TIG Post

Tag: gunmen

  • Queenmother of Kwahu reportedly abducted by gunmen

    Queenmother of Kwahu reportedly abducted by gunmen

    The Kwahuhemaa, Nana Adwoa Gyemfua, has reportedly been abducted by armed men in police uniforms claiming to be from the National Security on Monday, November 17.

    According to reports, the gunmen stormed the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Council at Abene around 4 a.m. and took the official Toyota Land Cruiser of the Kwahuhene.

    Eyewitnesses said they heard gunshots at the palace prior to the abduction. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement, and the motive behind the raid and the abduction remains unclear.

    Last month, the Binduri District of the Upper East Region was thrown into mourning following a shooting incident which resulted in the death of three individuals and left five others injured.

    According to reports, gunmen attacked and invaded the residence of the victims on Sunday, October 26, and shot them. Among the three deceased individuals is a five-year-old child who died instantly.

    The Manager of Binduri-based Maxx Empire Radio and TV, George Bukari, is reported to be among those who sustained injuries in the aftermath of the incident.

    The incident has been linked to the long-running Bawku conflict. The conflict, which resurfaced in 2021, has claimed multiple lives and displaced several families. However, the government has, in several ways, initiated efforts to bring calm to the area. In July this year, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) deployed soldiers to conflict-prone areas such as Bawku, Binduri, Nalerigu, and Zebilla.

    This update comes less than a week after four individuals lost their lives in a deadly daylight attack at the district office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the region. The unfortunate incident also left several others injured. The deceased individuals include a bystander, an NHIA staff member, a mentally unstable man and Yahaya Bukari, headmaster of Garu D/A Junior High School.

    According to eyewitness accounts, the Garu District Office of the NHIA was invaded by four armed men on two motorbikes, who subsequently fired shots wildly. Two of the gunmen are said to have been masks.

    “Around 10am there about, we heard gunshots. Initially, we thought it was coming from the rural bank area, but later we found out that the attackers had gone to the health insurance office,” a witness stated.

    Speaking to the media, former Presiding Member of the Garu District Assembly and now Assembly Member for Kugri, Edward Ndebugri, recounted that the gunmen later targeted bystanders and fleeing residents.

    “There is a public school close to the health insurance office, and when the shooting started, the teachers and pupils began running helter-skelter. The gunmen chased them in the direction they fled, and when one of the teachers fell, they shot him dead,” he added.

    The assailants reportedly left the NHIA office with nothing. In response to the incident, heavily armed police and military personnel thronged key areas, including the District Health Insurance Office and the Presbyterian Hospital as of 2 p.m. on Monday.

    “The whole town is in shock. This is the first time we are witnessing such an incident. People are living in fear, and we are pleading with the security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the Assembly Member for Kugri appealed.

    The injured individuals are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at the Garu Presbyterian Hospital. Meanwhile, police have launched investigations into the incident to determine the motive behind the attack.

    Earlier this month, an armed attack at the Gbintri inland checkpoint in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region has reportedly left an Assistant Immigration Control Officer II (AICOII), Rafiq Mohammed, dead and another officer, AICOII Oppong Daniel, also injured.

    While details of the attack remain unclear, reports suggest the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3. However, AK-47 shell casings used by the attackers during the operation have been retrieved by the joint response team, led by Superintendent Francis Brobbey, Gambaga Municipal Police Commander, and DIS Moro Tanko Mohammed, North Regional Intelligence Officer of the GIS.

    Meanwhile, AICOII Oppong Daniel is receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the incident.

    In July this year, the lifeless body of an immigration officer identified as Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi, was discovered in a drainage system near GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate, Accra.

    The deceased is said to have gone missing five days (since July 3) before his tragic death. This was contained in a press statement by the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, July 10.

    Providing more details about the tragic incident, the police noted that the murderer(s) of the 38-year-old also set his body on fire.

    The deceased’s remains have been conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue after the relatives positively identified the body as Stephen.

    The police have disclosed that their preliminary investigations indicate the deceased had gone to meet his debtor, one Bright Aweh, who had promised to pay the outstanding debt owed on Thursday, July 3, in the evening.

    The victim never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off throughout, raising concerns among family and friends who later reported him missing.

    “Investigations revealed that on 3rd July 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., the deceased left his residence at Ashongman Estate after receiving WhatsApp images of cash bundles from one Bright Aweh, who requested to meet him at a spot at Ashongman Estate to settle an outstanding amount.

    “According to the complainant, the deceased never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off thereafter,” the police said.

    After the deceased’s family filed a complaint at the police station, Bright Aweh was arrested to assist with the investigation.

    He admitted that he met with the deceased and alleged that he gave a cash of GHS500,000 to the deceased, instructing him “to use part of the money to pay off some debts and hold the remaining amount for later collection.”

    But the police in their statement noted that “the suspect could not clearly explain the source of the funds and gave conflicting statements.”

    Meanwhile, the police pledged to get to the bottom of the case and ensure justice is served to the perpetrators.

    “The Regional Police Command strongly condemns such violent and criminal acts and assures the public that it is working diligently to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this incident and bring all responsible persons to justice,” it added.

    Subsequently, the Ghana Police announced the arrest of the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of immigration officer Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi on August 4.

    This follows the discovery of weapons believed to have been used in the murder of Immigration Officer Stephen Amoah.

    During a press briefing on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, revealed that bloodstains were found in the living room, on a burnt, blood-soaked carpet, and on a fufu pestle suspected to have been used in the murder by the suspect.

    According to the Police, the forensic conducted on Thursday, July 24, also exposed freshly sprayed walls, hinting at an attempted cleanup by the suspect.

    “The Kwabenya Teshie Police visited the suspect’s residence, and the forensic inspection revealed the following bloodstains in the living room and evidence of attempted cleanup, freshly sprayed walls, and an empty can of spray paint. A search of a secondary crime scene near the GBC satellite area also uncovered a burnt woolen carpet and partially burnt camouflage fabric.”

    “These items were photographed, retrieved and photocopied for forensic analysis. On 24th July, the police received a warrant to search a particular room in the suspect’s house. A search in the room revealed more bloodstains, which were photographed and samples collected for forensic analysis. A further search in the bushes about 100 metres from the suspect’s house also led to the retrieval of the…” the Police said.

    The Service has noted that in the coming days, undertake a DNA exercise on the bloodstains with samples from the deceased mother and son, aiding with the process.

    “I wish to say that the initial blood sample collected was positive for human blood. To aid the investigations, the deceased mother and son has provided sample for DNA profiling. In the face of these pieces of evidence the suspect who was initially charged with kidnapping has since been rearrested and formally charged with murder. He is currently on remand following his appearance with the Adabraka District Court and is scheduled to reappear on 8th August 2025.

    “A special operation is currently underway to identify and arrest his accomplices and we are following other vital leads to gather all necessary evidence against the suspect and his accomplices. The Ghana Police Service wishes to assure the public that the investigations is ongoing and every effort is being made to ensure that all the perpetrators are prosecuted,” she added.

    Meanwhile, recent reports suggested that the third suspect involved in the murder of Stephen King Amoah, an Immigration Officer, has succumbed to an illness.

    According to sources, the victim’s brother, Kwasi Amoako, revealed this information to the media.

