Police arrest Benue lecturer for allegedly masterminding kidnap of his colleague’s wife

The Benue State Police Command has arrested a lecturer at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr Ichor Tersagh Smart, for allegedly masterminding the abduction of the wife of his colleague, Mrs Susan Anyagh. 

 

 

The victim, whose husband, Paul Anyagh, is the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, JOSTUM chapter, was ambushed and kidnapped by some men along Otukpo Road, Makurdi, last Saturday. 

 

 

The spokesperson of the command, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, December 13, 2024, said that the woman was later found along Yandev-Ugbema Road and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu, for treatment. 

 

 

According to the PPRO, the victim, after she regained consciousness, narrated how she saw her husband’s colleague close to where she was abducted and beckoned on him to save her life, but the lecturer walked away. 

 

 

While moving in the vehicle, her abductors received a call from Dr. Ichor, who ordered that she should be killed.  

 

“On the 7/12/2024 at about 0900hrs information was received at Police Headquarters, Makurdi, that Mrs. Susan Anyagh, wife of the chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Joseph Sawuaan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) chapter was kidnapped along Otukpo road, Makurdi and taken hostage in her car that was being driven to an unknown destination,” the statement read. 

 

"In quick response, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State command, Cp. Steve H. Yabanet, FCID psc(+) immediately ordered all patrol officers and check points to ensure her rescue and arrest of kidnappers involved. 

 

"At about 1300hrs another information was received along Yandev-Ugbema road that the said victim was attacked by her assailants and left unconscious by the road side. She was identified and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu for treatment.

 

"Subsequently, the victim started responding to treatment and gained consciousness. She stated that while she was driving from NNPC mega fuel station, Kanshio where she went to collect money from her customer, she was flag down at Otukpo road by persons who claimed to be in need and she stopped to render help. They quickly jumped into her car and pointed a gun at her, ordered her to drive towards Wurukum area. 

 

"Immediately, she looked outside the car and saw her husbands colleague; Dr. Ichor Tersagh Smart of JOSTUM standing by the car, she beckoned on him for help but he turned his back and walked away. While moving in the vehicle, her abductors received a call from Dr. Ichor ordering that she should be killed and she became agitated. 

 

"When they sighted a police check point ahead that was checking vehicles, they decided to reverse to a hidden place, they parked the car, brought her out, collected the sum of one million three hundred and fifty thousand naira ( #1,350,000 ) she had in the car, opened the car boot and took a vehicle jack which they used to hit the back of her neck and she fell.

 

"Dr. Ichor has been arrested in connection with the case and investigation is ongoing.Details of the investigation will be communicated in due time and necessary actions shall be taken.

 

“The CP has advised all concerned persons to be law abiding and patient with the police as diligent investigation will be carried out to establish the fact in issue.” 

 

Man shares shocking LinkedIn profile detail that cost a job applicant the offer.

 

A man is getting called out on X (formerly Twitter) after he revealed why he declined to offer a lady a job at the company where he works. 

He explained that he went on her LinkedIn and a number of things he saw put him off, including the fact that she had only 6 connections. 

He wrote: "Declined one candidate an opportunity today - I first check her LinkedIn, yes the LinkedIn you guys keep bashing every other day - she only has 6 connections. 

"girl, how are you in the market in search of opportunities and you don’t take seriously a marketplace of opportunities? 

"I start seeing grammatical errors and spelling mistakes on her bio and yet this person is in Media/PR. 

"I check her Facebook, she’s busy posting herself there with nothing of substance whatsoever. 

"Young people, take yourselves a little bit seriously. Just a little." 

Many X users called him out and he hit back while standing his ground.

 

 

Israeli air strike on Gaza home k!lls 19 including nine children

An overnight Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahia has k!lled at least 19 people, including nine children, according to medical officials and the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency.

The airstrike targeted a three-story home near Kamal Adwan hospital, leaving dozens trapped under rubble.

Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told reporters that several missiles struck the house, where multiple families were residing.

Bassal added that rescue efforts were ongoing as authorities worked to recover survivors and bodies from the debris.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages.

In response, Israel launched a military campaign to dismantle Hamas. The Hamas-run health ministry reports over 44,800 fatalities in Gaza since the conflict started.

