Crime Facts

BREAKING: Over 4,000 fighters desert Boko Haram – Report

Over 4,000 Boko Haram fighters have deserted the extremist group, signalling a huge shrink in the rank of the terrorists, a report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has said. According to the report, the deserters from the four Lake Chad Basin countries (Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) are leaving for various reasons which include safety concerns. Boko Haram and other terror groups have terrorised the Lake Chad Basin countries for over 10 years. The unending terror war has displaced thousands of nationals of the four countries. The crisis has also crippled economic activities in the once booming fish market in the region. Thousands of people have been kidnapped by the terrorists and many killed. According to the 28-page report, while some of the insurgents joined willingly, others were conscripted or abducted and held captive in Boko Haram strongholds. The report said although accurate figures were difficult to find, their data suggests at least 2,400 desertions in Chad, 1,000 in Nigeria, 584 in Cameroon and 243 in Niger. “Motives for leaving Boko Haram include individual circumstances, safety concerns and the groups’ internal dynamics, among others. “On the individual level, some people disengage because their expectations – based on religious ideals or economic opportunities – have not been met. “For others, poor living conditions in the camps are a factor. The exposure to intensifying military offensives such as air strikes by Lake Chad Basin countries and the effective deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force make the situation untenable,” the report partly read. It also said the terrorists also impose harsh restrictions on members, along with permanent surveillance and corporal punishment for those suspected or convicted of deviating from the groups’ rules. “These rules include ‘immorality’, stealing, drug abuse, etc. Within the group, the uneven application of rules fosters a sense of injustice. In some cases, the death penalty is applied. Inter-faction rivalries and violence have also caused people to leave.” It further revealed that the uncertainty surrounding the fate of people who leave Boko Haram discourages others from making the same decision. “The third problem is that communities aren’t centrally involved in reintegration processes even though they facilitate disengagement and are the first point of contact for ex-Boko Haram associates,” the report stated Part of what the report recommended was that desertions need to be effectively managed. “The way in which ex-Boko Haram associates are received and screened must be predictable and based on standard reception-screening-profiling mechanisms,” it said. “Regional standards and protocols along with enabling legislation should guide demobilisation in the four Lake Chad Basin countries.” “Specific policies on the role of women and children in violent extremism are also needed. To build societal resilience to groups like Boko Haram, community participation should be prioritised throughout the rehabilitation process, including design, implementation and evaluation.” “Through cooperation and sharing lessons, countries in the Lake Chad Basin region can develop national and regional strategies that work.” The ISS describes itself as a research-focussed African organisation committed to human security on the continent. Teniola Tayo, a researcher at the Lake Chad Basin Institute for Security Studies, while commenting on the report via sms, said the various countries concerned have welcomed the report. “Yes we had a closed dissemination webinar with stakeholders engaged in DDR in the four countries. They all welcomed the findings,” she said. She said her organisation will be exploring ways to follow up with the countries individually. When asked about the accuracy of their figures, another official of the organisation, Malik Samuel, stated that they (figures) were official. “The figures of deserters quoted in the report were obtained from government authorities in the region. For instance, the figures from Nigeria were obtained from Operation Safe Corridors,” he said. He said the major problem identified during the research was the difficulty of accurate figures of deserters because there were some who tried to leave the group and re-join the society without government intervention. “In these cases, you see that it is difficult to get the actual numbers of deserters,” he said.

BREAKING: Identifies of slain Greenfield University students revealed

Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf Sanga and Precious Nwakacha have been identified as the remaining two of the three students of Greenfield University, killed by their abductors. Precious was from Nnewi Anambra state. Sadiq Yusuf was the son of Malam Yusuf Mu’azu, a Director of Kaduna Ministry of Works. He was buried on Friday, with outpouring of condolences to the father, who was also a former chairman of Jemaa LGA. Yusuf’s body, along with those of Dorathy Yohanna and Precious Nwakacha were found in Kwanan Bature Village, close to Greenfield University, where they were captured on 20 April. The Kaduna state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan announced the shock find. He said the bodies were taken to a mortuary by him and the Commander Operation Thunder Strike. At least 17 of the students abducted by the terrorists are still being held, along with two female staff of the private university.

