Metro

Man Kills Brother During Fight Over N1,000

Published

2 years ago

February 7, 2023

A man, Ibrahim Dauda, has allegedly killed his brother, Tunde, during a fight over N1,000 at their residence on Amusa Street, off Community Road, in the Obadore area of Igando, Lagos State.

It was gathered that Ibrahim and Tunde were at home when an argument bordering on N1,000 ensued between them.

Ii was learnt that the argument degenerated and the brothers were said to be engaging in fisticuffs when Ibrahim ran into the house and reached for an iron rod.

On returning, Ibrahim reportedly used the rod to hit Tunde’s forehead and the impact of the attack caused the 27-year-old to lose consciousness while he fell.

A source, while speaking with The PUNCH, said in a bid to rescue Tunde, people rushed him to the Igando General Hospital, adding that one of the doctors on duty confirmed him dead.

The source said, “The incident happened on Sunday, January 29, 2023. Both of them were fighting over N1, 000 and in the process, one of the brothers (Ibrahim) used an iron rod to hit his brother (Tunde) on his forehead.

“People quickly rushed him to the general hospital in Igando but he was confirmed dead. His corpse was evacuated and taken to the Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.”

It was gathered that policemen attached to the Igando Division arrested Ibrahim.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, had yet to take his calls or reply to a text message about the incident sent to his mobile number as of the time this report was filed on Monday.

The PUNCH reports that there have been increasing cases of siblings engaging in fights leading to deaths in the state.

In September 2022, it was reported that the police command in the state arrested one Monday Nnime for allegedly stabbing his brother, John, to death over a misunderstanding bordering on N1, 500.

The incident took place at the deceased’s residence in the Odokekere area of Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of the state.

The misunderstanding over the money was said to have caused an argument and Monday allegedly used an object to stab his younger brother in the neck, killing him in the process.

Also in the state, one Chisom Eze allegedly killed his 19-year-old brother, Henry, during a fight over a bottle of soft drink at their residence on Johnson Street, in the Alaba area of the state.

Chisom was said to have left the drink in the house and stepped out to attend to an issue, but when he returned, he discovered that Henry had taken advantage of his absence to consume the drink.

Angered by his brother’s action, Chisom reportedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Henry in the neck. The teenager died due to the injuries he sustained during the attack.

Also in April 2021, the state police command confirmed the killing of a businessman, Uchenna Njoku, by his younger brother, Chukwuma, during an argument over N3,000 debt.

It was gathered that Chukwuma visited Uchenna when the deceased asked his brother to pay the N3,000 he owed him, but in the process, an argument ensued between the brothers, which degenerated into a fight.

Expert speaks

Reacting, a security expert, Dickson Osajie, while describing the events that led to Tunde’s death as a terrible experience, urged the National Orientation Agency to continuously sensitise Nigerians on the need to live in peace and the consequences of crime.

Osajie said, “The incident is terrible and we are losing value and morals in our society. Growing up, brothers usually engage in fights but they shouldn’t lead to taking arms to kill one another. But Nigerians are frustrated, a lot of people are frustrated and at any given instance, they want to vent their anger.

“The fact that Tunde engaged in a fight with his brother over N1,000 is normal in society but they went too far with it, and it led to the death of Tunde. For me, we need to start looking at parental upbringings, so that brothers don’t engage one another in trivial issues and kill one another.

“It is rampant in Nigeria; if everybody is comfortable, I don’t think they would be engaging in any fight that will lead to deaths. I will advise that the National Orientation Agency should engage in continuous orientation to sensitise Nigerians on the need to live in peace and also the consequences of crime and punishment.”
PUNCH

Metro

PICTORIAL: Lagos Court Jails Nine Chinese For Cybercrimes

Published

11 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

Justice D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one-year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, following their arrest in a major sting operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement on Tuesday via X by the EFCC, the convicts, identified as LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang, and Du Ji Feng, were part of a syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects apprehended on December 19, 2024.

The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 charged the nine individuals in February 2025 with one count separate charges of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The charge stated, “That you, LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang and Du Ji Feng, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.”

Initially pleading “not guilty,” the defendants reversed their pleas to “guilty” during a court session on June 5, 2025.

Nnaemeka Omewa, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, a request supported by the defence counsel.

Justice Osiagor subsequently sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, effective from their arrest date of December 10, 2025, and imposed a fine of N1,000,000 on each.

The court further ordered that the convicts be repatriated to their country of origin within seven days of completing their sentences, as directed to the Comptroller General of Immigration.

Additionally, mobile phones, computers, laptops, and routers seized during the EFCC’s “Eagle Flush Operation” were forfeited to the Federal Government.

Metro

Gunmen Kill Man, Burn Houses In Kwara

Published

20 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

Gunmen believed to be members of ‘Mahmuda’ group on Sunday attacked Karongi town in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara state, killed one person and burnt many houses in the community.

The bandits who invaded the town early in the morning reportedly killed a resident before setting some houses ablaze.

According to The PUNCH, the gunmen took advantage of the absence of the vigilantes in the community who had travelled to attend a workshop while others had travelled out to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir outside the community.

It was further gathered that the gunmen who had a field day in the community between 6am and 11am were however dislodged by the combined team of soldiers and vigilantes mobilised from the adjoining settlements in the area.

Though the police feigned ignorance of Sunday’s attack in Karongi, the Nigerian Army confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

The Emir of Yashikira Emirate in Baruten Local Government Area, Alhaji Umoru Sariki, also confirmed the incident to The PUNCH.

The Emir who spoke in a telephone conversation on Sunday night said one person was killed during the attack while many houses were burnt.

Umoru said, “Yes, the bandits from Mahmuda group struck at about 6 am on Sunday. They attacked Karongi town in my Emirate. They killed one person and burnt many houses in the community.

