Crime Facts

ALERT: Anambra police declare human trafficker, Mrs Sabina Izuora wanted

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Awka The Anambra State Police Command has declared Mrs Sabina Izuora whose photograph appeared above wanted in connection with alleged cases of Child trafficking/Stealing,forgery and perjury. The police spokesperson in the state, Haruna Mohammed contained this in a statement on Thursday and was made available to Crimefacts.news. He said, “the Command enjoined Ndi Anambra and the general public to apprehend or report at the nearest police station, or call police emergency number 07039194332, whenever they see her. Mrs Sabina Izuorah ‘f’ was formerly a staff of Social welfare Dept Awka South LGA but recently transferred to Social Welfare Department Ihiala LGA”.

Those calling for my arrest are clowns —Sheikh Gumi

Islamic cleric , Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has slammed all those urging government to arrest him because of the meetings he holds with bandits. Describing such people as clowns, Gumi revealed that government officials also attend the meetings with the bandits. Speaking to Daily Post, the cleric revealed that he’ s not the first to hold dialogue with bandits . He said , “ Even the Kaduna State governor dialogued with them , Zamfara governor dialogued with them . “ I ’ m not the first person that started dialoguing with them ( bandits ) . I only added value , and I find them to be religious ; religion is the only thing that teaches you that blood has sanctity . So this is the religious angle. I ’ m trying to gather them and teach them that there is sanctity to life. They cannot kill, rape and so on . This is the addition I hope will work . Note , I never visited these bandits without a government official , but they are in the background. “ All the bandits we met were with government officials , and that is why I said those calling for my arrest are clowns. ” He added that his dialogue with the bandits has started yielding positive results. “ My interaction with bandits has yielded instant results . When you are dealing with somebody engrossed in criminality , if you approach him as a policeman , you will have a problem but if you come to him as a pastor , he will confess all his sins to you . “ So we approach them as clergy , and they feel comfortable to vomit all their problems. Hence , we see how we can appease and help them . “ We are not approaching them as an authority but from the spiritual angle. You know every human being has that spiritual influence, and that is why we are adopting that, ” he said .

EXTRA: Court sentences man to 3 years jail term for raping 19-yr-old girl

Justice Nwaka – Gbagi delivered the judgement in charge no ID/6155C/2017 between the State of Lagos vs Henry Egesi The defendant was arraigned by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions on behalf of Lagos State Government in 2019. Henry Egesi who was arraigned on a one-count charge reportedly committed the crime on 9th May 2019. According to the Prosecuting Counsel, Solicitor-General/ Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the offence of rape is contrary to section 260 (1) of the Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2015. The Solicitor- General noted that all evidence tendered before the court confirmed that the defendant had an unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim. She, however, urged the court to show no leniency in its sentencing of the defendant. Justice Nwaka – Gbagi found the defendant guilty as charged.

Bandits Kill Policeman, Set Station Ablaze In Benue

Armed bandits, in the early hours of Thursday, killed a Police officer and burnt several houses including a police station in Tse Harga community of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State. Daily Trust gathered that the bandits suspected to be loyalists of the slain criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza popularly known as ‘Gana’, stormed the rural area at about 4:00 am and started shooting sporadically even as they set ablaze several buildings and a police pick-up van. It was also learnt that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with the Police, killed one of the suspected bandits in a swift counter-response to the attack during which they recovered over 200 rounds of ammunition. A resident of the area told our correspondent by telephone that the armed bandits stormed the area in their numbers early in the morning and began to unleash terror on the people, adding however that the soldiers arrived at the scene on time to chase the bandits away. The residents, who also confirmed that a police station and many houses were set ablaze, said he could not immediately ascertain the number of people killed. The Council Chairman of Katsina-Ala, Alfred Atera, told our correspondent by telephone that one policeman was killed in the attack while the police station, a police vehicle and several houses were burnt by the bandits. Atera explained that, due to the security challenges in the local government areas, the youths in Tse Harga formed a vigilante group and have been doing well to contain insecurity in their domain. “The armed bandits targetted the youth who formed themselves into a vigilante group. “They stormed the area (Tse Harga), burn the police station, police pick-up van and killed a policeman there. “They also burnt several houses which I cannot ascertain now. But as for the locals, nobody was killed,” he explained. He added that the incident caused more people to flee the already deserted vicinity, leaving at home only brave men to withstand the challenges. The council chairman, however, noted that the quick intervention of security agencies and soldiers of OPWS had restored calm to the community. When contacted, Force Commander OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, simply said, “we are in operation around that axis but I can’t comment further on an ongoing operation. “You may wish to contact the Directorate of Defence Information, Defence Headquarters in Abuja, thanks.” The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, DSP Catherine Anene, on her part, confirmed the killing of a policeman in the affected area. Anene maintained at the time of sending this report that the details of the attack were still sketchy.

APPLY: CBN reopens N50bn COVID loan portal for households, businesses

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is receiving applications for its N50 billion targeted credit facility (TCF) aimed at supporting households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stimulus package, set up by the apex bank in March 2020, is disbursed through the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Microfinance Bank. Announcing the portal reopening in a tweet on Monday, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) said applicants must be households and MSMEs with verifiable evidence of livelihood adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Enterprises with bankable plans to take advantage of opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic are also eligible to apply. COVID-19 TARGETED CREDIT FACILITY APPLICATION REOPENED FOR FRESH APPLICATIONS. TO APPLY, KINDLY USE THE LINK BELOWhttps://t.co/IrtBAfafY3 pic.twitter.com/iV2UUfb0JR — Nirsal Microfinance Bank (@NirsalMFB) March 8, 2021 The interest rate on the facility will be nine percent per annum, working capital will be for a maximum period of one year, with no option for rollover. The working capital to be offered to eligible businesses has been fixed at a maximum of 25 percent of the average of the previous three years’ annual turnover. However, if the enterprise is not up to three years in operation, 25 percent of the previous year’s turnover will be offered. Term loans have a maximum tenor of not more than 3 years with, at least, one-year moratorium. Households can access a maximum loan of N3 million while the loan amount to SMEs shall be determined based on the cashflow and industry/segment size of beneficiary, subject to a maximum of N25 million. Interested applicants can access the loan application portal via this link.

