The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Police kill six suspected kidnappers in Abia, rescue four victims

    Police kill six suspected kidnappers in Abia, rescue four victims

    Personnel of Abia Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), have killed six members of a kidnap gang operating in the state.

    This is as the  governor, Dr. Alex Otti has vowed not to cede an inch of the state to criminals.

     The governor who stated this at the Banquet Hall of the State Government House on Friday evening during a press conference where the state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa presented four of the rescued victims to him, also promised an undisclosed cash reward to the police tactical team members that embarked on the operation.

    Otti who commended the bravery of the police tactical teams assured residents and investors of their safety and the safety of their businesses and investments.

    The governor who ordered the demolition of the bungalow where the victims were kept, also ordered the landlord of the building be fished out.

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    He also directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to meet with traditional rulers in the area where the incident happened. Otti noted that a traditional ruler, who is the chief security officer of his domain, would not claim ignorance of the activities of such individuals in his community.

    While reaffirming that he administration would continue to secure every part of the state, the governor also disclosed that the state was planning to construct and equip a modern security and command center in the state.

     Earlier, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that the combined police tactical team members neutralised the six members of the kidnapping gang operating in the state at Osokwa in Osisioma Local Government Area of the state after they were overpowered in a shootout.

    The state police boss who disclosed that the kidnap gang abducted the victims along New Umuahia Road, said that the police rescued the four male victims unhurt.

    CP Isa who disclosed that victims were rescued by his men through the help of modern technology provided for them by the governor of the state, stated that the combined police team also recovered three AK-47 and 32 rounds of ammunition.

    He disclosed that some other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds in the heat of the shooting between his men and the gang members.

    Speaking, one of the rescued victims said that the gunmen double crossed and whisked them away to an unknown destination at gunpoint.

     The victim who disclosed that their captors starved them since March 9, when they were kidnapped, further hinted  that they were kept in an air-tight room and forced to part with their phones and other valuables, including cash that they transferred to them.

    He thanked the police for swinging into action to save them from the hands of their captors.

    “On Friday (today) after praying, we heard gunshots and while we were wondering what was happening, police came into the room and rescued us.”

  • LG chairman places N30m bounty on killers of 25 residents in Rivers community

    LG chairman places N30m bounty on killers of 25 residents in Rivers community

    The Emohua Local Government Area in Rivers State has placed a bounty of N30million on cult leaders and their sponsors responsible for the gruesome killings in Obelle community.

    A supremacy war by two cult groups in the area had led to killings of over 25 indigenes of Obelle with majority of the victims said to be innocent residents of the area.

    The cult groups and their leaders killed seven people on Thursday last week, four on Friday and 10 on Saturday during bloody encounters that dislocated the community.

    The entire community had been deserted as residents abandoned their ancestral homes to seek refuge in other areas.

    Most of the fleeing residents reportedly ran to secure their lives in Elele where they slept under trees and in open places with their belongings.

    Rattled by the unchallenged violence in the community, the Executive Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Mr. David Omereji led a team to the community on Tuesday.

    It was learnt that apart from the team that followed the chairman to the area, nobody was on ground to receive Omereji, who was visibly angry that hoodlums had sacked the entire village.

    Omereji immediately pronounced an award of N30million for anybody, who could provide useful hints on the whereabouts of the killers and their sponsors.

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    Though the chairman did not mention any name of the cult leaders, he said it was time to end the bloodshed and return peace to Obelle.

    The Chairman also begged the fleeing residents of the area to return home promising that henceforth there would no longer be cult clashes in the community.

    Omereji said it was barbaric that it the 21st century, some people would enter a community and shed blood adding that he would rather resign that see such incident continue in the area.

    He said: “It is pathetic that in this modern society some hoodlums whatever they call themselves will create an unrest that will lead to loss of lives and properties of the people. 

    “We have sworn an oath to safeguard the lives and properties of the people and Obelle is one of the communities that falls under the wards in Emohua Local Government Area. Tell your people to return back home. 

    “No individual can be bigger than the government. No matter how stubborn a man maybe, the government will still put an end to his nonsense. I can assure you, this is the end of unrest in Obelle.

    “Emohua government is putting a bounty of N30m for anybody who has useful information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals who came to shed blood in this community. We want these people arrested within 72 hours. Anything that affects Obelle could be duplicated at Iba and it will trigger to other areas”.

     The chairman commended security agencies for their efforts and sacrifices since the violence started in the area.

