Four men arrested for allegedly kidnapping 13-year-old girl

Four members of a kidnap syndicate, have been arrested by operatives of Ogun state police command, for allegedly kidnapping a 13 yrs old girl in Onipanu area of Ado odo ota local government area of the state. 

 

A statement released by DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, says the four suspects, John Nelson, 21yrs, Adeleke Ayotunde 29yrs, Adekunle Basit 20yrs and Abey Fagbemi 20yrs, were arrested, following a complaint lodged at Onipanu divisional headquarters, by one Adejunwon Odunowo, who reported that his 13year old daughter Susan Odunowo, was sent on an errand by her mother at about 6:30 p.m. of 6th of May 2021, but didn't return home. Adejuwon told the police that he later received an anonymous phone call, demanding for the sum of N500,000 as ransom if he ever wants to see his daughter again. 
 
''Upon the report, the Dpo Onipanu division, CSP Bamidele Job, detailed his crack detectives,to embarked on intelligence and technical based investigation, in order to unravel those behind the devilish act. 
On the 8th of May 2021, the detectives successfully traced one of the suspects to Cele area of ota, where he was arrested. His arrest, led to the apprehension of two other members of the gang at a factory in ota. It was then discovered that the victim was being kept in a room, owned by Adekunle Basit. Detectives swiftly moved in there, and rescued the victim unhurt. 
The leader of the gang, Abbey Fagbemi, who took to flight immediately he heard of the arrest of his fellow gang members, was later arrested at about 7:30 am of Monday 10th of May 2021.
The victim has since been reunited with her family'' the statement in part read
 
Oyeyemi said the state commissioner of police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti kidnapping section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department, for discreet investigation and prosecution. He also appealed to members of the public, to adhere strictly to various security advice given by the command, in order not to fall victim of kidnap syndicates. 
 

FG extends work from home directive for civil servants till June 11

The Federal Government's work-from-home directive for civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below, has been extended till June 11. 

Civil servants were directed by the Presidential Steering Committee On COVID-19 domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to work from home till June 11, 2021, after which the directive may be reviewed.

PSC's  National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed who gave the directive said; 

 “All Government staff on GL. 12 and below are to continue to stay at home until 11th June, 2021."

‘Nigerians can’t stand two more years of Buhari regime’

 The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), yesterday, threw its weight behind calls for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, warning Nigeria cannot survive two more years under this regime. Speaking during AIT’s ‘Kakaaki’ programme, spokesman of the forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, called on members of the National Assembly to begin the process of impeaching the president, noting that the lawmakers must realise that the country is in a dire state.

Baba-Ahmed, who pointed out that the challenges bedeviling the country were more than mere talking and issuing statements, said now is the time to act.

He said: “Those who have constitutional responsibility must realise that the country is in a dire strait, and do something other than just talking and making promises. The second option is for citizens to get together and decide to do something.

“The third option is that those leaders who are failing will recognise the fact that they are the problem, and they will resign because they clearly have nothing to offer in terms of leadership,” he said.

“Or, as our democratic system provides, those with the responsibility to get them off, should impeach those who are failing. If the president can’t deliver, he should be impeached.

“Sadly, we don’t have a National Assembly that appears to have the levels of patriotism and concern beyond partisan politics to realise that when this roof falls, it also falls on their heads. Partisanship is so pronounced that the people we elected and sent to Abuja think they serve the President rather than the Nigerian people.

“Ordinarily, the legislators should look at the record of the administration, understand the areas where the President has failed, understand areas where there is clearly no evidence that they are going to do anything about it and refer to the Constitution that says the whole purpose of government is to secure citizens and pursue their welfare,” Baba-Ahmed said.

Earlier in February, the National Assembly had requested President Buhari to appear before it over the state of insecurity. However, the President did not honour the request. Section 143 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution gives the National Assembly the power to remove the President if he is incapable of effectively discharging his duty.

But the possibility of impeaching the President is low because the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), controls both chambers of the National Assembly. Also, past threats of impeachment failed to yield any action. In 2020, the PDP caucus, under the leadership of Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) threatened to commence an impeachment process over insecurity and corruption in the country. It never did.

THE Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has faulted the call by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for the impeachment of President Buhari due to the appalling security situation in the country. BMO Chairman, Mr Niyi Akinsiju, maintained that such position by NEF was tantamount to an invitation to anarchy.

Akinsiju, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that NEF’s position was politically motivated, adding that those calling for the impeachment of the President do not mean well for the country.

He noted: “They are entitled to their own opinion on the performance of the President. However, we insist that the vast majority of Nigerians who agree that the President is living up to their expectations would not allow any move to impeach him.

