24022021 - Banditry designed to 9 destroy Nigeria — GOVS

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6— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 Court discharges, acquits engine oil trader over death of pregnant fiancee By Peter Okutu ABAKALIKI— AN Ebonyi State High Court, Abakaliki Division, has discharged and acquitted one Chukwudi Omeh, who has been standing trial for eight years over the death of his pregnant fiancee. Omeh, an engine oil trader, was accused in 2012 of killing his pregnant fiancee, Chinagorom Agama. The mutilated corpse of the deceased, a student of Ebonyi State College of Education, ÊkwÍ, and her bag were discovered at the Alisaoko forest in Ohaukwu Local Government Area with her private part, hair and breasts missing. At the time of her death, she was three months pregnant. Her fiance, Omeh, was sponsoring her in school from proceeds of his engine oil business at ÌkwÍ Ngbo market in the local government. Their relationship, it was gathered, started in 1999 while they were in secondary school but they decided to marry in 2012. Following the discovery of her corpse, Omeh was arrested and accused of killing her and arraigned in 2013 before the court. However, the court presided over by Justice Vincent Nwanchor declared the defendant discharged and acquitted. He held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime. The prosecuting counsel for the state, Lilian Okorie, blamed the inability of the police to carry out a diligent investigation on the matter before charging the accused to court. She also advised the discharged man to make a lasting peace with the deceased’s family members irrespective of the court judgement. Counsel to the defendant, Cletus Nwokposi, appreciated the court for discharging his client, noting: “The court has demonstrated that it is indeed the last hope of the common man.” Omeh, while thanking the court for acquitting him, prayed for the repose of the souls of his late fiancee and unborn baby. Cultists kill bricklayer in Delta By Ochuko Akuopha WALE— SUSPECTED Kcultists have reportedly killed a bricklayer, simply identified as Mr Jerry, at his residence around Utagba-Uno Street, Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Monday. Sources said the deceased, who is also a member of the commercial motorcycle task force in the area, was shot at a close range by his assailants, who broke into his house while he was with his wife. Policeman killed as suspected hoodlums attack police station in Aba •Govt places N1m bounty on attackers •Bans Keke, Okada operations from 7 pm to 7 am By Steve Oko ABA—A policeman on duty was, yesterday, killed in an early morning attack on a police station at Abayi Osisioma Local Government Area, near Aba, Abia State. It was gathered that the attackers stormed the station around 2:00 am and set the station ablaze after killing one of the police personnel on duty. An unspecified number of vehicles parked at the station were also set ablaze by the invaders whose identities are yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, the Abia State government has promised N1 million reward for any credible information that could lead to the arrest of the invaders. Confirming the attack, yesterday, Abia State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said investigations into the incident had commended to apprehend the perpetrators. It would be recalled that another police station was also in a similar fashion set on fire at Omoba in Isialangwa South Local Government Area in early January. The Abia State government, yesterday, described the attack on the police station and the killing of the police officer as “mindless and cowardly.” Govt places N1m bounty on attackers The government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi, promised N1 million reward for any credible information that could lead to the arrest of the invaders. The government also announced an immediate ban on tricycle and motorcycle operation between 7 pm and 7am in all major cities throughout the state. The statement made available to Vanguard in Aba read in part: “The attention of Abia State Government has been drawn to a mindless and cowardly attack on a police station in Aba by yet to be identified armed hoodlums in the early hours of today (yesterday) leading to loss of precious lives. “We wish to assure members of the public that the government is working with security agencies in the state to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly crime and bring “There have been series of cult clashes in Kwale in the last few months. This is making it eight persons that have been killed by cultists since January. Some survived the attacks. “They shoot every day and on Valentine’s day, two persons were killed," a source who craved anonymity told Vanguard. Effort to get comments from Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Bright Edafe, was abortive at press time, but a security source