Abductors who kidnapped pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina town in Rafi Local Government of Niger State have made contact with the management of the institution.

The bandits contacted the school Headmaster, Alhaji Abubakar Alhassan, at about 4 pm on Monday, asking him to pay N110 million as ransom for the release of his pupils, our correspondent gathered .

Speaking via telephone Tuesday, Alhassan said the bandits claimed to have 156 pupils with them.

According to him, the kidnappers threatened that if they did not pay the ransom by the end of today, they will kill all the children.

Alhassan said the message has been passed to the state government, which said it will not pay ransom for the release of the children.

We learnt from another source that some public spirited people within the community have started raising the money which they hope to take to the bandits.

Meanwhile, the state government has said that it has set the necessary machinery in motion to ensure the safe release of the school children but completely ruled out the payment of ransom to the kidnappers.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Mary Noel Berje, quoted the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, as also saying: “Government is on the pursuit of the bandits and efforts are being put in place to identify them.

“The number of the kidnapped school children is not fully ascertained. However, efforts by security agencies to secure their release have been intensified.

“We don’t pay ransom to abductors. We are trying to negotiate to see how we can bring them back safely.”

Describing the situation as unfortunate, the deputy governor disclosed that the Islamiyya school has three components nursery, primary and junior secondary school, adding that government has made contact with some of the identified parents of the kidnapped children and assured them of the safe return of their children.

Streets in many parts of the south east are deserted in the wake of a sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.

The order is to mark two days of Remembrance for Biafra Day.

The order has been controversial in recent years, with state governments dissociating from it.

Militarisation in the region to combat IPOB is thought to have forced many to stay indoors.

The result is empty streets across Enugu and Abia states, according to images shared by residents in the region.

Streets in Umuahia the Abia State capital are virtually empty and deserted as residents remain indoors in total compliance with the sit-at-home order given by the leadership of IPOB to mark this year’s Biafra Day.

Major streets, roads in the state capital are empty of the usual human and traffic just as shops and business premises are closed.

There is no visible patrol movement of security agents nor the presence of the outlawed IPOB members on the streets.

It was a similar situation at the over-projected nearby Orieugba market which was a ghost of itself.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu had Sunday night said Abia traders would not be compelled to open their shops today if they chose not to do so.

Security agents take over strategic points in Imo to ensure law and order as residents of Imo state obey the sit-at-home order given by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), combined teams of security agents drawn from the army, police, navy and sister agencies have cordoned off strategic areas identified as flashpoints in and around Owerri and its environs.

Our correspondent gathered that there is a heavy military presence along Aba – Owerri road, specifically at Naze No 1, Akachi Road where some airforce men were alleged to have been killed on Saturday

There is also heavy security presence at Okigwe Road and at Imo State University round about.

The same scenario is replicated at Orji Fly over.l and Amakohia/Akwakuma flyover.

However, the situation is different at Dick Tiger junction by Egbu Road, on the road to Enyiogugu Mbaise with scanty military presence.

Meanwhile, men of the anti kidnapping unit in their patrol vans have taken over Umezurike Hospital off Royce Road, while Ama JK along Douglas Road, Control Roundabout, Concord Hotel Road by first inland road junction and Protea Hotel are no go areas.

It’s also difficult for motorists going to the Airport as Airport Junction Aba-owerri Road and obiangwu-Ngor Okpala where a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, was killed on Saturday are no go areas.

The situation is also the same at Nguru and Logara where military presence is quite noticeable.

A former Judge of the Enugu State High Court, Justice Stanley Nnaji, has been shot dead by gunmen.

Recall that a video posted on Twitter by The Nigerian Barrister @TheNigerianBar showed armed men dragging Nnaji out of his car at a deserted crossroad.

The video also shows a pileup of cars behind the judge’s car – all not moving as the incident unfolded.

Police has described the location as the popular Ebeano Tunnel Roundabout off Garden Avenue in Enugu.

A volley of shots was heard before the men jumped into the black SUV and drove away.

The video, filmed by a resident overlooking the crossroad, contains the voice of the recorder.

Enugu police commissioner Mohammed Aliyu has ordered a full-scale manhunt of armed assailants.

Justice Nnaji was a Judge of the Enugu State High Court until he was dismissed following his role in the removal of Governor Chris Ngige, the then Governor of Anambra State in 2007 via a questionable ex-parte order.

His killing comes hours after the former Special Adviser on politics to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was shot dead by gunmen in Owerri, Imo State.

Gulak was on his way to Abuja from Owerri when he was killed Saturday night.

