Crime Facts

Facebook Twitter Youtube
Post Date : July 7, 2021

Zambia’s Founding Leader Kaunda Laid To Rest

Zambia’s founding leader Kenneth Kaunda was laid to rest at the country’s presidential burial site on Wednesday despite an 11th-hour bid by some of his relatives to block the interment. Kaunda, who was also a hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa, died last month at the age of 97. Some of his relatives had wanted him buried at his farm next to his late wife Betty, with whom he had 10 children. But the burial proceeded without incident at Embassy Park, a special cemetery dedicated for the country’s leaders. His children paid glowing tribute to Kaunda, portraying him as a fighter and teacher whose attributes should be emulated. “Go well, you fought the good fight of faith, you have finished the race. We will miss you so much,” said one of his daughters, Musata Banda. “You wanted three more years to get to a hundred, but you will celebrate your 100th birthday in heaven.” President Edgar Lungu declared Kaunda’s birthday, April 28, as a national holiday in honour of the first president. Zambia had already announced three weeks of mouring after his death on on June 17 at the Maina Soko military hospital in Lusaka. Hundreds of mourners attended a church service before the burial, including Mozambique’s ex-president Joachim Chissano, Zambia’s former president Rupiah Banda and Hakainde Hichilema, the head of the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND). Leader of Kaunda’s United National Independence Party (UNIP), Trevor Mwamba, urged Zambia to honour Kaunda by holding peaceful elections next month. The country goes to presidential and legislative election on August 12. Kaunda’s first-born son, Panji, called for peaceful polls. “We shall move together as ‘one Zambia, one nation’,” he said, reiterating his father’s motto. “We have elections, let us preach peace. Stop the violence that has been witnessed.” Outside the cathedral, Lusaka resident Alex Mwale, 19, also seized the moment to appeal for peaceful voting. “Kaunda as our father stood for peace. This is what our politicians should learn from this man. He was in the same class with great men like Nelson Mandela,” said Mwale. AFP

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

UK parliament to debate Nnamdi Kanu’s repatriation to Nigeria

The United Kingdom Parliament is set to commence a debate on the repatriation of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had, last week, revealed that Kanu was repatriated and subsequently arraigned him. However, Malami did not reveal where the IPOB leader was repatriated from. IPOB, as well as several notable groups, however, alleged that Kanu was repatriated from Kenya, an allegation which Kenya has since denied. The separatist group had accused the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of abducting its leader in the East-African country, a claim confirmed by Kanu’s attorney, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who accused Kenya’s special police force of arresting, detaining and torturing Kanu for days before he was later handed over to the Nigerian government. The British government had also stated last week that Kanu, who was travelling with a British passport, was not arrested within its shores. But the UK Parliament, in a parliamentary schedule posted on its website, said it will set aside a debate on Wednesday, July 7, to discuss the British government’s assessment of Kenya’s role in Mr. Kanu’s arrest. According to the document, Lord Alton of Liverpool will be raising the issue at the House of Lords and will query the government on the separatist leader’s transfer to Nigeria. “Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the alleged role of the government of Kenya in the detention and alleged mistreatment of Nigerian activist Nnamdi Kanu (2) The circumstances surrounding the transfer of Mr. Kanu to Nigeria against his will, and (3) of any assistance being provided to him by the High Commission in Abuja,” the document read.

