Troops deployed to Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, to quell the incessant uprisings in the state have killed five persons believed to be members of the outlawed Ombatse militia group.
They were also said to have recovered 60 AK47 riffles and 100 machetes from the group in the Obi Local Government area of the state.
It was gathered that the soldiers acted on a tip-off following which they attacked Tudun Adabu, a settlement in the local government council area at the weekend.
Members of the group were said to be holding a meeting at the time.
The 60 AK47 riffles and 100 machetes seized from Ombatse group were kept in a mud house in Ankgwan Amidu in Obi where the militia men had earlier launched an attack on a community in Tudu Adabu area.
A military source also told Daily Independent that a top government official was equally arrested at one of the numerous military checkpoints in the state with firearms in his vehicle.
The name of the official could not be given for security reasons.
Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Information and Security, Baba Ibaku, in an interview with Daily Independent in Lafia recently accused the Special Adviser to Governor Tanko Al-Makura on Revenue, Shehu Usman Sandaji, of harbouring arms and sponsoring thugs against the state legislators.
Ibaku was reacting to the attack on the Assembly members by thugs alleged to have been sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the same vein, Legal Adviser to the proscribed Ombatse group, Zamani Alumaga, while testifying at the commission of inquiry set up by the Governor to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of security operatives recently alleged that the Governor was harbouring gun runners in his government.
Another report from Benin said two wives of a prominent Edo businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Iyayi Efianayi, were on Sunday morning kidnapped by six armed men on their way to church.
According to Julius Onaghise, Public Relations Manager, Iyayi Group of Companies, the two women – Grace Iyayi (72 years) and Christiana Iyayi (65 years) – were abducted by the hoodlums along Boundary Road near Ogbetuo Avenue junction, GRA, Benin City.
The two elderly women, Onaghise added, were in the same car with another lady in the passenger’s seat and a driver.
Unknown to them the two vehicles behind them (a Toyota Sienna bus and a Toyota Corolla car) were carrying kidnappers who were trailing them.
Immediately they got to Ogbetuo Avenue junction, the Sienna bus overtook and blocked their car while the Corolla was also used to block the car from behind.
Four armed men alighted from the two vehicles, pointed their guns at the driver and the lady in the front seat, and then ordered them to open the doors of the car.
The two elderly ladies were pulled out of their cars into the Sienna bus and they sped away.
The Toyota Corolla, which ostensibly must have been stolen for the operation, was abandoned at the spot.
Up to press time last night, the kidnappers have not made any contact with the victims’ family members. Their phones were also switched off.
Meanwhile, Essien Cobham, father of Cross River State Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, who was kidnapped early morning on Friday in Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government area of the state, has regained his freedom.
Indications that the man has been freed became clear on Monday when the Deputy Governor arrived his office for the day’s job to greetings of “congratulations” from his aides and staff in his office.
A source said Cobham arrived home around 12 midnight.
Also from Kaduna came a report that a bank and a police station were attacked by suspected armed gunmen at Makarfi Local Government area of the state.
This is coming barely one month after gunmen attacked three commercial banks in Saminaka, Lere Local Government area.
Eyewitnesses said in the latest incident, the gunmen numbering over 30 engaged security operatives who swiftly moved in a counter attack to stop the robbery operation.
Kaduna Police Commissioner, Femi Adenaike, told Daily Independent that armed policemen in Armoured Personnel Carrier were deployed to rescue the victims.
