Crime Facts

Almost 1,000 Killed In Israel War With Hamas

  The death toll surged to almost 1,000 since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its massive surprise attack on Israel with a barrage of rockets and a large-scale ground assault, officials on both sides said Sunday. The conflict’s worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 600 lives on the Israeli side, the government press office said, while Gaza officials reported at least 370 deaths, with thousands more wounded on each side. Thousands of Israeli forces were deployed to battle holdout Hamas fighters in the south and the airforce again pounded targets in the Gaza Strip as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” war ahead. Gun battles raged in towns and on highways as the Israeli army sought to secure desert regions near the coastal enclave, rescue Israeli hostages and evacuate all areas near Gaza within 24 hours. We’ll reach each and every community until we kill every terrorist in Israel,” vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari, a day after hundreds of Hamas fighters launched their shock offensive and surged into Israel using vehicles, boats and even motorised paragliders. There was widespread shock and dismay in Israel after at least 100 citizens were captured by Hamas gunmen and abducted into Gaza, with images circulating on social media of bloodied hostages, and distraught relatives pleading for the state to rescue them. Yifat Zailer, 37, said she was horrified to see online video footage from inside Gaza that showed her female cousin and the woman’s children, aged nine months and three years. “That’s the only confirmation we have,” she told AFP by phone, her voicing breaking with emotion, and adding there was no information on her cousin’s husband and her elderly parents. After the army took control of the kibbutz, they weren’t at home,” she said. “We assume they were kidnapped … We want to know what their condition is, we want them to return safe. They’re innocent civilians.” Israel also came under attack from the north when Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells Sunday “in solidarity” with the unprecedented Hamas offensive, without causing any casualties. Israel responded with artillery strikes across the UN-patrolled border. “We recommend Hezbollah not to come into this,” said army spokesman Richard Hecht. “If they come, we are ready.” Israel was stunned when Hamas launched their multi-pronged offensive at dawn Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, raining down thousands of rockets as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave party held under the desert sky. Panicked Israeli residents phoned media outlets as they hid out in their homes from militants going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. Two Thai nationals were among those killed, and other Asian nationals, many of whom work as farm labourers in the region, were believed to be among the hostages. “A lot of people have been killed,” said Hecht, after the military released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. “We lost soldiers, lost commanders and lost a lot of civilians. “We are completing efforts to retake full control of Israeli territory from Hamas,” he added, reporting that the army had struck 426 Hamas targets including Gaza tunnels and buildings. ‘No respite’ Global concern has mounted, with Western capitals condemning the attack by the Islamist group Hamas, which Washington and Brussels consider a terrorist group. Israel’s foes have praised the assault, including Iran whose President Ebrahim Raisi spoke Sunday with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and voiced his support, according to official media in the Islamic republic. Anti-Israel protests have flared in some other majority Muslim countries, and Germany and France were among nations stepping up security around Jewish temples and schools. In the Egyptian city of Alexandria a police officer opened fire “at random” on Israeli tourists Sunday, killing two of them and their Egyptian guide before he was arrested. Netanyahu — who leads a hard-right coalition government but has received pledges of support from political opponents during Israel’s national emergency — has vowed to turn Hamas hideouts “to rubble” and urged Palestinians there to flee. “We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack,” Netanyahu wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The first stage is ending at this time with the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory,” he added, pledging no “respite” until victory. US President Joe Biden has voiced “rock solid and unwavering” support for its key ally Israel and warned “against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation”. Hamas has labelled its attack “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and called on “resistance fighters in the West Bank” and “Arab and Islamic nations” to join the battle. Its attack came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, called the Yom Kippur war in Israel, sparking bitter recriminations on what was widely seen as an enormous intelligence failure. “There was a very bad failure here,” said Sderot resident Yaakov Shoshani, 70. “The Yom Kippur War was small compared to it, and I was a soldier in the Yom Kippur War.” He recalled the terror of the attack on their town near Gaza. “I held a kitchen knife and a large screwdriver, and I told my wife that, if something happens, to make sure to read the Kaddish (prayer) over me, if you stay alive,” he said. “And so we stayed close to each other at home, shut everything and turned off the lights.” Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has predicted “victory” and vowed to press ahead with “the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons”. Hamas said Saturday it had fired 5,000 rockets, while Israel reported some 3,000 incoming projectiles. Several bypassed the Iron Dome missile defence system and smashed into buildings as far as Tel Aviv. Israel rushed forces to the embattled south, called up reservists and hit Gaza in operation “Swords of Iron”, with some observers predicting a possible

