December 2020 – Page 21

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Mob kills 6 bandits in Kaduna

Mob has killed six bandits in Sanga and Lere local government areas of Kaduna State. In an update on the security situation in the state issued by the state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said had on 24th December 2020 at Fadan Karshi in Sanga local government area, two bandits attacked a businessman and dispossessed him of money and other valuables. “On receiving the distress call, the military and police set out to the location. However, on getting to the scene, some angry locals had already mobbed the bandits and burnt them to ashes. “In the same local government, on Thursday night armed bandits opened fire on motorists plying the Aboro-Kafanchan Road. ‘”The bullets hit one Richard Sabo who in the course of driving knocked down one of the bandits to death. “Sadly, Mr Sabo who suffered bullet wounds was confirmed dead at Gwantu General Hospital. Also in Lere local government, security agencies reported that some bandits from a neighbouring state who specialized in stealing livestock were also killed through mob action. According to the report, the bandits were chased and overpowered at Domawa village where three of them met their end in the hands of the mob. “On a sad note, the government is in receipt of a report of the killing of a commercial motorcyclist, one Hudu Yahaya of Ungwan Nungu village of Sanga local government. He was beheaded by bandits who escaped with his motorcycle. “Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sent condolences to the families of Richard Sabo and Hudu Yahaya and prayed for the repose of their souls. “The Governor has also a strong appeal to citizens to continue to have recourse to the law and not resort to jungle justice.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Cultists Kill 1, Injure Others In Osun

There was palpable tension at Sabo in Osogbo, Osun State, on Friday as cultists killed one person and injured many others. According to the Imam of Isala Mosque, Malam Basir Muhammed, the cultists were having a candle light night in honour of one of them who died following a clash during a street carnival by some youths. Imam said the cultists attacked Sabo, set goods ablaze and injured many people before security operatives arrived. Muhammed said the people in Sabo were still in fear and that the cultists kept attacking people, including those living in other communities near Sabo. When our correspondent visited Sabo, there was no movement as some youths were burning tyres on the road. Some policemen were seen at the scene. Special adviser to the Governor on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige, and the Commander of Amotekun in the state, Amitolu Shittu, were making efforts to douse the tension. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the clash. The PPRO could not give details on the person killed. She, however, assured that peace would be returned at Sabo.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Former PANDEF chairman, Nkanga, dies at 68

A former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State , Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, ( retd , ) , is dead. He died at the age of 68. Nkanga, who is the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum , reportedly died of coronavirus -related complications. Spokesman of PANDEF, Ken Robinson , confirmed the demise of the former governor to one of our correspondents on Friday afternoon . Robinson said , “ Yes he died on Christmas Eve. It is just unfortunate . ” Nkanga, born on January 27, 1952, was the military governor of Akwa Ibom from September 1990 to January 1992 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida . He contested for the governorship seat of Akwa Ibom State under the platform of the National Democratic Party and lost to Obong Victor Attah .

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Court Remands Siblings For Money Laundering

Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday December 24, remanded two brothers, Eze Olisaebuka Okwuchukwu and Eze Onyeka Nnadozie in prison following their arraignment on separate charges of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. While Eze Olisaebuka Okwuchukwu and his company, Berlus Resources Ltd were arraigned on a 11-count charge, Onyeka and his company, DYM Integrated Service Limited are facing 14-count charges. According to a press release signed by EFCC Spokesman, Count five of the charge against Okwuchukwu reads, ” That you Eze Olisaebuka Okwuchukwu, between 26th September 2017 to 30th October, 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did convert the aggregate sum of N319,709,807.00(Three Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seven Naira) to the credit of your Fidelity bank account No. 6052516415 which sum you knew forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”. Count four of the charge against Onyeka reads, “That you Eze Onyeka Nnadozie, between 21st November, 2014 to 4th December, 2014, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did convert the aggregate sum of £32,700( Thirty-two Thousand, Seven Hundred Pounds Sterling) to the credit of your Unity Bank Plc Account No. 3001732932 which sum you knew forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 ( as amended) and punishable under the Section 15(3) of the same Act”. The defendants however pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Samuel Chime asked the court for a date to commence trial, and remand the defendants in prison custody. The application was not opposed by the defendants. Consequently, Justice Maha ordered the remand of the defendants and adjourned the matter till January 5 and 6, 2021 for commencement of trial. The defendants are also being prosecuted at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on separate charges of stealing over a billion Naira from a businessman, Prince Arthur Eze.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Bandits kill two police officers, injure one in Jigawa

Two Divisional Crime Officers (DCO) I and II were killed and another injured in a gun battle with a group of bandits at Kalgo village of Garki local government area in Jigawa State. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon shortly after the release of two persons abducted in Bosuwa village by bandits earlier this week. An eye witness, Inuwa Kalgo told Vanguard that a combined team of security operatives arrived in their patrol vehicles before going to a nearby bush to locate the hideout of the criminals. He added that the bandits ambushed the police and in the cause of exchanging fire, two senior police officers were killed instantly and one other injured. The two DCO’s killed were working with Maigatari Divisional Police Headquarters where they were informed of the incident and they quickly went to the scene but met their untimely death. The other police officer who was injured is currently at Gumel general hospital receiving treatment. When contacted, the PPRO Jigawa State Command, SP Abdu Jinjiri confirmed the incident. He, however, explained that he is yet to receive full details. “I’m still waiting for details of the unfortunate incident, but will get back to you as soon as I get it”. He noted.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

