Category: Crime

The Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, on Wednesday said only the land forces in the military can not contain enormous security challenges ravaging the country.

The COAS stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to his counterpart at Air Force, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja.

According to him, the war against insurgency and armed banditry cannot be won by a single Service but rather, through a synergistic approach.

He added that the centrality of air power to the success of the ongoing fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other forms of criminality in the country is very key.

”The earlier we all recognized that no Service can do it alone, the better for us as an armed forces and a Nation to surmount the current security challenges,” the COAS said.

The COAS stressed that he has always been an advocate of air power employment as a critical requirement of a fighting force having witnessed its formidable influence in various theatres of operations.

On his part, the CAS, Amao congratulated the COAS on his appointment and urged him to sustain synergy of efforts by the Nigerian Army and the NAF, in conjunction with other security agencies to rid the country of all criminal activities.

A South East group, Ndigbo Youth Parliament, has condemned the spate of insecurity, killing of innocent citizens as well as attacks of government infrastructure in the South East.

A statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by Mr Rikki Nwajiofor, Speaker of the group, also condemned the gruesome killing of a former Presidential Aide, Ahmed Gulak, by yet to be identified gunmen.

With particular reference to Imo state, the group expressed sadness and called on all in the region to embrace peace.

“Ndigbo Youth Parliament has continued to sue for peace across the nation, especially in the Southeast.

“We highly condemn the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak in Owerri. In the same vein, we extremely frown at the murder of innocent citizens, who met their untimely death in the hands of unknown gunmen, as they went about their daily hustles.

“The grisly killing of security personnel, who were exterminated while serving our beloved Nation, is quite heinous and atrocious.

“These are atrocities that should be condemned by every patriotic well-meaning Igbo person,” the group said.

The NYP stressed that the menaces of unknown gunmen were gradually turning the Southeast to a war zone, especially Imo state where people now live in fear.

“We cannot afford to watch our enamoured Southeast, traditionally known for peace and tranquility, turned to a crisis-ridden zone.

“We, therefore, call on all the security agencies, all patriotic Igbo personalities and all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with Ndigbo Youth Parliament as we organize the “Ndigbo Youth Security Summit”.

“The summit is geared towards finding lasting solutions to the insecurity that has bedeviled our cherished Southeast.

“Our Youths need to be called to a roundtable for heart-to-heart discussions; a roundtable where grievances will be placated and solutions for peace proffered.

“We believe that Ndigbo Youth are lovers of peace and, if given sufficient sense of belonging, will collaborate with security agencies in fishing out the enemies of our land,” the group said.

It called on the people of Southeast, especially the Youths, to remain law abiding and avoid associating with any unlawful group.(NAN

Suspected assassins, on Tuesday, killed the Peoples Democratic Party youth leader in the Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo State, Kenneth Amukamara.

The hoodlums also burnt Kenneth’s house and damaged the vehicles of his brother, who is said to be a retired soldier.

The incident, which happened at Umuokwe, Eziawo 1, in the local government area, heightened tension in the area.

A journalist, Don Uba, who spoke on the killing of the youth leader, said residents of the area were in panic.

Uba said, “The Peoples Democratic Party youth leader in the Oru-East LGA, Kenneth Amukamara, was assassinated this morning (Tuesday) in his country home.

“His house was set ablaze too. Efforts made to confirm the ugly incident from the Imo State PDP Youth Leader, Greg Nwadike, who travelled to Abuja for an official assignment, proved abortive as of the time of making this post.

“Information had it that his elder brother was targeted too for assassination, but he was able to escape as he is a retired military officer. Kenneth’s house and vehicles were not spared as they were set ablaze and vandalised.”

The PDP State Youth Leader, Greg Nwadike, said in a statement on Tuesday that apart from killing Kenneth, the assailants also set the deceased’s house on fire.

Nwadike said the party, especially the youth wing, was saddened by the killing.

The statement read in part, “Finally confirming the assassination of the PDP LGA Youth Leader for Oru-East LGA, Imo State, Kenneth Amukamara.

“He was assassinated on Monday night at his home in Awo-Omamma by assailants and his house was said to have been set ablaze.

“Sketchy information available say two other members of his family were also killed.

“I had variously cautioned Imo youths to stay away from trouble and be safe. May his soul rest in peace.”

But the police spokesman in the state, Bala Elkana, said the incident had not been reported at any police formation in the state.

Herdsmen attack: Umahi donates N5m to Ebonyi victims of Benue mayhem

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has donated N5 million to victims of suspected gunmen attacks in a Benue village inhabited mainly by Izzi natives from Ebonyi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that suspected gunmen on May 30 attacked the Nwori-Ndi Obasi Village in Ado Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.

The attack, which left some persons dead and many wounded, was stopped from spilling over to the neighbouring Okwofuruike and Odoke Villages of Ebonyi LGA by a combined team of security agencies and Ebubeagu security outfit.

Umahi made the donation on Tuesday, while commiserating with the wounded victims, who were still receiving treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

He said the government had set up a committee, headed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Francis Nwifuru, to ensure adequate care for the victims.

