Category: Crime

According to her: “The victims went for a burial at Ewatto town. They were returning in a 32 seater Coastal bus hired from Rufus Guwa Polytechnic when they were attacked by suspected kidnappers. The kidnappers shot into the air and took 18 of the passengers.

“Those remaining called the Amotekun Corps who got to the scene within 15 minutes. Among those in the bush, seven were found and two others escaped

“Amotekun is working with the police, the DSS and the Nigerian Army to secure release of the remaining mine victims. They are demanding ransom of between N3m and N10m.

“We commend the gallant of Amotekun Corps in getting to the scene. Ondo State will not be a safe haven for criminals. They find this spot convenient because it borders Edo State. They will strike and run back into Edo State.”

“They are chained. He is always begging us to try and get him freed. There is nothing we can do about it,” he said.

About 2 months ago, the DPO was abducted along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway around 9am on his way to assume duty at his new post in the area.

Terrorists suspected to be members of the Boko Haram fighters have attacked a Mosque in Borno State, killing the Chief Imam and three other worshipers.

The incident occured on Friday during the Fajr prayers in the Ngulde community of Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the state.According to reports, the terrorists, numbering about 20, invaded the worship center and opened fire on worshippers, leading to the death of three persons on the spot, while another victim who sustained injury died in a hospital.

The insurgents also reportedly looted livestock and foodstuff and set ablaze two vehicles belonging to members of the Ngulde community.

The Councilor representing Ngulde Ward, Hon Bilyaminu, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, said the attack claimed four lives, while properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed by the terrorists.

The Borno State Deputy Speaker, Abdullahi Askira also confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday.

According to him, the terrorists invaded the community and asked the whereabouts of the chairman of the local hunters/vigilantes who were their prime target.

He said when the insurgents were not satisfied with the response, they went straight to the Mosque and opened fire on the worshippers.

Terrorists suspected to be members of the Boko Haram fighters have attacked a Mosque in Borno state, killing the Chief Imam and three other worshipers.

The incident occured on Friday during the Fajir prayers in Ngulde community of Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the state.

According to reports, the terrorists, numbering 20 invaded the worship center and opened fire on worshippers, killing three persons at a spot while the other victim died in a hospital.

The insurgents also reportedly looted livestock and foodstuff and set ablaze two vehicles in Ngulde community, which is located at some part of Sambisa forest in the state.

The Councilor representing Ngulde Ward, Hon Bilyaminu who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, said the attack “claimed four (4) lives and left many with casualties, while properties and businesses worth millions of naira were also destroyed and carted away by the insurgents.”

The Borno State Deputy Speaker, who is also representing Askira-Uba constituency, Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust.

According to him, the terrorists invaded the community and asked the whereabouts or house of the chairman of the local hunters/vigilantes.

He said when the insurgents were not satisfied with the response, they went straight to the Mosque and opened fire on the worshippers.

Daily Post

The Federal Government has uncovered 14 assets, including shopping malls, residential estate, polo playground, lands and farmland belonging to a former commander, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Kyari was said to have failed to disclose his ownership of the properties in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno State.

Over N207m and Є17,598 were also discovered in his various accounts in GTB, UBA and Sterling Bank.

In the fresh 24-count charges filed against Kyari by the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, J. Sunday, dated August 30, 2022, the Attorney-General of the Federation stated that the suspended DCP allegedly disguised his ownership of some of the properties.

The case filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/22 had as co-defendants, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, who are believed to be the beleaguered policeman’s siblings.

Also, the Federal Government filed separate 24-count charges against Kyari’s former deputy, Sunday Ubua, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who is under suspension.

An affidavit in support of the charge deposed to by a litigation officer with the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Stephen Kashawa, explained that Kyari, who is facing trial for dealing in cocaine, was subjected to general and financial investigation when he was transferred by the police to the NDLEA headquarters on February 14, 2022 for investigation.

He added that the financial investigation which extended to his properties led to the filing of charges for non-disclosure and conversion of large sums of money.

The deponent further said the case was ready for trial and that all the witnesses were available to proceed to trial.

