The rampaging bandits currently terrorising schools in Kaduna state, were repelled by the military when they attempted another round of attack on the senior staff quarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Sunday.
In the fierce exchange of firework, the military showed its might by containing the attack and putting off the marauders, some of whom sustained varied degrees of injuries during the melee.
Similarly, a combined team of security agents, including security volunteers, also halted a planned kidnap of students Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara local government, Kaduna state in the early hours of Sunday.
The airport is a few kilometres away from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), with the military on patrol while some others are stationed at the airport to guard against any security breach.
The two events came as efforts were still being made to secure the release from the abductors’ den some 39 students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, in the state.
An airport source told Blueprint on the telephone that upon receiving an intelligence report via a distress call on the hoodlums’ presence to carry out the deadly attack, the soldiers, composed of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force, were deployed to counter the move.
Although details of how the hoodlums gained entrance into the staff quarters were sketchy, our source however said “an unmanned space left unprotected was exploited by the hoodlums.
“As I am talking to you now, some of the occupants in the quarters are not ready to take any risk by waiting for another attack, and are therefore making efforts to get accommodation space pending when the security around the airport improves. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.”
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan said: “Around Ifira village in Igabi local government area, bandits attempted to attack a senior staff quarters around the Kaduna Airport general area. This attempt was also foiled as troops of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army engaged and repelled them, with several escaping with gunshot wounds.”
Failed school attack
On the failed attempt to kidnap students of GSSS Ikara, the commissioner also told journalists that the 307 students of the secondary school were verified safe and present following a headcount after the botched attack.
“Between the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of today (Sunday), suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara local government area, in an attempt to kidnap students.
“Fortunately, the students utilised the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces in the area. The security forces comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee. The military and police are still on the trail of the armed bandits.
“Following a head count by the school management, the Kaduna state government can confirm to you that all 307 students have been verified safe and present. The attempted kidnap was foiled completely and no student was taken from the school. Images provided by the Nigerian Army can attest to this, and will be shared with you,” he said.
“The Kaduna state government acknowledges the efforts of the security agencies in the recent rescue of 180 students in the vicinity of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka. These efforts have been mentioned in interviews given by some of the rescued students.
“Kaduna state government extends its unequivocal solidarity to the Military, Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies, whose swift intervention prevented the bandits from abducting more persons.
“The Kaduna state government maintains a clear focus at this time, and that is to ensure the safe return of the missing students, and to consolidate intelligence gathering and security vigilance towards forestalling possible attempts on other facilities or institutions. As a government, our focus is on getting back our missing students and preventing further episodes of school abductions. We will continue to provide updates,” he said.
Osun six family members
Meanwhile, some unknown gunmen have killed six members of the same family before daybreak in a community called Wasinmi, in Osun state.
The community is along the Ife/Ibadan expressway. According to sources, the gunmen invaded the community in the midnight shooting sporadically.
The reasons for the attack and the perpetrators of the crime could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
It was gathered that operatives of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Hunters Group of Nigeria are currently in the bush in the area in search of the perpetrators.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Osun state, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident.
She told our correspondent that “the killing happened in a community called Wasimi and all the people killed are family members. The commissioner of police is currently in the place as I speak to you and our officers have also been deployed to the place.”
In the last two weeks, there have been rising cases of kidnapping and killings in Osun state despite efforts by Amotekun Security Operatives to curb security challenges in the state. Premium Times
Kidnappers in Abuja
In a related development, the police killed two kidnappers in Anguwar Hausawa, Naharati community in Abaji Area Council, Abuja.
The kidnappers were killed during an exchange of gunfire with the police and members of the vigilante group guarding theAnguwar Hausawa.
It was learnt that the gunmen came in large numbers and attacked some houses in Anguwar Hausawa around1am Sunday.
Prior to the arrival of security operatives, the gunmen had broken into some houses and kidnapped four persons namely; Abdullahi Umar, Abdulkarim Yusuf, Abubakar Umar and 13-year-old Abdulrahman Isah.
“They started shooting sporadically into the air to scare residents after they kidnapped four people,” said a source.
Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, confirmed both the abduction of the residents and killing of two kidnappers.
Some excited residents were seen rushing to the scene to take snap shots and videos of the kidnappers’ corpses at the police station in the area.
Among the items reportedly found on them were SIM cards, charms and phones.
Confirming the developments, FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer ASP Maryam Yusuf said the police repelled the attack.
She also said the kidnappers, who sustained gunshot injuries during the duel, died while being taken to the hospital.
Christian leaders
However, some 120 Church leaders from various denominations within Nigeria’s South-east have proffered solutions to the lingering insecurity and other challenges facing the country.
The church leaders, at a peace summit held Saturday in Enugu, Enugu state, advocated fair representation of zones in government, non-selective justice and improved border security as panacea to lasting peace and unity in the country.
The peace summit was organised by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission.
Chairman Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-east, Mr Goddy Okafor, said the summit was a step in the right direction, adding, “no nation can make progress in an atmosphere of chaos.”
“Peace is required, if we as a people in the country want to make progress. This summit has reawakened our consciousness to follow peace and allow peace to reign.
“I call on all to follow the path of peace for all of us to make progress as well as join the government to fight all forms of challenges against peace in the country.”
In his remarks, Bishop of the Methodist Church Circuit, Abia State, Mr Sunday Onuoha, said peace would be elusive if there was injustice and marginalisation of any section of the country religiously, socio-economically and politically.
Also speaking, Pastor Okechukwu Obiora of the Living Word Outreach International, Onitsha, urged both federal and state governments to do more on youth engagement and empowerment through skill acquisition.
“I believe the violence and vices in the zone can be checked if almost all our youths will be gainfully employed and there is no idle person within communities in the zone,” Mr Obiora said.
In his view, Pastor Nkechi Nnamani of the Assembly of Love and Charity Ministries, Enugu, advocated development of the country to create more socio-economic and healthy competition among the various zones.
And speaking at the event, Executive Secretary NCPC, Mr Yakubu Pam, said from issues discussed, the commission would make necessary recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari, “who as a father will look into them all.”
Mr Pam, a cleric, said the recommendations that needed instant implementation would be done, while the process of kick-starting those that would take longer time would also put iin place.
Pam said: “The Church leaders in the South-east have vehemently raised issues of social injustice, lack of adequate representation in appointive positions in government among others.
“However, the Church leaders unanimously agreed that we must co-exist and live together as one indivisible entity and country.
“They all believed and agreed that we have more to gain in living together as one entity, while we all work towards sustaining peace.”
“I am delighted and so will Mr President be, as the Church leaders also on their own proffered practical solutions to all these challenges. All these I will take back to President Buhari as well.
“I am satisfied with the meeting as well as the very large turn up of Church leaders in the zone to discuss peace in the country,” the NCPC boss further added.