Police launch manhunt for men behind Imo killings

…Gunmen kill 20, abduct many in Bauchi, Niger, Kaduna, Oyo

IMO State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, said the command has launched manhunt for those responsible for recent spate of killings in Imo State, particularly the cold blood murder of seven guards in Umuafom, Orogwe in Owerri West Local Government Area, on Monday.

  Meanwhile, fear gripped Nigerians as gunmen went on rampage in many parts of the country with over 20 persons killed and many more abducted or injured in broad daylight.

  While Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 12, Bauchi, Audu Madaki was shot and injured and one of his police guards shot dead when their convoy was attacked between Barde and Jagindi area of Bauchi, at least 15 persons died following an attack by gunmen in Erena community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

  Eyewitnesses said Madaki’s convoy was attacked on their way to Abuja while a vigilante in Erena, Usman Umar, said gunmen invaded the village in large numbers after engaging security operatives stationed in the area in gun battle.

  Umar also said an unconfirmed number of people were abducted by the fleeing bandits who stormed the community on motorcycles.

  Similarly, gunmen attacked and killed one person and abducted Rector of Federal School of Statistics, Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

  In a related development, the duo of Olugbenga Owolabi and Rachael Opadele who were abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo State recently have been killed by their abductors who had collected N5million ransom.

  A source from Owolabi’s family said even a motorcyclist who carried the man who went to pay the ransom to the bush was also killed while his passenger was seriously injured.

  According to the source, Owolabi is a hotelier who recently returned to Ogbomoso while Opadele is a student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) but was working in the hotel due to ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

  In another development, gun men invaded a private ranch, shooting into air, before rustling 13 cows in Owode-Egba, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

  A manager in the farm, who refused to be named, said the bandits had fled before  Amotekun operatives arrived the location.