Category: Crime

A 30-year-old Prophet, Joseph Ogundeji, of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ajuwon in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State,  has been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command, for defiling two under-age sisters, who are members of his church.

Military authorities have revealed that wanted terrorist Kingpins Halilu Buzu, Yellow Kano, Alhaji Gana, and others have been confirmed killed in an air strike by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, OPHD, last month.

It was gathered that the strike led to the decimation of several terrorists and the destruction of their logistics base at Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Sources said the air strikes came about after credible intelligence revealed that a prominent terrorist, Halilu Buzu of Sububu in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State, had scheduled an early-morning meeting with commanders and some of his foot soldiers in the area.

The intelligence report had revealed the location and exact position of his logistics base where he and his cohorts usually store their ammunition, vehicles, motorcycles, and other ill-gotten loots.

Consequently, NAF aircraft scrambled to simultaneously strike the location of the meeting and the logistics base.

A huge fireball was observed after the strike on the logistics base, an indication that the location might have contained some inflammable/IED substances.

The source said: “Halilu Buzu’s elimination comes as a relief to locals residing in Sububu, Anka (Bayan Daji) and Bayan Ruwa axis in Zamfara State because of his knack for terrorizing and torturing his kidnapped victims.

“Already his absence has reduced the frequency of kidnappings, cattle rustling and other terrorist activities in the area.”

Similar air strikes were conducted on 14 November 2022 at a location of a notorious terrorist kingpin Alhaji Ganai’s enclave at Kidandan Forest in Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

This came about after intelligence had monitored, tracked, and established the trend of activities of Alhaji Ganai and his foot soldiers within the location.

Accordingly, the Air Component dispatched an aircraft for the destruction of the enclave.

“Overhead, the fighter jet observed and attacked the target in successive passes.”

A 35-year-old tricycle operator, Adebayo Titus, was, weekend, beaten to death by his colleague, Akintelure Festus, over a minor argument, in Oke-Aro area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the tricycle operators in the community met and agreed that the potholes on the roads be filled to make it passable by their tricycles.

But, reports had it that on the day scheduled for the exercise, the deceased refused to join others to fix the potholes.

An argument reportedly ensued between the deceased and the suspects that degenerated into fierce fisticuffs.

The deceased was reportedly hit severely and he collapsed before being rushed to a nearby hospital on Saturday where he died the following day.

Contacted, the state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the death of the tricycle operator.

Odunlami said that the duo engaged in a fight and in the process, the deceased was hit and collapsed.“She added that “the man was rushed by people around the vicinity of the fight.

The victim collapsed as a result of the fight on Saturday and was confirmed dead early Sunday morning at the hospital.

The case was reported at our ‘B’ Division area Headquarters in Akure.“Odunlami said that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

Owerri—Imo State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed that the traditional ruler of Obudi Agwa, in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state, Eze Ignatius Asor, and two of his aides, have been shot dead by hoodlums suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abattam, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Owerri.

He said the hoodlums drove to the palace of the monarch and pretended to be persons in distress that needed help. It was when the monarch welcomed them into his palace that they, in the process, pulled out their guns and shot at the traditional ruler and two others.

Abattam said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the hoodlums came in four vehicles and two motorcycles, in the company of a woman, disguising themselves as persons in distress and have come to report an emergency to him.”

The unsuspecting Royal father allowed them into his palace and sat with them. While they explained the reason for their visit, they brought out guns, shot and killed the Eze and two of his aides, and hurriedly fled the palace.

On their way, they attacked the office of the Agwa vigilante group, shot one person and made away with three motorcycles.

The suspect who was arrested on Monday afternoon following reports by the hospital management and intervention of the ministry of health allegedly committed the said crime at the weekend.

The 14 year old ( name witheld) who was said to be taking care of her sick father at the hospital’s  male ward while the mother was running around  for other things was sexually assaulted by the male nurse on Saturday.

According to impeccable multiple sources in the hospital familiar with the incident, the nurse used a scarf to tie up the victim before assaulting her .

A nurse who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that the incident happened on Saturday as the teenagers was taking care of the sick father who was also unconscious at the time ,while the mum was  running around to get drugs as well as other items.

When contacted , Permanent Secretary , Ministry of health, MOH , Dr Iwara Iwara said the suspect has been suspended henceforth,  and the hospital has been given 48 hours to  medically examine the teenager and produce her medical report for onward prosecution of the matter.

Gunmen numbering over ten, on Monday invaded a traditional ruler’s palace in Obudu Agwa community in Oguta local government area of Imo state and allegedly opened fire on them.

Report had it that the monarch, Eze Ignatius Asor and the palace chiefs were sprayed with bullets.

At the time of filing this report, the Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, Mike Abattam, said he was preparing a reaction to the incident.

It was gathered that the leaders of the community were discussing issues about the community when the incident happened.

However, eyewitnesses from the area claimed the monarch and three others could not survive it.