No Approval Yet To Resume New Sim Registration — Network Providers

Network providers across the different telecommunications networks in Lagos State say they have yet to receive approval to resume registration of new SIM cards. The Federal Government had suspended the registration of new SIM cards in December 2020 and lifted the ban with effect from April 19. But a visit by the News Agency of Nigeria to the customer service outlets of some telecom companies on Friday showed that no SIM card registration was being done, as most subscribers who requested for new SIM cards were turned down. Some workers at different network stores in some parts of Surulere and Lagos Island, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had yet to get approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission to roll out sale of new SIM cards. The employee said, “We are aware of them lifting the ban on new SIM cards but we have not been given the official greenlight to go ahead. We still await instructions from the authorities on that issue and that is what we tell our subscribers when they request for it. “We want to follow due process so that we are not held responsible for any SIM card sales, hence we only retrieve old SIM cards that were lost with proof of ownership and, of course, the NIN identification.” Some of the subscribers, who spoke to NAN at the various locations, stated that they needed new SIM cards for their wards, businesses and other needs. According to a trader, Mr Isaac Benson, it was a welcome development when it was announced that SIM registration was restored. He added that he needed a new SIM card for his new business centre. He said, “I still don’t understand why we have yet to register our new SIM cards. I just floated a new business centre here in Surulere and I needed to get lines to attach to the centre, only to be informed that registration had yet to start. “I hope the government will quickly give the network providers the permission to start the reissuing of new SIM cards to avoid delays in our various businesses.” Ronke Thompson was also turned down for requesting a new SIM card for her new phone. “I just turned 18 and I was given a new phone by my brother. I need a new SIM card for myself but my preferred network said no to SIM card sales yet. I just want to have my own line to reach out to my friends and for my privacy,” Thompson said. A food vendor, Temitope Yusuf, also lamented that her business needed new lines to aid her business for customers to make orders and bookings. “Right now, I need about two more lines for my staff members to receive orders and bookings for food from customers, but we have one line which is really making business slow. I sincerely beg that new SIM cards should be rolled out to help us,” Yusuf said. Ronke Thompson was also turned down for requesting a new SIM card for her new phone. “I just turned 18 and I was given a new phone by my brother. I need a new SIM card for myself but my preferred network said no to SIM card sales yet. I just want to have my own line to reach out to my friends and for my privacy,” Thompson said. A food vendor, Temitope Yusuf, also lamented that her business needed new lines to aid her business for customers to make orders and bookings. “Right now, I need about two more lines for my staff members to receive orders and bookings for food from customers, but we have one line which is really making business slow. I sincerely beg that new SIM cards should be rolled out to help us,” Yusuf said. NAN reports that the NCC, on Thursday, arrested no fewer than five suspects for allegedly engaging in fraudulent registering and sale of SIM cards. The arrest was made during the commission’s routine enforcement operations in Abuja. The Head of the NCC enforcement operations, Salish Abdu, said the exercise was part of routine activities embarked upon by the commission to rid the industry of criminal elements engaging in fraudulent registration of SIM cards. Abdu warned those engaged in the unlawful registration of SIM cards to desist from the illegal act, noting that the commission would continue to deal with perpetrators. He said the enforcement would continue in other parts of the country.

Presidency: Under Buhari, Nigerians talk about killings as if it had never happened before

Senior Special Assitant to President, Garba Shehu, has lamented that the way killings are being reported under the Muhammadu Buhari-administration is like it had never happened before. Garba Shehu explained that killings had been in existence since forever and President Buhari seems to be a target in the way it is being reported now. Speaking on Channels’ Politics Today, the spokesman, who also answered questions on the ongoing controversy surrounding the embattled Communications Minister, Isa Pantami, said that those who “stand in criticism of the minister are not willing to forgive him.” Garba Shehu, reacting to comparison of Pantami’s case to alleged forgery that consumed former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the cases are different and opined that the latter was more critical than the terrorism accusation against Pantami. The Presidency has been hit with heavy criticisms following the backing of Pantami in the midst of terrorism comments, which the minister said were utterances made in ignorantly, stating that he is now more mature and knows better. A statement signed by Garba Shehu said: “The Administration stands behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services.” The Presidency noted what it said was an unfortunate fashion in public discourse that makes leaders in politics, religion, and civil society liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past – no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them. The statement added: “This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on the basis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it. “The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is, currently, subject to a ‘cancel campaign’ instigated by those who seek his removal. They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to “cancel” him. But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians. “The Minister has, rightly, apologized for what he said in the early 2000s. The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them. But he will not repeat them – for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong. “In the 2000s, the Minister was a man in his twenties; next year he will be 50. Time has passed, and people and their opinions – often rightly – change. “But all discerning Nigerians know this manufactured dispute is nothing to do with the Minister’s prior words, but solely concern his actions in the present.”

