The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Kidnappers kill naval officer

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a Naval Warrant Officer, Felix Akanbi.

    The hoodlums kidnapped seven other passengers travelling from Akwa-Ibom State to Lagos via Edo State on Tuesday.

    A source said the gunmen, armed with AK47 rifles, intercepted the 18-seater bus between Ekiadolor and Ovia River Bridge along the Benin-Lagos Expressway and opened fire on the bus.

    The source said eight of the passengers, including the deceased, were abducted and taken into the bush.

    It was learnt that the late Akanbi could not walk as fast as others and was shot dead.

    Read Also: Police parade 13 suspected kidnappers of Daura district head

    Policemen attached to the Ekiadolor Police Division swung into action and pursued the kidnappers after receiving report of the attack.

    The police rescued the seven victims and recovered the body of Akanbi after two hours search.

    Edo State police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said the police were still combing the bush in search of the kidnappers.

    He said the warrant officer was about to be retired before his death.

    Nwabuzor said the police would do everything to arrest the kidnappers.

     

     

  • Customs intercepts N2.8m Tramadol-laden ambulance

    The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it has intercepted an ambulance loaded with 10 cartons of 225mg Tramadol drugs at the Apapa Port, Lagos.

    The ambulance driver and a dockworker were arrested with the vehicle while trying to smuggle the item.

    The Tramadol tablets valued at N2.8 million were concealed inside the ambulance, which belongs to Medbury Medical Services.

    The two suspects, Michael Ajibade (driver) and Olatunde Emmanuel (dockworker), were said to have been arrested by Customs officers at 11pm last Friday on their way out of the port in the siren-blaring ambulance.

    Apapa Customs Area Controller Muhammed Abba-Kura, who briefed reporters yesterday, said the ambulance was usually stationed at the port complex for medical emergencies, adding that it belonged to Medbury Medical Services, an industrial medical services provider.

    He said the officers were on routine surveillance when they made the arrest.

    “Investigation shows that the Tramadol drugs were pilfered from an undeclared container. Physical examination reveals that 211 cartons of the drugs were missing from the container. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the stolen drugs stands at N59.4 million,” Abba-Kura said.

    He said findings further revealed that the container, allegedly shipped from India by Pacific International Limited (PIL) as general merchandise, was neither declared nor positioned for examination, adding that on examination, it was found that its original seal had been broken.

    Read Also: I was under tramadol influence, says suspected killer

    Disclosing that preliminary investigations had begun, Abba-Kura said the command is working hard to ascertain the level of involvement of others that may be involved in the act, “in order to get to the root of this unfortunate incident, before charging them to court.”

    The ambulance driver denied knowledge of the items.

    He said his yet-to-be-identified principal(s) promised him N2,000 to take the drugs across the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) gate.

    The dockworker, who escorted the ambulance, said he was promised N50,000.

     

  • My life is in danger, businessman cries out

    The CEO of Olu and Son Enterprises, Olu Ernest Ndukwe, has alleged death to his life by hoodlums.

    He accused some youths in Ikwo local government of Ebonyi state of threatening to eliminate him.

    Ndukwu called on Ebonyi Commissioner of Police, Awosola Awotunde, Governor Dave Umahi and other relevant agencies to come to his rescue.

    He alleged the youths and have vowed to take over his business after killing him.

    Ndukwe, whose firm majors in the business of granite, chippings and trucks, told reporters: “I was in my office around after 4 pm on June 14 when a group of boys came to my garage with all manner of weapons and chased away my workers.

    “They took tires worth N500, 000 and other valuable things from my office.

    “After the attack, when they pushed me out of office, I hid somewhere where I took pictures of them brandishing their weapons.

    He claimed he reported the case to the DPO but no arrest was made.

    “Then two days later, Sunday, June 16, I was on my way to church when I sighted from a distance this same group of boys and others with all manner of weapons; guns, machetes, chain, axe and other things pointing towards my church and where I used to park my car.

    “On sensing danger, I went back to the house. About after 11 am, that same Sunday morning, they went into the church, the Assemblies of God Church, Amaokwe, in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area.

    “So they came searching for me inside the church during the worship session. My family was in church at the time.

