Barring unforeseen factors, embattled Yoruba nation agitator Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) is scheduled to leave detention today. A source close to him confided in The Nation that negotiation for his release to get medical attention reached an advanced stage yesterday morning, with assured expectation that Igboho would be left off the hook latest today. Credit: The Nation
Nigeria has moved to sixth in the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI), following successes in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents. The country dropped two places from fourth, a position it has occupied since 2017. The GTI, published by an independent and non-profit think tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) indicated that Nigeria, Syria, and Somalia are the only nations, among the 10 most affected by terrorism, to get an improved score from 2020 to 2021. According to the report, there was a decline in the number of terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria. It attributed this to the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, and the Federal Government’s efforts at defeating the group. “Total deaths from terrorism in Nigeria fell to 448 in 2021, the lowest level since 2011. Terror-related casualties dropped by almost half compared with the previous year. However, the number of terrorist attacks increased by 49 per cent between 2020 and 2021. 36 percent of attacks were claimed by ISWA, Boko Haram being responsible for eight per cent and 44 percent not attributed to any group. “In 2020, ISWA became the deadliest terrorist group in Nigeria. The decline of Boko Haram continued into 2021, with Boko Haram responsible for only 69 deaths, a decrease of 77 percent from the previous year. This is the lowest number of deaths by the group for a decade. Boko Haram’s decline has resulted in a substantial improvement in terrorism in Borno State, which experienced a decrease of 71 percent in terrorism deaths when compared with the prior year,” the report said, which was published on Wednesday, read. “Attacks in the state also decreased from 121 to 86 respectively, a decrease of 30 percent. The state, however, remains the hardest-hit region in Nigeria for terrorism, accounting for half of all terror-related deaths in 2021. Boko Haram’s decline coincides with a number of factors, most significantly the death of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau. Shekau, who committed suicide by detonating an explosives vest during a confrontation with ISWA in May 2021. “Given the demise of their leader, Shekau’s followers were faced with the decision to either continue Shekau’s ideology or join ISWA. It has been reported that as many as former Boko Haram commanders have joined ISWA after Shekau’s death. Attacks by ISWA as well as counter-terrorism efforts by the Nigerian government and foreign military forces have significantly weakened Boko Haram’s impact in Nigeria.”
The Kremlin has claimed it is waiting for a response from Ukraine following yesterday’s second round of peace talks. Moscow said it had told Ukraine “how we see the solution to the problem”, adding what happens next will depend on Ukraine. The Kremlin added that no documents were agreed yet with Kyiv. Talks took place in Belarus, which has been assisting the Kremlin’s invasion of its neighbour, and were led by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Vladimir Medinsky. It was reported afterwards that Russia had agreed the need for “humanitarian corridors” in Ukraine for the evacuation of civilians and arrival of aid, but there is still no sign of a ceasefire. (Skynews)
Anambra State Police have arrested a 27-year-old woman, Ozioma Orakwe, in Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State for allegedly killing her 75 years old relative, Mr Martin Orakwe. Ozioma Orakwe was alleged to have murdered the old man and hanged him to create an impression that he committed suicide. Last Wednesday, it was reported that a man committed suicide in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area without reason for the action. The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident. In a statement released on Friday, he said the command was alerted of the development, but its findings rather revealed that the man was murdered and set up to look as if he committed suicide. Ikenga said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, admonished citizens to always seek other means of settling their differences rather than resorting to fighting and violence. “The CP gave this counsel while reacting to arrest of one Ozioma Orakwe ‘F’ age 27 years on the alleged murder of Martin Orakwe ‘M’ age 75 years of Amatutu village, Agulu Anaocha LGA. “Against the report received on 2/3/2022 at 3:08pm from one Mr Martin Orakwe of alleged suicide by the deceased, preliminary investigation reveals that the victim had a cut on his head with marks of violence all over his body. “Additional information shows that before the death of the victim, he had a disagreement with the suspect which resulted in a fight. “The deceased was said to have died in a fight and to cover her track, Orakwe set him up to look like a case of suicide,” Ikenga stated. He also said the police have recovered the body of the deceased and the suspect has also made useful statements, adding that she is helping in the ongoing investigation. He stated that the suspect would be charged to court when the investigation is concluded.
Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed a youth coach has died defending Ukraine’s sovereignty. “One of our employees was killed, he was a children’s coach, He was hit by a fragment of a Russian bullet” confirmed Shakhtar CEO Serhyi Palkin on Thursday evening. This coming few days after FIFPRO announced that two Ukrainian footballers were killed in the conflict. A statement by FIFPRO read: ‘Our thoughts are with the families, friends and team-mates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, football’s first reported losses in this war. May they both rest in peace.’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for travelling out of the country and abandoning Nigerians amid the fuel scarcity across the nation. This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba. The party accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the helm of affairs in the petroleum sector of crippling economic activities in Nigeria. “The decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to jet out to the United Kingdom (where leaders are committed) for yet another ‘routine medical check-up after his administration has wrecked our healthcare system and when the nation which he leads is in crisis, underscores the insensitivity of the APC which by nature and outlook has never been ready for governance since inception,” the party said in the statement issued on Thursday. “While other world leaders are solving problems in their countries, President Buhari, who promised to fix our refineries, abandoned Nigerians to the excruciating fuel crisis caused by the corruption perpetrated by APC leaders in the helm of affairs in the petroleum sector, which has now crippled economic activities in the country.” With President Buhari out of the country, the PDP explained that this action “exposes APC’s lack of commitment towards the wellbeing and development of Nigerians youths”. The main opposition party regretted that the populace was at the mercy of black-market vendors. “With the corruption and abdication of duty by the APC, our nation is now at the mercy of black-market vendors who charge already overburdened Nigerians as high as N500 per liter of fuel; a development that has resulted in [a]spiral increase in transport fares, costs of food, medicines, and other essential commodities,” the communique read. “This is in addition to the collapse of many businesses, massive loss of jobs, hunger and starvation, [the] sudden death of breadwinners with grave economic pressure on millions of families and attendant social consequences to our country.” The party claimed that the APC leadership is in chaos with no solution to the prevailing crisis in the country. “The prevailing chaotic situation in the country with widespread uncertainties, unabating fuel crisis, piercing economic hardship, sectional agitations, heated industrial unrests, infrastructural stagnation, kidnapping, daily bloodletting and escalated insecurity with gangsters now taking over the streets of major cities further confirms that the APC administration is now on autopilot with its central command structure in disarray.” It, therefore, charged Nigerians to brace up and support one another in the face of “abandonment” by the APC administration, stating that these are “critical indicators that show that the APC has abdicated its constitutional duty to guarantee the security and welfare of the people”.
Four persons were burnt to death in a motor accident that occurred between Ohono and Akpanya along Lokoja-Abuja road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, yesterday. According to a resident, three of the dead persons in the 18-seater bus returning from Lagos to Kano State were uniform men while several other rescued passengers sustained burns on their bodies. An eyewitness said the 18-seater bus was in flame for many minutes even after the villagers rescued some of the passengers. The Kogi State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Solomon Agure, who confirmed the incident, said: “It was a night journey. In the early morning of today (Thursday), between 6:30 am and 7 am, the vehicle lost control and hit the tanker parked by the roadside and went up in flame.” Agure advised motorists to avoid night journeys, adding: “God, who created us knows why he created day and night. The vehicle was from Lagos in the night. “For you to be around Jamata bridge, Akpayan road at that early hours means you drove throughout the night. “Drivers should avoid stressing themselves by driving at night to avoid accidents on our roads.”
