Suspected members of Ebubeagu Security Network have allegedly attacked youth leaders in Oba Community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to Premium Times t he security reportedly opened fire on the youth and attempted to abduct its chairman whom they labelled a criminal, but were resisted by some residents. The incident happened on Tuesday. The residents, mainly youth, were said to have beaten up the operatives and destroyed windshields of their vehicles before forcing them to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, where they were interrogated by the monarch. A video clip of the incident has been circulating on various WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. In the clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, one of the youth leaders, Maxwell Obadike, said they were patrolling the community when they saw the Ebubeagu operatives and parked their vehicle by a roadside to allow them pass. “These people got down, without any provocation, suddenly opened fire on us. But because we didn’t know their intention, we drove off,” he said. Mr Obadike, also a member of a local vigilante group in the community, said the operatives still trailed them to his house and attacked them again. “When we got to my house, we parked our vehicle, and immediately they opened fire on us again. They destroyed my door. I jumped the fence and they captured the Oba youth commander and accused him of kidnapping and stealing,” Mr Obadike said. He claimed the security outfit beat up and shot the youth leader several times, before they dragged him to the palace of the monarch. “We don’t want Ebubeagu again, my people, please. I have said it several times,” he stated. “They kill anyhow without asking questions. I am a security man. We are not kidnappers,” Mr Obadike added, while displaying his security identity card. The back windshield of a Lexus SUV, belonging to the youth chairman, was destroyed. The vehicle was also riddled with bullet holes, said to have been shot by the Ebubeagu operatives. Ogoegbulam Igwilo, a former youth chairman in the community, who witnessed the attack, narrated how the incident happened. “I was in front of my house, when the Ebubeagu people pursued the youth into their house. They started shooting indiscriminately,” he said. “Shortly, they dragged the chairman out, beating him and forcing him to confess that he was a criminal or they would deal with him,” Mr Igwilo said. In the palace premises, the angry youth appeared to have an altercation with one of the Ebueagu operatives, who stepped out of their vehicle with a rifle. “Where are you going? Drop the gun on the ground immediately. Are you mad? You Ebubeagu people came to kill our youth commander,” the angry youth yelled at the operative, who hurried into their vehicle. When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, but said they were not Ebubeagu operatives. “It was a misunderstanding between vigilante operatives and Oba youth, who felt that the vigilante men attacked their chairman,” he said. Mr Ikenga said the divisional police officer in charge of the community has drafted police operatives in the area. “We have been able to calm the situation,” the police spokesperson said. Ebubeagu was set up in 2021 by governors of the five states in the South-east to help in the fight against insecurity in the region which has witnessed deadly attacks linked to the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra. But the security outfit has been accused of extrajudicial killings like in the tragic incident in July where some Imo youth returning from a wedding ceremony were shot dead at a close range.

  Gunmen, on Friday, invaded a mosque in Zugu community in Zamfara state, and abducted a yet-to-be-confirmed number of worshippers. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the gunmen disguised as worshippers and invaded the central mosque in Zugu town, Bukkuyum LGA, at about 1:30 pm on Friday. “Many worshipers scampered for safety amidst sporadic shooting by the insurgents. The bandits surrounded the remaining worshippers and took them to away,” a witness was reported as saying. Abdulkareem Bilyaminu, a resident, also reportedly said the deputy chief imam was among those abducted by the gunmen. “The armed group followed to the eastern location of Zugu village, heading towards Gando forest,” Bilyaminu was quoted as saying. Speaking with TheCable, Mohammed Shehu, Zamfara police spokesman, confirmed the attack on the village but said the command has not been able to ascertain if it was a mosque that was invaded as the community is in a remote location. The spokesman said no one was killed in the attack, adding that the number of abducted persons is not yet known. “We have a report stating that bandits abducted people from the village. It is a remote village, so we’re not sure if it’s a mosque that was attacked,” he said. “Also, the number of people abducted has not been established and nobody was killed in the attack. “The police operatives deployed in that axis are on search and rescue. They are also working to apprehend the perpetrators.” There has been a spike in the activities of bandits in north-western states, with invasion of communities by gunmen, leading to killings and abductions. In July, at least 11 people were killed following an attack by gunmen in Maru LGA area of Zamfara state. Among those who were said to have been killed were farmers.

  The Nigerian Communications Commission has attributed poor telecom services to the destruction of telecommunication infrastructure and facilities in the country. The Vice Chairman, NCC, Umar Danbatta, said this at the 2022 edition of the Youth, Civil Society and Stakeholders Summit, held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Danbatta said over 50,000 cases of destruction in telecom infrastructure and facilities had been reported across the country in the past five years, adding that the implications of these incidents could be felt in the quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria. He said the increased incidents had continued to affect the quality of experience of consumers and called for concerted efforts by members of the public and security agencies to stem the tide. Danbatta, who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communication Unit, Nnena Ukoha, said, “The negative impacts of incessant vandalism of telecom equipment, evidenced in fibre cuts, theft of telecom facilities like generators at sites, vandalism of base stations, among other vices, have become a major burden on the service providers, while telecom consumers have continued to suffer unwarranted disruptions of their hard-earned services.” “The impact of vandalism of infrastructure is felt by all in the quality of services rendered, as it results in increasing drop calls, data and internet connectivity disruptions, aborted and undelivered short messaging services as well as countless failed calls.” Danbatta further said it was necessary to consider that the ability to connect and communicate was fundamental to human existence, improvement in business processes, government services, education, as well as social and family networking. He added that to enjoy seamless connections, every member of the community should get involved in protecting the critical infrastructure that made these services possible. “As a community, you are expected to report cases of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure to the nearest law enforcement agencies such as the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and also share adequate information received from the NCC with your family, friends, and neighbour,” he said.

  A magistrate court sitting in the Ajah area of Lagos has ordered the remand of hip-hop recording artist, Ice Prince Zamani at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting a police officer. The ‘Oleku’ crooner was arraigned before the court by the Lagos State Police Command on Friday on a three-count charge of assault, obstructing a policeman from carrying out his statutory duties and abduction. When the counts were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Taiwo Oyaniyi subsequently granted him bail in the sum of N500,000. He is also to furnish the court with 2 responsible sureties. Pending when he meets the bail conditions, the magistrate ordered his remand and adjourned further proceedings in the case till September 7. Police spokesperson Hundeyin had earlier revealed how and when the veteran rapper was arrested, saying “At 3 am today, Ice prince was stopped for driving without license plates. “He agreed to be taken to the station. He, thereafter, abducted the police officer in his car, assaulted him, and threatened to throw him in the river. He has been arrested and would be arraigned today.” This is coming a few days after Lagos State Police Command stated that singer Daniel Benson, professionally known as BNXN, will face sanctions for assaulting and spitting on a police officer.