Unconfirmed report reaching Vanguard has it that three indigenes of Ishiagu Community, in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State were attacked and killed by suspected herdsmen in the area. The victims were killed by the suspected herders while returning from their farm in the evening of the fateful day. Details later… (VANGUARD)
The police in Ebonyi State on Sunday confirmed the killing of a member of Ebubeagu Security Network. Ebubeagu is a security outfit set up by the Ebonyi State Government to help in the fight against insecurity in the state. The victim, Ifeanyi Orogbo, 32, was killed and his remains partially burnt by the assailants, the police said. The police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Loveth Odah, said the incident occurred on Saturday night in Igweledeoha, Amagu, in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The Divisional Police Officer of Ikwo Police Division received a phone call from Igweledeoha informing him about the killing of the Ebubeagu operative, said Ms Odah, a deputy superintendent of police. “He was partially burnt by the unknown persons in his beer parlour shop on Agubia Road. “The DPO said that he quickly mobilised a team of police operatives to the area but the culprits had deserted the place when they got there. “He said the corpse has been taken to the General Hospital for preservation and autopsy,” the police spokesperson said. Ms Odah said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime. She said the Commissioner of Police, Garba Aliyu, has expressed dismay over the killing and promised to bring the perpetrators to book.
The Indigenous People of Biafra has said saboteurs and traitors within its ranks are the ones forcing the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement on Sunday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, claimed that the alleged saboteurs and traitors held a meeting with Buhari and advised the President not to release Kanu. The statement also claimed that the “enemies of the freedom struggle,” after meeting the President in Aso Rock, misinformed him that IPOB and the Eastern Security Network had been defeated. The group, therefore, advised the President not be deceived by what it described as “blacklegs and sacked members of the movement,” who are feeding him with fake information about IPOB and the ESN for pecuniary interests. It also cautioned the Federal Government against the dangers of its continuous interruption with the judicial processes in the case against Kanu, saying if it was sure of its allegations against the IPOB leader, it should not be afraid of allowing the court to operate freely and independently. It stated that Kanu would defeat the Federal Government in any court of law, both local and international, because it had no case against him, adding that the only thing that could save the country was a “referendum date for the people of Biafra, because the world is keenly watching.” The statement read in part, “Our intelligence captured what transpired at a meeting between these saboteurs and the President in Aso Rock. In the meeting, these traitors concluded with the Presidency that Kanu should not be released, claiming erroneously though, that IPOB and the ESN have been defeated, which are lies. “Our attention has also been drawn to the statement by President Buhari that he will not release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We know that this new posture by Buhari, after he had earlier promised a delegation of Igbo leaders that he would look at their appeal to consider a political solution for Kanu, was not unconnected with the visit by some foreign-based traitors and enemies of our struggle. “But we want to tell Buhari that he is going to make a mistake capable of consuming Nigeria should he fail to release Kanu because these bunch of criminals he had a meeting with were not giving him correct information about IPOB and the ESN outfit. “Why should the Federal Government be releasing bandits and terrorists wreaking havoc across the country, but fail to release freedom seekers? If they have a case against him, let them come straight to the court and stop coming from the backdoor.” The group said if the Federal Government remained neutral and allowed the judicial processes to flow freely, Kanu was capable of defending himself in the court. It added, “Kanu and IPOB will defeat them both at local and international courts; the only thing that can save Nigeria is a referendum date for the people of Biafra, because the world is keenly watching. “IPOB is too big for them to comprehend and they could not phantom IPOB and its operational strategy when they were in IPOB. The people who visited the President promised to help him crush IPOB and the ESN, but unfortunately, they cannot achieve that; actually, they will be disappointed.”
