Prominent Nigerians killed by unknown gunmen in May 2021

The high rate of insecurity in Nigeria especially in the Southeast has been quite dire and at an alarming rate, with reported attacks on security formations, government properties and even individuals.

Nigerians have lost their lives to the cold hands of death after being shot dead by unknown gunmen.

Federal Character brings you a list of prominent Nigerians,  businessmen, other politically inclined individuals who have been killed by unknown gunmen in the month of May 2021.

Ahmed Gulak

Former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Ahmed Gulak, was shot dead in Owerri, Imo State. Gulak was killed by gunmen around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area close to the Sam Mbakwe Airport Road, in Owerri, Imo State.

Gulak was on his way to the airport when the assailants attacked him and shot him on the spot, after trailing him from his hotel room to the spot where he was killed.

In April 2014, Gulak was sacked as Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Political Matters but the former Nigerian leader did not give any reason for Gulak’s dismissal.

The late Ahmed Gulak was the chairman of the APC committee that conducted the primaries for the 2019 Imo State Governorship election.

In January 2016, Gulak, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had declared himself as the national chairman of the party following the crises that rocked the PDP and two years later, he left the then-ruling PDP for the APC, citing impunity and injustice in the PDP for his decision.

Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Abutu Yaro had directed a discreet investigation into the matter as Tactical and Special forces have been deployed to cordon the area and arrest perpetrators.

Justice Stanley Nnaji

A retired Judge of Enugu State, Justice Stanley Nnaji was killed by unidentified gunmen in Enugu on Sunday evening while driving in a black  Mercedes Benz SUV.His killing was captured on camera and the video posted on Twitter by an eyewitness.

The deceased, who hailed from Mbu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Council of the State was killed beside the Enugu Diagnostics Centre, by Ebeano Tunnel, after he was double-crossed and dragged out of his car. The assailants who were driving in a red coloured jeep also made away with his vehicle.

Enugu Police Commissioner, Daniel Ndukwe alleged that the gunmen had trailed and shot dead the ex-judge while driving in a Mercedes Benz SUV, along with Ebeano Tunnel, Enugu.

“The victim was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead by doctors on duty and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy”, he said.

Before his death, the former Judge served at the Enugu State High Court until he was dismissed following his role in removing Governor Chris Ngige, the then Governor of Anambra State, in 2007 via a questionable ex-parte order.

While assuring that no stone would be left unturned in fishing out perpetrators of the heinous crime, the State Police Commissioner called on residents of the State to remain law-abiding, vigilant and assist the Police with useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the assailants.

Linus Owuamanam

A popular businessman identified as Linus Owuamanam was killed by unknown gunmen around Premier Hotel, Sango Road in Ibadan, Oyo State. Onwuamana, who was reportedly killed around 8:00 p.m., was said to be driving a bus along the Mokola-Sango Road in Ibadan.His assailants were said to have also stabbed him on the left side of his chest to make sure he did not survive the gruesome attack, after shooting him.

He was said to be breathing when he was rushed to the hospital for treatment.Meanwhile, nobody could ascertain the whereabouts of the second person said to be on the bus with the victim when the incident happened.

A passerby, who saw the victim in the pool of his own blood, was said to have alerted the victim’s workers. Oyo State Police Command, through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adewale Osifeso said investigations had commenced unravelling the incident.

Okiemute Mrere

The Chief Provost of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Imo State Command, Okiemute Mrere, was assassinated on Saturday. Mrere was driving on Owerri-Port Harcourt Road in Owerri when he was attacked by gunmen and shot at close range.

A senior officer of the NIS said the slain officer’s corpse was found in a bush on Sunday. It was learnt that the assailant did not take any valuable item from the van, and his service pistol was found on him.

Godswill Obioma

Godswill Obioma,  National Examinations Council (NECO) registrar, according to his wife, was  killed by unknown gunmen.

An online news medium, Peoples Gazette reported that Mrs Elizabeth Obioma said “the assassins came in and killed him and left without taking anything.”

Weeping profusely, Mrs Obioma said her husband had just returned to Minna from a trip to Abuja when the armed men, lurking in his compound, descended on him and strangled him.
Meanwhile, the management of the National Examination Council (NECO)  spoke on the circumstances that surrounded the death of the late professor who died on Monday.

A circular issued by the Director, Human Resource Management, at NECO Mustapha K. Abdul in Minna on Tuesday, quoted family sources as saying that Prof Obioma died on May 31, 2021, after a brief illness.

This is contrary to insinuations in the social media that the late Registrar was assassinated in his residence in Minna, Sani said.

Prof Obioma was born on 12 December 1953 and hailed from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

He was appointed Registrar of NECO on 14 May 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Until his appointment as Registrar of NECO, Prof Obioma was the Ebonyi state Resident commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The late Registrar is survived by his wife and children.

These are deaths too many, may their souls rest in perfect peace.