… As Imo Police arrest 2 armed robbers with automatic riffle***
Police in Adamawa have confirmed that five people were injured during a protest at Savannah Sugar Company in Numan, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, on Friday.
DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, the Public Relations Officer of the command, who confirmed to the newsmen in Yola, said the incident occurred on Thursday, at about 5.00 pm at the company’s premises along Numan-Gombe road.
“The command received a report between the hours of 10pm to 5pm on Thursday, that a large number of youths from neighbouring Gyawana village had invaded the Savanna sugar company.
“Armed themselves with dangerous weapons and threatening the entire Savanna company staff, including residents of the staff quarters whom they asked to vacate the area.
“The tense situation led to the deployment of operational teams, including the military, to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order in the company and its surroundings.
“Later in the evening, between the hours of 5pm and 6pm the youths, numbering 200, again mobilised themselves and tried to force their way into the company with the intention of attack and destruction.
“On seeing that, the security personnel decided to open fire to disperse them and as a result five people sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to the hospital for treatment,’’ Nguroje said.
No deaths were recorded and the situation had been brought under control and normalcy returned to the area, he added.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that the command had deployed teams to investigate the remote causes of the incident for further necessary action.
“The command is calling people to stop taking laws into their hands, instead they should always channel their grievances to appropriate authorities for proper action,’’ he said.
Mr Gideon Mbemun, the Executive member, Junior Staff Union of the company, told newsmen that the incident followed misunderstandings between the management of the company and the Gyawana youths.
“There were some demands made by the host Gyawana youths Community to the company, among the major demands being the issue of employment.
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“At the union level , we have intervened severally to solve the issues amicably and we learnt that the management had responded to the community, but they were not satisfied.
“I think, the issue can still be resolved amicably through dialogue and understanding,’’ Mbemun said.
He said the five people were injured on their legs and were receiving treatment at Lamurde hospital.
Mr Victor Purto, the Chairman, Lamurde Local Government Council, also confirmed the incident, saying that normalcy had returned to the area.
Purto confirmed that no one was killed during the incident, but some people sustained bullet wounds on their legs and that the council had set up a committee to find a lasting solution to the lingering problem.
Efforts made by newsmen to reach the company’s management, however, failed.
In a related development, the Police Command in Imo says it has arrested two notorious armed robbery gang terrorising Mbaise and its environs.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abutu Yaro, made this known on Friday in a statement signed on his behalf by the command’s spokesman, CSP Micheal Abattam.
He said the gang was responsible for the recent robbery incidents recorded in Mbaise in Imo.
Yaro said that two automatic English-made pump-action and life ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
“On 14/7/2021 at about 1730 hours based on credible information, a gang of armed robbers that have been terrorising Mbaise and its environs were sighted at Umuevu Onitsha Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA in Imo State.
“The command tactical teams mobilised and raided the criminal hideout where the suspects were arrested.
“Recovered from them are two English-made automatic pump action guns with seven rounds of live cartridges and two locally made pistols.
“The suspects are presently undergoing interrogation and have made useful statements that will aid the police to arrest other suspects.
“CP Abutu Yaro commended the officers and men for being proactive and also commended the residents of the state for their commendable synergy with the police,” the statement said.
