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Tag: law enforcement

  • 3 Dead As Thugs Engage In Supremacy Battle In Kano

    3 Dead As Thugs Engage In Supremacy Battle In Kano

    Three people were killed during a fight which erupted between rival gangs in Darmanawa quarters, Tarauni Local government area of Kano on Sunday evening.

    Trouble started after one Muhammad Barde,59, organise Gangi event (Cultural event for local hunters) to celebrate wedding of his children.

    Thugs had taken advantage of the activity to engage in supremacy battle in the area.

    Many of them brandished dangerous weapons and within minutes, fight broke out.

    Commenting on the incident, Police Public relations Officer in Kano, SP Haruna Kiyawa, said the police responded to a distressed call and dispersed the armed hoodlums.

    However, few hours after the fight continued among the armed thugs, leading to confrontation with the police.

    Kiyawa said this led to the death of one Sadiq Abdulkadir, 23 of Darmanawa quarters and Muhammad Sani, 22, of Sallari quarters.

    Kiyawa said police commissioner Usaini Gumel ordered immediate arrest of the organiser of the event along with two others.

    A teenager Sadiq Abdullahi ,18, of Karkasara quarters was said to have died from bullet wounds when police were trying to disperse the thugs, according to residents.

    Father of the boy, Mallam Abdullahi Yasayyadi, said he was in school when he was called to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital to confirm the identity of his son who died after bullet hit him in the stomach.

    The bereaved Yasayyadi said he had left everything to God.

    The police said full scale investigation will be conducted and findings made public

  • Terrorists Kill Soldier, Kidnap Mother In Kaduna

    Terrorists Kill Soldier, Kidnap Mother In Kaduna

    A soldier identified as Yahaya Ayuba (Zabuyia), lost his life while bravely resisting gunmen who invaded his home in Anguwan Rimi village, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

     
    The assailants also abducted his stepmother during the incident which occurred late Sunday night.

    Family member Mr. Kantiok Solomon confirmed the heartbreaking news, recounting how the gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles, barged into the house while Ayuba was conversing with his family members. 

    Despite his courageous efforts to protect his stepmother, Ayuba was fatally shot when the gunmen noticed his uniform.

    This isn’t the first time such violence has struck the community, leaving residents like Angelo Tagwai deeply unsettled. Urging swift action, Tagwai called upon security forces to rescue the abducted woman and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

  • EFCC Warns Embassies Against Demanding Dollars For Services

    EFCC Warns Embassies Against Demanding Dollars For Services

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned embassies not to demand foreign currency for goods and services in the country.

    The chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, gave the strong warning in a special memo addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    In the memo dated May 5, 2024, the EFCC chair made it clear that it was illegal for embassies to collect any currency apart from Naira in Nigeria.

    Part of the memo reads: “I present to you the compliments of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and wish to notify you about the Commission’s observation, with dismay, regarding the unhealthy practice by some foreign Missions to invoice consular services to Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country in United States Dollar.

    “This practice is an aberration and unlawful as it conflicts with extant laws and financial regulations in Nigeria. Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 makes currencies issued by the apex bank the only legal tender in Nigeria.

    “It states that ‘the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be the legal tender in Nigeria on their face value for the payment of any amount’.

    “This presupposes that any transaction in currencies other than the naira anywhere in Nigeria contravenes the law and is, therefore, illegal.

    “The refusal by some Missions to accept the naira for consular service in Nigeria and also comply with foreign exchange regulatory regime in fixing the exchange of the cost of their services is not only illegal, but represents an affront on the Country’s sovereignty symbolized by the national currency.

    “It undermines Nigeria’s monetary policy and aspiration for sustainable economic development.

    “This trend can no longer be tolerated, especially in a volatile economic environment where the country’s macroeconomic policies are constantly under attack by all manner of state and non-state actors.

    “In light of the above, you may wish to convey the Commission’s displeasure to all embassies in Nigeria and restate Nigeria’s desire for their operations not to conflict with extant laws and regulations in the country,” the EFCC boss warned.

  • Yahaya Bello to be arraigned, June 13

    Yahaya Bello to be arraigned, June 13

    The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Friday finally agreed to submit himself to the Federal High Court Abuja for arraignment on June 13.

    At the Friday sitting, Justice Emeka Nwite rejected the former governor’s request for suspension of trial.

    Following the rejection of the application, the lead Counsel to the defendant, Abdulwahab Mohammed, gave the undertaking that his client will appear before the court in the next adjourned date.