Abuja land
The Federal Government said Kyari knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his asset at plot no 1927 Blue Fountain Estate, Karsana, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor also alleged that the embattled DCP did not declare his ownership of an estate at Linda Chaulker Road, Asokoro Extension; plot no. 5 titled BO/4546; plot no. 9 titled BO/1037; plot no. 10 titled CER/4319 and plot no 33 titled BO/4319, Maiduguri, Borno State.

Furthermore, the AGF said the suspended DCP, who is facing prosecution for illegal cocaine dealing alongside six others, failed to reveal his ownership of a shopping mall titled, NE/1229 and a polo playground with plot no. 270, both located in Maiduguri.

The charges also said the former IRT commander did not make full disclosure of his ownership of farmland along Abuja-Kaduna road and a plaza under construction in Guzape, Abuja.

Count 11 read, ‘’That you, DCP Abba Kyari, male, adult and you Mohammed Kyari, male, adult, on or about February 14, 2022, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court in order to disguise the true ownership of the property situate at plot no. 33, Bama Road, GRA Extension, Maiduguri, Borno State, covered by certificate no. BO/4319 issued by Borno State Government by deposing to a false affidavit at the Federal High Court in suit no. FHC/NG/Cs/9/2022 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as amended).’’

Maiduguri land
In an attempt to disguise the ownership of a plot of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy no: 000271 issued by Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Kyari was alleged to have also deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Maiduguri in suit number, FHC/NG/CS/9/2022, contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The AGF equally accused Kyari of deposing to an affidavit to hide his ownership of plot no 9, BOTP/63 covered by the grant of right of occupancy no. BO/1087; a shopping mall at number 4, Aliyu Close along Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, covered by Certificate of Occupancy no. NE/1229.

The charges revealed that the DCP knowingly converted N28.4 million in his GTB account number 0121075250; N65.2m in his GTB account number 0138360064; N95 million in UBA account number 1002250112 and N16.9 million in Sterling Bank account number 0072451994.

The first defendant was similarly accused of failing to declare in the NDLEA assets declaration form the sum of Є17,598 in two GTB accounts, being proceeds of unlawful activities; N2.9 million in UBA; N366, 258.77 and N88.000 in Sterling Bank.

In the charges against Ubua with number FHC/ABJ/407/22, the government revealed that he did not disclose a N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited, including several millions stashed in different bank accounts.

The defendant was said to have converted N118.6 million using First bank account 3018154763 and $30,516.36 using Polaris Bank account 2630046721.

The ACP was accused of converting between January and March, 2022, the sum of N40.8 million in his Polaris Bank account number 1060047951, being proceeds of unlawful activities.

The government said Ubua acquired a block of lock-up shops at Utako bus terminal, Abuja for N16.8 million and also converted N33 million and N227.5 million using First bank account number 2005502596. The defendant was further accused of converting N40.8 million and another N33.7 million.

Kyari’s deputy
Count one read, “That You, Sunday Ubua, male, adult, on or about the 14th day of February, 2022, at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency headquarters, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gombiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets in the NDLEA assets declaration firm by not disclosing your N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.’’

The NDLEA had earlier marked six residential houses and one plaza in Maiduguri belonging to the embattled former IRT commander.

The two-storey shopping plaza, Assurance Plaza, located along the Giwa Barracks Road in Maiduguri, has about 100 stores.

Six other residential houses within the Maiduguri New Government Residential Area allegedly belonging to Kyari were also marked by the NDLEA, 48 hours after a suspected drug dealer linked to the N3 billion worth of tramadol intercepted by the then Kyari-led IRT team was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA in Lagos.

PUNCH

The  body of the missing Director in the Ondo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Gbenga Olofingboyegun, has been recovered by police detectives.

Olofingboyegun was declared missing last Thursday by his family members after he left his office in Akure, the state capital.

His mutilated body was discovered and identified, yesterday, in Akure, the state capital, by some people through the suit he wore before he went missing.

