Crime Facts

Anambra: Robbers kill undergraduate, family blames strike, FG

  A 23-year-old student of History and International Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Chiamaka Okeke, has been stabbed to death by robbers. The incident happened at a Shawarma spot in Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State, where the deceased was said to be working temporarily as a result of the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. It was gathered that the incident happened on July 10. Narrating the incident to our correspondent on Monday, the brother of the deceased, who identified himself as Samuel Okeke, blamed the unfortunate death of his sister on ASUU strike and the Federal Government. Okeke, also a student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, said Chiamaka, who had been at home because of the ASUU strike, decided to get a job at a Shawarma spot, located around Ezi Alias Junction, Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra. He said the deceased decided to get the temporary job in her bid to lessen financial burdens on their parents as well as get engaged in activity rather than staying idle. According to him, on the said date, at around 9:30pm, when the deceased and other employees were locking the shop, they were attacked by a gang of robbers who asked her to surrender her phone. He said, “An eyewitness told us that the robbers requested for Chiamaka’s handset, but she had told them that she was not with a phone but they went ahead to drag her bag and stabbed her multiple times on the stomach and chest. “She didn’t even resist them or argue with them. They just killed my sister for nothing. She was just trying to make ends meet because of this ASUU palaver. “I will never forgive ASUU and the Federal Government for this! My sister did not deserve to die. How much was the salary that she was even paid? How long has she even worked there? My sister was just killed because of the ineptitude and uncaring country we live in.” When contacted on the matter, the state Police Spokesman, Toochukwu Ikenga, said the information was not brought before the police. Ikenga, therefore, asked the family members of the deceased to come forward and provide more information for proper investigation. “Please, let him come forward to provide us with more information for proper investigation. You can give him my telephone number,” Ikenga added.

Kano bans Keke Napep operations after 10:00pm

  Kano state government has announced a ban on the operations of Keke Napep popularly known as ‘A Daidata Sahu’ in Kano from 10:00pm-6:00am with effect from Thursday, July 21, 2022. This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba on Monday which further indicated that the decision was reached at the end of the state security meeting recently. “The measure is part of effort to ensure security of lives and property in the state. “Tricycle riders are to comply and stop operating at the stipulated hours as security agents would enforce the ban without compromise” the commissioner declared. Recent reports have shown a rise in crimes in which the tricycles are used.

Guber Poll: Oyetola, Ambode, Others Who Lost Re-Election Bid

  Incumbent governors rarely lose re-election in Nigeria, yet there are some instances where ‘power of incumbency’ failed as witnessed in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State. Different sitting governors have failed to retain their seats due to number of factors. However, Daily Trust highlights some of these instances. Oyetola Incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election was defeated by Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday election. Oyetola polled 375,027 votes while his rival, Adeleke, secured 403,371 votes to win the election.   Ambode The former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, lost his re-election bid right from the governorship primaries of the APC. In a broadcast on state, Ambode congratulated Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his challenger, for the party’s ticket. Sanwo-Olu was announced winner with 970,851 votes against Ambode’s 70,901 votes, becoming the first incumbent to lose own party’s governorship ticket in the 2019 general election season.   Mohammed Abubakar In Bauchi, the case is not different as Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir of the PDP was declared winner of the state’s gubernatorial election after defeating the incumbent governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC. At the end of the keenly contested election, Abubakar, polled a total of 500,625 votes while the PDP candidate, Abdulkadir, polled a total of 515,113 votes. Abubakar was elected under the platform of the APC in 2015 and his re-election bid ended in 2019.   Bindow Jibrila Bindow, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election and then incumbent governor of Adamawa State was also defeated. He scored 336,386 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri, scored 376,552 votes, leaving a margin of 40,166 between the two candidates. The March 9 election in the state had been declared inconclusive because the number of cancelled votes was higher than the margin between Fintiri and Bindow. After the rerun election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Fintiri winner of the governorship election.   Fayemi After a prolonged battle in court with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was later affirmed as the validly elected governor, was sworn in 2010 but his attempt to return for a second term was aborted in the 2014 election. The then PDP governorship candidate, Ayodele Fayose, won the election.