    “It was when my Pastor confronted them that they told him that they must kill me. The Pastor quickly called the DPO, who also sent a van with a team of Policemen.

    READ ALSO: My life in danger, says Adeleke

    “The Police came and met with the people within the church premises instead of arresting them, the Police just asked them to leave the church,” he said.

    Ndukwe went on: “So, by 3:30 that same Sunday, they came back to my garage, because the first one they destroyed 3 trucks after stealing my money.

    “So on that Sunday when they came, they chased away the security and other staff. They came with all manner of weapons and destroyed 6 more trucks included the newly acquired trucks and windscreen.”

    He alleged after making entry of threat to his life, nothing was done to apprehend his attackers.

    Ndukwe said he later had access to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who took actions that led to the arrest of five persons, two of whom were not part of those that destroyed his vehicles.

    On the reason behind his ordeal, Ndukwe said he could not relate it to anything apart from unnecessary envy by some elements from Okwe whereas he is from Amaokwe in the same Ishiagu, Ivo LGA.

    He said he does business with a quarry company while some of the youths have been approaching a new company.

  • Engineer, bursar arrested for allegedly raping seven teenagers

    Two men, 41-year-old Festus Femi, a father of two and a 51-year-old bursar of Government Secondary School, Dangara, Abaji-Abuja, Luke Ekundayo, have been arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for allegedly raping seven teenage girls, aged between 12 and 15.

    The first suspect, Femi, from Ondo State, was arrested by officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and handed over to NAPTIP for allegedly raping six girls aged between 12 and 15 years, including a 13-year-old, who attempted to commit suicide after the incident.

    Ekundayo, from Ilorin in Kwara State, is accused of drugging, raping and impregnating a 15-year-old pupil handed over to him for protection.

    Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Stella Nezan, made this known in a statement.

    She said: “Operatives of NAPTIP have arrested a 41-year-old, Festus Femi, an installation engineer, for alleged rape of three pupils of the same secondary school and on different occasions.

    “The suspect, who hails from Ondo State, is married and has two children. He lives in Bwari Area Council of Abuja. His wife and children live in Ondo State. He was apprehended by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and thereafter referred to NAPTIP for further investigations and prosecution.

    Read Also: Comedian charged with rape

    “The first victim, a 13 year-old Junior Secondary School 2 pupil in one of the secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, lives with her parents in Bwari. The victim stated that she met Femi through her classmate, who asked her in school to escort her to Femi’s house, and claimed he was her uncle. On getting to the house, her classmate and Femi went out briefly and when they returned, she told the victim that Femi wanted to have sex with her. The victim’s refusal and pleas of being a virgin fell on deaf ears. Femi increased the volume of his sound system and raped her in the presence of her friend. He threatened to kill her if she tells anyone. This left the victim so distraught that she attempted to commit suicide.

    “The second victim is a 12-year-old Junior Secondary School 2 pupil, who lives with her aunt in Bwari. The same classmate took her to Femi’s house and told her that Femi  wanted to have sex with her. When she refused, Femi gave them money and told them to visit some other time. One fateful day, she was on her way to her classmate’s house and met Femi on the way; he invited her to his house and raped her while she was waiting for her friend.

    “The third victim, a 15-year-old girl, is the same person that introduced the other two victims to him. She said Femi  was her neighbour and each time he had sex with her, he gave her N500. He also told her to bring girls for him. That he would give her N3,000. She said she had so far brought five girls to him, whose ages range from 12 to 15. “

    “In a related development, a 51-year-old bursar of Government Secondary School, Dangara, Abaji-Abuja, was also arrested by NAPTIP officials for allegedly drugging, raping and impregnating a 15-year-old pupil.

    The suspect, Luke Gabriel Ekundayo, from Ilorin, Kwara State, was the victim’s guardian in school, and she spent short holidays in his house. The victim, a Senior Secondary 3 (SS3) pupil took ill in Ekundayo’s house. Upon taking some drugs administered to her by the suspect, she passed out. When she woke up, she saw bloodstains and said she felt uneasy, but did not suspect that the school bursar, whom her grandmother handed her over to for protection, could do anything sinister to her.

