K!ller of Gokada Nigeria founder is sentenced to 40 years in jail

Tyrese Haspil, the personal assistant convicted of k!lling and dismembering his former tech entrepreneur boss, Fahim Saleh, after stealing about $400,000 from him was sentenced Tuesday, September 10, to 40 years to life in prison. 

Haspil, 25, was found guilty in June of m*rder, grand larceny and other charges in the 2020 de@th of his former boss, Saleh.

Prosecutors said Haspil had been hired as an assistant for Saleh, whose ventures included a ride-hailing motorcycle startup, Gokada, in Nigeria, but quickly began to siphon money from Saleh’s businesses. 

Haspil resigned a year later but continued to steal money. This was even after Saleh discovered the theft and let Haspil repay him over two years to avoid criminal prosecution. 

Haspil decided to k!ll Saleh over concerns that his former boss would discover he was continuing to steal from his companies, prosecutors said. 

On July 13, 2020, Haspil, wearing a black suit and a mask, followed Saleh into the elevator of his luxury apartment building in Manhattan. He then shocked him in the back with a Taser when the elevator doors opened into Saleh’s apartment. 

Saleh fell to the floor and Haspil stabbed him to de@th, authorities said. 

Haspil returned to the apartment the next day to dismember the body with an electric saw. But he left to purchase a charger after the saw’s battery d!ed. 

While Haspil was out, Saleh’s cousin arrived at the apartment and discovered the dismembered body of the Godaka boss. 

Police arrested Haspil days later.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement at the sentencing on September 10: “Today, Tyrese Haspil is facing accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a kind, generous, and empathetic person who positively impacted the world.

“Even after the defendant stole from him to fund a lavish lifestyle, Mr. Saleh still gave him a second chance.

“While today’s sentence won’t bring Mr. Saleh back, I hope it provides his family a sense of closure as they continue to mourn his painful loss.”

Man arrested for allegedly d#filing his 14-year-old daughter in Adamawa

The Adamawa State Police Command on Wednesday, September 11, arrested a 35-year-old man identified as Muhammad Auwal for allegedly d#filing his 14-year-old biological daughter. 

A statement released by the command's spokesperson, SP Yahaya Nguroje, said the suspect has since confessed to committing the crime and will be charged to court. 

‘Many Nigerians let down by your govt’, Gani Adams writes Tinubu

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has lashed out at the President Bola Tinubu-led administration saying it is becoming indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plights of Nigerians.

In an open letter addressed to the President, Adams said the present administration has disappointed Nigerians adding that the citizens can no longer bear the economic hardship.

 “We have no regret that we were created to inhabit this geographical space in the West African axis of the African continent. We are happy to be here because I don’t know any country in the world that God has blessed, in terms of natural and human resources, like Nigeria. Obviously, past leaders, since 1960, disappointed Nigerians with the way ‘Nigeria and Nigerians were badly led and resources selfishly managed’.

When you came with the ‘Emilokan’ coinage in the build-up to the 2023 elections, many Nigerians were persuaded that as a democrat exposed to the modern way of governance, you will perform better than Muhammadu Buhari, a soldier who deepened the poverty levels of Nigerians and increased insecurity from 2015 to 2023.

Today, events have proved that they were wrong. Mr President, to say the truth without minding whose ox is gored, you have disappointed many Nigerians who thought you were the messiah they were waiting for.

The facts are there to speak for themselves. On May 29, 2023, when you became the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigerians, the price of a litre of fuel was less than N200. Today, it is more than N1000. As the Minister of Petroleum, I ask you, what type of reform is this? In May 2023, the Naira to a Dollar was less than N740. Today, it is more than N1,600.

Now, your two right-hand men when you were Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, Wale Edun (Finance Minister) and Yemi Cardoso (CBN Governor) are in charge of the economy. What exactly are the fiscal, economic and financial briefings they give you daily to convince you that they know what they are doing in those two offices?

When Buhari left on May 29, 2023, many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that insecurity would soon become history. Pitiably today, from the North to the South, East to the West, the rate at which Nigerians are being abducted and some killed, even after ransom was paid, it was as if these blood-thirsty maniacs have just been unleashed on Nigerians from the hottest part of hell. As the Commander-in-Chief, the rising spate of insecurity across the country has put to question the kind of briefings you get daily, especially, from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, and other Security Chiefs on their modus operandi to send these killers to where they belong?

In August, many Nigerians came out to express their frustration on the way you are governing them. Today, some of those arrested have been charged with treason. In the comity of nations, who does that? Is that the way governments are overthrown, with placards? Human rights activists are being harassed by security agents daily and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, have become soft targets of sycophants who speak sweet words to your ears for selfish reasons. Many Nigerians know the ‘radical’ role you played when you were Governor, and even after 2007 when you galvanised and mobilised them to challenge the status quo at the national level.

Now that you are in government, protest has suddenly become a criminal offence. God is indeed great. The plain truth is that the recent fuel price increase by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, an agency which is under your office as the Petroleum Minister, is an attack on Nigerians.

