Crime Facts

Boat mishap claims 10 in Niger

  Ten people died when a boat traveling from Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki to Gajiwa/Kato in Shiroro local government area of Niger state capsized on Thursday afternoon. The incident was said to have been caused by water hyacinth, strong waves and tree grafting. Thirty-four people, including 20 males and 14 females, were said to be on board the boat. Confirming the incident, Niger Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said that the 24 survivors have been identified. NSEMA identified those who died as Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Abubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rafiya Yakubu and two unidentified victims. The agency further said that the boat had six drivers that include Dahiru Yusuf, Sa’idu Shu’aibu, Ahmadu Garba, Sa’idu Garba, Abdulaziz Yahaya, and Lukuman Sani. The agency said that only one body has been recovered adding that search for the remaining bodies were ongoing.

PROFILE: Katsina-Born BUK Graduate Is First Professor In History Of Nigerian Army

  The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has conferred the title of a professor on Abubakar-Surajo Imam, a lieutenant-colonel and Head of Department of Mechatronics Engineering at the institution. Imam is now is now Professor of Mechatronics Engineering. Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field that combines mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and control engineering. He is said to be the first professor from among serving personnel in the history of the Nigerian Army. The Registrar of the Academy, A.M Tukur, a brigadier-general, announced the promotion in a statement in Kaduna. He said the promotion was ratified during the NDA Council Meeting in September, and took effect from 1 October 2022. The registrar said that the council’s decision was a reflection of the confidence and recognition of the contributions of Imam to the Department of Mechatronics Engineering of the Academy. He said the new professor has provided exemplary services and upheld the standards of excellence expected in his field. “This recognition not only honours Professor Imam but also highlights the commitment of the Nigerian Defence Academy to acknowledging and rewarding outstanding contributions within its academic community.” “On behalf of the Commandant and staff of the Academy, I sincerely congratulate you on your well-deserved promotion. It is expected that you will continue to work hard to justify the confidence.” Profile Imam, who hails from Kankia in Katsina State, has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano, Kano State. He also holds a master’s degree in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, and PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics from the same university. Imam joined the Nigerian Army as a member of Short Service Combatant Course 32, and was assigned to the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He later converted to Regular Commission, and served in numerous units including 1 Base Workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, and DICON. Imam is an Examiner and Member Central Selection Committee for Master’s and PhD candidates being sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund. He is also a researcher with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Abuja, Command Engineering Depot, Buffalo Engineering Technology, and National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure. Imam is also a researcher with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Wudil, Kano State. The new professor has attended over 40 international workshops and numerous seminars and presented papers at several conferences in the United Kingdom, Spain, Egypt and the United States of America. He currently doubles as Head, Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Director Centre for Innovation and Creativity, at the NDA. At the NDA, Imam has through his Research and Development efforts enormously contributed to enhancing the visibility of the Academy among Nigerian Universities. He spearheaded the founding of the NDA Department of Mechatronic Engineering, and the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Creativity. The centre’s serves as platform for the realisation of Nigeria’s Military Industrial Complex through promotion of innovation and creativity in cutting-edge technologies related to novel military and civil hardware and software solutions, thereby reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign technical solutions. His published books cover Mechatronics; PIC Microcontrollers; Embedded Systems Design; Sensors and Actuators for Embedded Systems; Coding, Robotics and Drone Technology for Kids; and Field Manual for Drone Technology, among others. (NAN)

76-Year-Old Man Arrested For Impregnating Minor

  A 76-year-old man, David Ogunsanwo has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in Abeokuta, Ogun state. It was gathered that the 16-year-old girl is five months pregnant at the moment. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, confirmed the incident to newsmen. Adeleye, who expressed worry over the spate of defilement in the society, stated that the case would be charged to court.   The Commissioner assured that her ministry would follow the matter in order to ensure that justice is served. The commissioner, who condemned the acts of sexual abuse in the country, appealed to victims to always speak out, even as she called on parents to stop withdrawing cases out of victimisation. She recalled how a 12-year-old girl was defiled by two men and the father withdrew the case from the police, regretting that the same girl had been violated again. “We are aware that cases of violation and abuse are increasing. There’s a huge increase in these kinds of crimes, especially against children. “The incidents of people going to the police, reporting and withdrawing the case is also increasing. We want to draw the attention of all parents, that if their child is a victim of violation, report the case to the police and do not withdraw it, because when you withdraw the case, it gives the perpetrator the leeway to continue to do it and also do it to other children. “I am calling on the National Council of Women’s Society. We have a case of a 12-year-old girl, who has been violated before by two men. The case has been withdrawn by the father, and now she has been violated again by another person,” she said.