    “The victim, an orphan who was on scholarship, was threatened by the suspect into having sex with him continuously, or he would tell her sponsors to stop paying her school fees. The rape continued until the victim got pregnant.

    “Reacting to the news of the arrest, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, condemned the actions of the two men.”

    She said: “Rapists will be prosecuted for their crime against humanity and NAPTIP will not hesitate to bring the full wrath of the law on any rapist.

    “She further frowned at the high rate of rape in the society, and cautioned school girls to be careful of the kind of friends they keep, saying a lot of teenagers are led astray by fellow teenagers, who are unfortunately victims of the crime themselves.

    “The DG also admonished parents to ‘be careful of who they entrust their children with, as it is unfortunate that the people who are meant to protect the children are the ones who end up exploiting and abusing them’

    “The NAPTIP boss hailed the efforts of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for apprehending and referring the case to the agency for proper prosecution. She used the opportunity to call on the public to report any rape case within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to NAPTIP.”

  • Patient commits suicide at hospital

    A yet-to-be-identified man, who was admitted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), has committed suicide.

    The incident was said to have occurred last Saturday at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Ward.

    Witnesses said the man stabbed himself to death with a broken louvre beside his bed while waiting for doctors to attend to him.

    A witness, who said he was also admitted at the hospital, added that the deceased came to the hospital with his wife.

    Read Also: Suicide: ESUT medical school brainstorms the scourge

    “The man suddenly became wild, broke a louvre beside his window and stabbed himself to death,” he said.

    “His wife was not around. She went out to buy something. There was blood everywhere. We were lucky not to have been injured.

    “The body has been deposited at the mortuary,” the witness added.

    Spokesman for the hospital, Mr. Joshua Uwaila, confirmed the incident.

    He said: “An unfortunate incident happened last Saturday night, at about 10:30pm, when a young man, who was a patient at the male ward, suddenly broke a louvre and stabbed himself. “Efforts to resuscitate him proved abortive, as he was certified dead at 11pm.

    “The autopsy result is being awaited.”

  • ‘Fish out Fasoranti’s daughter’s killers’

    The Sarkin Fulani of Lagos and Chairman, Association of Fulani Chiefs, Southwest Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Bambado, has described the killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere’s leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, as heinous.

    Bambado, while condoling with Chief Fasoranti, said the incident is “dastardly, tears-inducing, unthinkable, condemnable and unacceptable.”

    “Papa, I, on behalf of the entire Fulani community, share your grief and pray the almighty Allah to console you and your family,” he said.

    Read Also: Killers of Fasoranti’s daughter must be brought to book- Akeredolu

    Bambado urged the Federal Government to put security agencies on red alert with a view to stopping the rampant killings.

    He, however, cautioned against politicising the security challenges.

    Bambado said jumping into conclusion that such an undesirable act of killing was carried out by a particular ethnic group, even before the police investigation, would further polarise the country along ethnic lines.

    This, he said, would not do the country any good.

  • Housewife arraigned for ‘pouring hot water on apprentice’

    A 32-year-old housewife, Mrs. Kate Owunna, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly pouring hot water on her husband’s 17-year-old apprentice, Jude Chinonso.

    Owunna, a resident at 87, Capitol Road, Agege, Lagos is facing a one-count charge of assault before Chief Magistrate (Mrs.) Yewande Aje-afunwa.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Peter Nwangwu told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 5, at her Agege home.

    Read Also: Housewife who broke Plateau’s crime record

    He said the defendant assaulted Chinonso for allegedly peeping through the bathroom’s keyhole while she was bathing

    Nwangwu said the defendant allegedly beat up Chinoso and poured hot water on his left hand in annoyance.

    He said neighbours later took Chinoso to hospital.

    The prosecutor said the case was reported at Isokoko Police Station by the complainant, following which the defendant was arrested.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty. Chief Magistrate Aje-afunwa granted her N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the case till September 5.

  • Police arrest three suspected robbers

    The Cross River State Police Command on Tuesday arrested three suspected robbers in Calabar, Cross River State.

