July 2021 – Page 52 – Crime Facts

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Anambra poll: APGA candidate hails Obiano, seeks Soludo’s cooperation

The House of Representatives Member, who was officially recognised as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday, Chukwuma Umeoji, has commended Governor Willie Obiano for his support. Umeoji, who belongs to the Chief Jude Okeke’s faction of APGA, stated this in the text of a speech he delivered at a news conference he addressed in Abuja and made available to our correspondent on Saturday. In the speech, titled, ‘No victor, no vanquished!’, Umeoji also gave kudos to Okeke for his display of courage and determination. He extended his hands of fellowship to all his co-contestants, including a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Charles Soludo. He pledged to work with all critical stakeholders in APGA to ensure victory for the party in the November 6, governorship election in the state. Umeoji said, “I wish to specially, thank the great National Leader and BoT Chairman of our party, the Executive Governor Willie Obiano, the fourth democratically elected Governor of Anambra State for his progressive leadership. “I salute the courage, strength and resilience of our indefatigable acting National Chairman, Chief Jude Okeke and entire Caretaker Committee of our great party “To my colleagues at the National and State assemblies, and other stakeholders of our party, I thank you all for your great support and partnership. “To every member of APGA from the national to the ward level, I congratulate and appreciate us all. “The past weeks have been of intense struggle for our great party APGA, but today, the Independent National Electoral Commission has affirmed that I, and Professor Lillian Orogbu are both governorship and deputy governorship candidates of our great party for the November 6 election. “I wish to announce that the will of thousands of APGA faithful has prevailed and an end to all litigations. “This is indeed, a victory for APGA, victory for ndị Anambra, victory for the younger generation and those unborn, a victory that we all have been yearning for. “We have by this declaration of INEC, reaffirmed our unity of purpose; The “can do it” spirit, reiterated our faith in democracy; and fully returned power back to the people. “For me, there is no victor and no vanquished, rather a victory to all members of APGA and entire Anambra electorates who are already waiting to re-elect APGA for another milestone in Governance of the State come November 6. “In this context, I wish to declare that the victory is for us all and for the sustenance of our unique internal democracy and party. ” It was a full display of the APGA creed, Onye Aghana Nwanne ya; we must now come together to be our brothers and sisters keeper and protect the legacy of our founding fathers and supreme leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. “I extend hand fellowship to my brothers and sisters who contested the election and joined the marathon litigation; this is our project and we must come together for the interest of APGA first. “The Journey ahead is daunting, but surmountable if we all pull our strength together and unite for common purpose – I assure us, APGA will win overwhelmingly. “There’s no family without rancour, I believe we will come out stronger, better and energised to conquer and return APGA to Agụ-Awka. “We will move fast to reconcile all factions of the party and aggrieved members, even those who have in time past, joined our opponents, we will make sure they come back home; APGA is home and big enough to accommodate everyone. “We will work with all existing paraphernalia, structures and everyone in the party to ensure that APGA wins.”

Post Date : July 17, 2021

We can’t grant Okorocha’s demand for truce – Imo APC

The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has affirmed that it can not meet up with former governor of the State, Rochas Okorocha’s demand for reconciliation with the governor Hope Uzodimma led All Progressive Congress(APC). Addressing newsmen on Friday, State chairman of the party, Marcellinus Nlemigbo disclosed that all efforts have been made to please Okorocha to come to terms with the party and embrace peace but the former governor according to the chairman has been making impossible demands. Some of the demands he said is insisting that Daniel Nwafor,belonging to his own faction of the party should be allowed to lead the executives of the party in the State while he controls the structure of the party. But,Nlemigbo has insisted that he calls the shots for now, just as he has extended hands of fellowship to Nwafor, urging him to feel free to contest the chairmanship seat of the party during the congress of the party if he desires. He said “What Okorocha is demanding is almost impossible, we have sent him text for him to come but he wants the structure to be handed over to him and he is still claiming that Nwafor is still the party chairman in the State. ” I’m the party chairman and Hope Uzodimma is the leader of the party here, if Nwafor wants to run for the chairmanship seat,let him buy the form.” Answering if he would be running for the same position, Nlemigbo said “we’re still meeting, if given opportunity I will run but there are other things I can do for the State, I can serve in any capacity.” Nlemigbo said. Meanwhile, Nlemigbo has however urged Okorocha and others to take opportunity of the extension of the revalidation exercise to register and renew their membership with the party in the State.