Obviously, your administration is becoming indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plights of millions of Nigerians who can no longer meet their daily needs. This is a brutal assault on the sensibility of Nigerians. I think you and your party should be sensitive to the plights of Nigerians.

Mr President, don’t you think the wicked and draconian increase in fuel price, especially, at this time that Nigerians have been pushed to the wall, is a huge recipe for crisis? Nigerians can no longer bear this economic hardship.”

Kano postpones school resumption indefinitely after Edo state government postponed resumption over fuel price hike

The Kano State Government has indefinitely postponed the resumption date for primary and secondary schools for the 2024/2025 academic session. 

The government cited “urgent reasons” for the postponement but did not provide specific details. 

The decision follows a similar move by the Edo State Government, which also postponed school resumption due to rising petrol prices and challenges faced by parents and guardians.

Schools in most parts of Nigeria are set to resume on Monday, September 9.

Balarabe Kiru, Director of Public Enlightenment at the Kano State Ministry of Education, announced the postponement in a statement over the weekend. He explained that the Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, would announce a new resumption date soon. 

Kiru stated, “I wish to inform pupils, students, and parents that the previously scheduled resumption dates of September 8 and 9, 2024, have been postponed.

“This decision is based on urgent reasons aimed at enhancing the learning environment for our children. 

"A new date for resumption will be communicated in due course.”

Bandits k!lled my abducted relatives’ driver and fed him to their dogs – Sokoto cleric narrates

A renowned cleric in Sokoto state, Sheikh Bashar Danfili, has revealed that bandits kidnapped six of his relatives, k!lled their driver and fed his flesh to dogs. 

The cleric who disclosed this in a post on social media, said the victims including a man, his mother, stepmother, two wives and sister were abducted on their way to an undisclosed village.  

He said the bandits had demanded huge amount of money which they could not raise,  adding that the deadline was fast approaching.

“The bandits have kidnapped my close relatives. I don’t want to disclose their names,” he said. 

“They were on their way to a village when they were attacked and kidnapped.

“Their driver was k!lled on the spot and the bandits fed their dogs with his flesh.

“But the rest are still in captivity, including a husband, his mother, stepmother, two wives and his sister.

“The bandits have demanded a huge amount of money, which runs into millions of Naira. We cannot raise it

“I am a scholar, I don’t have anything. My job is only to teach people with the books that you can see behind me.

“And they gave us a deadline within which the money must be paid or they would k!ll all of them.

“I know they can do that, looking at what happened recently to a traditional ruler in the state, who was killed by his abductors

“Therefore, I am pleading for help from the general public so that we can be able to pay the ransom and get them released." 

Armed robbers shoot driver, r£pe female passenger on Osun highway

Armed robbers attacked two vehicles travelling along Ife/Osu highway in Osun State, shot a driver and r@ped a female passenger.

A passenger in one of the two vehicles involved, who spoke to Punch on Thursday, September 5, 2024, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday between Ife and Osu community in Osun State.

According to him, the robbers numbering about eight had stopped a commercial bus coming from Lagos and a private car. They ordered the passengers to disembark and collected various sums of money from them.

“The robbers attacked two vehicles. A bus and one private car. I was travelling on the bus. Both vehicles were coming from Lagos. We were out of Ife but yet to reach Osu community, when our vehicles were stopped by the robbers. They were about eight in number and they carried guns,” the source narrated. 

“The driver of the bus was shot, but he didn’t d!e. He was injured. One of the passengers in the car, a woman was raped. They collected the money we had and our ATM cards. They made us transfer various amounts into their account. They later handed our cards to one of the gang members

"But some passengers fled into the bush while all that was going on. They told us they told some people they saw as they were wandering in the area that robbers were operating nearby and security men were mobilised to the area.

“A few minutes after the robbers left us, I saw policemen, vigilante members, and some men wearing the uniform of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, arriving and they began to comb the area. They arrested one of the robbers. The security men took the suspect arrested away." 

The acting PPRO of the State Police Command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, confirmed the incident, adding that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the crime.

 

“The incident happened. I got a briefing about it not long ago and we were able to apprehend one suspect. He is helping our investigation,” Giwa-Alade said. 

Woman, 23, struck by rare condition that causes her vagina to 'gradually close up' - and triggers growth of a 'micropenis'

Doctors have performed an ultra-rare operation to transform the life of a 23 year-old woman who suffered a range of bizarre genital deformities — including the 'closing up' of her vaginal opening.

The woman had only noticed the problem in the two years prior to the surgery, and had so far experienced regular menstrual periods, according to the report published in Springer Nature.

Gynaecologists also noted that her clitoris — genital tissue with around 8,000 nerve endings responsible for sexual pleasure — was more than 10 times the size of the average length, and resembled a 'micropenis'. 

 Intriguingly, scans showed her reproductive organs, including her womb and ovaries, were normal. 

The woman was said to be suffering a genetic condition that affects just one in 160,000 women worldwide, called clitoromegaly.

