Crime Facts

Putin Has ‘Made The Decision’ To Invade Ukraine – Biden

  US President Joe Biden said Friday he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and that the attack could begin “in the coming days.” “As of this moment, I’m convinced he’s made the decision. We have reason to believe that,” Biden said, adding that Washington has “significant intelligence capability” to back the claim. “We believe they will target Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people,” he said of Russian forces. But with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken scheduled to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, Biden said there is still time for negotiations to defuse the crisis. “Diplomacy is always a possibility,” he said. Biden said Moscow is conducting a disinformation campaign, including accusing Kyiv of planning its own attack in order to create a pretext for a Russian invasion. “There is simply no evidence to these assertions and it defies basic logic to believe the Ukrainians would choose this moment, with well over 150,000 (Russian) troops arrayed on its borders, to escalate a years-long conflict,” Biden said. “All these are consistent with the playbook the Russians have used before to set up a false justification to act against Ukraine,” Biden said at the White House. AFP

Bauchi teenager commits suicide

  A 13-year-old boy, Sadik Haruna, a resident of Unguwar Dadin Kowa in Ningi metropolis of Ningi local government area committed suicide following a disagreement with his father. According to reports, the deceased’ father had cautioned Sadik over his refusal to go to school. His body was reportedly recovered inside his room and was immediately taken to the General hospital Ningi where he was confirmed dead. The incident threw residents of the area into panic and a state of mourning when the news of his suicide broke on Friday.

FREDERICK NWABUFO: Killing in the name of Biafra!

  Killing, killing, killing in the name of Biafra! When did murder become typical of the Igbo stock? When did taking innocent lives become classic in Igbo land? In Igbo cosmology, murder, ‘Igbu oshu’ is a cardinal sin deserving of banishment. A murderer is banished from the community and the land is cleansed of the abomination. Have the Igbo settled for this governing abomination? Have the elders been functionally vasectomised? How can murder, anarchy, and fear reign in the land uncontested? Have we become a people given to bloodletting, beheading and cannibalism? Have we gone backwards in our evolution as a humane and cosmopolitan people to become savages? Why has this cumulus of evil persisted and remained hanging over an entire region? A region that was once prosperous, peaceful and bubbling on the growth index is now a slaughterhouse that investors are running away from. The south-east is being destroyed by the same people who claim to be fighting for the people. Security agents have been killed. Traditional rulers have been killed. Men have been killed and women have been raped and killed by this band of parademons. A few days ago, ‘’unknown gunmen’’ attacked a police station and killed three policemen in Ebonyi. Last week, gunmen killed seven community leaders in Imo. And the killings persist. It has now become customary for residents of the south-east to wake up to severed heads dangling from poles in market squares, roads and community facilities. An unsleeping evil has taken over the land. On Wednesday, these ‘’unknown gunmen’’ invaded a cattle market at Omumauzor; a community in Ukwa West LGA of Abia. The market is said to be peopled by Nigerians from the north. They came not to buy cattle, but to kill. By the time they were done, eight citizens were dead. These parademons did not spare anything, they killed cattle and set the market ablaze. What sort of bestiality is this? According to Abia state government, the gunmen struck around 11pm on Tuesday. “On Tuesday, 15th February 2022 at about 11:35pm, some yet-to-be-identified hoodlums allegedly invaded traders at the New Cattle Market located in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Local Government Area of our dear state. We are shocked and saddened by this mindless and barbaric act of violence that claimed the lives of about 8 innocent citizens of our great country and we totally condemn this dastardly act together with its wicked perpetrators,’’ the state government said. The attack appears to be ethnically-motivated and targeted. This makes it very dangerous. These ravagers are not only threatening the lives of Igbo citizens and other Nigerians in the south-east, they are also jeopardising the safety and security of Igbo citizens in other parts of the country. As I said in the column, ‘Ndi Igbo stand for One Nigeria’, those crusading for the secession of the south-east today are deficient students of history and sociology. Even the late Odumegwu Ojukwu, the captain of the secessionist struggle during the war, regretted that devastating episode in our history. Ojukwu said: ‘’I don’t think the second war is necessary. We should have learnt from the first one.” There is no victory in war; only pain, blood and death. Nobody should provoke another pogrom or full-scale war in Igbo land. Ndi Igbo must not let the vocal minority drown them out. They must speak up and be heard. The Igbo elite and citizens must take a stand to end this fast descent into utter devastation. Instead of angling for the presidency in 2023, we should work at ending the carnage in our home. Onye ulo ya na-agba oku, anaghi achu oke. Our house is on fire we cannot afford to be chasing a will-o-the-wisp. By Fredrick Nwabufo; Nwabufo aka Mr OneNigeria is a writer and journalist.