2023: APC may lose Jigawa – Gov Badaru

The governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru, said the lingering crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, if it goes unchecked, may cost the party victory come 2023. The governor stated this while inaugurating the caretaker committee of the party on Friday. He said if the party loses, he has nothing to lose being an established businessman. PREMIUM TIMES had reported in September how the party was enmeshed in crisis leading to the removal of the then state chairperson, Habibu Sara, following the party’s caucus meeting, which was held at the government house. The meeting was presided by the state governor, Mr Badaru. Mr Sara was removed for allegedly shifting loyalty to the leader of a factional group of the party, Sabo Nakudu, a serving senator for Jigawa central. At the meeting, Muhammad Umar was installed by the governor’s loyalists as acting party chairperson. The governor, while inaugurating the caretaker committee, said, “I will remain vigilant watching those of you going to meeting with the other factional group, you have got enough of my patience, I will no longer tolerate that again. “Its interesting to see Borno and Yobe, ever since, APC has been on the helm. Jigawa too, we need to take a lesson and be our brothers keepers, so that we will continue to lead. But if we allow our personal interest to influence our collective interest, I am assuring we are going to lose and by then my tenure would have elapsed. “I am a businessman, I can travel all over the world without even holding a bag except for convenience,” Mr Badaru said. He called on the other factional group to join forces with him to move the APC forward in the state. ”We are the responsible members of the party, I once sacrificed my governorship candidate to Hadejia emirate for sake of peace. However, God later made me the governor,” Mr Badaru added. The governor charged the newly inaugurated party executives in the state to be committed to the development of the party. He assured them that they are working towards granting them a waiver to continue leading the party beyond the constitutional limit. Meanwhile, the embattled former chairperson, Mr Sara, while reacting to the governor’s remarks, said, “We are aware the governor has a plan to destroy our party because he has no relevance after leaving office in 2023.” He alleged in a statement that the plan by Mr Badaru to see APC dead in Jigawa will not work as ”we have politicians who can perform better than him, not businessmen like him who see the seat of governor as an opportunity to promote their personal businesses. ”As a governor you can pray that your party can lose election just because you came and generate capital for your business, we are politicians not businessmen. All we know is politics and APC will win come 2023,” Mr Sara said. Mr Sara, however, said despite the injustice meted on him by the governor, he will remain a loyal APC member, being the most popular party in the state.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Gunmen set mansion of Niger Delta ex-militant ablaze in Bayelsa

It was not a peaceful Christmas for one of the leaders of Niger Delta ex-militants, Paul Eris, aka General Ogunbos, as yet to be identified gunmen early Friday morning invaded his residence at Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State in a siege which lasted over one hour. According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen caused panic in community as they engaged in sporadic shooting while the siege lasted while they also set some houses ablaze before they left the area. Scanty details of the report available indicated that the gunmen in the stormed the community in around 6 am on Christmas Day. But no casualty has so far been reported from the invasion, while it is also believed that the ex-militant leader is safe, though his whereabouts is unknown as at the time of filing in this story. The burnt mansion of leader of ex leader of Niger Delta agitators, Paul Eris, alias’ General Ogunbos” (See more photos below) In telephone interview with our correspondent, SP Asinim Butswat, the Public Relations Officer of Bayelsa State Police Command confirmed the incident. “I can confirm that unknown gunmen invaded the Peremabiri Community early hours of today and burnt (Ogunbos) house and others. I don’t have the full details yet, but I am aware that no life was lost in the attack” On whether the Ex-Agitator, Paul Eris alias ‘General Ogunbos” was in the house during the invasion, the Bayelsa State Police Command Spokesman said he did not have that information.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Explosion Rocks US City On Christmas Day

An explosion shook downtown Nashville early Friday, with black smoke filling the morning sky, according to local reports. Nashville’s Fox 17 said the blast was reported at approximately 5:40 a.m. local time. “There is an incident involving an explosion,” the Nashville Fire Department said in a statement. “This is an active scene. Metro Nashville Police Department and Nashville Fire Department are on the scene. There are no additional details to provide at this time.” Police and firefighters were quickly on the scene after the blast caused noticeable tremors in the surrounding area. “The entire @WKRN studio just shook,” the outlet’s alert desk anchor Josh Breslow tweeted. “Anyone else in Nashville just feel any weird shaking ??” According to social media posts, the explosion resulted in significant damage to a building that was on fire, with dozens of people evacuated. The Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management reportedly stated that the blast came from a parked RV that exploded. Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope was one of those who felt the effects of the incident. “Our house shook here in Nashville,” Pope tweeted. “Just praying nobody was hurt.”

Post Date : December 25, 2020

I-G approves deployment of 5 newly promoted DIGs

The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has approved the deployment of the five newly promoted Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) to departments of the force. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He said the deployment followed the recent promotion of senior police officers by the Police Service Commission (PSC). “The newly promoted DIGs and their postings include – Usman Baba, Force Criminal Investigations Department; Ibrahim Lamorde, Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and David Folawiyo, Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Department. “Others are Joseph Egbunike, Finance and Administration Department and Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Training and Development Department,” he said. Mba said Mr Moses Jitoboh, a newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) was redeployed from the Border Patrol Section to the Department of Research and Planning. He said that the I-G had congratulated the officers, who by their promotion had become members of the force management team. The FPRO said the redeployments were with immediate effect. (NAN)

Post Date : December 25, 2020

One arrested over abduction of Oyo lawmaker’s sister in Ibadan

THE Oyo State police command has confirmed the arrest of one suspect over the abduction of Mrs Jumoke Babalola Oludele, a sister to a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Sunkanmi Babalola. According to a statement by state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, on Friday, the arrested suspect is currently being quizzed by personnel of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) of the command. Fadeyi said Oludele, 35, was arrested while returning from her shop by gunmen on Monday. “The suspect is currently being quizzed to obtain useful information. Efforts are also been intensified to rescue the hostage and also arrest the culprits,” Fadeyi said.