Israel-Gaza War: We’re Not Targeting Civilians, Says Hamas

  Osama Hamdan, senior spokesperson of Hamas, has said the group is not attacking civilians. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, has said Israeli civilians were killed by Hamas. But in an interview with Al Jazeera, Hamadan said, “You have to differentiate between settlers and civilians. Settlers attacked Palestinians … We hope that Amnesty has international humility to send us more developed weapons to attack just only the soldiers.” Asked whether civilians in southern Israel were also considered settlers, Hamdan said, “Everyone knows there are settlements there. We are not targeting civilians on purpose. We have declared settlers are part of the occupation and part of the armed Israeli force. They are not civilians.”

NDLEA arrests 67-year-old, destroys over 11 tonnes of cannabis in Ogun, Edo forests

  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 67-year-old trafficker, Chukwuemeka Clement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine.       Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 67-year-old trafficker, Chukwuemeka Clement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine. NDLEA also disclosed that its operatives arrested a Saudi-bound lady with 52 pellets at Kano airport, and destroyed over 11 tonnes of cannabis in Ogun, Edo forests. The commission made this known in a statement signed by its Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, shared on their Facebook page on Sunday.   The statement in part said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 67-year-old trafficker, Chukwuemeka Clement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine, a criminal enterprise he claimed he ventured into to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh after wasting 30 years of his life in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand. Chukwuemeka was arrested on Tuesday 3rd October during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight 951 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and taken for a body scan, which revealed multiple pellets in his stomach. While under observation, he excreted a total of 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.195 kilograms in four excretions. In his statement, he claimed to have spent 30 years in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Thailand, while he was once married, but lost his wife and without a child. He added that was why he decided to go into drug trafficking to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh.   “On the same day, Tuesday 3rd October, NDLEA operatives at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, intercepted a 45-year-old woman, Bilkisu Mohammed Bello while preparing to board a Saudia Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia.   “While being interviewed, she confessed that pellets of cocaine given to her to swallow before her flight were kept in a house in Farawa area of Kano. When she led NDLEA officers to the house, 52 wraps of the illicit substance with a total weight of 767 grams were recovered.” Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives supported by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun personnel on Tuesday 3rd October stormed James town, in Ogunmakin, Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state where they located and destroyed 10.38 tonnes of cannabis sativa covering over 4.152 hectares.     “While on their way back from the operation, the team also intercepted a truck marked FS548XN carrying a 40ft container loaded with logs of wood. A search of the container led to the recovery of two bags of cannabis sativa weighing 20kgs while six suspects: Ahmed Yusuf, Olaniyi Babatunde, Adedeji Babatunde, Richard John, Osolale Olamilekan and Abdulazeez Saied, in the truck were arrested.   “In the same vein, operatives on Sunday 1st October raided Obi camp in Owan West LGA, Edo state where 30 sacks of skunk weighing 300kgs and concealed in charcoal were evacuated from an old dilapidated mud house. Similarly, two cannabis farms measuring 1.179065 hectares at Igbanke forest in Orhiowon local government area of the state were identified and destroyed on Friday 6th October while four suspects: Tersoo Zaria, 28; Ifeanyi Osai, 53; Moses David, 19, and Daniel Gabriel, 20, were arrested.   “In Gombe state, a suspect, Auwal Bindow was arrested on Friday 6th October along Bauchi – Gombe road with 50,000 capsules of tramadol, while in Oyo state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway nabbed Anuoluwapo Blessing Iyanu, 32, with 52 blocks of compressed pawpaw shaped cannabis sativa weighing 30kgs on Wednesday 4th October.”