Mmahu killings: Suspect accuses Imo lawmaker, monarch of funding killer-gang

  Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri Temple Nwakocha, one of the suspects perpetuating killings in Mmahu Autonomous Community, Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area in Imo has confessed that an Imo monarch and lawmaker are funding and sponsoring killer gunmen in the community. In a video seen on Friday by Cromefacts.news, Temple Nwakocha accused Hercules Okoro, a lawmaker representing Ohakim/Egbema State Constituency and Eze Augustine Iwuogu Ezemma sponsoring and funding a notorious bandit in the area known as OSINACHI . When asked, the suspect said Osinachi uses AK-47, G3 and pump for his criminal activities. He said that the notorious killer Osinachi is being sponsored by Hercules Okoro a lawmaker representing Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency, Eze Augustine Iwuogu Ezemma and one Franklin in the community. He alleged that Osinachi is being paid by the lawmaker and the monarch. Crimefacts.news had reported how Hon Camelius Okoro, the leader of Egbema Ward in Ohaji/ Egbema council area, cried out that the lives of people are no longer safe . Hon.Okoro alleged that the member representing the Ohaji/ Egbema State constituency , Hon Hercules Okoro and his elder brother who is the monarch of the community should be held responsible for the killings in the community . Okoro who is a councillor also alleged that the head of the anti- Cult Squad , Ubi Ettah , a Deputy Superintendent of Police who on the pay roll of Legislator who refused to respond to the distress call by the people especially by late President General of the community who himself was later shot dead by the gunmen, had misled the state command that it was a cult war . It could be recalled that last Monday night Osita Ogbiri popularly known as Ossy ,who is said to be one of the Escapees from the Owerri Correctional facility in April, 2021, had led seven other members of his gang who included Obinna Asobia, Livingstone Abaziem ,Ugo Neabugwu and others had attacked and killed the President General of the Town, Ezinna Charles Mgbaraho, Chastity Nwachukwu, Secretary, the Public Relation Officer , Chinedu Anene,and four others who included Edeme Okoro, Issac Ojenya,Ndubuishi Okereke and Ifeyirinwoke Junior . Camelius Okoro who disclosed this on Monday at a press conference held at the NUJ state Secretariat Owerri , said that the monarch of community the Ezemma of Mmahu ,Augustine Iwuogu had vowed that he will never accept the newly appointed Town Union executives which were made by the council chairman on the directives of the state governor Hope and that the position of the monarch was supported by the member representing the Ohaji Egbema state constituency in the state Assembly and the younger brother of the Hon.Hercules Okoro. “This problem started on August 24, 2020 .The TC chairman Amadioha Marcel had appointed new PGs and Secretaries across the council as directed by the state government but when I transmitted the list of the appointees that of Mmahu town union to the Eze he said that he will not work with them and that it was not the duty of the state government to appoint for him. And he was supported by his younger brother who is the member representing the Ohaji Egbema state constituency in the State Assembly ,Hercules Okoro . But all this while we didn’t know that the Eze had camped the Osita Ogbiri in his compound and has using him attack and kill those who q0p supports the Town Union . He added, ” Osita Ogbiri and his gang of kil went to our old compound where the attacked and killed my younger brother”. He appealed to the state governor to arrest the Monarch who he said has fled from the community for proper investigation, and that the DSP Ubi Ettah must be investigated to ascertain his complicity in killing of the community leaders of Mmahu .