Kaduna abductions: Banditry now war situation, govt should cooperate –Gumi

Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has urged the Nigerian government to take his advice and grant amnesty to bandits for them to lay down their arms. Gumi was reacting to the killing of three students of Greenfield University, Kaduna by bandits who abducted them from their school. Speaking to our correspondent on Friday, Gumi said the incident had underscored his position that bandits were now at war with the nation. The cleric, who was involved in the process that led to the release of students abducted by bandits in Katsina and Niger states, said he was helpless in the case of Kaduna State because the state government had not shown any readiness to negotiate with the bandits. Gumi, who is from Kaduna State, said the only way he could intervene as he did in Niger and Katsina states was for El-Rufai to reconsider his stance against negotiation with bandits. He said, “The situation is becoming dire and I need the government’s support before I can do anything, and I think there is a great misunderstanding and poor reading of the situation on the ground. So, I’m really helpless; I don’t know what actually I can do as of now.” On the students’ killing, Gumi said, “Honestly speaking, it is very unfortunate. There is an ethnic war going on, and I have been saying it. It is a war but if we don’t want to accept that it is a war, we will continue to suffer. “You cannot predict the behaviour of people who are like that; this is the unfortunate thing and it is the common man that suffers. The way forward is for the government to listen to us, because those people (bandits) are ready to listen to us. If the government will cooperate and listen to us, I think there will be peace but we are finding it difficult to get the government’s attention.” Likening the situation to the Iran-Iraq war, Gumi added, “We are in a war situation. As we are talking now, they (military) are dropping bombs on them (bandits). You cannot protect your children and you are dropping bombs on the enemies! “You remember the Iran-Iraq war when they were bombing Baghdad and Tehran and they didn’t care about the civilians. When young girls (and boys) are killed like that, you should know that it is not just criminality, it is beyond criminality, it is a war.” “There is a lot we can offer but we need the government to cooperate,” Gumi added.

Boko Haram Attacks New IGP’s Hometown In Yobe

Boko Haram terrorists reportedly attacked Geidam local government area of Yobe State on Friday, Channels Television can report. Geidam is the hometown of the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba. According to sources, a military jet has been deployed to the town to dislodge the insurgents. Geidam previously came under attack on February 9, barely after newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru visited troops. Information on the number of casualties involved in Friday’s attack was unavailable as of publication time, but residents told Channels Television there was tension in the town. Meanwhile, the terrorists circulated a pamphlet during the attack, urging residents to support their cause to establish a Muslim caliphate or be killed. Our correspondent obtained a copy of the one-page pamphlet, which reads in part: “Our major aim: to uplift the word of Allah, protect the religion of Islam and the wealth of the followers. “Our target: those who do not believe in our ideology, Christians and even Muslims who do not believe in our teachings. “Any Muslim who is not supporting the empire of Islam is our target. “Anyone who comes to us for forgiveness, and stop fighting us will be exempted from attacks.”