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed conducting a strike in the vicinity, stating it targeted a Hamas “terrorist.”

This attack comes amid a larger Israeli ground and air campaign in northern Gaza, launched in October to prevent Hamas from regrouping.

The UN has reported severe humanitarian conditions in towns like Beit Lahia, where residents face tightened sieges and lack access to basic necessities such as food, water, and healthcare.

The UN pointed out that no significant humanitarian aid has reached parts of northern Gaza for over two months, leaving tens of thousands without essential supplies.

In Gaza City, two individuals were killed in Zeitoun following another air strike, while a separate attack in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood claimed the lives of journalist Iman al-Shanti and her son.

The Palestinian Union of Journalists stated that al-Shanti was the 193rd journalist killed since the conflict began.

A family of four, including two children, was also killed in a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The IDF has ordered evacuations in nearby areas, citing rocket launches from the region.

Ukraine hits Russian border regions and sets oil depot ablaze

 

Ukraine launched attacks on Russian border regions early Wednesday, targeting the southern Rostov and western Bryansk regions with missiles and drones. The strikes caused a fire at an oil depot and damaged an industrial facility, according to officials.

Videos from Bryansk showed a fireball lighting up the night sky, while air raid sirens were heard in the Rostov region. Kyiv claimed responsibility for the Bryansk attack, stating it struck an oil depot supplying the Russian army. The Ukrainian army described the depot as a loading point for the Druzhba oil pipeline, a critical route for Russian oil exports to Central Europe. “A massive fire broke out,” Ukraine’s general staff confirmed, though no comment was made on the Rostov attack.

In the Rostov region, Governor Vasily Golubev reported that a Ukrainian missile strike had hit an industrial enterprise in the port city of Taganrog, causing significant damage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the strikes, calling them “tangible blows against Russian targets” that contribute to ending the war. In a Telegram post, Zelensky said, “We hit military facilities on the territory of Russia, as well as facilities of the fuel and energy complex, which is working for aggression against our state and people.”

Ukraine has intensified its targeting of Russian oil and gas facilities this year, aiming to cripple Moscow’s energy sector. These strikes have inflicted billions of dollars in damages. Meanwhile, Russia has taken steps to protect key refineries and depots, some of which have been equipped with air defense systems.

The governor of Bryansk, Alexander Bogomaz, stated that Ukrainian drones attacked a production facility but that the resulting fire had been extinguished. Ukraine views these strikes as legitimate retaliation for Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, which have left millions of Ukrainians without power.

Court jails Mama Boko Haram and two others for 15 years over N6m fraud

Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri has sentenced Aisha Wakil, widely known as "Mama Boko Haram," along with two others, to five years imprisonment each. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed the sentencing on Monday through its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.

 

Wakil, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, was convicted alongside Programme Manager Tahiru Saidu Daura and Country Director Prince Lawal Shoyode. They faced amended charges of conspiracy, cheating, and giving false information amounting to ₦6 million.

 

One of the charges detailed that the trio induced Alhaji Bukar Kachalla of Abks Ventures Limited to deliver a Toyota Camry 2012 model worth ₦6 million under false pretenses of executing a contract. The prosecution, represented by Mukhtar Ahmed and Shamsudeeb Saka, presented three witnesses and submitted documentary evidence against the defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

Justice Kumaliya sentenced the defendants to five years in prison each, with no option for a fine. Additionally, the court ordered them to jointly refund ₦3.5 million to the petitioner or serve an additional five years imprisonment in default.

 

The EFCC stated that the convicts dishonestly obtained the vehicle but failed to execute the purported contract or return the car to the petitioner.

Ondo 'pastor' arrested over alleged multiple kidnappings

Security operatives have arrested a notorious kidnapper, Terry Tinate Augustus, popularly called “Black" in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. 

Augustus, an acclaimed pastor from Ajapa community in Ese Odo LGA of Ondo State, was arrested by the Amotekun Corps in collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Waterways Security, Engr. Alore Omosuyi. 

The suspect was arrested on December 8, 2024 following a tip-off from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad.

