The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Troops parade bandits, armourer, weapons

    Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) operating in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States, have paraded 19 suspects  arrested in different parts of the states for various offences bordering on armed banditry, kidnapping and weapons supply.

    Dauda Atara and Andrew Imbwase who were major armourers and suppliers of weapons to Benue’s most wanted kidnapper, Terwase Akwaza (aka Gana) and two other kidnappers were among those arrested and paraded.

    Force Commander of OPWS, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini said  10 of the suspects were arrested in Gboko Local Government area of Benue  State while three others  were arrested during a raid operation at Gana’s hometown of   Gbishe  in  Katsina-Ala Local Government area of the state.

    Parading the suspects, General Yekini said the two major suspects were the number one weapon suppliers and armourers of Terwase Akwaza.

    “Gentlemen, you have seen and interviewed the suspects and I can tell you with every sense of responsibility that this crop of criminals are  perhaps, the most deadly set of criminals that we have ever arrested since the inception of Operation Whirl Stroke and our hope is that the prosecuting authorities will do a good job so that these people can be removed from the society for a very long time.

    Read Also: Troops raid Boko Haram terrorists in Gworege village, recover weapons

    “You will recall that some weeks back, we had a press briefing during which I promised that we shall be focusing on how to break the  weapons supply chain that have  been fuelling criminalities in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.

    “I am very happy to inform you that we have been able to record some successes. Our star suspect today is Don Moji.

    “He is the number one weapon supplier to  Gana; he is responsible for between  80 and  90 percent of  weapons that  Gana has been using to terrorise the  people of Benue State. Our intelligence team  got wind of Don Moji’s activities  about four months ago somewhere around Abuja.

    “Just as we were closing in on him to effect his  arrest at  Abuja, he suddenly disappeared and reappeared a few days later  at Owode  Idiroko in Ogun State. We again sent troops to the area to arrest him but again he disappeared and for almost two months, we lost track of him. During this period, he did a lot of things to cover his tracks and hide his identity”.

    “So when he was sure that he had covered  himself well enough after the two months period, he appeared again at Abuja to continue his weapons supply activities to Gana. This time around, he was not that lucky as we were able to arrest him  with the support of Guards Brigade  troops. We tracked him to somewhere between Kashi and Kurudu in Abuja where we arrest him,” Yekini explained.

    He said the 10 suspects arrested in  Gboko general area were members of a kidnapping group under Shawa, stressing that the group was responsible for the bulk of kidnapping and other violent crimes  in and around Gboko.

    “You will recall that some VIPs were kidnapped in Gboko of recent. These ten people were responsible for most of the  kidnappings. They also spread their criminal  tentacles beyond  Gboko into  Vandeikya and parts of Cross River State. Since we made the arrests, the rate of  kidnappings  had gone down considerably in Gboko and we intend to keep it so.”

  • ‘I passed out immediately the lorry hit our bus’

    The multiple ghastly auto crash in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, which occurred around Umuowelle Bypass, left no fewer than 10 persons dead while scores sustained varying degrees of injury.

    The driver of the lorry with registration number XB 283 MBA reportedly lost control and rammed into three other vehicles; 14-seater vehicle with registration number XC 109 UKP, a saloon car registered as FST 939 AY and a bus registered as ENU 837 CP.

    One of the survivors of the accident, Miss Rejoice Alozie, an undergraduate of the Michael Okpara University, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, was full of gratitude to God for sparing her life.

    Alozie, a third-year student of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, said she passed out immediately the lorry hit the commercial bus she was travelling on.

    She said, “I was travelling back to school from Awka in the commercial bus when the lorry crash-landed and hit our bus.

    “When we noticed that the lorry had lost control, I immediately passed out. But when I eventually woke up, alas it was at the hospital.

    “I can’t stop thanking God for his mercies and praying that the souls of the departed rest in peace.”