    “Yesterday we went to court and I can confirm that the third suspect has passed on. I was told by the Police CID, the one who is in charge of the case. We thank God that our brother has started seeking justice for himself,” he is quoted to have said by MyJoyOnline.

    The police are yet to issue a formal statement on the suspect’s death.

    The Adabraka District Court on August 22, continued hearing the case after remanding the prime suspect into police custody for two weeks.

    The court has adjourned the case involving the murder of immigration officer, Stephen King Amoah, to October 9 following the police’s request for more time to gather the due evidence against the accused parties.

    The adjournment of the case was announced during the court hearing at the Adabraka District Court on Thursday, September 4, where the prosecutors prayed the court that the Ghana Police Service needed more time and specialised gadgets to advance investigations.

    According to them, a court order had been secured to facilitate the process and prayed that the suspects, Bright Aweh and Thomas Ziggah, remain in custody.

    However, Counsel for the suspects, Gordon Aboagye, expressed concerns about the state of his clients, who appeared visibly distressed, suggesting that they may have been held under harsh conditions while in custody.

    Referring to the need to uphold democratic principles, he prayed that the court reveal the detention location of the suspects in order for their families to visit them and check their well-being while in custody.

    “In line with democratic principles, families of the suspects should be aware of their location to enable visitation”

    “My Lord, my client has appeared in court limping and with bloodshot eyes. He has already been treated twice at the Police Hospital without improvement. We respectfully request that he be sent to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for independent medical attention,” he argued.

    However, the prosecution objected, urging the defence to formally apply if it insists on the transfer of its client.

    He further appealed to the bereaved family to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. He commiserated with them for their loss.

    “We sympathise with the family of the deceased and plead with them to remain calm and allow the law to take its course,” he added.

    The court, on the other hand, admonished the family of the bereaved family to stay patient, assuring them that justice would be duly served.

    Meanwhile, a dramatic scene unfolded at the court when the aunt of the late officer performed rituals, breaking eggs and invoking curses on those she believes are responsible for his death.

    She reportedly said, “Anyone responsible for his death should also suffer the same fate. All your generation will suffer the same fate; the gods should deal ruthlessly with anyone responsible for his murder. The gods shouldn’t spare anyone involved.”

  • U/E: Gunmen kill 4 at NHIA office in Garu

    U/E: Gunmen kill 4 at NHIA office in Garu

    Four individuals have lost their lives following a deadly daylight attack at the district office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Upper East Region on Monday, October 20.

    The unfortunate incident has also left several others injured. The deceased individuals include a bystander, an NHIA staff member, a mentally unstable man and Yahaya Bukari, headmaster of Garu D/A Junior High School. 

    According to eyewitness accounts, the Garu District Office of the NHIA was invaded by four armed men on two motorbikes, who subsequently fired shots wildly. Two of the gunmen are said to have been masks.

    “Around 10am there about, we heard gunshots. Initially, we thought it was coming from the rural bank area, but later we found out that the attackers had gone to the health insurance office,” a witness stated. 

    Speaking to the media, former Presiding Member of the Garu District Assembly and now Assembly Member for Kugri, Edward Ndebugri, recounted that the gunmen later targeted bystanders and fleeing residents.

    “There is a public school close to the health insurance office, and when the shooting started, the teachers and pupils began running helter-skelter. The gunmen chased them in the direction they fled, and when one of the teachers fell, they shot him dead,” he added.

    The assailants reportedly left the NHIA office with nothing. In response to the incident, heavily armed police and military personnel thronged key areas, including the District Health Insurance Office and the Presbyterian Hospital as of 2 p.m. on Monday.

    “The whole town is in shock. This is the first time we are witnessing such an incident. People are living in fear, and we are pleading with the security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the Assembly Member for Kugri appealed.

    The injured individuals are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at the Garu Presbyterian Hospital. Meanwhile, police have launched investigations into the incident to determine the motive behind the attack.

    Earlier this month, an armed attack at the Gbintri inland checkpoint in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region has reportedly left an Assistant Immigration Control Officer II (AICOII), Rafiq Mohammed, dead and another officer, AICOII  Oppong Daniel, also injured.

    While details of the attack remain unclear, reports suggest the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3. However, AK-47 shell casings used by the attackers during the operation have been retrieved by the joint response team, led by Superintendent Francis Brobbey, Gambaga Municipal Police Commander, and DIS Moro Tanko Mohammed, North Regional Intelligence Officer of the GIS.

    Meanwhile, AICOII Oppong Daniel is receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the incident.

    In July this year, the lifeless body of an immigration officer identified as Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi, was discovered in a drainage system near GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate, Accra.

    The deceased is said to have gone missing five days (since July 3) before his tragic death. This was contained in a press statement by the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, July 10.

    Providing more details about the tragic incident, the police noted that the murderer(s) of the 38-year-old also set his body on fire.

    The deceased’s remains have been conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue after the relatives positively identified the body as Stephen.

    The police have disclosed that their preliminary investigations indicate the deceased had gone to meet his debtor, one Bright Aweh, who had promised to pay the outstanding debt owed on Thursday, July 3, in the evening.

    The victim never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off throughout, raising concerns among family and friends who later reported him missing.

    “Investigations revealed that on 3rd July 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., the deceased left his residence at Ashongman Estate after receiving WhatsApp images of cash bundles from one Bright Aweh, who requested to meet him at a spot at Ashongman Estate to settle an outstanding amount.

    “According to the complainant, the deceased never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off thereafter,” the police said.

    After the deceased’s family filed a complaint at the police station, Bright Aweh was arrested to assist with the investigation.

    He admitted that he met with the deceased and alleged that he gave a cash of GHS500,000 to the deceased, instructing him “to use part of the money to pay off some debts and hold the remaining amount for later collection.”

    But the police in their statement noted that “the suspect could not clearly explain the source of the funds and gave conflicting statements.”

    Meanwhile, the police pledged to get to the bottom of the case and ensure justice is served to the perpetrators.

    “The Regional Police Command strongly condemns such violent and criminal acts and assures the public that it is working diligently to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this incident and bring all responsible persons to justice,” it added.

    Subsequently, the Ghana Police announced the arrest of the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of immigration officer Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi on August 4.

    This follows the discovery of weapons believed to have been used in the murder of Immigration Officer Stephen Amoah.

    During a press briefing on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, revealed that bloodstains were found in the living room, on a burnt, blood-soaked carpet, and on a fufu pestle suspected to have been used in the murder by the suspect.

    According to the Police, the forensic conducted on Thursday, July 24, also exposed freshly sprayed walls, hinting at an attempted cleanup by the suspect.

    “The Kwabenya Teshie Police visited the suspect’s residence, and the forensic inspection revealed the following bloodstains in the living room and evidence of attempted cleanup, freshly sprayed walls, and an empty can of spray paint. A search of a secondary crime scene near the GBC satellite area also uncovered a burnt woolen carpet and partially burnt camouflage fabric.”

    “These items were photographed, retrieved and photocopied for forensic analysis. On 24th July, the police received a warrant to search a particular room in the suspect’s house. A search in the room revealed more bloodstains, which were photographed and samples collected for forensic analysis. A further search in the bushes about 100 metres from the suspect’s house also led to the retrieval of the…” the Police said.

