Crime Facts

Zamfara Banditry Kingpin Gets Chieftaincy Title

  A banditry kingpin known as Ado Aleiro was on Saturday turbaned as Sarkin Fulanin Yandoto by the Yandoton Daji Emirate in Zamfara State, Daily Trust on Sunday has gathered. The turbaning ceremony was held hours after the emirate announced the suspension of the process. A banditry kingpin known as Ado Aleiro was on Saturday turbaned as Sarkin Fulanin Yandoto by the Yandoton Daji Emirate in Zamfara State, Daily Trust on Sunday has gathered. The turbaning ceremony was held hours after the emirate announced the suspension of the process. Jailbreaks: 6,108 escapees threaten Nigeria’s war against terror Bandits ambush soldiers in Plateau, abduct priests in Kaduna In May, the Zamfara State House of Assembly amended the Zamfara State Emirate Council Establishment Law No. 15 of 2000 to allow for the creation of two additional emirate councils. The two emirate councils under the law are ‘Yandoton Daji Emirate with second class emir comprising ‘Yandoton Daji, Keta, Kizara, Bawa-Ganga, Kwaren-Ganuwa, Danjibga and Kunchin-Kalgo districts with its headquarters at Birnin ‘Yandoto. Aleiro was billed for the turbaning by the Emir of Yandoto Alhaji Aliyu Marafa on Saturday. However, few hours to the ceremony, the process was halted on the orders of the state government, Daily Trust on Sunday learnt. The decision to confer the title on the banditry kingpin was premised on the pivotal role he played during a recent peace process locally arranged between the emirate and the bandits terrorizing Tsafe Local Government Area. Sources at the emirate told our correspondent that the state government had ordered the halting of the conferment of chieftaincy title on the bandits’ leader for fear of backlash from the public after the process was leaked to the media. “The Secretary of the Emirate told me this morning that the process has been suspended till further notice. It was not in the interest of the emirate council but that of a politician in the area,” the source said. The turbaning ceremony was held at the palace of the Emir of Yandoton Daji and was attended by the council chairman of Tsafe Local Government and the state Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe (rtd). “The bandits’ leaders and lieutenants on dozens of motorbikes also graced the occasion. They rode along Gusau-Funtua highway and had a stopover at Gidan Dawa community where residents donated cartons of soft drinks to them,” said a source from the town who did not want to be named. “It was not clear whether Aleiro spoke at the turbaning ceremony or not but one of frontline lieutenants who spoke at the ceremony lamented how people are calling them armed criminals,” a resident identified as Sufyan told our correspondent. “We are not armed robbers neither are we terrorists. But for the peace process to be sustained, government at the federal and state levels must do the needful by providing grazing lands, schools and hospitals for herdsmen,” he was quoted as saying. During the botched 2019 peace deal between the state government and the armed men, a government delegation had met with Aleiro at Munhaye, a community located 15km west of Gusau-Funtua highway. The terror kingpin had promised to lay down arms and give peace a chance but later reneged on his promise and renewed his deadly attacks on communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state as well as Faskari and Kankara local government areas in neighbouring Katsina State. The bandits’ leader was the arrowhead of a deadly raid on Kadisau, a community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, where about 52 people were killed. Shortly afterwards, the Katsina State Police Command placed a N5 million bounty on his head. Since then, he has masterminded several assaults on communities in Tsafe and Faskari local government areas of Zamfara and Katsina states. Armed bandits have escalated attacks and abductions in communities across the state, the latest being an attack on Mada community in Gusau Local Government Area of the state. About three weeks ago, the armed men had invaded the community, looted shops and dispossessed traders and other individuals of their valuables. The criminals had earlier shot dead 3 farmers in the community. The bandits had also orchestrated series of abductions in Zurmi town, Furfuri in Bungudu local government and Gidan Dawa in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state. Since the start of the rainy season, several farmers have been shot dead or abducted while tending their farmlands. Majority of such farmers in the state’s rural communities have also been blocked from accessing their farms. In the same vein, Tsafe Local Government Area has also suffered series of attacks by the criminals since the beginning of this year. Dozens of residents had to flee Magazu, a community located 5Km south of Tsafe town and along Gusau-Funtua highway following incessant bandits’ incursions. However, following attacks on Mada, a community situated 10km north of Yandoton Daji town, Ado Aleiro was engaged in peace talks a couple of weeks ago. “Aleiro attended the peace talks himself. The meeting took place at the outskirts of Mada community. He was there with some of his boys and promised to halt the attacks. Government representatives, local chiefs and some community leaders were at the meeting. I personally attended the meeting also,” a resident Lawal Mada told Daily Trust. Concerns over Katsina peace accord with bandits There are growing concerns over the recent peace accord entered into between bandits and residents of Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State. The peace agreement was said to be facilitated by security officials deployed to the area in conjunction with political and traditional leaders. The move was said to be initiated at the instance of the bandits. Some residents, who spoke with our correspondent on the development, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the agreement so far. A resident of Danmusa, who pleaded anonymity, said the agreement was entered into at the local government secretariat with local government officials and traditional leaders on one hand and the bandits’