Apart from the said victims, “many others were seriously wounded. Some have been rushed to the hospital. Some also could not survive it. The community is in commotion everybody is running away. At least 10 people have been wounded and many others ran away.”

A resident of Ibafo in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs Rosemary Obidinma, who was reported missing, is dead.

It was reported that the mother of five did not return from her shop at Apapa, Lagos, on November 2.

It was also reported that her son, Daniel, spoke to her last around 10pm.

When Daniel and his siblings called her phone, a man who picked up the call warned them to stop disturbing him, saying he was in Delta State.

Daniel, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday, said the Divisional Police Officer, Ketu Police Station, where a report was made earlier, called him and his uncle, Emmanuel Iffi, on Friday to come and identify the corpse of a victim of a one-chance robbery.

Daniel said, “He (DPO) said the police had been trying to locate the family members of the corpse without success and the moment he showed us the picture of the corpse, it was my mother.

“We learnt from the police that she was stabbed by one-chance robbers and she bled to death.

“Her body is still in a mortuary, but by Tuesday this week, we will take the body to our village for burial.”

The state police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, had yet to react to the development as of the time of filing this report.

Abakaliki—Many members of the Labour Party, LP, in Ebonyi State have reportedly  been injured following alleged attack on the party’s loyalists at a rally in Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area, LGA, of Ebonyi State.

The gunmen, LP alleged, were members of Ebonyi Command of the Southeast Security Outfit code-named Ebubeagu.

The gunmen, according to the LP House of Assembly candidate for Ohaozara East Constituency, David Ogbonna,  shot at the party faithful and inflicted varying degrees of injuries on them.

He alleged that they were led by the Chairman of Ohaozara LGA, Consider Ajah.

Among others, Mr Ogbonna in a statement said “Yesterday (Saturday), as party faithful gathered at our (Labour Party) office at Mgbom-Okposi, waiting for the arrival of the Labour Party Candidate for Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo federal constituency – Nkemkanma Kama, the men of Ebubeagu Security Network led by Ohaozara Local Government Chairman invaded the venue.

“As they entered the venue, our campaign office, our supporters on the road waiting for our arrival erroneously thought we were the ones possibly because of the exotic car of the Local Government Chairman.

“They rushed to warmly welcome ‘us’ only to meet young men numbering over 40 wielding all kinds of automatic guns who came down from the fully loaded Toyota Hiace Bus and Sienna buses and opened fire on innocent people. They shot at the people and chased both men and women at the venue, making efforts to apprehend as many as they could.”

Mr Ogbonna said three persons have so far been confirmed shot on their legs; one had his femur (bone of the thigh) shattered and had been taken to an Orthopedic Centre.

According to him, “As at this morning of 13th November 2022 (yesterday), three of our supporters from Uburu who came with Labour Party Candidate of Ohaozara West are yet to reach home and their phones have not been reached. We are yet to establish a contact with the Personal Assistant, PA, of Labour Party Candidate for Ohaozara East Constituency. His phone has not been reached since he ran away from the event venue yesterday (Saturday).

“Two of our supporters from Ugwulangwu are yet to reach home and their phones not reachable. Six women supporters from Ugwulangwu and one of our women leaders from Okposi who ran for their lives yesterday in the process lost their handbags containing phones and other valuables including cash.

“One of women supporters from Okposi who was pursued, fell head-down on her way to safety and has remained unconscious. However, Doctor confirmed she’s still alive.”

Mr  Ogbomna also alleged that “all canopies, tables and chairs at the venue were badly damaged. The music box (Speakers) of the DJ was shot at by the Ebubeagu, damaging them near-irreparably and even confiscating some of his equipments. The drums of the Cultural Women dancers from Afikpo were destroyed and some seized.

“The drum boxes of the drummers who were on the road waiting for us were destroyed and drummers beaten mercilessly. As at yesterday night, three of supporters from Ugwulangwu reported that operatives of Ebubeagu visited their compounds asking after them. As we write now, they have relocated out the community for fear of their lives.”

Gathering illegal—LG boss

But the Chairman of the Local Government Area, Mr Consider Ajah, denied leading an attack on the Labour Party supporters.

He, however, admitted that Ebubeagu officials went to the area to stop the people gathered there from blocking the road, saying “We did not attack anybody. They were blocking the road which is a federal highway and we had to intervene to prevent them from disrupting people’s movement. We have a law that before you hold any form of gathering you must get approval from the local government for security purposes. But they did not do that. We have no interest in what any other party is doing but they should do the right thing at all times.”

Ebubeagu Commander speaks

However, reacting, the Commander of Ebubeagu, Nnanna Friday, denied that Ebubeagu operatives were in the area, saying “We did not attack anybody. They should stop mentioning Ebubeagu every time they have problems among themselves. They may have been attacked by their fellow members who they may have had a disagreement with and they now turned around and blame it on Ebubeagu. They did same thing recently in Izzi and we later discovered that they were attacked by their members.”

Police not aware

On his part, Police spokesperson in the state, Chris Anyanwu, said the command was not aware of the incident.