Crime Facts

Wike: PDP must sue Umahi, Ayade for joining APC without constitutional reason

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party to file a suit against David Umahi and Ben Ayade, governors of Ebonyi and Cross River, respectively, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Umahi had joined the APC in November 2020, while Ayade had defected in May 2021. Shortly after Ayade, Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, also defected from the PDP to the APC. While the PDP has filed a suit against Matawalle to challenge his decision to remain as governor despite the defection, no decision has been taken against Umahi and Ayade. In a statement issued on Saturday by Kelvin Ebiri, his spokesman, Wike said the time has come for the judiciary to take a position against political defections “with no constitutional reason”. “The time has come that the judiciary must have to rise to the occasion to make a final pronouncement of this issue of defection, and that will go a long way to strengthen our democracy. Because if we do not take action, you will find a situation where you will have a one party sate and that will not be good for our democracy,” Wike was quoted to have said. “And so, I have encouraged the PDP. They must file a suit against the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress without any reason provided in the constitution or any other enabling law. “What PDP is looking for is not just that they want to reclaim the seats, but that a pronouncement must be made by the judiciary on this incessant defection without no reasons at all, in order to enhance and strength our democracy. “Let it be on record that the party (PDP) has been able to challenge it and let us await the outcome of the decision of the court, because the court has a role to strengthen our democracy. And part of the role the court must play is to make a final pronouncement on this issue of defection from one party to the other.” Speaking on the reconfirmation by the court of appeal affirming Jarigbe Agom as the senator-elect of Cross River north senatorial district, he described it is a victory for democracy and the PDP. The court of appeal in Calabar had, in July, declared Agom as the duly elected senator for Cross River north senatorial district. In another judgment on Saturday, the court of appeal in Abuja, reaffirmed Jarigbe as the elected senator for Cross River north. “People must understand there is an end to litigation. This is a matter from my knowledge was a pre-election matter and went up to the tribunal. And I do know that the Court of Appeal tribunal sitting in Calabar sometime in July gave judgment declaring Hon Agom as the senator elect and therefore directed INEC to issue a certificate of return to him and that was carried out by the INEC,” Wike said. “Surprisingly to us, the candidate of APC and the purported candidate of the PDP, Dr. Stephen Odey had to apply again to the Court of Appeal to review the judgment that the Court of Appeal had already given at the appeal tribunal.”

Masari: ISWAP May Be Trying To Establish Its Base In North West

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State says the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) may be trying to raise families in the North West. The region is currently battling with banditry and kidnapping. When he appeared on NAN Forum, the flagship interview programme of the News Agency of Nigeria, Masari gave an insight into how cattle rustling snowballed into the current spate of kidnapping and banditry in the North West. The governor attributed part of the security challenges the region is facing to lack of education as well as influx of criminals from some North African countries. Masari, who said there were ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the state, lamented that the current situation had prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands. ”Unfortunately, what we met as cattle rustling has turned into banditry and insurgency, which are depriving people, especially those living in the border area of the forests which are very fertile, from access to their farms, drastically affecting their source of livelihood. “They have lost their ploughing cattle which they used to plough the land. “This has caused another challenge to our Restoration Agenda in Katsina, but we thank God that we can continue,” he said. Masari revealed that the seven governors from the North West Zone had been meeting to work out modalities on how to end insurgency, part of which is the ongoing training of about 500 vigilance members, to be followed by another 3,000 soon. “We have a committee under the North West Zone because of our linkage in terms of boundary. We are strategising on how to deal with the situation. “And as I talk to you now, we have 500 vigilantes undergoing training and we intend to take another 3,000. “All of us are doing that at various levels and we have a committee where my SA on Security is representing me. We have the governor of Niger as the chairman. We are sharing our experiences. “We have infiltration from Niger Republic, Mali, which has very large, ungoverned spaces; and you know the problem in Libya has unleashed arms and ammunition on sub-Saharan Africa. “And we have to accept that within these areas, Nigeria is the richest and an attraction for all forms of criminality and kidnapping. “Even ISWAP will want to at least stay in the North West to institute family here, but we are fighting day and night to ensure that it doesn’t happen. We are working night and day to make sure that it doesn’t become a permanent feature. “And again, there is issue of drugs, because these young men that the bandits are using to carry out these attacks, they give them all forms of hard drugs and intoxicants before they work on them. “The major problem we are facing now is the issue of selected kidnapping; they have moved a step further by going to town to kidnap a member of the family. That is the stage we are dealing with now. “’But for me, there are no more innocent people living in the forests. When we started, there were innocent people; but today, there are very few innocent people there. “If I meet these ‘innocent’ people, I will hold them. It is either they are being supported by their children who are thieves or criminals, or women who cannot do otherwise. “You know that your husband is bad; he is a bandit or insurgent. Some of the women having nowhere to go will want to stay and hope for the best. Eventually, she becomes a bandit or gives birth to a bandit. “So, for me, there are no more innocent people in the forests,” he said. (NAN)

