Crime Facts

Rise in conflicts can destabilise Nigeria, UK warns

The United Kingdom has warned that the rise in conflicts could destabilise Nigeria if urgent actions were not taken to address the situation as the nation prepares for the 2023 elections. The British government also blamed the crisis on injustice and impunity as well as weak judicial institutions, insisting that the conflict posed an existential threat to Nigeria’s unity and development. Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative in Abuja on Thursday, the Development Director, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Mr Chris Beecroft, observed that peace and stability could be achieved when the causes of conflict in society are managed through strong, fair, and responsive governance mechanisms at community, state, or federal level. He said, “The rise in conflict risks destabilising Nigeria’s democracy in the run-up to the 2023 elections. There is an active insurgency in the North-East; farmer-herder conflicts are extending across the country; resource conflicts in the Delta; tension in the South-East; and banditry in the North-West. “Conflict destroys lives, destroys livelihoods, destroys hope and ambition for the future. Conflict represents an existential threat to Nigeria’s unity and its development.” Beecroft explained that the use of the police and army would only be part of the solution, as he called for greater emphasis on reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, and access to justice which he described as vital components of a vibrant, resilient, and effective social contract. He identified the proliferation of small arms and weapons and “the weaponisation of social media as drivers of conflict and instability.” The FCDO Director called for job creation for young Nigerians “so they have a stake in a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria,” adding, however, that with the right commitment, dedications and support, “there are solutions.” Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi noted that the spate of violence and coordinated criminal activities have undermined government authority and weakened public trust. He stated, “The current security crisis in the country is caused by several factors including an oversized population that the government is unable to cope with, a large number of poor people estimated at over 40 per cent of the population who are living below $1 per day, and indeed, desertification which has affected over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s land, as drought and climate change has continued to aggravate land deterioration in the country.” Former head of state and Chairman of National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), in his remarks, expressed worry over what he called the instrumentalisation of violence, noting that “violence has become a commodity in Nigeria.” Abubakar, who was represented by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, argued that poverty was not the cause of violence in Nigeria, noting China has about 300 million unemployed persons.

Mosque Attack: Court Remands Osun Masquerade

A magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has remanded Fashola Esuleke, the masquerade who was involved in the scuffle that led to the death of Alhaji Moshood Salahudeen at Kamorudeen Central Mosque in the state capital. Esuleke was remanded in custody alongside Kazeem Yunus, Chief Imam of the mosque, and four of his followers. The Imam was arraigned for assaulting the masquerade while the masquerade was arraigned for murder. The state counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Moses Faremi, told the court that the Ministry wanted to take over the case from the Police. The Counsel to the Imam, Qazeem Odedeji, told the court that the charges of the imam and the masquerade should not have been joined on the same charge sheet and insisted that it must be separated. The magistrate, Asimiyu Adebayo, granted the prayer of the counsel and mandated the police to separate the case of assault from murder. The Magistrate remanded all the defendants in police custody and adjourned the case till Monday, July 12.

Delta COVID variant, linked to high infection rate, confirmed in Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the index case of the delta variant of the coronavirus in Nigeria. The NCDC disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. According to the NCDC, the variant was detected during routine tests for in-bound travellers in Abuja. “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has detected a confirmed case with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2. The variant was detected in a traveler to Nigeria, following the routine travel test required of all international travelers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja,” the statement reads. “The Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility. The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more countries. “The variant has also been linked to a surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain in circulation. There are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics.” The development comes days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed concern over the “speedy” spread in infection rates in Africa as countries battle a third wave of COVID-19. In a statement issued on July 1, the WHO had raised concern over variants of concern, especially the delta variant, adding that infection rates are doubling every week, and the virus is spreading faster than previous records. However, according to the NCDC, the federal government is stepping up efforts through collaboration with the “Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), and other laboratories within the national network, to carry out genomic sequencing”, in order “to enable the detection of variants of concern, and initiate response activities”. “Given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and following its detection in Nigeria, NCDC urges all Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to public health and social measures in place. Proven public health and social measures such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and proper use of face masks, prevent infections and save lives. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and offers protection against the disease,” the agency said. “Additionally, states are urged to ensure sample collection and testing for COVID-19 is accessible to the public. Public settings such as schools with accommodation facilities, workplaces and camps should utilise the approved Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for rapid testing of their population. “The recommended control measures to limit the spread of the Delta variant continue to be testing, following the existing public health guidance and abiding by the current travel and public restrictions.”