Why We Joined Fight Against Israel – Hezbollah

  The Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah, has explained why it joined the fight against the Israeli occupation. The group declared that it had targeted three Israeli military positions in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, early hours on Sunday. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed as the two countries resume hostilities after a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas on Saturday morning involving aerial, sea and ground operations. In a statement on its website, the group said it entered the fight to liberate the remaining part of occupied Lebanese land and in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Permission [to fight] has been granted to those who are being fought, because they were wronged, and indeed Allah is capable of granting them victory.” “On the path to liberate the remaining part of our occupied Lebanese land and in solidarity with the victorious Palestinian resistance and the steadfast and heroic Palestinian people, the groups of the martyr commander Hajj Imad Mughniyeh in the Islamic Resistance carried out an attack this Sunday, on October 8, 2023, targeting three Zionist occupation sites in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms region. “These sites include the radar site, Zabdine site, and Ruwaysat site, using a significant number of artillery shells and guided missiles, resulting in direct hits on these sites. Victory comes only from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.” On Saturday, the commander of Hamas’ Al-Qassan Brigades, Mohammed Deif, called on Arab resistance in Lebanon to join the Palestinian Resistance in its ongoing war against the Israeli occupation. In response to the attack, the Israeli army said it had targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in Shebaa Farm with drones The Israeli army’s announcement followed earlier reports in Israeli public radio that shells and gunfire from Lebanon have targeted an Israeli military position, mostly in the Kafr Shuba Hills. It is unknown if the source of the fire is Palestinian or Lebanese resistance group, as no group has, as of yet, announced responsibility for the shelling.

‘We’ll turn their places to rubble’ – Israeli PM vows to avenge Hamas attacks

  Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to heavily descend on Hamas terrorists and wipe them out following attacks on Saturday. According to Netanyahu, the Israelis will destroy Hamas and forcefully avenge the dark day in an ongoing war. The prime minister said Hamas terrorists want to kill all Israelis but his government will they do not succeed.   Netanyahu, in a X post on Sunday said the Israel Defence Forces will use their might to Hamas’ places into rubble. He wrote, “On Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. “We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all of us. “Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday. “What happened today is unprecedented in Israel – and I will see to it that it does not happen again. The entire government is behind this decision. “The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas’s capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote: ‘Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan’. “All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. “I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. “At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control. “I embrace and send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families whose loved ones were murdered today in cold blood and endless brutality.”

SERAP wants court to stop Akpabio, others from collecting salaries, pensions as senators

  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and nine other former governors in the 10th Senate over their collection of both salaries and pensions as senators.” Joined in the suit as Respondents are the following senators and minister: Abdulaziz Yari; Aminu Tambuwal; Adamu Aliero; Adams Oshiomole; Ibrahim Gaidam; Seriake Dickson; Ibrahim Dankwambo; Aliyu Wammako; Gbenga Daniel, and Dave Umahi. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio, nine other senators and Mr Umahi to stop collecting both salaries and pensions, and to return any pensions collected to their respective state treasuries.” SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio, nine other senators and Mr Umahi to clarify and disclose if they have collected and/or currently collecting both salaries and pensions as former governors.” SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio, nine other senators and Mr Umahi to disclose the details and amounts of the pensions so far received by them.” In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The Seventh Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires the former governors to stop collecting both salaries and pensions and to return any pensions collected.” SERAP is arguing that, “Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the former governors would continue to both enjoy life pension packages, and collect salaries as serving public officers, and the travesty and private self-interest would continue.” SERAP is also arguing that, “It a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for former governors to collect both salaries and pensions. The alleged collection by former governors of double emoluments is detrimental to the public interest.” According to SERAP, “Collecting pensions as former governors and salaries while serving as public officers is a flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and the public trust.” SERAP is also arguing that, “It is a travesty for former governors to be looking after themselves while over 137 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy.” The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part: “The UN Convention against Corruption requires public officials to discharge a public duty truthfully and faithfully.” “The UN Convention also implicitly prohibits large severance benefits for public officials. The convention specifically in article 8 requires public officers to promote integrity and responsibility in the management of public resources.” “Paragraph 2 (a) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in the Fifth Schedule, Part 1 of the Nigerian Constitution provides in part: ‘a public officer shall not receive or be paid the emoluments of any public office at the same time as he receives or is paid the emoluments of any other public office.’” “Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo in a landmark judgment dated 26 November, 2019 also indicated that double emoluments for former governors are unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal.” “Constitutional oath of office requires public officials including former governors in the Senate and serving as ministers to abstain from all improper acts, including collecting life pensions. A false oath lacks truth and justice. The oath statements require the oath takers to commit to uphold and defend the Constitution.” “According to reports, there are fourteen former governors in the Senate and as ministers who may be collecting pensions running into billions of naira from their states. The former governors include: Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom State); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi State); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State); and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger State).” “Others are: Ibrahim Danwkambo (Gombe State); Danjuma Goje (Gombe State); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State); Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto State); Orji Kalu (Abia State); Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe State); and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State). Also, there are at least seven former governors in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet who are reportedly collecting both salaries and pensions.” “The states currently implementing life pensions for former governors reportedly include Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Edo, Jigawa, Niger, Kebbi, Kano, Ogun, Sokoto, Jigawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina, Rivers, and Delta.” “Under Akwa Ibom Life Pension law [as amended] a former governor is entitled to an annual pay of N200 million, two official vehicles with chauffeurs, furniture allowance of 300 per cent of basic salary replaceable every four years, an aide, a cook, and lifetime security guards worth N5 million monthly, and N2.5 million for their deputies.” “There is also state-sponsored annual medical service of about N100 million for ex-governors and their spouses and N50 million for the ex-deputy governors, five-bedroom mansions in Abuja and Akwa Ibom.” “Other benefits include: 300% annual basic salary as ‘severance gratuity’, 300% of annual basic salary for ‘car maintenance’; 100% of annual basic salary for ‘entertainment’; and 100% of annual basic salary for ‘utility.’” “In Abia State, a former governor is entitled to 100 per cent of the salary of the incumbent. Benefits for former governors include an official car, a police orderly, two operatives of two police men for the security of his house and allowances for cooks, stewards, driver and gardener.” “In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for the ex-governors. Ex-governor and deputy governor are also entitled to a 30-day paid travel expenses annually to any country of their choice alongside their wives.” “A former governor is also entitled to two utility cars, while his deputy is entitled to one car to be replaced periodically. Both the governor, deputy governor and their wives are entitled to paid medical treatment at home or abroad.” “In Sokoto State, former governors and deputy governors are to receive N200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other entitlements which include domestic aides, accommodation and vehicles replaceable every four years.” “According to the 2013 life pension law, the pension should be charged upon the consolidated