800,000 children diseased, denied education, sexually abused

  Given the vile herdsmen attacks on Benue communities that set off full blast on New Year’s Day of 2018, the state can be tagged undeniably as the hub of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the country. And with those attacks forcing about two million people into close to 30 official and unofficial IDPs camps scatted across the state, Benue can best be described as the epicenter of humanitarian crisis in Nigeria at the moment.   The state is currently facing the worst human, economic, environmental, social and infrastructural desecration unleashed on it by series of countless unbridled attacks by armed herdsmen. The attacks have also led to the death of thousands of the farming populace while schools, markets, hospitals, houses, power supply, farmland, food barns and social amenities have been destroyed by the invaders. While the Samuel Ortom administration, in the last four years, has relentlessly grappled with the situation despite obvious signs that the development has overwhelmed its capacity to cope, the Federal Government, according to the state government, prefers to turn a blind eye to the herdsmen induced disaster in the state. A visit to some of the IDP camps was quite revealing. No doubt the state is littered with IDP camps housing close to two million persons, it was heartrending to discover that a huge number of those in the camps in obviously dire conditions were children who, aside being displaced from their homes, have also suffered the dislocation of their education. Official figures have it that over 800,000 Benue children are currently displaced and taking refuge in the camps and host communities across the state. Access to education And of this number, according to the Executive Director of Community Links and Human Empowerment Initiative, CLHEI, Dr. Helen Teghtegh, who works closely with the IDPs, not up to 10 percent of the displaced children have any access to education.   Teghtegh noted that, aside lack of access to education, most of the children in the camps have had to carry on without access to medical care. She said, “It is as bad as that because it’s been a huge issue and a challenge that the state is burdened with. “In terms of education with a population of over 800,000 children living in the camps as a result of the attacks, whatever effort that is ongoing is like a drop in an ocean. “Greater numbers are still out of school. I only recently I bought a form for a 16-year-old girl to write common entrance, who was out of primary school when she was 14 years due to the attacks. “Her type is just loitering about and as a result they are potential victims of traffickers. They are also exposed to early child marriage and child labour. “People also go to pick them as house helps. And in the course of that, some of them are abused sexually. “I can also bet you that not up to 10 percent of the displaced children are in school. Though there are one or two facilities set up in some camps which are not a formal school. “At some point you see teachers go there, volunteers also go there for sometime’ but when their resources are exhausted, because they have to transport themselves, they stop going to teach the children. “Moreover it is not everybody that is enrolled. And this response in the camps is basically for primary school children. So the post primary school children are suffering. “Most of them cannot go to secondary school because their parents cannot afford it. “And then of course those who managed to go through secondary school are not able to register for WAEC or NECO. “Again, most of the camps have no clinics. So, when children come down with ailment, those who have money would afford some medication but those who do not have suffer the impact because the camps are much and the state government and partners cannot be in all at the same time because the burden is overwhelming without the intervention of the Federal Government. “Regrettably the Federal Government has failed to pay attention to our situation in Benue.” Medical conditions Recounting the ordeals of the IDPs at the Daudu l (Shelter) camp, a health personnel attached to the camp, Mr. Lazarus Gbam, lamented that children in the camp often suffer some medical conditions including malaria, malnutrition as well as diarrhoea and vomiting “The major health challenge we have in the camp among children is malaria, malnutrition and sometimes stooling and vomiting. When they fall sick we refer them to FSP Clinic Daudu. “As for the education of the children, we have an emergency school in the camp for the children though it is not the formal school, it is the government’s way of ensuring that the children get access to education,” he said. At the Naka IDPs camp in Gwer West LGA, the Camp Manager, Mr. Matthew Asaaga, disclosed that the children in the camp were living in extreme condition. Asaaga said: “The situation of children in the camp is very bad. There is no healthcare facility in the camp and there is no school for the children as well. “When the children fall sick, and since there is no money to take them to hospitals, their parents resort to herbal remedy or treatment for them. “As I speak with you eight of them are sick with malaria and typhoid which is the common ailment in the camp and there is no single health facility in the camp. “Malnutrition, stooling and vomiting among the little children is also another health concern we have in the camp. The situation is too huge for the state government such that no matter how the government tries, it would not be able to meet the food and health needs of the IDPs without support from the Federal Government which is not coming. “They cannot access hospitals because there is no money. There is a private hospital close-by but it costs money.

