Metro

BREAKING: 27 Women, 4 Boys Kidnapped In Southern Kaduna

Published

7 months ago

October 16, 2023

The women’s wing of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union ( SOKAPU) has said that no fewer than 27 women and 4 boys were kidnapped by bandits in Southern Kaduna and appealed to the authorities to come to their rescue.

Mrs Jemutu Katarma, SOKAPU National Women Coordinator, in a statement on Monday, that hundreds of villages in Southern Kaduna have been sacked and some taken over by bandits, while many people have been rendered homeless.

“May I use this opportunity to warmly greet the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Sen. Uba Sani and his deputy, our dear sister, Dr. Sabuwa Hadiza Balarabe and express our goodwill to them on behalf of the entire women of Southern Kaduna.

“After closely observing the policies, words and actions of Gov. Uba Sani since he came to power in May 2023, we have good reasons to believe that he has come to restore hope, confidence and unity to the state. We also see him working with the Federal Government in helping to solve the serious challenge on the security of lives and property of citizens of Kaduna state.

“It is based on this belief that we are encouraged to use this medium to send him an SoS message on very disturbing security matters, part which he inherited, and to plead for his urgent intervention.As you may all be aware by now, Southern Kaduna is made up of the 8 Local Government Areas of Kaduna South Senatorial Zone, plus Lere LGA in Kaduna North Senatorial Zone including Kajuru and Chikun LGAs in Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone,” she stated.

The Southern Kaduna women explained that out of these 12 LGAs of Southern Kaduna only about three have not suffered violence and crimes from armed groups, especially bandits and armed herdsmen, as thousands have been killed, houses burnt and hundreds have been kidnapped.

“Hundreds of our villages have been sacked and some taken over by bandits. Even the immediate past government of the state has been reporting these atrocities to the press every quarter each year.Our people, especially women and children in their thousands are rendered as IDPs. It is usually women and children that suffer the most during such displacements.

“May I state that it is true that the past government did not show much compassion or interest in assisting us on these evils that have happened to our people. We did not get a good deal at all..Out of the 12 LGAs of Southern Kaduna, Kachia, Kajuru and Chikun are, in our belief, the worst that suffer in the hands of kidnappers. And women and children are their main targets.

“Of particular note, we want to bring to the attention of His Excellency, Gov Uba Sani about a terrible development that happened to his citizens on 2nd October, 2023 in Kachuwe, close to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State. After their villages suffered several invasions from bandits in Chikun, they decided to move to Kachuwe which they thought was safer to start life all over again by farming.

“Unfortunately, armed bandits stormed the village on 2nd October, 2021 and killed 13 male adults and a young girl.Among those killed is a grandfather (1) Baba Barda Kariya.The names of the rest are: (2) Ali Nariya, (3) Zakariya Nariya (4) Markus Nariya, (5) John Nariya and (6) Haruna Nariya.Others are: (7) Iko Ali, (8) Vincent Ali, (9) Amos Zakariya, (10) Habila Zakariya, (11) Smalis Markus, (12) Timothy John (13) Victor Markus and (14) Godiya Markus, the only female killed.

“After committing the crime, they looted the village of foodstuffs and animals.

They then burnt down the village.They spared the lives of the old women and sick old men. Then they took away the following females and boys. Grace Ali 25 yrs, Kauna Ali. 22 yrs,. Murna Ali 18 yrs,Tera Ali 3 yrs, Rahila Shagari 18yrs,Sunday Zakaria 17yrs, Leonard Zakaria 10 yrs,Lucy Zakaria 11yrs., Blessing Zakaria 13yrs, Charles Haruna 10yrs,Tina Amos 27yrs, Desire Amos 7yr,Success Amos 3 and Yemi Benjamin 27yrs.

“Let me sadly inform you, that Kauna Ali became very sick in the hands of the bandit last year. With no medical care, she died. We got the sad news from one of the kidnapped girls via a phone call from the bandits’ phone. No one knows where the corpse is as at today.

“It is also important to note that Yemi Benjamin was heavy with her first pregnancy because she was newly married.

“After they were kidnapped, the bandits made demands for a ransom.But they later refused to take the ransom. A month later, after Yemi Benjamin gave birth in the bush. They gave her the phone to call and inform her in-laws that she had a baby girl.

“Also note that a 3 and 10-year-old boys were among those that were kidnapped and still with the bandits.It is now 12 months since it was heard from them. And it is 2 years on the 2nd October 2023 that they have been in the hands of their abductors.It is a very horrible experience for the relations of these captives to live day and night not knowing the fate of their love ones.

“Again, on Saturday 7th October, 2023, in Chikuri village, in Chikun LGA, bandit entered Maikudi farms where villagers were working on portions of the farm that they rented from the owner. Bandits attacked the farm and kidnapped 14 women and a boy. Among the women is 54-year-old Mrs Lydia Dogara and her 20-year-old daughter, Linda Dogara.

