The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Groups seek Lagos lawmakers’ intervention over market leadership crisis

    Two groups, the Lagos State Auto Parts Dealers Association, (LASAPDA), Mushin zone and Concern Citizens and Stakeholders of Papa Ajao/Ladipo Community have cried out over the  lingering leadership crisis at the popular Ladipo auto parts market in Mushin, Lagos State.

    In a petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly and Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, the groups noted that the Babaloja of the market, Alhaji Oladotun Abibu-Oki, was being unnecessarily harassed and intimidated by a rival association .

    The petition dated April 24 2019, reads: ‘’ We hereby appeal to the Lagos State  House of Assembly to please come to our aid in terms of giving recognition to the Babaloja of Ladipo General Market in person of Alhaji Oladotun Abibu-Oki, who was installed by the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji(MFR) on December 22, 2011.’’

    The petitioners said Alhaji Abibu-Oki had not been able to function well since his installation about eight years ago, due to the negative activities of members of a rival body.

    They said the rival association ‘’and their thugs have violently attacked , assaulted and humiliated the Babaloja(Abibu-Oki), his staff, property, warehouse and Yoruba traders in the market on several occasions.’’

    The groups urged the state government and lawmakers to intervene before the situation degenerates into an  ethnic crisis.

    ‘’Many people have been injured on many occasions, which has led to many Yoruba   Lagos State Auto Parts Dealers Association leaving the market  because of the incessant attacks by the rival association, not minding the fact that we have several other tribes in the market.

    ‘’On several occasions, we have made reports to the police and other relevant security agencies including the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, without tangible responses. And that is why we have also appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs to look into our plight and save our soul.’

  • Schoolgirl drowns in Ogun river, four survive

    Tragedy struck at Obada Oko area of Abeokuta, Ogun State penultimate Monday after a schoolgirl identified as Muyibat Akanbi  drowned in a river in the community.

    The 16-year-old deceased had joined her four other schoolmates at Adeoye Lambo Grammar School to swim in Owiwi Dam, shortly after they finished their end-of-term examination.

    The names of the Senior Secondary 1 pupils who went to swim in the river are: Muyibat Akanbi,16; Saubana Kehinde,17; Amidat Yusuf, 16; Ibrahim Akanbi, 16 and Anita Godwin.

    It was said that Akanbi and another pupil, Anita Godwin initially refused to swim with others in the river, but were persuaded by their colleagues.

    The fun however took a fatal dimension shortly after they jumped into the river, when Muyibat and Anita started drowning.

    Read also: Two students drown in River Benue found

    Sources said that other members of the group, who survived the incident raised the alarm that attracted villagers and operattives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to the scene.

    It was said that Muyibat died before she could be rescued while Anita and three others survived the incident.

    It was learnt that the pupils had ignored a message on a signpost placed near the river warning people not to swim in the river.

    It was gathered that the remains of Muyibat have since been buried near the river by one of her uncles.

    A source said: ‘’Authorities of the school have also warned pupils to desist from going to Owiwi River to swim. It is therefore unfortunate the pupils in question defied the warning by swimming in the river which resulted in the death of one of them.’’

    Contacted, the spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi promised to revert to our correspondent. He however did not do so at press time.

  • Navy blames shipping firms for Lagos trucks’ menace

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) Thursday blamed shipping companies and their outrageous demurrage charges on articulated vehicles for the gridlock crippling Apapa and its environs.

    Outgone Commander Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT Rear Admiral Okon Eyo said it was the unfair demurrage charges which range between N14,000 and  N24,000 daily the shipping companies made from truck owners for empty containers that had made them not to be alive to their responsibilities.

    Eyo, who was chairman of the interagency taskforce on Apapa gridlock, stated this during an interview with reporters after handing over headship of the base to Commodore Ibrahim Shettima.

    According to him, it was unfair for the shipping companies and terminal operators to deliberately abdicate their responsibilities of taking these containers which the truckers are billed to return within stipulated period of time just to rip them off the money deposited and bill them more.

    He said: “We also have problems with processes; I am talking of the sequence of doing things within the port. A lot of the facilities have been conscessioned and people are doing  legitimate businesses but with terms and conditions observed in the breach.

    “The terminal operators, the shipping agencies have seriously abdicated their responsibilities. They were expected to have holden bays when new porters have finished with their containers, they need to deliver the empties to those holden bays for the shipping companies to organise and evacuate same in an orderly manner but this is not done.

    “As if that was not enough, you will see them slapping huge demurrage and I tell you the single most challenging factor in managing the gridlock is the demurrage. The demurrage is operated in a way that when you take your goods, they give you a few days of grace. Once that grace period is over, they start charging the truckers from the huge deposits they had collected in advance until they exhaust the money.

