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Katsina Bandits’ Attack: Death Toll Rises Above 100, As Masari Sends Delegation

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The death toll from the clash between terrorists and the Yansakai Group in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State has risen above 100, residents say.

This figure comes shortly after Governor Aminu Masari of the State sent a delegation under the leadership of Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Muntari Lawal to condole with families of the victims.

Residents of the affected communities put the number of those killed at over one hundred, stating that more corpses are being recovered from the area as some persons in the communities are still missing.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Kastina Commissioner Assassinated

One of the residents who hails from Guga village, Abubakar Hashimu, told Channels TV that even on Friday, 63 people were buried, and on Saturday, a canter vehicle was also brought loaded with over 30 corpses, “we are still anticipating more bodies”.

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According to Hashimu, more than 100 have died so far.

According to sources, the incident happened on Thursday after several cows were rustled on Wednesday by the terrorists.

Many persons have deserted their various communities due to the incidence, even as fears of further violence spreads.

The state’s delegation led by Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Alhaji Muntari Lawal, visited Guga, Yargoje, Gidan Gamji communities on Sunday to condole with the people, describing the situation as highly tragic for not only the victims and their families, but also for the government.

Lawal called on the residents to learn how to defend themselves as such situation can not be singlehandedly treated by the government or security agencies alone.

The actual number of those killed cannot be ascertained because they are still counting the death, nobody can tell you the accurate figure because some of the bodies are scattered in the bush, they have to go and retrieve them.

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“As we are counting the number, so also the bandits. So people should learn to be caurageous enough to confront the devil before they finish them.

“Don’t wait for Government, before Government intervenes the damage has been done, so organize yourselves to confront them,” Lawal asserted.

READ ALSO: APC Issues Revised Campaign Timetable

The Katsina State Government had on Friday announced plans to inaugurate a commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the killings.

This according to the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina is to remain proactive in addressing this type of problem that led to some casualties which is he said still being investigated.

Katsina explained that, not all the bodies recovered are members of the volunteer Yansakai group but also belong to the terrorists.

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While symphasizing with families of the victims, Katsina urged members of the public to stop taking laws into their hands and ensure that they always cooperate with security agencies in their areas.

He maintained that, the state government was on top of the situation, adding that, normalcy has since returned to the area and security forces have dominated the scene.

 

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Metro

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.

READ ALSO: INEC To Publish Edo Gov Candidates’ Credentials Saturday

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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Alleged Defamation: Foremost Edo-based Human Rights Activist Granted Bail

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An Edo State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Efe Ikpomwonba, has granted an Edo-based foremost human rights activist and former coordinator-general of Edo Civil Society Organisations, EDOCSO, Leftist Omobude Agho bail for alleged defamation and cyber-stalking.

The human rights activist was brought before Criminal Court 1, Benin City, by police prosecutor, Y. Musa, with a motion exparte for remand of the defendant in prison custody.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Female Engineer Invents Smart Bra To Detect Breast Cancer

The prosecutor charge reads in part “that you Omobude Agho ‘m’ on or about the 16th day of March, 2024 at Benin City within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Benin judicial division, with intent to injure the reputation of DCP.

Members of the EDOCSO in the premises of the court in solidarity with their former coordinator-general

“Betty Otimenyin, did made injurious Facebook publication of your Facebook timeline named “Omobude Left Agho” where you referred to her as madam deputy commissioner of police in zone 5 and female deputy commissioner of police connected at the zone 5 respectively and accused her of aiding and assisting one Dominic Edobor in committing crime at Ugbineh community and other several injurious publication which you know to be false and has gone viral in a manner that injures the reputation of DCP. Betty Otimenyin and brought her to disrepute and hatred and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 24(1)(a) and (b)(2)(a)and (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.”

READ ALSO: Nigerian Female Engineer Invents Smart Bra To Detect Breast Cancer

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Agho, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Members of the EDOCSO in a joyous mood after Agho was granted bail. Standing by his rights lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN.

In his bail application, lead defendant’s counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, assuring that he (Agho) will not jump bail.

The presiding judge, having listened to both police counsel and the defendant’s counsel, granted the defendant bail with a surety and a like sum of N500,000.

The surety was to swear to an affidavit of means and resident and workplace to be verified by court officials.

The defendant was able to meet the bail conditions and was released on bail by the court.

The presiding judge thereafter adjourned the case to 21st of May, 2024.

Meanwhile during the arrast and court proceedings, members of the EDOCSO in their large numbers trooped to the court premises in solidarity with their former coordinator-general.

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NAFDAC Intercepts Psychoactive Drugs, Busts Beverage Factories In Southeast

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The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has confiscated banned pharmaceutical products, valued at millions of naira, in Onitsha, Anambra State, during a raid.

The agency also bust factories manufacturing fake alcoholic beverages in Enugu and Imo states.

NAFDAC’s Director, South East Zone, Martins Iluyomade, revealed this while briefing newsmen in Awka on Wednesday.

He said drugs intercepted in Onitsha included 892 bottles of codeine syrup, 26 packs of Rohypnol tablet (Flunitrazepam) and 16 packs of swings tablet (Flunitrazepam).

READ ALSO: Court Sentences Chinese To Death For Killing Nigerian Girlfriend

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Others were six rolls of Teka Tramadol capsules 100mg, 10 packs of Super Terpentol tablet 200mg and eight packs of Osaka Tramadol capsules 100mg.

Iluyomade applauded the Coordinator of NAFDAC in Anambra, Louis Mmadubuatta,
for a successful operation, saying the drugs posed grave public health danger.

According to him, the drugs were dangerous psychoactive substances, especially Rohypnol, which, he said, was largely used by kidnappers, rapists, cultists and ritualists, on their victims.

“These are controlled drugs which should not be found in an open market or in the hands of individuals,” he said.

Iluyomade said other breakthroughs made included the discovery of a factory under the name BEST IJAW at Ibagwa Aka, in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, which specialised in the production of an unapproved dry gin.

He said the factory had eight PVC containers filled with substances suspected to be ethanol and drums of substances equally suspected to be ethanol.

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