Tragedy stuck in Okanla community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State on Sunday as some men bearing arms stormed the palace of Olokanla of Okanla, killed an admission seeker, Ibrahim Qudus, before setting the building ablaze.

An uncle to the deceased, Prince Jimoh Qadri, who claimed to be the target of the murder, said the gunmen invaded his house in Okanla area Sunday morning and started shooting sporadically.

Qadri said the assailants were led by a man identified simply as Naim, who was the only one among the attackers that did not cover his face during the incident.

Qadri, who could not give a reason for the attack, said the perpetrators had initially stormed his personal house, and met his absence before they proceeded to his father’s house, late Oba Jimoh Adigun, the Olokanla of Okanla, that he used as palace before his demise.

He said, “I was not at home, but my wife called me that gunmen numbering about 20 had stormed my house in Okanla area very early on Sunday. She told me they all covered their faces, but one of them bearing Naim did not cover his face and my wife saw him. The attackers were after me and they searched around the house.

“When they could not find me around, they vandalised the building and proceeded to my family house, where my late father, Olokanla of Okanla used as his palace. It was there they saw Qudus, a son to my elder brother, who was living in Ibadan, until he recently returned home to seek university admission, after writing UTME.

“He was killed and they put his corpse in my car parked within the premises and set the vehicle ablaze. They also set the palace ablaze. The reason behind the attack is not known to me. But it may not be unconnected to the tussle over land in our area. The family is pleading with the security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this crime are apprehended.”

When contacted, the Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who said the Commissioner of Police, Kehinde Longe, had visited the scene of the crime, added that more operatives had been deployed to the area.

“Someone was burnt with a car around Okanla, the area is between Ifon and Ilobu. We have deployed our men to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order. The Commissioner of Police has visited the scene,” Opalola stated.

The police in Rivers state have arrested six persons in connection with the murder of Rivers DPO, SP Bako Angbashim.

JomogNews had earlier reported that Bako was killed in the Odiemudie Community in the Ahoada East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state during a shootout with some cultists in the area. Read here.

A statement released on the spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, says the state Commissioner of Police for Rivers State, CP Nwonyi Emeka Polycarp, along with his management team and tactical units, conducted an operation on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at approximately 0600hrs in Odumude Community, Ahaoda East LGA, Rivers State with the objective to recover the deceased DPO’s body and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the community.

She said during this operation, six suspects were apprehended within the community. Among the items seized were a locally crafted pistol and various charms. These suspects and the confiscated items are currently under police custody and are undergoing interrogation at the State CID, Port Harcourt. As a result of these developments, the community has been evacuated by its residents.

Furthermore, a new DPO, SP Zuokumor Richard, has been assigned to the division. He is accompanied by half a unit of men from Mopol 48, one-third unit from Mopol 19, 56, and tactical teams. He has been tasked with a thorough search of the area, apprehension of the culprits responsible for the DPO’s demise, recovery of the body, and location of any operational weapons used. This operation will continue while the investigation remains ongoing.

Bandits on Thursday night invaded St. Rachael’s Catholic Parish in Fadan Kamantan, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, razing the parish house.

In the process, however, a seminarian, Na’aman Danladi, was burnt to death. Fadan Kamantan is in Southern Kaduna.

It was learnt that while some priests escaped during the incident, Danlami, who was a seminarian, was caught in the inferno. His remains have since been deposited at the mortuary.

The Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna State Police Command, Mansur Alhassan, confirmed the attack to our correspondent, saying, “We are on top of the situation.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State, Revd John Hayab, who also confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, condemned the attack on the parish, saying, “It is very sad that killings and this type of evil are still going on.”

Hayab, in a statement, also said the attack by the bandits was targeted at the residence of the parish priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Okolo, who is also the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, and his assistant.

He said the duo narrowly escaped from the attack before the criminals set the entire rectory ablaze, burning to death the seminarian, who was about completing his training into the Catholic Priesthood.

The CAN chairman said more worrisome was that the attack was by the Kaduna – Kafanchan highway with a military checkpoint not far from the parish.

He stated, “The parish is located at the heart of Kamantan town and the attack was carried out at about 8pm. This caused us to wonder some more; where is the hope, how much more terrible could the situation get?

“We appreciate the willingness of the present administration to proffer practical, real and lasting solutions to the security challenge in Kaduna State as made visible by the ongoing recruitment of over 7,000 men and women into the Kaduna State Vigilante Services. In the light of sharing in the faith of the perceived goodwill of the present administration in Kaduna State, we invite the Governor of Kaduna State and all relevant stakeholders to immediately swing into action and ensure that those responsible for the Kamatan evil night are apprehended and made to face the law.”

He said it was disappointing that the criminals would operate unchallenged, when there were security forces within the area.

He added, “We cannot continue like this, no, it is unacceptable and we all must wake up to our responsibilities.”

Meanwhile, the senator representing Kaduna South, Sunday Katung, has appealed for a one-month military operation in forests in the state.

He said in a statement on Friday, “I unequivocally condemn this horrific terrorist attack that claimed the life of our young seminarian. Such a cowardly and callous attack on our communities must not be allowed to continue.”

He said the resurgence of terrorism on the Kaduna-Kachia Road was a direct affront to the Federal Government and the security agencies, adding, “I appeal to the security agencies to carry out a one-month intensive operation on the forest around Southern Kaduna to degrade the bandits and kidnappers. Anybody found to be aiding and abetting criminality shouldn’t be spared.”

Also, Governor Uba Sani condemned the attack, as he vowed to track the perpetrators and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Lawal Shehu, quoted the governor as saying, “I am deeply saddened by the attack on Fadan Kamatan Parish in Zangon Kataf. This act of violence against innocent worshipers is not only an attack on the Catholic community, but an attempt to set our people against one another. We will not tolerate such acts of brutality and will go to any length within the law to bring the attackers to book.”

While urging the security agencies to swiftly investigate the incident and ensure that the culprits are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law, the governor offered his condolences to the families of the victims, assuring them of government’s support.