Crime Facts

Taraba Couple Arrested For ‘Working’ With Terrorists

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army have apprehended three suspects including a couple for allegedly collaborating with terrorists in Taraba State. The spokeperson of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Oni Olubo, said the suspects were arrested at Lande Jessy village in Lau Local Government Area of the state. He stated that an operation carried out by the troops following an intelligence report led to the arrest of the three suspects. According to the Army spokeperson, the three suspected collaborators are Ahijo Sulaiman, Abdulrahman Isah and Aisha Mohammed. Captain Oni revealed that during the investigation, Mohammed who is married to Sulaiman confessed that the latter’s residence was used for hiding weapons after operations by bandits. “The Nigerian Army remains committed to the protection of lives and property, as well as the preservation of the nation’s territorial integrity. “We urge the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies as we work together to rid the country of terrorism and other forms of insecurity.” Captain Oni said.

Police arrest two students for ‘stealing 100 phones’ in Bauchi

The Bauchi police command says it has arrested two students for allegedly stealing 100 mobile phones and other electronics from Wunti market. In a statement on Friday, Ahmed Wakil, Bauchi police spokesperson, said the suspects, both aged 15, are Hamza Sadiq and Adamu Ahmadu. Wakil said officers from the Operation Restore Peace (ORP) unit acted on directives from Auwal Musa, the state’s police commissioner. “On October 1, 2024, a mobile shop owner reported the theft of the following items:100 mobile phones; 75 MP4 players; 30 cell phone batteries; 50 external memory cards; 1 Bluetooth headset,” the spokesperson said. “Following the report, the Commissioner of Police directed CSP Kim Albert’s ORP team to investigate, leading to the arrest of Bakari Dukku Comprehensive Secondary School students Hamza Sadiq and Adamu Ahmadu, both 15 years old. “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to having managed to obtain the shop key from where it was stored for safekeeping, timed the shop owner’s departure for the village market, and repeatedly opened the shop door to steal from it during the day.” The police spokesperson said the suspects sold stolen items at N5,000 to N8,000, adding that they used proceeds to buy clothes, food, and a smartphone. “The proceeds of the crime were used to purchase clothes, food, and a smartphone, which was later stolen from one of the suspects as well,” he said. Wakil said items recovered from the suspects included “21 mobile phones; five MP4 players; one mobile phone charger; and a metal key.” He added that the suspects will be rehabilitated at a remand home after completion of investigation.