    He said: “We will do everything possible as a local government to stop this nonsense.  What will anybody gain. You came and killed people. I would rather resign as a chairman than to see these people continue again.

    “The police can’t work without information. How can rif-rafs cause fear all over the place? I will be here everyday to ensure that those behind these acts are apprehended. Everybody has deserted this community in the name of one cult or the other. What are they dragging. Enough is enough”.

  • Adekaiyaoja’s appointment as Deputy DG DSS will create room for career progression –  Ejiofor

    Adekaiyaoja’s appointment as Deputy DG DSS will create room for career progression –  Ejiofor

    A former Director at the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor in this interview speaks on the appointment of the first female Deputy Director General of DSS and how her appointment will lead to career growth, sets the agenda for the agency in 2025, among others. Here are the excerpts:

    What are your thoughts about the appointment of Folashade Adekaiyaoja as the Deputy Director of DSS?

    I want to thank Mr. President for his landmark appointment. I also thank the National Security Adviser (NSA) for taking the initiative to make this recommendation. First of all, in the extant rule establishing the security service, the position of Deputy Director General has been there but for whatever reason nobody has taken the bull by the horns to implement it.

    I think it was only the DG before the last one that tried to expand the last structure to get to the Assistant DG, most of the officers see themselves as directors being there for eight years and more because there is no more progression for you. But when this DDG rank was expanded just like you have in other security services, like in the police you have the Assistant Inspector General, and Deputy Inspector General.

    The same thing in civil defence or immigration and the rest of them. So, it is only in DSS that we don’t follow that structure. Having done that it is very motivational because it inspires the staff. You have expansion at the top because the top was too heavy because there was no room for expansion. What happens is that you have an Assistant Director General. There is a position for two Deputy Director General but presently it is only one that is the most senior that is qualified to be appointed the Deputy Director General.

    These are purely administrative issues in the state security service. I have been inundated with calls. The DG DSS in his usual way wouldn’t want to expose such things in the press. It is my duty as I have always done to at least enlighten the members of the public because people will begin to have different interpretations.

    The new DDG that has been appointed is the most senior and the only one qualified for now to be appointed DDG. There is still provision for expansion for the appointment of another Deputy Director General. I think the DG should take the initiative to also make such appointments. 

    What does it do for the service in general? I will tell you that it calls for celebration even among retired staff. Remember that the President also appointed this DG from within the service, so he knows the challenges within the service unlike previous ones appointed as either retired people or people from outside to head the service.

    So, this is very inspirational and I can tell you that feelers from the service indicate that people are very happy. You know that when you are talking of gender sensitivity, for her to be lucky to be appointed at this particular time tells a lot about professionalism as promised through the NSA by the president that he would make sure that there is professionalism in the service and there is need for us to tackle our challenges. You can see that the staff will become very productive in terms of. He has come out with a lot of welfare packages. There is so much he has to do and he needs our support he needs encouragement from Nigerians to assist the agency in collecting information that will help us to fight insecurity. So it is a welcome development.

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    It is a welcome development, especially in the area of gender sensitivity, so many people are celebrating that, how do you clarify a point of conversation that has emerged in the public space, people are saying that her appointment has raised some concerns about federal character, though she came from Kogi state she is Yoruba, people are saying how can the DG and the DDG be both Yoruba, please clarify that?

    That is a very interesting question because I have received some calls where people have questioned, why should it be Yoruba. First of all, Kogi is in North Central, Kogi is not in the South West. The DG is from the South West, besides as I explained she is the most senior and most qualified. So, you don’t bring politics into the service.

    In terms of appointments of state directors, DDGs, and directors, yes we observe federal character appointments but you know that you cannot strictly follow character appointments over competence and capacity in a service like this. But for now, by providence, she is the most senior and only one qualified to be appointed DDG. So, there is no problem with that. I think it is one of the reasons that made me say that apart from it God has put her there. It is her luck and it is divine that she is there now. She is a woman and she is the most senior qualified to be appointed DDG for now.

    Part of this appointment, beyond being celebrated as the first woman to occupy that position, is the president’s desire to make the agency more efficient. He started by thanking and congratulating the president for this appointment, what are the other things that must be done to make the agency more efficient?

    I am a pensioner from the service, and since the current DG came in my pension has been enhanced. How we did it, I don’t know. The welfare of staff is paramount in his pragmatic approach to motivating the staff. Promotions are being released. It is not in my position to begin to discuss certain issues on air because this is a covered organisation and he has come out a plan to say that his operation will now be covered, and can tell you that he has within this short period he has motivated staff in terms of training, in terms of welfare, in terms of promotion.