NMA to politicians: Be like Osinbajo — stop medical tourism

  The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on political office holders to emulate Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo by seeking medical treatment in the country. According to NAN, Uche Ojinmah, the association’s national president, said this in a ‘Get-Well Wish’ message on Monday in Abuja. TheCable had reported that Osinbajo underwent surgery over a “recurrent pain in his leg” on Saturday. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesman, said the surgery took place at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos.   The surgery was said to be successful and the vice-president is expected to be released in “a few days”. Ojinmah commended Osinbajo for demonstrating confidence in Nigerian doctors and the healthcare system. He added that it is time to fix the nation’s “fragile health care system” to the benefit of the common man and the economy.   He said the association is certain that Osinbajo was impressed with the service he got. “We wish to thank God for seeing our Vice President through surgery. All Nigerian doctors are praying for his quick and complete recovery,” he said. Many Nigerians travel abroad to seek medical treatment owing to the lack of adequate medical infrastructure in the country. As a result of this, there have been calls to curb medical tourism, especially among politicians, and a need to improve access to quality health care in the country.   In 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari, who has embarked on numerous medical trips to the United Kingdom, said the trend is not beneficial to the country. “Nigerians have suffered so much going abroad for medical treatment. This is not good for us and it must stop because we can’t afford it again,” Buhari had said.

Gunmen kill 2 in Kogi, kidnap another in Enugu community

  Unknown gunmen have allegedly killed two persons who are yet to be identified at a local market, Orie Akpanya, at a border community with Enugu State on Sunday. Vanguard gathered that the gunmen equally robbed traders of their money and wares at the market. It was learnt that during the operation, the gunmen who were in their numbers riding on motorbikes while wielding AK-47 rifles took off through Unadu community to Alor Agu in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State where they also allegedly kidnapped one Samuel Ejiofor Ugwuoke having beaten other men to a pulp. One of the men who were beaten, Anselm Onah, said he was standing along the road with Mr. Samuel Ejiofor Ugwuoke and two other men when the boys arrived on their bikes. He said: “When they arrived, they started asking us of what we do for a living. Ejiofor told them that he is a civil servant with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and they retorted; So you work for the government and the road to your community is in this deplorable state. They commanded him to mount one of the bikes. I tried to beg them not to take him away and that was the beginning of my trouble. They all descended on me until I became unconscious. At that point I didn’t know what happened next.” Recounting his ordeal after he was released, Mr. Samuel Ugwuoke said the gang took him away but on getting to somewhere close to Aguibeje community in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area, they searched him thoroughly and collected all the money on him before dropping him off. “It was a terrible experience. These criminal gangs are allowed to raid our markets without the intervention of security agencies. I was told that on market days, they go to the markets to rob traders of their wares and food stuffs”. Recently at Eke Ozzi market, the boys came to the market in broad day light and made away with food items stolen from the traders while shooting into the air. They have robbed traders at Afor Unadu Market. Today, they moved to Orie Akpanya in Kogi State and after robbing the traders, killed two persons for no reason,” he said. Vanguard also gathered that the gunmen were allegedly responsible for all the attacks that have been taking place in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area and with the coming in of soldiers who had been enforcing the curfew put in place by the Enugu State government, they relocated to the forests at the fringes of Igbo Eze South Local Government Area in Enugu State and some parts of Kogi State. Dependable sources told Vanguard that because of the curfew in Igbo Eze North, the gunmen fled the area and occasionally come in to attack and retreat to the forests.

NDLEA opens ‘drug trafficking’ case against DCP Abba Kyari

  The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has opened its case against Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police. At the federal high court on Monday, the prosecution called Patricia Afolabi a commander of narcotics attached to the NDLEA unit, as its first witness. Afolabi told the court that receiving and carrying out forensic analysis on drug evidence is a part of her job description She said she received one sealed transparent evidence pack containing 24 dispensing packs from Abubakar Aliyu, forensic liaison officer of the agency, on February 7, 2022. She claimed that each park had a 0.5gram white material. She said that a request form for analysis was also attached to the package. The witness added that out of the 24 packs, only 21 were cocaine. “From the analysis, I conducted, which I labelled exhibit A-X, I found out that 21 of the exhibits contained cocaine, while exhibit H to G was found to be negative,” she said. “I then issued an analysis report of my findings, which I signed and sealed. I repacked them as exhibits in a large envelope and addressed it to O.C. NDLEA Abuja.” With no objection from the defendants, the court admitted all the exhibits in evidence. During cross-examination, Afolabi said it was not compulsory for suspects to be present while the analysis is being conducted. She also admitted to not being present when the substance was recovered by the agency. “I was not present when the drug was recovered. I was not present when NDLEA received it,” she said. “I don’t know who recovered the substance. I did not come in contact with any of them.” Meanwhile, the court adjourned the matter till Tuesday to enable counsel to the other defendants to cross-examine the witness. Kyari was on March 7 arraigned alongside Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu who are members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — two drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, the agency accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms. Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty. However, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and begged the court to “have mercy”. On June 14, Emeka Nwite, the judge, convicted the two defendants and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment each on counts 5, 6 and 7.