Inflation: 129 Million Nigerians Living In Poverty — World Bank

The World Bank has released the Nigeria Development Update report, stating that over 129 million Nigerians are currently trapped in poverty. It released the report on Thursday in Abuja as headline inflation rises, forcing millions of Nigerians into hunger. According to the global financial body, the over 129 million Nigerians represented a sharp rise from 40.1 per cent in 2018 to 56 per cent in 2024. The World Bank report read, “With growth proving too slow to outpace inflation, poverty has risen sharply. Since 2018, the share of Nigerians living below the national poverty line16 is estimated to have risen sharply from 40.1 per cent to 56.0 per cent. “Combined with population growth, this means that some 129 million Nigerians are living in poverty. This stark increase partly reflects Nigeria’s beleaguered growth record. Real GDP per capita has not recovered to the level it was at prior to the oil price-induced recession in 2016. “The COVID-19 pandemic compounded this drop in economic activity. Moreover, growth is failing to outpace inflation: large increases in prices across almost all goods have diminished purchasing power.” It added, “Multiple shocks in a context of high economic insecurity have deepened and broadened poverty, with over 115 million Nigerians estimated to have been poor in 2023. Since 2018/19, an additional nearly 35 million people have fallen into poverty, so that more than half of Nigerians (51.1 per cent of the population in 2023) are now estimated to live in poverty.” Tiger nuts are sold at the market in Jibia on February 18, 2024. – Nigeria, which shares 1,600 km of border with its neighbor, was until now one of Niger’s main trading partners with $193 million in exports in 2022 according to the United Nations (electricity, tobacco, cement, etc). Since the border closure, it has even been a double whammy for the local population, who have seen food prices explode under the combined effect of new movement restrictions and galloping inflation after the Nigerian president , Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in office since May, implemented economic reforms which plunged the country into crisis. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP) According to the report, there was an increase from 115 million in 2023 to 129 million in 2024, which means that 14 million Nigerians have become poorer this year. The Washington-based bank attributed this surge to inflation, poor economic management, and external shocks. A file photo of a food trader at a market in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television “Several shocks have contributed to this major increase and changing profile of the poor: the COVID-19 recession, natural disasters such as flooding, growing insecurity, the high cost of the demonetization policy in Q1 2023, high inflation, and low economic growth. “Previous domestic policy missteps compounded the effects of the shocks, particularly rising inflation, eroding the purchasing power, especially of urban households, pushing many into poverty. The government is ramping up the cash transfer programs to support economically insecure households to help weather the crisis,” the report noted. It further revealed that while poverty remained a rural phenomenon, urban poverty had grown significantly, with 31.3 per cent of urban dwellers now living in poverty, up from 18 per cent in 2018. The new World Bank report also noted, “Being employed, however, is no guarantee of being able to escape poverty. Many jobs are not productive and therefore remunerative enough to afford a life beyond poverty.” It added, “Jobs hold the key to sharing the proceeds of growth. Since Nigeria has a young and growing population, the jobs that can harness the country’s potential ‘demographic dividend’ are needed now.” Sienaert also dismissed claims that the institution seeks to keep Nigeria economically dependent. “I’m in this position of having been the lead economist at the World Bank here in Nigeria on economic policy issues for two years now, and I just want to tell you that I’ve not seen any conspiracy within the World Bank or otherwise to keep Nigeria down,” Sienaert said. He pointed out that Nigeria’s fiscal deficit had shrunk from 6.2 per cent of GDP in 2022 to 4.4 per cent in the first half of 2023, thanks to reforms such as the removal of FX and fuel subsidies. Meanwhile, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Ndiame Diop, urged the Federal Government to sustain its reforms, warning that reversing them would be disastrous. Diop cautioned that “reversing these reforms would be detrimental and would spell doom for Nigeria.” He acknowledged that the reforms are difficult but essential to stabilise the economy. Diop also noted that the World Bank is willing to offer Nigeria more loans as well as technical assistance in support of ongoing reforms. Answering a question about whether the World Bank will keep providing loans to Nigeria, Diop said “Yes, we do have in the pipeline for this fiscal year several projects financed by the World Bank. These are government projects, implemented mostly by the states.” A file photo of a resident at a market in Akure, Ondo State. Photo: Sodiq AdelakunA file photo of a resident at a market in Akure, Ondo State. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun He added, “Nigeria is a very important partner for the World Bank. We have been providing technical support, but also financing. But what is really important is that our financing comes with technical support and implementation support, and really making sure things go according to plan.” The average price of commodities in Nigeria has increased by 45.92 per cent to 32.70 per cent as the headline inflation rate in September 2024 since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. This rate is from 22.41 per cent recorded in May 2023, indicating a 10 percentage point increase. The Inflation rate escalated for 13 consecutive months due to various factors, including the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to increased transportation and production costs, and the depreciation of the naira against major currencies. A file photo taken at a food market. A large percentage of poor Nigerians

Tinubu, Shettima trips don’t represent common sense — Obi

The Labour Party presidential flagbearer during the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has faulted the foreign trips embarked upon by both President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima. He said the trips, coming when the country is grappling with domestic challenges, were concerning. The PUNCH reports that Tinubu departed for the United Kingdom on October 2, 2024, for a two-week working leave. He later left the UK for France on Friday, October 11, for “another important engagement,” his Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, tweeted. Meanwhile, Shettima left Abuja on Wednesday for Sweden on a two-day visit to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the Scandinavian nation. Justifying both trips, the Presidency on Wednesday said the absence of Tinubu and his deputy does not pose any vacuum in Nigeria’s leadership. It said the two principal officers are “fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while away.” But reacting to the Presidency’s justification on Friday in a post on his X, Obi, who is also a former Anambra State governor, maintained that it was disturbing that Tinubu and his deputy weren’t in the country at a time when citizens need them most. He wrote, “While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absent from the Villa, there is no vacancy in the Presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems. The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days. The 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country. One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours. “The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration’s policies is unimaginable and we need his urgent attention to pilot the nation out of this present situation.” According to him, since the President is reportedly in Paris, France, which is just about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, Sweden, one wonders why he did not just attend the 2-day working visit to Sweden.’ Obi added, “He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over 2 hours. This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time. “Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about 4 times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event. “It would take about 4 times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm. This does not represent the kind of fiscal responsibility and common sense that is expected of leaders whose people are facing severe hunger and poverty. “This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation’s scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people.” Meanwhile, the trips mark the second time both officers have been concurrently absent from the country since assuming office 17 months ago. Between late April and early May 2024, while Tinubu was in London, after visiting the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, where he attended the World Economic Forum, Shettima left Nigeria, first to Nairobi to attend the International Development Association Heads of State Summit. After returning, he left for Dallas, Texas, to attend the US-Africa Business Summit organised by the Corporate Council on Africa. However, the VP cancelled his trip midway and returned to the country. Tinubu returned to Abuja on 8 May.