    A lot of innovations are coming in and the staff is very happy.  The retired people are also happy with him. He has brought a lot of innovations and besides the welfare of staff and motivation of staff, you can see a lot of collaboration and synergy between the other agencies which is what is helping us in achieving the result that we are achieving now. When he was appointed the president did emphasize that there was a need for all the agencies to synergize and work together. I am also in touch with some of the service chiefs who have confirmed that this is a different DG from what we used to have. We need to encourage him to do more for the staff and the country.

    If the organisation is a covered one like said. Some people are asking whether it is necessary to publicize these appointments, given a new strategy to communicate the structure of the DSS?

    The DSS didn’t issue any statement about that. The President approved the appointment and it was released from the office of the NSA that such an appointment had been made. Mr Tosin Ajayi the DG DSS. It is good that people should know that there are some structural adjustments within the service. This is a landmark and it is a very strategic appointment that should not be swept under the carpet, but the DSS didn’t issue any statement on that.

    Beyond appointments as highlighted from the position of the DSS there is room for three deputy directors, how can those positions be completed to improve efficiency further to reduce the top-heaviness of the agency?

    You have virtually answered the question. The creation of this Deputy Director General will call for expansion and accommodation of various groups in terms of federal character. Like I said earlier when you have these DDGs duly appointed, you will have one in charge of one in charge of administration, another one in charge of operations and I didn’t know how the third one will be but that will be purely administrative. What I will tell you is that this is a very welcome development that will encourage staff there will be career progression. When you get to a particular place and you are stunted, it doesn’t encourage you or when somebody from outside is brought to come and head. It doesn’t help career progression.

    I think that this expansion at the top will also encourage career progression, not a situation where you have only DG, you don’t have a Deputy Director General, you don’t have an Assistant Director General. These are offices that have been created to encourage staff in their career progression. If the DG, Tosn Ajayi had been selfish he would have left it the way others did but because he believed in professionalizing the service he had to expand to encourage people.

    If you are to set a security agenda for 2025 what are the major things you would be looking at?

    I think it is very critical that we assess our approach and don’t forget that the DG is new. He has been establishing contacts with the service commanders on the way forward. For me, as a person, we should prioritise the issue of our security challenges.

    Some are political, there are some that we will use kinetic and there are some that we will use non-kinetic approaches. For instance, we have achieved a lot of success in the northeast until recently when we started having some isolated cases. Look at the North West you have the issue of Lakurawa.

    Since their inception, you can agree with me that after their first initial appearance much has not been heard from Hat Lakurawa because of the activities of intelligence and security forces. When you come to the South East, I think that the government should take the initiative to have a political solution to the issue in the South East, especially the issue of unknown gunmen and Nnamdi Kanu. I will strongly appeal to the government to use this opportunity to unconditionally release Nnamdi Kanu. Let us see because people are killing innocent people and claiming that they are fighting for Nnamdi Kanu, and Nnamdi Kanu has condemned this issue and has talked about a sit-at-home that he is not in support of.

    How can you be fighting for a people and at the same time destroying their economy and their means of livelihood? I think the government should look at the issues and I am happy that the federal government budget has the largest budget in terms of security and defence and that shows you the much concern that the government is showing. I think it is not just budgeting there should be proper scrutiny and oversight function from the National Assembly to ensure that monies meant for such budgets are used judiciously

  • Suspected armed robbers kill pastor in Gombe

    Suspected armed robbers kill pastor in Gombe

    Suspected armed robbers on Sunday killed a pastor in Lubo Community, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.

    The deceased was identified as Reverend Buba Galadima, the pastor of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the community.

    It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the cleric’s residence in the early hours of Sunday and opened fire on him when he tried to escape.

    The bullet was said to have hit his upper back. He was rushed to the teaching hospital where he was confirmed dead.

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    A resident of Lubo who spoke anonymously, revealed that the gunmen stormed the town around 1am and fired multiple gunshots to announce their presence.

    According to the resident, the gunmen first targeted the ECWA church, then moved to a nearby compound, where they stole N300,000, ransacked homes before asking of the pastor’s residence which was a fence away.

    Spokesman for the Police on Gombe State, Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.