22 family members of dead ISIS fighters repatriated to Nigeria

The federal government has announced that 22 family members of slain Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters have been repatriated to Abuja. According to a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, spokesman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), they were among 101 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Libya. The statement said they were received by officials of the ministry of foreign affairs; NIDCOM; Nigeria Centre for Disease Control; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; the National Emergency Management Agency; the Department of State Services; the Nigerian Immigration Service and Port Health. “The stranded Nigerians include the 22 family members of suspected former members of ISIS that were killed in Libya as well as their children,” the statement reads. “All evacuees came with Negative PCR test for Covid- 19, and landed at exactly 10.15 pm at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport GAT wing, aboard Airforce C130.” Libya has been engulfed by violent extremism since Muammar Gaddafi, the country’s strongman, was killed. He was killed in October 2011 after being captured by rebels during Libya’s civil war. He had ruled Libya for four decades. Since his death, Libya had fallen into turmoil, with two rival governments and their allied armed factions fighting for control of the country and its oil resources. ISIS fighters are also scattered across the country.

Persons engaging in oral sex at risk of blindness, HIV, other STDs –Experts

Clinical microbiologists have cautioned Nigerians against engaging in oral sex, noting that oral sex puts people engaging in it at risk of sexually transmitted diseases that can cause vision loss. Oral sex, also known as orogenital sex, involves using the mouth, lips, or tongue to stimulate a partner’s genitals or anus. According to the experts, cancers of the mouth and throat have also been linked to some types of the human papillomavirus which can be acquired through oral sex. The scientists, who are clinical experts in the field of microorganisms, said ingesting bodily fluid during orogenital sex increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases that can manifest in the mouth, oesophagus and skin, adding that in certain cases, the complications from the infections can also cause blindness. Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise in separate interviews, the experts, Consultant Clinical Microbiologists, Dr.BamideleMutiu and Prof. Samuel Taiwo, stated that some of the conditions that can be transmitted through oral sex are gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and HIV. According to Dr.Mutiu, the organisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases are usually alive in the saliva. Mutiu, who is a consultant microbiologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja said, “The fluid and secretion from the genitals can contain organisms that cause STDs, which are alive and are not killed by the saliva. “The organisms can cause STDs in those involved in oral sex. The diseases the organisms can cause include gonococcal pharyngitis, which is gonorrhoea involving the throat; as well asherpes simplex virus type 2 that normally infects genital organs but can infect the lips, throat, tongue and the oesophagus. “It can also cause syphilis which can be transmitted to the mouth and will be evidenced by sore in the mouth and tongue that is often painless.” The microbiologist stated further that sperm infected with chlamydia trachomatis in particular could cause blindness if it enters the eyes of the woman. “It is true that chlamydia trachomatis infection will cause conjunctivitis – infection of the conjunctiva and cornea. “This can lead to blindness, if care is not taken, because of the symptoms which include itching, and scratching of the eyes may lead to wounds on the cornea that can also lead to corneal opacity and blindness.”

JUST IN: Nigerian Army Hands Over Another Chibok Schoolgirl To Zulum

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Saturday in Gwoza, received another Chibok schoolgirl who presented herself to the Nigerian Army. The schoolgirl, Hassana Adamu, alongside her two children, was handed over to Governor Zulum by the Commander, 26 Taskforce Brigade, Brigadier General DR Dantani. Hassana was one of over 200 schoolgirls abducted at a Government Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014, by Boko Haram insurgents. Governor Babagana Zulum received Chibok schoolgirl Hassana Adamu in Gwoza, on August 14, 2021. She is the second Chibok schoolgirl to be received by the Borno State Government within two weeks. Another Chibok schoolgirl, Ruth Ngladar Pogu and a man said to be her husband, had presented themselves to the Nigerian Army on July 28 at a location in Bama. Seven years after The Chibok abduction in 2014 caused a stir worldwide, leading to calls for the return of the girls by global figures, including then First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. Although a good number of the students have regained their freedom, about 100 are still believed to be in captivity. Governor Babagana Zulum received Chibok schoolgirl Hassana Adamu in Gwoza, on August 14, 2021. In April, seven years after the abduction, Zulum pledged to safely recover the remaining girls. “As a father of all sons and daughters of Borno, I haven’t lost hope that our remaining Chibok schoolgirls and other abducted persons will be safely recovered,” the Governor said.

