Author: The Nation

A non-governmental organisation, Wholistic Outreach Ministry has disclosed that it decided to rescue young girls who are commercial sex workers in order to restore their lives and give them hope.

The faith-based organisation was established by the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Mrs Folu Adeboye in 2002 to cater for commercial sex workers, trafficked girls and boys and stranded teenagers.

Speaking with The Nation, the Administrator of the organisation, Mrs Biodun Bello said over 100 commercial sex workers had been rehabilitated in recent times.

She noted that a large number of the girls in their search for jobs, were lured into the despicable trade by their friends and associates.

Bello revealed that teenagers of 11 years of age had been brought to the outreach for rehabilitation.

“There is a girl that our outreach team brought in from Abalade, Ogun state, she was 11 years old.’’

“Some of the commercial sex workers already have children, which they had brought up at the brothels they stayed. A certain girl was brought in from one of the brothels where her mother worked, at age 13, she had already been brutally molested. We do take most of these girls and women to hospitals, as well as bring in trained psychologists and counselors to help them overcome trauma. We eat and have discussions together; calling them our daughters and making them to see us as family members.”

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She explained that the organisation had limited facility to accommodate huge number of targeted girls.

“Even if we have a target of 100-200 on a yearly, the space would still affect it. Only 20 to 40 girls can come in yearly. After three to six months at the shelter home and reconciliation with their families, we take them to a different home for the rehabilitation proper and that home has only 40 bed spaces”.

“The outreach team coordinated by Mrs Kemi Richard goes out to meet the girls. They go out on a weekly basis to brothels to minister the word of God to them, as well as pray, cook, and run medical checks, and so many other things.

“During this outreach, some of the girls indicated they want to come out, and we agree to shelter them. We take the girls to the police station for it to be on record that they are with us. In the shelter home, they spend minimum three months or maximum of six months. During this period, we teach them the word of God, let them fast and learn to pray, and take them for deliverance sessions. After the period has elapsed, we take them back and reconcile them with their families.

“Some families accept them back, while others send them back to us. For those ones still with their families, before going, we take them to the police station to indicate that they are no longer with us. We mostly deal with girls from ages 13 and above and send them back to school.’’

‘’However, no sex worker can be taken into the rehabilitation home if she’s not willing to be rehabilitated. So, the team visit brothels and streets to talk to any seek for anyone willing to leave the work and turn a new leaf.’’

“My advice would be directed to parents. Parents should try to find time for their children. Not everything is all about money, for there are things money cannot buy. When children want to talk or discuss some issues, please give them listening ears. Let your children become your friends; this would let them be free to gist, discuss and confide in you about the things happening in their lives.”

Bello, stated the challenges faced while rehabilitating the girls.

“Before we bring them out from the brothels and streets, the girls must be willing to come out. What we do is to go there, tell them we have a better place they can call home, tell them about Jesus Christ and his love for them. The challenges we face now is that some of them after they are out, find it difficult to adjust to the rules and regulations in our homes. These girls were once free and now they are restricted from a lot, it is hard. We also do not let them use mobile phones, to help them focus and avoid distractions from all those who patronize them.’’

A 28-year old man, Desmond Ovoke Onovaibirhi, has been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate’s Court for stealing the sum of N157,700.

Desmond was alleged to have conspired with one Elisabeth Augustine to steal the money from a new generation bank on January 12, 2019.

Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the money belonged to one Loveth Tijani.

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The suspect was arraigned on two count charges of stealing and conspiracy.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Agbonifo said the offences were punishable under Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code vol ll laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria now applicable in Edo State.

Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Ivie Akhere, granted bail to the accused person to the sum of N50, 000 and a surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned to September 9, 2019 for hearing.

The police in Kano State on Friday paraded 100 suspected criminals including five men they described as notorious kidnappers.

Police Commissioner Ahmed Illyasu who paraded the suspects told reporters in Kano that the Command’s Anti Kidnapping Squad through Operation Puff Adder tracked and arrested the five alleged kidnapper kingpins after threatening   one Sani Yahaya of Goron Dutse quarters through text messages

He said: “on August 21, a letter of complaint was received from one Ibrahim Muhammad of Sani Majnagge Quarters, Gwale Local Government Area Kano that an SMS text message was sent to him threatening him that his son would be kidnapped.

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“Puff Adder operatives attached to the Command’s Anti Kidnapping Squad were immediately drafted and swung into action.

“One Hamisu Abdullahi alias Baban Gandu aged 37 years and Yusuf Abubakar 48 years were arrested. Suspects confessed to have conspired and extorted the sum of N120,000 from the complaint and would soon be charged to Court.”

Iliyasu added: “based on technical intelligence, the special Anti-Robbery squad of operation Puff-Adder, Miyyetti Allah arrested one Saidu Abdullahi and four others at Falgore forest, Doguwa Local Government Area.

“Suspects confessed to have been involved in a series of armed robbery and kidnapping and mentioned other members of their syndicate now at large.”

Five other suspects were alleged to have stolen 124 solar batteries and vandalized a mast .

A suspected drug baron, James Ameh (54), who was arrested by the Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has claimed that the Pump Action gun found on him was a collateral from a friend he loaned a sum of N80,000.

Ameh, who was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, was found in possession of a loaded Pump Action gun.

About 40 personnel of the NDLEA alongside officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) left Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to arrest Ameh, who had been on the wanted list of the command for several months.

