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Tag: Hoodlums

Hoodlums invade church, burn properties, destroy tithe box
Hoodlums have attacked and destroyed the tithe box and other property of the Motailatu Church of God, Oke-Idahun Parish, at Imafon Community in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The church, which is under the umbrella of the Cherubim and Seraphim denomination, was said to have been attacked on Friday.
After the destruction, the hoodlums were said to have set ablaze some items found in the church.
The church’s Resident Minister, Rev. David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi, who spoke on the matter on Sunday, said the footprints of the hoodlums were detected when he got to the church premises in the evening of the fateful day.
He said, “What first caught my attention was the damaged lectern placed on the altar and some broken bottles that littered the church auditorium.
“Many of the plastic chairs belonging to the church and offering trays were set ablaze inside the church. This is malicious damage and we don’t know who could have done this to the church of God.”
Akinadewo-Adekahunsi added that the church’s hymn books and other items kept in a room in the uncompleted church building were also destroyed while the church’s prayer room was also touched by the attackers.
“They damaged the window nets, but they could not gain access to the prayer room due to the burglary proof. But they damaged the tithe box,” the cleric stated.
He said the matter had been reported at the Oda Police Division, Akure, and he was assured that those behind the attack will be apprehended.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident but said she was yet to get full details.
“I will get back as soon as the DPO sends me the full details,” the PPRO said.
February 13, 2023
2023 Elections: Hoodlums Disrupt PVC Distribution In Edo Community
Hoodlums over the weekend disrupted the distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in some parts of Ikpoba Okha LGA of Edo State.
It was learnt that the incident happened on Friday and Saturday in Ward 01 at Iwogban/Uteh; Ward 05 at St Saviour’s School; Ward 07 at Ugbekun; Ward 06 at Maria Goretti College; RA 09 at Obanyator; Army Children’s School and Ogheghe Health Centre.
The hoodlums were said to have stormed the collection centres in the morning when officials of INEC moved the distribution of the PVCs to ward level.
The Head of Voter Education, Edo INEC office, Timidi Wariowe, in a statement, said, “INEC, Edo State, has received reports of unruly incidents between yesterday Friday and Saturday which degenerated to the disruption of the collection of PVCs and threat to officials and materials in the five wards.
He said INEC had informed the police command about the situation.
He called on the citizens, especially community leaders, on the need to ensure the safety of INEC officials and materials deployed to their various communities to ensure that voters collected their PVCs and were able to vote in the elections.
January 8, 2023
Thuggery: Police nab 61 hoodlums in Kano
The Kano State Police Command on Thursday said 61 suspected political thugs had been arrested in its efforts to rid the state of all forms of crimes and criminality, especially during political campaigns.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mamman Dauda, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, in Kano.
He said the arrest was made in line with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali-Baba, to ensure a peaceful election process and tackle the menace of political thugs.
“The suspects were arrested on January 4, during political campaign clearance operations conducted during a political activity at Sani Abacha Stadium Kano,” he said.
He said items recovered from the suspects included 33 Knives, eight Cutlasses, four Scissors, a parcel and 117 wraps of suspected Indian hemp.
The CP added that prior to the clearance operation, a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and a Peace Summit involving all critical stakeholders were held.
“Election stakeholders meetings were also held at area commands and divisional police offices level.
“Political party leaders and candidates promised to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies in the state for a safer and more secure election process,” he said. Dauda commended people of the state, other security agencies, the media, vigilante groups and Community Policing Stakeholders for their prayers, support, encouragement and cooperation.
“Currently, with a low crime rate and peaceful atmosphere in the state, the command will continue to remain steadfast in safeguarding lives and property in the state,” he assured.
January 6, 2023
Hoodlums attack our 53 facilities nationwide – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that between February 3, 2019 and now, the commission has recorded 53 attacks on its facilities in different parts of the country.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Registration and Information, Festus Okoye, gave the figure at one-day sensitisation training for journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The event was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in conjunction with INEC on conflict-sensitive reporting and 2023 general elections.
He said, “As from February 3, 2019 up to July 23, 2022, the commission recorded 45 attacks on its facilities in different parts of the country. And between July 23, 2022 and December 14, 2022, we also recorded 8 additional attacks on our facilities.”
Speaking on the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Okoye said it works both online and offline for transmission of results and accreditation of voters.
He said, “BVAS works offline and Section 47 (2) of the Electoral Act makes the use of BVAS mandatory for the commission.
“It works just like when a person sends a text message from a mobile phone; once it goes, the sender cannot retrieve or alter it. The device is used for voters’ authentication, accreditation and transmission of results.”
He said during the INEC’s continuous voters’ registration exercise, over 12 million people completed their registration which started on June 28, 2021 and ended on July 31, 2022.
INEC cautioned journalists against announcing or publishing results of the elections before they are officially announced by the commission.
December 16, 2022
Again, Hoodlums set INEC office ablaze in Ebonyi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Iboko, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has been set ablaze.