Military arrests 12 suspects over Plateau killings

The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven in Plateau, has arrested 12 suspects, over Saturday morning killings at Rukuba road, Jos North Local Government Area of the state. OPSH is responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau and its environs. Media Officer of the operation, Maj. Ishaku Takwa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Jos. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that gunmen attacked a convoy of five buses conveying some Muslim faithful, killed 22 persons and injured 14 others. “This morning , our troops swiftly responded to distress calls that suspected hoodlums blocked a Junction along Rukuba road in Jos North and attacked some commuters. “Troops immediately mobilised to the scene and restored normalcy. “Unfortunately, some persons lost their lives in the unfortunate incident, while others with varying degree of injuries have been evacuated to a medical facility for care. “So far, 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and troops are on the trail of others, who took part in the heinous act. “Those arrested are currently in custody for interrogation,” he said. Takwa said the Commander of the task force, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, urged members of the public to volunteer credible information that would lead to the arrest of other suspects, currently at large. He said the commander also appealed to residents of the area to be calm, law abiding and continue with their lawful activities without any fear of intimidation. He, however, said that security personnel had stepped up patrols in Jos metropolis to maintain peace and security. (NAN)

Bandits kill 8 farmers in fresh attack in Kaduna

Bandits have killed eight farmers in fresh attacks in Buruku and Udaw‎a villages of Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. It was gathered that the fresh attacks occurred on Saturday morning when the bandits attacked the villages resulting in the death of the farmers. While scores sustained serious injuries. It would be recalled in recent times, the two villages located along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway have been under constant attacks by the bandits. ‌ When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) ASP Mohammed Jalige confirmed the incident. However, he said he cannot confirm the number of those killed as a detachment of police officers has been deployed to the scene to a certain the number of those killed as well as to maintain law and order.

INEC Denies Recruitment On Social Media

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerians on the activities of scammers operating fake recruitment websites purportedly acting on behalf of the commission. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said on Saturday in Abuja that these scammers are once again circulating the commission’s old recruitment advertisement on social media with the obvious intention to lure and dupe unsuspecting members of the public with attractive offers of employment. “The commission unequivocally dissociates itself from the antics of these scammers and fake employment merchants and reiterates the fact that its recruitment portal is no longer active and was shut down the moment the commission suspended its recruitment exercise,” Okoye said. He recalled that the commission on 30 May 2020 and 31December 2020, issued a statement drawing the attention of the public to the circulation of purported letters of employment/appointment allegedly emanating from it. “We had informed members of the public that the recruitment exercise has been suspended. “The commission will continue to conduct its activities in the best tradition of openness and transparency. This policy of transparency informs the wide publicity given to its recruitment drive any time the Commission embarks on such. “We advise the public to discountenance all rumours of recruitment by the commission and treat letters of employment/recruitment purportedly emanating from the commission as a scam,” he added.

BBNaija S6: I first handled a gun at 15 – Cross

Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemate, Cross, has revealed that he was 15 years old when he first handled a gun. In a conversation with Peace on Saturday, day 21 of the show, Cross said that his anger issues made him handle a gun at a young age of 15. Cross narrated that after his father’s death, people started coming to his family house to confuse his mother and be was angered by their visits. One day, my mum was not around, she travelled. So that day, people came into the house and they were always confusing my whole family and my mum. He said, “During that period, I was still in my anger mode. I went upstairs to my father’s room and I saw a shotgun. I” picked the gun up, I cocked it and I told everybody to get out. That time I was just 15 years old. These people were my uncle, aunties, and we’re between the ages of 40-60. “I cocked the gun and I was ready to kill if nobody left my house that time. Because I wondered what was going on, my father was dead.” According to Cross, his experiences in the past made him very protective of himself in the house. He further stated that he was being jovial and care-free because he’s trying to subdue the anger within him.

Biafra: Uche Mefor points out abomination committed by Nnamdi Kanu

Uche Mefor, an estranged deputy leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that beheadings of Igbo people happened on the orders of Nnamdi Kanu. Mefor in a Facebook post on Saturday described the beheadings he touched on as “an abomination”. Mefor tackled Kanu and his IPOB group for ‘deliberately spilling of the blood of our own’. POLITICS NIGERIA cannot establish the veracity of Mefor’s accusation though. “The lies and the subsequent beheading of Igbos by IPO Nnamdi Kanu is an abomination too many. The pretence and the sweeping of this heinous crime under the carpet by those who should know better is all the more troubling and dangerously presents a gloomy picture of where our society is headed to,” Mefor wrote. “The foundation of our freedom cannot be made on human sacrifice and the deliberate spilling of the blood of our own. “Make this day that the spirit of the land shall continue to work against IPO Nnamdi Kanu until Kanu makes amends and atones for the sacrilege/abomination.”