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

Reps approve bill to create state police, security outfits

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow creation of state police and legalise regional security outfits. The current police system will be decentralised by moving police from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List. Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke, who sponsored the bill, said in the explanatory note that the bill seeks to alter the Constitution “to provide for state police and other state government security services to enhance security and preservation of lives and properties in Nigeria”. The bill especially proposes an amendment to Section 197(1) by inserting new Paragraphs ‘e’ and ‘f’ to provide for ‘State Police Council’ and ‘State Police Service Commission,’ respectively. The Second Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered in Part I by deleting Item 45 from the Exclusive Legislative List; and in Part II by inserting after Item 30 on the Concurrent Legislative List, new Items 31 and 32. The proposal reads, “(31) The National Assembly may make laws for the establishment of the federal police and other federal government security services; “(32) A House of Assembly may make laws for the establishment of state police and other state government security services.” The Third Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered by inserting new Paragraphs 9 to 12 The new paragraphs read, “(9) A State Police Council shall comprise the following members: (a) the governor, who shall be the chairman; (b) the chairman of the State Police Service Commission; and (c) State Commissioner of Police. “(10) The functions of a State Police Council shall include (a) the organisation and administration of a State Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force); (b) the general supervision of a State Police Force; and (c) advising the governor on the appointment of State Commissioner of Police.” Leading debate on the bill, Luke said, “Many years after independence, Nigeria has continually been beset with insecurity ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and domestic violence. Granted that there is no society without crime or manifestation of criminal behaviour, our inability to bring to the barest minimum crime is a scathing indictment on the current security architecture and structure in the country. “The federal structuring of our security does not encourage community policing or localisation of policing. Recruitment and subsequent deployment of police officers in their local area is one of the major ways of curbing crime. Such officers understand the area, terrain, language, behaviour and attitude of the people he or she is policing. “Nigeria, a country with over 201 million people, is grossly under policed with about 400, 000 police personnel. This number falls far short of the United Nation’s recommendation of ratio 1 per 400 citizens. “The Constitution envisages Nigeria as a federal state. Granting allowance to state governments to establish police force and other security apparatuses will bring Nigeria into original constitutional contemplation of a federal state.” The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, stated that creation of state police is long overdue with the current security crises across the country. Okechukwu said, “This bill is germane. About an hour ago, we observed a minute silence for our people; for the citizens of Nigeria who were killed in Kaduna. In addition to that, my colleague, Hon Barde, also moved a motion to ensure the rescue of 140 pupils – children – who were going to school that were taken in Kaduna. We have had situations in this country that ordinarily, this issue of state police should have been addressed a long time ago. “Good enough, the recurrence with which it appears and comes up in the efforts to alter the Constitution gives strength to the fact that it is needed. As a matter of fact, the Exclusive List needs to shed weight and if it is going to shed weight with regard to making our country more efficient and secure, the better we are for it. “As a matter of fact, there is no state in this federation that does not run a security outfit. No state! Whether it is Amotekun or Hisbah or Vigilante or Ebube Agu, whichever name you call it, they all run it. But what character do they possess? What ingredients are they lacking? They are lacking the power to ordinarily bear arms and to arrest and prosecute. “We need to occasion this; we need to bring it to the fore to solve the challenges we are having. We cannot be living and pretending that everything is okay. Nothing is okay. If 13 schools were closed in Kaduna, it is not a joke. We need to address this and address this seriously.” The House had earlier on June 9, 2021, approved a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to recognise security outfits created by states to complement the Nigeria Police Force in the effort to protect lives and property. Sponsored by Anthony Afe from Delta State, the legislation is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Give Legal Backing to State Security Outfit to Complement the Nigeria Police Force.’ Already, several states and geopolitical zones have established vigilante groups and security outfits with various codenames. Prominent among them is the South-West Security Network Agency, popularly called Amotekun, which has chapters across the six states in the zone. The joint security and vigilante network in the South-East is codenamed, Ebube Agu. While there is the religious Hisbah in some northern states, there is the Civilian Joint Task Force in states in the North-East fighting insurgency together with the Armed Forces. Lagos State had the Neighborhood Safety Corps before Amotekun was established. Benue State also has Livestock Guards.

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

Dollar video: Court orders Ganduje to pay N800k to Daily Nigerian publisher

A Kano state high court has ordered Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, to pay N800,000 to Ja’afar Ja’afar, publisher of Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, over a dollar bribery video. Advertisement A series of the secretly recorded videos in 2018 had shown a figure believed to be Ganduje pocketing wads of dollars allegedly taken as kickbacks. The governor had denied the videos, saying they were doctored. He blamed it on mischief makers who were bent on tarnishing his reputation. He had also gone to the court in the attempt to clear his name, while asking the publisher to pay N3 billion in damages. Advertisement On June 28, the governor filed an application at the court through his counsel, Offiong Offiong, seeking to discontinue the case. During the hearing of the case, on Tuesday, Utum Eteng, counsel to Ja’afar, and M.B. Azumi, counsel to Penlight Media Limited, publisher of Daily Nigerian, did not object the application, but demanded the sum of N400 million as part of terms to discontinue the suit. The lawyers also demanded an apology, which they said should be published in national dailies, as well as a pre-action letter. Advertisement In his ruling, Suleiman Na-mallam, the presiding judge, granted the sum of N400,000 each to Ja’afar and his company. The judge was, however, silent on the prayer by the defendants for the governor to make a public apology in national dailies.