Magu: Buhari Not Responsible For Promotion In Police – Garba Shehu

President Muhammadu Buhari is not responsible for promotion in the Nigeria Police Force, the presidency said on Thursday. Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, stated this shortly after the Police Service Commission (PSC) promoted 24 Commissioners of Police to the rank of the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG). Among others. However, the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu was declined promotion. Reacting to the development, President Buhari’s media aide said promotion in the nation’s police structure is determined by the PSC, noting that his principal had no hand in the exercise. “President Buhari, or any Nigerian President for that matter, is not responsible for promotions in the Police. That is the business of the Police Service Commission, PSC,” Shehu stated. “In the case of the gentleman in question, who is currently under investigation, common sense dictates that his eligibility will be determined by that outcome. The PSC could have given you the correct position on this if there was an effort to reach them.” Shehu’s reaction followed some rumours suggesting that President Buhari was pushing for the Magu’s promotion who has been under probe over allegations of misuse of his office. Some reports had emerged that Magu had been penciled down for promotion from present CP rank to AIG by the PSC despite the alleged adverse recommendations of the Justice Ayo Salami panel that investigated the allegations. But the PSC in a statement by its Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, “declined the promotion of CP Magu pending clearance from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General of Police.” The ex-EFCC boss served as acting chairman of the anti-graft agency from 2015 to 2020, and was rejected twice by the Senate. Magu was later suspended along with several others for allegedly mismanaging funds of the commission, an allegation he repeatedly denied. He was probed for over three months by a judicial panel of inquiry led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

Defections: PDP may become empty before 2023, says Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says the Peoples Democratic Party may become empty before the 2023 elections, due to the recent defections from the party. He stated this on Thursday in a piece titled, ‘Speaking to PDP in the language it understands.’ Adesina wrote, “The opposition Peoples Democratic Party is being spoken to in the language it understands. And it is screaming blue murder. “PDP is being ravaged and savaged politically, and if care is not taken, the Party could become an empty shell before 2023. The vessel is leaking, and taking in water massively. It may have to scream ‘May Day’, ‘May Day’ soon, and evacuate. “The irony of it all is that whenever the PDP is making gains politically, all is jolly well and good. But when it suffers reversals, then democracy is threatened in the country. “In 2015, by the time the dust of general elections settled, the All Progressives Congress had 24 Governors. PDP had 12, and All Progressives Grand Alliance had one. “PDP, which had always vaunted itself as Africa’s largest party, threatening to rule us for minimum of 60 years, was looking like King Lear at his worst. It had been knocked off its perch at the national level, also in many states, and its snout yanked from the country’s honeypot. It was terribly unhappy. “By combination of schism, implosion and explosion, APC did not manage its success well. By 2019, the number of its governors had dwindled to about 19. And PDP was reaping the harvest. But APC retooled, got itself straightened out, and returned to winning ways. “Gov Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State ported into APC. Followed by Ben Ayade of Cross River. And now Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State. APC is equally swelling in terms of lawmakers and membership, both at the Federal and State levels. The winner takes it all, the loser standing small. “PDP, at its lugubrious worst, is screaming and kicking. They are plundering us! Democracy is in danger! Oh, really? Since when? “Welcoming Matawalle into the APC early last week, President Buhari said the party was becoming more popular ‘because of its impressive performance record and commitment to good governance.’ “True. But PDP never wants to hear that, and it accounts for all the obfuscation we see in the country. We have security challenges, very severe ones, no doubt. And those challenges are being frontally confronted, with the criminals ‘being sent to God to account for their crimes.’” Three governors recently defected from PDP to APC. While Umahi of Ebonyi defected in November 2020, Ayade joined APC in May 2021 while Matawalle followed suit in June 2021.

Six pupils feared killed, others injured – as fuel tanker falls on them close to school gate

Six pupils of the Army Day Primary School in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State are feared dead while others sustained injuries when a fuel tanker fell and landed on them. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon close to the school gate along the NPA-DSC Expressway. A source who did not want to be mentioned told Tribune Online at the scene that the incident occurred when the pupils were returning home from school. The source added that the fuel tanker was negotiating the bend from Warri Refinery Road to NPA Expressway when it fell on the pupils in the process. “The tanker with registration number MKD 582 ZD rammed into them at an intersection leading to Warri Refinery Road by NPA Expressway. “About six of the children were confirmed dead and taken to the mortuary. Others were rushed to the Army Hospital inside Effurun Barracks for treatment,” the source said. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ekpan Police station, CSP Bulus Musa, was said to have led his men to the scene and were were seen engaging in the removal of the bodies of the pupils and the movement of the injured to the hospital. The incident caused a gridlock that almost resorted into another stampede in the area as the police operatives made efforts to ensure free vehicular and commuters movement along the highway. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Warri Unit, were also at the scene on rescue mission while fire-fighters were also on hand with their trucks to ensure the tanker was prevented from going up in flames. When contacted, the acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Command, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the incident. “It is confirmed that there was a tanker accident. I don’t know the details you have but I cannot confirm the number of casualties,” he said.

