Gunmen kill 17 in Plateau, Yobe, Kogi

At least 17 people were yesterday reported killed in three separate incidents in Riyom, Damaturu and Ankpa.In the Damaturu attack on Tuesday night, gunmen opened fire on 11 people at a beer parlour, killing five and injuring six others.The gunmen came riding an auto-rickshaw (popularly called Keke NAPEP) at about 7pm, residents said. 'They shot sporadically on the air, before they entered the beer parlour firing at people,' a witness said.'Three people on our table died instantly while two others died after receiving treatment at the Sani Abacha Hospital, Damaturu. Among those killed are somebody known by the nickname Tablet and a director of the Yobe State government. Three of those killed were from Potiskum,' the witness added.Spokesman for the Yobe police command, Mr Gbagesin Toyin, confirmed the attack but said he had no details. In Plateau State, gunmen killed five people and inflicted machete wounds on two others in Gwarim village in Rim District of Riyom Local Government Area on Tuesday night.The attackers were suspected to be herders, who had been engaged in tit-for-tat violence with farmers in parts of the state for years.Riyom constituency representative at the State House of Assembly, Mr Daniel Dem, said, 'It is very unfair for people to be attacked and killed in their sleep, this is not the first time that this kind of thing is occurring, and my people have been pushed to the wall.'Those killed in the latest incident, according to the Riyom legislator, were Dinnatu Danbwarang, 48; Simi Joseph, 26; Rose Dalyop, 25; Jafates Samuel, four; and Christiana Samuel, 7.Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Samuel Dabai, confirmed the attack.In Ankpa, Kogi State, armed robbers killed seven people yesterday when they attacked the local First Bank branch.Among those killed during the operation that lasted for about 25 minutes were native doctor Huseni Ateyike and a woman selling corn by the road side, both of whom were hit by stray bullet.Residents said the heavily armed robbers stormed the area at about 2pm in 5 SUVs and fired indiscriminate shots, thereby scaring people away.They headed to the First Bank branch and took away undisclosed amount of money before heading towards the local Unity Bank branch but could not gain entry.From there, they attacked the nearby Police station and looted the armoury and also freed some detainees from the cell.As the robbers approached, the policemen run away, residents said.The robbers later fled on sighting a joint team of military and police personnel.Spokesman for the Kogi police command, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, who confirmed the incident, said they were waiting for a report from the Divisional Police Officer.
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