Crime Facts

ONDO: Robbers kill two security guards, three die in autocrash

Dare devil armed robbers have reportedly killed two security guards at a popular petrol station in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The filling station is located at Ondo road in Akure metropolis. Vanguard gathered that the two security guards were killed at the station during the operation. It could not be confirmed the amount of money carted away by the robbers who reportedly invaded the station around 2am on Sunday. Three die in autocrash Three persons reportedly lost their lives in a lone accident along Ondo/Ore road in Ondo State on Sunday. Vanguard gathered that the crash occurred at about 7am. Three others persons in the vehicle who sustained injuries in the crash have been rushed to a nearby hospital. Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle was travelling to Akure from Ore when the crash occurred. It was learnt that the driver of the vehicle who was said to be on high speed lost control of the car hence the lone accident.

Gunmen kill 8 miners in Plateau

The entire Jos South local government area of Plateau State has been thrown into mourning while air of apprehension pervade the council area as gunmen suspected to be killer herdsmen gun down eight miners at a mining site in the area. A source close to the scene of the incident who escaped by the whisker said the gunmen invaded the mining site of Cabitex Company behind Government Science School Kuru in Jos South local government at about 7:25 pm on Friday and opened fire at the miners at random, killing eight of them on the spot while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. The Chairman of Kuru Development Association, Barrister Daniel Chapo who confirmed the unfortunate incident to Tribune Online said the local government in recent times had witnessed series of unprovoked attacks from suspected herdsmen. According to him, the attack on the miners were carried out when they were preparing to close for the day adding that apart from the eight that were killed and those who sustained injuries are now recieving treatment at various hospitals and clinics within the council area, some of the miners were still missing. Also, the Cordinator, Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN Barrister Dalyop Solomon said the attack was a rude shock to the people of the local government and the immediate community adding that one of those killed was beheaded and his head taken away by the attackers. Barrister Solomon who said the people of the community have commenced search for those that have not been seen since the incident occurred on Friday, also expressed surprise that security agents only arrived the scene on Satuday morning. He, therefore, called on the state and federal governments to come to the aid of the people of the entire Northern part of the state adding that attack by killers herdsmen has become a recurring decimal in the area. “Presently, many farmers cannot access their farms, in some cases farm lands are willingly destroyed by these elements. I am appealing to governments both at the state and federal levels to give security of citizenry adequate attention. These people were at the mining site to fend to themselves and thier families when they were killed in a barbaric way.” Those killed at the mining site are Mrs. Talatu Sunday, Mrs. Jumai Useini, Mr. Davou Dalyop Pwol (beheaded), Mr. Gyang Joseph Nyam, Mr. Gabriel Nuhu, Mrs Nvou Dung, Mrs Dung Monday and Mrs. Shabang All efforts to get the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Ubah Ogabah proved abortive as he could not be reached on his phone.