    “The issue is armed robbery because they entered the house at night. Maybe they attempted to rob him, but unfortunately, from the way he was shot at the back, it seems he was trying to escape,” Abdullahi said.

    He said a special squad had been deployed to track the culprits down, adding that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bello Yahaya was at the hospital to access the situation.

    Abdullahi assured that a thorough investigation was underway and dismissed claims that the attack was carried out by bandits, emphasizing that Gombe State has no history of banditry.

    “We have launched a special operation, and we are confident that the perpetrators will be arrested,” he said.

  • Kidnapper twins: We abduct our victims, dismember their bodies for sale, fortune soap, magic powder

    Kidnapper twins: We abduct our victims, dismember their bodies for sale, fortune soap, magic powder

    • Say we charge N100,000 for head, N50,000 for leg, N20,000 for other parts

    Taiwo Yemitan, recently arrested alongside his twin brother Kehinde for luring and killing a young girl for ritual purpose in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has opened on their mode of operation as serial killers in an exclusive audio file obtained by Head of Investigation, KUNLE AKINRINADE. Taiwo revealed how the abduction and killing of their last victim was orchestrated as well as the events that culminated in his arrest at the point of selling the victim’s head for N100,000.

    They are a pair of twins, the very kind that many people pray to have, particularly among the Yoruba who regard the birth of twins as a harbinger of good fortunes for the parents involved.

    But 47-year-old Taiwo and Kehinde Yemitan are anything but good fortunes. Rather than project their family name or make their parents proud, they became a huge source of embarrassment as alleged serial killers.

    The twin brothers are regarded as the anchor of a kidnapping syndicate that specialises in killing their victims and dismembering their bodies for sale and for production of magic powder fortune soaps.

    The twin brothers, who also worked as carpenters and herbalists, were said to have lured their latest victim, a young girl named Darasimi, to their hideout at Premier area of Abeokuta, where they killed and slaughtered her body for sale and ritual purposes.

    Luck, however, ran out on them a few weeks ago as they were arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command in conjunction with other security agencies.

    Taiwo had been arrested on December 22, 2024 alongside one Kazeem for alleged murder and dismembering of Darasimi, a sex worker, while Kehinde, his twin brother, fled.

    According to the spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, the victim was lured to the suspects’ Abeokuta residence and killed.

    Odutola said: “Having been fingered as one of the accomplices to the tragic crime, the police surveillance team, in collaboration with the So Safe Corps, were on the look out for Kehinde until intelligence revealed his hideout on Monday, December 30, 2024.

    “At about 5 pm on that day, the Divisional Police Officer of Sango Otta received a tip from a volunteer informant indicating that Kehinde, the twin brother of Taiwo Yemitan, was hiding in Ilogbo community.

    “The police launched a manhunt for him in connection with the murder and mutilation of one Darasimi, surname unknown, on the 22nd of December, 2024 when his twin brother, Taiwo, and Kazeem were arrested at about 1 pm by the Divisional Police Officer of Lafenwa after the duo lured Darasimi, a night sex worker in Abeokuta, to their house for ritual purposes.’’

    In an exclusive audio file obtained by our correspondent, Taiwo confessed to the crime and opened up on how they had been killing people for ritual purposes.

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    He said after killing their victims, they would dismember their bodies and sell them to patrons who used them for money making rituals for as low as N50,000 and as high as N100,000 depending on the part of the body, while they also use some of the body parts to make magic soap to attract good fortunes.

    He said: ‘’My name is Taiwo Yemitan. I am from Fekemo area of Totoro, Owu, Abeokuta.

    “My father’s name is Rafiu Yemitan. He is late now. My mother is from Gbagura area of Abeokuta too.

    “My twin brother (Kehinde) and I trained as carpenters, but we also double as herbalists.

    “I am 47 years old.

    ‘’We received training as herbalists in Omu Aran, Kwara State when we were contracted for carpentry job at a private university. The people who hosted us in Omu Aran were herbalists.

    “While I juggled carpentry with being a herbalist, Kehinde works full time as a herbalist.

    “We have been working as herbalists for 15 years, and we operate around Premier College in Abeokuta, where our office is located.

    “I used to stay at Ilogbo in Ota where I was living with my wife and two children. But I usually visited my twin brother, Kehinde, in Abeokuta on weekends.

    “Kehinde works as a full-time herbalist while I juggle carpentry with being a herbalist.

    ‘’On a particular weekend, I visited Kehinde and discovered that he was into trading in human parts and ritual killings. He introduced me to it.