IPOB already ‘sentenced’ South-East govs to death – Ikpeazu

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said the issues of marginalisation and inequality raised by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, are valid. The governor, however, faulted the strategy being employed by IPOB, advising the secessionist group to explore dialogue and a peaceful ways to seek redress. Ikpeazu, who stated this during a visit to the Osasu Igbinedion pan-African television studio in Abuja on Thursday night, said IPOB had placed all the governors of the South-East under fatwa (death sentence). He said, “People are beginning to think now that some of the issues raised by Nnamdi (Kanu) are valid, if they were issues of injustice, marginalisation and inequality, any part of society has a right to begin to feel cheated or unwanted. “So, some of those things which Nnamdi said are valid. Some of us can see it. We cannot continue to hide behind a finger. But some of us do not subscribe to his style or strategy, because I do not understand where he is going and how he is going and when he plans to pull the break (-up) and what he wants to achieve. “If I have a way of conveying my views to the leadership of that group, what I will say is that they should find a way to enter into conversation and let people know. “I am under their fatwa now and some of my brother governors. They say, ‘If you see them, kill them.’” The governor cautioned IPOB against instigating a civil war in the country, hinting that violence would not favour anyone. “They are fighting in the kitchen; by the time the war in the kitchen ends, mama’s pot of soup would have spilled, there will be no plate to eat and everybody would be hungry and eventually it would not serve any good purpose. I don’t understand their strategy,” he added. Ikpeazu said the insecurity in the country should be addressed holistically, stressing the need for a change of strategy in the prosecution of the war against insurgents and bandits. Igbinedion, in her remarks earlier, lauded the governor for empowering women and youths.

Social media and mob justice: We’re all potential victims

By Frederick Nwabufo I once witnessed a macabre execution – early 2000s. It was a quotidian day in Onitsha – except for a sudden alarm jarring everyone grinding away in the day’s humdrum. Thief! Thief! Swiftly, commuters, traders and idlers became vigilantes. They encircled a young man and bludgeoned him until he was lifeless. No questions asked. No trial. No justice – but jungle injustice. There is a ‘’SARS’’ in some Nigerians; reservoirs of cynicism, misanthropy and bigotry. These ones see other people through the bifocals of their own vile existence. Just like SARS, the notorious but disbanded police unit, profiles young Nigerians with tattoo branding and dreadlocks, this category of Nigerians reduces every individual to an offender. You are guilty without charges, convicted and summarily sentenced – by the self-appointed rogue jury! That predilection for exacting jungle (in)justice on alleged offenders in the streets is very much the same on Nigeria’s social media platforms – where you expect to find refined people above the stratum of ‘’agberos’’. It is all the same – in the streets and on social media district. Nigerian Twitter, in particular, is a toxic locale – defiant to order and devoid of joy. There is that proclivity for ‘’gotcha gotcha’’. It is always about ‘’dragging this person or that person’’. I must say, very angry creatures take residence there. It may be fun and games until you are a victim of this ferocious social media mob. I recall when Segun Adeniyi, senior journalist and author, was a casualty of this ruthless horde over a book he wrote. He was tyrannised until he apologised and withdrew copies of the book. There have been many other victims but some felt so overwhelmed that they took an exit from humanity. I recall the story of Ariyo Olanrewaju Taiwo – a man who suffered depression – in 2017. He expressed suicidal thoughts on Facebook but was bullied and taunted. He committed suicide afterwards. Social media, which ordinarily should be a crucible for ideas, conviviality, networking, and seminal exchanges, has become a belvedere where some people exhibit their hate, bigotry, insecurities, and prejudices with disinhibition. A few days ago, Japheth Omojuwa, the digital media entrepreneur, was the whipping boy of these internet infestations. They clobbered, scratched and gored him with pitchforks and daggers, even throwing dynamites into the mix. Much of their grouse with the gentleman was the side he chose to support in the 2015 election. They seized a moment to creep out of their crevices and forgotten neck of the woods to extract a toll. I have never seen such virulence and turpitude on social media before. I have been a casualty of this brood of calumniators myself. I am unfazed by the trolling on social media. I have developed impermeability to ‘’praises and curses’’ on social media. I am comatose to what happens there. But somehow, these maligners find my mobile phone number and keep me under siege for hours and days with a fusillade of attacks and curses. This bothers me because it is an intrusion of my personal space. I wake up at 4am deleting hate messages. We are a nation of extremists. A violent people. When you stray from the single narrative promoted by some compromised persons, you become an enemy pencilled down for demolition. Is this not a tyranny of opinion? How did we become so vile, unfeeling, and sadistic? The beauty of intellection is in the variety and robustness of opinions. Why must everyone submit to a lone account – even if it is falsehood? Why should everyone hold the same opinion? What is happening on Nigerian social media is akin to the Dark Ages where people were hanged for having contrary opinions. And the Dark Ages was a blot on humanity – because knowledge was forbidden. We are in an era of intellectual darkness in Nigeria where all opinions must be unitary and must conform to certain ethnic and religious prejudices. Some of the loudest voices accusing others of extremism are themselves extremists, who ambush and savage contrary opinions. It must be their way or the Milky Way to assaults and threats. How did we become so pugnacious that we will tear anyone and anything that does not agree with us? I think we need to be having conservations on ways of mitigating the perils of this Frankenstein technology. Opinions on social media can be bought and ammunitioned against anyone. We cannot discount the veritable place of social media but the evolving trend of sponsored prejudiced opinions is leading to a dictatorship of narratives. We are all potential victims of mob (in)justice. The mob runs Nigeria’s social media. You either fall in line with the governing narrative or risk violence. This mob rule has to end. By Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ Nwabufo Twitter @FredrickNwabufo

