KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE and OLALEYE ALUKO
No fewer than 12 bandits have been killed in Kidandan, Maidaro and Sabon Fili villages in the Dogon Dawa area of Kaduna State during an exchange of fire between some gunmen and troops of the Nigerian Army.
One of our correspondents learnt that the troops attached to 1 Division Garrison, deployed on Operation Idon Raini, encountered the bandits, who were in a nearby market, purchasing foods and provisions.
According to the army, the troops got a tip-off from the local vigilance group and they mobilised to the market during which a gun battle ensued between them and the bandits.
It was gathered that the troops also recovered 32 motorcycles, five handsets and N9,135 from the hoodlums.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, who confirmed the incident, said the military would count on more intelligence from the residents to be able to flush out the criminal elements from the state.
Meanwhile, a combined team of soldiers and policemen on Saturday, rescued 10 victims from a kidnappers’ den in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State.
No fewer than three persons had died in the area since the kidnappers invaded the town about 10 days ago.
The rescued victims included, the manager of a petrol station in the state and his wife.
The soldiers and men of the Operation Flush from the Ekiti State Command on Saturday invaded the forest where the kidnappers were hiding after carrying out two attacks and abducting some persons last weekend.
A source said there was a fierce duel between the security agencies and the kidnappers before the criminals were arrested.
“They requested N20m ransom from the petrol station manager but later reduced it to N15m. They were constantly making contact with the family.
“As of this morning (Saturday), the family could only raise N1.2m and that was the situation before the soldiers and police stormed the forest and secured their freedom,” the source said.
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The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the development.
A statement from the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Major Ojo Adenegan, said the victims were kidnapped on their way to Ado Ekiti from Efon-Alaaye in two commercial buses at different points.
Adenegan appealed to the public to supply useful information to security agencies.
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I’ve begged Mercy Aigbe to forgive Toyin Abraham –Yomi Fabiyi
Tofarati Ige
Actor Yomi Fabiyi says he has asked Mercy Aigbe to forgive Toyin Abraham for the comments she made online recently. Recall that Toyin had, in a series of comments, attacked Aigbe, calling her a hypocrite. She wrote, “Mercy pushed me to the extreme. Alabosi ni e Mercy (you are a hypocrite). I don’t have issues with them. Agbaya ni e (you are an old fool)…” In another post, she wrote, “Mercy, anytime you see your colleagues fighting anyone that is when you write epistle…”
Even though Abraham later stated that it was all a stunt, Yomi Fabiyi, who had stood up for Mercy online, disagrees. He told Sunday Scoop, “It was never a stunt and it is common sense to know that such a weighty allegation can never pass for a stunt. I know better and I can clearly spot the danger that lies within if that deceit is allowed to fly. It is becoming a menace. People use social media to hurt brands. People with evil mindsets and wicked motives take undue advantage of the anonymity and sensitive nature of followers. I immediately knew the allegation against Mercy was not genuine when it bordered on lies and it came on the day she was dropping pictures and information of getting a new endorsement. Toyin and Mercy share the same PR manager. And if by sheer luck, it is Mercy this time, I expect Toyin to wish her well and put her envy in check. She went too far by calling her out repeatedly, and that subjected Mercy to serious cyber attacks. How long will people keep quiet over this kind of evil and anti-social behaviour? I know for one that the hurt will become a case of tit-for-tat even if they are both asked to pretend. Such dirty tactics must stop. All artists must be free to come on social media to ply their trade and socialise freely without fear of cyber attacks. Someone just has to stand up against this and demand a stop by taking the bullets.”
On the allegations that Mercy played a role in Abraham’s marriage collapse, Fabiyi said, “It is untrue. It is so sad that she took to social media to do that. It would be a grave sin if someone like me sees that and keeps quiet. We are all one big family. I have since sent Mercy a message to forgive her (Toyin) and hopefully, she understands that such approach without just or honest reasons is tantamount to cyber bullying, defamation and abuse. It does not have a place among us. These are things that can easily lead to terrible attacks. To save this society, people must learn to uphold the truth and look evil in the face. I have begged Mercy afterwards and I am sure she would listen and not plan any revenge.”
Reacting to insinuations that the matter didn’t concern him, Fabiyi said, “Do I look like a stranger to both of them? Do I know the truth? Will my efforts correct the lies and damage? Have fans and the media jumped at the half-information and invariably condemned Mercy for what she knows nothing about? Is my concern not aimed at addressing cyber attacks and social media witchcraft? Is my concern not legitimate as a senior colleague and friend to them both?
“The truth you need to hear is that some actors indulge in this act of subjecting their targets to cyber attacks for no reason and it is making social media dirtier than good. Be the best you can and use the platform for good. If we had a platform on which one can lodge complaints, I would have done that first. We have none and this needed to be nipped in the bud. Mercy is a struggling single mother who just suffered domestic violence. No artist deserves such from his or her colleague. I put it to you or whoever cares to listen that the incident was an attempt to bring her down because she recently secured an endorsement deal. Conspiracy of silence is why evil flourishes on this side of the divide. Please count me out.”
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