Death Toll From Afghan Quakes Doubles To More Than 2,000

  The death toll from a series of earthquakes in western Afghanistan rose sharply again Sunday to more than 2,000 as rescuers scrabbled for survivors among the ruins of razed villages. Saturday’s magnitude 6.3 quake — followed by eight strong aftershocks — jolted hard-to-reach areas 30 kilometres (19 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Herat, toppling rural homes and sending panicked city dwellers surging into the streets. “2,053 martyrs were killed in 13 villages. 1,240 people are injured. 1,320 houses were completely destroyed,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on social media site X, formerly Twitter, citing the disaster management agency. As night fell Saturday in Sarboland village of Zinda Jan district, an AFP reporter saw dozens of homes ruined near the epicentre of the quakes, which shook the area for more than five hours. Men shovelled through piles of crumbled masonry as women and children waited in the open, with gutted homes showing personal belongings flapping in the harsh wind. “In the very first shake all the houses collapsed,” said 42-year-old Bashir Ahmad. “Those who were inside the houses were buried,” he said. “There are families we have heard no news from.” Deputy government spokesman Bilal Karimi said Sunday, as the extent of the damage became clear, that “unfortunately, the casualties are practically very high”. ADVERTISEMENT “We are waiting to see how the final figures will turn out,” he told AFP. ‘Everything turned to sand’ Nek Mohammad told AFP he was at work when the first quake struck at around 11:00 am (0630 GMT). We came home and saw that actually there was nothing left. Everything had turned to sand,” said the 32-year-old, adding that some 30 bodies had been recovered. “So far, we have nothing. No blankets or anything else. We are here left out at night with our martyrs,” he said as darkness began to fall. The World Health Organization said late Saturday “the number of casualties is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are ongoing”. In Herat city, residents fled their homes and schools, hospitals and offices evacuated when the first quake was felt. There were few reports of casualties in the metropolitan area, however. Afghanistan is already suffering in the grip of a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Herat province — home to some 1.9 million people on the border with Iran — has also been hit by a years-long drought that has crippled many already hardscrabble agricultural communities. Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in June last year after a 5.9-magnitude quake — the deadliest in Afghanistan in nearly a quarter of a century — struck the impoverished province of Paktika. AFP