Atiku shops for campaign DG, seeks Obasanjo’s endorsement

  Plans are currently ongoing for the inauguration of the campaign council of the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, Sunday PUNCH has learnt. The spokesperson for the PDP candidate, Paul Ibe, made this known in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja. According to Ibe, the council will be formed in such a way individuals who lost out in the primaries of the PDP are integrated into the team. Atiku emerged the winner of the presidential primaries of the PDP on May 28, 2022, in Abuja, after polling a total of 371 votes, defeating the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who scored 237 votes. Other aspirants who lost in the race include Bukola Saraki, 70 votes; Sam Ohuanbunwa, 1; Anyim Pius Anyim 14; Udom Emmanuel, 38 votes; Bala Mohammed, 20. Since Atiku emerged as the flag bearer, the opposition party has been embroiled in rancour. The crisis became worsened after he named Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election. Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, Ibe said, “Plans are underway to inaugurate the campaign council and appoint a director general. You have to understand that this is not just an Atiku thing. Everyone has to be involved. There are plans to integrate other individuals who lost out at the primaries.” Meanwhile, there are indications that Atiku’s camp is making plans to get the support and open endorsement of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo had declared support for Atiku and his running mate, Peter Obi, in the 2019 general elections. In a video in circulation, the former president described Atiku as “ a man who has what it takes in experience, exposure, in lessons that he has learnt – and he has learnt his lessons; I tried to teach him a few of them – to create a change for the better”. However, in another recent report, Obasanjo said choosing Atiku as VP was one of the two greatest mistakes he had made in his lifetime. Obasanjo stated this while answering questions posed by students from selected secondary schools that participated in the finals of the National Exhibition and Awards organised by Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship. He said, “One of the mistakes I made was picking my number two when I wanted to become the President. But because it was a genuine mistake, God saved me.” In a recent development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Atiku Support Organisation, Dr Victor Moses, told Sunday PUNCH that there were genuine moves in line to make sure we get “Baba Obasanjo” on our side. He noted that if Obasanjo could endorse Atiku in 2019, he might do so in 2023. “His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has a lot of respect for Sir Olusegun Obasanjo. That is why no matter what Baba (Obasanjo) says, he doesn’t respond. “Even when Obasanjo said Atiku was one of the worse mistakes he had made in his lifetime, Atiku didn’t respond because of this respect. “We are trying to get his endorsement because it would mean a lot for us. Obasanjo was Atiku’s principal, and if he could endorse Atiku in 2019, he should be able to do it now. “When the time comes, we will reveal our plans on how to do so. Now, it seems as though Obasanjo is supporting another candidate, but we will try to get him on (our side). That is why no matter what he (Obasanjo) says about Atiku, he (Atiku) doesn’t respond so he doesn’t escalate the crisis between the two of them. We need his (Obasanjo’s) blessings for Atiku/Okowa ticket. “Atiku is what he is today because Obasanjo took him up as Adamawa governor and made him his VP. Atiku also contributed significantly to getting Obasanjo to become the president. Obasanjo was nowhere to be found. It was Atiku, Yar’Adua and the rest that fought for democracy,” he said. Moses challenged anyone with any corruption allegation on Atiku to come forward before he (Atiku) “becomes the president.” He added, “All these allegations of stealing and corruption on Atiku are fiction. If Atiku stole money, Obasanjo’s many probes would have found him out. His hands are clean. “Atiku was one of the most investigated public servants as a result of all these allegations. Despite all these allegations, nothing was found against him. Atiku has said, several times, that anyone with allegations against him should come out. “He (Atiku) will accompany them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to clear his name. Nobody is coming out.”