    “You see, all these people here (articulated vehicle drivers) are chasing the port in order to go and terminate that demurrage. When they get to the port after all the things that they passed through, the person who is to admit them into the port is the one collecting this money, in the first place and so, he does not have any incentive to open the gate for them. Hence, he keeps them outside which means more money for the shipping company and terminal operator. This kind of charges are not justified.

    Read also: Apapa gridlock takes toll on cashew

    “If I suffer and bring your container and get to your facility, I have met the obligation that I have with you. If you have problem and you cannot receive the container at that time, and I am kept outside, bearing the container on my truck, I think it does not require deep understanding to know who should have the responsibility of payment at that time.

    “I brought the container, if you cannot take it, you should be paying me but the reverse is the case. The people still stay outside there and they pay you. They pay ranging from N14,000 to N24,000 daily. So, it drives them crazy because they want to save their businesses.

    “There is hardly anything you will tell anybody at that time that they will listen unless you are standing there with a gun and he is forced to obey you. But after that, he cannot conduct himself in a way that will allow sanity to prevail and that is not their fault.

    “We need to remove that scourge  of demurrage. If the demurrage is removed, I belief we will have serious relief.”

    Meanwhile, residents have continued to lament the return of the trucks on major highways especially Oshodi-Apapa Expressway causing untold hardship to motorists.

    The Nation reports that articulated vehicles had for some days now blocked the service and fast lane inward Apapa leaving in its wake, bedlam that stretches up to Iyana Isolo on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    It was observed that some of the trucks were being repaired on the expressway, just as commercial vehicles have resorted to plying against traffic on the other lane of the dual carriageway.

    Lamenting his experience, a motorist told our correspondent he spent over five hours between Cele Bus Stop and Toyota on Wednesday night, adding that he had been in the traffic for over an hour at the time of discussion yesterday.

  • One soldier killed, assorted ammunition recovered from bandits in Zamfara

    One soldier was allegedly killed and assorted ammunition recovered during an exchange of gunfire between troops dual and bandits in Zamfara State.

    The military operations, Sharar Daji and Harbin Kunama III were carried out in various communities of Zamfara state, during which 934 x 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, one AK 47 rifle, one chain used  to  prevent their kidnapped victims from escaping and seven motorcycles were recovered from the bandits.

    According to a statement issued on Friday in Gusau by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Major Clem Abiade, the troops, while on patrol to Kara Market in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State also arrested a suspected informant to the bandits and three other suspects Lawwali Denden; Salisu Na-mansu and Kabiru Kamarawa from Kamarawa village of Shinkafi axis and Mohammed Sani from Indiri village.

    Abiade said the suspects had been handed over to the  appropriate security agency for further interrogation and possible prosecution.

    He said: ‘’The ongoing dual military operations, Operation “Sharar Daji” and “Exercise Harbin Kunama III,” are aimed at mitigating banditry and criminality that is on the high rise in Zamfara. The troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Army Deep Blue Special Forces, NAF Air Component and Vigilantes while on clearance operation to ALJUMMA FULANI and KETERE villages in Zamfara State had a fierce encounter with large number of well-armed bandits.’’

    ‘’During the encounter, seven (7) of the bandits were neutralized, while some escaped with possible gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, one soldier had paid the supreme sacrifice, six soldiers and a vigilante were wounded. Due to the superior fire power of the troops, they(troops) were able to compel the bandits to flee and abandon their camps which were set ablaze by the gallant troops.’’

    The statement noted that the Force Commander, Maj Gen Hakeem Oladapo Otiki commiserated with the family of the late soldier and prayed his sacrifice would not be in vain.

    He reiterated the resolve of the troops to tackle the menace of armed banditry and other forms of  criminalities in Zamfara and its contiguous states of Kebbi, Katsina and Sokoto.

     

  • We’re not involved in arrest, prosecution of union leaders —LASPOTECH management

    Authorities of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) yesterday denied complicity in the arrest and prosecution of some of its staff members allegedly involved in an attempt to murder two officials of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The polytechnic said the story making rounds to smear the image of the Polytechnic’s management was a calculated attempt to distract the general public from the heinous act.

    The affected staff members are leading members of the Non –Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASU).

    The suspects were apprehended on Monday by the Sagamu Road Police Division and subsequently arraigned in court.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar (Information and Public Relations), Mr Olanrewaju Kuye, the polytechnic’s management said it’s not in any way involved in the arrest and trial of the eight suspects.

    The statement reads: ‘’To the best of the knowledge of LASPOTECH Management, the affected staff members that are currently facing trial were invited by the Nigeria Police for interrogation and charged to court in line with the dictates of the law.

