Three members of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) were shot dead on Thursday night by gunmen in Okhun community, Ovia North-East local government area of the state.
The hoodlums according to eyewitnesses invaded the and shot the victims who were on duty.
It was gathered that the incident was not unconnected with the leadership tussle in the community, while others suspected cult reprisal.
In a video, a member of the ESSN who introduced himself as ‘commander Small Baba’ said: “We got an information that some hoodlums were shooting sporadically in Okhun community.
“We swung into action immediately upon receiving the information and got there, we were attacked by the hoodlums. They killed three of my men in the process.
“I was also shot by the hoodlums, but I managed to escape.”
Two persons were recently killed in Okhun and it later triggered a cult war in Benin where now fewer than 10 persons were killed.
Spokesman of the Edo State police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he had not been notified of the incident and promised to find and get back to our correspondent.
The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bauchi State, Comrade Umar Saidu, has said the new leadership of the council would focus on training and retraining of its members in line with world best practices, and maintaining peace and harmony among members.
Speaking after being sworn in as chairman of the council for the second term, Umar assured that the re-elected exco would double its efforts to give the best leadership throughout their tenure.
He said; “You may recall that during my first tenure I outlined a five point agenda which include promoting inclusive governance, making our elders relevant in running the union, observing professionalism, promoting training and retraining as well as promoting transparency and accountability in our activities.
“My respected colleagues, it was during our thank you visit to all the 11 chapels and other units that I realised that the exco had fulfilled the promises, that resulted in a vote of confidence being passed on us by the former chairman of the council as well as the entire congress during our meeting on May 17, 2023.”
The chairman commended journalists, media managers and other stakeholders for the support given to them, and expressed hope that the tempo would be sustained and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He called on Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to fulfill his promise during his first term to upgrade the NUJ secretariat to a modern one to provide a conducive environment for members to operate effectively and also to give approval for the implementation of weigh-in allowance for practicing journalists in the state.
The new executive to pilot the affairs of the union for the next three years include Comrade Umar Saidu from the Correspondents’ Chapel as chairman while Ahmed Kaigama also from the Correspondent’s Chapel was returned as vice chairman.
Other members who were returned unopposed are Isa Garba Gadau from BATV chapel as secretary; Isyaka Ismail Wunti, FRCN as auditor; Danjuma Sarki Saleh from BRC chapel as treasurer.
Others are Salisu Bala Halliru from BATV as financial secretary as well as Adamu Ibrahim from Information chapel as assistant secretary.
This development came after the Bauchi State High Court No.10 struck out the suit filed against the state council of the NUJ for lack of jurisdiction and awarded a cost of N100,000 against the plaintiff.
Four members had filed a case challenging the decision of the recent congress attended by over 60 registered members of the union.
They were seeking interpretation of some sections in the NUJ Constitution in relation to the case.
