Tragedy struck in Imo State on Wednesday after rampaging hoodlums beheaded two persons in the Orsu Local Government Area of the state. The hoodlums also set the country home of the lawmaker representing the area at the state House of Assembly, Ekene Nnodimele, after beheading his gate man. The gunmen also beheaded an All Progressives Congress chieftain in the area, Jonathan Ugochukwu. The multiple attacks took place between 1am and 2am, the villagers told The PUNCH. Our correspondent, who visited the area on Wednesday morning, observed that the country home of the immediate past state attorney general of the state and commissioner for justice, Cyprian Akaolisa, was also burnt. Our correspondent saw a team of policemen inspecting the building when he visited Awo Idemili, Akaolisa’s country home. Also, the house and vehicle of the councilor representing Amaebu Ebenatu ward, Clifford Mazi, were burnt by the hoodlums after they met his absence when they got to his house. The rampaging hoodlums also burnt the house of the President General of Amaebu Ebenatu, Oliver Ejelonu, who also escaped. The PUNCHman, who visited the houses where the mayhem took place, saw that household equipment were destroyed. The wife of one of the victims, Nkechi Ugochukwu, told our correspondent that the attackers invaded their house, carried her husband out, beheaded him and set the house ablaze. When contacted, the immediate-past attorney general and commissioner for justice, said that he had reported the arson to the police. The state commissioner of police, Abutu Yaro, told The PUNCH that the police were investigating the multiple attacks. He, however, disclosed that his command was closing in on the attackers.

Years after their disbandment, the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group in the South East, have returned to some parts of Awka, Anambra State capital. They were seen in two vans, singing and warning criminals. However, it could not be confirmed who invited the dreaded vigilante group. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, said he was not aware of the development. He said, “I received this as information from you. I don’t have any such details before me. “Meanwhile, I will make enquires please.” Asked whether the police would be ready with such arrangement, the PPRO said, “We are ready to work with any stakeholder in security.” But a source said, “The boys came mainly for alleged cult groups which have taken over Awka town in recent time without any response from the Police. I think they were invited by traders.” A Senior Police Officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some security men arrived at the state, but failed to confirm if they were sent by the government. The source said, “That is the only thing I can tell you, for now. Let’s see how things work out in the days and weeks to come.” The Bakassi Boys are usually armed with machetes and guns and an array of black magic artefacts worn around their body. They have been accused of extrajudicial killings. Their targets are suspected petty thieves, armed robbers, ritual killers, murderers, corrupt persons, and generally, anyone considered evil.

There is palpable fear in Owerri, the Imo State capital, as the disbanded Special Anti-Response Squad (SARS), had gradually taken over the streets of Owerri. DAILY POST reports that the dreaded SARS officers are seen at various junctions and checkpoints in Owerri, causing terror and fear to Imo residents. At Spibat junction, near former Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s house, they mounted a road block and used their firearms to intimidate unsuspecting motorists. However, cab drivers and pedestrians alike in Owerri, have taken alternative routes to their destination for fear of being confronted. A minibus driver who operates along Orji flyover to Amakohia, on sighting the uniformed men, immediately took a u-turn and followed an alternative route. He said, “these wicked policemen have come back again. I thought they were disbanded. What are they doing on the roads. “There is nothing Imo people will not face in this period. Which one are we running for? Is it unknown gunmen or the army, or even Fulani herdsmen? Truly, Imo State is in trouble.” It would be recalled that youths of Imo State and Nigeria at large, recently took to streets protest the brutalization and intimidation of the SARS officers, calling for their disbandment. To that effect, President, Muhammadu Buhari saw reason with the youths and disbanded the squad. The nationwide protest did not stop without leaving property worth millions of Naira destroyed in the country.

Gunmen on Sunday night in two separate attacks killed 14 persons in Kuru village of Jos South Local Council and Zogu village in Bassa Local Council of Plateau State. The first attack took place at about 10:30pm, leaving five others severely injured. While the second attack took place at Zogu village in Bassa Local council around 8:00 p.m. when some suspected herdsmen stormed the area and started shooting sporadically resulting in the Killing of two persons, while a woman was injured and now admitted at Jos University Teaching Hospital, (JUTH). Chairman of Jos South Local Government, Hon Gideon Dandereng confirmed the attack while briefing reporters in Jos. Dandereng who visited the scene of the incident condemned the unwarranted attack on peace-loving and hardworking citizens.” He also called for calm and appealed to security operatives to go after the perpetrators. Mr. Danjuma Dickson Auta the Secretary of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), who confirmed the second attack at his domain Zogu village to this reporter, said,”It was the same midnight attack on my Community that left two-person dead in Zogu village, Irigwe land in Bassa LGA. “People were sleeping and the attackers stormed the village and started shooting sporadically leaving two killed and two injured. One of the women was critically injured and was first taken to Bingham University Teaching Hospital but was later transferred to JUTH.” The Plateau State Police Command, through it’s Spokesman, ASP Gabriel Ubah said, “we received a report that ten persons were shot dead in a drinking joint at Sabon Layi, Kuru in Jos South LGA by yet to be identified gunmen who drove in with a Hilux, shot sporadically and zoomed off. “Personnel of the Command and the Military have been deployed to the affected area. “The Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and to bring the perpetrators of that dastardly act to book.” Responding, Plateau state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong expressed sadness over the killing of innocent citizens in Sabon Layi, Kuru in Jos South Local Government Area, Lalong, however, appealed to citizens to increase surveillance and intelligence gathering as well as collaborate with security agencies to foil such attacks which are carried out in a hit and run fashion.

The Rivers State Police Command has appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike not to lift the night time curfew imposed in the wake of attacks on security formations and operatives in the state. Spokesman of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni made the appeal during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Omoni said the curfew has helped the police and other security agencies respond timely to distress calls, adding that security threats have reduced in the state since the curfew was imposed over a fortnight ago. “The curfew was imposed essentially to arrest the trend of attacks on police. Since it was imposed, that attack has seized abruptly and we are leveraging on it. I think the governor should still delay it(curfew) for some time because it has been assisting us. “We are driving the criminals away from Rivers State. So, when their remnants have been rounded off, then the curfew can be lifted. “We appeal to the governor to allow the curfew to continue because it is assisting us,” he stated, noting that the police have recorded some milestone in the past three weeks. “The curfew imposed by the state government is still on. It has not been relaxed. The governor who made that order is the same person that will rescind or relax it. “So, to that extent, it is still subsisting. It has not been relaxed. And so far, it has helped tremendously in containing criminal activities in the state,” the police spokesman disclosed. Omoni, a superintendent of police called on members of the public to continue to observe the 8.30pm to 6am curfew given by the state government and urged them to report suspicious movements within their neighbourhood to the police for prompt action.

At least, 11 people have been killed in two separate incidents in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. This is barely one week after gunmen attacked and killed 27 people in Odugbeho community of Agatu LGA. Our correspondent reports that the latest killings occurred again in Odugbeho and two other rural villages of Aila and Adagbo. Daily Trust gathered while two people were killed in Odugbeho, the remaining nine people were killed in Aila and Adagbo villages on Sunday night. Council Chairman of Agatu, Adoyi Sule, told our correspondent on the telephone that the attack on Odugbeho community, which led to the death of two people, was carried out by suspected armed herders. Sule said that armed herders invaded the community on Sunday night, killed the two people and burnt 21 houses. He also disclosed that the other nine deaths were recorded as a result of a communal crisis between Aila and Adagbo communities, adding that eight people who were wounded during the clash were now receiving treatment in the hospital. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive any of the reports about the incident. EDITOR’S NOTE: This photo is for illustrative purpose