making a frantic effort in tackling the insecurity bedevilling the southern part of the state.
“In fact, only last three days, we lost about 65 vigilantes members. And even yesterday, we lost some military officers engaging with them,”
“The issue of banditry was formally a casual thing in Kebbi but in view of what is currently happening in Zamfara, the bandits are facing a serious challenge from the military, therefore, forced to come into Kebbi especially, the southern part of Kebbi.”
In his response, the Minister said he was in the state on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, to condole with the government and people of Kebbi State over the recent killing of members of vigilante in the state.
Onyeama said that the President urged the state to stand firm on dealing with the challenges of the banditry.
“There will be no retreat and we will not be bound with the challenges of banditry and terrorists in the northern states,”
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Court remands three suspects for stealing transformer cables in Osun monarch’s palace
An Osun State Magistrate court sitting in Ilesa, on Monday remanded three suspected thieves in police custody for stealing transformer cables valued at N700,000 in Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran’s palace.
The suspects, Owolabi Abimbola,33, Sulaiman Mutiu,25, Samson Oluwafemi,25, and others now at large are facing four-count charges on the committed offence.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Adigun Kehinde, the stolen transformer cables were the property of IBEDC Ilesa branch.
He told the court that the defendants on May 11, 2022, conspired, stole and diverted to their own personal use a transformer cable at the Owa Obokun Palace.
Adigun argued that the offence committed by the defendants was contrary to sections 516, 400, 451(6), 383(2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol ll Law of Osun State 2002, which saw the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, A.O Awodele fixed further hearing on the case till May 18th and ordered that the defendants should be kept in Police custody.
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Rio Ferdinand reacts after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to make Premier League Player of the Year shortlist
Rio Ferdinand has reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo’s omission from the Premier League Player of the Year shortlist, saying it’s ‘laughable’ while insisting he will ‘100 per cent’ stay at Manchester United next season.
Ronaldo’s return to the club from Juventus hasn’t gone as planned after enduring a frustrating first season at United, who have missed out on Champions League qualification. Though, he has 18 Premier League goals to his name.
Despite his individual performance, there was no room for the Portuguese star on this season’s Premier League Player of the Year shortlist, which consists of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Bowen, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min, James Ward-Prowse, and Bukayo Saka.
Now, Ferdinand has questioned how Saka, who has registered six goals and 11 assists for Arsenal, has earned a nomination ahead of his old team-mate.
‘Saka’s in the in the Player of the Year nominees?’ the former United defender asked on the Vibe with Five podcast. ‘I wouldn’t have had Saka in there yet, as well as he’s done.
‘I wouldn’t have had him over Ronaldo, no, not this season. Ronaldo should be in ahead of three of four of those guys in there.
‘He probably doesn’t win it but in terms of nominees, it’s laughable. He’ll take it as a disrespect but these are the things that fuel him, he’ll be thinking, “how dare you?”.
‘If it’s based on stats, he’s like, “I’ve banged in more goals than most of them on that list other than Salah, so what are you talking about?”‘
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2023: Why Kwankwaso will emerge next president – Orji Kalu
Factual Pursuit of Truth for Progress
The Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, has explained why former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPC) have a chance if winning in next year’s presidential election.
Kanu, who had earlier endorsed Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, believes the former Kano State Governor could shock the odds.
Kalu, who featured in a Television programme on Monday evening, said his understanding of the power shift to the Southern part of the country was that all regions in the zone – South-South, South-West and South-East would allow the latter to produce the country’s next president.
He added that since South-West and South-South-South are not willing to surrender the presidential ticket to the South-East, he would not mind if the presidency remained in the North.
In his words, “We agreed that it is the turn of the South-East to produce the president. Later we started seeing candidates from other zones – South-West and South-South.
“I know the two zones that have not produced the country’s president are South-East and North-East. I know I don’t have the number but I have other things to win the election.
“Since our southern brothers refuse to leave it to the South-East, if it is not South-East then it should be North-East. The South-West and South-South are not fair.
“If we have to do anything rational, Ahmed Lawal will have my vote because he is from the North-East. Anything except South-East, it should go back to the North. We are wiser now. This is the position of most Igbos. If they vote it back to the South-East, I’ll reactivate my aspiration.”
Kalu added: “The problem we have now is Kwankwanso. If they give me the ticket, I’ll lose to Kwankwanso. If APC pick southerner, Kwankwanso is already the president.”
The former Abia State governor, who dismissed insinuations on his interest in the running mate ticket, insisted that nine presidential aspirants would step down for the Senate President before the APC primary election.
“I am not a politician but an entrepreneur. I talk straight and not like a politician. I employ 35 percent of journalists in Nigeria.
“I have already purchased my Senate form. I have known Lawal for 41 years. We were roommate in the university,” he concluded.