IG orders recovery of 612 stolen vehicles

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the immediate investigation and recovery of a second batch of 612 vehicles flagged as stolen on the Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) platform. He also ordered the investigation of over 1,610 vehicles with conflicting registration information on the platform. The e-CMR is an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. It was introduced by the police in July 2024. According to a statement from the Force Headquarters on Friday, the police explained that one of the cars stolen from Abuja was recovered after the buyer applied for a CMR certificate, triggering an alert that flagged the vehicle as stolen. The police added that subsequent investigations revealed the vehicle had been re-registered twice in an attempt to conceal its stolen status.The police also noted that a member of the vehicle theft syndicate had been arrested and would face charges soon. The statement partly read: “Two weeks ago, the IGP directed an immediate investigation to recover a second batch of 612 vehicles reported/flagged as stolen on the e-CMR platform. “In the same vein, 1,610 vehicles with conflicting information have been referred for investigation. “The first batch of seven vehicles reported/flagged as stolen on the e-CMR platform were referred for investigation, out of which three have been detected/recovered. The one stolen from Abuja was recovered in Ilorin, Kwara State, and brought back to Abuja over the weekend to be handed back to the rightful owner. “The owner had reported the vehicle as stolen on the Stolen Vehicle Portal and provided the details of the vehicle. The innocent buyer applied to obtain the CMR certificate, but the system triggered an alert that the vehicle had been reported/flagged as stolen. This prompted a police investigation that led to the recovery. “It is interesting to observe that the stolen vehicle was re-registered twice after it was stolen by the criminals. This was meant to completely eliminate any trace whatsoever of the vehicle… it is similar to money laundering. “The syndicate specialising in vehicle theft has been busted, and one of the gang members has been arrested and will be charged to court as soon as all investigation activities have been duly completed.” The police said it was collaborating with other agencies to ensure the security and safety of citizens’ vehicular assets across the federation.

“ illegally modified and not approved.“, FG Speaks On Car Explosion In Benin

The Presidential CNG Initiative has reacted to the incident that involved a vehicle at a NIPCO CNG Station at the Aduwawa in Benin City on Wednesday. In a statement on Friday, the Presidential CNG Initiative said the vehicle was illegally modified and not approved. A CNG-powered vehicle at the NIPCO filling station in Aduwawa, Benin, was said to have exploded on Wednesday, leaving three persons severely injured, including a motorist who suffered eye injuries. According to reports, two others—a woman whose stomach was ripped open and another person whose foot was amputated due to the blast—are currently receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Ugbowo. The explosion was traced to a cylinder that had been fabricated by a welder without proper approval. The welder has reportedly turned himself in to the police. “The Presidential CNG Initiative notes the unfortunate incident that involved an illegally modified vehicle at a NIPCO CNG Station at Aduwawa in Benin City on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. “The PCNGI commiserates with those injured in this avoidable incident and is thankful that no lives were lost. The PCNGI also note that the safe handling of all hydrocarbons is critical to their safe use. “A close examination of the cylinder in question in Benin City shows it was welded and modified and not approved for use for CNG. “The police, regulatory authorities and management of NIPCO are undertaking a painstaking investigation of the incident and we are coordinating with them. “This incident reiterates the impetus of the PCNGI and our partners on the soon-to-be-launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System at SON, NMDPRA, NADDC and FRSC to tackle any bad actors in the ecosystem that seeks to make this safer, cheaper, cleaner and more reliable source of fueling risky for all. “We also call on all stakeholders to cooperate with the new system of regulation and ensure full compliance. Only accredited conversion centres must be patronized and safe handling of CNG just like petrol ensures the safety of all.” “Unfortunately, the cylinder installed in the vehicle — later identified as a fake and fabricated, substandard unit not designed for CNG — exploded after filling with just around 4 SCM of gas. “The driver fled the scene immediately after the incident. “While no fatalities were recorded, two individuals sustained injuries. One person suffered a leg injury, and another sustained an eye injury. Both victims were promptly rushed to the hospital for medical attention.” The Federal Government then warned motorists to avoid patronising unaccredited centres to convert their vehicles from fuel to gas.