Hoodlums take over LASU axis, attack, rob students at will

The Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, axis particularly areas along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway—close to the Iyana-Iba market—the Okokomaiko (PPL) area, and the university’s gate on the LASU-Igando road, are now a hotbed of violent crimes. Clutching dangerous weapons such as guns and knives, hoodlums prey on unwitting passers-by in these areas—many of whom are students of the university, robbing them of money, belongings, and in some cases, inflicting bodily harm on them. An entrepreneur and 300-level student of Biology Education, Rukayat Balogun, suffered brutality at the hands of the criminal elements. On June 24, 2019, Rukayat left her hostel at Idirogbo for CMS at about 5:30am to beat the rush hour. She planned to buy some goods for her customers being a retailer of male and female underwear. She was with her smartphone and N70,000. As she trotted phone-in-hand along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, opposite the university road, she felt a sharp pang on her left hand which she later found suffered a deep cut. Her attacker held an “iron object” to scare her. Rukayat said her assailant tried to drag the smartphone from her wounded hand but he wasn’t successful, adding that at that point she screamed for attention, forcing the robber to flee. It was gathered that a motorcyclist offered to take Rukayat to a hospital, but she didn’t get help from the first three hospitals they visited. Our correspondent learnt that Rukayat was eventually treated at a medical centre located at 15, Olowo Tabutabu Street, Agric, Ojo. Rukayat said a few days later she was accompanied by members of the school’s student union to make a statement at the Ojo Police Station. She appealed to the government to curb criminality in the areas. Another 200-level student from the Faculty of Arts, Joyce (not real name), had a different encounter which left her worried for the few seconds she was stopped by a stranger. On a certain Sunday last year before the lockdown, she and two of her friends were walking down to Iyana-Iba market to buy some groceries when a strange man accosted them. Joyce said the man accused her of flaunting the colour of his confraternity, saying “ You think say we wan toast you, I just wan tell you say na our colour you dey fly .” Joyce told Sunday PUNCH that her shirt was in fact multi-coloured. “I wore light blue mixed with grey and white that day,” she said. Joyce added that as two other young men approached them they ran away shouting. Luckily, they escaped unmolested. Joyce said she’s avoided visiting Iyana-Iba market during evenings since the incident. Besides, a 200-level student of the Department of Physics, Identified only as Ayomide was not so lucky as he left school last week to spend the Easter with his parents at Agbowa. On Good Friday, Ayomide said he left his hostel by 6am so he could beat traffic. He added that as he trekked past the university’s walls along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, four cutlass-wielding men emerged from the overgrown bush by the roadside. The assailants inflicted machete cuts on Ayomide, leaving him with a wounded head and bodily harm. Ayomide managed to escape, scrambling towards the school’s gate wearing a cloak of his own blood. He explained his encounter with the deadly louts to the Marshalls (LASU’s security outfit) he found at the school’s gate. But despite the pleas by the bystanders, the Marshalls refused to accost the robbers whom Ayomide believed still loitered at the crime scene. According to Ayomide, his attackers robbed him of his two phones—an iPhone XR bought in March, 2021, for N175, 000, and Huawei Y6 (2019). Ayomide added that the hoodlums took away his new clothes worth N50, 000. Ayomide received treatment later that morning at the university’s clinic. He stated that he had been depressed and experienced nightmares about the incident since Friday. The Cassidy hostel, Okokomaiko accomodating a 300-level student from the Faculty of Arts, Abdulazeez Oladele, was burgled when he was a freshman, losing his phone and laptop. In 200 level, last year, as he returned to hostel from lectures on a Thursday evening, he and his roommates were attacked around a new generation bank branch at Cassidy, which is near the university. His roommates managed to escape but he wasn’t lucky. The hoodlums took away his phone and bag. Abdulazeez didn’t report the incident. He insisted that “the school isn’t doing enough,” adding that, “students are even being robbed at PPL which is close to school, and even at Aiyepe Gate.” He urged the university authorities to work with the state government to ensure enough hostels on campus and to increase police presence around student-populated areas. More chilling tales It was a frightening moment for a 300-level student from the Faculty of Education, Habeebah Ogboye—and her friend, AY, also a LASU student, when thugs confronted them upon their return to Lagos from an excursion in Osun State on March 14, 2021. They arrived in Lagos some minutes after 10pm and were headed for Village — a bus-stop away from the university’s gate along the LASU-Igando road. A portion of land lying between Village bus-stop and LASU’s gate at the Igando road is often deserted. The driver of a yellow bus, commonly called Danfo , inadvertently drove both Habeebah and her friend past their bus-stop, and he refused to reverse the vehicle. Both ladies had to walk to the Village bus-stop. Midway into the risky commute, two men sprang out of the surrounding greenery, and Habeebah said that one of them held a dagger. According to Habeebah, her Techno phone was collected by the attacker, and it was at this point that she feigned consciousness. This made the assailant abandon her for her friend, during which Habeebah fled the scene. The lout gave her a hot chase but soon stopped as Habeebah neared the bus-stop. Habeebah told our correspondent that while running she accidentally dropped her second phone which she uses for bank transactions. AY