ICYMI: NGO kicks as 28 year-old man defles 14 months old baby in Imo

  Ibe Pascal, Owerri A non governmental organization, Center For Innovative And Pragmatic Development Initiative (CIPDI) has condernmed a defilement of a 14 months old baby (name withheld) by one 28 year-old man, named Tochi Stanley at Umuodu, Obogwe in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area in Imo state. In a video obtained by crimefacts.news, Tochi Stanley confessed that he only fingered the little baby Speaking to Crimefacts.news on Friday, CIPDI’s president ,Mr Ifeanyi Nnaruo said the baby’s mother was cooking when the young man who is a relative asked the mother to let him hold the baby. “The mother with all pleasure handed the baby to the man. The man carried the baby into one of the rooms in the house, he locked the door behind him, removed the baby’s diaper and fingered the baby”, Mr Ifeanyi noted. According to him, “one of the workers who was working in the building went to pick some items from the room and noticed the door was locked from inside and a baby was crying. The baby’s uncle forced the door open and saw the young man pants down holding the baby without her diapers on and his fingers inside the baby’s private part”. Speaking further, “CIPDI is calling on the Imo state Police Command to ensure that justice is served in the defilement of a 14 months old girl by Mr. Tochi Stanley of Umuodu, Obogwe in Ohaji/Egbema LGA. Mr.Stanley who was caught pants down with a 14 months old baby. Mr. Stanley confessed that he only fingered the girl and did not penetrate her”. “We are asking the Police to conduct their investigation and bring Mr. Tochi Stanley before a Margistrate for arraignment”, Mr Nnaruo said. Crimefacts.news learnt that Tochi Stanley is currently in police custody at Umuagwo police station.

Buhari Demands Weighty Sanctions For Coup Plotters In Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Brussels, Belgium, called on European leaders as partners in promoting democracy and good governance to lend their weight behind measures put in place by the African Union to stem the tide of unconstitutional leadership changes, rearing its head again on the continent. In his contribution to the roundtable discussion on Peace, Security, and Governance at the ongoing 6th EU-AU Summit, President Buhari equally stressed the need to nip the root causes of extremism, conflicts, and tensions in Africa at inception.   “Africa has continued to witness different waves of violent extremism, community-based conflicts, and inter-ethnic tensions, notably in rural areas. For many decades, our continent has been deprived of political stability and socio-economic development due to terrorism and violent extremism,” he said. “More worrisome is the current state of democracy on the continent, which has become a great source of concern to many of us, with increasing cases of unconstitutional change of governments across the continent, particularly in West Africa. This is in addition to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The African Union has often responded to these challenges through its different structures, such as the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture. “Through enhanced collaboration with our development partners, especially the European Union, we can identify areas of cooperation for quick and substantive results. “As leaders and policymakers, it is important for our partnership to place priority on tackling the root causes of conflicts in Africa, as well as taking measures in safeguarding peace and security if we are to achieve the African Union Agenda 2063. “We also call for stronger support from the European Union in the condemnation and imposition of weighty sanctions on countries that engage in unconstitutional change of governments, as well as manipulation of constitutions in favor of extension of term limits.” According to his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian leader added that it was imperative to ensure that election processes in Africa have outcomes that truly reflect the wishes of the electorate, as to go contrary to these is courting instability. He said, “we have a responsibility to reduce conflicts that stem from lack of good governance, unaccountability, corruption and social exclusion. “Free, fair, credible, and transparent elections remain crucial elements in ensuring peace and security and promoting constitutional order, democracy, and inclusive governance on the continent. “It is, therefore, imperative for our partnership to also focus on strengthening election processes in Africa and prevent interference to influence the process and outcomes of elections.” President Buhari also called for the concretization and transformation of promises of cooperation made by the European leaders to actions. “I wish to underscore the need to convert our pledges on political cooperation in the area of peace, security, and conflict prevention into concrete initiatives such as joint field missions, shared understanding and analysis on crisis situations, as well as joint early action and swift implementation of agreed positions. “The movement and operation of terrorists and violent extremist groups along the Sahel could better be addressed through an improved Continental Early Warning Mechanism. Consequently, we believe there is a clear need to strengthen our cooperation on security with the European Union, particularly through improved intelligence sharing and acquisition of military equipment and hardware. “We invite the EU to upscale its support for the G5 Sahel and the Multinational Joint Taskforce in the Lake Chad Region as we strive to further degrade the Boko-Haram insurgents and their Islamic State in the West Africa Province counterparts. Africa also looks up to Europe for enhanced support in the area of combating Illicit financial flows and terrorism funding that aid the activities of terrorists and violent extremist groups,” the president added. He called for all hands to be on deck to ensure that Africa’s Blue Economy Agenda for development is realized. “I must emphasize the importance of expanding regional and international cooperation on ocean governance, on the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as on maritime security, including piracy, illicit trafficking and other maritime crimes and threats as reflected in the 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy,” the Nigerian leader added.