PHOTOS: Police parade suspects for attempting to murder three Children in Anambra

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Awka The Anambra state police command have paraded suspects for attempting to murder three children at 3-3 area Onitsha Anambra. Haruna Mohammed, the state’s police public relations officer stated this in Awka on Thursday. The statement reads, “It will be recalled that on the 19/2/2021,following an intelligence report, police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Station, Nkwelle Ezunaka, in conjunction with the local vigilante group, raided a house at the Federal Housing Estate, 3-3 Area, Onitsha, and arrested one Rejoice Raymond, ‘f’, aged 39 years, and Mrs Chidi Felicia Nwafor, ‘m’, aged 80 years all natives of Umunya in Oyi LGA of Anambra State. “Suspects allegedly confined three children (2 boys and a girl) inside different rooms at NO.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Street, Federal Housing Estate, Onitsha, and subjected them to physical and emotional torture without food and inflicted several wounds on their bodies, leaving them unconscious and at the point of death. “The victims who were badly battered with lacerations all over their body – one with a broken arm, were found in the pool of their blood, rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention. “Exhibits recovered at the scene included some fetish substances, blood stained canes, concoctions and other incriminating items. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the three children were allegedly sold to the suspects by a notorious child trafficking kingpin namely Sabina Izoura ‘f’ who has been on police wanted list for child trafficking, child stealing and forgery. “Further investigations also revealed that the suspect was involved in unlawful adoptions, using forged police reports, forged authorisation letters from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and sworn court affidavits, to sell children stolen from all parts of the country to her waiting customers, both within and outside Nigeria; including a recent attempt to smuggle out two children (a boy and a girl) allegedly stolen from Niger State since 2018. “Meanwhile, all the children recovered by the police are presently under the protective care of the Anambra State Ministry for Social Welfare, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, pending when their biological parents will surface. “Investigations are still ongoing and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to justice, “the PPRO said. PHOTOS BELLOW

BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap many teachers, students in Edo

An unspecified number of teachers and students of the National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State, have been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen. It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the institute on Wednesday night and abducted the victims. The development has heightened tension among residents in the locality. As at the time of filing this report, parents of the kidnapped victims have reportedly stormed the school premises. When contacted on the phone, the newly appointed spokesman of the State Police Command, SP. Bello Kontongs confirmed the report. He however did not give much details. More to follow….

BREAKING: Prince William Denies Royal Family Is Racist

Prince William on Thursday defended the British royal family after his younger brother Harry and wife Meghan accused them of racism in a bombshell interview watched around the world. “We’re very much not a racist family,” William said during a visit to a London school. More details coming…

Sheikh Gumi believes in what he’s doing -NSA

Maj – Gen . Babagana Monguno ( retd . ) , says popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is constitutionally entitled to “ talk” or “ deal” with anyone in the country including bandits. Monguno spoke on Thursday at a State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja . Of late , Sheikh Gumi had been seen hobnobbing with bandits in the forests of Zamfara and Niger States . He had also asked the government to give “ Blanket Amnesty ” to the bandits whom he claimed were fighting an “ ethnic war ” . The cleric had also reportedly told the bandits that Christian soldiers were the ones neutralising them . The Nigerian Army subsequently warned the cleric against making divisive statements . Many Nigerians including an aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan , Reno Omokri , had also called the Department of State Services to summon and probe Gumi over his relationship with the bandits. When asked on Thursday of his comments on Gumi , the National Security Adviser said the cleric is doing what is doing because he believes in his approach . Monguno , who also said the government believes in two approaches – combative and dialogue – to ending the war on insurgency and banditry , said he met with Gumi in Kaduna lately. The NSA said , “ Sheikh Gumi is doing what he is doing because he believes in what he is doing . He is a Nigerian , Under the constitution, he can talk with anybody, he can deal with anybody. I met with him ( Gumi) when I went with the service chiefs to Kaduna. We spoke generally during the meeting and he resolved to help government , we are waiting . That ’ s all I can say , we are waiting for him . ”

Ivory Coast PM Hamed Bakayoko Dies In Germany

Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko died Wednesday following cancer treatment in a German hospital, President Alassane Ouattara said in a statement. Bakayoko had turned 56 on Monday. Ouattara called Bakayoko “my son and close collaborator, torn from us too soon,” in a statement read on public television RTI. Bakayoko took over as prime minister in July last year from Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who died after returning to the Ivory Coast for two months in France where he had been treated for heart problems. But Bakayoko, who was also the country’s defence minister, himself travelled to France for health reasons on February 18 and was later transferred to Germany. “Given the state of his health, he should remain in hospital for some time,” Ouattara had said on Saturday, asking people to pray for the premier. Bakayoko’s office had been filled in his absence by Patrick Achi, previously secretary-general to the West African country’s presidency. Tene Birahima Ouattara, a younger brother of the president, was named interim defence minister. Official results released Tuesday handed Ouattara’s party a parliamentary majority after legislative elections held at the weekend, with observers hoping the peace process has broken with past outbreaks of electoral violence. -AFP