Crime Facts

Bandits Attack Kaduna Communities, Kidnap At Least 36 Persons

  At least 36 people were reported kidnapped during Sunday’s attack by bandits on four communities in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. This was disclosed by the residents of the communities during a meeting with security agencies on Monday. The residents say the constant attacks have affected their means of livelihood, as they can no longer go to their farms to avoid being killed or kidnapped by the bandits. They appeal to the Federal Government to establish a military base in Kajuru as the only way the security situation could be addressed. “When they came, they met some people in the church; they decided to go into the church, pack some of them, gathered them in a particular place, and went to another village,” an eyewitness and a resident of Kufana village, Bashir Bawo, explained. According to him, the bandits came in bikes and had to steal more motorcycles from the villagers in order to take more people away. He said they killed some of the villagers who tried to repel the attack injured others.   The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, Monday, led security chiefs to Kufana District to get first-hand information on the attack, and also interact with the locals on how best to tackle the security challenges in the general area. Others present at the meeting include the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, other heads of security agencies in the state, community leaders, and the chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area. The bandits had on Sunday attacked four communities during which they killed three worshippers from two churches and also took away several other residents.

Strike: We are waiting for govt’s reply to our presentation — ASUU

  Whether the four and a half months old strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be called off soon now rests on the response of the Federal Government to the demands of the union made through a committee set up by the government to negotiate with it. ADVERTISING Checks by Vanguard on Monday showed that the national leadership of ASUU has made its presentation to the Prof. Nimi Briggs-led committee set up to renegotiate the 2009 agreement signed by both sides. Speaking in a telephone chat with our correspondent, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said his union had done its best in the circumstance. “We have made our presentation to the committee and there is nothing more to add,” he said. On when the feedback is expected from the government’s side, he said, “They promised to get back to us within a short time.” Though he did not say anything about what the union’s presentation contained, it was gathered that union could give the government more time to meet some demands that have financial implications. When contacted, Prof. Briggs said his committee had met with ASUU and had done its assignment. “We have met and ASUU have made their presentation. Some people sent me on an errand and I have to report to them. The committee is not the final authority on this matter. We are not the ones to determine what will be done,” he stated. Recall that ASUU went on a four-week warning strike on February 14 this year and has extended the strike twice. First, by eight weeks and secondly by 12 weeks. Among the issues in contention are staff welfare, payment of Earned Academic Allowance, payment of Revitalisation Fund of N200 billion yearly for at least six years to provide facilities in the universities, stoppage of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, as the payment platform in the university system among others. However, government is blaming paucity of funds for its inability to meet some of the demands, while the union is accusing the government of not getting its priorities right.

Orubebe resigns from PDP, says party not ready to regain power in 2023

  Godsday Orubebe, former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Orubebe communicated his resignation in a letter addressed to Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the PDP. The former minister said his resignation is effective immediately, and that he has notified his ward chairman in Burutu LGA of Delta state. “Consequently, I am by this letter intimating you of my total withdrawal from all activities at the Ward, Local, State and National levels of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP),” he said.   “I am highly honoured and privileged to have been part of a political party that successfully transformed a pariah nation to one that commanded respect in the comity of nations. “When we lost the Presidential election in 2015 in bewildering circumstances, to say the least, it was my belief that the party would use the opposition period to re-strategise to take back power at the earliest opportunity.” According to Orubebe, the current situation in the PDP does not show that the party is prepared to win the presidential election in 2023.   “However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023. Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard for the provisions of the party’s constitution, the party, threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party’s Presidential flagbearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the National Chairman, to be occupied by Northerners, contrary to section 7.3(0) of the party’s constitution,” he said. “I salute and commend the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike for his efforts and gallantry at the primaries. Posterity will be kind to him when the history of the party is written. “There are lots to be said, but out of respect for the party, I leave some stories untold at this time. My belief in the sanctity of Nigeria is unshaken and I will continually work for her progress and development, even if it is through another route” Orubebe made news headlines after he attempted to disrupt the collation of results of the 2015 presidential election at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.   He had accused Attahiru Jega, the then chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of bias against the PDP.