    Another survivor, Miss Ikechukwu Ozioma, of the same department with Alozie, described herself the luckiest lady alive, having escaped from the accident with no major injuries.

    Read Also: Nine rescued as bus plunges into Anambra river

    She however said she sustained pains in her body as a result of the impact of the crash.

    Also recounting his experience from his hospital bed, Mr Lawrence Adiele, the owner of the goods being transported by the lorry, described it as shocking.

    He said, “The tragic twist my routine business trip from Aba to Amawbia took when we approached the famous Agulu Lake that fateful Monday morning left me dumbfounded.

    “I was sitting in front of the lorry with the driver when I noticed that the gear did not engage properly and, as I looked at the driver, he told me that the brakes had failed.

    “In an attempt to dodge oncoming vehicles, the driver lost control of the steering and the lorry fell down, colliding with three other vehicles.

    “The most painful part is that three out of the four loaders that travelled with me on the trip died at the spot while the one that survived was among those in critical condition and transferred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.”

    A witness to the accident, Mrs. Ngozi Ekwo, told the Nation that no fewer than eight persons died on the spot.

    She said, “I was at my shop when we suddenly heard a loud sound and as we looked, we noticed that the lorry had hit a bus and, as it swung the other way, hit a Sienna car and, finally, the third car.

    “The driver of the vehicle and the three apprentices that were conveying the materials died at the spot.

    “The ear of one of the women was chopped off while another lady lost her eyes in the accident.

    “All these happened right before me. I couldn’t believe what I saw. I have been in shock since that incident happened and my blood pressure is high due to the trauma. It was God that saved me, because I could have been one of them.”

    Miss Ijeoma, a nurse on duty at the St Joseph hospital, where the victims were rushed to, told our reporter that four of the injured persons brought to the hospital later died while seven others in critical condition were referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi for further treatment leaving just three at the hospital.

    The state sector commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Andrew Kumapayi, said about 23 people were involved in the accident, adding that six of whom died on the spot and 17 that were injSoldiers rescue 7yr-old, 6 adults kidnapped along Kaduna-Abuja road

    From AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

  • Three students held for IBB varsity ‘robbery’

    Three students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai in Niger State have been arrested for the off campus robbery incident which occurred on Monday morning when robbers raided a 25-room off campus hostel of the university dispossessing the occupants of their phones, laptops, Ipads, clothing, jewelry and other valuables.

    A police source said the students were arrested on the campus of the university on Wednesday. \

    Read Also: ‘Mentally ill’ man held for ‘robbing bank’ in Kwara

    The source said some of the victims identified the students to be among those who robbed them.

    Some of the stolen properties were recovered during a search of the suspects’ residences. Also, some weapons were recovered in the residences.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),  DSP Muhammad Abubakar who confirmed the story said interrogation and investigations were ongoing.

  • This time Shiites’ procession ends peacefully

    The procession was brief, about 30 minutes, and without bloodshed. Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly called Shiites observed the Day of Ashura, an event they light candles and perform some rituals in remembrance of one of their leaders Hussein Ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who died in the Battle of Karbala. The event, held on Tuesday in Wuse, Abuja, is marked across the globe.

    A member of the group, Abdullahi Musa said, “We quickly did the procession starting from Wuse market at about 8:00am to 8:30am through to Berger Roundabout. We are not many like in other years. Police did not stop or disturb us. The procession was peaceful and well organised.”

    The Shiites have not always had things that easy and violence-free. Neither had the security forces had fun containing them. Since 2015 the worshippers and security operatives have often clashed, leaving a large number of the worshippers dead and a larger number injured.

    In late October 2018, about 45 people died, and many more injured, according to reports.

    Read Also: El-Zakzaky: Police arrest 400 Shiites members

    In another confrontation in Abuja, in July, there were also deaths not just of Shiites but security men as well.

    The security forces have been criticised for using “shocking and unconscionable force” in controlling the group members, who have sworn to continue their protests until their leader Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, detained since 2015, is released.

