In November, records showed that a total of 275 persons were killed, while 285 were abducted across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. The figures, sourced from the reports of major news platforms and Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), were collated and analysed by TheCable Index, the data and research arm of TheCable. Breaking down the figures, out of the 275 killed, 244 of them were armless civilians, 17 soldiers — of which 16 were killed in gruesome attacks by some suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP); nine were police officers, three security guards and two vigilantes. Analysis of the collated data by TheCable Index shows that during the month, per zone analysis, north-central tops the chart again for the fourth month in a row with a total of 109 people killed — with Benue, Niger and Plateau states hard hit. The north-west comes next with 58 casualties, 46 recorded in north-east, 18 in south-south and 9 in the south-west. For state-by-state analysis of killings during the month in focus, Benue leads with 58 fatalities. In early November, there was a bloody attack in Okpobula, Ezza community in the Apa Ward of Ado LGA of the state where 30 persons were reportedly killed. Other affected states are Kaduna with 32 casualties, Niger, 26; Plateau, 24; Enugu, 22; Zamfara, 21; Rivers, 15; and Anambra, 11. Also, six persons were killed in Imo, Ebonyi, 5; Kebbi and Ogun states, 4 each; Delta, 3; Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa, Ondo and Oyo had two fatalities each; while Kano, Nassarawa and Osun recorded 4 killings each. With 275 killed during the 30 days of November, this means an average of nine persons were killed daily. An analysis by TheCable Index shows that major news platforms in Nigeria reported the highest number of killings ever in the month on November 8 when 39 persons were killed in six different attacks in Benue, Kaduna, Plateau and Anambra. WHY CONSISTENT ABDUCTIONS IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA? For the months of August, September, and October, the collated data in the country repeatedly showed that the north-west zone has been severely ravaged by abductors, and November is no different. An analysis by TheCable Index revealed that a total of 285 armless civilians were abducted in various locations across the country. Per zone-by-zone analysis of the collated data, 197 people were abducted in north-west, 47 in south-south, north-central, 32; south-east, 5; south-west, 3; and north-east, 1. Per state-by-state analysis, 122 persons were abducted in Zamfara — which is 43% of the total — during the month under review. Kaduna recorded 77, Edo and Niger, 20 each; Cross River, 17; Rivers, 10; Enugu, 4; Kwara, 3; Plateau, 3; Kebbi and Ondo, 2 each; while Bauchi, Benue, Imo, Nassarawa, and Ogun had one each.

  The spokesperson for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party to apologise for its “undemocratic comment” against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu. The PUNCH had earlier reported the PDP Presidential Campaign Council accused Tinubu of being desperate to become president by hook or crook. In a statement by a spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Management Committee, Senator Dino Melaye, the party said, “The desperation of Tinubu to be President of Nigeria at all cost, by all means, and by crook and hook, was eloquently evidenced in his charge during his woeful outing in London.” He said a man who played dumb when asked critical questions on governance, suddenly roared into vibrancy threatening to snatch power. Melaye then asked, “How else will power be snatched through the ballot box if not a resort to violence, electoral violation, and other unorthodox methods of grabbing power.” However, Keyamo in a press statement titled, ‘Press statement by Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign council on PDP’s puerile accusation of inciting violence against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ on Friday, December 10, 2022, replied to the PDP saying that the main opposition party was devising a plot to bring down the APC presidential candidate through “unnecessary scare-mongering tactics and crass vituperations”, stressing, “This is what they employed and engaged in before the 2019 election which led to their crushing defeat.” He said, “Instead of concentrating on the disaster presently ravaging their party and praying to God to just survive as a going entity after the 2023 elections, we are confronted by such irresponsible statement.” The Minister of State for Labour and Employment added that Tinubu was a thoroughbred democrat and one of the major architects of the democracy the PDP and Nigerians enjoyed today. “He should be the very last of the presidential candidates to be accused of undemocratic conduct or underhand dealings in the electoral process. “These same characters who issued the statement were behind the poor showing of the PDP in 2019. “They are doing the same thing the same way again and expect a different result. With a disjointed party, divided governors and a comatose campaign, the PDP should realise the game is up. They are already finding excuses for their defeat,” he maintained. Keyamo further sought the party to tender their unreserved apology to Tinubu for their comment.

