Crime Facts

Insurgency: Boko Haram Hoists Flag In Parts Of Borno State

Insurgents believed to be members of Boko Haram have hoisted their flag in parts of Marte local government in Borno State, according to military sources. The insurgents repeatedly attacked the local government within the week. On Friday, the insurgents attacked neighbouring Dikwa local government. They were repelled by a combined effort of the air component and ground forces of Operation Lafiya Dole in a battle that lasted hours, sources said. Meanwhile, the attack dislodged many residents of Dikwa who fled into bushes to take refuge. The insurgents also laid an ambush for the reinforcements deployed from the theatre command headquarters located in Maiduguri. The attack on Marte came barely two months after the Borno state government resettled 500 households in New Marte. The casualty figure for the attack is still unknown, but some soldiers injured from Marte have since been evacuated to Maiduguri where they are currently being treated. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff has commended the troops of the Nigerian Army who repelled the attack on Dikwa, saying the soldiers gave a good account of themselves. Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru gave the assurance that more combat equipment will be moved to the theatre in Borno State and others in various parts of the country. The army chief made the remarks while visiting the Borno theatre command for the third time since his appointment. He added there was a need to encourage and keep fighting troops motivated. The General assured that the Nigerian army, under his watch, will continue to work hard to surmount the twin problems of banditry and insurgency in the country.

Republic of Benin is not aspiring to be part of Nigeria ― FG

Contrary to the rumour, Benin Republic is not aspiring to be part of Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its attention “has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37th state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a press interview after a very fruitful meeting between ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein. “The president of Benin Republic said he would ‘like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th state of Nigeria.’ “The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria. “The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.”

Okorocha: Uzodimma sacks 100 ISOPADEC workers

The Imo State Government has announced the sacking of 108 workers of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission “ illegally employed” by the administration of a former governor of the State , Rochas Okorocha, the Punch reports. A statement issued in Owerri by Damian Oparah , who is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Managing Director of ISOPADEC, Charles Orie , stated that the oil firm took the decision in its on going staff rationalisation and restructuring programme . The statement explained that in sacking the affected workers , the commission relied on a report submitted by Romanus Ezeogu -led Committee. The committee , according to the statement was constituted by the administration of the immediate past governor of the State , Emeka Ihedioha , to investigate the activities of the Commission in the past. The statement read , “ The Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission , ISOPADEC, has commenced the Staff Rationalization / Restructuring of the Commission as were contained in the Dr . Romanus Ezeogu ( Perm . Sec. Rtd ) Committee’ s reports on ISOPADEC . “ The Dr. Romanus Ezeogu committee was set up by the previous administration of Rt . Hon. Emeka Ihedioha to amongst other things, review the activities of ISOPADEC with a view to restructure it . “ The Committee after their investigations, recommended the withdrawal from services of the Commission, all the one hundred and eight workers that were illegally employed by the Okorocha administration without due processes and the approval of the existing Board at that period . “ The employments were not done in consonance with Laws that established the Commission. “ The Dr. Romanus Ezeogu committee which was set up by former administration of His Excellency , Rt . Hon. Emeka Ihedioha , was mandated to do a painstaking and holistic investigations on the activities of ISOPADEC with a view to making the Commission more effective . “ The Committee discovered the the effected Workers were employed illegally , without due processes. “ Based on the findings and recommendations of the Dr . Ezeogu ’ s committee , the Board of ISOPADEC has therefore approved the disengagements of all the One Hundred and Eight ( 108) Workers of the Commission whose appointments did not follow due processes and were illegally done as contained in the Dr. Ezeogu ’ s committee report , as they were employed without the approval of the then ISOPADEC Board Members . “ The Commission wishes to inform the affected workers whose appointment have been terminated to vacate their offices , and handover all Government and ISOPADEC property in their possessions to their Head of departments or the most senior staff in the various departments . ”