It was gathered that the suspect who was arrested in Igolijo, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, had 10 hectares of land where he cultivated cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).

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Ameh who arrested alongside six other suspects, namely: Usman Bello, Eze Stanley, Innocent Ameh, Samuel Idoko, Ojima Ojo and Ekene Ukwueze.

The suspect who is also a  native doctor denied ownership of the gun, saying that it served as collateral towards recovering his money.

“I am not the real owner of this Pump Action gun. It belongs to a friend who is owing me N80,000. I needed my money back urgently to do something with it. I am sorry, I never knew that having this in my house would put me into trouble. As for the issue of dealing on drugs and having hectares of land for cannabis, it is also not true”.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the arrest the head of the Kogi State Command of the NDLEA, Alhaji Idris Bello, said that the arrest of the suspect and his accomplices, was through information gathered by officers of the command.

He warned that anyone that is caught engaging in illegal drug business will be made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that the suspects will be charged to court at the end of investigation.

Justice Nkeonye Maha, of the Federal High Court on Friday berated the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the illegal detention of one Mr Sunday Agu, a tricyclist in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agu had on Aug. 29 dragged Mr Abdullahi Gana, Commandant General, NSCDC, before the Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged illegal detention.

Also joined in the suit are three officers of the Corps; Abdulmajeed Imam, Agili Chinedu and Yebage Adamu who are 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.

While the NSCDC Niger State Command, Commandant is the 4th respondent, Gana, NSCDC, Christy Ojide, and Alex Ojide are 5th, 6th,7th and 8th respondents respectively.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Ifeanyi Igwe had told Justice Maha, that the matter was brought in pursuant to section 35 (1) to (6), 34(1), 37, 41, 44, and 46(1) of the 1999 constitution, Articles 4,5,6,12(1) and 14 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

Igwe told the judge that since the applicant was detained on July 16, he had been in the Corps’ detention at David Mark Road, NSCDC Headquarter, Minna, for no justification.

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According to him, his client was accused and detained by the NSCDC for allegedly standing in as a guarantor to a hire purchase agreement between one Mr Chibuike Agu (hirer) a tricyclist and Mrs Christy Ojide (owner).

Justice Maha had on Aug. 29 ordered the release of Agu from NSCDC detention if not arraigned within three days and adjourned the case until Sept. 6.

She said that the NSCDC was not at liberty to bring a charge against a person under the Advance Free Fraud Act which is under the jurisdiction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She warned that if such conduct continued, the Corps would let law breakers go free.

NAN also reports that the Judge invited the NSCDC counsel, Mr Imam and Counsel to Agu , Mr Ifeanyi Igwe on Sept. 13. to balance justice between the applicant and defendant.

She however granted Agu bail on the terms of providing a surety with the sum of at least N500,000 in his bank account, alongside a landed property in Abuja.

She added that he should afterwards depose to an affidavit verifying the terms of compliance.

Counsel to NSCDC, Imam told NAN that In view of NSCDC Act I, the corps is empowered to prosecute on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

“By the charge, the accused person is being charged by the name of the AGF in line with section 3 of the NSCDC Act,  the Act empowers the corps to prosecute on behalf of the AGF.

“NSCDC is a special prosecutor under the AGF, section 3 (1), paragraph H; the Corps shall have power to prosecute, criminal activities aimed at depriving people of their properties.

The police have arrested a university undergraduate, Samuel Sopehinman, 30, and one Olaide Tajudeen, 31, for burglary and selling of stolen properties.

They were apprehended recently by operatives attached to the Ogun State annex office of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), following a petition by one Adeniran Adeyemi.

Operatives were said to have traced Tajudeen to his hideout at Ijoko town near Sango-Ota, Ogun state.

Recovered from the suspects were one black head gear, one cutlass, one chisel, two pendants gold, two gold chains, gold earrings and his confession led to the arrest of Sopehinman.

The stolen items were given to Sopehinman in turn sold it to one Alhaji who had been ordered to return all the stolen items he allegedly bought from the burglars.

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The suspect said he broke into the house through the ceiling at about 9:30pm and stole gold necklace with the pendants, earring, laptop valued at N560,000.

He said:” The flat I burgled is in the next street called Church street, Ijoko area of Sango, Ogun state. I am married with a child. My wife did not know that I am a burglar until I was arrested.

‘’I live in Ijoko while my wife lives in Ikirun, a town in Osun state. She relocated to Osun State when she lost her mother, while I stayed back in Ogun State to do my burglary work.

‘’I was an aluminum fabrication before I ventured into robbery. I did not have enough customers and patronage. I was pushed into burglary by extreme financial stagnation coupled with my desire to buy keke,( tricycle) on hire purchase with  the little deposit I made but, before I know it,  I was arrested in my first attempt.’’

In his confession, Sopehinman said:  “I am from Abeokuta. I had an accident which led to the amputation of my right leg. I had the accident on my way to the Lagos State University (LASU) this year where I am a 300 level Business Administration student.

‘’I have deferred my studies but I can go back if given a second chance. When I came back from hospital I started music downloading business at Ijoko. I became part of this crime because Tajudeen works as a ticketer of a transport union at the bus stop where I have a stall. He told me that he wanted to sell some items but he did not tell me that they were stolen. But because he was offering the items at cheap prices and I felt that I could get small money to help myself . I sold the jewelry to one Mallam but I did  not follow him to burgle. My father is a retired naval officer and he is not yet aware of my case. I regret being involved in this case.’’