    He stated that Bello was not afraid of arraignment but the safety of his life in the hand of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

    According to Mohammed, the life of his client has been under consistent threats in Abuja, hence, his decision to go underground for safety.

    In his remarks, Justice Nwite reiterated that EFCC as a law-abiding body would not do anything against the provisions of the law.

    The court added that Bello was not the first former governor to be merely invited by the anti-graft agency and would not be the last.

    The judge also said that the charges are based on allegations that have not been proved, adding that the law even presumes any accused person innocent until proven otherwise.

    Consequently, Justice Nwite advised Bello’s lawyer to prevail on his client to respect the law and order of court as a law-abiding citizen.

    Responding, Mohammed expressed gratitude to the court, adding that with the assurance that EFCC would not do anything untoward, the former governor would be brought to court.

    “All my client needs is just an assurance for the safety of his life which has been under threat for sometimes in Abuja.”

    He, therefore, requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court.

    However, he added that the former governor, now at large, will come to the court instead of the EFCC to take his plea in the charges.

    In his reaction, counsel to the Anti-graft agency, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, didn’t oppose the application.

    Justice Nwite fixed June 13 for Bello to appear in court to take his, please.

  • Commercial Bus Conveying Women, Children Abducted in Otukpo, Benue State

    Commercial Bus Conveying Women, Children Abducted in Otukpo, Benue State

    The growing incidence of violent attacks and kidnap of villagers in a manner akin to guerilla warfare continues unabated in Apa, Agatu and parts of Otukpo and Ohimini Local Government Areas of Benue state as armed men suspected to be cattle herders have waged a relentless war, killing them in their numbers and abducting women, children and unsuspecting victims on a daily basis.
    The armed criminals also lay siege on the highway to kidnap wayfarers for ransom in order to sustain their crime economy. A source disclosed to Nigerian Anchor this Wednesday, May 8th, that in furtherance of their criminal enterprise, armed men suspected to be Kidnappers, yesterday, at a lonely section between two villages named Omutele and Ankpechi in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state, intercepted a commercial transport mini-bus belonging to Benue Links Transport Service and conveying passengers from Abuja to Otukpo.
    As at press time, the exact number of passengers affected cannot be verified, but first responders claim that victims were mostly women, while the minor were abandoned. Sources say that the abandoned children had been handed over to men of the Nigerian Police Force.
    It was also disclosed that one of the young men from the two villages who were mobilized and currently on a hot chase for the adaptors was short while another retreated for his dear life. Meanwhile, a few others are reported to continue with the quest, combing bushes and forests in frantic search for the victims and their abductors.
    A concerned villager who commented on the incident expressed the opinion that, “There are police posts in the area. The locales must be part of this, and that’s the great challenge.”

  • Bolt sacks 22 Nigerian workers

    Bolt sacks 22 Nigerian workers

    Bolt Nigeria, a technology-driven ride-hailing platform, on Tuesday said its restructuring efforts affected 22 employees that were laid off.

    The firm’s Communications Manager, Femi Adeyemo, confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday.

    Adeyemo emphasised that Bolt Nigeria is not facing financial difficulties but is instead undergoing a restructuring process.

    “22 people out of 45 from a department were relieved of their jobs, not nearly half as claimed by some reports.

    “The department where it happened has 45 workers, not the whole Bolt. That number is not half of the workforce of Bolt,” he said.

    “The affected employees will receive comprehensive severance packages to support their transition to new career opportunities,” Adeyemo added.

    Subsequently, the e-hailing firm shared a statement that read, “Bolt has never done and is not doing any layoffs, which implies massively downsizing the team because the company is struggling financially. We have made the difficult decision to discontinue collaboration with 22 employees in Nigeria.

    “This decision comes as we have been going through the process of restructuring a considerable number of customer support and operational processes in the country. We have offered the people who will be leaving us severance packages that will support their transition to new career opportunities.

    “This decision does not affect the quality of our products for riders and drivers. We see great potential in Nigeria, and we will stand by our investment commitments in all our African markets.”

  • DSS arrests former Oyo PMS chairman, Auxiliary

    DSS arrests former Oyo PMS chairman, Auxiliary

    The Department of State Services has reportedly arrested Mukaila Lamidi, the embattled chairman of the Oyo State Park Management System, popularly known as Auxiliary.

    According to The Punch, Auxiliary was arrested at about 4:00 pm on Tuesday at his residence in the Olodo area of Ibadan, the state capital.

    Although the reasons for his arrest are still sketchy, a source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity because of the weight of the matter said it was because of an interview he granted on Saturday, May 4, in which he called out Seye Famojuro, a trusted ally of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for being behind his woes.