A source told newsmen that “his head has been chopped off and taken away; while his stomach was ripped open by his assailants.

His family and friends had reportedly suspected that he was abducted and were waiting for the abductors to demand a ransom payment.

A family friend said “the victim was still in the suits and tie he wore to the office when his decomposing body was found.

“All our efforts to trace him since Thursday were fruitless until his decomposing body was found in Saint Theresa’s Primary School beside Saint Peter’s Unity School in Akure.

The state police image maker, Funmi Odunlami, who confirmed the development, said she was not sure about the identity of the decomposing body.

Odunlami said that “Yesterday afternoon somebody called to inform us that a decomposing corpse was found at Saint Theresa, close to St. Peter in Akure.”

“When the police got there to remove the corpse some people came around and identified him as the director we have been searching for in the past three days.

“It was his suit they used to identify him, but his head has been cut off and his chest ripped open while his intestine was removed.

“Investigation has started, his phone was left behind and some other things too. So, we are going to work with what we have to know if he had issues with anybody.

Odunlami said the command has commenced an investigation into the incident.

The Principal of Madonna Community Secondary School in Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom State, identified as Mr Monday Ekoriko, has reportedly been abducted

The wife of the victim, Mrs Menim Ekoriko, while narrating the incident, yesterday, said the armed men invaded the family compound at Udianga Enem in Etim Ekpo local government area of the state at about 7;30 pm and went straight to where her husband was sitting.

She explained that the hoodlums struggled with her husband for quite some time before overpowering him.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Odiko MacDon, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi, has already ordered the deployment of a tactical team to the area.

Vanguard

Scores of travellers were reportedly abducted on the Benin-Owo Expressway in Ifon, the headquarters of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday evening.

The exact number of the victims were not ascertained as of the time of filing this report as some sources said the victims were over 40 in number.

However, another source disclosed that the travellers were 32 in number, who were travelling in a Coastal bus to Benin City, Edo State, from Ondo State but on getting to Ifon area the hoodlums appeared from the bush and stopped the vehicle after which they whisked all the occupants of the vehicle into the bush.

The source said, “The people (victims) and they were going to Benin when they were kidnapped in Ifon area on their way yesterday ( Saturday) and nobody has heard anything about them since then.”

When contacted on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident. She, however, was not certain on the number of the victims.

But the PPRO said the men of the command and other security agencies in the state had commenced search for the victims in the forest.

“Our men and other security agencies are already in the forest to rescue the victims unhurt, while investigation into the incident has commenced,” Odunlami stated.

Similarly, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, said its men were currently combing the Benin-Ifon to Owo forest in the state in search for the victims.

The state commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the command would do all in its power to rescue the victims and rid the state of criminals.

The commander stated that the men of the corps and other security agencies “have been briefed and have since commenced search for the victims.”

PUNCH

As schools prepare to resume for a new academic session, many pupils may remain out of school as no fewer than 615 schools have remained shut in some troubled states owing to attacks by terrorists in different parts of the country.

Many northern states have come under attack by terrorists with many people, including children, killed and several others kidnapped. The most hit states are Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger, while Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba states have not been spared by the attackers.

The disturbing rate of out-of-school children came to the fore again on Thursday when a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, in partnership with Global Education Monitoring Report, showed that the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria had risen to 20 million from about 12.5 million recorded in 2021.

This has sparked calls for an urgent intervention by the government to arrest the situation so that the pupils can return to school.

Findings indicated that many schools were shut across the affected northern states.

Between 2014 and now, there have been mass abductions in several states, with over 1,000 pupils kidnapped. Even though most of the pupils have been freed, there are fears that there is still apprehension in some parts of the region over the safety of schools and the pupils.

Some of the major school abductions include the April 14, 2014 kidnap of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State; another 300 pupils from Damasak, Borno State; 110 pupils from Dapchi, Yobe State; 344 pupils from Kankara, Katsina State; 276 pupils from Jangebe, Zamfara State; 140 students from Chikun in Kaduna State; and 102 pupils from Yauri, Kebbi State.

