The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed that 20 persons were killed by gunmen in two separate attacks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of the state in the early hours of Thursday.
During the attack, several others sustained varying injuries and are currently being treated in the hospital.
The State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday.
The statement which was signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred also said that one kidnap victim was rescued by men of the state command during an operation in the area.
The statement read, “On 10/08/2023, at around 0500hrs, the Plateau State Police Command received information from one Rwang Danjuma ‘M’, of Heipang District, that at between 0200hrs to 0230hrs, unknown gunmen stormed Tagwam Lawuru Village where they cowardly shot and killed 17 people, after the attack on Tagwam Lawuru village, the hoodlums also proceeded to Layowok Village where they killed 3 persons. As a result of the attacks, several other people sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
“On Receipt of the information, the DPO Barkin Ladi, led a combined team of Policemen and personnel from other security agencies including members of security help groups in the State to reinforce and restore normalcy in the affected communities. The injured victims have been responding to treatment at the different hospitals where they were immediately rushed to.
“The Command is however, pleased to inform you that, the DPO Barkin-Ladi and team while on Patrol, rescued one Gideon Nweke ‘m’ Aged 63years of Liberty Boulevards British America Jos, who was kidnapped along Riyom-Jos Road on 08/08/2023 at about 2100hours in a Plateau Riders Sharon vehicle while on their way from Abuja. The victim was taken to Allah Nakowa Hospital Barkin Ladi for treatment of injuries inflicted on him as a result of a beating.
“On this note, the Commissioner of police and the entire officers and staff of the Nigerian Police Force on the Plateau extend our heartfelt condolences to the communities and families of the victims. We also wish to assure you that we have already put modalities in place to ensure the arrest and onward prosecution of the perpetrators of these inhuman acts.
“The Command is using this opportunity to send a stern warning to all criminals and hoodlums, that we shall not tolerate any form of criminal activity within the State, and if you are caught engaged in any criminal activities you will be severely dealt with according to the law.
“To the good and peace-loving people of Plateau State, the Command urges you to remain calm and go about your lawful businesses as we are committed to ensuring the security of lives and properties within the State”
The statement also listed some emergency numbers linking the police control room and urged members of the public to always make use of them in the event of an emergency. The numbers to call include 07059473022, 08038907662, 08075391844, and 09053872296.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a couple, Iliya Gyang, 30, and his pregnant wife, Grace Iliya, 25, in a fresh attack on the Angwan Ishaku community in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), told Peoples Gazette that the incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
In a statement sent to the Gazette, Mr Tengwong condemned the gruesome attack carried out by terrorists on Wednesday evening.
“The couple were both shot by the assailants while the husband was working in front of their home, leading to the immediate death of Mrs Grace Iliya at the scene, while her husband, who sustained serious gunshot injuries, was rushed to the hospital but sadly later gave up while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Tengwong noted that the attack came a day after the State Security Council meeting, where the Plateau government announced decisive measures aimed at addressing persistent attacks and destruction of farmlands across communities.
According to him, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire on the couple and others in the area, and fled through the road leading to Fulani settlements in Fass along the Rakung-Sho road.
“The deceased woman had only recently finished breastfeeding their one-year-old twin boys and was pregnant again. The tragic killing of the couple has now left the innocent twins orphaned and devastated their entire family.
“Two other persons also sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, while their health conditions are yet to be confirmed,” Mr Tengwong said.
The group described the attack as barbaric, wicked, and inhuman, saying it reflects the worsening insecurity confronting residents of Barkin Ladi and surrounding communities.
Mr Tengwong also called on the Plateau government to immediately provide support for the orphaned twins left behind by the deceased couple.
Efforts to reach the police spokesman in the state, Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to him remained unattended as of press time.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, sentenced a former Minister of power, Saleh Mamman to 75 years imprisonment for money laundering charges.
Mamman, who was absent in court, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503,73( Thirty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy Three kobo).
Justice Omotosho convicted him last week on all the 12-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC but deferred his sentence to Wednesday.
Count one of the charges reads:
“That you, SALEH MAMIVIAN {Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, whilst you were the Minister of Power conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of =N=33,804,830,503.73
{Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo) through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads:
“That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in December 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, conspired with SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$665, 700:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, and that you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
At Wednesday proceedings, Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,SAN informed the court that the convict again was not in court and no reasonable excuse was given from his lawyers about his whereabouts. He urged the court to continue with the sentencing in his absence citing Section 266 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which provides guidelines for such an occasion.
Oyedepo also urged the court to order the forfeiture of properties traced to the convict to the Federal Government. The properties are, two units of four- bedroom detached apartments located at 93 Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja and a property located at No 12A & B, Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.
Also, Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, urged the court to order the forfeiture of cash recovered from Mamman’s house: $13,890, €19,960, £10,000 , 42,390 Doran, R35,000, ₹50,60,00 and 247 Saudi Arabia Riyadth . He also urged the court to direct that the convict refund the difference of the amount recovered and the amount remaining in the N22bn for which he was found guilty.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to 75years imprisonment: seven years each on counts 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,11& 12 without an option of fine, three years on count 4 with an option of fine of N10m and two years on count 5 without an option of fine. The sentence will run consecutively from the date of his arrest.
Justice Omotosho ordered all national and international security agencies to arrest and handover the convict to the Nigerian Correctional center.