Police arrest Nigerian woman notorious for breaking into mansions in US

  The police have arrested a Nigerian woman, Peace Ofoego for breaking into multiple private mansions to sleep in Hamptons, New York. The 32-year-old woman has been labelled ‘Goldilocks of the Hamptons’ over her tricks in Westhampton, where she has been arrested three times for finding comfort at homeowners’ backyards, pool houses and rooms. Daily Mail said Ofoego had broken into nothing less than seven mansions in posh territory to sleep for the past few months, and thus been arrested three times for trespassing since the end of May. According to the police, Ofoego from Nigeria said she was fleeing from an abusive husband in Florida, and has claimed she was trying hard to find a place to regain custody of her children. It was reported that a resident of Westhampton, Peter Nesvold, took her photos as she tried gaining entrance into his home while his wife was inside. Nesvold called police and Ofoego was arrested and was taken away shortly afterwards. Another person, John Mallon, caught Ofoego inside his $35,000-a-month rented apartment. He also called police and asked them to record the incident, but refused to press charges against her. Reports disclosed that Ofoego was first sighted in Westhampton Beach on Memorial Day weekend, when a resident reported to police that a “black female wearing a black trench coat and sandals” was wandering through the backyard construction site of his four-bedroom rental property – just about a mile from the village’s train station. When police arrived on May 29, she told them he had no identification or credit cards because she had been robbed while living in Washington DC. She also said she traveled to New York City a few days earlier, from where she boarded a rail road to Westhampton Beach, where she said she was looking for a hotel room near the ocean. Police then helped her find a local homeless shelter where she said she wanted to charge her computer “and transfer funds to an account.” But just a few days later, on June 2, she was seen wandering through the wealthy neighborhood again – and it would not be the last time. Daily Mail reported that the authorities said that Ofoego passed through an unlocked gate that leads from the beach to a $275,000-a-month eight-bedroom rental on exclusive Dune Road. She then allegedly entered the house through an unlocked back deck, where she relaxed until police showed up – and charged her with criminal trespass. “Subject stated she was staying at a house down the road and entered the stated residence to ask somebody about a restaurant to eat at,” a police report obtained by the Post says. Then just two days later, on June 4, Ofoego was again spotted ‘staying’ in the pool house of a property that rents at $35,000 a month. When police showed up that time and were attempting to find another homeless shelter for Ofoego, “Peace began walking away,” an officer wrote in his report, adding that he cautioned her that if she kept wandering into village homes she would again be arrested for trespassing. Ofoego’s last encounter with the Westhampton police came on June 24 at a ‘quintessential beachfront estate’ that features seven bedrooms and was listed for rent at a whopping $280,000 in July and August. According to the police report, she boldly walked into the second-story bedroom, which was shocking to the homeowner, which led to the call on police who came to the scene and arrested her. But when they were processing her paperwork at the police department, Ofoego was said to have told the police officers they were mistaken and she just “went inside to look at the rental.” “You just want to arrest me,” she allegedly accused them. “All I did was look for a rental.” Ofoego has been spending her days walking through the village and along the beach, residents have reported on Facebook. Some have said they saw her on back roads, on Main Street, at a summerhouse where bands play during the summer months and at a local marina. Sometimes she was seen wearing the same black trench coat and black knit beanie she was reported in back in May – despite hot temperatures. Janet Feldman, for example, commented on the Westhampton Beach Area Community Forum, said she saw Ofoego walking on the beach and down Dune Road while walking her dog in the morning. “She seems mentally unwell for sure,” Feldman wrote. Marie Costelli also commented: “A few weeks ago, she approached me in Lidl asking for help. She needed money to pay for her groceries. “As I was handing her some cash, which she took, a man who may have been the store manager asked her to leave. I felt sorry for her, I hope she gets the help she needs,” Costelli said. Ofoego has said she looks forward to defending herself in court, refusing a court-ordered public defender at hearings on July 6 and July 13. At one of those hearings, Liam Anthony DeFronzo wrote, Ofoego was arguing with the judge. And days earlier, the Post reports, when officers were trying to serve her with a subpoena to appear in court, she told them they were harassing her and threatened to sue them. “It seemed to me she is angry with where she is in life and with the system,” DeFronzo posited. “Ultimately, it seems she’s looking for a place to sleep, but of course you never know what she might do, and it’s not acceptable to break into homes. “Does she truly want help in finding some sort of shelter and is doing this as a cry for help? I don’t know, but I felt compelled to help her the other day in the courtroom,” he said. She told the Post she was born in Nigeria, but has lived in the United States for the past 13 years – coming to the country when she was 19 years old and settling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where