    Read also: Court orders striking LASPOTECH unions to eschew violence

    ‘’The suspects were alleged to be involved in assaulting with petrol two officials of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and physically attacked and injured the Polytechnic’s Director of ICT on Friday March29, 2019 during the preparation  for JAMB ICT mock examination exercise in the Polytechnic.

    ‘’The general public could also recall that, the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, while reporting the readiness of his Board for the 2019 JAMB examination to the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu on Monday April 1, 2019 lamented the attempt to set some of his officials ablaze at LASPOTECH center and vowed to ensure justice is done.

    ‘’It would also be recalled that, the affected officials reported the assault at the Sagamu road police station, and the Nigeria Police had since taken over the case.

    ‘’ The ongoing trial is strictly between the Nigeria Police and the suspects. It has nothing to do with the ongoing trade dispute that is already being attended to by the Lagos State Government.’’

  • Ex-youth corps member needs N14m for surgery

    Cruel fate played a fast one on Daniel Adeigba while participating in the mandatory National Youth Service in 2010/2011 in Yobe State.

    Adeigba, a graduate of History and International Relations from Kogi State University was to work as electoral officer for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he was involved in an auto crash that has claimed his sight.

    Adeigba was travelling with 17 other youth corps members for training on election duty in preparation for the 2011 general polls, when they had an incident along Potiskum Road in Damaturu, in Yobe State.

    The impact of the accident however affected his eyes badly leading to loss of sight.

    Doctors however confirmed that he could once again see if only a sum of N14 million could be provided for a major surgery on one of his eyes in a hospital in United States of America.

    He said: “I became blind when we were preparing for the election. As corps members for the election in Yobe State in year 2011, we were going for training on how to use the Direct Data Capturing machine at the Government Girls College when the accident occurred on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.

    “We were 18 passengers in the vehicle and I know that we were only two that survived after remaining in coma for many days. The other lady is Chukwudinaka. We received initial treatment at the General Sani Abacha Hospital before the authorities referred us to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. But despite this medication, my two optical nerves have been damaged.”

    “In searching for remedy to my problems, I have been to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and other hospitals.I also suffered a fractured hand in the accident hand. What I had inside my left arm is just iron, I don’t have bones anymore.’’

    Adeigba said the team of medical doctors handling his case had assured him that he would regain his sight if he could get the money for the surgery.

    “Doctors handling my case have said that a sum of N14m should be provided for the surgery to restore my sight, so I can live a normal life again, I am calling on Nigerians to help me.’’

    Donations can be forwarded to his GTB account number: 0012077141, with the name, Adeigba Daniel Oluwatobiloba.

  • Police foil kidnap attempt in Delta

    Operatives of Delta State Police Command Asaba, on Friday foiled a suspected kidnap attempt on a teenage girl.

    The Nation learnt that the girl was coming from Ogbegonogo market where she had gone to purchase food items.

    The victim, it was gathered boarded a commercial tricycle, along Nnebisi road headed to Summit road.

    It was learnt that the girl was joined in the tricycle by two boys around Konwea Plaza and they sandwiched the girl in the middle.

    The Nation gathered that the victim on getting to Jesus Saves Junction signaled the Keke operator to stop, but was ignored forcing her to raise the alarm which attracted mobile police on patrol and sympathisers who gave the tricycle operator a hot chase.

    Read also: Alleged sex scandal rocks Police unit

    It was gathered that the suspected yahoo boys hypnotized (charmed) their victim after she raised the alarm.

    The police later intercepted and apprehended the suspected kidnappers cum yahoo boys.

    An eyewitness, Mr Chukwueze Okonji said one of the suspects in a desperate bid to disappear swallowed a ring, but the charm allegedly failed to make him disappear.

    Irate youths who gathered at the scene attempted to lynch the three suspects, but were prevented by the police.

    It was learnt that one of the boys was identified to be  the owner of a posh Sports Utility vehicle.

    Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Chuks Orisewezie, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

     

  • Our deadly exploits, by seven-man robbery, kidnap gang

    Seven men suspected of murdering an America-trained soldier,  Chuks Okebata, on January 12, 2017, in Okigwe area of Imo State, have been arrested by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The suspects are: Sunday Igwe, alias, School Boy; Michael Ahamefula; Oyebuchi Echefule;  Ndubusi Isaac; Victor Dagogo; Chima Okoro and John Edet.

    According to a police source, the suspects were rounded up  at separate locations in Imo, Abia and Rivers states.

    Two AK-47 rifles and six magazines loaded with 127 live ammunition were recovered from them.

