Crime

Cyber Crime: Former Enugu SSG drags Assembly aspirant to Court

Published

3 years ago

May 31, 2023

Everydaynewsngr

Former State Assembly aspirant and local politician in Nsukka Local Government Area, of Enugu State, Mr. Onyeka Ugwu, was today, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, charged to Chief Magistrate Mba’s Court in Enugu metropolis following the unraveling of his alleged relentless exercise in cyber-stalking of former Secretary to the Government of Enugu State, Dr. Dan Shere.

The cyber-stalker who was learnt to be one of Shere’s close aides and Opi-Nsukka townsman, had allegedly worked ceaselessly at injuring the reputation of Dr. Shere from about 2018 to the present day when he was eventually caught and brought to court.

He had allegedly, steadily crafted and circulated malicious contents against the person of the former SSG, ensuring that his prestige and social capital within the political and community leadership levels were kept at the lowest ebb at all times.

He had allegedly acquired various SIM cards for this operation and had achieved a level of steady flow of his brand of propaganda that readers of his obnoxious contents had gotten used to his choice of words.

His media were WhatsApp personal and group forums, and other social media platforms.

First Count of the Charge, No: CME/354c/2023, reads, “That you, Onyeka Ugwu ‘Male’ and others now at large, between the month of December 2022 to May 2023, at No. 7 Deacon Okey Ogbodo Street, GRA, Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: cyber-stalking and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015.”

The charge was filed by Police Prosecutor, E. Ajogwu, Esq.

In one of the tweets in question, 58-year old Ugwu had allegedly claimed that Shere had faked his kidnap when he was seized and hauled into the Ugwogo/Ekwegbe bushes by kidnappers sometime last year.

Shere spent over five days in the jungle, where he was subjected the worst of horrific sights and fear for his dear life.

But in the words of the stalker, the story of kidnap was allegedly made up by Shere for personal popularity and political agenda.

He allegedly asked his audience to ignore the news of any such kidnap.

In another tweet which he widely circulated on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, he allegedly claimed that Shere had used one of his agents to script a petition to the EFCC and ICPC, against the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, over a claimed 50 million Dollar water grant.

In the same tweet, he alleged that Shere had also clandestinely propped Labour Party candidates against the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidates, a story capable of strongly annoying PDP leadership to mobilise against Shere.

The second Count of the Charge reads, “that you Onyeka Ugwu and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did intentionally type and send messages to Barr. Sylve Onah, Joel Asogwa, Fr. Ben Agbo, Barr. Ralph Ugwu, Hon. Emeka Odoh, Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani, Hon. Eugene Odoh and other members of the public variously titled “Dan Shere’s obsession for power and intrigues in Opi”, “Bombshell!!! Dr. Dan Shere’s Multi Billion Fraud Busted”, “Dan Shere as clog in the wheel of progress of PDP in Enugu North”, “Destabiliser”, etc, through the phone number, 08160954334 to WhatsApp social network, knowing same to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult and hatred of Dr. Dan Shere, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”

Ugwu, an Opi-Nsukka local politician, who had endlessly begged Dr. Shere to recommend him to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for a seat in the Enugu State House of Assembly, 2023, was also charged under Section 24, subsection 2 (a) and Section 34 of the same Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, and risks various terms of imprisonment if convicted.

Police sources said that the stalker was arrested after Shere had lodged complaints against the user of certain GSM numbers which had been persistently used in attacking and stalking him. The Police had then carried out investigations and eventually tracked the numbers to Ugwu’s home which was searched and many SIM cards, including the ones used against Shere, were discovered. He was said to have confessed to the acts, but pleaded effusively to be forgiven.

Since his arrest, another source revealed, Shere had come under intense pressure by friends and other networth persons who had been contacted by the stalker and wife, to plead on his behalf.

Shere, who was at the arraignment sat calmly, in utter shock. When he eventually spoke, it was in shocked whispers, “this man’s damage to my person is unquantifiable…it is colossal…there is no end to it, and it went on for too long…I had been wondering who was doing this to me…for so long,” he moaned, almost in tears.

When prodded to speak on the possible reasons for such sustained campaign of calumny, he said that he had no idea. “I actually regarded him as one of my closest boys. I was his first son’s godfather. I took him into confidence. We were so intimate that he could pass the night in my house, without any formal notification…now can you imagine what would be in the mind of the immediate past governor when a person who was always in my personal company or entourage each time I visited him (the governor) sent him such fabricated story of me writing or promoting somebody to write petitions to EFCC and ICPC?” His frame quaked in reverberation, as he contemplated the quantum damage.

Ugwu had also allegedly sent out tweets claiming that Shere had seized swaths belonging to his Opi community, and that lands belonging to the Ekweghe, a neighbouring town were also netted into the Shere vast land estate. He claimed that the size was more than two times that of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, land areas.

He even alleged that Shere had started selling some portions of the lands and had planned and commenced a designed massive housing scheme, independent estates and commercial farm lands, at a place close to the Maduka University at Ekwegbe, Igbo Etiti Local government area.

Shere is a politician of good measures and being targeted as he was, does not appear to observers as a mere design, plot and execution of a loner as Onyeka Ugwu, who stood in the arraignment box.

