- Soldiers, gunmen in bloody clash, leading to death of 20 at Awor, Warri
- The Ministry of Trade and Investment was renamed Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
- Gunmen killed a policeman and abducted three ad hoc staff in Danusa, Katsina
- Nigerian troops killed twenty-three Boko Haram militants in Abadam, Borno
- Six INEC staff kidnapped in Kogi regain freedom
- Pirates kidnapped five sailors off the coast of Brass, Bayelsa
- A ballot box snatcher was killed in Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom
According to George Orwell, the most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.
History has a unique place in the lives of people. It not only preserves recollection of events, but occasionally sparks contemplation on earlier occurrences. We must carefully consider our past as we go forward.
In an effort to raise awareness for educational purpose and to bring historical events to our readers’ doorsteps, WITHIN NIGERIA has highlighted six notable events that occurred on March 9th in the history of this country, Nigeria.
Soldiers, gunmen in bloody clash, leading to death of 20 at Awor, Warri
On this date, 9th of March in 2004, more than five persons including a soldier on peace keeping mission were killed in an early morning shoot-out between soldiers and unknown gunmen at Awor, a notorious water-side ghetto in Warri.
According to unconfirmed reports, the total number of persons who lost their lives in the shoot-out was at about 20.
The Ministry of Trade and Investment was renamed Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
On this date, 9th of March in 2013, the Goodluck Jonathan administration changed the Ministry of Trade and Investment to Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment was established to play a significant role in the diversification of the economy’s resource base by fostering trade and investment, with a focus on increased production and export of non-oil and gas products that will result in the creation of wealth and jobs, the reduction of poverty, and improved service delivery that will encourage the growth of the domestic economy for self-reliance and export as well as its integration into the global economy.
Gunmen killed a policeman and abducted three ad hoc staff in Danusa, Katsina
On this date, 9th of March in 2019, gunmen killed a policeman, kidnapped more than three ad hoc staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Danusa, Katsina.
According to report, the killing and abduction of INEC ad-hoc staff took place during the governorship and state assembly election in the state.
Nigerian troops killed twenty-three Boko Haram militants in Abadam, Borno
On this date, 9th of March in 2019, Nigerian troops killed twenty-three Boko Haram militants in Abadam, Borno.
Abadam is a remote Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, on the western coast of Lake Chad. It borders Chad and Niger, and it’s very close to Cameroon, in 2016 its population is projected to be 140,000 inhabitants.
Six INEC staff kidnapped in Kogi regain freedom
On this date, 9th of March in 2019, unknown gunmen abducted six staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and later released them in Lokoja, Kogi State, during the state assembly election.
According to NAN reports, the kidnapping of the staff was one of the incidents recorded during the election that was generally marred by violence.
The staff were kidnapped by armed thugs decked in fake police and army uniforms at the polling unit inside the Crowther Memorial College in Lokoja.
Pirates kidnapped five sailors off the coast of Brass, Bayelsa
On this date, 9th of March in 2019, armed pirates kidnapped five crew members from an offshore support vessel in the latest pirate attack off Brass, Bayelsa state, Nigeria.
Data provided by IMB Piracy Reporting Centre said, pirates armed with machine guns in two speed boats approached the unnamed vessel while it was underway some 32 nautical miles off the coast of Brass, midday on March 9.
The ship’s Captain immediately notified the naval escort security boat which maneuvered to engage the attackers. One speed boat closed in from port side of the vessel and crossed the bow, while the other speed boat exchanged fire with the security boat.
A ballot box snatcher was killed in Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom
On this date, 9th of March in 2019, security operatives shot dead a young man in Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State, after he snatched a ballot box during the governorship and state house of assembly elections in the state.
He was shot dead by soldiers at a polling unit in Ikot Udo Ossiom village, Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
According to The Nation, the election materials had just arrived from the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the morning, and the man had attempted to snatch it, but soldiers in the area at the time prevented him from carrying out the act.