According to the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the incident occurred on Sunday morning.
He said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi State, Mrs Onyeka Pauline Ugochi, reported that that the incident occurred around 10.00am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze.
According to him, although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed.
“These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures and yet to be determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs),” Okoye said.
He lamented that this is the third attack on INEC Local Government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on the commission’s offices in Ogun and Osun states on 10th November 2022.
He said that the attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies has been drawn to the incident and have commenced investigation.
November 29, 2022
Hoodlums Attack Journalists Covering Tinubu in Lagos
The bus conveying the press crew covering Lagos State Governor’s Office was, on Sunday, attacked by thugs between Ebute-Ero and Adeniji, Iga-Iduganran axis on Lagos Island, leaving no fewer than two journalists with serious injuries.
The press crew bus, which was in the convoy of All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was attacked by the thugs who threw heavy stones repeatedly at the vehicles conveying dignitaries, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; and others, who had just left the palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu.
The press crew bus was heavily attacked by the hoodlums. As the bus sped off to escape the attack, the journalists had to lie low. Many where still hit.
Western Post correspondent, Ms. Adeola Ogunrinde, and Omatseye Atsenuwa of Smooth 98’1fm sustained serious injuries.
Ogunrinde got wounded in the face, while Atsenuwa had his arm hit directly by one of the heavy stones.
Adedoja Salam of TVC went into shock due to heavy bombardment of stones and bricks thrown at the press crew bus, leaving the windscreen and nearly all the side screens broken and vandalized.
June 20, 2022
Deeper Life Church Pastor Killed by Hoodlums, Police Arrests 3 persons in Kogi
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
A deeper Life Church Clergy, Pastor Victor Alimi has been hacked to death by suspected hoodlums in Okehi local government area of Kogi state.
Pastor Victor was said to be on his way home from a church service at Okaito area along kabba-Okene road at the late hours last week when he met his untimely death in the hands of the alleged suspects.
The deceased was said to have been hacked to death on 10th March by some hoodlums over an undisclosed issues while on his way to his house at Ohoiokpe area in Okehi local government on that fateful day.
The Police Public Relation Officer(PPRO), SP Williams Aya told journalists on Saturday that the body of the deceased was found in a pit along the route of his church, few days after he was declared missing.
He added that the command has been on the trail of the hoodlums , and that intelligence gatherings has led the operatives to arrest the three suspects in their hide out in the area.
According to him, the three suspects are already undergoing interrogation at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command in their attempt to uncover the reasons behind their dastardly act.
SP Aya added that the command would not disclose the identity of the three suspects now as the police net is open to tracks more of the culprits.
It was gathered that the death of the pastor may not be unconnected with issues arising from grant scheme that he allegedly got himself involved, and which the handlers are yet disburse to the beneficiaries.
March 19, 2022
Hoodlums set ablaze PDP secretariat in Gombe
The Gombe state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party was on Tuesday morning set ablaze by some suspected political thugs.
The PDP office which is situated along Gombe/Bauchi expressway as well as Atiku House were both set on fire damaging documents, chairs and other valuables.
A supporter of the party, Muntari Kulsi, explained that the office was set on fire at about 1:30 am, stressing that the secretariat was in about 1:20 am before he left the office.
He said revealed that the suspected hoodlums are members of the All Progressives Congress, noting that it would be incomprehensible for both offices to be affected at the same time when they are not closely situated.
Kulsi said, “The source is All Progressives Congress and its people. Both offices that are about four kilometres away from each other cannot naturally catch fire at once”.
“Our guys here saw the thugs, they came in three cars with several weapons, the security guard stationed at the office was overpowered by the thugs and had to run for their lives.”
According to him, while men of the fire service close to the office tried to contain the fire, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Pantami division played useful roles.
He said, “We are just waiting for our leaders to decide on what to do, but we all knew people that did this and we go after them”.
However, efforts made to reach Muritala Usman, Publicity Secretary of the party as at the time of filing this report proved abortive.
Observations by our correspondent indicated that the PDP would initiate a protest to seek justice, while also, the Atiku Campaign Organization is set to address the public on its resolve.
Reacting to the allegation, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Moses Kyari said the party has no hand in the destruction of the PDP secretariat and campaign office in the state, adding that their office was also affected.
He revealed that their office was attacked earlier by those he said were identified by the Closed-Circuit Camera.
Kyari said, “There is a tiny line with what transpired. Our own office was also burnt at about 12 midnight and as the act was been done, we have footages of who carried out the attack.
“Their own office they claim was burnt around 2 am by unknown people, possibly members of the PDP. But for us, we have video clips of who burnt our office and we have presented them to the police. The APC has no hand in the burning of their state secretariat.” set ablaze PDP secretariat in Gombe*
The Gombe state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party was on Tuesday morning set ablaze by some suspected political thugs.
The PDP office which is situated along Gombe/Bauchi expressway as well as Atiku House were both set on fire damaging documents, chairs and other valuables.