A top Russian general has reportedly been killed in the war with Ukraine. Andrei Sukhovetsky, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, died yesterday, Ukrainian news outlets report. They referred to a post on Russian social media platform VKontakte written by Sergei Chipilev, a deputy of the Russian veteran’s group, Combat Brotherhood. It said: ‘It is with great sorrow that we learned of the tragic news about the death of our friend, Major General Andrei Aleksandrovich Sukhovetsky, on the territory of Ukraine during a special operation.’ After graduating from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School in 1995, Sukhovetsky started his career path as a platoon commander. He went on to become chief of staff of the Guards airborne assault unit. Ukrainian outlet Fakti said he had been in his latest role since October 2021 and was based in Novosibirsk. Yesterday the Russian Ministry of Defence said 498 of its servicemen were killed, more than 1,500 were injured since the invasion of Ukraine was launched last Thursday. Defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov rejected reports about ‘incalculable losses’ among Russian forces as ‘disinformation’. But Ukraine has said the true number of Russian troops killed is higher than Moscow admits. Konashenkov denied that conscripts or cadets have been involved in the operation in Ukraine, dismissing media reports suggesting otherwise. But Russian independent organisations that help parents find their sons have said were taking part and had been made to sign documents before crossing the border. Konashenkov also said more than 2,870 Ukrainian troops have been killed and some 3,700 more sustained injuries, while 572 others have been captured by the Russians. The claim is yet to be independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented on these figures. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said that more than 2,000 civilians have died in the conflict, but again the claim has not been verified.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has told a Lagos State court how Staff members of Fidelity Bank allegedly stole N874Million Naira from the bank and its customers. In a statement EFCC, the accused Bank staff, Olusegun Babasola, Abisola Ahmed, Uchechukwu Uma, Jude Aphaeus, allegedly cloned more than 22 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and stole N874million. The N874Million is said to belong to five of the bank’s corporate customers – American International Insurance Company Limited (AIICO), Interswitch, OVH Energy Marketing Ltd, Fidelity Bank sinking fund account and FSL Securities Ltd. The EFCC presented Chidimma Peter, an investigator with the commission as one of its prosecuting Witness in trial. “Upon receipt, we commenced investigation into the alleged fraud, which we found out was perpetrated using the Postillion App. “The application was used to increase the daily withdrawal limit from N150,000 to N100 million,” the witness added. “We accessed the banking app domiciled in the server to ascertain the IP address used. “It pointed to a system domiciled at the Virtual Unit of the bank domiciled in Lagos. “The system was identified and we found out it was used to de-link already existing ATM cards, and link them to some other accounts.” “Investigation revealed that the ATM cards were linked to the five victims ‘accounts from which N874 million was withdrawn at different times. “The system used was identified and we observed that for it to be accessed, login details must be used. “We found out that the profile used belonged to the third and fourth defendants. “We reviewed the activities of the Virtual Unit and found out that three members of staff of the Unit also viewed the affected accounts prior to the withdrawals when they had no reason to do so. “For the Virtual Unit of the bank to view an account, there must be a request from the Qserve, but a review for the period from 9th to 15th July 2019 did not reveal any request to the Virtual Unit of the bank.” On how the funds were distributed, Peter Ige, an Information System Auditor with Fidelity Bank told the court how the funds were siphoned. He said; “King Dommy Enterprise received several inflows of tranches of N908,000 totalling N136 million debited from FSL. “From this, N50 million was transferred to the account of the fifth defendant, Omidiji Joseph Olanrewaju on 15th July, which was thereafter disbursed to different accounts including Findrex Aviation business school and Waltham BDC.” The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A police officer has reportedly shot and killed at least six police officers and his father-inlaw Maiduguri, Borno State. Reports said the incident happened at the police college quarters, of the Police headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State. Sources disclosed that the police officer had a misunderstanding with his wife of which neighbours tried intervening but the officer refused to listen. The source said; “He and his wife have been having issues for some time now; we tried to settle it amicably, but he refused. “The wife told her parents that the sergeant assaulted her; she moved her things out of his house. The wife left due to severe maltreatment by her husband. “He started shooting and threatened to kill everyone. Unfortunately, he shot people, but six mobile policemen died and two others are currently receiving treatment at Specialist Hospital. “He razed down two blocks of eight rooms in the process and also shot his father-in-law,” the source added. The errant officer is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