7 Things To Know About Adeleke, Osun Governor-Elect

  Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke is the governor-elect of Osun State. Adeleke who lost election four years ago bounced back to unseat an incumbent governor. The governor-elect was a private businessman until a couple of years back when circumstances brought him into politics. He represented Osun West at the Senate from 2017 to 2019. Below are seven things to know about the PDP governorship candidate in the election. Education Adeleke commenced his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Surulere Lagos State; he then relocated to Old Oyo State and attended Nawarudeen Primary School, Ikire. He progressed to The Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School, Ede in the then Old Oyo State and later moved to Ede Muslim Grammar School, where he finished his secondary school education before relocating to the United States. High Education Adeleke started his higher studies at Jacksonville State University, Alabama in the United States where he majored in criminal justice and with minor in political science. He later enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the United States, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice in 2021. Private sector Adeleke is a businessman and administrator; between 2001 to 2016 he was the group executive director at his brother’s company, Pacific Holdings Limited. Prior to joining Pacific Holdings Limited, Ademola had worked with Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, US, as a service contractor. Multi-million dollar business Adeleke established his own Company , Origin International Limited. The company was co-founded with one of his friends; and it produces of fragrance and flavour for food and beauty industry. Of the business, he said, “The business was a major break for me. It was also a pioneering effort. We penetrated several American markets. That manufacturing venture yielded a lot of returns. You know only competent and smart people can successfully create and run business in the United States.” Politics As a philanthropist, Adeleke started his political career in 2001 alongside his late brother Senator Isiaka Adeleke who died in April 2017. He contested at the Osun west 2017 by-election after the death of his brother and emerged the winner under the People’s Democratic Party. In 2018, defeating Akin Ogunbiyi by seven votes in a primary election, Adeleke emerged the governorship candidate of PDP in Osun State. Certificate forgery Adeleke was accused and charged before an Osogbo high court for allegedly forging his secondary school testimonial and WAEC result to cancel his governorship candidacy. The testimonial he submitted to INEC dated 20 July 1988, as its Heading Ede Muslim Grammar School, Osun State, as at that year Osun state was not in existence. Also the SSCE results indicated in the testimonial shows that the mode of examination wasn’t existing in the year 1981. Another testimonial with the Heading Ede Muslim High school dated 2018, indicates that the principal which signed the 1988 testimonial also signed the 2018 testimonial, this led to the arrest of the principal. Governorship Race in 2018 Adeleke contested for governorship position in Osun state under the platform of the PDP against top contenders Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of APC and Iyiola Omisore of SDP on 22 September 2018. The election was declared inconclusive by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and a rerun slated in seven local government on 27 September 2018. After the supplementary election INE declared Oyetola winner. Adeleke protested the result which he described as a “coup”.

Buhari Wishes Osinbajo Speedy Recovery After Successful Surgery

  President Muhammadu Buhari has wished Vice President Yemi Osinbajo a speedy and full recovery after the VP underwent surgery for a leg fracture on Saturday. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President gave God glory for the success of the surgery and prayed for Professor Osinbajo’s quick recovery. He also commended the medical team at the Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos for “their competence and a job well done”. The Vice President announced via a Twitter post on Saturday that he had been admitted and was billed to undergo surgery after experiencing pain in his leg, discovered to be from a fracture he sustained while playing squash. His spokesperson, Mr Laolu Akande, later issued a statement saying the surgery was a success. According to him, the Vice President is alert and well after the procedure at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos. “The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, was admitted to the Duchess International Hospital GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, today on account of a fracture of his right femur (thigh bone), possibly related to a longstanding injury associated with a game of squash,” stated Dr Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi who is the medical director of the hospital. “He had a surgical operation performed by a team of specialist doctors, including Dr Wallace Ogufere (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr Om Lahoti (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr Babajide Lawson (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr Ken Adegoke (Consultant in Anaesthesia & Critical Care), Dr Oladimeji Agbabiaka (Consultant Anaesthetist), and Dr Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi (Consultant Physician & Medical Director). “The operation was successful, and he is expected to be discharged within the next few days.”

Adamu: APC doesn’t want to lose members — but we can’t force anybody to stay

  Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says his party does not want to lose any member but it cannot force anyone to stay. Speaking with journalists on Saturday after visiting Abdullahi Mohammed, governor of Nasarawa, at the government house in Lafia, Adamu said it is a “season for defection” in the country’s political space. The national chairman said politicians are adults who are capable of making their own decisions. “We don’t want to lose any member but if a member willfully wants to leave the party without recourse, we can’t force anybody to stay or leave the party,” the former governor said.   “The issue of defection; there is a season for it in politics particularly in developing countries, and it is not news in Nigeria. “Anybody who is a member of this party is an adult and when an adult takes a decision, it’s either you convince him and if the decision is not favourable to you and he does his bidding, you leave him for God who decides everything.” Adamu said his party is working to win the general election scheduled to be held in February 2023.   “As for winning elections, we are working to win. By the grace of God, we will win the elections,” the national chairman said.