“Therefore, we can confirm that at least 27 women and girls and 4 boys who are citizens of Kaduna state from Chikun LGA are in the hands of kidnappers, with one already dead.They are however just some other victims that maybe also be suffering the same fate in the state.

“We are therefore passionately calling on Kaduna State government under the able leadership of Sen. Uba Sani to explore the excellent working relationship he enjoys with the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and other security chiefs do all it will take to return these women and children home. Or at least furnish us with information about their fate,” the statement added.

Metro

Court Jails Social Media Influencer For Celebrity Scam

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, has sentenced Aluko Tunmise to one year in prison for his involvement in a celebrity scam.

Tunmise was prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a cybercrime-related charge.

This was disclosed in a post on X by EFCC on Friday, May 17.

The post reads: “Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, convicted and sentenced one Aluko Tunmise, a self-acclaimed social media influencer and model, to one year imprisonment for celebrity scam.

He was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrimes.”

“One of the counts reads: “That you, ALUKO TUNMISE JUWONLO (A.K.A. KEANU REEVES), sometime between January and March, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, directly made a false statement, wherein you held yourself out as a white man by name “KEANU REEVES” on your Telegram Account, knowing same to be false and with intent that the representation is relied upon for the purpose of procuring the issuance of financial instrument to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015′.

He pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, C.C.Okezie, sought to present an operative of the EFCC, Vincent Sunday Kwambuge, to review the facts of the matter.

Kwanbuge told the court that the defendant was arrested sometime in March, 2024 at Lekki County Estate, Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the Commission on the activities of some internet fraudsters operating in the area.”

Metro

Three Children Rescued As Fire Guts Storey Building In Delta

Published

8 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Editor

Three children have been rescued as fire gutted a-storey building at the Obi Onuorah Crescent back of Okowe plaza in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the fire scene on Friday, observed that the roof and the two apartments were razed down as property worth millions of naira was damaged.

However, the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as at the time of filling this report

Speaking, a widow and mother of four children, Mrs Gloria Sado who wept profusely appealed to Nigerians to come to her aid.

She said, “I came back Thursday night around 9 pm when I saw a fire burning in our house.

“My three children were in the house, one went with me to market, thank God, it was a lot of effort for my children to be rescued. I didn’t know the cause of the fire

“All the three fire services that came did not have water to quench the fire, our property was burnt to ashes”

Also, her neighbor, Simon Amalimen, and father of two said, “I was in my apartment when I heard fire, fire, I came out and noticed that the fire was coming out from my neighbor’s apartment.

“When learned that the three children were inside the apartment sleeping, we immediately moved into the fire to rescue the children, then, the fire had to gut my apartment.

“Before we could rescue them, the fire had entered my apartment and my two children and my wife were rescued. Only the boxers I wear are the clothes I came out with.”

He said before the third fire service could arrive, the two apartments and property had been burnt.

The victims were currently homeless as sympathizers were said to have gone to buy some clothes for them.

An official of the state fire service who did not want his name mentioned confirmed the incident.

Metro

Viral Video: “Please Stop Crying,” Soldiers In Tears After Losing Colleagues To Terrorists

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

In a now-viral video posted on X on Tuesday, soldiers of the Nigerian army were seen crying, seemingly after losing some of their colleagues to terrorist attacks.

The video posted by #X-Daily has become viral after X users have sympathised with the soldiers.

Although it is unsure of when the video was made or the actual cause of why the soldiers were crying, Nigeria has been faced with terrorist attacks for over two decades.

The post read, “Nigerian Soldiers in tears after losing their colleagues in Terrorist attack in Northern Nigeria.”

As seen in the video, soldiers are seen weeping while someone, presumably the one holding the camera, is comforting the soldiers and is heard telling them to stop crying.

“Stop crying please, stop crying,” the voice said.

“I tell you guys since morning, my mind no dey here, I no tell you?” he questioned in pidgin English.

Reacting, #Game_Boss360 wrote, “Those soldiers are really suffering out there.”

Another user, #calebuncovered, said, “This is why whenever I see civilians bashing soldiers on social media, it pains me deeply. As someone who grew up in the barracks, you have no idea what these guys do to protect this country. You have no idea how far they go to protect this country. They’re literally living a life of uncertainty because death can come anytime, and they would leave their family behind. Yet, some of you still come here and spew rubbish about soldiers.”

Meanwhile, #chrisndarl said, “This video hurts in so many ways ….so many ways man.”

A 2024 PUNCH report noted that Nigeria is grossly insecure. Under Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2023), 63,111 Nigerians died in violence, SBM Intelligence stated.

“Nigeria was ranked the eighth most terrorised country in the world by the 2023 Global Terrorism Index.

“This has contributed to the shortfall in food production and the upswing in food inflation as Nigeria’s food basket regions are plagued with gnawing terrorism and insecurity,” the report stated.