A supporter of the party, Muntari Kulsi, explained that the office was set on fire at about 1:30 am, stressing that the secretariat was in about 1:20 am before he left the office.
He said revealed that the suspected hoodlums are members of the All Progressives Congress, noting that it would be incomprehensible for both offices to be affected at the same time when they are not closely situated.
Kulsi said, “The source is All Progressives Congress and its people. Both offices that are about four kilometres away from each other cannot naturally catch fire at once”.
“Our guys here saw the thugs, they came in three cars with several weapons, the security guard stationed at the office was overpowered by the thugs and had to run for their lives.”
According to him, while men of the fire service close to the office tried to contain the fire, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Pantami division played useful roles.
He said, “We are just waiting for our leaders to decide on what to do, but we all knew people that did this and we go after them”.
However, efforts made to reach Muritala Usman, Publicity Secretary of the party as at the time of filing this report proved abortive.
Observations by our correspondent indicated that the PDP would initiate a protest to seek justice, while also, the Atiku Campaign Organization is set to address the public on its resolve.
Reacting to the allegation, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Moses Kyari said the party has no hand in the destruction of the PDP secretariat and campaign office in the state, adding that their office was also affected.
He revealed that their office was attacked earlier by those he said were identified by the Closed-Circuit Camera.
Kyari said, “There is a tiny line with what transpired. Our own office was also burnt at about 12 midnight and as the act was been done, we have footages of who carried out the attack.
“Their own office they claim was burnt around 2 am by unknown people, possibly members of the PDP. But for us, we have video clips of who burnt our office and we have presented them to the police. The APC has no hand in the burning of their state secretariat.”
February 1, 2022
Hoodlums Attack Grace FM Editor, Beat Him To Coma in Lokoja
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Editor News of Grace FM radio, Lokoja, Tunde Fredrick was on Friday in Lokoja attacked by yet to be identified hoodlums.
The unidentified hoodlums numbering five according to our correspondent allegedly accosted the Editor while fixing his car along cemetery road.
Tunde Fredrick who is presently on admission at the FMC accident and emergency unit, said the hoodlums alleged that the Radio Station had reported the sale of cannabis sativa, popularly called Indian hemp along cemetery road, x-raying their place of business to law enforcement agencies.
The editor added that the hoodlums said the report by the radio station was capable of affecting their business and patronage, reason why they beat the Editor to coma.
The matter according to the Editor has been reported to the Kogi State Police Command Lokoja by the Management of Grace FM.
As at the time of filing-in this report, the Editor News is in an unstable condition as a team of medical personnel are making frantic efforts to stabilize him and save his life.
All efforts by our correspondent to speak with the PPRO for for comments and the command’s next line of action did not yield fruitful results as he could not be reached.
April 16, 2021
Hoodlums hijack, kill five on Federal Highway diversion in A’Ibom
Hoodlums have killed at least five persons this month at a diversion by Ikot Ebak village in Mkpat Enin Local Council of Akwa Ibom on the dilapidated Abak-Ekparakwa-Ikot Abasi federal highway.
The road was diverted following the excavation of soil on a 200m stretch by the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the highway, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, CCECC.
The hoodlums according to residents of the area, have resorted to robbing and kidnapping unsuspecting commuters plying between Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River states who regularly use the road.
Some of the residents told newsmen who visited the area yesterday that the bushy diversion, also lack the presence of security personnel while the narrow road has also become dilapidated due to a sudden increase in vehicular traffic.
The residents who lamented the activities of the hoodlums claimed that hundreds of unsuspecting commuters have either been robbed or abducted by the hoodlums who exploit the commuters’ ignorance of the terrain to intimidate them.
They told newsmen that in one of the incidents, a kidnap victim who recognised one of his abductors was killed by the hoodlums after the sum of N200,000 was allegedly collected from him.
Two other abducted commuters were said to have been killed by their abductors on Thursday last week because they could not part with an undisclosed sum of money demanded by the hoodlums.
The residents harped on the need for adequate information and deployment of security personnel on the diversion while calling for a more motorable diversion or alternative road.
Some of the drivers said most of their colleagues have resorted to using the Etinan-ONNA- Ikot Akpaden road though longer but safer as they could no longer guarantee the safety of their passengers on the Abak-Ikot Abasi route.
State Police Public Relations Officer, MacDon Odiko in a telephone interview said such reports were yet to reach the command but promised to work on the information.
The Federal Comptroller of Works in the state, Nkeruwem Ukpong did not give details on the progress and schedule of work on the road but in replying to a text message from Correspondents said that, “I am just from the site, the contractor is working.”
The bad state of the Abak-Ikparakwa-Ikot Abasi highway would compound the woes of commuters between Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River states as the Calabar-Itu highway, another federal road passing through the two latter states has become almost impassable.
Also with no concrete assurance from the Federal Government and the Police on plans to either conclude rehabilitation works soon or provide a better diversion and secure the diversion, the woes of commuters on that road is bound to continue.
April 16, 2021