Uzodimma appoints Chief Political Adviser/Head of Political Bureau

  Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has appointed pioneer Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr Enyinnaya Onuegbu as his Chief Political Adviser and Head of Political Bureau of his administration. This was disclosed in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr Oguwike Nwachuku, in Owerri on Sunday. According to the statement, his appointment takes immediate effect.   Onuegbu also had a short stint as Commissioner for Power before the governor dissolved his Cabinet that affected him. The statement disclosed that Uzodimma announced the appointment on Saturday at a meeting with candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. “Onuegbu, an ex-officio member of the APC, is a committed member of the party and has many years of active experience in legal practice. “He hails from Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State and as the Traditional Prime Minister of his community, goes by the title of Ebekuodike,” the statement added. Uzodimma urged Onuegbu to bring the wealth of experience he had acquired in the traditional, political and legal institutions into the office. (NAN)

‘It’s A New Dawn’: PDP Reacts To Adeleke’s Victory In Osun Guber

  The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has described Senator Ademola Adeleke’s win in the Osun State governorship election as a ‘New Dawn’ PDP made this known via its verified Twitter page as the returning officer for the governorship election in Osun State, Prof, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe declared Adeleke winner of the poll. The tweet read: “INEC has declared our Guber Candidate, Adeleke as the winner of the 2022 Governorship Election in Osun State. Adeleke defeated the @OfficialAPCNg Candidate, Gboyega Oyetola with 403,371 votes. It’s a new dawn! Imole De.” He emerged the winner of the Osun governorship election with 403,371 votes. He polled the highest vote defeating his major contender, Governor Gboyega Oyetola who polled 375,027.

Osun: PDP’s Adeleke Unseats Governor Oyetola Of APC

  Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke has been declared the winner of the Osun State governorship election. Adeleke emerged the winner of the election with 403,371 votes. Announcing the winner on Sunday morning, the returning officer for the Osun governorship election, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe announced that Ademola polled 403,371 votes. He polled the highest vote to win his major contender, Governor Gboyega Oyetola who pulled 375,027 and Action Democratic Party (ADP) Kehinde Atanda as the second runner-up. Adeleke won 17 local governments while Governor Oyetola from the ruling party won 13 local governments. The former lawmaker had in 2018 contested with the incumbent governor and lost the election to him in the rerun. See results as collated: Atakunmosa East LG APC: 7,449 PDP: 6,992 ============= Atakunmosa West LG APC: 6,601 PDP: 7,750 RA7 There was an infraction in a polling unit. Corps member was axed and has been hospitalized ============ Ayedaade LGA APC: 14,527 PDP: 13,380 ============= Ayedire LGA APC: 7,868 PDP: 7,402 ============= Boluwaduro LG APC: 5,649 PDP: 5,860 =============== Boripe LGA APC: 21,205 PDP: 7,595 ============= Ede North LGA APC: 9,603 PDP: 23,931 ============= Ede South LGA APC: 5,704 PDP: 19,438 ============= Egbedore LGA APC: 9,228 PDP: 13,230 ============= Ejigbo LGA APC: 14,355 PDP: 18,065 ============= Ife Central LGA APC: 17,880 PDP: 13,532 ============= Ifedayo LGA APC: 5,016 PDP: 4,730 There was overvoting in one of the PU ============= Ife East LGA APC: 19,353 PDP: 18,071 ============= Ifelodun LGA APC: 16,068 PDP: 17,107 Overvoting in a polling unit in Ikirun. ============ Ife North LGA APC: 9,964 PDP: 10,359 ============= Ife South LGA APC: 12,481 PDP: 9,116 ============= Ila LGA APC: 11,1163 PDP: 13,036 ============ Ilesa East LGA APC: 13,452 PDP: 10,969 ============== Ilesa West LGA APC: 10,777 PDP: 13,769 ============= Irepodun LGA APC: 12,122 PDP: 14,369 ============= Irewole LGA APC: 18,189 PDP: 14,216 ============= Isokan LGA APC: 10,833 PDP: 10,777 ============= Iwo APC: 17,421 PDP: 16,914 ============= Obokun LGA APC: 9,727 PDP: 13,575 ============= Odo-Otin LGA APC: 13,482 PDP: 14,003 Hoodlums invaded RA6 PU2 with guns and snatched the ballot box in Inisa. ============= Olaoluwa APC: 9,123 PDP: 7,205 ============= Olorunda APC: 18,709 PDP: 21,350 ============= Osogbo LGA APC: 22,952 PDP: 30,402 =========== Oriade APC: 14,189 PDP: 15,947 ============= Orolu LGA APC: 9,928 PDP: 10,282 =============

BREAKING: Osinbajo to undergo surgery

  Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is currently hospitalized for a surgical operation. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this on Saturday evening. “VP Osinbajo is in the hospital today for a surgical procedure on account of a recurrent pain in the leg possibly sustained from an injury while playing squash. His doctors would give an update of the treatment later today,” he tweeted. Details later… DailyTrust