  The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, has sacked the majority leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Chukwu as the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly candidate for Ezza North West State constituency, in the 2023 general election. The lawmaker, who is seeking to return to the State House of Assembly was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP before his defection to the APC, alongside Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State. Chukwu’s sack, bordered on pre-election matters and the authenticity of his membership of the APC in the State. During the court proceedings, reliefs sought by Barr Leonard Igboke, in suit No. FHC/AI/CS/163/2022, (between Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke Vs Victor Uzoma Chukwu and 2 Ors) were all granted. Delivering his judgement, Justice Riman Fatum held that going by the Judgment delivered by Hon. Justice H A.Njoku of the Abakaliki High Court on 24/5/2022 ( just 2 days to the APC primary), Hon. Victor Uzoma Chukwu, purportedly became a member of APC on 24/5/2022, after the close of sale of nomination forms and screening of aspirants conducted by the APC, in the State. He further held that Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke was the qualified and duly nominated House of Assembly candidate of APC in Ezza North West State constituency of the State. The Court, therefore ordered the 3rd Defendant (INEC ) in the suit to delete the name and particulars of the 1st defendant, Hon. Victor Uzoma Chukwu, from it’s portal and consequently accept and publish the name of Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke as the authentic candidate of APC, for Ezza North West Constituency. The ruling of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, finally laid to rest the contest as to who was the authentic candidate of the APC for Ezza North West Constituency, in the 2023 general election. Reacting to the ruling, the candidate of APC, Ezza North West Constituency, Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke described the outcome of the Court as victory for democracy. According to him, “I am happy and I give all the glory to God for restoring the hope of my constituents. “This judgement really proves to all that the Judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man. And I assure our people that with me at the House of Assembly, they will get quality representations . The joke is now over. This victory for democracy.”

  Gunmen suspected to be enforcing five-day sit-at-home on Saturday attacked and burnt police patrol vehicle at New Market area of the state capital. Although the details of the attack were still sketchy, a senior police officer confirmed the attack to our correspondent. He, however, noted no life was lost, adding that a manhunt on the gunmen had been launched. A short video clip of the incident which our correspondent obtained showed a white patrol vehicle of police on fire. It was gathered that the gunmen who were numbering over 10 had stormed the New Market area as early as 6am probably to shutdown the market but they were confronted by some policemen patrolling the market area to reassure traders of their safety. They were reported to have engaged the policemen in a gun duel and eventually succeeded in setting ablaze their vehicle while the policemen fled. An eyewitness, Mike Ezeh, said, “I saw group of boys around 6am this morning shouting on traders coming to market to go home. They were shouting don’t you know there’s sit-at-home? Why are you disobeying it? “Shortly, I saw a police patrol vehicle coming and immediately, they engaged them in a shootout. I left my goods and ran to safety. After the shooting stopped, I came out and saw they had set ablaze the police patrol vehicle in front of the Colliery hospital,” Ezeh said. Efforts to speak with the state police public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as he could not answer his calls.

  The Enugu Police Command have arrested and prosecuted 22-year-old suspect, Chidubem Osuagwu, for allegedly murdering and stealing the car of his “sugar mummy” (older lover), Amarachi Chukwu (32), in the state. The Command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu on Friday.   Mr Ndukwe said that police detectives serving in the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu, working with police operatives in Imo Command, on November 8 arrested Osuagwu within Nekede axis of Owerri in Imo. According to him, he was attempting to sell a Toyota Corolla car he stole from Ms Chukwu, after murdering her on November 1 in her residence at Meniru, Awkunanaw within Enugu metropolis. “Investigation revealed that the suspect and his cohort at large, had in the morning hours of the mentioned date, conspired and went to the house of the victim, attempted to make away with her Toyota Corolla key, which she resisted. “And upon her resistance, they tied her hands, legs and mouth with clothes; locked her inside the house and made away with the car. “Her decomposing remains were, however, found in the said apartment on Nov. 4, after the door was forced opened by police operatives serving in Ikirike Police Division of the Command, following receipt of a report that an offensive odour was oozing out of the apartment. “The police operatives evacuated the remains to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead and the corpse deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy,” he said. The police spokesman said that the suspect had been arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation and had been remanded in Enugu Custodial Centre pending further hearing of the case.

