Crime Facts

Boko Haram, ISWAP clash in Borno, more than 100 terrorists allegedly killed

  An infighting that broke out Friday between Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters near Marte, Borno State, North-east Nigeria, has allegedly led to the death of more than 100 terrorists on the two sides. Security sources aware of the clash between both Islamist groups said the fighting intensified on Saturday as more fighters were killed on both sides. PREMIUM TIMES reliably gathered that the fighting broke out between the Bakoura Buduma -led faction of Boko Haram and ISWAP over the control of turf around the Lake Chad Basin.   The battle continued into Saturday in the areas surrounding Bakuram on the fringes of Lake Chad. Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the ISWAP faction was trying to retaliate against the abduction of 60 of its fighters and three commanders by Boko Haram. This newspaper learnt that the latest battle was the worst confrontation between both previously aligned groups. ISWAP in the area is led by one Abou Idris, a former chief of operation of Boko Haram, who defected to join ISWAP. “There were casualties on both sides of the groups, but the ISWAP group had killed more Boko Haram terrorists. “As we speak now, the battle is still ongoing with over 100 of the terrorists killed on both sides”, one of our sources narrated. However, when contacted, the spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Onyema Nwachuwku, neither answered nor returned our calls. He also did not respond to a text message on his mobile phone asking for comment.

President Tinubu Currently Swearing in New Ministers At Presidential Villa

  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently swearing-in the 45 Ministers-designate of the executive cabinet at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The event is being attended by President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and some state governors. This comes less than a week after President Tinubu released the portfolios for the appointees The Ministers are taking their oaths in batches of five. The first batch comprised the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of State Labour, Nkiru Onyejiocha, Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, Minister of State-Oil Ekerikpe Ekpo and Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Ohaneye. Details later.

REPORT: Saudi Border Guards Kill Hundreds Of Ethiopian Migrants

  Saudi border guards fired “like rain” on Ethiopian migrants trying to cross through Yemen into the Gulf kingdom, killing hundreds since last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report Monday. The allegations, described as “unfounded” by a Saudi government source, point to a significant escalation of abuses along the perilous “Eastern Route” from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work. “Saudi officials are killing hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers in this remote border area out of view of the rest of the world,” HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said in a statement. “Spending billions buying up professional golf, football clubs, and major entertainment events to improve the Saudi image should not deflect attention from these horrendous crimes.” A Saudi government source told AFP: “The allegations included in the Human Rights Watch report about Saudi border guards shooting Ethiopians while they were crossing the Saudi-Yemeni border are unfounded and not based on reliable sources.” The New York-based group has documented abuses against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia and Yemen for nearly a decade, but the latest killings appear to be “widespread and systematic” and may amount to crimes against humanity, it said. Last year, UN experts reported “concerning allegations” that “cross-border artillery shelling and small-arms fire by Saudi Arabia security forces killed approximately 430 migrants” in southern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen during the first four months of 2022. The HRW report said there was no response to letters it sent to the Saudi interior and defence ministries, the human rights commission and Huthi rebels who control northern Yemen. In 2015, Saudi officials mobilised a military coalition in an effort to stop the advance of the Iran-backed Huthis, who had seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa from the internationally recognised government the previous year. Yemen’s war has created what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian situations. But many of the abuses described by HRW would have occurred during a truce that took effect in April 2022 and has largely held despite officially expiring last October. Close-Range Shooting The HRW report draws from interviews with 38 Ethiopian migrants who tried to cross into Saudi Arabia from Yemen, as well as from satellite imagery and videos and photos posted to social media “or gathered from other sources”. Interviewees described 28 “explosive weapons incidents” including attacks by mortar projectiles, the report said. Some survivors described attacks at close range, with Saudi border guards asking Ethiopians “in which limb of their body they would prefer to be shot”, the report said. “All interviewees described scenes of horror: women, men, and children strewn across the mountainous landscape severely injured, dismembered, or already dead,” it said. One 20-year-old woman from Ethiopia’s Oromia region said Saudi border guards fired on a group of migrants they had just released from custody. “They fired on us like rain. When I remember, I cry,” she said. “I saw a guy calling for help, he lost both his legs. He was screaming; he was saying, ‘Are you leaving me here? Please don’t leave me’. We couldn’t help him because we were running for our lives.” HRW called on Riyadh to “immediately and urgently revoke” any policy of using lethal force on migrants and asylum seekers and urged the UN to investigate the alleged killings. AFP