    The Service has noted that in the coming days, undertake a DNA exercise on the bloodstains with samples from the deceased mother and son, aiding with the process.

    “I wish to say that the initial blood sample collected was positive for human blood. To aid the investigations, the deceased mother and son has provided sample for DNA profiling. In the face of these pieces of evidence the suspect who was initially charged with kidnapping has since been rearrested and formally charged with murder. He is currently on remand following his appearance with the Adabraka District Court and is scheduled to reappear on 8th August 2025.

    “A special operation is currently underway to identify and arrest his accomplices and we are following other vital leads to gather all necessary evidence against the suspect and his accomplices. The Ghana Police Service wishes to assure the public that the investigations is ongoing and every effort is being made to ensure that all the perpetrators are prosecuted,” she added.

    Meanwhile, recent reports suggested that the third suspect involved in the murder of Stephen King Amoah, an Immigration Officer, has succumbed to an illness.

    According to sources, the victim’s brother, Kwasi Amoako, revealed this information to the media.

    “Yesterday we went to court and I can confirm that the third suspect has passed on. I was told by the Police CID, the one who is in charge of the case. We thank God that our brother has started seeking justice for himself,” he is quoted to have said by MyJoyOnline.

    The police are yet to issue a formal statement on the suspect’s death.

    The Adabraka District Court on August 22, continued hearing the case after remanding the prime suspect into police custody for two weeks.

    The court has adjourned the case involving the murder of immigration officer, Stephen King Amoah, to October 9 following the police’s request for more time to gather the due evidence against the accused parties.

    The adjournment of the case was announced during the court hearing at the Adabraka District Court on Thursday, September 4, where the prosecutors prayed the court that the Ghana Police Service needed more time and specialised gadgets to advance investigations.

    According to them, a court order had been secured to facilitate the process and prayed that the suspects, Bright Aweh and Thomas Ziggah, remain in custody.

    However, Counsel for the suspects, Gordon Aboagye, expressed concerns about the state of his clients, who appeared visibly distressed, suggesting that they may have been held under harsh conditions while in custody.

    Referring to the need to uphold democratic principles, he prayed that the court reveal the detention location of the suspects in order for their families to visit them and check their well-being while in custody.

    “In line with democratic principles, families of the suspects should be aware of their location to enable visitation”

    “My Lord, my client has appeared in court limping and with bloodshot eyes. He has already been treated twice at the Police Hospital without improvement. We respectfully request that he be sent to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for independent medical attention,” he argued.

    However, the prosecution objected, urging the defence to formally apply if it insists on the transfer of its client.

    He further appealed to the bereaved family to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. He commiserated with them for their loss.

    “We sympathise with the family of the deceased and plead with them to remain calm and allow the law to take its course,” he added.

    The court, on the other hand, admonished the family of the bereaved family to stay patient, assuring them that justice would be duly served.

    Meanwhile, a dramatic scene unfolded at the court when the aunt of the late officer performed rituals, breaking eggs and invoking curses on those she believes are responsible for his death.

    She reportedly said, “Anyone responsible for his death should also suffer the same fate. All your generation will suffer the same fate; the gods should deal ruthlessly with anyone responsible for his murder. The gods shouldn’t spare anyone involved.”

  • Policeman killed in clash between unknown gunmen at Sampa

    Policeman killed in clash between unknown gunmen at Sampa

    A police officer has lost his life after an exchange of gunfire involving masked gunmen at Sampa in the Bono Region on Sunday afternoon, October 5. The officer died on the spot after being hit by a bullet.


    The unfortunate incident has been linked to an ongoing dispute between rival groups in the township. Other officers are said to have sustained injuries.


    In a recent development, an armed attack at the Gbintri inland checkpoint in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region left an Assistant Immigration Control Officer II (AICOII), Rafiq Mohammed, dead, and another officer, AICOII Oppong Daniel, injured.


    AICOII Oppong Daniel was reported to be receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the incident.


    While details of the attack remain unclear, reports suggest that the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3. However, AK-47 shell casings used by the attackers during the operation have been retrieved by the joint response team, led by Superintendent Francis Brobbey, Gambaga Municipal Police Commander, and DIS Moro Tanko Mohammed, North Regional Intelligence Officer of the GIS.

    In July this year, the lifeless body of an immigration officer identified as Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi, was discovered in a drainage system near GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate, Accra.


    The deceased is said to have gone missing five days (since July 3) before his tragic death. This was contained in a press statement by the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, July 10.


    Providing more details about the tragic incident, the police noted that the murderer(s) of the 38-year-old also set his body on fire.
    The deceased’s remains have been conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue after the relatives positively identified the body as Stephen.


    The police have disclosed that their preliminary investigations indicate the deceased went to meet his debtor, Bright Aweh, who had promised to pay the outstanding debt on Thursday, July 3, in the evening.


    The victim never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off throughout, raising concerns among family and friends who later reported him missing.


    “Investigations revealed that on 3rd July 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., the deceased left his residence at Ashongman Estate after receiving WhatsApp images of cash bundles from one Bright Aweh, who requested to meet him at a spot at Ashongman Estate to settle an outstanding amount.


    “According to the complainant, the deceased never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off thereafter,” the police said.


    After the deceased’s family filed a complaint at the police station, Bright Aweh was arrested to assist with the investigation.


    He admitted that he met with the deceased and alleged that he gave a cash of GHS500,000 to the deceased, instructing him “to use part of the money to pay off some debts and hold the remaining amount for later collection.”


    But the police in their statement noted that “the suspect could not clearly explain the source of the funds and gave conflicting statements.”


    Meanwhile, the police pledged to get to the bottom of the case and ensure justice is served to the perpetrators.


    “The Regional Police Command strongly condemns such violent and criminal acts and assures the public that it is working diligently to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this incident and bring all responsible persons to justice,” it added.


    Subsequently, the Ghana Police announced the arrest of the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of immigration officer Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi on August 4.


    This follows the discovery of weapons believed to have been used in the murder of Immigration Officer Stephen Amoah.


    During a press briefing on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, revealed that bloodstains were found in the living room, on a burnt, blood-soaked carpet, and on a fufu pestle suspected to have been used in the murder by the suspect.


    According to the Police, the forensic conducted on Thursday, July 24, also exposed freshly sprayed walls, hinting at an attempted cleanup by the suspect.


    “The Kwabenya Teshie Police visited the suspect’s residence, and the forensic inspection revealed the following bloodstains in the living room and evidence of attempted cleanup, freshly sprayed walls, and an empty can of spray paint. A search of a secondary crime scene near the GBC satellite area also uncovered a burnt woolen carpet and partially burnt camouflage fabric.”


    “These items were photographed, retrieved and photocopied for forensic analysis. On 24th July, the police received a warrant to search a particular room in the suspect’s house. A search in the room revealed more bloodstains, which were photographed and samples collected for forensic analysis. A further search in the bushes about 100 metres from the suspect’s house also led to the retrieval of the…” the Police said.


    The Service has noted that in the coming days, undertake a DNA exercise on the bloodstains with samples from the deceased mother and son, aiding with the process.


