Crime

Cultists On Rampage In Benin As Death Toll Rises

Published

3 years ago

November 15, 2020

Editor

Death toll in cult related clashes in Benin has rised to 37 in the past few weeks, findings revealed on Sunday.

The cult war said to be between members of the Vikings and Aye confraternities have continued with the latest being the killing yesterday of three persons by suspected cultists.

On Saturday, two dead bodies were found around Uselu while three were found in Evidence Street by Isihor.

Before then, tens of people have been killed in several parts of the city including Idogbo, Y-Junction, Nomayo, Three House all along Sokponba Road, while two were killed in Urohra Junction and one by pipeline junction in Eyaen.

Other areas where killings have taken place are Ogida Barracks, Siluko road, Constain area in New Benin, Aduwawa near Oando filling station, Upper Mission, near Ewa Road junction. Cherubim and Seraphim area of Upper Mission, while armed robbery is a daily occurrence all over the city.

Following the escalation of cult related killings and armed robbery incidents in the state, palpable tension and fear has continue to grip residents in several parts of the city.

Meanwhile, due to rise in armed robbery, some residents have constituted themselves into securing their lives and mete out instant justice to suspected thieves.

Two suspected thieves were caught last week along Sokponba road and were killed and burnt. Another was caught by Omoruyi off Sapele Road and beaten to a pulp.

Some young people in Amagba have formed a guard around the area screening all vehicles going and coming out of the place.

One of the youths said, “We will not wait for the miscreants and hoodlums who had made Upper Sokponba and other affected areas of Benin inhabitable to bring their lawlessness into our community.

“We have resolved to join our vigilante group to patrol, check, and monitor the security situation in our community and we will make sure that Amagba is safe for all.”

Piqued by the upsurge, the police have called for information from the public to recover stolen arms and ammunition from police stations that were destroyed and burnt in the state.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Babatunde Johnson Kokumo said the attack on police facilities, burning of police stations and patrol vehicles during the EndSARS protests that turned violent have affected their operations but that gradually they would come back to their normal duty of checking crime and criminality in the state.

He said, “Take for instance Upper Sokponba in Ikpoba-Okha axis, three police facilities were burnt down displacing the DPOs and other police officers in these divisions. These officers now report at the state command headquarters, we now send them on patrol from there so you should expect some hitches but we will continue to work and get things right.

“The EndSARS protest which was hijacked by hoodlums has actually impacted negatively on police operations and unleashed attacks on police facilities. How do you expect where 2000 inmates escaped for things to be normal? We were doing our best to arrest the criminals in Edo before the jail break and we are equally trying our best to see that the escapees are re-arrested and brought to book.

“The media should also appreciate our efforts, it is not all the time you condemn police. Is there any magic we can do without vehicles, without arms and ammunition? All these arms and ammunitions were carted away under the eyes of some people, some people are having information about these and they are not giving us the information, let those who have such information give us so that we can go after them.”

Crime

Police Declare Man Wanted Over Homos*xual Act

Published

11 months ago

June 22, 2023

Editor

A 50-years old man, Edo Omusi, has been declared wanted by the police in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, for disappearing after being ‘caught’ in a same s*x act in Ogiso community.

A source close to the police in the state, told our correspondent that the suspect, and one of his male friends, whose name was not given, were sighted at an undisclosed location by some youths as they were comitting the act.

Under Nigerian Laws, any person caught in the gay act is liable to 14 years in prison and if found by the community could be killed.

The duo were said to have been deeply engrossed in the act when they were found but before the person who saw them in the , “sinful and abominable act”, went for back up, they had escaped the location.

The incident which occurred on 25/4/23 at Ogiso area of the town almost threw the community into a turmoil as irate youths welding sticks and cudgels rampaged the community in search of the duo to lynch them.

It was also learnt that worried by the trend the youths in the community had to set up a surveillance team to monitor his movements. It was on one of the surveillance trips that he was reportedly caught on the fateful day, with the unidentified male partner.

It was gathered since the community reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the suspect, Edo Omusi has since remained unknown by all and sundry.

Speaking on the development, a top Police official confirmed the matter and explained that the Crime Investigation Department of the command is working round the clock to arrest the suspect, having declared him a wanted person.

Crime

Man, 41, Sent To Prison For Groping Woman’s Breast

Published

1 year ago

April 14, 2023

Editor

A Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Ibrahim Lemo, for groping the breast of a woman.

The court heard that Lemo beat up his victim, Zainab Babalola, when she demanded he stopped the unlawful act

Chief Magistrate Fadahunsi Adefioye remanded Lemo after he pleaded guilty to a two count bordering on assault.

Adefioye ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry.

He adjourned the case until April 14 for facts and sentencing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP. Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 6 at 2.30 p.m. at Badagry Roundabout shopping complex, Badagry, Lagos.

Okuoimose said Lemo without lawful excuse pressed the breast of the complainant, Zainab Babalola.

He said the defendant also hit the complainant on her left eye and caused her harm after she asked him not to touch her again.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 134 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)

Crime

Hushpuppi’s Associate, Woodberry, Pleads Guilty, Forfeits $8m, Assets

Published

1 year ago

April 13, 2023

Editor

Olalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.

Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments, the Peoples Gazette reports.

According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed.

“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,” stated the document containing Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.

Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.

The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).

Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.

Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government.

On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.

Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.