DSS Arrests Abuja-Kaduna Train Manager After Leaked Memo Of Terrorist Attack

  The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the Manager, Abuja-Kaduna Kaduna Train Services, Pascal Nnorli, following the leak of a memo warning of the possible terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway. According to The PUNCH, a staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the manager was arrested along with the Operations Manager, Victor Adamu, and other staff members. The DSS last Wednesday issued a security alert to the Nigerian Railway Corporation on a plot by bandits to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train link at any possible time. In a memo signed by the Director of the DSS, FCT Command, R.N. Adepemu, the secret police warned train passengers to be security-conscious. Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the NRC source said, “Do you know that they have arrested our manager since last Thursday – the two of them, the operation manager and Pascal? But they have released one of them. “Victor is a victim of circumstances because they met him in Pascal’s office, so they arrested him together with all Pascal’s staff and took them to the DSS office. Pascal is still there now.” The source said the arrest was likely to be in connection with the leak of the DSS memo. The source claims that the letter, which detailed sensitive information about the attack, was addressed to the Managing Director of the NRC, stressing that it explicitly warned that if the letter were to leak, it could lead to arrests. “I couldn’t tell why they arrested them but what I am hearing is they said one letter concerning this Abuja-Kaduna attack, they wrote one letter to our Managing Director and it states clearly that if the letter leaks, it can lead to arrest and according to DSS it was Pascal’s office they dropped the letter and the letter leaked and went viral.” When contacted, the Managing Director, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, declined comments.

Armed robbers shoot couple dead in Imo

: Suspected armed robbers shot dead a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Sampson Owobo in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Sunday night. LN247 correspondent learnt that Owobo who hailed from Edo State is a retired Assistant Superintendent of police. The Incident happened around 8pm besides the Chisco Transport company office very close to the Owerri Area police command office which also houses the Owerri Urban police Divisional headquarters at Egbu Road-Owerri, the state capital. An eyewitness who doesn’t want to mentioned said that the fleeing armed robbers who operated in a vehicle were trying to dispossess the couple who run a Point Of Sale business their bag containing unidentified amount of money. The distraught eyewitness said that when the three man gang could not succeed in snatching the bag of money, they shot the retired ASP on a close ranged at his fore head, close to his eyes. His wife was also shot at her left hand side, close to her chest at a closed range. While the husband died on the spot, his wife was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, by policemen where she was pronounced dead. He said ” three armed men just killed a husband and his wife. This incident happened close to the Chisco Transport company office which is very close to Owerri police Area command headquarters and Owerri Urban police Divisional headquarters, at fire Service on Egbu Road-Owerri. ” The armed robbers were carrying pump action riffles and were trying to carry a bag containing money. The husband and wife run a POS business and also sell loaves of bread. When they could not succeed in carrying the bag of money, they shot the couple on closed ranges. “They shot the man on a closed range at his fore head, closed to his eyes. They shot his wife on a close ranged too, at her left hand side, very close to her chest. While the man died immediately, his wife who was bleeding profusely was pronounced dead at FMC – Owerri. “The man’s name is Sampson Owobo. He hailed from Edo State. He is a retired police officer. He retired with the rank of ASP. He retired about five years ago or so. They armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.” When contacted, the spokesperson for the Police in the state, Henry Okoye, confirmed the murder of the couple and disclosed that the police in the state were on the trail of the fleeing suspects. “The murder of the couple is highly condemnable. The CP frowns at the killing of the couple and he has immediately ordered investigation into their killings with the mandate to apprehend the fleeing criminals.” Okoye said.