    “I wish to say that the initial blood sample collected was positive for human blood. To aid the investigations, the deceased mother and son has provided sample for DNA profiling. In the face of these pieces of evidence the suspect who was initially charged with kidnapping has since been rearrested and formally charged with murder. He is currently on remand following his appearance with the Adabraka District Court and is scheduled to reappear on 8th August 2025.


    “A special operation is currently underway to identify and arrest his accomplices and we are following other vital leads to gather all necessary evidence against the suspect and his accomplices. The Ghana Police Service wishes to assure the public that the investigations is ongoing and every effort is being made to ensure that all the perpetrators are prosecuted,” she added.


    Meanwhile, recent reports suggested that the third suspect involved in the murder of Stephen King Amoah, an Immigration Officer, has succumbed to an illness.


    According to sources, the victim’s brother, Kwasi Amoako, revealed this information to the media.


    “Yesterday we went to court and I can confirm that the third suspect has passed on. I was told by the Police CID, the one who is in charge of the case. We thank God that our brother has started seeking justice for himself,” he is quoted to have said by MyJoyOnline.


    The police are yet to issue a formal statement on the suspect’s death.


    The Adabraka District Court on August 22, continued hearing the case after remanding the prime suspect into police custody for two weeks.


    The court has adjourned the case involving the murder of immigration officer, Stephen King Amoah, to October 9 following the police’s request for more time to gather the due evidence against the accused parties.


    The adjournment of the case was announced during the court hearing at the Adabraka District Court on Thursday, September 4, where the prosecutors prayed the court that the Ghana Police Service needed more time and specialised gadgets to advance investigations.


    According to them, a court order had been secured to facilitate the process and prayed that the suspects, Bright Aweh and Thomas Ziggah, remain in custody.


    However, Counsel for the suspects, Gordon Aboagye, expressed concerns about the state of his clients, who appeared visibly distressed, suggesting that they may have been held under harsh conditions while in custody.


    Referring to the need to uphold democratic principles, he prayed that the court reveal the detention location of the suspects in order for their families to visit them and check their well-being while in custody.


    “In line with democratic principles, families of the suspects should be aware of their location to enable visitation. My Lord, my client has appeared in court limping and with bloodshot eyes. He has already been treated twice at the Police Hospital without improvement. We respectfully request that he be sent to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for independent medical attention,” he argued.


    However, the prosecution objected, urging the defence to formally apply if it insists on the transfer of its client.
    He further appealed to the bereaved family to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. He commiserated with them for their loss.


    “We sympathise with the family of the deceased and plead with them to remain calm and allow the law to take its course,” he added.

    The court, on the other hand, admonished the family of the bereaved family to stay patient, assuring them that justice would be duly served.


    Meanwhile, a dramatic scene unfolded at the court when the aunt of the late officer performed rituals, breaking eggs and invoking curses on those she believes are responsible for his death.


    She reportedly said, “Anyone responsible for his death should also suffer the same fate. All your generation will suffer the same fate; the gods should deal ruthlessly with anyone responsible for his murder. The gods shouldn’t spare anyone involved.”

    The case is now scheduled to continue on October 9.

  • U/E: Three killed as gunmen open fire in Binduri

    U/E: Three killed as gunmen open fire in Binduri

    A deadly attack in Gumyoko, a locality in the Binduri District of the Upper East Region, has left three people dead.

    Security officials reported that unidentified assailants stormed the area on motorcycles late Saturday, March 8, 2025, opening fire on residents. Two individuals were fatally shot on the spot, while two others sustained injuries. One of the injured later died while receiving medical attention, whereas the other remains hospitalized at an undisclosed facility.

    The motive behind the attack is yet to be determined, but authorities suspect it could be connected to the ongoing Bawku conflict, which has led to numerous casualties and widespread destruction.

    So far, no arrests have been made, and investigations are in progress.

  • Amewu’s Hohoe residence reportedly raided by unidentified gunmen

    Amewu’s Hohoe residence reportedly raided by unidentified gunmen

    Unknown gunmen allegedly attacked the home of former Hohoe MP, John Peter Amewu, on Wednesday, March 5.

    Amewu stated that one of the attackers, who claimed to be a bailiff, said they were acting on “orders from above.” The intruders reportedly argued that Amewu was not legitimately elected as an MP in the 2020 elections.

    Amewu was not at home when the incident occurred. Authorities have not yet provided further details.

    The gunmen allegedly fired warning shots, leading to a confrontation with some of Amewu’s supporters.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM with Selorm Adonoo, Amewu said, “They said they were there to serve me a notice because I was not duly elected in 2020, hence their decision to serve me. And that the C.I was not constitutional.”

    Expressing concern over the incident, he questioned Ghana’s democratic practice and confirmed that his supporters in Hohoe had reported the matter to the police.

    Despite the attack, Amewu has declined police protection.

  • Several injured after gunmen attack bus in Bolgatanga

    Several injured after gunmen attack bus in Bolgatanga

    Several people sustained injuries after gunmen ambushed a passenger bus at Pusi-Namoo, a suburb of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, on Saturday night.

    The attack occurred around 8:00 PM while the bus was traveling from Garu in the Upper East Region to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The assailants opened fire on the vehicle, leaving numerous passengers with severe gunshot wounds.

    Emergency services promptly transported the injured to the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga for urgent medical care. However, the full extent of the injuries and the current condition of the victims remain undisclosed.

    While the motive behind the attack has not been confirmed, some sources suggest a possible connection to the ongoing Bawku Conflict, which has contributed to rising tensions and sporadic violence in the area.

    The police have secured the crime scene and launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Authorities have called for public calm, assuring residents that efforts are underway to bring the attackers to justice.

  • Over 25 dead, others abducted after village raid by unknown gunmen – Officials

    Over 25 dead, others abducted after village raid by unknown gunmen – Officials

    Gunmen on motorcycles attacked the village of Yargoje in Kankara, located in Nigeria’s northwestern Katsina state, late on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people and the abduction of several others, according to authorities.

    Nasiru Babangida Mu’azu, the state commissioner for security affairs, informed BBC Hausa that dozens of armed individuals carried out the assault, riding motorcycles and engaging in indiscriminate shooting while looting shops in the community.

    These attacks by armed groups, commonly known as bandits, in the north-west and central regions of Nigeria have become alarmingly frequent, with authorities appearing unable to effectively counter them.

    Despite the government and security forces’ assurances of efforts to curb the widespread insecurity, the situation persists, leaving residents feeling vulnerable.

    Eyewitnesses recounted to the BBC how the assailants arrived in the community on motorcycles, firing shots at random, and pillaging shops before seizing an unspecified number of villagers.

    “The people killed by bandits are more than 50, because some dead bodies are still being recovered from the bush,” said a resident who did not want to be named.

    “They killed children, women and men, and kidnapped a huge amount of people. They injured more than 30 residents who are currently receiving treatment at the general hospital.”

    Another resident, Abdullahi Yunusa Kankara, told Reuters that he narrowly escaped the onslaught, which he said continued into the early hours of Monday.

    “Our town has turned into a death zone. Almost every house in the village has fallen victim to this attack. More dead bodies were recovered this [Monday] morning,” he said.

    Residents who managed to escape the attack are now attempting to determine the exact number of individuals who have been abducted.