EXTRA: EFCC acting chairman promoted to Level 14 ahead of Senate screening

The new acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Abdulrasheed Bawa , has been promoted to the rank of Chief Detective Superintendent ahead of his Senate screening , The PUNCH has learnt . The move comes amid a lawsuit challenging Bawa ’ s qualification for the job . Section 2 of the EFCC Act states that a person who will be appointed as chairman of the commission must have at least 15 years experience and must be the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police or its equivalent . Bawa , who was appointed by the President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16, 2021, was on Grade Level 13 and a Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent. A lawyer , Osuagwu Ugochukwu , subsequently filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Senate confirmation of Bawa . However, it was learnt that on Friday, Bawa and his course mates were given letters of promotion with immediate effect . A top source in the EFCC told The PUNCH that with the new promotion , Bawa is now qualified to take on the new job. The source, who wished to remain anonymous , said Bawa and his mates who are part of the pioneer Course 1 of the EFCC Cadet Officers were supposed to have been promoted over a year ago but their promotions were being delayed by the police- led leadership of the commission. He said , “ Bawa and his course mates have been promoted to Level 14. Hopefully , this will put to rest the controversy surrounding his eligibility for the role of EFCC chairman . I agree that the promotion should have been effected before his appointment was announced as this would have prevented unnecessary controversies . “ The truth is that he has been overdue for promotion . ” Meanwhile, it was learnt on Saturday that the Presidency was seeking to appoint a new secretary of the commission to replace Mr Ola Olukoyede who is still on suspension . Our correspondent was informed that a member of the Justice Ayo Salami- led panel was one of the persons being considered for the appointment of secretary of the commission which is a key appointment . Among other powers , the EFCC secretary is in charge of the administration of the commission. He is also in charge of auctioning recovered assets.

EXCLUSIVE: Again, Gov. Uzodimma’s brother brutalizes man in front of his 9 year-old son

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri Younger brother to governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state, Uche Uzodimma has allegedly brutalized another man for mistakenly driving into his road work. Crimefacts.news had reported last week how Gov. Hope Uzodimma’s younger brother, Uche Uzodimma battered the publisher of Watchdog newspaper, Precious Nwadike for driving on his road work, thereby inflicting serious injuries on him. Another man (name withheld) Friday narrated how Uche Uzodimma, the Imo governor’s brother battered and humiliated him in front of his 9 year-old asthmatic son in Owerri. The man told the story when he called in on a live radio phone-in programme, monitored by Crimefacts.news. According to him, “Immediately I joined the road, driving down, I just saw him (Uche Uzodimma) shouting go back, go back, I was preparedto go back, before I was attacked. I don’t know his reasons but what I know very well is that I did him no wrong. Speaking further, he said, “Uche Uzodimma pounced on me and brutalized me in front of my 9 year-old asthmatic son”. “My son saw what was happening, he ran out of the car begging, crying, shouting for him to let me go yet Uche Uzodimma went ahead head-butting and slapping the hell out of me, “the man lamented. Meanwhile there have been calls by well meaning citizens for the governor to restrain his brother from further taking laws into his hand.

BREAKING: FG won’t pay ransom to Kagara kidnappers, says Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Saturday, said the Federal Government won ’ t pay ransom to secure the release of the abducted students and members of staff of Government Science College, Kagara. He stated this today while featuring on Channels Television’ s ‘ Sunrise Daily ’ There have been unconfirmed reports circulating on social media that the government had paid a huge amount of money to secure the release of the abductees . But when asked on Saturday whether the government had paid ransom , the minister said , “ No . ” Mohammed added , “ We employ kinetic and non -kinetic ( measures) , you don’ t throwaway invitation to engage but the overall strategy you keep to your chest. ” Continuing, he said , “ Bandits all over the world work with psychology of people . Deliberately, they target women and children because this is what will attract a lot of global outcry . That is exactly what bandits do all over the world . “ The government has put in place , all along , various strategies to contain banditry , to fight insurgency , to fight kidnapping. Some of these measures are kinetic, some are not kinetic. We didn ’ t get here overnight and that is why it is difficult to get out one day . “ Criminality in any form will not be tolerated by government . At the same time , government has a duty to look at the underlining causes of some of these criminalities in other to address them . “ I was in Minna with my colleagues, the Ministers of Interior and Police Affairs, the IG, and the National Security Adviser on Wednesday to get a firsthand information on the abduction of these Kagara schoolboys. I can tell you that as at today that the government is on top of the matter . ” The PUNCH had earlier reported that Niger State Governor , Abubakar Bello, ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in the bandit -ravaged areas on Wednesday after the attack in Kagara. The Senate had also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security without further delay. Wednesday’ s attack happened a few months after bandits kidnapped over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara , Katsina State .

Benin Republic Ready To Be Nigeria’s ‘37th State’ – Minister

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, had expressed readiness for his country to be part of Nigeria. Onyeama, who stated this shortly after a close door meeting with Beninoise Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Aurélien Agbenonci, said the Beninoise president gave the offer when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari, a few weeks back. “The President of Benin said as far as they are concerned, they want (not just saying it like that) but in reality, Benin should be the 37th state of Nigeria,” he said. “We should really be one. They charged us to come together at ministerial level, to work out a framework for a sustainable relationship.” Onyeama said, at the visit, both presidents discussed agreements between the two countries on how to put the issue of smuggling to an end, once and for all, as a follow up to the presidents’ meeting.

