•Strike in Rivers community, kill 3, kidnap 2

From Sola Ojo, Kaduna and Tony John, Port Harcourt

A few weeks after killing 10 locals in Langson community in the Zango Kataf Local Government area of Kaduna State, the unidentified gunmen returned to the Atak’Njei community in the same local council and left eight people dead.

Atak’Njei is the community housing the palace of the Atyap paramount ruler, Agwatyap in Zango Kataf local government area of the state.

Reacting to the unfortunate development that happened at about 9pm, on Wednesday, the National President, Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), Mr. Sam Timbuwak Achie, condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric”, and calling on the state government and security agents to fish out the criminal elements involved in the dastardly act.

As of the time of filing this report, both the Kaduna State Police Command and Ministry for Internal Security and Home Affairs were yet to make official statements.

But the Chairman, Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Mr. Francis Sani Zimbo, confirmed the incident and quickly added that those injured during the attack were receiving treatment at different undisclosed hospitals.

Also in Rivers State, gunmen suspected to be cultists, on Wednesday, invaded the Ubeta community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state and killed three people.

The killing came barely 72 hours after two shop owners, Chimezie Nagbo and one other, were kidnapped in the community on Monday. The paramount ruler of the Ubeta community, Million Jonathan, who confirmed the incidents to journalists on telephone, disclosed that not all the three people killed were cultists.

He explained that the two shop owners who were kidnapped were neighbours. He said since their abduction, the kidnappers were yet to make contact with the community or family members of their victims.

Jonathan claimed that the incident has been happening for months now, with intervention of the government. He disclosed that many natives had deserted the community.

The paramount ruler of the Ubeta community stated that some of the youths perpetrating the act had sworn an oath before now, but they were surprised that some of them (youths) went back to their old ways. He maintained that the community is willing to train any of the warring youths in skills acquisition, if the person shuns criminality.

The paramount ruler called on the Rivers State  government to come to their aid. He, however, said he has not personally reported the latest incidents to the police, but had sent someone to do so at Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State Police command was yet to make an official statement in respect of the incident at the time of filing this report.