MEET Joseph Boakai, expected new president of Liberia

  Joseph Boakai, who is expected to win the presidency in Liberia after incumbent leader George Weah conceded election defeat, has four decades of political experience behind him. Boakai was vice president from 2006 to 2018 to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, who rebuilt the ravaged country after a civil war left an estimated 250,000 dead. This week’s vote was Boakai’s second run for the top job after he lost to President George Weah in a 2017 run-off.   The two faced off again in a second-round vote on Tuesday, following last month’s hard-fought first ballot, in which neither secured an outright victory. Boakai, 78, has castigated the record of his opponent, a former international star footballer, and emphasised his own experience in office, proposing a “rescue plan” for the West African country. He has pledged to improve infrastructure, invest in agriculture, attract investment, open the country to tourism and restore Liberia’s reputation. “His motivation is to rescue Liberia from the current state it is in,” Mohammed Ali, Boakai’s Unity Party spokesman, told AFP ahead of the vote. He highlighted an “influx of illicit drugs, the increase in the poverty rate (and) the image of the country being so low” as problems that have worsened under Weah’s presidency. His strategy seemed to have worked. While six years ago Boakai won 28.8 percent in the first round and 38.5 percent in the second, he pulled level with Weah in this year’s first round, with both receiving about 43 percent of the vote. With almost all the polling stations tallied after the latest run-off, Boakai had garnered 50.89 percent of votes against Weah’s 49.11 percent. – Alliances – Boakai has promised an inclusive government, reflecting the country’s political, ethnic, regional, religious and gender diversity. Some of the 18 other candidates who were now out of the second-round race have endorsed him. In the first round, he skillfully built alliances with local political leaders, such as the former warlord Prince Johnson, who supported Weah in 2017 and still enjoys strong support in his native Nimba County. An ally of Johnson — now a member of the Liberian Senate who is under US sanctions for corruption and was seen in a 1990 video sipping beer while his soldiers torture and kill president Samuel Doe — is Boakai’s running mate. Their ticket won easily in the heavily populated northeastern region. Like 57-year-old Weah, Boakai is from the Indigenous population and not the US-Liberian elite, who founded the free nation and were descended from slaves. He was born in a remote village in Lofa County near the borders with Guinea and Sierra Leone, often called Liberia’s “breadbasket”. He was agriculture minister from 1983 to 1985 under Doe. Boakai portrays himself as a simple man who rose from humble origins through hard work. He is married with four children. – Age and credentials – Throughout the campaign, his team presented Boakai as a man of integrity whose credentials make him the only candidate able to tackle corruption — one of Weah’s key 2017 promises and one on which some voters say he has failed. “He believes in perfection, he takes note of everything,” his senior adviser Augustin Konneh told AFP. “Boakai is a very humble person.” His opponents have argued that his age is a handicap, suggesting he is out of touch in a country where 60 percent of the population is under the age of 25. Rather than aspiring to run the country, they say he should retire and have nicknamed him “Sleepy Joe”.

Kwankwaso Tells Kano Governor To Accept Defeat

  A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Ilyasu Musa Kwankwaso, has called on the embattled governor of the state, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, to honourably accept defeat and accede to the verdict of the Appeal Court in Abuja, which affirmed Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as the rightful winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State. He cautioned Governor Yusuf against approaching the Supreme Court having lost at the Election Petitions Tribunal and the appellate court levels. Kwankwaso, a former Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in the State, made the call on Friday while reacting to the verdict delivered by the Court of Appeal on the disputed Kano State governorship election. “It would be another mission impossible for him to drag the case to Supreme Court going by the available evidence that nailed him at both Tribunal and the Appeal Court, respectively, hence, the need for him to go and rest till 2027,” he stated. He further hailed the victory of the APC governorship candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, describing his affirmation as governor-elect of the State as a triumph of democracy and rule of law. Kwankwaso said Governor Yusuf ought to have accepted the ruling of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in good faith, saying it was sad that he went ahead to waste the meager resources of the state at the Appeal Court. He noted that now that the Appeal Court has also nullified his electoral victory, it was better for him to settle down and prepare to re-contest in 2027 under a viable political party. “Governor Yusuf supposed to have read the hand writing on the wall, by analysing the various evidences used by the Tribunal to sack him,” adding that those evidence were convincing that it would be very difficult for any court to neglect. Kwankwaso added: “As a brother, I am using this medium to advise him to shelve any move to drag his defeat to the Supreme Court. He should just accept that this is not the time for him to be the governor of the state.”

