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Troops kill notorious Katsina terrorist, Maikusa, recover weapons

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A notorious terrorist, identified as Maikusa, said to be the second-in-command in the hierarchy of the terrorists’ cell in Katsina state led by wanted Modi Modi was killed by troops during a shootout on Monday.

 

Maikusa and three other terrorists were gunned down by troops during a counter-insurgency operation in Kurfi and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations said in a statement on Tuesday.

Nwachukwu added that the ferocious operation also resulted in the successful clearance of terrorists’ enclaves in these areas.

 

“During the operation, troops encountered vehement resistance from the violent extremists, but gallantly overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower neutralizing some while others fled in disarray.

 

“After the firefight, the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 65 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, a locally fabricated gun and camouflage uniform,” the Army spokesman said.

 

He also revealed that in continuation of the clearance operations, troops also destroyed terrorists’ camps in Wurma, Shaiskawa, Yauni, and Dogon Marke villages in Kurfi LGA, as well as Ummadau and Zakka villages in Safana LGA.

“The troops have continued to maintain an aggressive posture in the general area to clear remnants of the terrorists cell to ensure safety and security in the region,” he said.

READ  Troops uncover illegal weapon factory in Jos, arrest two

 

The police and Katsina state government on Sunday placed N50 million bounty on Modi Modi and Jan Kare, two notorious bandits leading most of the cruel operations that have consumed many lives and property running into billions of Naira in the State.

 

It was gathered that the police in synergy and conjunction with sister-security agencies have also launched aggressive manhaunt, in serach of Modi Modi, Jan Kare and their gang members.

A top government source also revealed to our Correspondent that the state Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda, has given a standing order to security agencies in the state, for a renewed fight against bandits and other criminal agents jeopardizing socio-economic activities in the state.

 

“Governor Radda is giving all necessary support and encouragement to security agencies in the state. He has ordered them to flush out bandits. He is determined to return peace, order and socio-economic srability in Katsina state. As I speak to you, all security agencies in the state are well mobilized to do their job and achieve results,” the source added.

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In a statement released on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of Katsina state Police Command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, the police promised to gift N50 million to anybody who provides useful information on how to nab the two wanted bandits.

 

The statement partly reads: “The Katsina State Police Command wishes to announce a substantial reward of N50,000,000:00 to any individual who provides valuable information that will lead to the arrest of two bandits’ kingpins popularly known as Modi Modi and Jan Kare operating within Katsina State, particularly in the regions of Kankara and Safana Local Government Areas.

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Four dead, 70 vehicles burned in Rivers fuel tanker explosion – Police

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The Rivers state Police command says four people and over 70 vehicles were burnt in Friday’s fuel tanker explosion in the state.

 

The explosion occurred along Eleme section of the East-West Road in the state at about 7:30 p.m.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesman of command, who confirmed the sad incident in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said that the tragedy occurred following a collision between a heavy-duty truck and a petrol-laden tanker.

 

At the scene of the accident, there were seveal burnt vehicles and charred bodies of victims on the road.

 

The incident happened a few metres from the Indorama Petrochemical Company and roughly 10 kilometres from the Port Harcourt Refinery.

 

There was an extensive gridlock stretching over five kilometres on the road under reconstruction as part of the N200 billion Ring Road project by the Rivers Government.

 

State government trucks, accompanied by police and Federal Road Safety Commission officials, were seen evacuating the burnt vehicles to facilitate traffic flow.

READ  EFCC detains Ogun Assembly Speaker, Clerk, Accountant

An eyewitness, Onyeka Ubani, who narrowly escaped the explosion, said that while transporting passengers on his newly acquired tricycle (Keke), they heard a deafening sound ahead of them.

 

“The loud sound was followed by a massive fireball, causing everyone to flee for safety.

 

“We managed to escape, but unfortunately, my Keke caught fire in the process.

 

“I thank God for my life, but I am at a loss about what to do with my life now, having recently purchased this Keke,” a distraught Ubani said.