Post Date : July 17, 2021

“El Rufai is sleeping on duty”, Kaduna south youths protest killings, abductions

Tired and frustrated with the spate of killings and kidnappings in Kaduna State, youths from the southern part of the state, on Saturday morning, protest the worsening security under the watch of the governor and chief security officer of the state, Nasir el-Rufai. According to the youths, who gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, under the aegis of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union, the insecurity in the North-West state was becoming alarming. The youths, therefore, demanded that the security forces, as well as government at all levels, must rise up quickly from their deep slumber. To drive home their points that the insecurity in Kaduna has become unbearable, the youths carried placards with different inscriptions emblazoned on them. One of the youths Jane Thomas-Rogers, who spoke with The PUNCH, said the governor must rise up to his responsibility and secure the people. Amid tears, an emotional Thomas-Rogers said, “Children are being raped, women are being raped, people are being killed. Governor Nasir el-Rufai, you need to stand up to your responsibilities and protect lives and properties. For how long is this going to continue? We are tired of these; the killings must end. “Kidnapping here and there. Before now, kidnapping was an occurrence on Abuja road but right now, it has moved to Southern Kaduna. “People cannot sleep with their eyes closed, we are scared of going to Kaduna. Just recently, my cousin was kidnapped, we had to pay ransom before he was released; we couldn’t sleep. “What is happening? And our governor does not even have sympathy for our plight as a people. This carnage must stop, enough is this. “We are calling the attention of the international community to this. Our government is sleeping, something must be done. “We call on all Nigerians to speak up against this. It started in Southern Kaduna, it can reach your doorstep tomorrow.” “Right now, there is a protest going on and you can see security men all over but when there is killing, kidnapping, you won’t see any of them. What is happening? We the youths are tired, enough of this,” she added. Kaduna has been a hotbed of heinous crimes lately. The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, recently said bandits killed no fewer than 222 and abducted 774 persons, as well as injured 226 persons among them women and minors in the state, between April and June 2021

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Abduljabar: Court orders scholar’s remand in police custody

SHEIKH Abduljabar Nasir Kabara will celebrate this year’s Sallah festivity in police custody as he has been ordered by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano presided over by Ibrahim Sarki Yola to be remanded in police custody. The presiding judge, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, read the charges: “That you Sheikh Nasiru Kabara also known as Abduljabbar Kabara of No 333 Sani Mainagge Quarters in Kano State between 2020 and 2021 at Filin Mushe Gwale Local Government Kano engaged in an outrageous and blasphemous preaching against the Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him, his companions and his pious disciples in which you used derogatory words on the personality of the prophet which was viral on social media platforms in both videos and audio format particularly on the Facebook page of Ashabul Kahfi social media team, which shows and demonstrated serious contempt against the prophet,” Sheikh Abduljabar said he comprehended all the charges read out to him and pleaded not guilty. ‌ The prosecution counsel from the Ministry of Justice Kano, Aisha Mahmud Director Shari, and Principal State Counsel, Wada Ahmad Wada told the court their readiness to present their witnesses in the light of the defendant’s plea. The presiding judge ordered Abduljabar to be remanded in police custody pending the time he will finally be taken to the Kano Correctional Centre as the court order was effected late on Friday evening. However, the officer in charge of Legal Department SP Sunday Ekwe urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility. “Our cells are overstretched we don’t have space to accommodate the defendant. I urge the court to remand him in a correctional facility.” In his ruling, Mallam Ibrahim Sarki Yola said the correctional centres have already closed for the day and they will not admit the defendant. But at Friday’s hearing, the defendants changed their pleas to ‘guilty’, having entered a plea agreement with the prosecution. Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Bokani Usman urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants. However, defence counsel A.I. Na-Jirgi prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the convicts were first-time offenders and had become remorseful.

