Metro

Eight Edo Train Attack Suspects Charged With Kidnapping

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2023

Following an attack by gunmen on the Igueben Train Station, Edo State, on January 7, 2023, the Edo State Police Command has charged eight suspects to court for the abduction of over 20 passengers and two Nigerian Railway Corporation staff. on January 7, 2023,

The police on Wednesday said two village chiefs and five others were arrested in connection with the crime, while revealing that all the victims had been rescued.

In a court document, the police charged the suspects; Ibadin Hamilton, Ighoko Odion, Okojie Ewa, Okie Patrick, Friday Ighedujiemu, Halilu Umaru, Aminu Ibrahim, and Isah Aliyu for criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.

The charge sheet dated January 17, 2023, was filed by the Legal Section State Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters, Benin City.

The document revealed that Odion, 62, Ewa, 58, Patrick, 42, Ighedujiemu, 51, Hamilton, 59, Umaru, 28, Ibrahim, 25, and Aliyu, 25, all male, conspired to kidnap the victims with the expectation of getting N20million from their relatives as ransom for their freedom.

Count one reads, “That you Ighoko Odion, Okojie Ewa, Okie Patrick, Friday Ighedujiemu, Ibadin Hamilton, Halilu Umaru, Aminu Ibrahim, Isah Aliyu, and others now at large, on or about the 16th day of January, 2023 at about 12:00 hours at the Nigerian Rail Way Station, Igueben, Edo State, in the Benn Judicial Division, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 and punishable under Section 2 (1) (2) of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law of Edo State, 2013.”

Count two reads, “That you Ighoko Odion, Okojie Ewa, Okie Patrick, Friday Ighedujiemu, Ibadin Hamilton, Halilu Umaru, Aminu Ibrahim, Isah Aliyu, and others now at large, on or about the 16th day of January, 2023 at about 12:00 hours at the Nigerian Rail Way Station, Igueben, Edo State, in the Benn Judicial Division, while armed with guns and other dangerous weapon, did attack and kidnapped passengers inside the train to an unknown destination till now with intent to receive ransom payment of N20,000,000.00 before release from your captivity and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2 (1), (2) of the kidnapping Prohibition (Amendhent) Law of Edo State, 2013.”

Metro

2 Dead, One Injured In Ogun Road Crash

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The Ogun State sector of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Saturday confirmed that two persons lost their lives in a road crash around Iyana Odogo, along Ilaro-Owode road.

It added that one person sustained injury in the said accident.

This was contained in a statement issued by the FRSC spokesperson in Ogun State, Florence Okpe.

The road crash, which according to Okpe involved a Mitsubishi car with registration number JJJ854JH and a truck with registration number
T12224LA, was attributed to obstruction and speed violation.

The statement reads, “FRSC Ilaro Unit command carried out rescue operation on Ilaro-Owode route around Iyana Odogo on a crash that occurred at about 0600hrs”.

“The crash involved two vehicles;
a Mitsubishi car with registration number JJJ854JH and a truck
T12224LA”

“A total of 07 persons were involved (04 male adult and 03 female adult), and 01 female got injured while 02 male adult were killed from the crash”.

“The suspected causes of the crash were obstruction and speed violation”.

“The injured victim and corpses were taken to General Hospital, Ilaro, and Hosanna Hospital, Ilaro”.

The State Sector Commander, Anthony Uga frowned at rate at which vehicles are being picked indiscriminately on road side.

He advised motorists to drive within the stipulated speed limit and observe road furnitures.

Metro

BREAKING: Protests As Gunmen Kill 12 In Plateau Village

Published

14 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

Gunmen have again attacked the Tilengpat Pushit community in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed twelve persons.

It was learnt that the attacks leading to the deaths of the victims occurred in the late hours of Thursday.

Last week, gunmen killed no fewer than ten persons in Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle villages, in the Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of the state.

They also left several persons injured, with property, including the homes of the villagers, set ablaze.

The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Markus Argue confirmed the latest killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday.

He said, “Yes, it is true that our people have just been attacked again and killed for no reason. It happened last night. As I talk to you, I’m in the affected community in Pushit. I can not give you the figure of victims for now because we are still assessing the situation but what we don’t understand is why some people will just target women and children in their homes and just kill them for no reason.”

A community leader in Pushit, who gave his name simply as John, however, told our correspondent that twelve dead bodies had so far been recovered at the scene of the attack and the nearby bush from the latest attack.

John said, “So far, we have recovered twelve dead bodies of individuals who were brutally murdered during the attack in the Pushit community and their bodies recovered.

“The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, pending notification of their families. The Law enforcement agencies are also here and have initiated investigations into the matter to ascertain the motive behind these heinous crimes and to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this reprehensible act”

The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred could not be immediately reached for comment on the incident but sources at the Command headquarters in Jos said that security operatives had been deployed to the affected community

Meanwhile, women in Bokkos Local Government Area have taken to the streets in protests over the renewed violent attacks by gunmen in their communities.

Some residents in Bokkos town said that the protesting women were headed to the Council headquarters to register their grievances

Details later…

Metro

Police Rescue Three Toddlers Locked Up In Lagos Home

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued three toddlers allegedly locked up in a room at Agodo-Egbe in the Ikotun area of the state.

According to The PUNCH, the children, which included a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four years, were locked inside for some time by one Fatimo Ganiyu said to be their grandmother.

Some members of the community who became curious about their whereabouts were said to have immediately alerted the police on Wednesday.

Following the tip-off, a team of policemen visited the scene and forced the door open, thereby leading to the discovery of the children in the room.

It was learnt that the kids were found looking malnourished, while the suspect was arrested on the spot.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At about 4 pm on Wednesday, information was received at Ikotun Police Division that three children, a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four, were locked up by their grandmother, one Fatimo Ganiyu, around Agodo Egbe, Ikotun.

“The DPO immediately led a team of anti-crime detectives to the scene, and the children were rescued and taken to the station.
“They were looking malnourished and unhealthy. The suspect was arrested while the infants were transferred for proper treatment and care. The investigation is ongoing.”