in the area confirmed the incident. them to justice as quickly as possible. “No part of Abia land will be ceded to criminals operating under any guise and we will not spare any resource in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book in no distant time and the stolen arms and ammunition recovered completely. “Government, therefore, calls on citizens to avail law enforcement agencies with vital information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals and recovery of these arms. “We are determined to pay N1 million for any information leading to the recovery of any of the stolen arms and or arrest of any suspect. “Consequently, the Government hereby imposes a ban on Keke/ Okada operations between 7 pm and 7 am in all major cities of the state starting from today,February 23, 2021. “Once again, we call for total vigilance and prompt information from citizens to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the hoodlums. We call on banks and other vulnerable institutions to fortify security around their places of business while strongly advising all security formations in the state to remain on red alert until the situation is fully pacified. “Law-abiding citizens and visitors are advised to go about their normal businesses while maintaining vigilance as measures have been put in place to ensure their safety. "Those attacking security agents and formations only seek to engender anarchy. We will, therefore, continue to support security agencies with whatever they need to foil the agenda of the hoodlums. “While we implore community leaders to be vigilant, we urge parents and guardians to take more interest in the activities of their children and wards to avoid their falling prey to criminally minded individuals.” Police arrest 2 ex-convicts for robbery in Ogun By James Ogunnaike TWO ex-convicts, Abiodun Oshoba and Mustapha Sakiru, have been arrested by operatives of the Ogun State police command for robbing one Aminu Iliyasu of his Bajaj motorcycle at gunpoint. The suspects, according to a statement by the command spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, were arrested following a complaint lodged at Sagamu police station by the victim. Iliyasu reported that the two suspects boarded his motorcycle as passengers and asked him to take them to the Conference Hotel at G.R.A quarters, Sagamu. Oyeyemi said: “On their way to the place, the suspects brought out a gun and ordered him to stop. They subsequently dispossessed him of the motorcycle and made away with it. “Upon the report, the DPO Sagamu Division, Okiki Agunbiade, mobilised his men and in-conjunction with members of Vigilante Group blocked all the exit points of the GRA and commenced stop and search.” He added that their efforts yielded positive result when the motorcycle was sighted at one of the exit points, in possession of Abiodun Oshoba The suspects. with the number plate folded. Oyeyemi said: “On sighting the policemen, he abandoned the motorcycle and took to his heels. He was chased and apprehended by the policemen and his arrest led to the apprehension of his accomplice, Mustapha Sakiru.” A locally made pistol with one live cartridge was recovered from them. The Police spokesman disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the duo met in Igbeba prison where they served different jail terms and decided to form a gang after their terms in the prison. “While Sakiru Mustapha was jailed in 2016 for hijacking a truck, Abiodun Oshoba was jailed in 2019 for snatching a phone; both of them came out of prison in 2020 and decided to continue their devilish trade,” he said. Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajagun, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation and prosecution. Mother of 3 jailed 28 years for child theft in A-Ibom By Chioma Onuegbu UYO—A mother of three, Mary Effiong, was yesterday, sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for child theft by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo. It was gathered that Effiong stole two pupils of Saint Philip’s Primary School, Use Offot and sold them in Osisioma Ngwa, Abia State. Effiong had in her statement to the police confessed that on November 12, 2018, she lured the pupils, five and six years old, with biscuits, claiming to be a friend to their mothers. She testified that she had an agreement with one Blessing Sunday alias Mummy Vom from Osisioma Ngwa in Abia State, who engaged her to look for children in Akwa Ibom for her. According to her statement, a man saw her in a bush while trying to escape with the two pupils and raised the alarm, and she was eventually caught and taken to the primary school where the headteacher identified the pupils and denied knowing the convict. In his judgement, yesterday, Justice Okon Okon described Mary Effiong's conduct as despicable, abominable and an embarrassment to motherhood, adding that for her to leave her children to abduct other people’s