Sanctioned Russia becomes China’s main source of oil

Customs data showed Monday that China ramped up crude oil imports from Russia in May, helping to offset Russia’s losses from western nations’ sanctions. Sanctions had scaled back patronage of Russia’s energy over the invasion of Ukraine. The recent spike, however, means Russia has now overtaken Saudi Arabia to become China’s top oil provider as the West continues to sanction Moscow’s energy exports. The world’s second-biggest economy imported around 8.42 million tonnes of oil from Russia last month – a 55 percent on-year rise – as Beijing continues to refuse to publicly condemn Moscow’s war while exacting economic gains from its isolated neighbour. China imported 7.82 million tonnes of oil from Saudi Arabia in May. In total, China bought $7.47 billion worth of Russian energy products last month, about $1 billion more than in April, according to Bloomberg News. The new customs data comes four months into the war in Ukraine, with buyers from the US and Europe shunning Russian energy imports or pledging to slash them over the coming months. But while European powers were scaling back and Russia’s energy exports were falling, Asian demand was helping to staunch some of those losses, especially in China and India. According to the International Energy Agency’s latest global oil report, India has overtaken Germany as the second-largest importer of Russian crude in the last two months. China had been Russia’s biggest market for crude oil since 2016. Days before Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s President Xi Jinping greeted his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Beijing, with the two countries declaring a bilateral relationship of “no limits.” Although demand in China remained muted, there had been some improvement in the past month as cities began to loosen virus restrictions after the country’s worst COVID-19 outbreak since the early days of the pandemic. This had allowed some supply chain problems to ease, and industrial production to pick up, official data showed. China’s overall imports from Russia spiked 80 percent from a year ago in May to $10.3 billion, customs data added. Apart from oil, Beijing’s purchases of liquefied natural gas from Russia also surged 54 percent on-year in May to 397,000 tonnes, even as overall imports of the fuel fell. Beijing, which had repeatedly refused to condemn Moscow’s bloody invasion of Ukraine, had also been accused of providing a diplomatic shield for Russia by blasting western sanctions and arms sales to Kyiv. Once bitter Cold War enemies, Beijing and Moscow had stepped up cooperation in recent years as a counterbalance to what they saw as United States global dominance. – Joint goals – Earlier this month they unveiled the first road bridge linking the two countries, connecting the far eastern Russian city of Blagoveshchensk with the northern Chinese city of Heihe. Last week, President Xi Jinping assured President Vladimir Putin of China’s support on Russian “sovereignty and security” on a call between the two leaders. The Kremlin said the pair had agreed to ramp up economic cooperation in the face of “unlawful” western sanctions. The West had adopted unprecedented sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its war in Ukraine, and Moscow was looking for new markets and suppliers to replace the major foreign firms that left Russia following the invasion. The 27-nation European Union agreed in late May to a package of sanctions that would halt the majority of Russian oil imports. While the US had already banned Russian oil, European nations were much more dependent on those imports. Energy is a major source of income for Putin’s government, and western nations are trying to isolate Moscow and impede Moscow’s ability to continue the war. AFP

Pope’s Future Sparks Debate, Resignation Seems Unlikely

  Pope Francis has fuelled the rumour mill with a postponed Africa trip and the curious timing of an upcoming meeting of cardinals — but experts caution against assuming a resignation is nigh. Hobbled by pain in his knee and forced to use a wheelchair in recent weeks, the 85-year-old pontiff postponed a July trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan last week. That move, along with an unusual decision to hold a consistory to name new cardinals during the vacation month of August, triggered intense speculation about his plans for the future, including the most radical — that he was planning to step down. Not so fast, many say. “In the pope’s entourage, the majority of people don’t really believe in the possibility of a resignation,” a Vatican source told AFP. Rumours within the insular Roman Curia — the Catholic Church’s powerful governing body — are nothing new, and often fuelled by those with an interest, said Italian Vatican expert Marco Politi. “These rumours are encouraged by the pope’s opponents who are only eager to see Francis leave,” he told AFP. Door To Retired Popes The resignation of a pope was once almost unthinkable. But when Benedict XVI stood down in 2013, citing his declining physical and mental health, he set a precedent. In 2014, a year after being elected to replace Benedict, Francis himself told reporters that were his health to impede his functions as pope, he would consider stepping down too. “He (Benedict) opened a door, the door to retired popes,” the pontiff said then. More recently in May, as reported by various Italian media, Francis joked about his knee during a closed-door meeting with bishops: “Rather than operate, I’ll resign.” However, a trip to Canada at the end of July is still on the pontiff’s schedule, and the pope continues to receive injections in his knee and physical therapy, according to the Vatican. As a child, Francis had one of his lungs partially removed. Today, besides his knee issue, he suffers recurring sciatic nerve pain. Rumours of a resignation also flared last year after Francis underwent colon surgery, prompting him to tell a Spanish radio station that the idea “hadn’t even crossed my mind”. But beyond his health, a series of calendared events in upcoming months have some Vatican watchers questioning whether Francis is laying the groundwork for retirement while ensuring that his reforms stay intact. Convening Cardinals First was his decision to call an extraordinary consistory for August 27, a slow summer month at the Vatican, to create 21 new cardinals — 16 of whom will be under the age of 80, thereby eligible to elect his successor in a future conclave. Since becoming pope in 2013, the Argentine pontiff has created 83 cardinals in a move to shape the future of the Catholic Church, in part to counter Europe’s historically dominant influence, and to reflect his values. On August 28, Francis will pay a visit to L’Aquila and the tomb of Celestine V — the first pope to have resigned from the papacy, in the 13th century. He then joins the world’s cardinals — many of them meeting their peers for the first time — in two days of discussions over the reform of the Roman Curia, which Francis announced in March with the unveiling of a new constitution. Francis’ shake-up of the Roman Curia attempts to shift the Church back towards its pastoral roots, allows lay Catholics to head Vatican departments and creates a dicastery specifically for charity works among other reforms. Could the August calendar be taken as a hint, as some in the media have suggested? “At this stage, it is a question of being realistic and not alarmist,” Politi cautioned. He said it was “hard to imagine” Francis would resign while the Synod of Bishops — an initiative meaningful to Francis that is intended to study how the Church moves forward in a more inclusive way — is ongoing, due to complete in 2023. Alberto Melloni, a professor of Christianity and secretary of the John XXIII Foundation for Religious Sciences in Bologna, told AFP “preposterous” conjectures had been made about the pope’s health and his intentions. “These are things in which there is a desire to understand, to speculate, but there is little to say,” he said. AFP