BREAKING: Gunmen set Imo gov’s house on fire, kill two officers

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri The country home of Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma has been set ablaze by unknown gunmen in early hours on Saturday morning, Crimefacts.news reports. It was gathered that the Imo gov’s hometown which was set ablaze is located at Omuma, OruEast LGA Imo state According to eyewitness who spoke to Crimefacts.news said two police officers were killed while many vehicles in the compound were raised. Declan Emelumba, Imo state commissioner for information and strategy confirmed the incident. However he said only one police officer was killed in the attack. As at the time of filling this report, the Imo state police public relations officer ,Orlando Ikeokwu said he will get back to our reporter. More to follow…..

Pantami: Presidency’s Statement Confirms Sympathy For Terrorism, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the statement by the Buhari Presidency, in which it shows a desperation to provide official cover to a terrorist apologist further confirms public and international apprehensions that the Buhari administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are patronising acts of terrorism in our country. Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement on Friday. Recall that Shehu Garba had on Thursday said that the Buhari administration stand with Isa Pantami on his past views on terrorism Reacting to the presidency’s statement, Kola said Nigerians were traumatized that the Presidency could mount a hopeless defence and justification for the actions of the exposed Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who had already confessed to supporting terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and Taliban. He said, “It is instructive to note that this anti-people has heightened public anxiety that the Buhari Presidency is a haven for traitors who are providing support to acts of terrorist activities in our nation. “Our party holds that this has further exposed why the Buhari Presidency has failed to decisively confront terrorism as well as why terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and insurgents are emboldened to ravage our nation and massacre our compatriots. “It is inexcusable that the Buhari Presidency is showing grave insensitivity to the fact that thousands of Nigerians have been massacred, maimed and horrified; that hundreds of communities have been devastated and that our nation has been under siege because of the actions and public comments by individuals like Isa Pantami. “Our party notes that if indeed, the Buhari Presidency has not found itself entangled, the least it ought to have done in the face of the allegations against Pantami was to reassure Nigerians by first relieving Isa Pantami of his office and hand him over to the appropriate agency for deradicalization. “The PDP asserts that it is pertinent to point out that Isa Pantami had initially denied his support to terrorist groups and only admitted after he was overwhelmed by evidence; thus rubbishing the laim claims by the Buhari Presidency that the minister had turned a new leaf 20 years ago. “The PDP holds that Isa Pantami belongs to the deradicalization centre and not in any way in the Federal Executive Council where he had been alleged of compromising our national security as evinced in his initial denials. “This is in addition to allegations in the public space that the exposed minister had been compromising our national data as well as the NIN registration exercise, wherein aliens and invaders from other countries were alleged to have been registered as our citizens. These are issues that our party insists must be investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS). “As a party, theg PDP charges President Muhammadu Buhari to reassure the citizens by immediately withdrawing the statement from his Presidency, relieve Isa Pantami of his position as minister and take a bold step to flush out terrorist apologists from the Presidency, “Kola concluded.