“The President is on top of his game in securing the lives and properties of Nigerians. There is no country in the world that is not grappling with a security challenge or the other. Even the advanced countries of the world are not exempted.

“The President is working round the clock to addressed the concern raised by Nigerians on the issue. The security architecture is being rejigged to tackle the latest challenge, especially coming from the Southeast geopolitical zone.”

HOWEVER, an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives on National Security has called for the submission of memoranda on a planned security summit. The four-day summit has been scheduled for May 24 to 28.

According to a statement by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Akubueze, the deadline for submission is May 20. The Special Ad Hoc Committee on National Security was constituted by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, on March 17.

According to the statement, memoranda should be solution-focused with emphasis on “local and community level security options, strategic kinetic national security, and non-military and non-kinetic security.”

This is not the first time lawmakers will be holding security summits in the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari. In 2018, the Senate had a summit on security and another was held 14 months later in 2019.

This latest one is coming amid an increase in killings and general insecurity across the country. Last month, the lower chamber asked the President to declare a State of Emergency on security, while the lawmakers also made 11 other resolutions on security.

An opposition lawmaker, Dachung Bagos (PDP, Plateau), had said the lawmakers would consider the option of impeachment if nothing changes after the summit.

MEANWHILE, the Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has thrown its weight behind the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, on his recent call for a summit to address the lingering insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the country.

Babalola had last week while speaking during the 10th NBA public lecture held in his honour expressed regret over the wave of insecurity in the country and called for a summit titled ‘Summit of Hope’ where leaders across board will discuss workable solutions to prevent the nation from sliding into anarchy.

But an online report stated that the legal icon was daring the Federal Government by proposing the summit. The NBA, in its reaction, has therefore dismissed the report, which suggested that the legal icon wanted to destabilise or topple President Buhari’s government.

The NBA chairman, Adeyemi Adewumi, in a statement on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, while condemning the alleged malicious and misleading report, said Babalola was being patriotic by calling for the summit over the precarious situation in the country.

He said: “The Nigerian Bar Association condemns this criminally mischievous publication and calls on every Nigerian to disregard and discountenance its content but appreciate the patriotic and nationalistic move by way of suggestion, of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN to restore the hope of Nigerians.

“The publication is an attempt to hoodwink Nigerians into believing a negatively and falsely reported news as against the genuine reasoning behind Aare Afe Babalola’s call to restore hope for Nigerians amidst her numerous challenges.

“We wonder how the most nationalistic suggestion to summon all living former Nigerian presidents, leadership of the National Assembly, governors, religious leaders and frontline traditional rulers, as well as Civil Society Organisations, which was made in the most unparalleled good faith, now amounts to conspiracy to remove the government from power.

“The rationale behind Babalola’s call was to prevent the country from disintegrating and drifting into anarchy so that it can remain an indivisible entity. We must however state unequivocally that the law is very clear on the right of every Nigerian, including Afe Babalola, to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Ameneded).

“The law is equally clear on the right of every Nigerian, either singly or together, to advise government, in good faith, on how the country can move forward devoid of disintegration and anarchy.”

Culled from The Guardian.

Gunmen Kidnap Pastor Inside Church Premises

A pastor of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Mayomi Ogedengbe was on Monday abducted in his church located in Irese, a community near Akure, Ondo State capital.

According to an eyewitness, the kidnappers came in with a black Corolla Sports Car and took the pastor away to an unknown destination.

The whereabouts of the pastor have since then remained unknown, and his abductors are yet to reach out to the family on what to do to secure his release.

The Spokesperson of Ondo State police command, Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed the incident to Channels Television noting that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bolaji Salami has ordered the immediate search and rescue of the pastor.

He noted that a combined team of security operatives including the police, Amotekun, the military, the vigilante as well as the NSCDC have started combing the bush around the area to rescue the victim and equally apprehend the culprit

Man shoots six dead including girlfriend before turning gun on himself at birthday party

A gunman shot dead six people and then himself at a birthday party in Colorado Springs on Sunday, 9 May, US police said.

According to BBC, the shootings took place at a mobile home park where families had gathered in one trailer to celebrate.

“The suspect, a boyfriend of one of the female victims, drove to the residence, walked inside, and began shooting people at the party before taking his own life,” the Colorado Springs police department said.

The motive for the attack is not known.

The victims were all adults, but a number of children were present in the trailer at the time.

The identities of the victims and the attacker have not yet been released.

“This horrific act has resulted in the death of six adult victims. The children at the trailer were uninjured by the suspect and are now with relatives,” local police said.

Police officers responded to a call at the Canterbury mobile home park at approximately 12:18 local time (18:16 GMT).

