Nigerian Army Troops Clash with Villagers in Niger State
The Nigerian Army carried out an operation in Niger State which led to the death of 10 soldiers along with one officer and one soldier missing. According to the Army commanding officer, the operation came about after the release of intelligence reports indicating gunrunners bringing in and selling crude and sophisticated weapons to robbery gangs who had been terrorizing the state. The Army stated that several local and sophisticated weapons were recovered as a result of the operation.
Other reports indicated that the villagers mistook the soldiers for Fulani herdsmen thus staging a reprisal attack on the military men who came to Kpaidna and Gagaw villages at about 2am as part of an operation in search of arms and ammunition.
Bulwark Analyst Comments: With the high number of soldiers lost in this operation, it is clear that this was a poorly executed operation. The” intelligence” received may also have overstated the presence of weapons in the area as the army did not indicate exactly how many weapons were recovered during the operation.
Mob Attacks are Still Trending Across Nigeria, Next Stop: Osun State
An angry mob on Monday stormed the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State Oba Abdurasheed Akanbi, and razed part of the palace in an attempt to stone a suspected kidnapper caught by some residents of the town to death. It was gathered that the female suspect was arrested while making frantic telephone calls somewhere in the town and some youths, who suspected that she was a kidnapper, pounced on her. The angry mob eventually dragged her to the Oba’s palace, demanding immediate interrogation to make her confess.
While the king was interrogating the woman, some policemen arrived at the scene and some youths, who became angry by the arrival of the security agents, started hurling stones at them stating that they did not have confidence in the police. The policemen made several attempts but were resisted from taking the woman away.
The mob did not leave the palace until the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Oyeleye, led a team of mobile policemen to the palace with an Armour Personnel Carrier. The CP was said to have addressed the residents and assured them that the case would be properly investigated and the suspect would be charged to court if there were evidence against her. – Punch Newspaper
Bulwark Analyst Comments: There has been an increase in mob incidents in Nigeria over the last two months, which typically arises during seasons of economic hardship. Osun state in particular has been dealing with a number of strikes and protests in response to non-payment of salaries. This has led to agitated locals who typically take out their frustrations through meting out “jungle justice”.
And the Kidnapping Continues…
In the early hours of Monday, Benue lawyer, Terfa Jirgba, and his two relatives, were kidnapped from his residence in Makurdi. The armed kidnappers about 20 in number arrived in six Toyota Hilux vehicles to whisk the lawyer and his relatives away.
Bulwark Analyst Comments: The excess number of the gunmen and the vehicles they arrived in is not typical of the mode of operation of for ransom kidnappers. This may be more of a targeted incident. Benue has been experiencing an increase in criminal activity this year. The excesses of the gunmen in this case is evidence among other things, that the state’s police and security forces are yet to get a grasp of the security situation within the state.
While, two Chinese construction workers who were kidnapped by gunmen in Nasarawa on their way to Abuja over the weekend regained their freedom after being held for about 24 hours.
Bulwark Analyst Comments: Chinese nationals in the last two months have remained kidnap targets, possibly due to the high number of Chinese carrying out construction projects across the country. Also, kidnappers reckon they will receive a higher amount of ransom due to their perceived availability of forex.
Both of these kidnap cases highlight the ongoing trend of kidnappers opting to abduct individuals primarily while in transit or while in their residence. It is therefore encouraged that transit routines be varied when possible and that drivers undergo evasive and defensive driving courses which may help them maneuver out of a situation if the vehicle gets ambushed.
Another lecturer from UNIPORT has been abducted. On Monday, unidentified gunmen Prof. John Okolii,a lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering. Okoli was kidnapped at gunpoint from his residence in Omuoko, Aluu community in the Ikwerre Local Government Area. Nine days ago, gunmen kidnapped a lecturer named Dr. Reginald Ohiri, who was subsequently released the next day, after the kidnappers realized he was not their “target”.
Bulwark Analyst Comments: Both lecturers were abducted from their residences in Aluu community, indicating that they were specifically targeted. The abductors are certainly carrying out surveillance on the targets and monitoring their movements. Paying closer attention to individuals lurking or loitering around residences, and reporting such suspicious activity could help in preventing residential abductions.
Another Prison Break
No fewer than 15 inmates were believed to have escaped from Nsukka Prison in Enugu state in a jail-break that occurred on Tuesday night. A reliable source at the prison who pleaded anonymity said on Wednesday that the inmates broke their cells and scaled over the perimeter fence. “The inmates carefully opened their cells and scaled the perimeter fence of the prisons. “Before prison officials on night duty knew what was happening, about 15 inmates had escaped,” the source said. – Today.ng
Bulwark Analyst Comments: Barely two weeks ago, 13 individuals escaped from prison in Kogi state. The inmates in this case dug a hole in the wall and escaped. The issue of prison breaks is obviously a national problem which stems from two key issues: poor structural integrity of the prisons due to wear and tear, and non-performing prison officials. The current Minister of Interior claims his leadership is poised to address these issues, however, like most other problems in Nigeria, situations get to an “embarrassing” stage before real action takes place.