Ortom’s comment on state of the nation doesn’t mean he hates Buhari, says aide

  Nathaniel Ikyur, chief press secretary to Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, says his principal does not hate President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking on Friday at a media briefing held in Abuja, Ikyur said Ortom wants to help Buhari leave a good legacy. Ortom has been quite critical of Buhari’s style of governance, especially on security challenges affecting communities across the country, and especially his state. Speaking on the Benue governor’s comments, the chief press secretary said Ortom is not expected to keep quiet over attacks on communities in Benue. “I want to reiterate the fact that my principal, governor Samuel Ortom, doesn’t hate President Buhari. His comments on the state of the nation and the leadership style of the president do not mean he hates him,” he said. “No sane person will keep mum while his people are being killed on a daily basis. I am sure you are aware of the killings that have been going on in Logo, Guma, Agatu and other parts of Benue state by herdsmen. “Do you expect the governor to keep quiet? He will continue to speak and stand for his people.” Ikyur added that there has been a clamour for Ortom to contest for a seat on the senate, but said he is still consulting with God on the way forward. “Governor Ortom is aware of the clamour in many quarters for him to contest for senate in 2023, but in his usual character, he is still consulting with God and will make his intention known in due course,” Ikyur said.

I Did Not Have Any Personal Issue With Obasanjo – Pius Ayim

  Former Senate President, Pius Ayim, says he has no grudge with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Rather, he described the former Nigerian leader as one who has always remained focused and determined in his activities. “I did not have any personal issue with (former) President Obasanjo,” said the former Senate President during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday. “(Former) President Obasanjo was a very outstanding President Nigeria ever had. President Obasanjo was focused and determined in all that he wanted to do.” Anyim, who represented Ebonyi South, succeeded Chuba Okadigbo as the Senate President in August 2000 after the latter had been impeached – at a time when Obasanjo was president. He held the position until May 2003, but not without a disagreement between the legislature and the executive. This was said to have led to a rift between the duo with purported impeachment plots. During his interview with Channels Television, the former Senate President stressed that there was no rift between him and Obasanjo. “We had a little disagreement, and it was the National Assembly and the Executive; not Pius Ayim and (former) President Obasanjo. What brought about the problem was a motion moved by Senator Idris Abubakar from Gombe, it wasn’t a motion moved by me,” he explained. “It was the action taken in the Senate that the former President was reacting to, and it was friction between National Assembly and the Executive. “Of course, being the head of the legislature, I cannot run away from it; I was leading the legislature and he (Obasanjo) was leading the Executive on the other hand, but there was nothing personal.” Hunger For Power Ayim, who also served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under former President Goodluck Jonathan, revealed why he chose not to return to the Senate after 2003. He faulted the claim that he was concerned the former President would block his bid in an apparent continuation of the supposed disagreement between them. Instead, the former SGF stated that I would amount to hunger for power to sit on the floor of the house, having served as the most senior lawmaker in the land. “I had been President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, I had gotten to the peak of that career; there was no reason for coming back because if I come back and I was not elected President of the Senate, I will be at the floor,” he said. “Apart from that, if I have to come back, I should not expect to be elected as the President of the Senate because it should rotate and when I was leaving, I said that I believe in rotation. So, what makes you think that it was because of anybody? “The election was in my zone; it wasn’t in the National Assembly. So, I wouldn’t have come back after being President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly to sit on the floor for whatever reason, that should be a hunger for power, and I didn’t think I was hungry for power.”

