stormed the Deeper Life Bible Church, Otite, near Okene, in the
central axis of the state, killing 16 worshippers.
LEADERSHIP reliably gathered that members of the church were attending
its weekly Monday Bible study service when the hoodlums stormed the
place.
The gunmen, numbering about 10, who were said to have invaded the
church in a Toyota Hiace bus, started firing sporadically.
Motorists plying the highway connecting the northern and southern part
of the country as well as students of the Federal College of
Education, Okene, which is a stone throw from the venue of the
incident, had to take cover to avoid running into the gunmen.
The worshippers could not escape immediately as the gunmen blocked the
entrance of the church.
Some worshipers were able to escape during the attack which lasted
about 20 minutes, even as nine others who received serious injuries
were rushed to a nearby hospital.
The commissioner of police, Kogi State command, Mr. Muhammadu Katsina,
confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with our
correspondent.
He said the gunmen entered the Deeper Life Church and switched off the
generating set in the church before opening fire on the worshippers.
The police boss, who spoke while on his way to Otite, also confirmed
the number of casualties, even as he promised to give details of the
incident later, after visiting the place.
Police outpost razed in Shagari town
Unknown gunmen yesterday launched another bomb attack on hometown of
the former President Shehu Shagari, destroying a police outpost in
Shagari local government area of Sokoto State.
A source close to LEADERSHIP claimed that the attackers came on
motorbikes and shot at the police outpost while firing at police
officers on duty. The source added that the attackers tossed dynamites
at the police post and raced down the station.
Shagari LGA is about 50km from the capital of Sokoto where the sect
attacked two police formations last week.
Though details of the attack were sketchy at press time, police
sources said there was no casualty, adding that investigation into the
incident was ongoing.
Robbers storm Kano Kwari Market
In a related development, six armed gunmen yesterday stormed the
famous Kantin Kwari Market in Kano metropolis and carted away
undisclosed huge sums of money from Samfa Investment Limited.
According to an eyewitness, the gunmen attacked the market from
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Way where the company was located and began
to shoot sporadically in the air to scare people away.
"They came to the market on three different motorcycles and attacked
the company. They fired gunshots before they succeeded in collecting
large sums of money," our source disclosed.
Shortly after the attack, the suspected robbers abandoned the
motorcycles and snatched a Honda Civic car from a customer who brought
women to purchase textiles in the market before they fled the area,
our source disclosed.
It was gathered that traders and customers were busy transacting
businesses when they heard sounds of gunshots, making them run
helter-skelter to avoid the gun attack.
In the ensuing confusion, the robbers were said to have carted away
the money and fled the area.
Police public relations officer Rilwanu Mohammad Dutse confirmed the
attack and said there was no loss of life.
He said the police were able to engage the robbers in a shootout but
the robbers succeeded in fleeing the area.
Dutse also said that investigation had commenced on the matter to
ascertain the extent of loss incurred during the attack.
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