 

Another eyewitness, David Jumbo, said that he was returning home from work around the Akpajo axis of the East-West Road when the incident occurred.

 

He narrated that after the explosion, vehicles and victims were caught by fire, which stretched over 200 metres.

 

“It happened so quickly that it could be likened to scenes from Hollywood movies.

 

“While I was fleeing for safety, I saw a pregnant woman struggling to exit one of the commercial vehicles.

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“Unfortunately, when I returned this morning, I found the deceased pregnant woman trapped in the bus as she tried to escape,” he recounted.

 

Jumbo attributed the accident to the recklessness of truck drivers, who disregarded road warnings despite the ongoing road construction.

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, who visited the accident scene, described it as tragic and sad.

 

He urged motorists to always exercise caution while on the road.

“This incident is not a pleasant one, we recorded a huge number of vehicles destroyed and lives lost.

 

“I have already asked the relevant agencies to brief us on how we can support the bereaved families to mitigate their losses.

 

“This incident would have been avoided if the motorists had adhered to proper conduct. People should ply this road with caution,” Fubara said.

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Fubara visits scene of tanker explosions, promises support for families of victims

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says the state government will support he families of victims affected by the multiple tanker explosion.

 

Fubara spoke on Saturday when he visited the scene of the accident alongside Olatunji Disu, commissioner for police in Rivers, and Maximus Nwafor, commissioner for energy.

 

On Friday night, tankers laden with petroleum products burst into flames on a section of the East-West road in Eleme, Rivers state, leaving an unspecified number of people killed.

 

The inferno which had also left travellers stranded for hours, engulfed over 50 vehicles, with some bodies found burnt beyond recognition in cars and in a nearby drainage.

The governor directed security agencies to conduct a thorough assessment of the accident to facilitate the provision of aid to families of victims.

 

“Yesterday around 7-8pm, we got information about a very serious inferno that was caused by a tanker conveying PMS,” he said.

 

“I got the information through the MD of Indorama and immediately alerted the security agencies. From what we are seeing this morning, it was not a very pleasant case.

“We recorded, from what I am seeing, a huge number of vehicles being destroyed and souls lost.

 

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“I have already asked the security agencies to give us a full brief. So that we can come into the situation fully by seeing how much we can support the families of the bereaved and see how we can cushion the effect of the losses.”

 

The governor also lamented the deteriorating condition of the Eleme section of the East-West road.

 

“We all know the situation of this road; it is unfortunate. Most of our people when plying this road do so with caution,” he added.

 

 

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Many feared dead in multiple petrol tanker explosions in Rivers

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An unspecified number of people have been killed after tankers laden with petroleum products burst into flames on a section of the east-west road in Eleme, Rivers state.

 

The incident, which left travellers stranded for hours, occurred on Friday night.

 

Some of the victims of the multiple explosions were said to have been trapped in their vehicles as the blasts raged.

 

The cause of the explosions are not clear at the time of reporting. However, eyewitnesses have pointed to “dangerous driving and negligence”.

The Nation quoted Segun Owolabi, an eyewitness, as saying that one tanker collided with a vehicle before bursting into flames, leading to a domino effect.

 

“I saw four dead bodies burnt. Some may have been in the bushes because many ran away. I saw a whole stretch of vehicles burnt down, trailers burnt down,” Owolabi said.

“There seems to be a truck carrying substances and it was as if it had collided with another vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Over 20 vehicles burnt down and several people trapped.

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“There may be more bodies. Oh my God this is a tragedy. A stretch of vehicles burnt.”

 

Another eyewitness said he heard a loud explosion from a petrochemical complex in the area.

 

“I heard a very loud sound about 20 minutes ago, and people were shouting,” he said.

 

“The sound came from the petrochemical company area. So when I came out I saw thick smoke with fire from a distance.”

The inferno reportedly raged for hours before it was put out by firefighters.

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