The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Herdsman beheads girlfriend in Ekiti

    There was panic on Wednesday at Ilasa Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State where a herdsman killed a lady said to be his girlfriend.

    The herdsman, whose name could not be established last night, reportedly chopped off the head of the lady with a machete.

    The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has thrown the community into confusion and fear.

    The victim is said to be of the same tribe with the suspected assailant.

    She was reportedly attacked near a stream where she had gone to fetch water with her younger sister.

    The assailant was said to have ambushed the lady and brought down her head while she bent down to collect some water from the stream and took to his heels.

    But he was arrested through the information provided by the younger sister of the deceased who witnessed the scenario.

    Information by the residents, including the traditional ruler, the Alasa of Ilasa, Oba Ajayi Omolagba, revealed that the lady had been allegedly handed over to the suspected assailant as a future wife while she was still a teenager, in consonance with their custom and tradition.

    Read Also: Court remands herdsman over murder

    But trouble started last month when the suspect allegedly requested the lady to spend the Eid-el-Fitr with him.

    The failure of the family of the lady to release her before, during and after the celebration angered the suspect.

    He was said to have assumed that the contract had been breached by the family, hence the dastardly act.

    Another report said the lady, after growing up, noticed that the “husband” was a drunkard and drug addict, thereby avoiding him for necessary marriage arrangements.

    Some relatives of the deceased, who did not want their names mentioned, expressed sadness and shock over the incident.

    They said the suspected murderer made a request to spend the Eid-el-Fitr with his wife, adding that the lady was supposed to go to him the next day before he killed her.

    Addressing reporters, Oba Ajayi Omolagba condemned the incident, saying the community had been in shock since the incident occurred.

    The monarch said the families of the parties and their landlords had been summoned to a meeting where resolutions were reached on how to forestall future occurrence.

    He added that the community would also make necessary appeasement to God as such incident was strange and a taboo in the land.

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu said investigation had been launched to unravel the cause of the criminal act while more details would be made available to reporters.

     

  • Police arrest one suspect as Ondo monarch escapes abduction

    The Iresi of Osi in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba David Olajide, on Tuesday escaped abduction by suspected herdsmen on Akure-Owo highway, near Akure Airport, en route his community.

    Osi community is less than two kilometres to Akure Airport and the same tactics used to abduct a mother and her stepson on Sunday evening by suspected kidnappers were used.

    Also, the police command Tuesday arrested a herdsman for allegedly membership of a team of abductors that attempted to kidnap the monarch of Osi town.

    It was learnt that the kidnap attempt failed as Oba Olajide confronted the hoodlums.

    Read Also: Suspected kidnapper arrested in Ondo

    The monarch said Mrs Olawumi Adeleye, 25 and Destiny Paul, 14, were released yesterday and he took them to the police headquarters in Akure.

    He said on his return to Osi community, the herdsmen attacked to kidnap him but he escaped.

    Oba Olajide said: “After the release of the woman, I took her and her stepson to the police headquarters to hand them over to the police. On my way back home, the herdsmen blocked the road with their cows, the same way they did when they kidnapped the woman and her stepson on Sunday when they were returning from church.

    “As I got to the place, I slowed down my car and I saw them coming to attack me, but I managed to escape. They hit and damaged my car, but through the grace of God, I escaped.”

    Oba Olajide said one of the herdsmen was arrested and handed over to the police.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the suspect was in the police custody for investigation.

    He added: “We have the suspect with us. We are already making efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the gang, and investigation has also commenced.”

  • Anambra’s missing school girl found in market

    An 11-year-old missing schoolgirl, Chinenye Ejike, has been found in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    The victim, a native of Ama-Owelle Amansea, was said to have been found in her school uniform.

    The Nation gathered that she was wandering at the back of a timber market in the area as she was unable to locate her school or home.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said efforts were on to trace her parents or guardian to reunite them with the family.

    He said: “On June 10 at 3:30 p.m, Obinna Udeogu (M) of Enugwu Ukwu brought to police ‘B’ Division in Awka, Chinenye Ejike (F), aged about 11 years, and dressed in a school uniform bearing Christ Leaders International School, Awka.

    “The victim was found wandering at the back of a timber market opposite Amazing Grace Church, Umuokpu Awka.

    Read Also: Anambra school laments insecurity, poor infrastructure

    “She was unable to locate either her school or house where she lives with her guardian, Blessing Orijafor.

    “She is dark and speaks English and Igbo languages fluently.”

    The spokesman residents with useful information that could help locate her parents to report at ‘B’ Division in Awka or call Police Control Room number 07039194332.

  • Abducted mother, stepson regain freedom in Ondo

    A woman and her stepson who were abducted on Sunday evening in Osi community on Akure Airport Road in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, have reportedly regained their freedom.

    Mrs Olawumi Adeleye, 25 and Destiny Paul, 14, were abducted on their way to church in a Lexus car.

    Read Also: ‘My husband takes care of his Mother than our kids’

    The suspected kidnappers were said to have used cows to block the road, which obstructed the path of the victims.