The police have announced the arrest of the gunmen who killed Ahmed Gulak, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain.

Recall that Gulak was shot dead in Imo State on Sunday morning.

The driver of the vehicle that took him to the airport was said to have been grilled by security agents and he described the Vehicles the Hoodlums used as One Toyota Camry 2005 Silver color, Toyota Sienna 1998 Model Gold Color, Toyota Hilux White colour and Lexus RX 330 Gold Color.

A situation report showed that before Gulak was killed, some persons blocked the Imo Airport road at Obiangwu Junction in Ngor~okpala LGA.

According to him; “Police teams from the Special forces,PMF, IRT, IMO State Command Tactical Units who have all reached the Scene of the killing were directed to immediately Proceed on Patrol and look for those Vehicles.

“Fortunately at Afor Enyi Ogwgu junction in Same LGA the Police Teams came in contact with the Hoodlums with same Vehicles mentioned by the Driver, The Hoodlums were said to have confiscated a trailer loaded with Onions from the North at Enyiogugu, Mbaise, and were busy sharing the onions to the local Population as they also took positions to Protect themselves and attack any incoming Security agents. Three people were killed in that incident.

“The Hoodlums on sighting the Police teams immediately Opened fire on the teams and the Galant teams returned Fire and eventually fatally wounded 10 of the Hoodlums during the gun battle while others were pursued as they escaped with their vehicles. 3 of the Four Vehicles Toyota Sienna, Toyota Hilux and Toyota Camry use by the IPOB/ESN Terrorist for their Operation were Demobilized/Recovered and 7 of the Terrorist with bullet wounds were completely burnt down inside the Toyota Sienna and Hilux Vehicles that caught fire during the Gun battle.

“3 Ak47 Rifles, 1 English Pistol, 5 Ak47 Magazines, 92 Ak47 Ammunition, Several Charms and 3 Operational Vehicles of the IPOB/ESN were recovered.

“Serious efforts in progress to trace and arrest Several wounded IPOB/ESN Terrorist members who are hiding in the surrounding Forrest and villages. The 3 bodies of the IPOB/ESN Terrorist not burnt down were brought to the Police state Headquarters while efforts to recover the burnt bodies of the Hoodlums to the Police state HQ in Progress.”

However, a Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Social Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugw, described the arrest as a major boost in the investigation into Gulak’s murder.

“I can confirm from Intel from credible security sources that ipob/ESN terrorists were responsible for the attack that murdered Sen. Almad Gulak and they have been apprehended, and scores neutralized in the process by our gallant security operatives.”

On 30/5/2021 Sequel to the killing of Ahmed Gulak by Some criminals who suddenly came out to block the Imo Airport road at Obiangwu Junction at Ngor~okpala LGA of Imo state.

The Driver of the Vehicle conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport was immediately interviewed and he described the Vehicles the Hoodlums were using as One Toyota Camry 2005 Silver color, Toyota Sienna 1998 Model Gold Color, Toyota Hilux White color, Lexus RX 330 Gold Color.

Police teams from the Special forces,PMF, IRT, IMO State Command Tactical Units who have all reached the Scene of the killiN were directed to immediately Proceed on Patrol and look for those Vehicles.

Fortunately at Afor Enyi Ogwgu junction in Same LGA the Police Teams came in contact with the Hoodlums with same Vehicles mentioned by the Driver, The Hoodlums have already confiscated a trailer loaded with Onions from the North and were busy sharing the onions to the local Population as they also took positions to Protect themselves and attack any incoming Security agents.

The Hoodlums on sighting the Police teams immediately Opened fire on the teams and the Galant teams returned Fire and eventually fatally wounded 10 of the Hoodlums during the gun battle while others were pursued as they escaped with their vehicles. 3 of the Four Vehicles Toyota Sienna, Toyota Hilux and Toyota Camry use by the IPOB/ESN Terrorist for their Operation were Demobilized/Recovered and 7 of the Terrorist with bullet wounds were completely burnt down inside the Toyota Sienna and Hilux Vehicles that caught fire during the Gun battle.

3 Ak47 Rifles, 1 English Pistol, 5 Ak47 Magazines, 92 Ak47 Ammunition, Several Charms and 3 Operational Vehicles of the IPOB/ESN were recovered.

Serious efforts in progress to trace and arrest Several wounded IPOB/ESN Terrorist members who are hiding in the surrounding Forrest and villages. The 3 bodies of the IPOB/ESN Terrorist not burnt down were brought to the Police state Headquarters while efforts to recover the burnt bodies of the Hoodlums to the Police state HQ in Progress.