In Kaduna State, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, which is an umbrella body for the people of Southern Kaduna, an area severely hit by insecurity, said about 500 schools, mostly primary schools, had either been shut down, abandoned or destroyed as a result of the unrelenting attacks on communities in the area since 2019.

The union’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Luka Biniyat, in an interview with one of our correspondents said in all the 200 communities sacked by bandits and armed herdsmen in Southern Kaduna, all the primary and secondary schools had been closed.

“In my village, Zamandabo, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, which was attacked twice last year, the Day Secondary School there and the two primary schools remain shut down,” he said, adding that some schools had been abandoned for over five years as a result of the attacks and kidnapping, especially in the Chikun and Kachia local government areas.

He added, “The villages that confronted the situation and refused to vacate soon found that no teacher was willing to go to the schools to teach. So, we have kids, who left home when they were five years old, which was not the ripe age for admission into public schools in Kaduna State.

“Today, they are 10 years old and have never been to school, because they have become internally displaced persons with their parents.”

Biniyat called on Governor Nasir El-Rufai to empower the people to defend themselves before the arrival of military troops during attacks, and that if the governor refuses, a state of emergency should be declared in the state.

“In the interim, we are calling on the United Nations Children’s Education Fund to come to the assistance of our stranded schoolchildren. Many of them are suffering from food and nutrition deficiency.”

Also, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state, Ibrahim Dalhatu, affirmed that the level of insecurity had grossly affected teaching and learning in the state, but that it was difficult to give the actual number of schools closed.

He said, “I cannot give you a specific number of schools that have been shut down now, even if you go to SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board) or the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, they cannot give you the exact number of schools that are closed.

“I know so many schools have been shut down and many primary school pupils can no longer go to school as a result of threats and insecurity. Birnin Gwari and Kajuru are the two most volatile local government areas that are worst hit by this banditry, and some parts of Giwa and Chikun local government areas are also affected too.

“Some of the schools were not totally shut down. Some schools closed down for some weeks, while others closed down for some months and reopened again. It all depends on the nature of the security problems.”

Dalhatu stated that the state government saw the NUT as its enemy, but that teachers were partners in progress, adding, “The government takes most of its decisions without consulting us until we make our own findings and put them out through the media before the government would react and ask us why we took such actions.”

He said insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the sector and if the insecurity problem was not solved, “not only the educational sector will be affected, but all sectors in the state will grossly be affected.”

El-Rufai had said some weeks ago that terrorists had formed a parallel government in some parts of the state and called for the Federal Government’s intervention.

All calls and messages to the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, to react were not answered.

PUNCH

A 42 year old Okada operator, Gboyega Awoyinka, has been ordered to be remanded in prison, by an Ore Chief Magistrate Court, for allegedly raping a 39-year-old, mentally deranged married woman.

The act was said to have happened inside a cocoa farm, at Kajola —Ojurin, in Ore, Ondo State.

Awoyinka, was charged to court on a one count charge of rape by the the Ondo state police command.

The police Prosecutor, Inspector Jimmy Amuda, informed the court that the defendant, also a farmer, committed the offence, on August 25, 2022, at a Cocoa farm at Kajola —Ojurin in Ore, Ondo State.  Amuda said that the defendant had carnal knowledge of one Rhoda Adeboye, a married but mentally deranged in the farm at Kajola Ojurin in Odigbo council area of the state.

The charge read in part, “That you, Gboyega Awoyinka on   August 25, 2022, at Cocoa farm at Kajola —Ojurin via Ore in the Ore Magisterial district did unlawfully have carnal knowledge of one Rhoda Adeboye. According to the charges, the offences contravene Sections 357, 358 of the Criminal CodevCap. 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The police prosecutor, therefore, asked the court for permission to send the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. The defence counsel, Mr V. A Akinfe did not oppose   the prosecutor’s request.

In his ruling, the chief Magistrate, B. A Ikusika, ordered the remand of the defendant at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre pending the outcome of legal advice from the DPP. Chief Magistrate, lkusika therefore, adjourned the case till September 30, 2022.