One of Nsukka political players who chose anonymity, told this reporter that Onyeka Ugwu was an agent of some persons who had worked hard, from 2003 to clip Shere’s wings in politics of Enugu State. According to him, it was the same group that used their kind of measures to get the then governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, to change his mind about fielding Shere as his successor in 2007. The same group or an offshoot of it has been at work, and the aim was that Shere must be stopped at all costs from being admitted into the inner chambers of the immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

“I don’t know what they have planned in this new administration,” he said, but, “in my calculation,” he averred, “it would be naïve to think that the coast is clear just because one of them is uncovered. It is a ring, and it is one that is deeply embedded in the Shere clan,” he said.

Ugwu, whose plea could not be taken, was denied bail and the matter adjourned to June 16, 2023, by Magistrate Mba.

Crime

Police Deploy DIG, Two Commissioners to Rescue 20 Abducted Prospective Corps Members

Published

5 hours ago

October 4, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

By Our Correspondent

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation for 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.

The victims were reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around Umunoha in Imo State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the statement, Nadada arrived in the state alongside two Commissioners of Police and immediately conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and the ongoing rescue operation.

He also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and available assets, while issuing additional directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated response.

The assessment was conducted alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other service commanders and members of the management team of the Imo State Police Command.

Iniedu said the search-and-rescue operation had been intensified, with additional tactical teams and operational assets deployed to identified areas.

He added that the operation was being supported by intelligence-led tracking of the abductors and coordinated efforts with other security agencies.

Nadada assured members of the public that the police remained committed to securing the safe release of the abducted persons.

“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” Iniedu quoted Nadada as saying.

The police boss urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant, while appealing to anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact the police or the nearest security formation.

He assured the public that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.

The police said further updates would be provided as the rescue operation progresses.

Crime

Five Arrested By Police For Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts

Published

4 days ago

September 30, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

Five men have been arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, after police allegedly found them wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”

The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.

According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.

Police charged the five men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.

Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive trial has been scheduled for October 26.

The case has drawn attention because the alleged conduct involved wearing clothing displaying a political message.

Amnesty International criticised the prosecution, describing the arrests as arbitrary and arguing that peaceful political expression is protected by fundamental human rights. The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and urged authorities to discontinue the case.

Amnesty International also expressed concern that the prosecution could have implications for political expression and opposition activities in Borno State.

The case has generated reactions on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the display of political messages on clothing should constitute a criminal offence.

There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in Borno State may have influenced the arrests. The allegation has not been independently verified.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful as of the time of filing.

The defendants remain subject to the court process, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.

Crime

Hisbah Arrests Eight Over Alleged Homosexual Acts in Jigawa

Published

5 days ago

September 29, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has arrested eight people in Kazaure Local Government Area over alleged homosexual acts, according to the board.

The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Hadejia said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a 22-year-old man, who alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.

According to the statement, the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged encounters. He reportedly appealed to the Hisbah authorities for justice, describing the alleged conduct as deceptive and harmful to his life.

Following the complaint, Hadejia said Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant.

“So far, eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.

He added that the eight arrested individuals reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations to having engaged in sexual acts with the complainant.

Hadejia said the board had gathered information and evidence that would be presented before a court. He added that the investigation remained ongoing and that the suspects would be charged upon its completion.

The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr. Hussain Baban, reportedly urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and the people with whom they associate.

He also called on members of the public to be mindful of the consequences of their actions and to uphold religious and moral values.

The board further expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.

Crime

Newlyweds Kidnapped Shortly After Engagement Ceremony

Published

6 days ago

September 28, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

A newly married couple, Funmilayo Bamidele and her husband, Reverend Abiodun David, have been abducted along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, a border route linking Kwara and Kogi states.

The couple were reportedly returning from their engagement ceremony in Eruku on Saturday evening when armed men intercepted their vehicle and abducted them alongside four other passengers.

According to sources, the vehicle was initially expected to take the Isanlu Road. However, the driver reportedly chose an alternative route to drop off the best man and other members of the group at Iyamoye in Kogi State.

The vehicle was subsequently intercepted by armed men along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, leading to the abduction of all the occupants.

A photograph of the newly abducted couple has since emerged following the incident, while details about the whereabouts of the other passengers remain unclear.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said soldiers had been deployed to search the surrounding bushes and rescue the victims while also pursuing the suspected kidnappers.

Ojo disclosed that the vehicle used by the victims was later found abandoned at a former police station in Ayetoro, Ekiti State.

He added that police operatives from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states were working jointly on the rescue operation because the incident occurred around the border communities of the three states.

Authorities have yet to disclose further details on the identities of the suspected abductors or whether any contact has been established with the victims.

Crime

Gunmen Kill Five Miners in Plateau State

Published

1 week ago

September 27, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen reportedly ambushed them at a mining site in Plateau State.

The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

According to community sources, the miners were carrying out their legitimate activities when they came under attack. The incident has plunged the community into mourning and renewed concerns over the safety of residents in the area.

Confirming the attack, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said five people lost their lives while two others sustained injuries.

“It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect communities and prevent similar incidents.

A community member, Simon Mundat, also described the attack as devastating and appealed to the authorities to strengthen security in the area.

“We are deeply saddened by this attack. We appeal to authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear,” he said.