    In the interview he granted to Media personnel, Ajibola Akinyefa, in the Yoruba Language, the former PMS chairman said, “If he (Famojuro) is the governor or Seyi Makinde is, we will know. It is just a matter of time. Everybody will face the consequences of their actions. The people he chose to manage the park are cheating themselves.

    When asked if it was his hooliganism that led to his removal, Auxiliary queried how many people reported that he beat them to the police.

    He further said that Seye would still return to Ijesha because Ibadan is not his homeland.

    “Seye will still go back to Ijesha because Ibadan is not his town. Only Governor Seyi Makinde and I will remain here because we won’t run away. And I see that the bird is not working, but God feeds it. Seye will reap the seeds of his actions,” he added.

  • Gunmen kill three Oil workers in Edo

    Gunmen kill three Oil workers in Edo

    Unknown gunmen have reportedly killed three staff of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The staff were reportedly killed while working on the plantation.

    The Public Relations officer of the company, Fidelis Olise, who confirmed the incident, alleged that the killing was done by unknown persons.

    Olise, who said the company enjoys a cordial relationship with the communities in the area, noted that he could not say whether the perpetuators are members of the host communities.

    He said that the incident has been reported to the police and investigation has commenced.

    “I can confirm to you that three of our staff were killed by gunmen on Monday while they were working on our plantation.

    “We enjoy cordial relationship with the communities around us and we cannot say whether members of the communities were involved.

    “However, the matter has been reported to the police and we hope justice will be done,” he added.

    The state Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, who also confirmed the incident, said more personnel have been deployed by the State Command to the area to forestall a repeat of the attack.

    Adegboye, who described the incident as shocking, wondered why gunmen could carry out such attack, just as he alleged that the attackers were from a neighbouring state.

    He noted that efforts were on to arrest the culprits and bring them to book.

    The CP also said that the police were working with the management of Okomu Oil to perfect ways of making the environment safer for its staff at all times.

    “Preliminary findings showed that the gunmen came from the creek in a neighbouring state, which I would not like to mention. The attack is shocking.

    “However, more men have been deployed to the area to forestall a repeat, while the police in conjunction with Okomu is working to ensure that the culprits are arrested.

    “We will not allow such an occurrence to happen in the state again,” he added.

  • France Speaks On Plan To Set Up Military Bases In Nigeria

    France Speaks On Plan To Set Up Military Bases In Nigeria

    The French Government has said there are no discussions between France and Nigeria to establish military bases in the country.

    Recall that some eminent Northern leaders and Civil Society Organisations cautioned President Bola Tinubu against allowing the United States and the French governments to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.

    In a letter to Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly, the leaders urged the government to resist pressures from the US and France.

    They questioned the benefits of foreign military bases, particularly noting the lack of effectiveness in curbing terrorism in the Sahel region despite the presence of American troops and intelligence personnel in Niger.

    However, in an interview with The Punch, the Head of Communication at the French Embassy in Nigeria, Onyinye Madu, said there was no such plan to establish any military base in the country.

    Madu added that no discussions have taken place or are planned between France and Nigeria regarding the relocalisation of military bases.

    She said, “The French Embassy in Nigeria would like to point out that contrary to the claims made in the open letter quoted in the article, no discussions have taken place or are planned between France and Nigeria regarding the relocalisation of military bases.”

    Also, the Federal Government, on Monday, clarified that there were no discussions with foreign countries regarding the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the clarification in a statement he signed on Monday.

  • Gunmen Kidnap 6 Anambra Clerics

    Gunmen Kidnap 6 Anambra Clerics

    Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have reportedly abducted Archbishop Uka Uka Osim of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.

    The cleric, his wife, Anne Osim and son, Roland Uka Osim, and three other clerics from the ministry were abducted on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Abia State while travelling to Awka, the capital of Anambra State.

    They were reportedly on evangelical duties when they were ambushed by the armed men. The other three priests also kidnapped were identified as Azuka Ochu, Moses Okafor and Anderson Akwazie.

    The kidnapping incident was confirmed to journalists by the administrator of the spiritual organisation in Abia State, BCS, Bishop Denis Onuoha.

    He said four days later, the abductors had not reached out to anybody.

    “We are very worried, but we are assured that the Almighty Father, whom they worship and work for with total devotion, will help them out,” Bishop Onuoha told reporters.

    The cleric urged security agencies to assist and rescue the clergymen, stating that the church has embarked on deep prayers, believing that the Archbishop and his brethren will be rescued unhurt.