Outrage over Gumi, government’s pact with bandits

OUTRAGE, on Friday, greeted Thursday night’s open fraternization between Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, the Niger State government and bandits who abducted students and teachers of Government Science College, Kagara, in Rafi Local Government Area of the state. The bandits also killed a student of the school during the abduction. Sheikh Gumi led a delegation that included high-ranking officials of Niger State to a negotiation meeting with the bandits in Tagina Forest, at the end of which Gumi said the bandits showed positive signs of releasing the students and renouncing banditry. Leaders of the Niger Delta under the aegis of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), their Yoruba counterparts, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and other similar groups and leaders across the country described the meeting and the negotiation as bizarre and an endorsement of criminality. PANDEF condemned the meeting and described kidnapping as having become an enterprise. PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said in an interview with Saturday Tribune on Friday that the country had become a ludicrous state. He said that the situation would not be allowed to continue forever as the rest of the country would not sit back and watch. Robinson said: “ It (kidnapping of students) has become an enterprise. The bandits are allowed to move around freely and audaciously go to school, kidnap school children, kidnap citizens and the likes at will and the so-called Sheikh Gumi will lead a team to go and negotiate with taxpayers’ money given to them and then the next day, they will fly go somewhere else to kidnap. It is an enterprise now. “It is shameful that the Minister of Defence is saying that Nigerians should defend themselves because as it is now, the government has been overwhelmed by the bandits and there is a Gumi that goes to the forest with government officials. “That means government officials know where these bandits are in the forest and they are not arrested; nothing happens to them; they are given money to release people and business continues. It is a shame. Nigeria is a funny country. “How funny the country has become is really ironic. It is ridiculous that in the Eastern Region of the country, Easterners, who are peacefully coming together to form a security outfit to protect their lives and livelihood, are being attacked with the full force of the Nigerian military; aircrafts flying over forest to bombard innocent citizens who are working to protect their livelihood. “On the other hand, you have bandits in the forest who kidnap at will, who destroy livelihood at will, who kill at will, being tolerated and accommodated. “Government officials going to the forest to meet with them and negotiate the release of kidnapped kids and air force aircraft are not bombarding the forest. “Nigeria is a ridiculous country. That is the truth. And this situation will not be allowed to continue forever. The rest of the country will not sit back and be watching this very funny drama. “Someday, something will happen in this country. I am sorry but that is the truth. The PANDEF spokesman advised President Muhammadu Buhari to desist from his “nepotistic pastime if the country must remain an entity.” He said: “As a responsible organisation, PANDEF has continued to call on Mr President to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not the president of a region. “The nepotism in the country is too much. It is too glaring that people are not treated as the same. Some persons are given preferential treatment and others are treated as criminals. In fact, the victims are criminalised and victimized, while those perpetrating criminality of all sorts are being tolerated. “So, it is for government to rise up to the occasion to become a neutral government that will protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians. These bandits are criminals. They are marauders. They should be so dealt with and smoked out of the country. “ They are threatening the peace and unity of this country and this sentiment and attachment should be done away with and the Nigerian Armed Forces should treat them as criminals.”

After long expectation, Soludo declares interest to succeed Obiano

AFTER long expectation by members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and other stakeholders in Anambra State, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Soludo has finally declared his intention to contest the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State. Soludo’s name began to make the round as the likely successor to Obiano for more than two years, but he had not come out to say he was interested in the race, until Thursday when he visited the headquarters of APGA in Awka. Over time, however, no fewer than 15 groups have been campaigning for Soludo, with some of the groups making donations in the various churches and at ceremonies across the state on his behalf. At a time, some politicians in the state who perhaps were afraid of his intimidating credentials started saying that he had decided not to contest, while others said the presidency had promised him the governorship only if he contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. But declaring his governorship ambition at APGA secretariat, Soludo said he is aspiring to contest under APGA, adding that the November 2021 governorship election in Anambra State is consequential to the survival of the party. His visit to the party headquarters was like a carnival, as notable past and present political office holders accompanied him. Among those that came with him included serving and former commissioners, former deputy governor of the state, Chief Emeka Sibeudu, chieftains of APGA and all the local government chairmen in the state. Before his declaration, the former CBN governor had visited APGA stakeholders in the 21 local government areas of the state, culminating in his Aguata Local Government area naming him as the sole candidate from the area, despite the fact that there were other governorship aspirants from the local government. Addressing the party officials, Soludo said: “This election is consequential in Anambra State and if APGA does not win, it means the party is gone. Let no APGA member toy with this election. If APGA loses Anambra, it has lost direction. “Therefore, do not make mistake in the person the party will field for the election as candidate because the party cannot afford to lose the November election.” According to him, the collective destiny of the party is at stake and must be protected by all means. Anambra State chairman of APGA, Sir Norbert Obi assured Soludo that the party would be fair to all the aspirants during the forthcoming primaries to select the governorship candidate of the party. Obi said apart from Soludo, there are other aspirants and assured the people of the state that the leadership of the party would support whoever emerges as the candidate.