Israel raids on Gaza after killing Hamas chief

Israel conducted raids on Gaza Friday, pressing its year-long war to crush Hamas after dealing it a massive blow with the killing of its leader, Yahya Sinwar. Hailing the killing of Sinwar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack was not over, but added that it was “the beginning of the end”. He called the death of Sinwar, mastermind of the deadliest attack in Israeli history, an “important landmark in the decline of the evil rule of Hamas”. Chief of Hamas in Gaza at the time of the attack, Sinwar had become the militant group’s overall leader after the killing in July of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh. PUNCH SPORTS EXTRA: NFF Pulls Super Eagles From AFCON Qualifier After Libya Airport Nightmare0:00 / 0:00 US President Joe Biden, whose government is Israel’s top arms provider, said: “This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.” “There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” – Air strikes – Hamas’s October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures that includes hostages killed in captivity. Militants also took 251 people hostage during the attack. Ninety-seven remain in Gaza, including 34 who Israeli officials say are dead. The killing of Sinwar did not spell an end to Israel’s air strikes on Gaza, with several raids overnight and early Friday pummelling the territory, according to an AFP journalist on the ground. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, rescuers recovered the bodies of three Palestinian children from the rubble of their home in the north of the territory after it was hit at dawn. The Israel military said it was pressing its operation in Jabalia, one of the focuses of the fighting in recent weeks, and where strikes on Thursday killed at least 14 people, according to two hospitals. A UN-backed assessment has found some 345,000 Gazans face “catastrophic” levels of hunger this winter. With the civilian toll in Gaza mounting, Israel has faced criticism over its conduct of the war, including from the United States. Israel’s campaign to crush Hamas and bring back the hostages seized by militants has killed 42,438 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to data from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures which the UN considers reliable. Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi vowed to keep fighting “until we capture all the terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre and bring all the hostages home”. – ‘Opportunity’ – Some Israelis hailed the news of Sinwar’s death as a sign of better things to come. “I am celebrating the death of Sinwar, who has brought us nothing but harm, who has taken people hostage,” said one Israeli woman, Hemda, who only gave her first name. Attending a Tel Aviv rally demanding the hostages’ release, 60-year-old Sisil, who also gave only her first name, said his killing presented a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for “a hostage deal to end the war”. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, Biden called him to congratulate him on Sinwar’s killing, with the two leaders vowing to seize “an opportunity to promote the release of the hostages”. Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government and international mediators to leverage “this major achievement to secure hostages’ return”. Andrew Miller, until recently a senior State Department official dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Israel was unlikely to agree to a negotiated solution to end the war and free the hostages just yet. “I’m not especially optimistic that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition will do this. Another Israeli government might, but they just haven’t… demonstrated a real interest in this track,” said Miller, now at the left-leaning Center for American Progress. But he said Sinwar’s killing might change “the public conversation” and deprive Netanyahu of a stated reason for not reaching a deal with Hamas. – ‘Major achievement’ – With Hamas already weakened more than a year into the Gaza war, Sinwar’s death deals an immense blow to the organisation, but whether it will trigger a shift in its own strategy is unclear. It is also unclear whether his successor will be named in Qatar, where Hamas’s political leadership has long been based, or in Gaza, which is the focus of the fighting. The Israeli military said Sinwar was killed in a firefight in southern Gaza’s Rafah, near the Egyptian border, while being tracked by a drone. It released drone footage of what it said was Sinwar’s final moments, with the video showing a wounded militant throwing an object at the drone. Israel is also fighting a war in Lebanon, where Hamas ally Hezbollah opened a front by launching cross-border strikes that forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee their homes. Hezbollah said late Thursday it was launching a new phase in its war against Israel, and that it had used precision-guided missiles against troops for the first time. On the same day, Israel conducted strikes on the south Lebanese city of Tyre, where the militant group and its allies hold sway. The Israeli military said five soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, taking to 19 the number of troop deaths announced since Israel launched incursions into Lebanon last month. In Lebanon, the war since late September has left at least 1,418 people dead, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures, though the real toll is likely higher. The war has also drawn in other Iran-aligned armed groups, including in Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Iran on October 1 conducted a missile strike on Israel, for which Israel has vowed to retaliate. Tehran’s mission to the United Nations said Thursday that Sinwar’s killing would lead to the strengthening of “resistance” in the region.