DAILIES TOP STORIES: FG prioritises economy, security as ministers take oath today

  Monday 21 August 2023 CBN loan to manufacturers, power firms rise to N5.6tn Niger: ECOWAS rejects junta’s three-year transition plan Farmers abandon farms, 23 Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi LGs under bandits Federal civil servants ignore employment ban, milk suffering job-seekers US court jails Nigerian, others for $2.6m fraud Syndicates spread fraud, issue fake results to desperate admission seekers Stop Wike, Oyetola, Umahi, others’ life pensions, SERAP tells Tinubu Brutally Frank: Many governors wealthier than their states — Clark Alleged murder of driver by soldiers: Investigation ongoing — Army Private car owners turn commercial to augment fuel money Tinubu Redeploys Oyetola, Tunji-Ojo, Renames Environment Ministry ‘Man To Man Is So Unjust’, El-Rufai Drops Cryptic Tweet With Bob Marley’s Lyrics Release Bawa, Remand Order Has Expired, Falana Tells DSS Pro-Coup Rally In Niger After Military Leader Warns Against Foreign Intervention Spain Beat England 1-0 To Win First Women’s World Cup NDLEA Raids Drug Warehouse In Lagos, Recovers N4.8bn Worth Of Opioids Somalia Orders Ban On Tiktok, Telegram Bandits Kill 5 Men, Kidnap Women, Rustle Animals In Katsina Seven states in dire straits, economic losses over border closure Forex crisis: Worry over policy inconsistencies as CBN brings back BDCs Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

US court jails Nigerian, others for $2.6m fraud

  A Nigerian, Okechukwu Iwuji, alongside two others, has been convicted and jailed for advance fee and money laundering scheme involving over $2m. An attorney from the US Attorney’s Office, Guam, Shawn Anderson, announced that 38-year-old Iwuji and the other convicts fraudulently obtained approximately $2,600,000 by inducing Guam-based investors to pay bogus fees for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The other convicts are Sally Roberto, 56, from Santa Rita; Monique Jones, 49, from Dallas, Texas. They were on Tuesday and Thursday sentenced for their crimes. Iwuji, a Nigerian citizen, who previously resided in Orlando, Florida, was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment; three years supervised release, ordered to pay $475,710 in restitution, a $100 mandatory assessment fee, and a $475,710 forfeiture money judgment, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “This far-ranging conspiracy preyed on 60 victims, nearly all of whom live in Guam,” Anderson said in a statement published by the US Attorney Office. “These scams are difficult to investigate and prosecute due to the interstate and transnational nature of the criminal activity. Our success in this matter is the result of a team effort across multiple jurisdictions, with outstanding leadership by prosecutor David. We will continue to pursue the collection of restitution for those harmed by the defendant’s conduct. The public must remain vigilant against this type of fraud,” Anderson added. Sally was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; ordered to pay $1,030,990 in restitution, a $3,900 mandatory assessment fee, and a $1,030,990 forfeiture money judgment. Mekayda was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; ordered to pay $387,160 in restitution, a $1,600.00 mandatory assessment fee, and a $801,210 forfeiture money judgment. Monique was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment; three years supervised release; ordered to pay $578,130 in restitution, a $2,700 mandatory assessment fee, and a $1,111,280 forfeiture money judgment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent, Special Agent Steven Merrill, said that the FBI would closely monitor similar cases and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice. “This sentence should make the public aware that these types of advance fees, associated with inheritance scams, will be investigated by the FBI and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. “If it is too good to be true, it probably is,” Merrill said.