    But on Tuesday, all was calm in Abuja as the Shiites marched, though heavy armed police presence was reported in the nation’s capital.

    This was because both sides seem to have learnt their lessons. The Shiites were not prepared for any bloody eventuality, neither were the security forces.

    The police were more on the ground at the Federal Secretariat, and at major roads leading into Abuja and its environs to prevent crisis.

    IMN had on Monday petitioned the Human Rights Commission, United Nations and the European Union over Tuesday’s Ashura procession which it claimed that the police are preparing to disrupt and attack it members. The police did indeed direct the IMN members not to engage in any procession.

    Thankfully, there were no ugly developments.

  • Police parade 58 ‘kidnappers, robbers’

    The police on Wednesday paraded 58 suspects  allegedly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, car theft, unlawful possession of weapons and other crimes.

    Fifty-seven of the suspects were male while one was a female foreigner from Cameroon.

    Items recovered from them include 18 AK47 rifles, 1233 rounds of AK47 ammunition, nine pump action, five single barrel rifle, one automatic pistol, one grenade, 53 live cartridges and several recovered stolen vehicles.

    The suspects were paraded at the Special Anti-Robbery Squads Headquarters in Abuja by the force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba.

    Eight of the suspects were responsible for the kidnap of the lawmaker from Kaduna State, Hon. Suleiman Dabo, police said.

    The gang of eight confessed to have demanded N10million as ransom before the lawmaker was released.

    One of the suspects Kabiru Abdullahi noted that some of his gang members lied to him and claimed that only N6million was paid instead of the N10million.

    Read Also: ‘Impersonator’ of Zamfara CP nabbed

    He said the lies made him realise only N450,000 from the operation which was later recovered from him by the police during his arrest.

    Also paraded were the gang responsible for the kidnap of students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and House of Representatives member from Sokoto State.

    The gang who operate in military uniform disclosed that they purchase the uniforms at the rate of N15,000 from those who sell used clothes (Okirika) in Kaduna State.

    They said they prefer to use the military uniform in order to deceive road users who feel safe whenever they see men in uniform.

    They claimed that a ransom of N5.5million was paid before their victims were released.

    The gang responsible for the kidnap of Turkish nationals in Kwara states were also paraded.

    According to the gang members, N20million ransom was demanded but nothing was paid before their rescue.

    Mba noted said the suspects would be arraigned in a competent court upon completion of investigation.

  • ‘I won NYSC award for catching thieves in camp’

    Three persons were at the just concluded three weeks orientation course for the 2019 Batch ‘B’ stream 2 corps members in Anambra state honored by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their outstanding and excellent performance during the camp.

    While Nneamaka Nzewi was rewarded for excelling as a casual hand on sanitation, Gregory Anaekwe, Police Constable (PC), was honored for apprehending a notorious thief that terrorized the camp.

    Mrs Gladys Ofurum, an NYSC Officer, on her part, bagged the award of best Platoon Officer in the camp.

    Four corps members were also rewarded for coming tops in the essay competition organized by the scheme during the orientation course.

    The corps members were Adegoke Damilola, Precious Ukeje, Ogunlana Ismail and Agada Christopher.

    Speaking to The Nation, the police officer, Anaekwe expressed appreciation to the NYSC scheme for finding him worthy for the honour.

    He said he was on permanent night shift all through the period of the camp which resulted in the extra ordinary success he recorded.

    He said, “I was able to chase and catch some thieves, including a notorious robber that used to terrorize the camp.

    Read Also: NYSC rewards doctor, geographer for Lagos projects

    “I just decided to keep night guard throughout the period of the camp, and I’m happy I did.”

    Earlier, the State Coordinator, Mr. Kehinde Aremu said the award presentation was introduced to encourage increased commitment and dedication among camp officials during the orientation course.