Wike Declares 19 Persons Wanted For Operating Illegal Refineries In Rivers [Full List] Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday declared 19 individuals wanted for operating illegal crude oil refining sites which are responsible for the black soot menace in Rivers State. The governor in a statewide broadcast also directed the Rivers State Head of Service to query one Mr. Temple Amakiri, a Director in the Ministry of Energy, for abetting bunkering activities and hand him over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution. He assured the people of Rivers State that his government is determined to effectively tackle the soot menace by destroying and closing down all identified illegal crude oil refining sites and activities across the state. The governor identified some individuals who he termed the “kingpins of bunkering and illegal crude oil refining activities” and he declared them wanted. They include: “Mr. Azubike Amadi, OSPAC Commander, Ogbogoro community and Chairman of Akpor Central OSPAC; Mr. India, of Rumuolumeni community and Chairman of Oil bunkering Association in Akpor kingdom; Mr. Okey who is in charge of Oil bunkering in Rumupareli; Mr. Anderson, who is in charge of oil bunkering activities in Ogbogoro community; Amadi Gift of Ogbogoro community; Azeruowa of Ogbogoro community; and Kingsley Egbula, also of Ogbogoro community”. Also declared wanted for oil bunkering activities in Isiokpo community were: “Mr. Kemkom Azubike, Mr. Mezu Wabali, Mr. Chigozi Amadi, Mr. Opurum Owhondah, Mr. Bakasi Obodo ,Mr. Opus, Mr. Galaxi Mas, Mr. Chioma, Mr. Ogondah, Mr. Soldier, Mr. Chefo, and Nkasi”. Governor Wike said his government has also identified those behind illegal bunkering activities in Okrika communities, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers South-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts, adding that their names would be soon published and declared wanted, if they fail to voluntarily report to the Police. He urged residents of the State to report those involved in illegal crude oil refineries and other damnable activities to the State Task Forces which has already been set up at the State and Local Government levels for immediate action. Wike also reaffirmed that the total ban on the use of motorcycles in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils, which was necessitated by the collective threat they posed to the security of lives and property
The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Abubakar Mohammed Buba, for allegedly contracting his friend, Aliyu Mohammed for N110,000 to kill his father, Alhaji Mohammed Buba, in order to inherit the father’s estate. The command’s spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement that the suspect was arrested in Chanchaga area of Minna on December 29, 2021 by the Chanchaga division. “The suspect was arrested for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide of his father, Alhaji Mohammed Buba aged 52 years. The deceased was allegedly attacked and stabbed to death in his residence at Korokpan, Paikoro LGA on October 13, 2021,” he said in the statement. According to Abiodun, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to having conspired with his friend, presently at large and killed the deceased. The police spokesman said the suspect led police operatives to Tagwai-Dam where the body of the deceased was dumped after being severed and packed in a sack. “He confessed further to have contracted the said Mohammed for a sum of N110,000 out of which he paid a deposit of N50,000 and later paid the balance of N60,000 after selling some of the properties of the deceased’s to raise the balance. “He claimed that he committed the act in order to quickly inherit the father’s properties. “Effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing Aliyu Mohammed while the case is under investigation at the SCID Minna. The suspect will be arraigned in court after investigation.”
A suspected cult group leader, Tajudeen Olalekan, has said he bought a gun from a policeman, Haruna Yusuf, for self-defence. Olalekan and Yusuf were paraded along with five other suspects at the police headquarters in Osogbo, Osun state capital for illegal possession of firearms and membership of a secret cult. The policeman said he stole the gun that was assigned to the station officer and sold it to the leader of the cult group. He said the station officer was dismissed from the police because of his missing gun and that he became depressed and died as a result. Other suspects include Chukwudi Eze, Alebo Elijah, Abimbola Olanipekun, Alebo Israel and Olarinre Abiodun. Olalekan said when he was elevated as the leader of his cult group, he bought the gun from the policeman for self-defence. Exhibits recovered from the suspects included one police English Beretta pistol, one locally-made revolver pistol, two locally fabricated pistols, one cut to size gun, 11 live cartridges, five knives, three battle axes and one cutlass. The Commissioner of Police, Olokode Olawale, said the suspects would be charged to court.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed economic sanctions on the Republic of Mali. Member countries of the West African bloc took the decision at an extraordinary summit in Accra, Ghana on Sunday. ECOWAS rejected the proposal by Mali’s government to hold elections in 2025, saying it finds it totally unacceptable. According to the West African body, the delay “simply means that an illegitimate military transition government will take the Malian people hostage”. The communique released after the meeting said member countries will impose sanctions with immediate effect. The sanctions include the closure of land and air borders with Mali, suspension of non-essential financial transactions and freezing of Mali’s assets in banks in ECOWAS countries. ECOWAS said the elections must take place in February 2022 as earlier scheduled. The new measures will be gradually lifted only after an acceptable election timeframe is finalised and progress is made towards implementing it, ECOWAS said. The political crisis in Mali took a different turn in August 2020 when the military seized power from President Ibrahim Keita. After the coup, the country instituted a political transition with a timeline of 18 months from September 15, 2021. Bah N’Daw, Mali’s former defence minister, was named president of the country’s new transitional government, while Assimi Goita, leader of the military junta, was named vice-president. They were appointed to oversee the transition period. But in June 2021, there was another coup led by Goita, who accused the interim president and the then Prime Minister Moctar Ouane of trying to sabotage the country’s transition. Two days after seizing power from N’Daw, Goita declared himself president.