The media team of the Office of the SA to the Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Waterways Security, in a statement on Monday, December 9 said that Augustus, a key figure in a violent kidnapping syndicate, had been linked to multiple abductions, including a recent high-profile case in Lagos.

"On December 8, 2024, a joint operation between the office of the Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Waterways Security, Engineer Alore Omosuyi and the Amotekun Divisional Headquarters in Ilaje Local Government Area led to the arrest of the notorious kidnapper, Terry Tinate Augustus, also known as “Black

"The arrest took place in Alape, Ilaje Local Government Area, following crucial intelligence provided by the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 1 in Lagos State. 

"Terry, a key figure in a violent kidnapping syndicate, had been linked to multiple abductions, including a recent high-profile case in Lagos.

"The operation was prompted by the arrests of two members of the gang, Promise Mafimisebi and Monday Ikuesan, in Lagos. 

"During questioning, Mafimisebi revealed that the gang had collected a ransom of $52,000 from the recent kidnapping of Isa Ososa in Lagos. He also disclosed that Terry Tinate Augustus, also known as Black, was a member of their group and hailed from Ajapa in Ondo State.

"The gang primarily operated in urban areas, targeting wealthy individuals for ransom. They used swift abduction tactics, often employing stolen vehicles to carry out their operations.

“Engineer Alore Omosuyi, with his strategic leadership collaborated closely with the Amotekun Corps Ilaje to orchestrate the successful operation. Their combined expertise in security surveillance ensured the swift apprehension of the suspect. ”

 

Man arrested after he and his friends gang r3ped 14-year-old girl to coma in Delta

Police in Delta State have arrested a man identified as Rich Otokwame aka Chinaranbo, over the alleged gang r3pe of a 14-year-old girl.

Human rights activist, Comrade Joe, who disclosed this in a Facebook post on Monday, December 9, said Otokwame and his friends r3ped the minor to coma. 

According to him, the incident happened in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, December 8, 2024. 

“This guy here Rich Otokwame aka Chinaranbo with his gang allegedly rąpĕd a 14 years old miss Princess to coma in Oghara, Delta State. They are presently at the Oghara Division of the Delta State Police Command,” he wrote. 

“We wish to urge the DPO and authorities to ensure this guy and his friends are duly prosecuted according to extant laws.” 

Court grants Dele Farotimi N50m bail

An Ekiti state magistrate court has granted bail to Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi. in a defamation case filed against him by legal expert, Afe Babalola. 

Former Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, announced the development on his X handle on Monday, December 11.

Sowore stated that Farotimi was granted N50 million bail with a surety in the same amount, who must provide landed property as collateral. The case has been adjourned to 29 January 2025.

It was earlier reported that Farotimi was arraigned on December 4 for allegedly publishing a book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System' where he alleged that Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the Supreme Court thereby “exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage his hard-earned career.”

Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charges and was then remanded in prison custody.

Jigawa court sentences wife, her husband, sister and brother to d3ath by hanging for k!lling woman over witchcraft

A Jigawa State High Court, presided over by Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin-Kudu, has convicted and sentenced a wife, her husband, her brother and her sister to d3ath by hanging over a case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The convicts were arrested in 2019 after being investigated and prosecuted before the court in connection with the offences of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. They conspired and beat one Salamatu Musa, a 30-year-old woman, to death with a stick, leading to her demise.

Earlier, the convicts were found guilty of accusing the deceased of witchcraft. They alleged that her supposed “evil acts” caused the d3ath of their son.

The convicts, identified as Hassan Isah (55 years old), Adama Yahaya (42 years old), Abdullahi Yahaya (35 years old), and Maryam Daso Yahaya (28 years old), were said to be living with the deceased at the same address in Kwan-Dole Village of Mallam-Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

During the prosecution, the court heard testimony from five witnesses, reviewed a medical report, and considered the confessional statements of the convicts.

The court found them guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offences punishable under Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code Laws.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Decmber 4, 2024, Hon. Justice Ado Birnin-kudu said that the court having found them guilty for the offence committed with a full knowledge that the probable consequence is a death sentence.

Therefore, “the court is hereby convicted and sentenced them to Six (6) years imprisonment each for the offence of criminal conspiracy and death by hanging for the offence of culpable homicide.”

They have 90 days right of appeal. 

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