Stock investors lose N767bn in one week

  Investors lost N767bn at the end of trading on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited last week. The market opened for four trading days last week as the Federal Government declared Monday as a public holiday to commemorate the 2022 Democracy Day celebration. The NGX All-Share Index and market capitalisation of equities listed on the NGX depreciated by 2.68 per cent to close the week at 51,778.08 and N27.914tn respectively. Similarly, all other indices finished lower with the exception of the NGX Growth index which appreciated at 2.79 per cent, while, the NGX Asem index closed flat. According to the NGX, 13 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 29 equities in the previous week. assets on NGX Fifty-one equities depreciated in price higher than 36 equities in the previous week, while 92 equities remained unchanged higher than 91 equities recorded in the previous week. The NGX weekly market report showed that a total turnover of 940.892 million shares worth N11.494bn in 20,077 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.831 billion shares valued at N19.494bn that exchanged hands in the previous week in 21,723 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 692.325 million shares valued at N6.220bn traded in 10,615 deals, contributing 73.58 per cent and 54.12 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 89.872 million shares worth N246.063m in 764 deals. The third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 54.227 million shares worth N1.232bn in 2,923 deals. Trading in the top three equities, namely, United Bank for Africa Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Transnational Corporation Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 304.837 million shares worth N1.285bn in 2,103 deals, contributing 32.39 per cent and 11.18 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Court steps down Osinachi husband’s case due to multiple counsel

  The alleged culpable homicide suit against Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi in a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday, was stepped down in order for his lawyers to align themselves to represent him. When the matter slated for hearing before Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme came up, the Prosecution Counsel, Aderonke Imana, informed the court that the matter was for hearing and that they were ready to proceed. A. Ogbonna also announced his appearance as watching brief of the nominal complainant. The counsel that represented the defendant during his arraignment, Victor Abakpa, however prayed the court to adjourn the matter until Tuesday, as another lawyer from a different chamber just informed that he was taking over the case. He further stated that he was equally served additional proof of evidence in the court just before the court started the day’s proceedings. I.A Aliyu on his part informed the court that he was briefed by the defendant on June 18 to take over the case. The court therefore stepped down the case to 11am in order for counsel to align themselves and come proper before it. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that in Monday’s proceeding, family members of the deceased singer, Osinachi were in court. Prominent amongst the family members were her two children, mother and twin sister. The matter which was adjourned until June 16, could not go on due to the absence of the judge. The defendant was earlier arraigned on June 3, and was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to the alleged homicide charge filed against him by the Attorney -General of the Federation. He was therefore remanded pending the hearing and determination of the 23-count charge bordering on domestic violence and homicide instituted against him. Nwachukwu was arrested by the Nigeria Police after his wife died on April 8 following wide spread allegations by their children, family and colleagues that he battered her leading to her death. According to the charge, the crime he allegedly committed contravenes Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015, Section 221 of the Penal Code and the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015. The charge read in part: “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the April 8 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Osinachi N. “This was caused by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your act. “Particulars of offence: That you, Peter Nwachukwu, male, sometime between Nov. 14, 2009 and April 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to wit: emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu (deceased). “This was caused by humiliating her and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members.” The statement of offence bordered on emotional, verbal and psychological abuse contrary to Section 14(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act. The late gospel singer was popularly known for her song “Ekwueme”. (NAN)