    The incident in Yargoje recalls previous instances of mass kidnappings in the region. In December 2020, over 300 students were abducted from a boys’ secondary boarding school on the outskirts of Kankara by gunmen on motorcycles.

    They were eventually released a week later, following negotiations between the Katsina state government and the kidnappers.

    Similarly, in March of this year, numerous passengers were kidnapped during a brazen daylight assault in the same area of Katsina State, the home State of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Over 280 Nigerian students kidnapped by gunmen freed

    Over 280 Nigerian students kidnapped by gunmen freed

    Reports from officials indicate that more than 280 children in Nigeria who were kidnapped from the town of Kuriga, have been released unharmed.

    The governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, didn’t say what happened when the kidnapped people were set free. This happened a few days before the kidnappers wanted money.

    A group of kids, aged eight to 15, and one teacher were taken by force on March 7th.

    Criminal groups called bandits have taken thousands of people captive in the past few years, especially in the north-west.

    But, there were fewer children being kidnapped last year until this week.

    This time, the people who took someone wanted $690,000 (£548,000) as a payment to let the person go. The government said it will not give any money to set someone free.

    Governor Sani thanked President Bola Tinubu for making sure that the kidnapped Kuriga schoolchildren were set free without getting hurt.

    Mr Sani said that the Nigerian Army did a great job in showing that they have the courage, determination, and commitment to fight criminal activity and make our communities safe again.

    The big kidnapping happened on March 7th in the morning while students were all together for a school meeting.

    Witnesses saw some students in the school yard around 8:30am when a lot of gunmen on motorcycles came through the school. They took away 187 students from the high school and 125 from the nearby elementary school. Twenty-five people came back later.

    A 14-year-old student was shot and killed by the gunmen.

    Many kidnappings in north-west Nigeria, like in Kaduna state, are thought to be done by criminals who want to get money from ransom.

    In 2022, a law was passed in Nigeria to try to stop the growing problem of kidnapping. The law made it illegal to pay kidnappers ransom money. The punishment is being in jail for at least 15 years, but no one has ever been caught.

    Earlier this year, a family in Abuja said the police were wrong when they claimed to have rescued their kidnapped daughters. The family had to pay a ransom to get the girls back.

    Many people around the world were very angry when Boko Haram kidnapped almost 300 girls in the town of Chibok in Nigeria in 2014.

    Most of the people who were taken have been released or got away, but there are still many people who are missing.

  • Gunmen shoot MoMo vendor to death at Walewale


    A tragic incident unfolded in Walewale, North East Region, as a mobile money (MoMo) vendor, Rabiu, who was shot on February 12, succumbed to death.

    The attack, which occurred at a busy bus station, involved three gunmen on motorbikes who fired indiscriminately before targeting the MoMo operator. Sadly, Rabiu was not the sole victim; eight others sustained injuries during the incident.

    Eyewitnesses described a swift and ruthless attack. Dr. Jabir Alhassan, a Specialist General Surgeon at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, provided insights into the victims’ conditions.

    The MoMo vendor, critically wounded with multiple stab and gunshot wounds, could not be saved despite resuscitation and surgery.

    North East Regional Minister Yidana Zakaria visited the victims at the hospital and conveyed assurances from Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare.

    The IGP pledged swift security enhancements in the region to prevent similar incidents, and additional law enforcement personnel will be deployed for increased security in the area.

    A Regional Security Council emergency meeting is planned to address the urgent matter.

  • Upper East: Trainee nurses’ bus ambushed by gunmen at Binduri

    Upper East: Trainee nurses’ bus ambushed by gunmen at Binduri

    A bus transporting approximately 45 students from the Presbyterian Nurses Training College, Bawku, was assaulted by two gunmen on motorbikes near Binduri in the Upper East region.

    The incident, which occurred on a Friday afternoon, resulted in several students sustaining injuries, prompting their immediate transfer to Bawku Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.

    The attack took place as the students, who had recently completed their term, were en route to Bolgatanga. The bus came under fire near the police barrier in Binduri, though no fatalities were reported.

    Municipal Chief Executive of Bawku, Amadu Hamza, confirmed the incident, noting that gun-related incidents are unfortunately not uncommon in the area. The remaining students, unharmed in the attack, were escorted to Bolgatanga by the Police.

  • Deputy Registrar of Bolga Technical University assassinated

    Deputy Registrar of Bolga Technical University assassinated

    The Deputy Registrar of Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Alhassan Azumah, has tragically lost his life in a fatal shooting by unidentified gunmen.

    Having recently attained the position of Deputy Registrar just two months ago, he was attacked around 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, outside his Sokabisi residence in Bolgatanga.

    Two assailants on a motorbike shot him multiple times as he walked around his home, before swiftly fleeing the scene.

    The shocking incident has left the university’s staff and students deeply disturbed.

  • Gunmen storm Nigerian military barracks, forcing villagers to escape

    Gunmen storm Nigerian military barracks, forcing villagers to escape

    People in a village in Nigeria‘s Katsina state are running away from their homes because some armed men attacked a nearby military camp, set vehicles on fire, and stole things.

    Over 100 armed men attacked a military base in Batsari, Katsina state on Sunday night. The base houses soldiers, police, and other security forces.

    An army official told the Premium Times news website that the attackers set fire to two army vehicles. No soldiers died, said the source.

    A person who lives there told the news that the attackers, who came on bikes and a truck, defeated the soldiers after three hours of shooting.

    After the attack on the army base, the armed men went to Nahuta and stole a lot of things from the shops and houses, including goods and animals worth a lot of money.

    The attack has made a lot of people very scared. Many of them have run away to nearby villages to stay safe, according to reports.

    Criminal gangs called bandits are causing a lot of trouble in Nigeria. They kidnap people and ask for money in exchange for their release. They have killed many people, even though the military has tried to stop them.

  • Worshippers returning from church in Nigeria’s Taraba killed by gunmen

    Worshippers returning from church in Nigeria’s Taraba killed by gunmen

    On Sunday, an attack carried out by gunmen in Jenuwa Nyifiye community, located in the Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, resulted in the death of three individuals and left several others injured.

    Confirming the incident to the media on Tuesday, Abdullahi Usman, the spokesperson of the Taraba State Police Command, stated that the gunmen were believed to be members of a Fulani militia.

    According to Usman, the assailants targeted the community as worshippers were returning from church services, engaging in indiscriminate shooting.

    He further reported that three individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries during the attack. The security forces, including soldiers and police personnel, successfully repelled the attackers.

    The attack also led to the destruction of multiple houses, as informed by PREMIUM TIMES.

    The traditional ruler of the community, Godson Danlami, described the attack as “very pathetic.” He subsequently advised the state government to collaborate with security agencies to bring an end to criminal activities in the community and the council at large.

    In the last few years, Southern Taraba, especially Takum has been in the news as a result of attacks by suspected bandits and kidnappers. Fatal communal classes have also rife in the area.

    Residents said several criminal groups operates in the area.

  • Nigeria: Residents of Eboyi state in fear over attack by gunmen

    Nigeria: Residents of Eboyi state in fear over attack by gunmen

    On Tuesday July 6, a group of masked gunmen carried out an attack on residents and traders in Ebonyi State, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria.