    “We usually kill our victims and sell their body parts for money rituals, grill some and grind them into powder for consumption with alcohol or mix them with soap for a magic bath that would bring good fortunes.

    “We have an accomplice named Kazeem, who usually supplies us with fresh human parts. He has brought fresh human parts to us about four times. He usually wrapped them in nylon.”

    Explaining their dastardly activities further, Taiwo said: “We sell ordinary body parts for N20,000 and hands or limbs for N50,000. It was the same amount we sold Darasimi’s hand.

    “We sell a leg for N50,000 while the heart goes for N100,000.’’

    Giving an insight into how their latest victim was killed and dismembered, Taiwo said it was Kehinde that lured the victim to their home where they killed her and dismembered her body.

    He said: ‘’Darasimi, a sex worker, was picked up from the Lafenwa area of Abeokuta and brought to our office on a Friday by my twin brother.

    “She was served Fufu which we had sent a teenage boy called Samson to get for her from a food vendor in the neighbourhood.

    “Samson is the one that helps us with chores and errands. I also ate from the meal.

    “It was in the evening. Kazeem arrived moments later, and that was the first time I would meet him.

    “At night, Darasimi made some calls on her mobile phone and I overheard her telling someone that she would return home the next day.

    “Moments later, Kehinde told me that Darasimi was the person we would kill for ritual purposes.

    “Kehinde later moved Darasimi to an adjoining office and engaged her in a conversation during which Kazeem appeared and covered her face with a handkerchief.

    “I held her legs while Kehinde also held her down to prevent her from struggling with us. Kazeem slaughtered her, severed her head and drained her blood into a bowl, mixed it with alcohol.

    “Kazeem dismembered her and took a large part of her body parts including her intestines away.

    “Kehinde told me that Kazeem would return the body parts to him later when I asked why Kazeem was taking away substantial parts of the body.

    “We only took her heart, kidney, head and leg.”

    Taiwo said that after carrying out the killing, they were apprehended by security agents at the point of handing over the victim’s head to a buyer for N100,000. Unknown to him and others, the alleged buyer was only used as a bait for their arrest.

    Taiwo said: ‘’The buyer, named Fakorede, is a member of the Agbekoya, a local security outfit, who promised to pay N100,000 for the girl’s head.

    “We had agreed to hand over the head to him at a certain point around Premier College area of Abeokuta.

    “Kehinde was to attend a party on the Saturday I was arrested. So, Fakorede asked us to wrap the head in a sack and bring it to him around 7pm.

    “I was led to the place by a boy who served as our errand boy. He told me how to get to the spot.

    “I approached the gate of Premier College looking forward to meeting Fakorede, only to discover that I had been lured into the police net.

    “As I tried to figure out how to handle the situation, operatives of Agbekoya accosted and apprehended me. I was then taken to their office at Lafenwa, Abeokuta.

    “Kehinde took the boy (Samson) to his mother’s home when we were about to kill Darasimi because we didn’t want him to know what was about to happen to the lady.

    “We can never kill Samson for rituals because his mother is aware that he runs errands for us and helps us to fetch water and had even slept in our home many times.

    “The highest amount we collected as payment for human parts is N100,000. We sell hand and leg for N50,000; kidney and heart for N100,000 and head also for N100,000.

    “Fakorede has never bought human parts from us before. He only contacted us for human parts in order to expose and arrest us.

    “I had warned Kehinde about the consequences of engaging in killing and selling human parts.

    “I know that my family members would have got wind of my arrest for ritual killing, but none of them has shown up or visited me (in police custody).

    “I will never engage in this crime again. I seek forgiveness and promised not to go back to a life of crime if pardoned.’’

  • Court grants bail to 12 suspected killers of Ajayi Crowther varsity’s undergraduate

    Court grants bail to 12 suspected killers of Ajayi Crowther varsity’s undergraduate

    • Adjourns case for hearing till February 21

    An Oyo High Court sitting in Ibadan has granted bail to 12 suspected killers of an undergraduate of Ajayi Crowther University, Jeffrey Akro.

    The bail was granted with a sum of N5 million and two sureties each in like sum while the case is adjourned till Friday, 21 February 2025.

    The suspects pleaded not guilty to a 2-count charge when the case was mentioned for hearing at the same court in Awe, Oyo state.

    Their plea and oral application for bail could not be taken during the last sitting hence the adjournment to yesterday.