Lawan: Nigeria didn’t become failed state under Jonathan — it won’t now

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the security challenges plaguing the country cannot make it a failed state. Lawan said this on Saturday when he launched the 2021 empowerment programme to 2000 beneficiaries of Katsina central senatorial district. In December 2020, Financial Times said Nigeria was “on the brink” of becoming a failed state. The international business newspaper cited insecurity, stalled economic growth and weak institutions as some of the country’s biggest challenges. On Friday, Nigerian governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the country is gradually moving towards becoming a failed state if the current trend of security challenges continues. Lawan, however, said those projecting Nigeria as a failed state “are missing the point”. He said if the country did not become a failed state during the era of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, then it was impossible for it to fail now. “Those who were saying that in the present circumstance caused by insecurity, that Nigeria could turn a failed State, approaching a failed State or may likely end up a failed State, are missing the point because Nigeria can never be a failed State,” Lawan said. “Again they forget that when a state of emergency was declared in some parts of the North-East during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria did not turn a failed state, let alone the present.” The number three citizen called on all stakeholders to join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to overcome the present challenges facing the nation.

Sowore, Kogi dep gov fight dirty on social media

The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, and Revolution Now convener, Omoyele Sowore, have exchanged words on Twitter. This was after Onoja shared photos on the social media platform to celebrate his daughter’s university matriculation. “Congratulations Oma Daddy on your matriculation. God grant you speed and excellence,” the deputy governor captioned the photos. Reacting to the post, Sowore congratulated Onoja’s daughter on her matriculation and also said some prayers for her. “#Freekogi2 I congratulate your daughter on this special occasion of her matriculation. May she never live in a world of impunity, may she never become unemployed upon graduation, may her future be bright and may she never have to work without getting paid, may her pension never be denied her when she retires, may she never be silenced for speaking up against tyranny and may she never die in election related violence! Once again, congratulations to her!” he tweeted. The #FreeKogi2 hashtag used in Sowore’s post is a campaign on social media that alleges that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and his Deputy Onoja “humiliated and arbitrarily jailed” two activists “for freely expressing their rights to dissent against @MBuhari’s tyranny. Apparently not pleased by the reaction from Sowore, Onoja responded by sharing his own prayer for the Revolution Now convener. He tweeted, “Dear Sowore, I thought families, especially, the children are out of bounds in political brickbats? Abi, your school of thoughtlessness does not teach sense and sensibility? “Anyway, I too have a prayer for you… I pray that you are Nigerian and patriotic enough to stay at home, establish and have your family here in Nigeria, just like I have done. It will teach you to truly work for the improvement of the country for their sakes. “I pray you are man enough to hustle with your mates, working to assume leadership of the nation by paying your dues, and not trying to jump in through the window like a palliative thief. It will teach you that your contemporaries at home are not indolent layabouts looking for a saviour from abroad to whom they will hand over govt once he wears an orange beret and yells ‘revolution’ or ‘Buhari Must Go. “I pray for you that you will truly come to love this great country and her people with a mindset to sacrifice for her and not to sacrifice her to your lust for power. “It will stop you from trying to set fire to your own father’s house simply because you have a mat in your rich uncle’s BQ who has induced you with peanuts in the name of activism so he can claim the land once the house is destroyed. “I pray you have the balls to learn from some of us and begin your leadership quest from your state. “You will finally learn Leadership 101, not #gbasgbos and chewing gum activism. I recommend you start as a councillor in your ward, if you know your ward. “I pray you grow out of your desire to seek attention and play to the gallery. “Leadership and governance is not a circus, you know and a dancing monkey can only grab attention for only so long. “I pray you redeem your already lost image amongst genuine freedom fighters. “Shebi you know say dem no send you again?. “I pray my daughter won’t need to defend you pro bono when you are 70, still wearing a beret, sagging trousers and still unable to distinguish between lawful and unlawful protest. Shebi you see the travails of your types wey invade US Congress in the name of revolution? “Sowore, this is brother to brother, comrade to comrade, Aluta to Aluta… guy e get wetin person dey grow pass. Leave this lane and get serious if you really want to do politics. You don old pass this thing. “Another brotherly advice: Find another target. Kogi is getting on very well and fine. This your contract don cut. Those who gave you this job, tell them say we be street pass you. E no get where you fit take your madness pass. We go cure am for you. “All of you unpatriotic citizens wey dey plan burn Naija after securing your families safely abroad, make una go restrategize. “I pray this sinks and leads you on the path to being a better man. Thus far. you are way below the bar of a patriotic citizen.