Enugu govt shuts down school after sexual molestation of 3 year old girl

  Popular Enugu, private school; Tender Links has been shutdown by the state government after alleged 3-year-old pupil was allegedly molested. Responding to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc (+), has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (State CID) Enugu, to thoroughly investigate and ensure the prosecution of everyone involved in ugly incident. A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said “preliminary investigation proves that the child (names withheld) was found to have been sexually molested, with physical injuries and patches of blood observed on her private part, after the school’s bus dropped her at home on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. This is in addition to the receipt of similar complaints by parents of other children at the school. Three (3) suspects, comprising the victim’s female teacher, the school’s bus attendant and driver, have been arrested for interrogation. “The Commissioner describes the act as unthinkable and wonders why the school’s authority and teachers will allow such to happen to the toddler they are supposed to tutor and protect from such an ungodly act. He appreciates the Enugu State Government’s decision to shut down the school pending the conclusion of the investigation, while vowing to ensure that everyone found culpable faces the full wrath of the law.”

Hundreds Flee As Israel Orders Gaza’s Main Hospital Evacuated

  Hundreds of people fled on foot Saturday after Israel’s army ordered the evacuation of Gaza’s main hospital where more than 2,000 patients, medics and displaced people were trapped by the war between Israel and Hamas. An AFP journalist witnessed the movement, on a road leading south, but health officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said 450 patients unable to be moved remained at Al-Shifa hospital. The facility has become the focus of the war that is entering its seventh week after Hamas’s October 7 attacks on southern Israel. Israel has been pressing military operations inside the hospital, searching for the Hamas operations centre it says lies under the sprawling complex — a charge Hamas denies.Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in response to the October 7 attacks which Israeli officials say killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and saw about 240 people taken hostage. The army’s air and ground campaign has since killed 12,000 people, including 5,000 children, according to the Hamas government which has ruled Gaza since 2007. In Gaza City on Saturday morning, Israeli troops ordered over loudspeakers the evacuation of the Al-Shifa hospital “in the next hour”, an AFP journalist at the scene reported. They called the hospital’s director, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, to instruct him to ensure “the evacuation of patients, wounded, the displaced and medical staff, and that they should move on foot towards the seafront”, he told AFP. Israel has come under mounting pressure to back up its allegations that Hamas is using hospitals as command centres, a charge denied by Hamas, an Islamist movement with an armed wing. Al-Shifa hospital has also rejected the allegation. The United Nations estimated 2,300 patients, staff and displaced Palestinians were sheltering at Al-Shifa before Israeli troops entered the facility on Wednesday. They Are All Dead’ Israel has told Palestinians to move from the north of Gaza for their safety, but deadly air strikes continue to hit central and southern areas of the narrow coastal territory. “They said the south was safer, so we moved,” Azhar al-Rifi told AFP. But her family was caught in another strike that killed seven relatives, including her five-year-old nephew. Nada Abu Hiya, aged eight, said she suffered the third bombing of the war at the Nuseirat refugee camp on Friday. “There are bombings everywhere,” she said. “My grandmother is dead, my mother is dead, my grandfather is dead, my uncle is dead, they destroyed our house. Our neighbours’ house is also destroyed and they are all dead.” Israel has imposed a siege on Gaza, allowing just a trickle of aid in from Egypt but barring most shipments of fuel over concerns Hamas could divert supplies for military purposes. A first consignment of fuel entered Gaza after Israel’s war cabinet bowed to pressure from its ally the United States and agreed to allow two diesel tankers a day into the Palestinian territory. “We took that decision to prevent the spread of epidemics,” Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said. Raw Sewage A two-day blackout caused by fuel shortages ended after a first delivery arrived from Egypt late Friday, but UN officials continued to plead for a ceasefire, warning no part of Gaza is safe. A senior US official said Washington had exerted huge pressure on Israel for weeks to allow fuel in. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said 70 percent of residents have no access to clean water in south Gaza, where raw sewage has begun to flow on the streets. Under the deal, 140,000 litres (37,000 gallons) of fuel would be allowed in every 48 hours, of which 20,000 litres will be earmarked for generators to restore the phone network, the US official said.

FACT CHECK: Did Viral Video Of Gunmen Attack On Policemen Happened In Imo?