“They took advantage of the absence of the vigilantes who had travelled for Sallah while some had also gone for training. They invaded the town for hours, from 6 am to 11 am. We have to go to the surrounding communities in the Emirate to mobilise local vigilantes who succeeded to chase them away at about 11o’clock.”

The Emir said that “the soldiers were far away adding, that the army was stationed in Chikanda which is far away from the community.”

When contacted earlier, the Police Public Relations Office in Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said she was not aware of the attack.

She said, “I’m not aware of this incident. I will do my findings and get back to you.”

The Public Relations Officer of the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Sobi, Ilorin, Lt. Stephen Nwankwo, however, confirmed the attack on Monday.

He said, “Yes, the incident happened. I’m aware. One of the vigilantes was killed while some makeshift houses were set ablaze by the gunmen. The soldiers were alerted about the incident and they went to the village. The person who was killed was one of the vigilantes who escorted the soldiers to the village.

“The bandits ran away on sighting the soldiers and escaped from the area”, the Army spokesperson said.

Metro

Tension Brews As Gov Bago Pardons 11 Murder Convicts

Published

20 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

The Gaba community in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State are spoiling for war with her sister community, Amfani, also in Lavun LGA, following a state pardon granted to 11 deathroll convicts.

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago in what has been described as a judicial tsunami, granted an unconditional pardon to 11 Amfani sons who were sentenced to death by a competent court of law after they were found guilty of killing seven sons of Gaba community.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, made the pardon decision known via a statement which he made available to Arewa The PUNCH titled: “Governor Bago grants state pardon to 11 convicts.”

The statement which read in parts revealed that the “Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has granted unconditional state pardon to 11 convicted persons who were sentenced to death.

“The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister. Nasiru Mu’azu disclosed this during a press briefing at the Government House, Minna.

“He explained that the convicts were involved in a communal clash between Gaba and Amfani communities of Lavun Local Government Area of the state, which led to the loss of lives and property.

“The Commissioner revealed that the state pardon is in exercise of the constitutional powers of the governor following a written request which was further reviewed between the governor and the state Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

“He said the State pardon is also part of the reconciliatory efforts to ensure lasting peace between both communities, adding that several meetings have been held and all issues have been resolved.

“Answering questions from the media practitioners on the fate of others with similar issues, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice advised such communities or individuals with similar issues to come up with a written request for consideration.

“He said the Instrument of Pardon was signed on the 28th of May 2025 and has been gazetted.

“Those granted state pardon are: Mohammed Mohammed, Nana Alhaji Sheshi, Isah Baba Nmadu, Mohammed Mohammed Ndabida, Abubakar Baba Salihu, Baba Mohammed Shaba, Adamu Mohammed Babaminin, Haruna Mohammed, Isah Mohammed, Alhaji Inuwa, Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Isah,” Ibrahim stated.

However, shortly after the decision to grant the state pardon to the convicts was announced, all hell was let loose in the Gaba community as the youths took to the streets to protest the governor’s action, saying that the governor had set the stage for more bloodbath.

According to the chairman of the Gaba Development Association, Paul Gana, it took the intervention of elders in the community to dissuade the youths from taking the law into their hands.

In an open letter to the Niger State Governor signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Gaba Development Association, Isah Baba reminded the governor that the prerogative of mercy in the Nigerian constitution is not to be misused to undermine the sanctity of the Judiciary.

“We, the people of Gaba in Lavun Local Goverment, have decided to use this medium to air our grievances and not keep silent over the exercise of state pardon granted to convicted murderers of our kinsmen.

“Your Excellency, Farmer Governor, Umaru Bago, the murder of seven (7) innocent, unarmed individuals from Gaba community whose corpses were severely mutilated and body parts carted away by the convicted murderers is considered to be the most heinous crime that ever happend in the history of NUPE people.

“It took the intervention of community elders and well-meaning Nigerlites to stop a retaliation from Gaba youths and allow justice to run its course through the legal process. Those found guilty by court were meant to face the full weight of justice. But with the steps you were ill adviced to take today, we fear that your good name would bedraggedd in the mud.

“Your Excellency, the powers of prerogative of mercy as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is intended to serve as tool for justice and compensation in exceptional circumstances and not to be misused to undermine the sanctity of the Judiciary.

“Granting pardon to the eleven persons convicted for the offence of murder devalues the lives of the victims, disrespect their families, and erodes public confidence in the administration of state affairs through your leadership.

“This action will earn you the reputation of being the first governor in the history of Niger State to weaponise the power of state pardon to subvert and circumvent justice. It will go down in the history of Niger State as a reference point that in your tenure as governor, you created a backdoor escape for convicted murderers and criminals.

“It will also appear laughable your stance on the criminal activities in Minna that made your government to impose cufew on the operations of motorcycles and tricycles recently.

“More worrisome is the fact that it will undermine the sanctity of the judiciary and the painstaking process by which conviction was secured. It will dampen the morale of law enforcement agencies who investigated the case. It will trample on the rights and memories of the victims and their families, encourage Nigerlites to seek alternatives to get justice, and just maybe ignite another round of loss of lives and properties.

“This ill adviced action is sending a dangerous message that weighty crimes such as taking a human life can be absolved by the process of political or executive discretion.

“We need not remind you, Your Excellency, that your most important duty is to secure the lives and property of all Nigerlites and to ensure their well-being.

“In this instance, we are afraid to state that the State failed to secure the lives of the victims and now failed to give justice to them.

“Mr. Governor Sir, we call on you to reconsider this pardon, uphold the sanctity of the judicial process, and ensure that justice is not sacrificed on the altar of political convenience or vested interest,” Baba declared in the terse statement.
(PUNCH)