“Upon arrival, officers located six deceased adults and one adult male with serious injuries who was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” a police statement said.

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers called it a “senseless act of violence”, saying: “Today we find ourselves mourning the loss of lives and praying solemnly for those who were injured and those who lost family members.”

In March, 10 people were killed in a mass shooting inside a grocery store in Colorado’s Boulder city. The suspected gunman was later arrested. He now faces 10 counts of murder.

Presidency confirms robbers’ invasion of Gambari’s residence

 Presidency last night confirmed that armed men suspected to be robbers invaded residences of two senior aides to President Muhammadu Buhari inside the precinct of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Garba Shehu, confirmed the development via his verified twitter handle @GarShehu at 9:28pm.

“The Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has confirmed that ‘there was a foolish attempt’ to burgle his residence at 3:00am this morning but it turned out to be unsuccessful.

“Professor Gambari, whose house is on a street next to the Villa, has assured that there is nothing to worry about from the incident,” Shehu said.

The incident on Sunday prompted Gambari and Abubakar Maikano, the chief of staff and admin officer, to abandon their residences, sources said.

“Their houses were robbed and the robbers packed money and other valuable assets from both houses.

“The robbers took away as much as possible from both places. What is more unfortunate is that no one has been arrested,” the source said.

MEANWHILE, Federal Capital Territory Police Command has assured residents of a hitch-free Eid-El-Fitri celebration as it has taken proactive measures to contain any untoward action.

Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Mariam Yusuf, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, enjoined residents to report all suspicious movements.

“To ensure that residents of the Federal Capital Territory enjoy a hitch-free Eid-El-Fitri celebration, the FCT Police Command has deployed proactive measures within the city, especially at strategic places such as recreational parks/centres, worship centres and major highways.

“In line with that, the Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, has ordered uninterrupted patrols, diligent stop/search operations and coordinated intelligence-based crime fighting strategies within the FCT during the celebration.

“The command implores residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883 and to report the conduct of police officers, call the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on number 09022222352,” the statement read.

Similarly, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced mobilisation of its personnel and operational equipment for special patrols aimed at ensuring safer road environment before, during and after the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.

Announcing this, yesterday, the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said no fewer than 35,000 regular and special marshals as well as Road Safety Club members would be on the road from May 11 to 17, 2021 to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules by motorists.”

Two armed robbery suspects shot dead during an operation in Ogun: Graphic Photos

Two suspected armed robbers were on Sunday, May 9 shot dead at Shagamu interchange, along Lagos -Ibadan expressway by men of Ogun state police command.

 

According to the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the two suspects, were shot dead following a distress call received by the DPO Shagamu division, CSP Okiki Agunbiade, at about 9 pm, that a robbery operation was going on at Shagamu interchange and that one of their victims has been seriously injured.

 

“Upon the distress call, the DPO quickly led his patrol team to the scene where they met the robbers attacking another person one Agba Enoch. The team engaged them in gun duel at the end of which two members of the gang were fatally injured, while others escaped with gun shot injuries.

Items recovered from them are; three handsets, one mock guns, one electric clipper, three ATM cards and one blood stained cutlass. The injured victim, one Adekunle Adewale, who was seriously matcheted on the head was rushed to hospital for medical attention.''

 

He said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has directed a massive manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang, with the view to bring them to justice.

 

He appealed to members of the public, especially hospital, to quickly alert the police if anybody with gunshot injuries is seen in their area.

 

Ohanaeze warns Buhari govt over alleged ‘shoot at sight order’ on Igbo youths

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly warned against an alleged “Shoot at Sight Order” given to the Nigerian soldiers as a way to engage the Igbo youths in the oncoming week.

Reports emerged at the weekend concerning the new secret plan which would commence from Orlu in Imo State.

DAILY POST reports that the Army is yet to react to the said order.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo had now described it as “very disturbing”, lamenting the pattern of deployment of northern-muslim military officers to the Eastern region, which according to the organisation, lends credence to the alleged plot to commence ‘Shoot at Sight’ on Igbo youth.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation pointed to the fact that the Nigerian army has posted Northern Muslims as commanders over its operations and brigades in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, Edo, Delta and Rivers.

“In Anambra State, the Cantonment Commandant of the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, is Col Abdulsalam Abubakar Sambo, a Hausa-Fulani Muslim; while in Imo State, the Brigade Commander of 34 Brigade, Obinze, is Brig Gen Ibrahim Tukura, another northerner; in Abia State, the Brigade Commander of 14 Brigade, Ohafia, is Brig Gen M. Ibrahim, still, a northerner; while in Akwa Ibom State, the Brigade Commander of 2 Brigade, Uyo, is Brig Gen Faruk Mijinyawa, another northerner,” Ohanaeze said, describing this as “truly worrisome!”