CHIEF George Moghalu, who recently obtained a judgement from the Federal High Court, Abuja annulling the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries that declared Senator Andy Uba the candidate of the party in the November 6, 2021 Anambra governorship election said yesterday that he would have disappointed Nigerians if he did not challenge the exercise in court. Moghalu, a former national auditor of APC and Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) was among the 13 governorship aspirants of the party who insisted that there was no primaries. He later went to court and the court ruled that APC did not have a credible candidate for the election because it not conduct a credible primary. Speaking for the first time since the court ruling, Moghalu said despite the party’s poor performance at the Anambra governorship poll, he was satisfied that the right thing was eventually done. He said although he had wished that his party APC, won the Anambra election, the process that produced a candidate for the party was faulty. According to him, rather than regret the failure of APC in the election, what should preoccupy the minds of party members is how to rebuild the party and win back the confidence of the people. He said: “It is not a must that I will be governor because power belongs to God and he gives to those he pleases. Maybe it’s not God’s time for me to be governor and I am not desperate about being a governor. “At the same time, I would have failed in my responsibility if I didn’t seek redress and accepted the fraud. The judgement agreed with me and confirmed my position there was no primary. “What we did was not about an individual but about the system and stopping impunity as well as creating enabling environment for democracy to thrive. I insisted the party does what is right. “For every sincere APC member that loves the party, what should concern us is how to rebuild our party, resolve our differences and address our challenges. “We must win back the people’s confidence, rather than wasting our time struggling for leadership. You don’t elect or appoint a party leader; it evolves from the people. “It may not surprise you that the other day, someone said they’re going to sack me from the party. I’m not surprised. But the truth remains that it’s an anomaly for a tenant to sack a landlord. “I am a critical stakeholder of the party. You may not like my face, but when APC was formed, I was a member secretary. I didn’t join APC, I was part of the formation. “So when someone who we were magnanimous to accommodate is boasting that he wants to sack me, I laugh. I am waiting for them.”
Operatives of the Ogun Police Command have arrested a 38-year-old man, Daniel Udoh, for allegedly stabbing to death one Emeka Umonko, the husband of a woman the suspect was allegedly having secret love affairs with. The suspect was arrested following a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Onipanu Division. The police were told that the deceased confronted and accused the suspect of having illicit affairs with his wife. “The suspect, a commercial driver, brought out a knife and stabbed the deceased severally at his back and chest,” the police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told newsmen on Sunday in Abeokuta. He said the DPO, Onipanu Division, CSP Bamidele Job, dispatched policemen to the scene where the suspect was arrested and the knife recovered. “The victim, a welder, was taken to a hospital in Ota, where he was pronounced dead by a doctor. “The remains of the victim were deposited at Ifo General Hospital mortuary for post mortem examination,” he said.
Kingsley Moghalu, a former presidential candidate, says lives have become “valueless” in Nigeria with the killing of 200 residents in Zamfara. TheCable had reported how bandits invaded about five communities located in Bukkuyum and Anka LGAs of the state during the week. Survivors of the attack said bandits killed over 200 villagers and set many houses ablaze. President Muhammadu Buhari had promised that his administration would “smoke out” the bandits. “The latest attacks on innocent people by the bandits is an act of desperation by mass murderers, now under relentless pressure from our military forces who are well equipped to effectively confront these enemies of humanity,” Buhari had said. Speaking on the incident, Moghalu, in a tweet on Sunday, said the Zamfara killings and killings in other parts of the country will end when Nigerians elect a competent government. “My heart goes out to the families of the over 200 persons killed by terrorists in Zamfara. This & other tragedies say how valueless life has become in Nigeria,” he said. “When will this end? When we elect a competent government that can secure our lives, the first duty of government.” In June 2021, Moghalu declared he would contest the 2023 presidential election. In the 2019 presidential election, the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) polled 21,886 votes.