Three policemen remanded in prison for killing Kwara student

The Kwara State Police Command on Friday said the three dismissed officers, Mr Abiodun Kayode, Mr James Emmanuel, and Mr Oni Philip, were charged to court on Wednesday. The three dismissed policemen face charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in connection with the death of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola. According to the command, they have been remanded in prison custody pending further court proceedings. Recall that Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola, a 21-year-old student of the Electrical Electronics Engineering department of Kwara State Polytechnic, was allegedly murdered by the police during a stop-and-search operation in the Fate area of Ilorin on 4th September 2024. Following the tragic death, students of the Kwara State Polytechnic embarked on a protest at the headquarters of the state Police Command and the government house, demanding justice. The Student Union Government of Kwara State Polytechnic has called for an open investigation by the Nigeria Police Force to uncover the killer of the late student. The police also stated in the statement that it urges “the public to always exercise patience and trust in the legal process, as we remain dedicated to maintaining law and order within Kwara State. The Command appreciates the cooperation of all citizens and assures them that justice will be served.”

1bn people living in acute poverty — UN Report

More than one billion people are living in acute poverty across the globe, a UN Development Programme report said yesterday, with children accounting for over half of those affected. The paper, published with Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, OPHI, noted that poverty rates were three times higher in countries at war, as 2023 saw the most conflicts around the world since the Second World War. The UNDP and OPHI have published their Multidimensional Poverty Index annually since 2010, harvesting data from 112 countries with a combined population of 6.3 billion people. It uses indicators such as a lack of adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, nutrition and school attendance. “The 2024 MPI paints a sobering picture: 1.1 billion people endure multidimensional poverty, of which 455 million live in the shadow of conflict,” said Yanchun Zhang, chief statistician at the UNDP. “For the poor in conflict-affected countries, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher and more desperate battle,” Zhang told AFP. The report echoed last year’s findings that 1.1 billion out of 6.1 billion people across 110 countries were facing extreme multidimensional poverty. Thursday’s paper showed that some 584 million people under 18 were experiencing extreme poverty, accounting for 27.9 percent of children worldwide, compared with 13.5 percent of adults. It also showed that 83.2 per cent of the world’s poorest people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Sabina Alkire, director of the OPHI, told AFP that conflicts were hindering efforts for poverty reduction. “At some level, these findings are intuitive. But what shocked us was the sheer magnitude of people who are struggling to live a decent life and at the same time fearing for their safety –- 455 million,” she said. “This points to a stark but unavoidable challenge to the international community to both zero in on poverty reduction and foster peace, so that any ensuing peace actually endures,” Alkire added. India was the country with the largest number of people in extreme poverty, which impacts 234 million of its 1.4 billion population. It was followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The five countries accounted for nearly half of the 1.1 billion poor people.

Ribadu Accuses Policemen, Soldiers Of Selling Arms To Criminals

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, is full of criticism for policemen and soldiers stealing and selling arms and ammunition from their formation to criminal elements. Ribadu stated this in Abuja on Friday during the destruction of arms by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms And Light Weapons. According to the National Security Adviser, security agents involved in the act are “worse human beings”, adding that efforts must be put in place to check those people. He added, “We have to find a way of putting a stop to this if we want to recover our country and live in peace and stability”. “The worst human being is a policeman or a soldier who will take arms from his own formations and sell them or hide them out for the bad people to come and kill his own colleagues,” he said. Ribadu also rained curses on the security personnel who facilitate the movement of weapons to terrorists, bandits, and other non-state actors as he disclosed that a sizable number of illicit arms being used to commit crimes in the country originally belonged to the government. Nigeria is facing a myriad of security issues across most parts of the country. Boko Haram and other jihadist groups have waged a 15-year insurgency in North-East Nigeria that has killed more than 40,000 people. Central and North-West Nigeria have been plagued for years by gangs of criminals known as “bandits”, who raid villages, kill and abduct residents, and burn homes after looting them. By working alongside these gangs jihadist groups have increasingly established a presence in central Niger State, officials and analysts say, having previously seized villages and made camps in the area near where the attack took place. In April, Boko Haram fighters killed two soldiers as well as vigilantes protecting nearby Allawa village. Troops were then withdrawn from the village, forcing residents to flee in fear of attack. Bandits have no ideological leaning and are motivated by financial gain. However, analysts and officials have expressed concern over their increasing alliance with the jihadists.