JUST IN: We’ll work with FIRS to prove our tax compliance, says MultiChoice

MultiChoice Nigeria says it has not received any notification from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over alleged tax evasion. FIRS, on Thursday morning, announced the appointment of some commercial banks as agents to recover N1.8 trillion from accounts of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) And MultiChoice Africa (MCA). Muhammad Nami, FIRS chairman, said the decision to appoint the banks as agents and freeze the accounts was due to the group’s continued refusal to grant FIRS access to its servers for audit. In a statement, the company said it is currently in discussion with FIRS regarding their concerns and “believe that we will be able to resolve the matter amicably”. More to follow…

Police arrest two in Delta, recover 303 wraps of Indian hemp, others

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested two suspected drug dealers, recovering a total of 303 wraps of indian hemp and other drugs. This was disclosed in a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe titled, ‘Operation Delta Hawk arrest suspected illicit drug dealers/recovers one hundred and seventy four (174) wraps of dried weed suspected to be indian hemp, eight hundred (800) sachets of suspected SK, ten (10) razler (roll bond)’. According to the statement, the two suspects, 41-year-old Sunday Umadia and 29-year-old Austin Ojunom, were arrested in separate operations. The statement read, “On the 6/7/2021 at about 1710hrs, while operatives of operation Delta Hawk patrol team were on confidence building patrol at Ishekpe quarters Ogwashi-uku, they intercepted and arrested one Sunday Umadia ‘m’ 41yrs of Ogbobo quarters, Ogwashi-Uku. parading himself as ACP, Squadron Commander in Kano “Upon search, one hundred and seventy-four (174) wraps of dried weed suspected to Indian hemp, eight hundred (800) sachet of suspected SK, ten (10) razler (roll bond), one (1) lighter and cash sum of three hundred and seventeen thousand eight hundred and ninety naira (N317,890) were recovered from him. “Preliminary investigation later revealed that the suspect is a major dealer in illicit drugs. Investigation is ongoing. “Similarly, on 5/7/2021 at about 1300hrs, after series of intelligence gathering, ‘A’ Division Warri Rapid Response team raided a black spot at Ogedegbe street Warri where one Austin Ojunom ,m, 29yrs was arrested with one hundred and twenty nine (129) wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp. Suspect confessed to the crime and investigation is ongoing.

19-year-old emerges best graduating student at Anchor University

Mary Enakireru, a 19-year-old student of Anchor University Lagos, has emerged the best graduating student for the 2019/2020 class at the institution’s maiden convocation. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Joseph Afolayan, announced this at a news conference on the activities lined up for the institution’s maiden convocation, on Thursday in Lagos. According to Afolayan, the convocation ceremony holds on Friday, July 9, and ends with a special convocation service on Sunday at the Deeper Life Bible Church Headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos. The VC said that Enakireru from the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Science Education, would be awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Microbiology, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.95/4.00. He said that the university operated a four-point grading system, adding that 23 of the 63 students would be graduating in the first-class upper division from the institution. “After four years of meticulous training, mentorship, and commitment to the vision of being a citadel of learning for holistic human transformation and development, we are now set to release the first set of Anchor ambassadors to the world. “For our maiden convocation ceremony, there are 63 graduands: nine from the Faculty of Humanities; 27 from Social and Management Sciences and 27 from Science and Science Education. “On their grades, 23 of them graduated with a first-class degree, 27 had second class upper while the remaining 13 had second class lower degrees,” he said. He noted that the institution had partnered with various institutions across the globe to improve the quality of learning as well as gain local and global relevance and recognition. He expressed confidence that the graduates were capable of defending the results which had been approved by the university’s Senate. “Anchor University graduates are now ripe for the corporate world to shine their lights through industries and nations,” he said. Speaking further on activities lined up for the four-day event, Afolayan said that Prof. Peter Okebukola, Chairman of Council, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), would deliver the convocation lecture titled “Re-engineering the Youths for Leadership Imperatives and National Development.” Anchor University Lagos is a faith-based private institution located at Ayobo Ipaja, Lagos and is owned by Deeper Christian Life Ministry. It began operations in February 2017 and currently runs 12 programmes in the faculties of humanities, social and management sciences, science and science education. (NAN)

Police raid ESN/IPOB camps in Imo

Imo Police Command has arrested two suspected members of Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed security outfit of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after a gun duel at their hideout at Emekeukwu in Owerri North Council Area. Several others were wounded in the raid, according to police spokesman, Michael Abattam CSP on Thursday. Abattam explained the Command’s tactical teams, after diligent gathering of technical intelligence, stormed a notorious criminal hideout at Emekeukwu where they had a serious gun duel that led to the arrest of two of the suspects. The suspects, according to him, incluide Chibuike Iheukwu (18) of Inyishi Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State and Jidechi Akakem (26) of Umuchoke Orji in Owerri North LGA. According to him, items recovered from the suspects include three locally made pistols with 14 rounds of live cartridges and substance suspected to be hard drugs. Upon interrogation, he said Akakem, who has been on the police wanted list of IPOB/ ESN members, confessed to be a member of the dreaded terrorist gang of late Joseph Uka Nnachi aka King of Dragon. He also admitted being among those that attacked Orji Police Station and committed several other crimes in the state.