  Saturday 10 December 2022 DSS ultimatum: Fuel distribution still problematic, say marketers More varsities mull tuition fee hike, NANS summons emergency meeting ‘I have no business with fraud’, says D’Banj after release from ICPC detention Buhari to Security Agencies: Kidnapped Anambra babies must be rescued immediately Gunmen kill Nollywood actor’s brother, policeman in Owerri Fire guts LASU Senate building Petrol: Queues disappear in Abuja after DSS ultimatum to marketers Russian court jails Putin’s critic for denouncing Ukraine’s war 2023: APC states denying us use of public facilities, PDP Campaign cries out Body of Benchers faults NBA use of social media for sensitive official documents Newly redesigned Naira now in banks, ready for issuance – Emefiele Supreme Court Affirms Umahi As APC Candidate For Ebonyi South 2023: Military Not Under Pressure To Compromise Polls – DHQ Labour Party Sacks National Publicity Secretary, Dissolves Ogun Excos Nigeria, DRC Top Global Malaria Deaths – WHO Tinubu’s Chatham House Outing Shows He Has A Competent Team – Fani-Kayode Bala Mohammed: Why some governors are reluctant to sign death warrants PWDs to Atiku: You’ve made no impact in our lives — Buhari is our best friend Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  A judge of the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, has revealed how the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly under-disclosed the assets seized from some jailed drug barons. But the NDLEA denied concealing any assets seized from the convicts in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the judge, Okon Abang, sentenced the nine drug barons to 10 years in jail, on Tuesday, and rebuked the agency for blocking stiffer punishment for them. The convicts include five Nigerians – Anthony Umolu, Chibi Aruh, Izuchukwu Anieto, Williams Agusi and Augustine Koisochukwu Umolu – with four internationally-wanted Mexican conspirators. The Mexicans are Cervantos Bruno, Rivas Pstiano, Castillo Cristobal and Patida Pedro. They were all caught in March 2016 at a “clandestine” laboratory in Asaba, Delta State, where they were producing a cocaine-like substance – methamphetamine, with evidence also showing they were operating a drug trafficking organisation. Mr Abang condemned NDLEA for entering into a plea agreement with the drug barons at an advanced stage of the six-year-old trial when their guilt had already been established. Only some assets linked to the drug barons were listed in the plea agreement for permanent forfeiture. They are a Mercedes Benz ML4 350 car, a Toyota Tundra Hilux van, and the sums of N20 million and N894,463.43 recovered from the convicts. Mr Abang ordered them to be permanently forfeited to the federal government on Tuesday. The judge ordered the sums of money to be paid into the federation account kept by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) within 30 days. Undisclosed assets Apart from seeking to reduce the jail time of the drug traffickers, the judge said, the plea agreement did not account for the landed assets recovered from the defendants. NAHCON State AD NAHCON Tour Operator AD NAHCON Cargo Operator AD Kogi AD “The NDLEA has not disclosed the entire property recovered from the convicts and admitted in evidence in the purported plea bargain agreement dated 30 June 2022 that ought to have been forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria,” Mr Abang had insisted on Tuesday. He noted that the illicit substances seized from the defendants admitted during the trial as exhibits and kept in the custody of NDLEA, and the equipment recovered from the clandestine laboratory were not presented for forfeiture. Similarly, the judge said the landed assets recovered from the convicts were also excluded from the plea agreement. The assets, according to the judge, included plots of land in Lagos, Ogun, and Anambra States, and a house in Abuja. “Where are those landed properties that were attached (seized)? Why are they not disclosed in the plea bargain agreement?” Mr Abang queried. ⓘ He listed the allegedly concealed assets as follows: Two (2) plots of land measuring approximately 1,330.524 square metres in Oko-Ado, off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State One (1) plot of land at Imaletealafia Village along Epe-Lagos Expressway, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos State Three (3) plots of land at HOMAC Estate, Phase 3 of Wisdom Park Estates Properties, Lagos State Property at Plot No. 219, Zone A, Gidan Mangoro Layout, (Angwan Mada Settlement Relocation Scheme) FCT, Abuja. Four (4) plots of land at Dumuria Layout, Dunboko Vilage, Umuoji, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State Twelve (12) plots of land at Ugbongene Land, Obosi, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State Two (2) plots of land at Wisdom Park Estates land within Mr Sunday Eke Estate in Orange Estate, Arepo, Ogun State Two (2) plots of land at Ogunleye Family Land at Arepo Village, Obafemi/Owode LGA, Ogun State One (1) plot of land at Ogunleye Family Land in Arepo Village, Obafemi/Owode LGA, Ogun State. ‘How undisclosed assets were discovered’ Mr Abang said in his judgement that he discovered the concealment from an ex parte application filed by the NDLEA on 1 September 2017, listing the landed assets, described as part of proceeds of the illicit drug transactions of the defendants, for forfeiture. With trial already ongoing at the time, the judge directed NDLEA to convert its ex parte forfeiture application to a motion on notice which would be served on the defendants to enable them to have a say in it. But the NDLEA opted not to pursue the application any further. Nothing was said about the forfeiture application or the assets for the rest of the trial. Mr Abang said the NDLEA ought to have presented the assets in the plea agreement for the court to order their forfeiture to the federal government. “These assets, seized by the NDLEA, ought to be declared to be transferred to the federal government of Nigeria,” he said. With the NDLEA failing to file the assets for forfeiture in the plea agreement, Mr Abang said, “I hold that the NDLEA is not transparent here, and cannot use the court to put a seal on an unlawful transaction.” He maintained that the NDLEA entered into the plea agreement to “compromise” the case and to enable the defendants to come out of jail early to enjoy their illicitly acquired wealth. ‘Questionable plea agreement’ Shortly after the arrest of the drug traffickers in 2016, the NDLEA charged them with five counts, including illegal production of illicit drugs and operation of a drug trafficking organisation. The alleged offences attract between 15 to 25 years in jail under the NDLEA Act. But in July, after six years of trial and 21 witnesses paraded in the case, NDLEA entered into a plea bargain agreement with the drug barons to secure a reduced jail time for them. The plea agreement proposed a 10 years imprisonment backdated by six years for the defendants. It sought to reduce the convicts’ jail time by the six years they already spent in detention while standing trial. It would have left the convicts with less than four years to spend in jail. The plea agreement also presented a list of some assets seized from the defendants as proceeds of illicit drug transactions for forfeiture to the federal government. The judge,