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Abba Kyari: Why I Attended Obi Cubana’s Mum Burial

Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who attended the burial of the mother of Obinna Iyiegbu, better known as Obi Cubana, has explained why he took time to be there. The burial, which held at Oba in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, has been the talk of town. Businessmen, politicians, musicians, actors all attended the event. Pictures and videos of the event have been trending on social media. Some of the persons who saw the picture of Kyari at the burial expressed shock, lamenting that the services of the super cop are needed in other areas at a time of high level of insecurity the country. But in a Facebook post, Kyari said he attended the funeral because of his relationship with Iyiegbu, whom he described as hardworking. “Obinna Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana is one of the most hardworking entrepreneur and Humble personality that I have known for many years. He is a brother and Good Friend.” “For his good nature and Good heart, Today I had to Squeeze out time from my busy schedule to Honor him, by Attending the burial of his Beloved Mom In Oba town Anambra State. “May GOD Almighty Give the Family the Fortitude to bear the Great loss. Amen.”

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Nigeria’s UK envoy hosts Yoruba, Igbo leaders in London

The Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Isola, met with eminent Yoruba leaders and Ohaneze Ndigbo in London on Friday to dialogue on current security issues in Nigeria. The minutes of the meetings, which took place at the Nigerian High Commission office, was e-mailed to the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos on Saturday. According to the minutes, the dialogue centered on the efforts of the Federal Government to tackle internal security in Africa’s most populous country, which has been plagued by insecurity in recent years. The Yoruba and Igbo leaders at the meeting reiterated their beliefs in the unity of Nigeria and the need to preserve it as a corporate entity. The Igbo leaders called for the enthronement of equity, justice and fairness in the country, where the Igbo would be accorded their rightful position in the Nigeria project. On their part, the Yoruba leaders also spoke on the need for Nigerian unity, adding that the Yoruba people would continue to remain in Nigeria. They, however, demanded that power should evolve to the various components of the federation through restructuring and federalism. They reiterated the need for true federalism as canvassed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a position the sage held until his death. NAN reports that the Yoruba leaders were led to the meeting by Chief Adebayo Oladimeji, a Chartered Biologist and Chairman of Nigerian Elders in the UK. The Ohaneze team was led by the President of the group in the UK, Dr Nnanna Igwe, a medical practitioner. Both parties also stressed the need for dialogue and continuous engagement on matters of concern to all Nigerians, particularly those in the UK. (NAN)

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Outrage as stepmother inflicts stepson with burns from hot knife

A stepmother has deployed a hot knife to inflict serious injuries on her stepson’s eyes and other parts of his body for daring to take food from the pot in her absence. Eight years old Ahmad Shehu Amir, who is said to be suffering from sickle cell anaemia, said he had returned from his Islamic school very hungry but met the absence of his stepmother, Mariam Danjuma. And since there was food in the pot, he felt that it would not be of any harm if he helped himself to some. That, however, turned out the tonic his stepmother needed to unleash horror on him. In a fit of anger, she put a knife in the fire and waited until it was red hot before she cruelly landed it on his eyes and some other parts of his body. Thereafter, she threatened to kill Ahmad if he continued to stay in the house. watched as his wife inflicted the serious injuries on Ahmad. Maryam, however, said she did not set out to be cruel but did what she did in order to punish Ahmad for taking food from her pot on his own, which she said amounted to stealing. In a statement she made upon her invitation by a child rights agency, she said: “What happened was that I cooked three cups of rice and spaghetti. I did not leave any for their father but I gave all of them. The remaining food in the pot was for his brother. “When the brother returned from Islamiyya, he could not find the food so I asked all of them if they took the food. They all denied, but since I knew him with such acts, I insisted until he finally confessed. “This was not the first time he would take such things, and I always preached to him. I usually scared him with fire whenever he did such things. “On that day, I held a small phone in my hand. As I was taking the knife towards his hand, he hit it with his head. “I was not even aware of the burn until the next morning when his father complained. I called the boy and made him know that my target was not his head but his hand. “Everything I did to him to stop him from stealing had proved abortive so I decided that he should be returned to his mother since everyone was watching to see how I would treat a child who is not mine.” Maryam said she was the one that was taking care of the family’s feeding and did not understand why Ahmad would keep stealing from her. She said: “I have been the one taking care of them since their father is no longer financially stable. I can also decide to stop doing that since it is my money, and I could sell the foodstuffs I receive in exchange for teaching at the place where I work.” Ahmad’s father, Shehu Musa Danjuma, explained that he said nothing when Maryam was punishing Ahmad because he did not want to complain about her actions in the presence of the children. He described the eight-year-old boy as a spoilt child and blamed his mother for making things worse. She said,: “It is the mother that spoilt him. Because we live in the same area, she would come to our area and give him money. “She even gives our neighbours money to keep for them in case they would need it. She would give a boy as small as Ahmad N20 or N50 to spend.” Ahmad’s mother, Aisha Baba Zagunu, who reported the incident to the Niger State Child Rights Agency, said she was informed about the incident by her eldest son, Musa Shehu, who is 15 years old and also lives with their father and his wife. Aisha said: “Musa said they went to an Islamic school and returned and Ahmad was hungry. Since the stepmother was not at home, he took food from the pot and ate. “He said that when she returned and asked about the rice, he admitted to having eaten it because he was hungry. “Musa then said she took a knife, put it in the gas fire, and when it was hot, she used it on him and said she did not want to see him in the house again or she would kill him. “That was why he called me to come and take Ahmad away before she would kill him.” Aisha, who said she had separated from her husband for three years, said she was prevented from taking custody of her children, adding that she would be glad to do so. She said: “I did not report the incident in order to fight her. I just want the law to take its course. ” I want the law to fight for me and give me custody of my children. This shows that they are not safe in their father’s house.” The Director-General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency, Barrister Mariam Kolo, after listening to all sides, directed that the case be taken to the state CID for proper investigation and prosecution. Kolo said it was a case of serious act of cruelty to a child, adding that the father should also be punished for watching while his son, who he knows is a sickler, was being punished cruelly. She said: “The Agency will not take it easy on this issue because the report we just heard is very harrowing. This is how it begins before it becomes a mega crime meted out to a child. “Once a mother or stepmother begins to show signs of cruelty to a child, the child has to be removed immediately from that environment because the life of the child is in danger. “There is no reason for such cruelty. There is no reason for one to put a knife in the fire and saying you want to scare a child by inflicting