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

121 Students Are In Captivity’, Bandits Contact Kaduna School

The abductors of Bethel Baptist Church High School students, Kaduna, have confirmed that there are 121 students in their custody. Proprietor of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna Rev. Yahaya Adamu Jangado, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday. He said the bandits informed the school that the students are in good condition. According to him, they also spoke with the students in captivity who confirmed that number given by the bandits. “Today (Tuesday) by the grace of God we had a call from the bandits and they assured us that our children are well and doing okay.” “In fact, we had the privilege of speaking with few of them. They counted themselves in the jungle and they gave us information that they are 121 and when we put the number together with what we have recovered, we discovered that the number is exactly the same with the number of students we have in the hostel,” he said. He said the management called the parents to appreciate them for their patience, understanding and calmness and also solicit for their support in this trying moment. He said they have informed government about the matter and they have been assured that everything possible would be done to make sure the students are back. Daily Trust had reported how bandits stormed the boarding school located along Kaduna-Kachia highway and abducted the students. Two soldiers were said to have been killed in an exchange of gunfire with the bandits.

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

Presidency hails Kanu’s rearrest, attack on Igboho’s home

The Presidency, on Tuesday, commended security agencies on the re-arrest and repatriation of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu; as well as the recent attack by the Department of State Services on the Ibadan home of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho. This was contained in a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. The statement was titled, ‘Presidency Statement On The Recent Successes Of Security And Intelligence Agencies’. According to Shehu, Kanu and Igboho “had inflicted pain and hardships on fellow citizens”. He said Kanu, who was re-arrested and re-arraigned last week for terrorism-related charges, was captured as a result of “cross-border cooperation” and “international operation”, adding that the IPOB leader would “face the law”. “The Government had long been monitoring the activities of IPOB and had strong cause to believe that their funding sources include proceeds of suspected illicit criminal activities. By this singular action of our Security Forces, sanity, calm and peace has been returned to our communities who previously lived in constant fear of these misguided elements,” the statement partly read. Shehu further hailed last Thursday’s midnight raid on the home of foremost Yoruba nation campaigner, Igboho. The presidential spokesman described Igboho as a “militant ethnic secessionist”. He said, “In furtherance of continued diligent work, the State Security Service on Thursday, 1st July raided the residence of a militant ethnic Secessionist, who has also been conducting acts of terror and disturbing the peace under the guise of protecting fellow ‘kinsmen’. “His (Igboho) seditious utterances and antics, which he is known to have publicly expressed, have overtime morphed into very hateful and vile laden speeches. It must be highlighted that the government respects fundamental rights of citizens to express their views and recognizes this as a democratic tenet. However, any attempt to build an Armoury coupled with plans either subtle or expressed to undermine our unity as a nation will not be condoned. “Mr. President’s directives to Security Services regarding anyone seen to be carrying arms, particularly AK-47 are clear and require no further illumination. Assault weapons are not tools of peace-loving people and as such, regardless of who they are and where they are from, the Security Agencies should treat them all the same. “The successes of our Security Agencies must be commended as they have demonstrated significant deftness, guile and secrecy in carrying out these missions. This level of professionalism must be sustained and brought to bear as we focus on extracting from our society those who have found a new trade in targeting students, rural dwellers and our citizens in the North-West. The nation recognizes their efforts and sacrifice.” The PUNCH had earlier reported that the DSS invaded the residence of Igboho in a Gestapo style. Though Igboho had escaped the raid, his house and cars were riddled with bullets while bloodstains splattered over the floors of the house. The DSS also said it killed two of his associates in a gun duel. Thirteen of Igboho’s guards and close associates were later paraded in Abuja on Thursday evening. The secret police had since declared Igboho wanted. The activist is being accused of stockpiling weapons to allegedly destabilise the country under the guise of agitation for Yoruba nation but he has since denied the allegation, saying he protects himself with charms and not weapons. The DSS raid had been condemned by many Nigerians including human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, who described it as a “nocturnal coup”, arguing that no law in Nigeria allows security agents to arrest anyone in the dead of the night. Also, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, had condemned the invasion which he described as “bizarre”. Similarly, Southern governors, on Monday, resolved that security agencies must notify them as the chief security officer of their states before they carry out any operation within their domain.