    Their assailants reportedly damaged the car.

    A family source said an undisclosed ransom was paid to the abductors.

     

  • Police arrest man for forging Oyo CPS’ signature

    The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a man, Fakorede Olabisi Johnson, for allegedly forging the letterhead of the Office of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor of Oyo State to get a job as Coordinating Secretary of the state’s Local Government Service Commission.

    The suspect was arrested on the premises of the commission and taken to the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) when he attempted to secure office accommodation in the place.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, said Fakorede had approached the commission with a letter purportedly signed by the CPS, who he claimed appointed him as the Acting Coordinating Secretary (Local Government Service).

    In the “forged” letter, Fakorede claimed that his appointment was pursuant to Section 42(2 and 3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    On Monday, he allegedly presented the forged letter to the commission and demanded to be allocated an office and an official car.

    Read Also: Police parade medical student for cultism

    But workers of the commission reportedly told him to report back yesterday when the office would have been put together.

    Checks by the workers at the Office of the HoS and the CPS that confirmed the letter was forged.

    Officials then set a dragnet for the impostor, leading to his arrest yesterday.

    Fakorede claimed he committed the crime for survival and that he was ignorant of the implications.

    When asked how he came about the letter, the suspect said he forged the letter when he heard the name of the CPS on radio.

    According to him, he has always longed to get a political appointment.

    Fakorede said: “I am a native of Oyo town but I live in Lagos. I listened to the news and heard of the name of the Chief Press Secretary. I like political appointments; that is why I designed the appointment in the form of a political appointment.

    “I forged the letter by myself; nobody told me to do it. I was pushed to do it by ignorance.”

    The suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation and trial.

    Addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, Adisa advised the residents to be wary of fraudsters who might want to take advantage of the change in government to commit fraud.

     

  • Residents foil attempt to kidnap baby in Ekiti

    Residents of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday foiled an attempt to kidnap a baby from his mother’s back.

    The incident occurred at 10 o’clock in the morning at the popular Fajuyi Roundabout near the entrance to the Government House.

    It was gathered that the suspect accosted the woman, who was carrying the baby, and struggled to take the child from her.

    The baby was injured in the arm and feet.

    A source, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said it took the intervention of some youths to rescue the woman.

    The source added that the suspect was displaying lunatic gestures immediately he was arrested.

    According to the source, the suspected abductor had collected the mobile phone of the woman, but it was retrieved from him.

    Read Also: Afuye emerges Ekiti Assembly Speaker

    “A mobile phone belonging to the suspect indicated that he had conversed with several people before the incident.

    “He was whisked away to the Area Command on Old Iyin Road in the state capital for investigation after severe beating by irate youths,” the source said.

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the preliminary investigation showed that the suspect is mental deranged.

    “The investigation is still ongoing so that we can ascertain his mental derangement from a certified medical point of view,” he added.

     

  • Man, 41, beats wife to death over marital issues

    A 41-year-old man, Sunday Ngwu, has allegedly beaten his wife to death over an undisclosed marital issue at Ibollo in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The suspect, a native of Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu State, reportedly engaged his wife in a fight on Monday night.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect and his late wife, Amara, had been living peacefully in an apartment on Ikwo Street before the incident happened.

    A neighbour, who pleaded for anonymity, said a fight broke out between them after a heated argument, during which the suspect thoroughly beat her up.

    She said: “Even though he had the upper hand in the fight, he still proceeded to use a heavy metal to smash her head, leaving her in that unconsciousness state.”

    The neighbour, who feigned ignorance of the cause of the fracas, revealed that the man had been arrested.

    Read Also: Bank manager charged with N52.6m theft

    Police spokesperson Haruna Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the matter had been transferred to Awka, the state capital, while the woman’s body had been deposited in a morgue.

    He said: “On June 10 at 8 p.m, detectives attached to Awada Division arrested Sunday Ngwu (M), 41, from Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu State but resides on Ikwo Street, Ibollo in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    “The suspect allegedly beat his wife, Amara Ngwu (F), 39, of the same address to pulp and then used a heavy metal to hit her on the head, leaving her unconscious.

    “Detectives attached to Awada Division visited the scene of the crime and he victim was taken to Bex Hospital where she was confirmed dead by a doctor. The body was deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

    “Police Commissioner Mustapha Dandaura has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka to conduct a discreet investigation in order to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. Then the suspect would be charged to court for prosecution.”

     

  • Suspected abductor arrested in Ondo

    The police in Ondo State have arrested a suspected member of a syndicate using military camouflage to terrorise the residents for ransom.

    It was learnt that the suspect, Victor John, was apprehended by soldiers from 32 Artillery Brigade of Owena Barracks in Akure, the state capital.

    A military source on Tuesday confirmed John’s arrest in a telephone chat with our correspondent.

    The source said the suspect was apprehended at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area during a-stop-search operation.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct mother, stepson in Ondo

    He said: “Our men, from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, have recorded another feat after apprehending one suspect of a kidnapping group.