    A video clip capturing the incident has since gone viral, depicting the assailants, approximately nine in number, shooting at and pursuing traders within a market in Isheke, a community in the state capital of Abakaliki.

    These gunmen reportedly sought to enforce a controversial one-week sit-at-home order proclaimed by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Clad in red attire, they patrolled the area in a light brown Sienna vehicle. Additionally, the attackers were observed setting several tricycles on fire and vandalizing goods within the market.

    “(There is) sit-at-home! Nnamdi Kanu must be released. No Nnamdi Kanu, no peace. You can see that Keke (tricycle) is burning,” a voice, apparently one of the hoodlums, was heard speaking in the background of the video.

    Motorcycle riders and traders in the market were seen scampering for safety, abandoning their motorcycles and wares.

    In another clip circulating on various WhatsApp groups, a child — apparently abandoned by her mother — was seen seated on the ground in another section of the market while the gunmen shot in the air near her.

    The clip did not show if the gunmen attacked the child or not.

    The gunmen destroyed several goods. They were seen hitting a tricyclist with a plastic chair and their rifles while the tricyclist pleaded, assuring the attackers that he would not step out again on a sit-at-home day.

    Police speak

    The police spokesperson in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident but said no life was lost during the attack.

    “The group came and shot sporadically at the new market opposite Liberation Estate, and our tactical team responded quickly, and people cleared,” Ms Onovwakpoyeya, a superintendent of police, told reporters in Abakiliki.

    “Police have intensified patrol within the town and even at the hinterlands,” she added.

    Background

    Simon Ekpa, the leader of Autopilot, a faction of the IPOB, had, in a statement on 14 June, announced that there would be a one-week sit-at-home in the region.

    Mr Ekpa, a self-acclaimed prime minister of “Biafra Republic Government in Exile”, said the sit-at-home would hold from 3 to 5 July and continue from 7 to 10 July.

    The agitator said the proposed civil action was to demand the “immediate and unconditional release” of IPOB leader, Mr Kanu, who is detained at the facility of Nigeria’s secret police, State Security Service.

    He said the action was also in preparation for the conduct of “Biafra’s self-referendum.”

    But Emma Powerful, the spokesperson of the IPOB faction led by Mr Kanu, would later disown the declaration saying the sit-at-home order did not emanate from the group.

    Mr Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian citizen, hails from Ngbo, a community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. But he stays in Finland, a North European country.

    Ebonyi State is the only state in the South-east where residents often defy the IPOB’s sit-at-home order.

    Unlike other states in the region, hoodlums enforcing the sit-at-home order had rarely done so in Ebonyi before now.

    This latest incident occurred exactly two days after a Nigerian senator, Ifeanyi Ubah, accused Mr Ekpa of enforcing the civil action in other parts of the region while ignoring Ebonyi, where he (Ekpa) hails from.

    Mr Ubah, who represents Anambra South District, hails from Nnewi, a community in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

  • Gunmen shoot motor rider to death at Akatsi

    Gunmen shoot motor rider to death at Akatsi

    Zanu Mandela, a well-known motorcyclist in the Akatsi South Municipality, was tragically killed by unidentified gunmen near Holy Childhood Academy in Akatsi.

    The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, June 20, around 7:00 PM when Zanu Mandela, a native of Akuave in Akatsi South, was on his way home.

    He was shot multiple times by the assailants, who emerged suddenly from their hiding place.

    The attackers also stole his motorbike, which had the registration number M-4-36-VR 23, along with an undisclosed amount of cash. Zanu Mandela also owned a mobile money shop called ‘Nezu Yayra’.

    According to eyewitnesses interviewed by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the gunmen ambushed Zanu Mandela as he was approaching his house. The assailants shot him on the spot and swiftly fled the scene.

    Neyram Satsi, another eyewitness, shared with the GNA that the victim, who was in his thirties, was returning from work when the suspected gunmen emerged from a nearby hideout and fired at him from close range.

    “This is one humble guy that we all love to engage his services always. We don not know what should have necessitated this bad act,” he told the GNA.

    Police sources has since confirmed the incident to the GNA and opened investigations into the heinous crime.

    The Police have recovered the body of deceased and deposited it at the St Paul’s Hospital Morgue awaiting autopsy.

    Some residents within Akatsi South, the GNA observed, have been calling on the Akatsi South Municipal Security Council and the traditional authorities to bring the town to order, saying “criminal activities are becoming too rampant.”

    He left behind a wife and two children.

  • Shooting at men’s hostel in South Africa claims 8 lives

    Shooting at men’s hostel in South Africa claims 8 lives

    In a horrifying incident near the eastern city of Durban in South Africa, a group of armed assailants forcefully entered a room at a men’s hostel, resulting in a devastating loss of life.

    Tragically, eight individuals were killed, while two others sustained injuries during the violent encounter. This incident marks yet another distressing mass shooting to occur within the country

    Seven men were declared dead immediately after the shooting in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday in the Umlazi township. An eighth man died on Sunday, police said.

    Two others are hospitalized with injuries, and they include a man who jumped out of the window of the hostel room to escape the gunfire. Police said that 12 men were in the room drinking alcohol when numerous gunmen broke in, shot at them and then fled.

    Two of the men in the room were unhurt.

    South Africa is among the 10 countries with the highest homicide rates in the world and there has been a spate of mass shootings in recent years. At least two mass shootings were reported earlier this year.

    A child was among 10 family members who were killed at a house in April. Eight were shot dead at a birthday party in January.

    Last year, 22 people were killed over one weekend in three separate shootings at bars in different parts of the country.

    South Africa has reasonably strict gun laws but has serious problems with illegal firearms, police and community activists say.

    An average of 30 people a day were killed by firearms in South Africa in the first three months of this year, according to official crime statistics. During the same three months, police recorded more than 4,000 cases of illegal possession of guns or ammunition.

  • US convoy in Nigeria attacked, 4 killed

    US convoy in Nigeria attacked, 4 killed

    Gunmen in Nigeria have launched an assault on a convoy of US personnel, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals, including two members of the US consulate and two police officers.


    During the attack, three additional individuals were abducted before the assailants set their vehicle ablaze.


    The incident occurred in the southeastern region of Anambra state. Authorities have promptly initiated a rescue and recovery operation to address the situation.


    It is important to note that no US citizens were present in the targeted convoy, and further information regarding the purpose of the convoy’s presence in the state has not been disclosed.


    A Nigerian state police spokesperson expressed regret that the convoy entered the state “without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency”.


    The US said its mission in Nigeria was working with Nigerian security services to investigate the incident.


    “The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organising trips to the field,” the US State Department said.


    Violence in the south-east of the country is just one of the many issues facing president-elect Bola Tinubu, who takes the helm of Africa’s most populous nation later this month.

  • 10 students kidnapped by gunmen in northwest Nigeria

    10 students kidnapped by gunmen in northwest Nigeria

    Gunmen have kidnapped at least 10 students in northwest Nigeria, according to authorities on Tuesday.

    The state commissioner of security, Samuel Aruwan, said students from the Government Secondary School in Kaduna state were kidnapped during an attack on Monday, however it was unclear exactly where they were taken.