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Gunmen renew killings in Southeast

THE peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in the South East geopolitical zone after the activities of the infamous unknown gunmen strikes that led to the death of many people in the area has again been cut short following renewed attacks in parts of the zone. In the last two weeks, no fewer than 20 lives have been lost, including high profile personalities like the Director General of federal government –owned Science Equipment Development Institute, SEDI, Enugu, Professor Samuel Ndubuisi, Anambra State –born billionaire and philanthropist, Chief Philip Udala, team manager of Udala Football Club in Anambra State, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AutoEase Service Limited, Ifeanyi Okeke, two soldiers attached to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, as well as a police orderly of Chief Udala, among others. For instance, the killing of Udala, who hailed from Uke in Idemili, was so bizarre as it happened in the full glare of passersby and traders at the Eke Agu market in Abatete in Idemili North local government area of the state. When Udala left his house that fateful morning, little did he know that he would not come back alive. His assailants had ambushed his convoy around the market and opened fire at close range and when their guns could not do the work, they applied other means. An eyewitness who gave her name as Chioma said: “The attackers shot him severally, but the bullets did not penetrate. They then stabbed him with knife, pushed him inside his Lexus jeep as he attempted to run away and set the car ablaze with him in the car. He struggled to come out of the car while the fire was raging, but couldn’t and he fell off the car door after he was completely burnt. The assassins also killed his driver, Peter, the team manager of his club,, Godsent, his security detail, Paul and another policeman riding with him.” According to Chioma, who claimed to be familiar with the victim, Udala returned from Lagos the previous day, not knowing that his life would come to an end the following day. Chioma added: “Udala wedded his new wife only last month and she is heavily pregnant. His new mansion at the 3 -3 area of Onitsha is at the finishing level and the opening of the new house was already being planned. He was a very generous man and did not deserve this kind of death.” As questions were still being asked as to the motive behind the killing of Udala and his aides, suspected cultists struck in Awka the following day in a daylight operation, killing three people in the process. The suspected cultists numbering three operated in a tricycle and shot repeatedly at the popular Aroma junction unchallenged for about 20 minutes before heading to the Ifite area of the state capital where they gunned down the three persons. Police spokesman in the state, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga said investigations into the incidents had begun. Although cult activities had become rampant in many towns in the state, even among secondary school boys, the problem reduced after some villages in Awka formed what looked like the dreaded Bakassi Boys that held sway during the administration of former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju and started killing and burning suspected cultists on the streets. As the people of Anambra State were wondering the cause of the return of the street killings, the Coal City of Enugu, considered as one of the safest cities in Nigeria, started recording frightening incidents of murder. Before the killing of the Director-General of the Science and Equipment Development Institute, Prof. Ndubisi along the Enugu –Port Harcourt expressway, a former High Court Judge in the state, Justice Nnaji, was shot and killed in his car in a busy area of the city. The police orderly attached to Ndubisi was also killed as they were returning from work. Forty eight hours before the killing of Ndubisi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AutoEase Service Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Okeke, was also murdered in the city in the presence of his eight-year-old son. As the people of Enugu State were wondering the cause of the increasing insecurity in the state, the Nigerian Army reported the loss of two soldiers, alleging that operatives of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s militant arm, Eastern Security Network, ESN, attacked its location at Iggah and Asaba checkpoint in Uzo Uwani local government area of the state. According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu,, the fallen troops were deployed to checkmate the activities of gunmen at Adani community in the local government when they came under the attack of the operatives of the ESN. “Sadly, during the fire fight that ensued between the Army and ESN, two soldiers paid the supreme price. Troops are currently on the trail of the criminals. “We assure the general public of our commitment to provide adequate security in the general area in collaboration with other security agencies. We also urge members of the public to complement the effort of the security agencies by remaining law abiding and providing useful information on the fleeing gunmen,” Gen Nwachukwu said. While some people blame the killings on increasing rate of cultism in the society, others finger the ESN, which they believe, appears to be regrouping after the break that followed the arrest of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. There were also those who believe that lack of central security outfit in the zone was fueling the insecurity. A retired civil servant, Mr. Godwin Olisakwe said the killing of prominent people, like the SEDI DG, the football club owner or the retired High Court Judge could not be mere coincidence, arguing that those who carried out the acts must have planned their execution weeks or even months before striking. He said: “ Apart from the soldiers that were killed at checkpoint, the other killings could be properly planned assassinations, which could either be due to business gone sour, or