    He praised the recipients for distinguishing themselves for the award, challenging others to borrow a leaf from their outstanding performances.

    According to the coordinator, the suspected robber was immediately handed over to the Awkuzu Divisional Police for further investigations.

    He also applauded the corps members who excelled in the essay competition, urging them to keep it up.

    He revealed that all the 1,615 corps members inducted into the service on August 22, 2019, successfully completed their course without anyone being lost.

    While commending the understanding and resilience of corps members throughout the duration of the course amidst infrastructural deficiencies, Aremu reassured the movement of the camp to the permanent camp in the next orientation course.

    He also thanked the Anglican communion for making available its facilities for the scheme over the years.

    Aremu added that only organizations that requested for the services of corps members would have them posted, appealing to corps employers to provide decent and safe accommodation for them for effective service delivery.

  • Female Cameroonians arrested for car theft, poisoning

    Two female Cameroonians have been arrested by Operatives of Special Tactical Squad for allegedly poisoning a man’ s drink and stealing his car.

    The suspects Yamba Kinloga Lauren Raissa and her sister Ngo Dingom Yolande Viave were alleged to have poisoned the drink of their victim after he stood up to use the toilet.

    The drink made him fall into deep sleep for two days.

    Upon waking up, the police said the victim discovered that his car had been stolen.

    The suspects allegedly took the car to Auchi in Edo State and sold it at the rate of N1.5million.

    This was disclosed in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba when they were paraded in Abuja.

    Only one of the suspects was paraded before journalists. The Police said the elder sister who championed the operation was currently sick.

    Narrating how the suspects were arrested, Mba said, ” The female Cameroonians  were involved in the case of criminal conspiracy, administration of poisonous substance and car theft.

    “On the 15th of August 2019 at about 2147hours,  their victim reported that on the 13th August 2019 at about 1050hours, he went to Millikent hotel in Apo area of Abuja together with one Yamba Kinloga Lauren Raissa and her sister Ngo Dingom Yolande Viave to have a drink.

    Read Also: ‘Impersonator’ of Zamfara CP nabbed

    “In the course of their drinking, he went to the toilet but before his return,  the ladies poisoned his drinks and after consuming same, he went into deep sleep.

    He continued: “Yamba Kinloga and her sister Ngo Yolande took his Lexus ES 350 with registration number YAB 736 NY and drove off to unknown destinations.

    “Our Operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested the suspects on the 18th August 2019 at about 1000hrs at Jos, Plateau state while attempting to flee the country.”

    Speaking on how they carried out the act, Viave said: “We met the man in Abuja after he stopped to give us free ride. After the ride, we exchanged contact with him and after several calls, my sister agreed to go out for a drink with him.

    I followed her to Gudu junction and in the course of having to drink, my sister posited her drink and took the car. We drove the car to Auchi in Edo where we sold it. The buyer gave us N100,000 cash and transferred the balance of N1.5million into my account.

    Viave while pleading for forgiveness said she didn’t know what took over her.

    “I am sorry for what I have done. It is my first time of engaging in this kind of crime. I don’t know what took over me.”

    They were arrested and both admitted to committing the crime.

    The Police while warning car owners to be careful of who they offer ride to said: “We are discounting Nigerians from giving rife to unknown people. We also advice that members of the public avoid taking drinks, chewing gums and other edibles from persons they don’t know to avoid being robbed, kidnapped, raped or even killed.”

  • ‘Impersonator’ of Zamfara CP nabbed

    Zamfara State police command has arrested a man said to have posed as the state commissioner of police Usman Nagoggo.

    The suspect Ibrahim Muhammad Mai Gandi allegedly duped a senator representing Zamfara West district, Lawwali Hassan Dan Iya of N1.6 million using the CP’s name.

    The alleged fraudster, who hails from the Moriki Emirate of Zurmi Local Government Area of the state, was arrested in Gusau Local Government Area.