In a statement signed by Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the President-General of the organisation, Ambassador Prof. George Obiozor, admonished the Nigerian government to “learn a lesson from history by not fighting an unwinnable war against nationalism but seek possible peaceful options that are the only solution that guarantees national unity and peaceful coexistence.”

Obiozor lamented that “Subnational consciousness or ethnocentric nationalism which is a dangerous form of nationalism to national unity has taken over Nigeria.”

The organisation warned that Nigeria’s dream of unity is fast receding and with violence, crises and conflicts across the country.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo said that the problems Nigeria is being faced with are products of sustained orchestrated injustice in governance.

“The problem with Nigeria in general and the Igbo in particular is located in injustice and the simple solution lays in manifest dialogue, equity and justice,” Ohanaeze noted.

Ohanaeze further warned that the current administration that the alleged “Shoot at Sight Order” to “soldiers on Igbo youth is a call for another pogrom and genocide.”

The group demanded that the Federal Government refrain from the use of force in resolving the present national crises.

Obiozor warned: “History shows that military and violent means to solve the national question is bound to fail as it leads to further national fractionalization, anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration, as in all Empires or multi-national states or countries.”

With banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other forms criminalities ravaging the Northern region, the Old Eastern Region is now experiencing its worse state of insecurity.

There have been daily reports on attacks on police formations and other security points and killing of officers by those simply identified as unknown gunmen.

Just yesterday, unidentified hoodlums attcked a police station at Ubani township Market in Umuahia North, Abia State and razed it down.

As the attacks on security operatives and police stations in the region continue unabated, over 10 police officers were killed at the weekend in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

 

We will not be Intimidated By Attacks on Security Agencies in the State: Gov Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has vowed that his administration would not back down on the fight against criminal elements in the state, stressing that no secessionist agenda would be entertained in Rivers.

The governor who stated this on Monday during a state broadcast in Port Harcourt said the Rivers Government was not intimidated by attacks on security agencies in the state.

“We wish to assure every resident that we are not intimidated by the sporadic and cowardly attacks on predetermined security targets by faceless criminals on our soil; neither will we be cowed into succumbing to a baseless and doomed secessionists agenda”, he stated.

“We have reviewed, and for the moment, declined the pressure on the State Government to activate our youth to defend the State from these terrorists because we don’t want to complicate our very delicate security situation by creating opportunities for some other monsters to emerge.

“We are determined to deploy everything at our disposal to advance the safety and security of lives and property in our state and nothing will stop us from defeating the evil forces presently threatening our individual and collective security.

“We continue to appeal to members of the public to understand with us in the midst of the economic troubles that our actions may inflict as our one and only aim is to achieve and sustain the maximum security of lives and property in our dear State”, Wike added.

Lagos Rolls out 500 Buses as Alternative to Okada

 The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that 500 Last-Mile Buses will be rolled out in the state.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, the rollout will continue until the state meets the target of 5,000 such buses.

The buses are to serve as an alternative means to get into inner streets as opposed to commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada.

Meanwhile, speaking at a stakeholder meeting on security in Alausa, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu said his administration has concluded plans to review the 2012 Lagos Traffic Law guiding the operations of motorcycles in the state.

The Governor said, “We have noted with dismay the fact that Okada riders are disregarding and flouting the restrictions we imposed on their activities in certain areas of the metropolis. In this same vein, we have also observed with dismay the ongoing war between commercial motorcyclists and our law enforcement agencies.

“This propensity for lawlessness is not who we are as Lagosians. The Lagos State Road Traffic Law, enacted in 2012 to safeguard the lives of people and to maintain law and order on our roads, is the legal backbone for the restrictions put in place early last year and designed to curb the Okada menace in the State.

“As part of the restrictions put in place, we banned the activities of Okada and tricycle operators on key roads, highways, and Local Government Areas. Sadly, many Okada and tricycle operators have continued to flagrantly disobey the law and, in some cases, resist enforcement by engaging in organised attacks on law enforcement agencies.

“We have also observed a worrying trend in which criminals have found commercial motorcycles a useful and enabling tool with which to perpetrate heinous crimes, with the motorcycles acting as quick-getaway vehicles.

“As we all know, no society can make progress amid such haughty display of lawlessness and criminality. Ladies and gentlemen, let me reiterate our commitment as a government to the maintenance of law and order in society. Our mission of attaining a Greater Lagos can only be achieved when we all resolve to live in an orderly manner.

“Consequently, and based on all that we have seen and experienced in the past couple of weeks, as well as the increasing threat posed by the activities of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of lives, we will in the coming days be announcing further changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations in the state.”