Brutally Frank: Many governors wealthier than their states — Clark

  FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South- South Leader, Pa Edwin Clark has accused many state governors of using the position to amass wealth overnight to the extent of being wealthier than their states. He also accused them of spending their security votes without accountability.   Clark, who stated these in his 688-page autobiography titled: “Brutally Frank,” regretted that corruption has being the undoing of Nigeria. The 25-chapter book, which was launched in Abuja, last Thursday, revolves around Clark’s journey as a classroom teacher, commissioner, Minister, Senator and Nationalist spanning over 70 years. In Chapter 23, titled: “Kleptocracy in our society” from Pages 539 to 542, Clark took a swipe at some governors, saying they were nowhere yesterday and have now become so rich and powerful overnight because they were elected as governors. The elderstatesman also accused President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio of introducing what he described as two irresponsible laws when they were governors of Lagos and Akwa Ibom states respectively, adding that Tinubu introduced Ex-Governors’ Life Pension Law while Akpabio introduced Former Governor and Deputy Governor’s Pension Bill 2014. Clark said: “It is most regrettable and disappointing that corruption has eaten so deep into all facets of the Federal Government to the extent that those we expected to eradicate corruption in their states and the Attorney-General under whom anti-corruption agencies operate, seem to be involved in scandalous practices over the Paris Club loan repayment… Some lawyers bargain with the Governors Forum as to how much they are entitled to in the repayment being made to them by the local government even though it is not possible to follow all the exchanges. Corruption is the greatest tragedy of Nigeria… “It can rightly be said that the British colonial government was the first to introduce corruption to Nigeria in their scramble for Africa with other European countries after the Berlin Conference of 1884 through the traditional chiefs, who acted as their agents. A typical case which affected my people is the role played by the British colonial government in using a powerful local chief in the Niger-Delta, Dore Numa, to remove other local chiefs from office when they refused to cooperate with the colonial government. A good example is Nana Olomu of Koko Benin River. An expedition war was staged against him in 1892 and he was later deported to Accra in the Gold Coast. This gave the colonial government uninterrupied entry into the interior land. “Similarly, they used the same Dore Numa against His Royal Highness, Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi of Benin Kingdom in 1897. He too was deported but this time to Calabar, where he spent the rest of his life. This gave the British officers room to loot local artefacts and monuments. The looting of artefacts in 1897 was carried out by Capt. Philip, who further sold them to various countries in Europe. It is remarkable that today, a lot of these artefacts sold to Germany are being voluntarily returned by the German government after 124 years. “The same British government rewarded Dore Numa by making him a Paramount Chief of the Itsekiri people and the political agent of the British. “This gave him enormous power over others. The British government used him to acquire extensive land in Warri township which was leased to prominent businessmen in the same Warri township. In fact, there was much to be said of British corrupt practices as in the famous 1925 case of Omenta v. Dore Numa – a case which Omenta brought in defence of Agbasa people. Dore Numa had fraudulently leased to the British a portion of Agbasa land. An intelligence report stated that the case went on to Appeal in 1934; whereas, Dore Numa had died in 1932. “It was expected, based on the foregoing, that this trend of corrupt practices would be handed over to Nigerians when eventually they became part of government. “There was one of such alleged corruption cases involving the Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe, the foremost politician at the time. A Nigerian Tribunal of Enquiry was appointed to enquire into allegations of improper conduct (on the 4th of August, 1956), by the Premier of Eastern Region and certain other persons holding ministerial and other public offices in the Eastern Region of Nigeria. The alleged improper conduct was in connection with the affairs of the African Continental Bank (ACB) Ltd. and other relevant matters with the minutes of evidence taken before the Tribunal by Nigeria. “A statement was made by the Hon. Premier in the House of Assembly on the 8th of August, 1956 during the debate on a motion to appoint a Judge of the High Court of the United Kingdom and independent persons to serve in a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the relationship of the Hon. Premier with ACB. This enquiry was going on at this particular time when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the pre-eminent champion for the struggle for Nigeria’s independence. He was indeed very popular all over Nigeria. “Once again, I want to re-emphasise that corruption has eaten deepinto the fabric of society and unless corruption is reduced, it will destroy Nigeria. Govs used humongous powers to enrich themselves As said earlier, Nigerian Governors have enomours powers. But what have they done with these powers? Nothing, except to enrich themselves. “It is a pity that Governors who were nowhere yesterday, become so rich and powerful overnight because they were elected Governors. Their powers as governors and the money they have access to allow them to do anything, except that which God has not permitted them to do. In fact, some governors have become so wealthy that they are wealthier than their states. Contracts are awarded at inflated prices and the governor has to take 80% of the project for himself and only 20% goes to the state which he serves. This is illicit and criminal. Governors are now demi-gods because they own almost everything imaginable.