    Justice Ladiran Akintola however at the sitting on Friday granted bail to the suspects with a sum of N5m while their parents will stand as sureties.

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    The Court in its ruling ordered that ” each of the 1st- 12th defendants is hereby admitted to bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties each, one of whom must be a biological parent of the applicant/defendant

    A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta state, and Counsel to the Prosecutor, Chief Victor Otomiewo said: “The most important thing is the pronouncement, and what every lawyer knows is that the granting of bail is not a declaration of innocence or acquittal.

    “The re-trial has been adjourned till February 21, 2025. If we are unable to resolve the matter on that date, the trial will proceed accordingly.

    “With the pronouncement of the Judge and his conduct of the trial so far, everybody will go home and see that Justice, real justice not abstract justice has been served.

    Also in his comment, Counsel to the 7th defendant, Wole Efunnuga noted that ”the trial Judge did not just come up granting bail, there is precedent condition.

    “The Judge looked at the issue holistically and he made it a point of duty to seek the opinion of the Prosecution counsel to ask if the decision is of the counsel.

    ” My learned counsel used his discretion and the ruling represented the views of all the parties involved”.

  • Auxiliary: Court adjourns as prosecution calls seventh witness

    Auxiliary: Court adjourns as prosecution calls seventh witness

    The trial of former chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, aka ‘Auxiliary’, continued yesterday, with the prosecution calling the 7th witness to oral evidence.

    The case, which started at Fiat Court 2, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, presided over by Justice Bayo Taiwo, was, however, held at Court 7 under the same lordship.

    The Nation reports that ‘Auxiliary’, former chairman of the State Disciplinary Committee of Park Management System (PMS), is facing trial on 17-count charge bothering on armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, possession of firearms, including one AK-47 assault rifle, two SMG rifles with magazine.

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, is contrary to any punishable under Section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP RII, Vol.14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The matter with suit number I/74c/2024: State Versus Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary), is before Justice Bayo Taiwo.

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    The defendant was in court yesterday.

    The case is one of the ongoing trials of the former Oyo NURTW boss. It borders on offences allegedly committed on May 29, 2023 at about 2pm at Ikolaba, Ibadan home of Governor Seyi Makinde.

    The Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), was also in court to observe the proceedings.

    The Nation reports that the defendant (Auxiliary) had pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge read to him on November 27, 2024.

    The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr S. O. Adeoye, had on November 27 opened trial by calling on two witnesses to give their oral testimonies.

    Other lawyers that appeared alongside the DPP include: Mrs O. S Tella (Deputy DPP) and Mrs O. A. Bolarinwa (Senior State Counsel).

    During yesterday’s proceedings, the prosecution called the 7th Witness (PW7), Mr Fatai Awodele, a driver, who gave oral witness out of the 16 witnesses listed to appear on the matter.

    He told the court that he was attacked on the fateful day and severely injured, saying his wristwatch and N65,000 on him were also taken by men, who accompanied the former NURTW boss on the attack.

    He said the defendant and his entourage, all adorning red caps, stormed the governor’s Ikolaba home with cutlasses, knives, sticks, among other dangerous weapons.

    Awodele said he could only leave the scene after he regained consciousness and a motorcyclist driving by, took him to the Testing Ground Police Station to lodge a formal complaint, from where an ambulance was secured to convey him and some other individuals, who were also attacked, to the Government House Clinic for medical attention.

    During cross examination, defendant’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, asked the PW7 to mention the names and or nicknames of some of the men in the entourage of the defendant on the said day.

    Ojo was also accompanied by other lawyers, including: Tope Olayinka, Mrs Madiagu, E. O Mbam, Babajide Bolodeoku and Olalekan Adeoye.

    He questioned the PW7 if he knew anything about the operations of the disbanded NURTW, particularly their political affiliations, which cut across political parties in the state.

    After questions, Ojo, however, challenged the PW7 that he could not identify the person who attacked him on the said day, having earlier confirmed that many individuals and security operatives were at the location on the day.

    Ruling, the judge adjourned the matter till today for continuation of hearing.

  • I thought she loved me, says 29-year-old groom poisoned by 14-year-old bride on wedding day

    I thought she loved me, says 29-year-old groom poisoned by 14-year-old bride on wedding day

    Khamis Haruna, the groom who escaped death by a whisker after eating a poisoned meal prepared by her bride two days after their wedding, has expressed shock over the incident, saying that he was of the opinion that his bride, Zahara’u, was in love.

