Three delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Mariga Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State for the governorship primaries have been shot dead by bandits.

It was learnt that the attack occurred on Wednesday between Mariga and Tegina. Tegina is in Rafi LGA.

They were killed on their way back to Mariga after the party postponed the primaries. Dozens of gunmen on motorcycles had ambushed them, resulting in the murder.

The Chairman of the State electoral panel and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who made the disclosure at the state party secretariat described the incident as sad.

Since 2010, gangs of bandits have run riot in vast swaths of northern Nigeria, but only in the last few years has the crisis ballooned into national prominence in Africa’s most populous country.

With Emefiele, CBN no longer safe for sensitive materials, says Falana

Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project shows that bandits were responsible for more than 2,600 civilian deaths in 2021.

Gombe: Political thugs set Islamic clerics ablaze for asking people to vote right candidate

An Islamic cleric, Malam Aliyu Muhammadu Tukur, has been set on fire by suspected political thugs in Kumo town of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

It was learnt that Muhammadu was conducting Tafsir inside a mosque beside his house two weeks ago when hoodlums broke into the mosque and set him on fire.

Malam Tukur confirmed to online media that he was attacked and burnt by the thugs for allegedly speaking about the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The scholar, who teaches and preaches, said he was lucky the attackers, whose mission was to take his life, didn’t succeed but left him severely injured.

Mohammed said his offence was a speech he made during the closing of the Ramadan Tafsir at his mosque, where he asked his students and other followers to vote for the right candidates that touched their lives positively.

According to the 42-year-old father of five, he recognised some of the attackers who were residents of his neighbourhood and supporters of one of the aspirants seeking a legislative seat, saying that he did not have any problem with them and did not know why he was targeted.

“During the closing of Ramadan Tafsir at the mosque, I commented on the forthcoming elections, where I stated that my students and other followers will only vote for politicians that have been able and were keen on delivering the desired development of our communities.

Confirming the incident was the state police spokesman, ASP Mahid Muazu Abubakar, who said two suspects had been arrested in connection to the crime.

During the closing of Ramadan Tafsir at the mosque, I commented on the forthcoming elections, where I stated that my students and other followers will only vote for politicians that have been able and were keen on delivering the desired development of our communities.

“After Sallah, we resumed the Tafsir we were doing before the Ramadan. So, on May 11, at around 8 pm, just a few minutes after commencing the Tafsir session, we heard voices asking where exactly I was seated.

Murdered OAU student: Why we arrested Oriyomi Hamzat – Police

“Before we could understand what was going on, thugs, about five in number, broke into the mosque and poured petrol on me. One of them threw a device that exploded and caused the fire, which burnt parts of my hands, my seat, copies of the Qur’an and carpet in the mosque, including some of my students who also got injured.”

Confirming the incident was the state police spokesman, ASP Mahid Muazu Abubakar, who said two suspects had been arrested in connection to the crime.

For second time, gunmen kidnap Kogi elder statesman- Isa Salami

For the second time in about five years, an elder statesman in Kogi State, Alhaji Isa Salami has been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.

Isa Salami, who is currently a board member of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), was kidnapped at Ogaminana in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Information available to the media revealed that the elder statesman was kidnapped at gun point on his way from his house to join congregation in a nearby Mosque for the early morning prayer.

Sometime in 2017, the same man was kidnapped at his Abuja resident and was rescued by the police after three days of being with the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the Kogi Police Command is said to have deployed crack team in rescue of kidnapped Isa Salami.