Man, son, 3 others killed, houses razed as herdsmen attack Benue community

  Five persons, including a father and his son, have been reportedly killed by armed herdsmen in an attack on Tse Udeghe community, Mbakpa Council Ward and Ahumen community in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack is coming less than a week after the marauders attacked and razed the home town of the traditional ruler of the area, the Ter Nagi, HRH Daniel Abomste and also sacked several communities in the area.   Vanguard gathered from a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that the herders stormed the community at about 5:30pm on Thursday in large numbers, opened fire on the residents and razed their homes. “The people ran for their lives, but those who they caught up with were killed and several others sustained injuries. “Among those killed in that attack were Iorwundu Ihyo, and his son Shimayohol Iorwundu; Chiahemba Orkenevihi, and Nyinongu Orkenevihi also died. “After the attack on the community, the herders also mounted a road block on the Makurdi-Naka Road around Ahumen community, where they opened fire on a bus, killing one of the occupants. “As we speak several communities in the local government area have been burnt down and the residents displaced and taking refuge in Naka the headquarters. “Also the Makurdi-Naka road which used to be very busy because it is faster to travel on the route if you are going to Otukpo, has been abandoned by commuters and motorists because it is no longer safe to travel on that road.” Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officers, Superintendent Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive reports of the incident. Chairman of the Gwer West council, Mrs. Grace Igbabon, who confirmed the report, lamented the sudden influx of herdsmen into the area from neighbouring Nasarawa State. Mrs. Igbabon appealed to the military to tackle the bandits and treat them like terrorist in order to secure the lives and property of the people of the area.

Two factions of Ebonyi varsity ASUU issue conflicting strike directives

  The two factions of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities in the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, have issued conflicting directives to their members over the union’s current nationwide warning strike. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while the Dr Godfrey Nwambeke-led Caretaker Committe declared that it would not join the strike, the faction led by Dr Ikechukwu Igwenyi, as Acting Chairman, said it would. Nwambeke told newsmen on Friday that the university would not join the strike and advised lecturers and students to disregard the directive by the national leadership of the union. “One of the major reasons for the non-compliance is that the ASUU National Executive Committe (NEC) has been indifferent to issues concerning the union at EBSU, which they ought to have resolved since. “You may recall that ASUU-EBSU in its congress of Sept.16, 2021, suspended its former Acting Chairman, Igwenyi, from office for acts inconsistent with the union’s constitution, financial impropriety, amongst others. “The suspended chairman flagrantly refused to meet the resolutions of the congress for him to transmit various financial activities to the congress. “A congress of the union then sacked the executive and set-up a caretaker committe to drive its affairs and conduct fresh elections,” Nwambeke said. He said that the ASUU-NEC was notified about these developments but it had abandoned the EBSU branch to its fate. “We, therefore, urge members of ASUU-EBSU to shun any strike declaration by Igwenyi as any staff who obeys such a directive does so at his or her peril,” he said. However, Igwenyi in a statement issued to newsmen, stated that ASUU-EBSU would join the strike intended to rescue education in Nigeria from total collapse. “ASUU-EBSU rose from its emergency congress on Feb. 17 with an overwhelming resolution to activate the nation-wide one month strike declared by ASUU,” he added. He described ASUU as a national union established to fight for the welfare of staff and development of the institutions. Igwenyi maintained that the ASUU-NEC issued the strike because the Federal Government failed to fully implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union in December 2020. He stated that consequently, there shall be no academic activities in the institution, including teaching, seminars, statutory meetings of the Senate, Council, convocation or matriculation. Igwenyi, who insisted that he remained the acting chairman of ASUU-EBSU, stated that academic activities would resume whenever the strike was suspended by ASUU-NEC. (NAN)