    Contrary to earlier reports that the ugly incident occurred on the night they were married, Haruna said the incident occurred last Sunday, two days after their marriage penultimate Friday.

    He recalled that the poisoned food prepared by Zahara’u at their Albasu village in Jahun Local Government Area was consumed by him and two of his friends as they prepared to go to bed following the departure of other friends, family members and well-wishers.

    Twenty-nine-year-old Haruna recalled that while he and his friend Isyaku Adamu were lucky to survive the poisonous food after spending a night at Kiyawa Hospital, his other friend, Muhammed Alfah, was not so lucky, as he eventually gave up the ghost.

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    Speaking to The Nation in an exclusive interview, Haruna said: “We were married on Friday and the ceremony continued till Sunday when the bride, Zahara’u, came into my house as the last phase of the ceremony.

    “At about 10 pm on that day, my two friends urged me to go into Zaharau’s room, but I said no, because some of the women that escorted her to the house had not left.

    “So we were in my tailoring shop when some of the bride’s friends came and told us that we should come in to eat, but I told them we were not yet ready.

    “Later, they came back with the food, which was jollof spaghetti, and left.”

    Haruna, who said that he and Zaharau courted for two years before they got married penultimate Friday, however, said the bride was only 14 years old at the time they got married.

    He said: “We were married of love. She loved me I loved her too.

    “Since she was still a small girl, we were in love for two years before our marriage.

    “We saw her in a neighbouring village, Bakata, also in Kiyawa Local Government Area, and approached her almost two years ago.

    “We continued dating until she reached 14 years and I made arrangements for marriage.

    “We got married on (penultimate) Friday and I brought her to my house on the day of the tragic incident.”

    Recalling the events immediately preceding the incident, Haruna said: “I was on my sewing machine when they brought the food while my two friends sat on the floor.

    “Muhammad Alfah opened the food immediately and asked me to come down and eat, while he and Isyaku started eating before I joined them.

    “I had only taken about six spoons when we observed that there was a substance in the food.

    “Noticing that, we became suspicious and stopped eating. We all became uncomfortable and scared.

    “A few minutes later, Alfah started complaining about his stomach. He stood up to leave but he could not control himself, so we took him to a friend’s house which was closer.

    “By the time we got inside, all of us had started feeling the same. We were given milk but we felt no relief as the situation worsened.

    “We were then rushed to Jahun Hospital where Alfah died while Isyaku and I were rescued.”

    Haruna alleged that on the day Zaharau was to be taken to his house, she went to collect her new clothes from a tailor in their village where she met one of her ex-lovers (name withheld) who gave her the substance and asked her to put it in the food that he (Haruna) would eat.

    “I’m really surprised. We were married for love. She never showed any worries about our relationship and never displayed any sign of ill feeling before she carried out the evil act.”

    The father of Alfah, Malam Muhammad Sani, said the deceased was his only son, and he was survived by his wife and twin children who were only six days old.

    Lamenting the loss of his son, Mallam Sani described him as loyal, responsible, religious and disciplined.

    “I really lost him. He was the only one I had and totally relied on.

    “As you can see, I am already old. He was the one carrying the family’s responsibilities.

    “Alfah was really gentle. May Allah forgive all his sins and grant him Jannatil Fiddausi”.

    On his part, Isyaku, the other friend who narrowly escaped death, described the late Alfah as his childhood friend whose death occurred a day to the naming ceremony of the twins his wife had just given birth to.

    Isyaku said: “The late Alfah joined us after he came back from market where he had gone to buy rams to be slaughtered for the naming of the new born twins the following day.

    “The three of us were together when the bride sent some people to bring food to us and without any delay, we started eating.

    “It was jollof spaghetti and meat. While trying to share the meat, I brought forth a torch and lighted the food only to discover a strange substance.

    “We became suspicious and Khamis (Haruna) offered to throw the food away, but I said no.

    “I covered the food while we were thinking and trying to ascertain what the substance in it really was.

    “Alfah then complained about his stomach and we were all scared, knowing that we had been poisoned.

    “There and then, Khamis and I started feeling pains in our stomachs. That was when we realised what we saw on the food was poison.

    “We did not even know when we were taken to the hospital where Alfah died.”

    Alfah’s father, Isyaku and Haruna all appealed to the authorities for justice.

    Confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Jigawa State Police Command, Lawal Shiisu Adam, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said: “One Zahra’u Dauda ‘f’ age 15yrs of Bagata Gabas village conspired with her ex-lover, one Lawan Musa ‘m’ age 22yrs of Bagata Gabas Yamma village, all in Kiyawa LGA, to poison her husband’s food, one Kamisu Haruna ‘m’ age 29yrs of Albasu village, Jahun local government area.

    According to police spokesperson, “the husband and his two friends ate the food together, and as a result, they both developed stomachache. Victims were rushed to the hospital where one of the groom’s friends was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on call. The case is under investigation”.

  • Husband stabs Osun Bishop to death over suspicion of sleeping with estranged wife

    Husband stabs Osun Bishop to death over suspicion of sleeping with estranged wife

    The presiding Bishop of Rapture Empowerment International, Dr Sina Olaribigbe, has been stabbed to death over suspicion of sleeping with a married woman.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred yesterday at BCGA area behind Olorunda Local Government Secretariat, Osogbo, Osun State.

    A source said the couple had been having misunderstanding in their marriage, which led them to be living separately.

    However, Bishop Olaribigbe had been involved in ensuring that peace reigned in the union before they started living separately.

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    It was gathered that the Bishop was on the bed of the wife of an aggrieved husband and the compromising position led to stabbing of the cleric to death.

    Public Relations Officer, Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola confirmed the incident.

    She said: “Olaribigbe used to settle fights between the couple. We were told the pastor was at the wife’s place when the estranged husband got there. He stabbed the pastor, he was on the wife’s bed when the incident happened. The husband stabbed him several times and he died. It was learnt the husband acted on the suspicion that the past or was sleeping with the woman.“

  • ‘Why jealous ex-husband attempted to burn former wife in razed building on New Year’s Day’

    ‘Why jealous ex-husband attempted to burn former wife in razed building on New Year’s Day’

    A jealous ex-husband, Osaro Ahuwan, 54, a transporter, who hails from Benin Kingdom, around 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day, attempted to burn her former wife, Tina Uyi, 54, an Italy-based businesswoman, in her razed twin-flat, over his declaration that without marrying him, her death would be the only option.

    Uyi, also an indigene of Benin Kingdom, who returned to Nigeria last December 31, was in the razed three-bedroom flat, when the arsonist forced open her bedroom’s sliding window, poured petrol into the building, and lit a lighter, which was thrown near her documents’ bag, thereby burning her valuables and huge cash (local and foreign currencies).

    The incident happened at No. 7, Henry Asemota Avenue, Iduowina Quarters, near Oluku in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Ahuwan, yesterday according to a brother-in-law to the victim, Osazee Osaretin, blocked the flat’s main entrance to prevent the escape of the victim and members of her family, despite returning the bride price to his family on April 14, last year.

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    Osaretin also said the Italy-based woman escaped through the back door of the fenced compound with gate, and ran out of her apartment naked, but a neighbour gave her a wrapper, while somebody came from the neighbouring compound, and pulled her through the fence, with her legs burnt, because of the splashed petrol.

    The brother-in-law said: “Uyi had issues of maltreatment and battery from Ahuwan, in the marriage of less than three years. They got married on January 12, 2022, but the bride price was returned to Ahuwan’s family on April 14, 2024.

    “The ex-husband stormed the house with a gallon of four litres of petrol, which he used in a bottled-water container to sprinkle in Uyi’s room, after breaking the sliding window, where he used to gain access. She was shouting and managed to escape with her children through the back door.

    “Neighbours were able to rescue Uyi’s nonagenarian parents from the inferno. Men of Edo State Fire Service eventually put out the fire, while preventing it from spreading to the second flat.

    “Uyi was taken to an undisclosed hospital in Benin City by her neighbours, who later arrested Ahuwan. He is at Ekiadolor Police Station, in the custody of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Isah Nasiru, who is helping with the investigation, as her travel documents, life savings in Euros, packages from her friends and neighbours in Italy to their loved ones in Nigeria, and other valuables got burnt. Ahuwan confessed that Uyi’s older brother, Odaro Oviarobo, provided him with detailed information about his sister’s return.”

    Ahuwan, according to police sources, set his ex wife’s apartment ablaze for refusing him access into her apartment, despite hearing the bang on the building’s window.

    Uyi’s older brother (Odaro Oviarobo), in the second flat, was also arrested for the arson, conspiring with Ahuwan, and informing the arsonist of the movements of the victim, especially her presence at home.

     Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), confirmed the incident, and declared that the culprits would not be spared.