“The committee will ensure adequate feeding of the wounded persons and those displaced during the attack, including medical expenses and shelter.

“I have directed the hospital’s Chief Medical Director to do everything possible to stabilise and treat all the victims.

“They will not leave the state in a hurry as we will ensure adequate security before they return to their homes,” the governor said.

He urged the Benue Government to form a replica of the Ebubeagu security outfit to protect the people, saying that Ebonyi Government would be forced to do so, if Benue failed.

“These are Ebonyi people paying their taxes in Benue and should not be abandoned.

“We cannot ask security agencies from Ebonyi to protect the people in Benue but we will deploy our youths and the indigenes to protect them.

“I want to restate that the incident did not occur in Ebonyi or within the buffer zone of the boundary with Benue.

“The incident affected Ebonyi indigenes living in Benue for over 100 years and if they wish to belong to Ebonyi, the Benue people should allow them,” Umahi said.

He described the attack as barbaric, saying it should be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians. (NAN)

The Police Command in Lagos said it had rearrested one Oyemachi Maduabuchi who escaped from the Owerri Correctional Centre in Imo.

According to a statement signed by the Police Spokesperson in Lagos, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Maduabuchi, who escaped after a jail break on April 5, was re-arrested on April 23, in Lagos.

Adejobi said Maduabuchi fled Owerri same day and moved to his village, Fegge in Onitsha, Anambra, to meet his mother who later linked him up with his elder sister, Amarachi of Customs Bus Stop Ijegun Lagos.

He said that the said sister later invited him to Lagos on April 19.

“The suspect was kept in the sister’s house where she used to lead him to church for special deliverance service.

“In the process, after the night vigil on April 20, at Bride Assembly Church, Ijesha Area of Lagos State, the suspect allegedly stole the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) and the memory cards of a member of the church.

“He was eventually arrested and the stolen items recovered from him.

“In the course of police investigation, it was revealed that the suspect has been standing trial since 2009 for Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Arson before Justice Nna Amadi of Mgbidi High Court 1, in Imo,” he said.

The PPRO said Maduabuchi had confessed to the crime while Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Hakeem Odumosu had directed that he be handed over to the Nigerian Correctional Service for further investigation and necessary action.

“The Commissioner of Police, therefore, assured the general public that the command will not relent on its efforts in making the state safe and peaceful for all and sundry to live in,” Adejobi added.

He said that the Commissioner wished that as all hands were on deck to effectively police Lagos State. (NAN)

Suspected gunmen numbering about 12 on Sunday night invaded Alafia Estate in Orogun area of Ibadan, Oyo state, and carted away laptops, money and other valuables.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the robbers were able to gain entry into the Estate through the recently dredged carnal linking Barika, Agbowo, and Orogun in Ibadan.

It was also reported that the robbers divided themselves into separate groups and simultaneously robbed Houses numbers 33, 31, 25 among others.

A resident of the area, who preferred anonymity told NAN that the robbers came with POS and collected ATM cards of the victims and their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).

The source said that one victim in House 33 sustained machete cuts on his left hand while the wife was said to have been beaten with machete.

“They forcefully gained entrance into their victims’ apartments, moving boastfully and daring the residents to come out if they were up to the task.

“At house 31, where at least twelve flats were robbed, the robbers forced their victims to use the POS which they brought, but when transfer failed due to poor network, they obtained the PIN and went away with the ATM cards.

One of the victims who pleaded anonymity said, “When they came, they jumped into our house and shot into the air.

“They entered around 12:45 and left around 1:45am for other buildings after collecting money.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident to NAN on Monday in a text message.

Osifeso said that a pistol, three cutlasses and bag containing SIM cards and male undergarments were recovered from the robbers.

“A distress call was received on the early hours of Monday, May 31, at about 0300 hours by residents of Alafia Estate, Ojoo area of Ibadan.

“A team of operational and intelligence policemen were swiftly deployed to the area. On sighting the Police, the hoodlums fled the scene after they were thoroughly resisted.

“In the process a pistol was recovered along with three cutlasses and a bag containing both male undergarments and SIM cards,” Osifeso said.

The PPRO said that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the culprits as well as crackdown their criminal chain. (NAN)

Chief Provost of Nigerian Immigration Service in Imo, Okiemute Mrere, has been killed.

Mrere was killed on Saturday night along Owerri- Port Harcourt Road in Owerri and his body discovered in a bush on Sunday morning.

Mrere was said to be riding an Immigrations Hilux van when he was intercepted by his assailants and shot at close range.

No valuable was taken from the van—his service pistol was found on him when his body was discovered the next day.

The official Hilux van he was riding in as of the time he was attacked was said to be riddled with bullets.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Winifred Oguh said the command was yet to get full details and was still investigating the incident.

She said, “Yes I can confirm to you that we lost one of our officers, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Okiemute Mrere.

“We are yet to get full details of the incident as investigations are still ongoing.

The incident is one of high profile killings in the state in the last 72 hours.

A former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, was killed same day by gunmen on his way to Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport to catch a flight to Abuja.