EXTRA: Gunmen kidnap 13-year-old boy, demand N50m in Ogun

Unknown gunmen in Nigerian Army Camouflage reportedly kidnapped a 13-year-old boy in Obada-Odo Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State. The gunmen reportedly invaded Destiny Estate Community Association in Obada-Oko on Saturday around 9:15 pm, started shooting in the air, and whisked away the boy identified as Gbolahan Ajibola. They have however reached out to the family and demanded a sum of N50 million before the boy would be released from their captivity. Narrating the incident, the grandmother of the victim, Victoria Felix, told our correspondent that six gunmen invaded her house on Saturday night. Felix, who is a trader in Adigbe, said the gunmen invaded their house as she and her daughter who is the mother of the victim were entering the house. She said “Last night, (Saturday) as we got to the entrance of the house, the boy opened the gate for us. Suddenly, he screamed. We thought he was bitten by a Scorpion, but, as I was about to get down from the car to know what happened, I saw four gunmen already stood beside my car while two were at the gate and prevented the boy from closing the gate. “I asked them what did we do? We gave them our two bags. They collected the bags and also the phones of Gbolahan and his mother. “As they were taking him away I held one of them by his cloth and insisted they should take me instead of him, they dragged us to the ground and started shooting.” The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, could not be reached.

Nigerian Army gets new dress code

The Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, has prescribed a new dress code for officers and men of the Nigerian Army. The directive, according to military sources, was contained in a signal to all Army units and formation across Nigeria. The directive comes about three months after Mr Attahiru, a lieutenant general, assumed office. The new directive is part of the restructuring being undertaken by the new army leadership. Shortly after assuming office, the army chief approved the redeployment of 204 of its officers to new formations across the country. The redeployment came the same day Mr Attahiru was confirmed and elevated from the rank of major general to lieutenant general. Reforms in the army are usually expected especially when there is a change of leadership. With effect from next week, all officers and soldiers are to dress in their plain green jacket on Mondays and Fridays. The dress is popularly known as “number four dress” in the army. The number four dress is like a short-sleeved suit, popularly known as safari. It has four buttons and four pockets and is usually worn with a peak cap. The new directive further stated that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, all officers and soldiers are to dress in the plain green uniform which requires them to tuck in. It is known as “number five dress.” The number five dress is a short-sleeved dress worn with a beret and can be worn with a combat boot or bate shoe. The materials for number four and five dresses are all the same with their styles being the only difference. The directive further stated that the dress for various operations still remain the woodland and desert camo depending on the region of Operation. It is known as the number six dress. According to sources, the mode of dressing contained in Mr Attahiru’s directive was what obtained before the coming of the immediate past Army Chief, Tukur Buratai. “Butatai gave a new directive while he was in power that number four uniform be used only for seminars and number five for office,” the source said. He added that the new directive is not new to the army. Source: Premium Times