IPOB kill 6 children in Anambra

Six children have been killed in an attack on a community in Anambra State. The children, all under 10 years old, were killed during an attack on a Fulani community in Oba, Idemili Local Government Area. Residents said the attack was carried out by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), amid escalating ethnic tensions in Nigeria. Members of the community told PREMIUM TIMES they would not retaliate as they are trusting the security authorities to deliver justice to them, with the host community and state assuring of solidarity and assistance. The attack happened on Tuesday evening but the facts were slow to emerge and PREMIUM TIMES just confirmed on Thursday evening. Horrific photographs obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show the deceased children savagely macheted and one said to be just one-year-old, burnt. Also, the background of the photographs shows razed homes. The impact of the attack suggests children were targeted or that they were only killed because elderly members of the community were absent at the time attack was carried out. PREMIUM TIMES also obtained a short video showing the remains of the children wrapped in white cloths ready after they were washed and before internment according to Islamic tradition. Following the attack, the community is now displaced. Surviving victims are now taking refuge inside the army barrack in Onitsha, the patriarch of the community, Dogo Isa, army sources, and Mahmud Imam, who has seen the displaced persons, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. All the six children were buried inside the barrack, Mr Isa said, a claim corroborated by other sources. Mr Isa said the oldest of the slain children was six-year-old. The police spokesperson for the state, Haruna Mohammed, said he was not aware of the attack. An IPOB lawyer and spokesperson, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said, “I am not aware of this one” when contacted on Thursday. Names of the slain children as disclosed by Mr Isa are: Nasiru Laminu, two years old; Sirajo Ali, two years old; Zainabu Mutmeru, four years old; Aminu, two years old; . Mairo, six years old; and Maryam, one year old. Mr Isa said nothing happened to their cattle because it was in the evening when the animals had been herded to the stream. He said he has been in Anambra State for 43 years but, on Monday, he was called by a person, who asked him and his extended family to leave the community. “The person told me I should take my family to the north because the Fulani are no longer wanted in Igboland,” Mr Isa said. “They said they gave me one day to leave. But around 5 p.m., on Tuesday, I was called that I should come home. Then, I met six of our children dead and my house razed. All of us had to leave to stay in the barrack here. “I have begged the soldiers to help me get the man that called me to take him to the police.” IPOB Led by a fugitive, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB is agitating for the secession of the Igbo from Nigeria, decades after late Odumegwu Ojukwu first mobilised the nationalist aspirations of the ethnic group to break away, resulting in a 30-month civil war (1967-1970) that led to the death of millions. With years of bad governance and the government’s failure to address the challenge of national integration, secessionist agitations were reawakened by IPOB, leveraging people’s anger against the state. In 2017, Nigeria proscribed IPOB and declared it a terrorist organisation amid a major standoff with the army in Abia, the home state of Mr Kanu. The group has rejected being labelled a terrorist organisation saying its actions and demand for secession are peaceful. But it recently established a formation called Eastern Security Network, which it said would protect the Igboland “against Fulani herders.” Criminal herders have been involved for a long time in deadly conflicts with farmers across the country – and recently in cases of abductions for ransom. But communities in southern Nigeria have recently declared readiness to resort to self-help against the Fulani herders, bringing even the innocent among them at risk of indiscriminate violence. The IPOB-linked Eastern Security Network is currently the target of a “not-so full military operation” in Orlu axis of Imo State. In Oba area, fear of a Fulani reprisal has risen, a local police source said. Mr Isa said the host community leaders had been calling to sympathise with him and assure him of solidarity. He said he should let security authorities handle the matter instead of resorting to self-help. PREMIUM TIMES could not speak with any of the local leaders but a soldier corroborated Mr Isa’s account. “They said they heard that some Fulani were coming to attack but I have told them that it is not true and no Fulani will attack them in retaliation but they should help us find the person that called me and those that attacked us,” Mr Isa said.