Post Date : July 17, 2021

“We won’t atop reporting terror attacks, media chiefs blast NBC

Media chiefs in the country have said the media won’t be deterred by the directive of the Federal Government that the media should not divulge “details” of the activities of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in their reports. The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah; the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo; and the Executive Director, Centre for Media Law and Advocacy, Richard Akinnola; made this known in separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH on Friday. According to them, the media reports activities and does not create events. They advised the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to tackle the security challenges in the country and desist from its attempts to gag the media through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. The media veterans were reacting to a directive by the National Broadcasting Commission that television and radio stations in Nigeria should not “glamourise the nefarious activities of insurgents” during their daily newspaper reviews. Broadcast stations in Nigeria review newspaper headlines daily before their breakfast shows. But the NBC, in a letter dated July 7, 2021, issued to television and radio stations, stressed the need for “caution” by broadcasters while reporting security challenges in the country. The letter titled, ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, was signed by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah. A copy of the letter obtained by Saturday PUNCH, partly reads, “Headlines of most newspapers on a daily basis are replete with security topics. While bringing information on security to the doorsteps of Nigerians is a necessity, there is a need for caution as too many details may have an adverse implication on the efforts of our security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency. “The commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges by; “Not glamourising the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc. “Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point. “Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.” According to Global Conflict Tracker, the insurgents have killed nearly 350,000 innocent women, children and farmers in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, amongst other volatile places, since 2009. On the other hand, the information minister has in recent times attempted to muzzle the press in Nigeria by prodding the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act, one that has been fiercely opposed by media stakeholders who described the move as an information blackout akin to the infamous Protection Against False Accusations Decree, otherwise known as Decree 4 of 1984. Reacting, NGE President, Isah said he agreed with the NBC that broadcast stations should not glamourise the activities of insurgents but stated emphatically that the government could not tell the media how to tailor its reports. Isah said, “The NBC said broadcast stations should not glamourise terrorist activities which I agree with but I have a problem with the issue of ‘don’t report details of attack’. I don’t know what the NBC mean by that. If there is an attack and certain people die, are you saying that I should not report it? If there is an attack and 20 students are kidnapped, are you saying that broadcast platforms should not report the number? “I have not seen any media house report details of a planned operation by the military on bandits and terrorists. The media does not do that for security purposes and I don’t think we will ever do that. “The government cannot tell us how to do how report. This is why we are clearly against the Nigeria Press Council Act. “The media does not create events; we report events. If there is a terrorist attack, we will report it. In fact, if we don’t report it, that means we are not doing our job. We will not stop doing that, we will not stop reporting events despite the threats.” Also, NUJ President, Isiguzo told our correspondent that the NUJ would ensure that the media space was not compressed in Nigeria under any guise. He said, “This latest directive must be reviewed by the commission. The NBC must also ensure that its actions are in line with international best practices and must conform with time-tested models from other nations.” Akinnola also described the NBC directive as obnoxious and a subtle attempt to gag the press. Akinnola said, “It is quite unfortunate but it is difficult to gag the Nigerian Press going by its history, no matter the extrajudicial means. It is not possible. If the military failed, there is no way any government will succeed. “The government has failed in the aspect of insecurity and this is a subtle effort to cover the inadequacy of the government.” Also, the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project kicked against the NBC directive, and asked the government to withdraw the directive. SERAP in a statement posted via its official social media handle @serapnigeria urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to withdraw the order. “We urge President Buhari to instruct the NBC to immediately withdraw its illegal order to TV and radio stations not to divulge “details” of the activities of terrorists and kidnappers in their reports. “We’ll sue if this sweeping gag order is not immediately withdrawn.”