    “The exact location of the incident is yet to be ascertained but detailed reports being awaited will clarify whether the incident occurred within the school premises or elsewhere,” he said.

    Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria are common and have become a growing concern since 2014 when Islamic extremists kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Borno state. More than 1,000 students were kidnapped from schools in the northwest and northcentral regions in 2020 and 2021, according to a United Nations report last year.

    Authorities blame the abductions on armed groups who often target remote communities. Most of the gunmen are thought to be young men who are ethnic Fulani, a largely Muslim group of semi-nomadic herders who have been embroiled in conflicts with communities over access to land and water.

    While attacks were reduced last year as Nigeria’s security forces ramped up military operations targeting the gunmen’s hideouts, the government’s still struggling to quell the insurgency.

  • Messi’s life in danger:14 gunshots fired at family shop, threatening note left for Messi

    Messi’s life in danger:14 gunshots fired at family shop, threatening note left for Messi

    On March 2, 2023, gunmen who attacked a supermarket in Lionel Messi’s hometown of Rosario left him a threatening note. Messi is a forward for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The family of Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, who is also a native of the city, owns the grocery store “Unico,” which is situated in the Lavalle neighbourhood.

    Police were called to the scene early on Thursday morning after it was reported that 14 shots were fired at the store’s shutters and front door.

    After leaving the PSG with a menacing message, two people riding a motorcycle were seen escaping the scene.

    “Messi, we are waiting for you,” the note read. “Javkin is a drug dealer. He is not going to look after you.”

    The messages refer to Rosario’s mayor, Pablo Javkin, who after the incident spoke out on the level of violence and need for more policemen in a city where crime is on the rise.

    Rosario is the largest city in Argentina’s central province of Santa Fe, located 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Buenos Aires.

    No people were harmed in Thursday’s attack, but significant damage is thought to have been done to the store.

    Messi won FIFA’s Best Men’s Player 2022 award at an awards ceremony in Paris on Monday, having led his nation to their third world title in Qatar.

    Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph was, of course, Messi’s first in an otherwise immaculate career, as he is widely considered one of, if not the, greatest players of all time.

    The 35-year-old recorded a mammoth seven goals and three assists during the tournament, including a brace in a pulsating final in Lusail, as he got his hands on the coveted trophy at the fifth time of asking.

    Messi’s heroics in Qatar came a year and a-half after winning his first major international trophy, the 2021 Copa America in Brazil.

    The reaction of Argentina’s players at the full-time whistle, who ran to embrace Messi in unbridled joy, reflected the sentiment shared across the country for his endeavours over the years.

    Because after years of hurt, including nearly calling time on his international career, Messi finally brought Argentina back to the top of the world stage. And for that, the PSG man enjoys hero status across his country and beyond.

    No stronger is that felt than in his hometown of Rosario, where he left as a child to join Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. Murals eulogising his greatness are commonplace, such as the 100ft-tall masterpiece unveiled after Argentina’s Copa America triumph.

    Roccuzzo’s ties with Rosario are also strong. The 35-year-old grew up in Santa Fe’s largest city alongside Messi, where it is thought the couple’s relationship blossomed from 2007 onwards. They even returned to their hometown back in June 2017 to get married in a star-studded ceremony.

    Thursday’s attacks, then, are all the more harrowing given the strong connection to Rosario shared by both Messi and his wife, especially considering the specific target of Roccuzzo’s family’s business.

    Thus far, neither Roccuzzo nor Messi have commented on the matter. The couple is now based in Paris with their three children, with PSG next in action on Saturday at home to Nantes.

  • 40 people die in Nigeria’s gunmen and vigilantes clash

    40 people die in Nigeria’s gunmen and vigilantes clash

    The most recent violence before the parliamentary and presidential elections in Nigeria saw over 40 people dead in skirmishes between vigilantes and gunmen in the country’s northern Katsina state.

    Katsina state police spokesperson Gambo Isah said on Friday that an armed gang, known locally as bandits, attacked a village in Katsina’s Bakori local government area and had rustled cattle and sheep before fleeing into the bush.

    A local vigilante group mobilised and pursued the gunmen, which led to the deadly clash and large loss of life on Thursday, the spokesperson said.

    “A joint security operations is currently ongoing with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book,” Isah said.

    Katsina is one of the northern states hardest hit by armed gangs who attack and kidnap people from villages and highways in remote parts of the region where security forces are stretched.

    Lack of security has become widespread and is a key concern for voters ahead of the February 25 election to choose new members of parliament and a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who came to power eight years ago promising to end insecurity.

    Two security sources put the death toll in Katsina at 50. The bodies of those killed were recovered on Friday from the bush. Those injured in the clashes were taken to Kankara hospital in the state, the sources said.

    Katsina special adviser on security Ibrahim Ahmed said communities were discouraged from taking the law into their own hands through vigilantism as it would lead to deadly consequences.

    Source: Aljazeera

  • Eight killed by gunmen at birthday party in South Africa

    Eight killed by gunmen at birthday party in South Africa

    Police in South Africa has reported that gunmen opened fire on a gathering of people attending a birthday party in a township in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, killing eight of them.

    Two gunmen entered the yard of the house on Sunday evening in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, and randomly shot at guests, a police statement said.

    The owner of the house was among those killed, while three others were also wounded.

    The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and the head of police, Fannie Masemola, are expected to lead a delegation to the crime scene on Monday.

    No arrests have been made and an investigation has been opened on the attack, local outlets report.

    Source: BBC

  • Gunmen kill former Afghan MP at home in Kabul

    Gunmen kill former Afghan MP at home in Kabul

    An Ex-Afghan MP, Mursal Nabizada have been short dead at her residence together with her bodyguard in the capital Kabul.

    The Afghan police reported that the 32-year-old was one of the few female MPs who stayed in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

    Her brother and a second security guard were wounded in the attack on Sunday.

    Former colleagues praised Ms Nabizada as a “fearless champion for Afghanistan” who turned down a chance to leave the country.

    Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, women have been removed from nearly all areas of public life.

    Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said security forces had started a serious investigation into the incident.

    Former lawmaker Mariam Solaimankhil said Ms Nabizada was “a true trailblazer – strong, outspoken woman who stood for what she believed in, even in the face of danger”.

    “Despite being offered the chance to leave Afghanistan, she chose to stay and fight for her people,” she wrote on Twitter.

    Ms Nabizada, from the eastern province of Nangarhar, was elected as a member of parliament from Kabul in 2018 and stayed in power until the Taliban takeover.

    She was a member of the parliamentary defence commission and worked at the Institute for Human Resources Development and Research.

    Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, said: “I am sad and angry and want the world to know!” in response to the killing.

    “She was killed in darkness, but the Taliban build their system of gender apartheid in full daylight.”

    Abdullah Abdullah, a former top official in Afghanistan’s former Western-backed government, said he was saddened by Ms Nabizada’s death and hoped the perpetrators would be punished.

    He described her as a “representative and servant of the people”.

    Many women who had prominent professional jobs in Afghanistan after the US-led invasion two decades ago fled the country after the Taliban returned to power.

    Source: BBC

  • Over 20 villagers killed in northern Nigeria by gunmen

    Nigeria, the country with the largest population in Africa, reported Monday that gunmen killed more than 20 villagers in two separate attacks in the violent northern province of Kaduna.