Boko Haram kills 3 soldiers in Maiduguri shootout, scores dead in Damasak LG

Three Soldiers were reportedly killed by suspected members of Boko Haram who sneaked into Molai general area of Maiduguri metropolis on Saturday evening. Multiple sources have said. This is even as scores of residents were feared dead and all humanitarian hubs destroyed when armed terrorists invaded Damasak, the headquarter of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno state. These incidents took place when Governor Babagana Umara Zulum was not in the state, as he had travelled to Ibadan to receive an Award bestowed on him by authorities of University of Ibadan as ‘Most Distinguished Alumus’. In Damasak, some residents who survived the attack told our Vanguard that the insurgents also stormed General Hospital and carted away many medical consumables and equipment without confrontation. The insurgents also went away with some ambulances stationed at the hospital, even as operational vehicles and facilities of humanitarian workers were either carted away or set ablaze. On the killing of three soldiers, sources said, the incident took place at about 7pm when the terrorists in a military camouflage guntruck invaded the outskirts of Molai and opened fire on a military formation. Sources said, the incident forced many residents and security operatives to flee into Maiduguri town, until reinforcement team combined with Mobile Policemen were deployed and restored sanity to the area. Confirming the Damasak attack and killings, the Chairman of Mobbar Local Government Area, Hon Mustapha Bunu Kolo exclusively told Vanguard that the latest attack was very devastating and worrisome, particularly targeting humanitarian hubs who have been assisting in no small measures in better the lives of traumatized citizens. “Yes, there was a devastating Boko Haram attack in Damasak yesterday night (Saturday). “Most worrisome is the killing of six people when military airstrike who were assisting ground troops fired at one of a Boko Haram vehicles that rammed into a family where friends and relatives had gathered celebrating a naming ceremony. “The insurgents destroyed all humanitarian hubs and their facilities after carting away foodstuff at one of their main warehouse. “The insurgents also went to General Hospital, and carted away medical consumables with a brand new ambulance stationed at the facility.” Kolo lamented. The Chairman however appreciated efforts of the security agencies and members of Civilian JTF/hunters for repelling the attack, in which he said, without their gallantry efforts, the situation could have been more devastating, as the terrorists’ mission was to capture the entire Local Government Area. All efforts to get a reaction from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Okon proved abortive at press time.

Aviation official asked me for bribe, Adeboye reveals

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for drastic action against corrupt practices in all facets of Nigeria. The renowned cleric made the call on Saturday during a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the mission at RCCG, Region 21, Oyo State. Adeboye, who arrived RCCG 21 Headquarters, Oluyole, Ibadan, at about 1:25 pm, said he arrived late for the meeting because someone had requested a bribe from him to fly his chopper. He said to avoid being late to the meeting, he had decided to embark on the trip via his chopper to avoid a possible gridlock at the busy Lagos/Ibadan expressway. Unfortunately, the 79-year-old mathematician, who did not give details of his encounter nor mention names of the bribe-seekers, said he met a brick wall despite setting out for the trip as early as 9:00 am. “I don’t give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses. But you must pray for Nigeria. “Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I’m this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you’re expecting a bribe from me, you have to wait forever. “But the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. Fortunately for me, when I said…I started to leave for Ibadan by 9:00 am. “I decided to come because I know what the devil could do, by helicopter, so that there won’t be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the expressway. “Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we’re here,” the Ifewara-born cleric enthused. Meanwhile, Sunday Tribune gathered that the authority, which demanded a bribe from the septuagenarian, was contacted to give approval for the use of the airspace at the material time. It was further gathered that it took a presidential intervention from Abuja before Adeboye could embark on the trip to meet with the ordained ministers in Ibadan after experiencing a five-hour delay by the federal authority. The man of God, who prayed for the over 6,500 ordained ministers of the region, charged them to cover the whole world for Jesus Christ through more aggressive evangelism and church-planting.

EFCC arrests man over alleged N800m money laundering

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Adeleke Adeyemi for his involvement in an alleged case of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, diversion of funds, issuance of dud cheques and money laundering to the tune of N800,000,000.00 (Eight Hundred Million Naira). The Agency’s Publicity Head, Wilson Uwujaren said that Adeyemi, together with his accomplice, Odusanya Ayotunde Memphis (now at large), in their capacities as directors at Wafa Aggregate Limited, allegedly approached Eco Bank Plc for a loan facility of N800million for the procurement of petroleum products from Covalent Oil & Gas Services Limited in October, 2011. Wilson explained that upon receipt of the loan facility, Adeyemi and Memphis allegedly diverted the funds to their personal use and defaulted in paying back the loan. He further explained that investigation revealed that the five Diamond Bank Plc cheques of N10million each issued by the suspect and his accomplice were returned unpaid upon presentation. Uwujaren, however, stated that the suspect will soon be charged to court.