Metro

Court Remands 16-yr-old Robbery Suspects Nicknamed ‘Oyenusi’

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2023

An Akure Magistrate Court, in Ondo state, has ordered the remand of a 16-year-old armed robbery suspect, Sunday Ojo, nicknamed after Nigeria’s notorious armed robber, Oyenusi.

Ojo confessed that he has been involved in no fewer than 40 operations.

He was brought to court by men of the Ondo State Security Outfit, codenamed ‘Amotekun, over alleged housebreaking, stealing and illegal possession of a firearm

The defendant is facing a seven-count bordering on conspiracy, housebreaking, stealing and illegal possession of firearms.

According to the State Counsel, O.F Akeredolu, the defendant and others at large committed the offences between April 2022 and August 2023 at different places in Ilara-Mokin and Ijare, Ondo State.

Akeredolu alleged that the defendant with his armed gang had been involved in various house breaking and theft in the two communities.

He said that “On August 17, 2023, Sunday at about 3pm, broke into and looted a shop at Ilara, belonging to one Esther Olaseni and stole one 3kg gas cooker, 11 spaghetti, a pack of magic detergent, packs of big toothpaste, 15 rubbers of rice, nine pieces of golden terra, two bottles of air cream and 145 cubes of chocolate.

“Also on April 9, 2022, Sunday and others at large broke and entered into a shop belonging to one Mrs Esho Olanireti, at Hospital junction in Ilara-Mokin and looted all the goods there.

“On April 10, 2022, the defendant and his group at about 9am broke into a house and stole an itel phone valued at N9,500, belonging to one Mrs Grace Falaye, among others ,” Akeredolu alleged.

The defendant was also said to have firearms in his possession when apprehended

According to the Prosecution, the offences contravened Sections 413, 383, 516 and 414 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State, 2006 and Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Though the charges were read to him in Yoruba language, his plea was not taken.

Akeredolu prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The trial Magistrate Damilola Sekoni therefore adjourned the case till September 15, for ruling on the remand application.

Recall that Ojo was arrested by the Ondo state security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, alongside two others nicknamed after notorious armed robbers three years ago.

They include Timileyin Femi, aka Anini, 13 years and Matti Lowe, aka Osunbo,16 years.

Sunday who was sent to juvenile home, when arrested last year by the state Amotekun, said that he has been involved in over 40 operations.

In an interview after he was re- arrested by the Amotekun corps, and paraded in Akure, the state capital, Sunday said that” l have lost count of the robbery operations I have been involved in. But they can’t be fewer than 40.

He claimed to be overwhelmed by evil spirit that motivates him to steal.

The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said that Sunday was a second-time armed robbery suspect.

Adeleye added that the suspect who was arrested for illegal possession of firearms when he was 13 years old and was sent to juvenile home, was again arrested for burglary and stealing.

“We’ve arrested a juvenile robber, who adopted the name of notorious Nigerian armed robber, “Oyenusi” for stealing in the state.

“We rearrested a young boy we arrested three years ago and took to juvenile for illegal possession of firearms and robbery.

“At that time, he was 13 years. The best we could do was to hand him over to juvenile and see if he could be rehabilitated.”

Adeleye said that ” right now, he’s 16, this time around, he broke into a number of shops and removed items. Between then and now, he confessed that he had engaged in over 40 housebreaking activities”
VANGUARD

Metro

Nigerian Army Suspends Statutory, Voluntary Retirement For Specific Officers

Published

7 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Army has announced the indefinite suspension of all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers.

According to an internal memo dated 3 December 2025, signed by Major General E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, this is in response to the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Okoro explained that the measure is intended to preserve manpower, expertise, and operational readiness while the Armed Forces rapidly expand to tackle the escalating insecurity across Nigeria.

Citing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (HTACOS) 2024, the document pointed out that officers normally retire upon reaching the prescribed age for their rank, completing 35 years of service, or after repeated failures in promotion or conversion processes.

However, Paragraph 3.10(e) permits service extensions when it is in the interest of the military.

“Military service of a commissioned officer entails a period of unbroken service in the AFN from the date of enlistment or commissioning to the date of retirement. The period of service is determined by conditions enshrined in the HTACOS Officers 2024. These include attainment of age ceilings on various ranks, 35 years maximum length of service, and other criteria provided in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among extant regulations,” the memo partly read.

“Notwithstanding these provisions, Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 allows for extension of service to officers in the interest of the service.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, mandating the expansion of the AFN and other security agencies. In line with this, and to rapidly expand manpower, it has become expedient to temporarily suspend all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect.”

According to the memo, the suspension affects Army officers in the following categories: Those who have failed promotion examinations three times, those passed over for promotion three times, those who have reached the age ceiling for their current rank, those who have failed conversion boards three times and those who have completed 35 years of service.

It explained that affected officers who wish to remain in service may apply for an extension beyond their original retirement dates.

However, the memo clarified that: “Officers in these categories who are not interested in extension of service are to continue with the normal retirement procedure. Officers desirous of extension should note that upon extension, they are not eligible for career progression, including promotion, career courses, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental appointments.”

Metro

NDLEA Seizes 7.6m Tramadol Pills, 76,273kg Cannabis In Nationwide Raids

Published

8 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the seizure of more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and 76,273 kilograms of cannabis strains in coordinated operations across several states, with multiple suspects arrested.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizures were made during intelligence-led raids between 1 and 6 December.

In Delta State, operatives recovered 3,874,000 tramadol pills and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup from a warehouse at Oko market, Asaba. In Imo State, 1.2 million tramadol tablets were intercepted from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along the Onitsha-Owerri road.

In Adamawa, officers stopped a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Mubi with 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets concealed in jumbo bags mixed with footwear. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested. Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was apprehended in Kano with 197,000 exol-5 pills.

In Ekiti, NDLEA destroyed 14,654 kilograms of skunk in Omuo forest and 54,300 kilograms in warehouses at Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the operations. In Ondo, 5,442 kilograms of skunk were seized in Igoba forest, Akure North, with five suspects taken into custody.

Further arrests were made in Niger State, where 500 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a van along Mokwa-Jebba road, and in Abuja, where 22 kilograms of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado were intercepted at Abaji expressway. A follow-up operation at Jabi park led to the arrest of a female receiver, Ali Blessing, 33. Another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested with 24 kilograms of skunk and 573,500 exol-5 pills along Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway.

In Lagos, 113 kilograms of Canadian Loud were recovered from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo market, while Izuchukwu Usulor was arrested with 351 kilograms of skunk in Onipanu. Susan Okoro was also arrested with 104.1 kilograms at Trade Fair complex, Ojo. In Edo, 447.5 kilograms of skunk were seized from two vehicles in Agho forest, Akoko Edo, and 315.8 kilograms were recovered from a warehouse in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde Local Government Area.

The Agency confirmed that sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse initiative continued during the week in schools, worship centres and communities across Kano, Benue and Rivers States.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved.

“Their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated,” he said.
The Agency stated that investigations are ongoing and suspects will be prosecuted accordingly.