    The death toll from Sunday’s violence against the villages of Malagum 1 and Sakwong in Kaura district rose to 28 or 37, according to sources.

    Criminal gangs have been attacking villages in the northwest and central parts of the country for years, stealing livestock, kidnapping people for ransom, looting food and burning down homes.

    Atuk Stephen, a Kaura district official, told a local television station that 37 people had been killed by bandits who had burned more than 100 homes and several vehicles.

    Other local sources put the death toll at 28.

    The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed that several people were killed in the attacks, but did not give a definite death toll. He added that the army had deployed to the area to hunt down the attackers.

    Kaduna is one of the states most affected by “bandits” in northern Nigeria.

    This situation is compounded by sometimes deadly clashes between nomadic cattle herders and local farmers over grazing and water rights, which have taken on ethnic and religious dimensions.

    Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is under intense pressure to end the violence before he leaves office next year after an eight-year term.

    The “bandits”, described as “terrorists” by the federal government, are motivated by greed. But analysts worry about growing links with jihadist groups in the northeast, which have been waging an insurgency there for 13 years.

    Source: Africa News

  • Nigeria police kill three in fresh attack on electoral commission

    An attack on the Electoral commission office in South-eastern Nigeria, has lead to the killing of three gunmen.

    The attackers tried to storm the main Inec office in Owerri, capital of Imo State, police said, on Monday (November 12).

    “The Inec headquarters in Owerri was attacked early this morning by gunmen who destroyed part of the building, furniture and equipment,” Michael Abattam, spokesman for the Imo State police told AFP.

    An exchange of fire broke out, “three of the attackers were killed and two were arrested,” Abattam added.

    Nigerians will elect a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of February. Buhari, a former army general, is not standing for re-election after two terms in office and a record that is seen as disastrous, with the country in the grip of a severe economic crisis and widespread insecurity.

    Several Inec offices have recently been attacked, particularly in the southeast where separatist groups are active.

    Inec spokesman Festus Okoye confirmed the attack in a statement Monday, saying it was the third such incident in Imo State in two weeks.

    The Inec recently warned of the threat of increased violence during the election campaign, adding that it had recorded at least 50 attacks since the exercise began nearly two months ago.

    Although no group has claimed responsibility for the new attack, southeastern Nigeria has seen a large number of attacks attributed to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) movement.

    Ipob, which seeks the rebirth of a separate state for the Igbo ethnic group, has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the violence.

    According to local media, more than 100 police and other security personnel have been killed since the beginning of last year in targeted attacks.

     

    Source: African news

  • Gunmen kidnap worshippers in Nigeria mosque attack

    Gunmen abducted 19 Muslim worshippers after attacking a mosque in the restive northwest of Nigeria, police said Sunday November 4.

    The attackers stormed the mosque in Maigamji village, in Katsina state, during evening prayers Saturday and carried out the kidnappings after shooting and wounding the imam and another worshipper said local police spokesman Gambo Isah.

    “Our men went after the bandits and managed to rescue six of the worshippers from their abductors while efforts are underway to free the other 13,” he added.

    The two injured people are being treated at a hospital, the spokesman said.

     

    Criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” operate in northwestern and central Nigeria, where they terrorise people, attack and loot villages, killing many.

    These armed gangs also carry out many kidnappings for ransom but rarely target places of worship, instead targeting schools or travellers on the roads.

    Hostages are usually released after paying ransom to the gangs who take refuge in the vast Rugu forest, which straddles Zamfara, Niger, Katsina and Kaduna states.

    In November, 15 people were killed and several others injured in multiple bandit attacks on villages in neighbouring Kaduna state, according to authorities.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is under fire after two terms in office marked by rising insecurity, two and a half months before the presidential election in which he will not stand for re-election, in accordance with the Constitution.

    Source: Africa News

  • Mexico violence: At least nine people killed in an attack on a bar

    Gunmen stormed a bar in Central Mexico and killed at least nine people, according to local media.

    The attack took place on Wednesday night at the Lexuz bar in Apaseo del Alto, Guanajuato.

    At least seven gunmen stormed into the venue at 21:20 local time, according to witnesses (03:20GMT).

    The motive for the attack is unknown, but bar shootouts have become more common in Guanajuato, which has Mexico’s highest murder rate.

    In Wednesday’s attack, the victims included five men and four women. One of the dead is reportedly the owner of the bar.

    Two of the bodies were found in a car. It is not clear whether the two men were fleeing from the attack or whether they were hit by stray bullets.

    Much of the violence is blamed on a turf war between the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) and its rivals from the Santa Rosa de Lima criminal gang.

    The CJNG, which has its power base in the neighbouring state of Jalisco, has been making inroads into Guanajuato, where the Santa Rosa de Lima group controls much of the fuel theft and smuggling.

    Last month, 12 people were killed while at a beer hall in the town of Irapuato and in September a shootout in a pool hall in Tarimoro left 10 people dead.

     

  • Abducted teenagers released, welcomed by UN

    The United Nations has welcomed the release of 21 teenagers – most of them girls – abducted by gunmen in the north-western state of Katsina.

    The victims were working on a farm when they were seized by armed kidnappers last week in Faskari area.

    In a statement, the UN children’s agency, Unicef, says the news of their release is “pleasant”.

    But it adds that the children shouldn’t have been kidnapped in the first place, saying “no one, especially children should be a target of abduction or violence of any kind”.

    The UN agency has offered to support the Katsina state government to rehabilitate the freed hostages.

    State police spokesperson Gambo Isa told the BBC the victims were aged 15 to 18. Seventeen of them were females.

    He declined to say whether a ransom was paid but added that the underage farm workers were targeted after the farm owner refused to pay a levy imposed on farmers by gangs.

    The Nigerian authorities have been struggling to tackle the country’s widespread insecurity with armed gangs kidnapping people for ransom. Schoolchildren have been frequently targeted in the past.

    Nigeria is due to hold presidential elections in February and the insecurity is one of the key issues dominating the campaigns.

    Source: BBC

  • Nigeria gunmen disguised as guards kill 12 people

    Police in Nigeria say gunmen have shot dead at least 12 people and stolen dozens of cattle in the north-eastern state of Taraba.

    Residents said some of the attackers were disguised as local security guards during the raid of the remote village of Mubizen.

    They pretended to be searching for fleeing armed criminals and asked members of the community to come out and help with the search.

    But the attackers then opened fire on the crowd.

    Four people have been arrested in connection with the raid.

    Nigeria is grappling with a wave of violence by armed criminal gangs as well as Islamist insurgents.

    Source: BBC

  • Nigeria: Gunmen disguised as guards kill 12 people

    According to Nigerian police, gunmen have killed at least 12 people and seized dozens of cattle in the north-eastern state of Taraba

    Residents claimed that during the invasion of the isolated town of Mubizen, some of the attackers were dressed as local security guards.

    They pretended to be searching for fleeing armed criminals and asked members of the community to come out and help with the search.

    But the attackers then opened fire on the crowd.

    Four people have been arrested in connection with the raid.

    Nigeria is grappling with a wave of violence by armed criminal gangs as well as Islamist insurgents.