Post Date : July 17, 2021

Militant leader kills 6 Tompolo men in Delta

suspected militant leader, weekend, laid ambush on the Benin River for members of Egbema Kingdom Peace Keepers collaborating with ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to keep peace in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, massacring six of them. The atrocity forced the Joint Task Force, which suspended the siege to Egbema kingdom, following the attack and killing of some soldiers at a Military Base in Obodo, Warri South local government area, by militant leader and his boys, early July, to lock down the kingdom afresh in the last two days. “On Thursday, the army deployed about 12 gun boats looking for the militant leader, but as at today (yesterday) when I am speaking to you (Saturday Vanguard), nothing has come out of the matter. We just heard they are fighting. The river has been closed since yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday),” a villager revealed. Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Hon Smart Asekutu, who also spoke to Saturday Vanguard, confirmed: “Six members of the Egbema Kingdom Peace Keepers were killed by the notorious militant leader, kidnapper and pirate, N.K, but we have recovered the remains of the three and taken them to the mortuary at Warri.” “It is not nine persons that were killed, I think they are about six, the boy has been causing security challenges for us in the local government and the present lock down by the army has the support of the local government council because security agents have to track him down before he commits more havoc,” he said. Asekutu urged the people of Warri North to cooperate with the soldiers, saying: “The current lock-down is to track down those kidnapping people and causing trouble so that there will be peace in the area.” He said that those who had personal relationship with the militant leader had reached out to him, but he refused to stop his atrocities, hence the soldiers had to do what they were doing now to arrest him. “He can be in the midst of people and when soldiers open fire, innocent people will be affected, that is why we want our people to cooperate with the security agents by giving them all relevant information,” he said. The fleeing militant leader, who defied the pleas of Tompolo and Egbema leaders to stop his criminal activities went into hiding after killing the peace keepers . Previous visits to his camp to arrest him failed, as he got wind and fled with his boys. However, Tompolo deployed some of the peace keepers, during the week, with soldiers to visit his camp once again and clip his wings. “He reportedly got wind of the plan and laid siege for them on the waterways where he killed nine of the peace keepers, these are people with families, so there is still much wailing in Egbema since Thursday. A source said militant leader was dislodged by the military in Lagos after which he relocated to Ondo state and later re positioned to Egbema kingdom, where he built a militant camp in the last few months and had committed many atrocities. “In Egbema, he turned a terror, kidnapping hostages and collecting various ransoms from people and all efforts to rein him proved abortive. “Leaders of Egbema ordered him to leave the kingdom but he refused, prompting them to report his escapades to Tompolo, who called a peace meeting, but he declined to show up. “Earlier in June, the militant leader had also attacked Egbema peace keepers, killed one of them and fled with one of their speedboats “It was three days after the onslaught on Egbema peace keepers that some soldiers were attacked and killed, which led to lock-down in Egbema. The army people he killed were not even in Warri North, they were in Warri South,” the informant added.