Lagos police released man who defiled my daughter, father laments

  A father of three, identified as Davies, has called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Bar Association to intervene in the case of defilement of his teenage daughter (name withheld) allegedly defiled by a suspect, identified as Osunyomi, in Lagos. Speaking with Sunday Special on the telephone on Friday, Davies said the incident happened on Tuesday, July 11, when the suspect broke into his house while he and his wife were away and sexually assaulted his daughter. He said, “According to my daughter, while she was reading the Bible she heard some footsteps and she pulled the curtains. Later, she went to the room, undressed to take her bath but she heard some strange sounds coming from the kitchen so she went to check. Suddenly, a guy dashed out of the kitchen, so she quickly entered and tried to lock the kitchen door. The guy forced the kitchen door open, dragged my daughter out of the kitchen, and hit her on her head. When I got home, I knocked at the gate, but no one responded. “Eventually, I found my way into our living room to see a broken dish and a jar of broken hair cream. My daughter was lying lifeless on the floor, naked. Her clothes had been torn and dipped inside her mouth, and her face was covered with mucus. “After she was revived, she described her attacker as a tall, slim, bleach-fair guy with a mark on his hand and some spots and pimples on his face. She added that he wore a green top and a pair of jeans. She was taken to the Sexual Assault Centre at Igando General Hospital for proper care and treatment.” Beyond the assault, he said N180,000 was also missing from his apartment. The distraught father added that he reported the case to the Isheri Police Division, and that based on the description given by the survivor and the information provided by his friend, the suspect was identified and arrested by the police at his workplace on July 18. Davies added, “The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, D10, Panti and was handed over to one Femi of the Anti-Trafficking Unit with all the evidence gathered. After paying N25,000 for the fingerprint and footprint of the suspect and registering the case with one Supo Kazeem, the IPO told me to get them a vehicle to visit the crime scene. I did. “After being forced to pay N15,000 for a vehicle of their choice, they didn’t turn up. Rather, they went to the suspect’s workplace and spent hours there before coming to my house. After three weeks, I didn’t hear from them. On Monday, September 18, I went there with a lawyer. “When Kazeem saw me, he embarrassed me and sent me away. I went to report him to the DCP SCID Panti. He then took my lawyer to his office. When my lawyer came back, he disclosed that Kazeem had released the suspect and that he said we were lying against the suspect; that the report showed that they didn’t touch my daughter. I call on the CP, the Ministry of Justice and the NBA for intervention. I want justice for my daughter.” Commenting on the case, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, told Sunday Special that the family should report the case to the agency and the Gender Desk of the Lagos Police Command. “If the family is dissatisfied with the service offered at the divisional level, they are strongly encouraged to report the case to the Gender Desk Department of the Lagos State Police Command. It can also be reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency via our toll free line (08000333333,) “Or they can visit our office located at Nobel House, Plot 3 Otunba Jobi Fele way, Central Business District, in order to ensure the survivor is able to access holistic support and services,” she said. The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not answer the call made to his line. He had yet to respond to a text message sent to him seeking an update on the case. (Punch)

Over 200 Killed In Israel As Hamas ‘Massacred Civilians’ – Army

  The Israel death toll from the Hamas surprise attack Saturday has surged to more than 200, the army said, accusing the Palestinian militants of breaking into homes and “massacring civilians”. “Terrorists rampaged and broke into homes, massacring civilians,” the army said, adding that more than 200 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the assault that began at dawn. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a “black day” for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza with full force. “The IDF (army) is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas’s capabilities,” Netanyahu said in a brief televised statement. “We’ll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people,” he said, after Hamas militants launched a surprise dawn attack, sending hundreds of militants into Israel under cover of a huge rocket barrage. Gun battles raged into the night after Hamas’ large-scale attack against Israel Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill and abduct soldiers and civilians. The attack signals the first of such combined ground, air and sea offensive, half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. “We are at war,” Netanyahu told the stunned nation as the army retaliated by pounding targets in the blockaded enclave, where several residential tower blocks were reduced to rubble. AFP

REPORT: Five Killed As Bandits Attack Kaduna Community

  At least five people were killed and some others injured when bandits attacked the Anguwar Dankali community in the Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The acting Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Manir Hassan, who confirmed the attack to Channels Television, said the incident occurred around 11 pm on Friday night. Hassan stated that the bandits stormed the community in droves, shooting indiscriminately to scare residents. He explained that during the process, five people sitting outside their residence were shot dead by the bandits, while seven women were abducted and taken to an unknown destination. Hassan further disclosed that the police received a distress call and pursued the bandits, rescuing all seven abducted women on Saturday morning. The police spokesman also said one of the bandits was arrested while the others escaped with bullet wounds during the operation. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command says it has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers during different operations in various parts of the state. Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, the PPRO said the suspects were arrested between September and October 3. He disclosed that several dangerous weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, three fabricated revolvers, 448 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition and other exhibits were recovered from the suspects