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

Be proactive, develop new strategies, Buhari urges Army

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Nigerian Army to be proactive and develop new strategies to win the hearts of the citizens. The President, represented by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), made this call to the Army during the grand finale of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration. This was made known on Tuesday in a statement by the Army Director of Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, titled, ‘#NADCEL2021: President Muhammadu Buhari charges the army to remain resolute in tackling security challenges.’ The statement partly read, “The President, who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), said the NA has remained a highly professional Army subordinated to democratic and civil authority, since the rebirth of democracy in 1999. “He further stated that the increasing synergy among the Services in the military and other security agencies in the fight against criminality is yielding significant results. “Appreciating the NA for its resilience in confronting contemporary security challenges, the President reiterated his resolve to ensure that the NA gets the much needed support to enhance its operational efficiency. “President Buhari directed officers and soldiers of the NA to be proactive and evolve new strategies of winning the hearts and minds of the citizenry. He further urged the NA to adhere to the rules of engagement in its operational engagements and respect the fundamental human rights of the populace.”

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

65-Year-Old Man Defiles 8-Year-Old Boy In Anambra

A 65-year-old man, Chuks Emele, has been arrested for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old boy in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Emele, a father of two, was arrested after the National Human Rights Commission petitioned the police, following a complaint from the boy’s mother. Recalling the incident three months ago, Emele said the boy had come to collect wage for working on his farm. “When he entered my room to collect his wage, I grabbed him and slept with him,” he said, and blamed it on the devil. The Commission in the letter, signed by its Coordinator, Mrs Nkechi Ugwuanyi, made available to newsmen, argued that the act violated section 3 sub-sections 1, 2 and 3 of the State Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP), Law 2017. Speaking with journalists, Ugwuanyi said the case got to the Commission following the suspect’s refusal to cooperate with stakeholders in the community who waded into the matter. She said the commission’s interest was to ensure properly treatment of the victim “Defiling a minor of eight years is not only against the law, but a criminal offence. The boy as we learnt had been sick since the incident. The community stakeholders stepped in but he did not cooperate with them. “We made effort to relocate the victim to Ntasi Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Enugwu-Ukwu for proper treatment free of charge but the family did not agree,” she said. In a telephone interview, the boy’s mother appealed for the law to take its course since the violator had refused to do the needful despite community’s interventions. “After the incident, my son had protruded anus. He lost lots of blood which had gone through blood infusion. He is still in the hospital because he runs a high temperature. All I want is justice for my son,” she said. Doctors treating the boy have confirmed anal penetration, but said he had been tested for HIV. The suspect, a father of two, blamed the devil for the act, but denied presence of blood on the victim as the mother claimed. “I don’t know what came over me that day. It is up to three months now. He came to do farm work for me. So, when he entered my room to collect his wage, I grabbed him and slept with him. I regret doing that to the small boy. It was the devil,” he added. Reacting, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said, “The command is aware of the reported case, and the case is under investigation.”

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

Four reps dump PDP for APC — now seven in two weeks

Four members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The four lawmakers — all from Zamfara state — announced their defection via a letter read at Tuesday’s plenary session. The defectors are Bello Shinkafi, Ahmed Bakura, Ahmed Bungudu and Suleiman Gummi. That makes it seven lawmakers that have left the PDP to the APC in the green chamber. The lawmakers cited crisis in Zamfara PDP as their reason for dumping the party. According to their letter read at the plenary, “we the underlisted members wish to officially notify you of our defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) following the crisis of the PDP in Zamfara state which has consequently led to the dissolution of the state executive by the national body.” The development comes about a week after Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, dumped the PDP for APC. Last week Tuesday, the main opposition party also lost two of their members to the ruling party: Idagbo Ochiglegoor and Michael Etaba, both from Cross River. A day later, Umar Dangaladima, a PDP lawmaker from Zamfara, also joined the APC.

Read more
Post Date : July 6, 2021

19 Famers Killed As Bandits Attack Katsina Community

Katsina, usually referred to as Katsina State to distinguish it from the city of Katsina, is a state in North West zone of Nigeria. Katsina, usually referred to as Katsina State to distinguish it from the city of Katsina, is a state in North West zone of Nigeria. At least 19 persons, mostly farmers, have been reportedly killed after bandits attacked Tsauwa Village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. Although the police are yet to confirm the incident, an eyewitness told Channels Television in a phone conversation on Tuesday that the hoodlums invaded the village late Monday night. According to the eyewitness, the bandits who stormed the village on motorbikes and armed with sophisticated weapons started shooting sporadically even as they set the entire village ablaze. A similar incident had occurred in the same villages on February 2, 2020, claiming the lives of 30 people, mostly women and children. Batsari remains one of the danger zones of the state with its increasing reputation for banditry. Despite a peace deal initiative of the current government, activities of Kidnapping for ransom and banditry have persisted.

Read more
Search

Account

Cart

  • Main menu