Metro

Terrorists Kidnap 50 In Kaduna Community

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2022

Editor

Terrorists have abducted 50 locals at Damari community in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident which happened on Saturday night forced hundreds of locals to flee the communities.

Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union, Ishaq Kasai, made this known in a statement on Sunday night.

Kasai noted that in the last five days, relevant authorities, as well as the general public, had been alert on the heartless attacks by terrorists in the community (Damari) following the withdrawal of Ansaru, a splinter group of Boko Haram from the area.

He said, “The sad event in the last 72 hours in Damari town of Kazage Ward in the Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area Kaduna State has reached a catastrophic situation.

“As at Saturday, bandits encircled Damari and abducted about 50 people, shortly before and after troops from Military field-base from Dogon-Dawa went to the town and escorted some remnants of the residents who were willing to move to comfort zones in neighbouring communities and even to as far away Zaria.

“The most worrisome situation is where a pregnant woman was running away alongside her colleagues and was left away by the fleeing groups where she fell down and delivered a baby boy. Unfortunately, both the mother and the baby lost their lives instantly.”

Kasai added, “Damari is considered as the largest town in the entire Eastern part of Birnin-Gwari and with this worrisome development, about 20,000 persons, including women and children, are rendered internally displaced.

“Even today, the bandits returned to the town unchallenged, burnt a vehicle, kidnapped scores, intercepted and maltreated people, a serious development that reflects the level of serious insecurity situation facing our community.

“These calamitous atrocities of bandits have made the people of Damari, the agrarian community that yearly produced over 600 tonnes of maize grains, abandon their ancestral homes and farms for safety.

“BEPU is highly concerned over the ugly situation of the citizens of Birnin-Gwari LGA, particularly those in the local communities where despite all efforts to draw the attention of higher authorities for action as entails in their constitutional responsibilities has failed.

“BEPU is deeply sympathizing with all the people of Damari over these trials and assures them of continued efforts towards supporting them in all possible ways, especially in humanitarian emergency needs, and would never relent on advancing engagement with Government, whose major and primary responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution is the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry, to do the needful.”

PUNCH

Metro

22-year-old Man Arrested With Arms, POS Machine In Edo

Published

11 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old man, Francis Okoye Obinna, for possession of arms and ammunition.

Spokesperson of the command, Chidi Nwabuzor, who made this known in a statement on Monday, April 15, 2024, said the suspect was arrested along the Benin-Lagos expressway during a stop and search operation.

According to the PPRO, a POS machine, a Brownie Pistol, and 9 rounds of 6mm ammunition were found in his possession.

“This young man Francis Okoye Obinna ‘m’ age 22 years old, boarded a bus from Lagos heading to Anambra State was intercepted by operatives of the Edo State Command while on purposeful stop and search along Benin-Lagos expressway on 07/04/2024,” the statement read.

“During the search, the following exhibits were found in his possession; a Brownie Pistol with breach No. PZ1833, 9 rounds of 6mm ammunition and a POS Machine

“In his confessional statement, he said it was one man called Emma in Lagos that gave him the gun to use it to threaten one Mr. Paul Okoye who he alleged to have killed his father with a charm I Anambra State

“Furtherance to their investigation, the operatives of the Command embarked on investigation activities to Lago to ascertain the truth about his statement. On getting to Lagos, it was discovered that the suspect was telling lies about his confessional statement

“Investigation continues to know how he came about the gun and the POS, what he used it for,” the statement reads.

Metro

Man Jailed 27 Years For Stealing N2.3m In Ekiti

Published

14 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Editor

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Dipo Femi, to 27 years imprisonment for conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

The sentences which will run concurrently from the day of arrest included seven years each for three charges (21 years) and three years each for two charges (six years).

Femi was arraigned on July 19, 2022, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary and other offences, contrary to Sections 421, 324 and 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

According to the charge, Femi and others, now at large, on March 14, 2022, at 5:30 a.m., at Oke Ureje, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did conspire and break into the shops of Victor Mark, Clement Moses and Samuel Lucky and stole various items.

Items stolen during the burglary, according to the charge, included “men’s and ladies’ wears, jewellery, footwear, cash sum of N200,000, perfumes, body spray, fez caps among others valued at N2.150m”.

The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, and bond to produce as exhibits while the defendant spoke in his defence through his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, and he called no witnesses.

In the judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye said, “I will not hesitate to hold that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the basic elements of stealing against the defendant and I so hold.

“In counts 1, 2 and 4, (conspiracy and burglary) the defendant is convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment each and in counts 3 and 5, the defendant is sentenced to three years imprisonment each, time of the imprisonment are to run concurrently from the date of arrest,” the judge pronounced.

Metro

Imo Police Nab Notorious Kidnap Kingpin, Recover Snatched Vehicle

Published

17 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command Anti Kidnapping Unit led have apprehended a notorious kidnap kingpin, 40-year-old Aralu Chukwudi Charis of Nnewi North LGA of Anambra State.

A statement released by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, says the arrest was made following credible intelligence and a well-coordinated operation that led the operatives to the criminal hideout of the suspect at Mgbidi in Oru East LGA of Imo State on April 13 where he was ambushed and eventually arrested.

He stated that the suspect masterminded several kidnapping and armed robbery operations in Imo State.

“On searching his hideout, one Ash Coloured Toyota Camry, 2005 model, with reg no; MUS 509 DS Lagos, reportedly snatched was recovered. In the course of investigation, he confessed that he is the gang leader of a deadly criminal syndicate terrorizing the people of Imo State and provided crucial information that will assist the determined operatives in the arrest of his syndicate at large.’‘ the statement reads in part

The police added that the suspect will be arraigned in court upon completion of a comprehensive investigation.

The statement added that the state Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, therefore reiterated the Command’s commitment to continually clamp down on unrepentant criminal syndicate perpetrating insecurity in the State.

He noted that CP advised the residents of Imo State, particularly the youths to eschew crime, warning that perpetrators will always be exposed and in most cases, end up in tragedy.