How Gunmen Invaded Imo Market, Killed Three, Others Injured

No fewer than three persons have been killed after gunmen attacked Anara market in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo state.

Many other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack which happened around 10pm on Tuesday, Cable reports.

Witnesses in the area said the gunmen invaded the market in a white Sienna vehicle and opened fire on the people.

“The gunmen were in a white Sienna vehicle. As they arrived at the market, they just opened fire and shot dead three people and several others were wounded from the gunshots, the three people died immediately,” a witness said.

Also narrating the incident, another witness said: “Nobody knows why they attacked the market, they arrived and started shooting at the people sporadically, people scampered for safety, some people fell on top of each other.”

The South-East region has been plagued with insecurity over the past few months as gunmen with unknown identities have been clashing with security agencies, leading to several deaths.

Many lives have been lost to these attacks while properties, owned by the government and private individuals, have also been destroyed by the assailants.

BREAKING: Court Adjourns IPOB Leader, Kanu's Trial To January 19, 2021

The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has been adjourned to the 19th and 20th of January 2022.

Kanu had informed the judge, Justice Binta Nyako that the Department of State Services operative refused to grant his lawyer access to the court room, BBC Pidgin reports. 

He had earlier protested the refusal of the DSS to allow some of his lawyers access into the Court.

SaharaReporters learnt that the DSS brought Kanu into the courtroom at 9:52am.

The IPOB leader made his third court appearance since June when the security agents repatriated him to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, some groups were seen outside the court protesting the death of Ahmed Gulak.

Recall that in May, Gulak who was a former Special Adviser on Politics to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, was killed by gunmen in Owerri, Imo State.

Kanu, who was re-arraigned before trial Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, is facing a seven-count amended treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.

The Nigerian government had in the amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, which was signed by a team of government lawyers led by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, alleged that Kanu had in furtherance of an act of terrorism, issued a deadly threat that anyone that flouted his sit-at-home order should write his or her will.

The Nigerian government alleged that as a result of Kanu’s directive, banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses, with vehicular movements grounded in the South East region of the country.

It said the action amounted to an offence contrary to and punishable under 1(2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

The Nigerian government equally lined up five witnesses to testify in the matter, among whom are officials of the DSS and one Ronald S. who was identified as the manager of a hotel in Lagos State.

BREAKING: Many Feared Killed As Bandits Launch House-To-House Raid In Buhari’s Home State

Many people are feared killed and properties burnt down in fresh attacks on communities in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Daily Trust reports.

The attack, which reportedly began Tuesday evening and lasted into the early hours of Wednesday, saw dozens of houses including government structures and vehicles set ablaze.

Witnesses said no fewer than five communities were struck by the armed men, where a yet to be ascertained number of people were either killed or injured.

“In each of the communities invaded, the gunmen fired sporadically into the air to register their presence before going from house to house, looting victims of valuables and harassing residents,” a source was quoted as saying.

There were speculations that one of the victims killed in the attack was lawyer, one Barr. Nura Hassan Wagine.

The source added that several of the victims were trying to escape from the onslaught of the marauding gunmen when they sustained injuries.

When contacted, the Member representing Batsari in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon. Jabir Yauyau, said he heard about the unfortunate incidents, but still gathering information about what actually happened.

He added that details of what happened would be difficult to get for now, because of the lack of telecommunication network in the area.

“It is confirmed that the attack took place, but the casualties and the extent of damage caused is not yet known, especially because of the lack of mobile network in the area.”

“I am told about the majority of those killed. They are people I know personally, but I still need to confirm. I am trying to ascertain what actually happen because I am going to move a motion on matters of public importance in the house, but I have to get the actual thing,” he said.

Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.

Over 700 people have been reportedly killed by the gunmen in Jibia, Kankara, Dutsinma, Musawa, Danmusa and Safana local government areas of the state in the last five months.