Metro

Police Arrest Driver Who Stole Employer’s Car, Gave Testimony In Church

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2024

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended 36-year-old robbery suspect, Amos Daniel, who stole his employer’s vehicle on the same day he was hired as a driver.

Daniel confessed to having taken the car to his church to give testimony of God’s miraculous provision.

In a related case, two dismissed soldiers, Akeem Suleiman and Abdulau Mohammed, along with two civilian accomplices, were paraded among other suspects for their involvement in a robbery gang.

The gang allegedly carried out operations wearing military headgear.

The police recovered military headgear, uniforms, and identity cards from the dismissed soldiers.

The police also paraded a 25-year-old suspect, Thankgod Kesh-David, who posed as a roadside mechanic to repair broken-down vehicles, only to disappear with them.

Briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, the command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hudenyin, said, “We have successfully arrested a robbery gang through our tactical team based in Surulere. The four-man gang specialised in snatching vehicles at gunpoint from motorists in Lagos.

“They have been operating for quite a long time. Two of them are dismissed soldiers, one was dismissed in 2014 and the other in 2017. They carried out their crime wearing full military gear.

“We also have somebody who was employed as a driver. Unfortunately, the employer did not do due diligence. The same day he resumed as a driver, he ran away with the car and could not be traced.

“Interestingly, he dedicated the car in church the following Sunday, testifying of what God had done to him.”

Speaking with journalists, the arrested driver, Daniel, said, “I stole my madam’s Lexus car and took it to the church to testify that God has blessed me. I intended to use it for Uber and use the proceeds to pay my debt. I stole the car on June 23, 2024, the very first day I was employed, and I took it to church on June 30, 2024.”

One of the dismissed soldiers, Suleiman, who claimed he was dismissed from the Nigerian Army in 2017 for desertion, told journalists “I started robbery in April 2024. Anytime we steal a car, I drive it to the receiver’s place. We steal cars randomly. If we see anyone parked and wound down, we drag them out and zoom off in the car. We operate in the Ajah area of Lagos, with a local gun. But we never killed our victims.”

The command’s spokesman advised employers to exercise due diligence when hiring drivers or domestic staff and to conduct background checks at the Central Criminal Registry at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, and the forensic unit before employment.

He added that the suspects will be charged in court for their crimes.

Metro

Two Robbers Bag Five-year Jail Term

Published

1 hour ago

July 6, 2024

Editor

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced two persons to five years imprisonment for conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Believe Leisure, 36, and Jacob Doukumo, 42, with Suit Number BYHC/BHC/CR/1/2023, were arrested by the police on December 24, 2022, along Sangana Creek in the Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Police counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday, said they were arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit felony and armed robbery which are punishable under Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act.CAPT. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

She told the court that, “Believe Leisure, Jacob Doukumo and three others at large on the 24th day of December 2022 at about 600 hours at Sangana, Akassa in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State while armed with one single-barreled gun and two machetes, attacked one Johnbull New Year and one Jackson surname yet unknown and robbed them of a 30 horsepower Suzuki outboard engine valued at N600,000 only.”

The prosecution counsel also told the court that after a diligent investigation by the police, the duo were arrested and later remanded in custody.

Doukumo was present in court for his sentencing, but Leisure had died while awaiting trial at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Okaka, Yenagoa.

The presiding judge, T.Y. Abasi, in declaring judgment said the court “found the accused guilty on the three counts” and sentenced them to five years imprisonment.

Metro

Bauchi Commissioner Lauds UNICEF On Quality Service Delivery In Education

Published

2 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Editor

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr Jamila Dahiru, has commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for supporting the state in development of plans to improve the quality of service delivery in the sector.

Dahiru made the commendation in Bauchi on Friday at the opening ceremony of UNICEF/National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA)’s collaboration on the validation and dissemination of State Education Strategic Plans (SESP) and State Education Sector Operation Plan (SESOP) in the state.

The Commissioner, who acknowledged that the resolve of UNICEF in advancing the education sector in the state could not be overemphasized, also commended NIEPA for embarking on the exercise, adding it would help in ensuring the appropriate allocation of resources to programme implementation.

She however, decried the non availability of updated data in the planning of operations stressing that updated data was important in planning education policies.

The Commissioner promised that the government would work with the outcome of the meeting in order to move the education sector forward.

Earlier speaking, Ag Director General/CEO NIEPA Nigerian, Ondo, Dr. A. D. Shofoyeke, said that the formulation of the SESP and SESOP had been described as a testament to the collective vision for an inclusive, equitable, and quality education system in Nigeria.

According to him, these plans were not just documentsc but blueprints for the future of the children, the foundation of the nation’s growth, and the beacon guiding toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.

“Our journey here has been one of collaboration, consultation, and comprehensive planning. We have engaged stakeholders at all levels – from educators and administrators to parents and community leaders.

“This inclusive approach has ensured that our plans are reflective of the diverse needs and aspirations of our society. It is this inclusiveness that will drive the success of our initiatives.

“The SESP and SESOP are holistic in that they cover all levels of education namely Pre-primary, primary, JSS, nomadic, Adult and Non-Formal education, senior secondary school, among others

“The SESP and SESOP outline strategic priorities that address critical areas such as: Access to education, Quality of teaching and learning as well as Governance and emerging issues.

“These plans are designed to tackle the challenges that have historically hindered our progress while leveraging opportunities to innovate and improve. Our focus is on creating a resilient education system capable of adapting to the dynamic needs of the 21st century,” he said.

Metro

Roads Under Construction Would Be Completed Before Sept., Edo Govt Assures

Published

15 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Ethan Uzamere, has assured that before the expiration of the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration, roads currently under rehabilitation and construction in the state would be completed to ease the movement of motorists and other residents of the state.

He gave the assurance while speaking with reporters during a routine inspection/monitoring of some road projects in Ovia North East and Ovia South West local government areas of the state.

Making reference to a portion of the road that has been reconstructed/rehabilitated, Ethan said, “as you can see, this road leads to different farms sites and it also leads to a general hospital. There’s also a few religious centres around there. There’s also a very big residential community around these areas. It actually opens up the inner streets of the community.

“Issues affecting our roads are external factors. Coming now, you see that most of the reasons are because of burrow pits. People are taking sand from the pit and this is actually making our roads to fail. It is very important to know who did these burrow pits miners get their licenses from?

“They get their licenses through the Federal Government and some times, the state government is not even aware. They deal with the community directly. So, it is very important for us as a ministry to let the people of the locality know the effects of the mining activities. It is actually going to affect their community land.

“You are seeing a lot of erosion around the states. It is not just Edo but around Nigeria. One of the major reasons why we have this issue, it is actually man made, but with proper planning and organizations, we can see how we can control some of these issues.”

Going further, Uzamere stressed: “I am optimistic that most of these roads will be completed before the end of this administration. The projects we are doing are not personal. They are for the people. I know the people that this road is affecting will also cry to the next government that they should continue with the project.”

Roads inspected by Uzamere during the exercise included the Iguobazuwa- Usen-Okoro/Ugbogui Road Project in Ovia South West Local Government Area put at a length of 13.22km. Others are Usen-Okoro Road whose length is 7.1km; Okemola Road which is 1.45km and Ugbogui Road which is 2.5km.