    A statement by police spokesperson Irene Ugbo, made available to reporters in Calabar, indicated that they were arrested following a tip-off that they were planning to rob and use the proceeds to fund a reprisal on a rival cult.

    Read Also: Cultism, drug abuse: Police to sensitise communities

    “While acting on credible information, men of Uwanse surveillance were mobilised. The hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire. The police replied and three suspects were arrested.

    “Exhibits recovered from them included one locally-made pistol, one cartridge and one dagger.

    “Investigation is ongoing, after which the suspects will be arraigned for prosecution,” she said.

  • Court remands engineer for alleged Internet fraud

    Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday remanded a 41-year-old civil engineer, Hammed Folorunsho Lanre, in prison over allegation of fraud.

    The suspect was also accused of obtaining money under false pretence and impersonation.

    The court gave the order following an oral application by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Andrew Akoja, for the accused to be remanded at Mandala Prison, Ilorin.

    Akoja urged the court to remand him, as the bail application had not been properly filed before the court.

    The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last week arraigned the accused before the court presided over by Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar on a two- count charge of obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and impersonation.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Read Also: Kwara Assembly probes alleged transfer of chalet to Saraki

    Earlier at the proceedings yesterday, one of the prosecution’s star witnesses, Babatunde Shittu, told the court that “the petitioner alleged that Stanbic IBTC withdrew N450,000 from his account illegally. We invited the petitioner to come, he adopted his petition. On May 26, I led a team of operatives to Stanbic IBTC, the bank officials gave the complainant a statement of account, which was analysed. It was revealed that the money was transferred into Bet9ja’s account.

    “We sent the information to Bet9ja, they gave us the details of their customer who has account with them, which happened to be the name of the defendant. We later sent a memo to our Lagos office to help locate and arrest the accused person. He was arrested and shown the petition and he denied the allegations.

    “During our investigations, we discovered that N540,000  was credited into his Bet9ja’s account, he moved N130,000 into his First City Monument Bank (FCMB) account immediately. We equally discovered that he transferred the money from his friend’s account, it was N10,000 in 53 tranches.

    “We also discovered that his friend gave him (defendant) his phone to download Facebook, along the line, he had access to his pin and withdrew his money.”

    Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the case till tomorrow for further hearing.

  • Two nabbed for ‘robbing’ poly student

    Two persons have been arrested for allegedly stabbing a female student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State. The incident occurred at Upper-Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The suspects, Sunday Igwe and Ede Chigbo, were said to have attacked and robbed the victim, Ubasineke Chinonye, a few minutes after she alighted from a vehicle.

    The Nation learnt the victim, who sustained severe injuries, was taken to hospital.

    Confirming the arrest, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said the case was being investigated.

    He said: “Puff Adder operatives deployed in Upper-Iweka, in conjunction with the patrol team attached to Okpoko Division, arrested Sunday Igwe aged 28, of Obibiezina in Owerri, Imo State and Ede Chigbo, 35, of Ozara in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    “The suspects attacked, stabbed and robbed Ubasineke Chinonye, a female student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, at Upper-Iweka in Onitsha.”

    Read Also: Two held for ‘robbing’ Uber driver

    Mohammed listed exhibits recovered from the suspects to include a lady’s hand bag, Techno k7 phone and a knife used in stabbing the victim. He said four persons were arrested by the police while attempting to rob guests at a hotel in Awka.

    Mohammed listed the names of the suspects to include John Eke, 35, Izuchukwu Enwelum, 32, Muodilum Anthony, 40 and Umadi Emmanuel Obinna, 36.

    He said: “There was a distress call that armed robbers in a shuttle bus have stormed the premises of Down Town Hotel, Mbaukwu and were about to rob lodgers.

    “Following the call, police patrol teams attached to “Operation Puff Adder”, in conjunction with the operatives attached to Central Police Station, Awka rushed to the scene and arrested the suspects.

    “Exhibits recovered from them include a fabricated revolver pistol, a live ammunition and weed suspected to be cannabis sativa.

    “Other items are unmarked shuttle bus used by the suspects, N60,000.00 cash, four phones, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, charms and other incriminating items.”

    Mohammed added that the suspects would be arraigned after investigation.