Kidnapper’ Who Killed 80 Yrs Old Despite Ransom Nabbed In Kwara

‘ A suspected member of a three-man inter-state kidnap gang, Boodoo Musa Alhaji, has been arrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State, for alleged kidnapping and murder. The gang had allegedly kidnapped an eighty-year-old man, Alhaji Abba in Eruwa, Oyo state, collected ransom and later killed the victim. rrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State, for alleged kidnapping and murder. The gang had allegedly kidnapped an eighty-year-old man, Alhaji Abba in Eruwa, Oyo state, collected ransom and later killed the victim. Two civilians killed as bandits ambush soldiers in Plateau Osun election: What we did differently – INEC Speaking on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Kwara command, Olasunkanmi Ayeni, said that the crime was committed in Eruwa, Oyo while the suspect was arrested at Banni community in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara State at the weekend. The NSCDC spokesperson, who described the suspect as an ex-convict, said that he would be transferred to the Ibadan headquarters of the command for further investigation and prosecution. “He was arrested after sharing information with members of the public and sister security agencies. All other details like the ransom and other arrested suspects are with the Police in Oyo state”, he added. In an interview with newsmen, the suspect said he is a farmer and not a kidnapper. “I was arrested because the victim had told one Alhaji Isiaka, a member of vigilante group in the area before the development, that I should be arrested if anything happened to him”, he added.

NNPC Limited will not tie subsidy, petrol price to operations, says Mele Kyari

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) says it will ensure the provision of petroleum products to the federal government. Mele Kyari, group managing director, NNPC, said this during a pre-recorded interview with Channels Television on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s unveiling of NNPC Limited as a commercial entity. In September 2021, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) completed the incorporation of the NNPC Limited. He emphasised that NNPC would be a service provider to the government rather than bearing the responsibility for importation and subsidy. In the first five months of 2022, NNPC deducted N1.27 trillion for petrol subsidy — about 31% of the N4 trillion provision for the year. “In the case of the price of petroleum, this is a policy matter. And the NNPC is going to be a supplier to the Federation at a fee. So, the issue of at what price you sell petroleum will be the decision of the state,” he said. “The state has continued to maintain that we must continue to pay subsidy on petroleum products. We are happy to do this, but as a commercial venture, we will have a service-level agreement between us to render that service.” Kyari emphasised that the price of petroleum products will have nothing to do with its operations. “We will procure the products, and we will sell to the state and will be step-on-step with the country, and literally, I’ve seen no indication at this point in time that the state is ready to change any price of petroleum products. It has nothing to do with our operations,” he added. “For us, what it really means is that this is business for us. We will charge a fee at any point so that the company can make money on behalf of its shareholders. “More than anything else, there’s really no plan of tying this (subsidy) to our turnover, and they have no relationship.”   Kyari further added that the transition would heighten demand for transparency even as the NNPC had joined the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). “Actually it now becomes more demanding to be more transparent. NNPC is a partner company for the global EITI initiative, like many other private companies that voluntarily chose to become partner company to the EITI,” Kyari added. “The meaning of this is that you’re going to make certain disclosures to your shareholders and to the world community that companies ordinarily are not required to do, and we will keep to that because we’re not going to withdraw as a partner company to the EITI. “That means that there are further requirements beyond what we are doing today. Beyond just publishing your financial statements, there are many other disclosure requirements for being a partner company to EITI. “We believe that this is good for our company, we will continue to sustain this. And as a matter of fact, as you may be aware, we’re the only company that publishes its operational reports: production, sales and everything on a monthly basis.”

Ukraine’s President Zelensky sacks security chief, top prosecutor

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his chief prosecutor, General Iryna Venediktova and the head of the country’s security agent, Ivan Bakanov on Sunday. Their sack was the largest government shakeup since the commencement of Russia’s invasion in February. According to Economic Times, Zelensky said he fired Venediktova and Bakanov as the war-laden country faces a high number of cases of suspected treason by Ukrainian law enforcement officials.   “Today, I made the decision of relieving of their duties the prosecutor general and the head of Ukraine’s security service,” Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation. Zelensky said over 650 cases of suspected treason and aiding and abetting Russia by Ukrainian security officials are currently being investigated, including 60 cases of officials who have remained in territories occupied by Russia and are working against Ukraine. “Such a great number of crimes against the foundations of national security and the connections established between Ukrainian law enforcement officials and Russian special services pose very serious questions to the relevant leaders,” Zelensky said. “Each such question will be answered.” Venediktova had led Ukraine’s investigation into alleged atrocities committed by invading Russian forces in the town of Bucha outside Kyiv, which caused international outrage.