children for financial gains, speaks volume of her wickedness. He held that the defendant “is a joy killer set to cause grief and inflict pains on other parents, while jealously protecting and guiding her children. “But for providence, she would have succeeded in trafficking the two children to Abia State and ultimately sold them to a ready and willing buyer.” The trial judge ruled that the convict needed to be punished severely to serve as a deterrent to others, who engaged in the illicit trade. He found her guilty and sentenced her to 28years imprisonment. Child stealing is punishable under Section 380 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000. Gunmen invade poultry farm, kidnap 24-yr-old man in Oyo By Ola Ajayi IBADAN—A popular poultry farm at Oke Odan, Olomo area in Apete community, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State was, Monday night, invaded by gunmen, who abducted a 24-year-old man. It was gathered that the attackers shot severally to scare people when they stormed the farm before kidnapping the young man, who is the son of the owner of the farm. According to information, the hoodlums on arrival demanded to see the owner of the farm. So, when they did not find him, they went away with his son. Contacted, National President of Soludero Hunters Association, Oba Wahab Anabi promised to mobilise his men. Also, the Divisional Police Officer at Apete Division and other officers, a local vigilante group have since been combing the surroundings of Olomo community in search of the abductors. It was gathered that the abductors escaped through a forest between the University of Ibadan and Ajibode.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021—7 Police rescue 81-yr-old monarch from kidnappers in Calabar •They made me trek for more than a mile —Monarch By Ike Uchechukwu CALABAR—THE 81-year-old monarch, Chief Bassey Iyamba, whisked away from his house at Ambo by Idang in Calabar South Local Government Area, late Monday night, yesterday, recounted how he was made to trek for more than a mile before he was rescued by the police. According to him, ”Three men entered my compound pretending to be customers, who came to buy chicken from our poultry not knowing they came to kidnap me, Although I got information that they wanted to kidnap me a month ago and I restricted my movement, not knowing I was still a target. •Says they came pretending to be customers “One of them entered my sitting room and started harassing me, he molested my wife and my children while asking me to bring the money, I told him I had no money in the house. “They dragged me, hit my head and face before succeeded to whisk me away. They took me to the creek, where I trekked for more than a mile before we arrived at our destination because they took me from one camp to another. “I must commend the police and the youths of my community, they did a lot of work to ensure my captors did not succeed in taking me across the water into the other side of the creek. I am most grateful because God used them to save my life. “I am an 81-year-old man, those men would have killed me inside the creek were it not for the timely intervention of the police because they escaped when they discovered that the police were on their trail and were closing in on them. “They left me alone in the creek, and when I started shouting I realised no one was with me. That was when police rescued me this early morning (Tuesday).” Speaking on the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Sikiru Akande, said the incident had given them a platform to prove that they can react promptly and swiftly during emergencies. His words:”I want to thank God for helping us react swiftly in the rescue of the 81-year-old traditional ruler. Our response is an insight and a tip of the iceberg to the fact that we have started keeping our promise to Cross Riverians. “We are sending a message to hoodlums and all criminals alike, who want to test our strength or will that we are not going to relent until they are completely flushed out of the state. “I want to thank the youths of the community, Operation Puff Adder, Operation Akpakwu, the Efut Division and most especially the Marine police, who took the risk of securing the waterways, ensuring the hoodlums did not escape through the waterways with their victim.” 53-yr-old man stabs neighbour to death while defending his brother By Esther Onyegbula TRAGEDY struck in the early hours of Monday at 8, Akpaku Lane, Mafoluku- Oshodi area of Lagos when a man allegedly stabbed his neighbour to death during an altercation. Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred about an hour after the deceased, Chibuike Nwanne, returned from a party, with his wife. A report had it that Chibuike Nwanne had an altercation with one of his neighbours, Ifeanyi Emmanuel, over an unknown issue. In the course of the quarrel, another tenant, Sunday Amaefula, was said to have dashed out of his room with a broken bottle to defend Emmanuel, claiming he (Emmanuel) was his brother. He allegedly stabbed Nwanne at the chest region, causing him to slump. The victim’s pregnant wife was said to have raised the alarm that jolted other occupants from sleep. Efforts to save the life of 43- year-old Nwanne said to have wedded last year, failed as he reportedly bled to death. Tenants prevented Amaefula, 53, from escaping, until the arrival of policemen from Mafoluku division. During interrogation, Amaefula told policemen that he did not know what came over him. Besides, investigation also revealed that he and Ifeanyi Emmanuel, the tenant he took side with during the altercation, were not blood brothers. Police nab 2 suspected robbers In another development, two suspected robbers were, yesterday, arrested around Alakara area of Lagos State. The Divisional Police Officer of Alakara and his men on patrol, according to Muyiwa, intercepted two men on a motorcycle. The suspected robbers. He said: “During a search, two brand new Beretta pistols with three magazines and 22 live ammunition were recovered from them. “The suspects, Mojeed Satan and Kudaisi Ajetumobi, could not give satisfactory explanation on their means of livelihood. "Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that the Sunday Amaefula, suspected killer. suspects and exhibits be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, for proper investigation.” 23-year-old man killed in Imo cult clash By Chinonso Alozie OWERRI—A cult clash between rival groups at Agwa Secondary School in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State has reportedly claimed the life of a 23-year-old man, Tobechi Duru. Confirming the death of the man, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikekwo, said the command got the information through a distress call and moved their men to the scene. Okonkwo said another 23- year-old man, Wisdom Uzoma, was arrested in connection with the incident after he allegedly confessed to committing the crime. The PPRO in a statement, yesterday said: “On the 20/02/ 21, through a distress call, operatives of the command moved to Agwa Secondary School, Agwa, in Oguta Local Government Area. Wisdom Uzoma, the suspect, “Upon arrival at the scene, operatives met the remains of a young man, who was later identified to be Tobechi Chijioke Duru, 23-year-old, of Obudi Agwa, in Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State. He was said to have been killed while two rival cult groups clashed at the school premises. “However, on the 21/ 0 2 / 2 1 , based on discreet and painstaking investigations, operatives of the command arrested the fleeing suspect, one Wisdom Uzoma, 23-year-old, of Obudi Agwa, in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. He confessed to the crime, and will be prosecuted accordingly.” SON arraigns bizman for engine oil adulteration, logo forgery By Onozure Dania A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered the remand in police custody of a businessman, Chidi Nwanyanwu, charged with adulteration of engine oil and inscribing forged Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, logos on the product. Trial judge, Justice Maureen Onyetenu, ordered the remand of the defendant following his arraignment alongside his two firms, Two Ocean Oil Ltd and Hi-Power Lubricants. In the four-count charge, SON accused the defendants of dealing in adulterated engine oil, non-compliance with SON’s Conformity Assessment Programme and forging of the SON’s logo, the mark of quality and certification number. The SON’s counsel, Joseph Olofindare, said the defendants, of 21, Kenneth Obas Place Estate, Ojo, Lagos committed the offence on or about February 1, 2021 at the Trade Fair Administrative Block Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos. The offences, according to Olofindare, are punishable under sections Section 26, 26(a)&(b) of the SON Act, 2015, and section 1(18a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004. The defendants pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, Uchenna Umoneke, informed the court that his client’s bail motion had been filed and served on the prosecution. Olofindare did not oppose the application but noted that Nwanyanwu had been evasive since 2016 and had dishonoured all of the SON’s invitations for a meeting on how to find a remedy for the problems created by his products. Following the allegation, Umoneke prayed for a short adjournment to enable him to file a further and better affidavit for Nwanyanwu’s bail. Granting his prayer, Justice Onyetenu, adjourned till March 10, 2021, for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application and remanded Nwanyanwu at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, Ikoyi, Lagos.
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24022021 - Banditry designed to 9 destroy Nigeria — GOVS

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