    Read Also: Female Cameroonians arrested for car theft, poisoning

    The PPRO of the state command SP Muhammad Shehu while parading the suspect revealed that the senator received a text message from the suspect’s mobile number introducing himself as CP Usman Nagoggo of Zamfara state.

    The senator after series of text messages according to the PPRO decided to call the number only for the person to reintroduce himself as CP  Usman Nagoggo and demanded for a sallah gift, the senator afterwards directed his personal assistant to call the person with a view to obtaining his account number when the sum of N200,000 was transfered to him as the sallah gift.

  • ‘Fed Govt needs our support to succeed’

    General Overseer of the Saint’s Gospel Church of Christ (Hand of Fire) Pastor Jacob Shodeinde has appealed to Nigerians to keep supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to lead Nigeria to the Promised Land.

    The cleric spoke during the church’s quarterly 21-day prayer programme, the Feast of Passover, held at the church auditorium in Igando, Lagos.

    According to him, continuous support for the Federal Government, especially through prayers, would ensure that the leaders do what is right for the masses.

    Shodeinde described the Passover Feast as a mysterious programme for deliverance.

    The cleric urged Nigerians to pray for the ministers and other government appointees so that God can imbue them with required wisdom and knowledge to do what is right for the masses.

    He said: “It is our responsibility to pray for our leaders because except the Lord pass through their life, giving them the wisdom and knowledge to do what is right for the masses, they can do nothing right. We will continue to pray for them because that is our duty and responsibility.”

    Pastor Shodeinde reiterated that Nigeria was not retrogressing despite the many cries and poverty in the land.

    According to him, “there is nothing like retrogression in the country. There is global economic meltdown. The economy is not booming and that is why it’s our duty to pray for them so that there may be solution. The government wants to diversify the economy but we need to pray for them because without God, there is nothing anybody can do.”

    Shodeinde insisted that the only thing required of the people was prayers and righteous living.

  • ‘Mental disorder accounts for 90% of suicide cases’

    Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Kafayat Ogunsola, on Tuesday said mental disorder accounts for 90 per cent of rampant suicide cases in the country.

    Ogunsola, who works at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, made the assertion while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.

    She spoke on the sidelines of the 2019 World Suicide Prevention Day.

    According to her, now, we need to understand why people are committing suicide.

    Dr Ogunsola said: “Ninety per cent of cases of suicide occur as a result of mental disorder; it is as a result of depression. There are some personalities in certain individual; things happen to us from time to time and our ability to cope or deal with it is one of the reasons or determine who is able to overcome. We need to understand why people are committing suicide.

    “We need to understand the gender that commits it more, and what were the reasons, relationship, mental disorder and that is what we have been able to analyse in our research.

    Read Also: ‘Mental health diagnosis should resonate with patients’ experiences’

    “We have done a lot of collaborations with organisations like NAFDAC, much more that we can do to curtail suicide in Nigeria.

    “There is also something called resilient which simply means that everybody knows that I can bounce back from whatever it is that comes my way,’’ Ogunsola said.

    The consultant psychiatrist said many people were going through some adversities or sorts.

    She said: “It is not the end of the world for them, but if people are equipped with the right idea, they will overcome.

    “This is because mental disorder is a factor in our environment, people tend to stigmatise patients by defining it in mysterious ways.’’

    Ogunsola said that aside mental disorder, relationship break up, economic hardship, unemployment and financial issues were some other reasons why people commit suicide.

    She said Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), an initiative of LUTH, was established due to the increasing rate of suicide that has become worrisome.

    The expert said SURPIN had identified some reasons why people commit suicide, which gender was committing it more and had understanding that there must be a unique problem that made people to commit suicide.

    She, therefore, advised that whatever challenge humans faced in life, suicide should not the last option.

    Ogunsola said SURPIN would continue to embark on more researches, trainings of stakeholders, funding opportunity through grants, skill acquisition, among others as ways forward to curb the menace of suicide.