Somalia Orders Ban On Tiktok, Telegram

  Somalia’s government announced Sunday a ban on social media platforms TikTok and Telegram and an online betting app, saying they were being used by “terrorists” to spread propaganda. The move comes ahead of a much anticipated second phase of a military offensive against Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that has been waging a bloody insurgency against the central government in Mogadishu for more than 15 years. In a statement, the ministry of communications and technology ordered internet service providers to implement the ban by August 24 or face unspecified legal action. “In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society.” The army has been waging an offensive against the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in central Somalia since August last year, joining forces with local clan militias in an operation backed by African Union troops and US air strikes. Al-Shabaab fighters were driven from the capital Mogadishu in 2011 but still control swathes of countryside and continue to wage deadly strikes on civilian, political and military targets despite the government offensive. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed to rid the troubled Horn of Africa country of the jihadists and is expected to announce shortly a second phase of the offensive against them in southern Somalia. AFP

Bandits Kill 5 Men, Kidnap Women, Rustle Animals In Katsina

  Bandits on Sunday killed one Rabilu Tukur of Dan Ali village, Danmusa LGA of Katsina State. Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened around 1pm. A resident of Dan Ali, who sought anonymity, told our reporter that the deceased, who was a staff of Danmusa LG, was returning home after dropping a passenger at Tashar Biri village. “He used his motorcycle for commercial purpose and had conveyed a passenger to Tashar Biri village, and was on his way back when the killers followed him and close to Dan Ali village, they attacked him using a cutlass to hack him to death in broad daylight. He added that bandits had also traced locals who migrated to Dan Ali village with their animals for their safety and rustled several animals. He said there is an upsurge in banditry in recent days, with the bandits in most cases operating unchallenged. In a related development, bandits on Friday attacked Maidabino village, also in Danmusa LGA, where they conducted a house-to-house raid, killed one person, kidnapped his wife and also rustled his animals. A resident of Maidabino said the attackers came around 2am in their numbers, attacked many houses and in the process killed the man who hid in his toilet. They shot him and abducted his wife, and left their little children behind. “What is more frightening is that there are soldiers stationed at Government Day Secondary School in the village and they were alerted during the attack but they did not show up until the terrorists left,” a resident of the village said. He added that on the same Friday, bandits attacked Sabon Garin Unguwar Ganau, killed three people and kidnapped several women. He said in the whole of Danmusa LGA, only the local government headquarters was relatively safe as all other villages were frequently attacked. In another incident, attackers, who were said to have been invited by the local bandits, invaded Yar Tsamiyar Jino village in Kankara LGA wielding weapons. A resident of the area, however, said a fighter jet of the Nigerian Airforce fired and dispersed them. The bandits, he said, have placed a levy of N3 million on the villagers. “Luckily enough, the locals have a kind of understanding with one of the bandits’ gang leaders in the area called Buzaru, who was once attacked by the Nigerian Airforce. “It was that bandits’ commander that asked the newcomers to refrain from collecting the levy or he would fight them. That is what saved the villagers,” he claimed. Daily Trust gathered that villages in the western part of Kankara LGA were mostly under the control of bandits’ leaders who had confiscated farms and forced the villagers to work for them. A resident of Pawwa, who is taking refuge in Kankara, headquarters of the LGA, who also has his farms occupied by the bandits, said from Pawwa, Sabon Gari, Sha’iskawa, Gidan Galadima, up to villages close to Katoge, were all occupied by bandits. “I had to beg one of the bandits’ leaders to let me use one of my farms. He allowed us a small space to cultivate while he cultivated all the other farms. “They have occupied our areas; they have seized all our farms except for a few and they are forcing our people to work of them. Some of them will cook spaghetti for the people who are forced to work from morning to evening, while others will only give you water throughout. We are just like slaves in that area. The bandits migrated from Zamfara area with their sophisticated weapons, and the areas are safe haven for them as no one challenges them,” a resident of Pawwa village, one of the occupied areas also said. The bandits’ atrocities were coming at a time when the state government has earmarked N7.8bn to procure security equipment to combat banditry, with Governor Radda, saying his administration would be more proactive than being on the defensive. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, confirmed the incident at Dan Ali. He said there was an ongoing operation in the area to apprehend the perpetrators. On the recent resurgence of attacks in the state, the police spokesman said there was a comprehensive plan underway involving the state government, police and other security agencies to address the situation. “I cannot disclose the details of the plan, but I assure you that we’re preparing in a combined effort by the state government, the police and other security agencies to deal with the situation,” he said.