APC and PDP In Imo North Have Collapsed Structures For Peter Obi Of Labour Party

  Members of the two majority parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress in Imo North Senatorial District of Imo State on Sunday collapsed their structures into the Labour Party and pledged their loyalty and support to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. No fewer than two thousand people joined the LP at a ceremony at Umuaro community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state. A former Deputy Chief of Staff to a former governor of the state, Chikwem Onuoha, said that the decision was reached after an investigation revealed that Obi was the best presidential material among other presidential candidates. Onuoha, said that APC and PDP had misruled Nigeria for the past 23 years, adding that it was time Nigerians voted Obi to rescue the country. The APC chieftain said, “Today, APC and PDP are dead in Okigwe zone. We have resolved to collapse our structures in the zone into the Labour Party and to work for the victory of Peter Obi. Peter Obi symbolises the hope of the ordinary people of Nigeria. “Peter Obi is tested and trusted and he has the support of the people who vote during the election. Apart from Obi, we will vote LP all through. The Labour Party is for a mass movement. We are wiser and we want to take back our country.” The President General of the Okigwe North Youth Progressives Forum, Chidinma Onyenagubo, said that his group was mobilising people to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards to vote for LP In 2023.

Again, bandits attack palace, kidnap Plateau monarch

  Bandits numbering over 20, have again, reportedly kidnapped a traditional ruler in Plateau State, His Royal Highness, Aminu Derwan, after attacking his palace in Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area of the state. It was learnt that the gunmen took away Derwan, the district head of Panyam, after scaring residents with gunshots in the early hours of Monday. A resident of Panyam community, Moses Garuba, confirmed the abduction of the monarch to The PUNCH in Jos, on Monday. Garuba said, “It was last night around midnight that the bandits, who were more than 20 and heavily armed, surrounded the district head’s palace in Panyam. “Because his house was not fenced, some villagers who saw how his house was surrounded by strange people alerted other members of the community through a community bell. But immediately the bandits heard the bell, they started firing gunshots and eventually went away with the traditional ruler, leaving the community helpless.” Some residents, who condemned the attack said that the incident had been reported to the police division in the locality. The spokesman for state police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached when contacted on the incident as his mobile phones were switched off The kidnap of the district head is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at traditional rulers and the clergymen in the state. On Sunday, last week, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Jos East Local Government Area of the state, Reverend James Kantoma, and a traditional ruler in the state, Ugoh Ababs, were kidnapped by gunmen. While Kantoma, who is also the Catholic priest in charge of St. Anthony’s parish in the Jos East LGA, was kidnapped at his church compound in Angware community, the traditional ruler was abducted when the gunmen attacked his palace in Amo district, Bassa Local Government Area of the state. The two personalities were, however, released a few days later, after a ransom was allegedly paid to the abductors.

Soludo relocates Onitsha head bridge drug market to Oba

ANAMBRA State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has finally taken the bold step that would see the popular drug market from head bridge, Onitsha to Oba in Idemili South local government area. There had been several attempts by previous administrations in the state to relocate the market considered to be one of the biggest in the country, but the drug dealers themselves had consistently posed a stumbling block. At the weekend, Soludo, while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for what he named the International Drug Coordinated Wholesale Center at Oba, explained that the project would be bankrolled by Sterling Bank Plc with a completion deadline of twenty four months. Explaining the importance of the project, Soludo said the initiative tallied with his administration’s general vision of building a liveable and prosperous homeland. According to him, the people’s health was of paramount to him, adding that it was for that reason that his government decided to fully introduce measures for adequate regulation in the drug administration sector. He expressed delight that when completed, the project would become the biggest drug distribution center in Africa. The governor gave a twenty four month ultimatum to all open drug markets in the state, especially the Onitsha drug market to move, stressing that at the expiration of the ultimatum, their present structures would be regarded as illegal and therefore would be demolished. He added that the Oba market would become the only approved location for wholesale drugs distribution in the state after the deadline, expressing optimism that in line with the envisioned smart megacity of his government, the center would be technology-driven. He also assured that the abandoned multi- million naira Oba International market would be put to use. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike spoke on the need to control the environment where drugs were sold, pointing out that the existence of an open drug market could lead to the distribution of fake and adulterated drugs which were inimical to human health.