  Unidentified gunmen on Friday were seen shooting sporadically in some parts of Imo state. It was gathered from eyewitnesses in Owerri and its environs from where the incident happened. Also, the Imo state Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the development. However, it was said by the eyewitnesses that the gunmen’ plot was to enforce the sit-at-home order allegedly issued by one Simon Ikpa. An order which had been denied by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. In the process of the shooting, it was said that some persons were attacked and injured. It was rumoured that a brother to a Nigerian actor, Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw was among those severely attacked at the time of filing this report. Also, Security agents were allegedly attacked by the gunmen at different locations as well as residents returning from their daily activities. Some of the places affected were Ubommiri in Mbaitoli local government area and Orji in Owerri North Local Government Area. Other local government areas touched by the rampaging gunmen were Ideato North and South, Njaba, Orlu, and Oru West among others. Some residents were said to have been attacked at the village market square. Reacting, the Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, Micheal Abattam, said: “Our men are out there trailing the hoodlums and more plain cloth officers have been sent out to arrest the situation. For the killing of a brother to an Actor, Osita Iheme, that I can’t confirm now. We are investing it.”

  Bandits on Thursday night abducted the family of the lawmaker representing Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara at the State Assembly. The lawmaker identified as Yusuf Ardo was not around when the armed men stormed his residence in Jangebe community. A resident identified as Shafiu Lawal whose brother escaped the assault told Daily Trust that the armed men stormed the residence of the lawmaker around 11:pm. “They began to hit the gate and few minutes later they broke into the residence. My brother was inside and when he learnt about their arrival, he jumped over a fence and hid in the neighborhood.”   “They thought the lawmaker was around. When they could not find him they went away with his three daughters, wife and a son. They later moved to neighborhood and kidnapped three persons there” “The lawmaker was in the community Thursday evening but left for Talata Mafara town for a meeting. It looked like he was the prime target of the assailants. This is because they searched some neighbouring houses thinking that might have hid there. “They went with some nursing mothers but were released later. They asked one of the kidnapped victims to guide them back home,” Lawal said. The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment. He did not answer multiple calls from our correspondent. In February 2021 more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary school, Jangebe. They were later released after days of negotiations.