    “They arrested the suspect inside a vehicle during our stop-and-search operation which was carried out by our gallant officers on the road in Ore town.

    “After his arrest, he confessed to being a member of a kidnapping syndicate that had been terrorising residents of Ondo State.”

    The source said items found on the suspect included a military identity card and one locally-made gun.

     

  • Colleagues strangle FRSC officer to death

    An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was on Thursday night allegedly strangled to death by two of his colleagues in Onitsha, Anambra state.

    The deceased, identified as Emeka Ojei, a Senior Road Marshal Assistant, was reportedly killed for attempting to expose certain corrupt practices against one of his assailants in the office.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was armed with damaging corruption allegation he intended to report at the Corps headquarters in Benin before he was killed.

    A staff of the road safety commission, who spoke to The Nation in confidence, said the prime suspect had fruitlessly appealed to the deceased not to go ahead with his plans.

    He said the deceased officer was struggling with his handset when the other colleague joined and held him on the neck until he gave up.

    Read Also: FCT records highest road crashes in March – FRSC

    He said: “Emeka is one of the officers privileged to be working on a report on a corruption case to be sent to the headquarters in Benin.

    “As he was about going to deliver the report, his oga(boss) called him back, insisting he shouldn’t go. But he refused.

    “His oga (boss) dragged him with his phone while another officer joined him. He was struggling with them over the phone when they strangled him to death.”

    The Nation further learnt that the case had been lodged at the Police Area Command, while the Unit Commander of FRSC and his accomplice had been arrested.

    The FRSC Public Relations Officer in the state, Pascal Anigbo, confirmed the incident.

    “The incident happened around 7pm in the office. I don’t have the full details of the incident now,” he said.

    Contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, said he was just coming back from a trip and was yet to be briefed on the matter.

    “I’ll get back to you as soon as I get the details from the Area commander,” he said.

  • Man arrested for allegedly diverting diesel worth N10.7m

    A 40- year- old oil and gas marketer , Ayodeji Owoeye who claimed to be a former operations manager of LAGBUS has been arrested by the police for allegedly diverting two trucks containing 53, 000 litres of diesel worth over N10,700,000.

    His arrest was effected by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team(IRT).

    Owoeye allegedly posed as a staff of LAGBUS and contracted one Mr Omotayo to supply 20 litres of diesel oil worth N4.5 million to him on September 2018, but had not paid him a dime since. Instead, he allegedly kept giving the same excuses on why he could not pay the debt.

    It was said that each time Omotayo asked Owoeye for his money, he would lie to him that he was still processing payment and that he should exercise patience as the money would soon be ready.

    In February this year, the suspect called the complainant again to supply 33,000 litres of diesel worth N6.2m and has since not paid for the fuel supplied.

    Exasperated by the refusal of the suspect to defray the debt, the complainant wrote a petition to the IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu through IRT’s Commander, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

    Read also: One killed as Police, armed robbers clash in Imo

    Upon his arrest, it was discovered that the suspect not a staff member of LAGBUS but was merely using the company’s premises to deceive his victims.

    In his confessional statement to the police, the suspect said he had been operating from LAGBUS office to impress his victims by posing as the operations manager of the metropolitan bus company.

    ”Yes, I initially asked him to supply 20,000 litres of diesel to one Mr. Joseph who told me that he wanted to use it for internet mast for N4.5 m. I have been doing business with Joseph for over three years now.I don’t know why he couldn’t pay me up till now. At times when I called him on his phone it would be switched off.

    ‘’I also met the victim Mr. Omotayo again for supply of 33, 000 litres of diesel worth N6.2 and as I speak he has not paid me a dime. Even his phone is switched off as I am talking to you. The total money I am supposed to pay Mr. Omotayo N10.5m.

    ‘’It is my fault because Omotayo does not know Joseph but I did not know that Joseph will behave like this. I have tried to locate him without a trace. I did not conspire with Joseph to divert the diesel. My problem is that I could not trace  Joseph’s whereabouts to prove that it was Joseph I supplied the 53,000 litres of diesel worth N10.7m. I am the person Mr. Omotayo knows as the buyer.

    ”I was full operations manager in LAGBUS. I was asked to leave when new management came. So, that background gave the courage to enter LAGBUS office freely and that was what made the victim Mr. Omotayo to believe me. I am no more working there, I was sacked.

    ‘’I never knew Mr. Omotayo. I went to LAGBUS office at Ojota and behaved as if I was still working there. The victims saw me coming out of LAGBUS office and thought that I was still working in that office.

    ‘’I did not supply to LAGBUS fuel dump rather there was tank stationed there for the deal. I pretended as if I was still working there. They saw me coming out of the office and the deal clicked. I did not even sit down at all and they believed me.

    ‘’I am a Business Administration graduate of the University of Lagos and I made 2.1 in 2004. That I was relieved of my work does not stop me from visiting my friends at LAGBUS offices. It has happened and Joseph cannot be reached. I don’t know what to do again.’’