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Edo Police Command Rescues Two Abducted Children, Arrests Suspects

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The Edo State Police Command on Saturday said it has rescued two children abducted by some suspects. The Command equally announced the arrest of the suspects.

The Command disclosed that it arrested three suspects Precious Mmaduike ‘F’ (21), Jane Osas ‘F’ (35) and John Obasu (45) in connection with the abduction of David Ibe ‘M’ (4years) and Chizaram ‘F’ (2years) from Lagos state on the 23/8/2021, children of one Mr Ibe Phenasus of No. 31 Balogun kuku street Aguda Surulere Lagos State.

According to a release issued by the Command’s spoeksman, Bello Kontongs, “the abduction was planned and executed by their housemaid, Precious Mmaduike ‘F’, who used her familiarity with the children as house help and abducted them from Lagos to Benin City, Edo state.

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“According to the complainant who also is the father of the children, he said that , at about 0845hrs, his children were given N500 by his wife to buy biscuit outside the compound in Lagos in the company of their housemaid.

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“They waited for them to return but they were not forthcoming. The phone of the housemaid was switched off, all efforts in search of the children and housemaid proved abortive. That was when the father immediately reported the situation to Aguda Police Station Lagos, where it was discovered that the last location of the housemaid before she switched off her mobile was in Benin city, Edo state.

“The complainant decided to come to the police in Edo State for assistance. Men of the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit of Edo State Police Command immediately commenced investigation. With the aid of the information gathered from the origin of the abduction and field assets, the abducted children were rescued on 26/08/2021 at about 1730hrs by the operatives of the EDO STATE POLICE COMMAND, Benin city in a very remote area at Upper Ekewan Road, Benin City with the housemaid and a woman she came to visit with the children.

“The housemaid who met the woman on the internet claimed that the two children belonged to her and they came to Benin City for visit but unknown to the woman that the children are not for her.

“The woman had bought gift items and other properties for the children and are currently with the police”, Kontongs explained.

The PPRO added that, “While the operatives were on their way to the state Command in Benin city with the rescued children, the suspects and two other children found in the house ,the husband of the woman, One Joseph Obaze raised alarm of kidnapping against the police operatives which attracted a group of unknown vigilante members who blocked the road”.

“The Police operatives identified themselves to the unknown vigilante group but they went ahead to attack the police operatives with all kinds of weapons, causing bodily injuries to some policemen.

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“Before reinforcement could arrive at the scene, the vigilante group had escaped to an unknown destination. Efforts are in place by the command to apprehend the vigilante leader and his gang members that attacked the police operatives”, the Command disclosed.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police enjoined all law abiding members of the public to go about their lawful businesses, noting that the command would not allow miscreants in the name of vigilante group to take over the public space.

“For the police to achieve its mandate of protecting lives and property, the CP enjoins the public to continue to provide useful information to the police about criminals and their activities”, the statement pleaded.

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Anambra Court Jails Two For Vandalising Electricity Cables

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A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital has sentenced Chinonso Chinaemelu, 27-year-old, and Okoye Christian, 20-year-old to one-year imprisonment respectively for vandalising a distribution substation belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc.

This development was made known by the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, in a statement on Thursday.

Ezeh said the duo were arrested on November 29, 2023, by Abatete local vigilante group while attempting to vandalise the distribution substation within the locality.

He also confirmed that in the same week, a couple identified as Mr & Mrs Ebuka Umeh, were arrested by members of Isuorji community neighbourhood security in Orlu, Imo State.

READ ALSO: Hoodlums Set Anambra Police Station Ablaze

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According to him, the couple was arrested when the wife was attempting to pick the vandalised items from a distribution substation belonging to EEDC with their motorcycle, adding that the couple attacked the substation for three days.

Ezeh said, “In a related development, a vandal suspect identified as Chukwuebuka Ezike who hails from Umunachi in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State was arrested by Umuezinachi community neighbourhood watch while he was cutting aluminum conductor around Orie Uguiri Market.

“At Amachi-Izhia, Ebonyi State, Amara Joseph Ajagbo was arrested by members of the Electricity Committee for vandalizing nine spans of aluminum conductors in their community, while two of his gang members escaped.

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“The suspects have been handed over to the respective Police formations for proper investigation and possible prosecution.”

Ezeh lamented the spate of vandalism in the EEDC network, stating that it is a major challenge negatively impacting the smooth operations of the company.

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According to him, between January 2022 to date, the company has recorded over 170 cases of vandalism in its network, with about 135 suspected vandals arrested, out of which over 100 have been charged to court.

He stressed that the company will not relent in its resolve to prosecute these arrested suspects and go all out to fish out receivers of these vandalized items as they remain the motivation for the vandals.

Ezeh lamented that it has become difficult for the organisation to fund the restoration of vandalised infrastructure and that the development is affecting service delivery to customers.

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Hoodlums Set Anambra Police Station Ablaze

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Some yet-to-be-identified assailants have set ablaze the police divisional headquarters in Nneni, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums invaded the facility in the early hours of Thursday and threw explosive devices that burnt parts of the building.

A source and one of the residents in the area said the hoodlums were attempting to free some inmates at the facility, but they were unsuccessful as police officers on duty repelled the attack.

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When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack but added that no life was lost.

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“In Nneni, no life was lost. No policeman was whisked away, and no armed was taken away. Instead, the hoodlums threw IEDs into the police facility, which torched part of the building.

“Our operatives gallantly resisted the attackers, which made them flee. Operations are still ongoing, and further developments shall be communicated,” Ikenga said.

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Court Orders Release Of 313 Suspected Terrorists

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A Federal High Court in Borno has ordered the release of no fewer than 313 suspected terrorists arrested by the military.

The court ordered their release for lack of evidence to nail the suspects after the investigation.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, disclosed this during a briefing on military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

He assured all that the military would comply with the court order and release the suspected terrorists to the state government.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Military Yields To Pressure, Frees Abducted Lagos Editor

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Buba said, “During the week, as a follow up to a court order of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri, a total of 313 suspects in detention for terrorism-related offences were to be released to the Borno State government.

“The court ordered the release for want of evidence after the conclusion of the investigation and other ancillary matters.

“The cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice. Accordingly, they would be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action.”

The PUNCH reports that this is not the first time suspected terrorists would be acquitted for want of evidence.

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The Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had on December 4, 2023, said out of a total of 1,323 suspects prosecuted for terrorism, only 366 convictions were secured.

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He noted that 896 others were discharged for lack of evidence.

Fagbemi said, “I must acknowledge the fact that we have come a long way in this initiative. The first phase of the Kainji Prosecution Project commenced in October 2017 with remarkable achievements where we recorded a total of 366 convictions, 896 others were discharged for want of sufficient evidence and 61 other cases adjourned for further hearing.

“There have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017 and July 2018. I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the well-being of our beloved country and her people.”

 

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