The rare disorder causes the external genitals to develop abnormally, often resembling male organs. 

It is thought to be caused by a mutation in DNA that causes a severe imbalance in sex hormones as a child develops.

While most women who suffer the condition develop some male genitalia at birth, in this most recent case, reported by doctors at Shalinitai Meghe Hospital in Nagpur, India, the 'penis' only began to grow when the patient grew older. 

The experts note that symptoms of the condition can go unnoticed until puberty kicks in and patients are affected by an increase in sex hormones. 

Doctors noted that the patient also had extremely small amounts of breast tissue, as well as excess hair growth on the face. 

A major operation was conducted to cut away the excess clitoral skin, leaving a small line of nerve tissue resembling typical female anatomy, measuring roughly 5mm.

Surgeons then removed the 'fused skin' that was covering her vaginal opening, and all incisions were stitched closed. 

The doctors reported that the woman was discharged after five days. 

One month later, sensation in the area was said to be 'normal' and the patient was 'delighted, happy, and extremely satisfied' with both cosmetic and functional results, the doctors said.

The authors of the medical case report note that many cases of clitoromegaly go unnoticed, particularly if the changes to genitalia is minimal.

The condition, they say, has 'great psychological and psychosocial impact' and can cause 'great mental agony for the family'.

'This leads to social withdrawal, especially in team sports and medical examinations involving nudity,' they continue. 'They avoid romantic and sexual relationships, although there is no net effect on pleasurable sexual activity.'

Bandits abduct 22 persons in Kaduna fresh attack

 

At least 22 people including a nursing mother with four children have been abducted by bandits who attacked Mani village in Rido ward in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the early hours of Thursday morning, September 5.

Although the police authorities in Kaduna State are yet to confirm the incident,  a youth leader in the Rido community,  Zacharia Musa told Channels Television that the bandits stormed the community in large numbers while the residents were still asleep,  and started shooting,  and later moved from house to house to kidnap people.

In another incident,   Bandits attacked Dan Honu II,  New Millennium City also in Chikun Local Government where they abducted a nurse and her three sons.

The attack came barely two months after two journalists were kidnapped by bandits in the same community and were released after one week.

Security agencies have not responded to the recent upsurge of attacks, but Local sources told our correspondent that the bandits invaded the Dan Honu II community at about 10 pm on Wednesday and scared the residents with gunshots before taking away some people including a woman and her three sons.

While the woman was later abandoned inside the bush due to her failing health condition,  the bandits, however, went away with her three children.

18-year-old boy kidnapped after being lured with a carpentry job

 

An 18-year-old carpenter, Bello Afeez Oluwapelumi was kidnapped on April 1, 2024, after being lured by the kidnappers who disguised as clients that wanted his services concerning a carpentry job.

According to a family member, Bello Karimat Iyanuoluwa who reached out to LIB, Afeez was kidnapped on his birthday and efforts by his family to reach the abductors after payment of ransom have been futile.

" I am coming to make this report hoping that you can help me family in any way. My brother (18yrs) was kidnapped on the 1st of April (his birthday) after he was called in pretense to come and look at a work(capentary work)that they want him to help them do. We were contacted by he adopters on the same day with his number and they have been collecting money constantly ever since which different account numbers and pos accounts.( All information abt the various account numbers are readily available upon request). 

"It's been about 2 months now and they have stopped communication with us after constantly calling and receiving money for four months straight. We got the police involved from day one and paid for tracking like two times (at iyaganku Ibadan and with amotekun). They just collected the money and didn't seem to do anything abt it till this day. 

"I have tried posting in twitter when all this first happened but nobody saw it cus I have no following on Twitter.

"Pls I just want you help me post his picture so that I can locate my brother ( dead or alive). It's been 6 months of sleepless night and trouble in my family. My family and I will really appreciate if you can help us."

Anyone with information regarding Afeez's whereabouts, should kindly contact the family on 07037034664, 08035330771, 08163353285 or report to the nearest police station.

When I was President, I did everything I should do for Nigeria and I can beat my chest and say that. I took over the affairs of Nigeria - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he can beat his chest and say that when he was President, he did everything he needed to do for the country and was in charge of the affairs of Nigeria. 

While speaking at a lecture held in Lagos recently, Obasanjo who was President from 1999 to 2007, said;

“When I was there, I did everything I should do for Nigeria and I can beat my chest and say that. I took over the affairs of Nigeria as elected president with N3.7 billion in reserves and we were spending N3.5 billion to service debt. So, I decided we must seek debt relief and I went out for it… and we got debt relief. Not only did we get relief from a quantum debt of N3.36 billion, but we also came to a quantum debt of N3.6 billion and I left with over N25 billion in what we call excess crude, that is, the money we saved from the budget and what we actually received and we had a reserve of over N45 billion.”

The former President added that Nigeria may be complex but certainly not difficult to manage.

“I always say Nigeria is a complex country. You must understand that. But Nigeria is not a difficult country to manage. You have to be honest with yourself, Nigeria and your God''