  The viral video where gunmen invade a police division and attacked officers is currently trending online. In a 52 seconds video which has gone viral, some police officers were seen lying lifeless after an attack by unknown gunmen. The video bellow  https://we.tl/t-82CJ6mO5dA Social media users captioned the video ” IMO-STATE Emekuku division was under attack this afternoon, officers dead and wounded. God help our officers. 17/11/2023″ Did the attack took place in Imo? The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye told CrimeFacts news that incident happened in Ebonyi State. The statement reads, IMO POLICE DEBUNKS VIRAL VIDEO OF ATTACK ON POLICE MEN AT EMEKUKU IN OWERRI NORTH LGA* The Imo State Police Command wishes to clear the air concerning a video making rounds in the media purporting the attack and killing of a Police Officers at Emekuku in Owerri North LGA of Imo State, on 17/11/2023. The Command wishes to put the record straight that there was no record of any incident of attack and killing Police Officers in Imo State yesterday, 17/11/2023. The incident shown in the viral video happened at Nwofe road, outskirt of Abakiliki Town and Ebonyi State Police Command has issued a statement confirming the attack, stating further that intense manhunt is ongoing to hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the dastardly act. To this effect, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, *CP Aboki Danjuma* calls on the general public to disregard the misinformation as circulated by rumor peddlers and miscreants whose stock in trade is to circulate false information capable of causing panic and apprehension amongst the good people of Imo State. The CP encourages Imolites to go about their lawful business without any form of fear or Intimidation as the Command under his watch is resolute in ensuring the maximum safety and security of the law abiding residents in the State as well as in sustaining the already established peace and night life in the State. To this end, the CP beckons on ‘Ndi Imo’ to continue to cooperate with the Police and other sister security agencies in the State by reporting any suspicious person or clandestine activities observed in their vicinity to the nearest Police Station or via 08034773600 or 08098880197. The CP calls on the media to continue to cooperate with the Command by reporting verified and credible news to the public. Also reacting, the Ebonyi State police command has confirmed that incident happened in the State. Verdict: The incident happened in Ebonyi and not Imo State.

Liberia Election: George Weah Concedes Defeat To Boakai

  Liberia’s incumbent president and football legend George Weah conceded defeat on Friday evening after nearly complete returns showed opposition leader Joseph Boakai leading with 50.89 per cent of the vote. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight the CDC (party) has lost the election, but Liberia has won. This is the time for graciousness in defeat, to put national interest above personal interest,” he said in a speech on national radio. Results published by the electoral commission after tallying the ballots from more than 99 per cent of polling stations gave Weah 49.11 per cent of the votes cast. The 78-year-old Boakai beat Weah by just over 28,000 votes. I can never feature in a film that negates Hausa culture, values – Aisha Najmu Fatima Muhammed Barnawi: Nigerian-Palestinian fighter for Palestine Weah said he had spoken to Boakai “to congratulate him on his victory”. “The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voice. However, the closeness of the results reveals a deep division within our country,” Weah said in his speech. Around 2.4 million Liberians were eligible to vote on Tuesday, but no turnout figures have been released. Dozens of Boakai’s supporters danced in celebration outside one of his party’s offices in the capital Monrovia. The elections were the first since the United Nations in 2018 ended its peacekeeping mission, created after more than 250,000 people died in two civil wars in Liberia between 1989 and 2003.

Nigerian female student hacked to death

  A Higher National Diploma female student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, in Kwara State, has been allegedly hacked to death by yet-to-be identified persons. The student, identified as Toyin Bamidele of the Food Technology Department, was allegedly hacked to death in her rented apartment outside the campus on Thursday. The alleged murder was confirmed to PUNCH Online on Friday by the institution’s acting head, Public Relations Unit, Mrs. Folake Oyinloye. Oyinloye, who said that the management had commenced an investigation into the murder in conjunction with security agencies, said, “The management condemns this inhumane act in strong terms, as it is strange in the polytechnic community. “While the circumstances behind the incident remain unknown, investigations are currently ongoing to reveal the identity of the evil occurrence by the appropriate security agencies and, as a matter of urgency, to fish out the culprits. “Her demise is an irreparable loss to the entire management and Staff of the Polytechnic. “The management somberly condoles with her family, friends, and the Department of Food Technology for the great loss and urges anyone who has useful information on this occurrence to report to Security Agents. “The management prays to God to repose her soul, grant her eternal rest and uphold her family to bear the loss.” All efforts to contact the police proved abortive, as the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Victor Olaiya, could not be reached on the telephone as of the time of filing this report.