    Sources said  efforts to apprehend the suspects, who were said to have carried out several high profile kidnappings and armed robbery operations around Imo, Abia and Rivers states, commenced a few months after the America-trained soldier was kidnapped and killed.

    The source also disclosed that several persons who had fallen victim of the gang’s activities wrote petitions to the Acting Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, alerting him of their plights.

    “Consequently, the crack team of operatives, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, was deployed in the South East to track down the suspects and bring their activities to an end.

    “Based on the information provided by some of the victims, the IRT operatives in Abia State trailed the leader of the gang, School-Boy, to a hotel in Aba  and apprehended him there.”

    Read also: Kidnap gang’s engineer who allegedly aid suspects’ escape arrested

    A member of the IRT team, who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to comment on the issue, said they were on the trail of the gang leader for six months. “We eventually arrested him and  recovered two AK-47 rifles and six magazine loaded  with 127 live ammunition from him. Then, we went after his gang members and arrested his second- in -command, Michael Ahamefula, alongside another gang member, Oyebuchi Echefule, in a hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    “We went on to arrest Ndubusi Isaac, Victor Dagogo, Chima Okoro and John Edet, who are members of the gang in Orlu and Aba areas of Imo and Abia states.”

    In their confessional statements, the suspects said they were members of a deadly armed robbery and kidnapping gang terrorising Imo, Abia and Rivers states.

    The leader of the gang, School-Boy, said  Okebata, was killed because he tried to kill them after he was kidnapped.

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  • Ogun herbalist, friend allegedly kill man for human sacrifice

    An Ogun State-based herbalist, Owolabi Mesioye and his friend identified simply as Oloruntoyin have been arrested after they allegedly killed an unnamed man for human sacrifice.

    The offence was committed at about 10 pm on March 28, 2019 at Alaako-Ijeun Egboro area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

    Vital organs of the victim were removed.

    According to sources, Oloruntoyin allegedly lured the unidentified victim to his home near Mesioye’s residence at night, and then beckoned to the herbalist that he had brought the sacrificial man for the propitiation they earlier discussed.

    The duo lured the victim to the back of Oloruntoyin’s residence, where they allegedly hit him with a charm that made him unconscious.

    Neighbours who saw Oloruntoyin when he brought the undientified man home were said to have become suspicious when they did not see him man again.

    The worried neighbours then launched a search for the missing man for two days before they found his mutilated body floating on a fish pond at the back of Oloruntoyin’s house on Thursday March 28, 2019.

    The matter was reported at the Ibara Police Division, but men of the station could not visit the scene until the following day.

    It was learnt that Mesioye who was to celebrate his annual Ifa festival on March 30 had denied his complicity in the human sacrifice scandal.

    He was said to have accused residents of the area of being hostile to him and trying to frame him up for what he knew nothing about.

    Residents said they had warned the embattled herbalist several times to desist from placing sacrifices at major junctions in the community to no avail.

    ‘’The herbalist had been warned several times to desist from placing sacrifices at junctions in the community. He was summoned to a meeting by the community leaders but he did not honour the invitation. Same with Oloruntoyin, who also has not been attending landlords’ meetings,’’ said a source.

    Police spokesman, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, where the suspects are currently detained.

  • One dead, two injured as tricycle rams into waste disposal truck in Ibadan

    A lady, Adeniyi Balikis Olajumoke on Friday died when the commercial tricycle she was travelling in rammed into a stationary waste disposal truck at Leventis, along Sango-UI road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    It was said that the deceased, suspected to be a student of Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan (UI) was returning from a bank where she had gone to pay her school fees.

    The accident which occurred at about 9:30 am when the tricycle with number plate RU 152 UP, ran into the waste disposal truck also left in its trail two others who are critically injured.

    According to an eye witness, Bamgbose Omobola the reckless speed of the tricycle operator was what led to the accident, adding that the lady died immediately the accident happened.

    “The lady was coming from GTB bank at Ajibade where she went to pay her school fees, the phone in her bag was recovered and this was what made it easy for us to get in touch with her parents.

    “The two other victims who had fractures in their head and leg had been taken to the hospital for treatment.”

    Read Also: UI student dead, two Injured as tricycle rams into truck in Ibadan

    Another eyewitness, Adelowotan Adelani said that the owner of the tricycle was christening his baby today(Friday), which was why he gave the tricycle to  the operator involved in the accident called ‘Baba Mercy’

    “The tricycle route was from Orita Merin to Sango, this accident would not have  occurred if the waste disposal truck was not packed on the road side.

    “We are appealing to the present and the incoming government in Oyo State to stop these trucks from evacuating refuse and packing on the road side. The government should bring back the waste bin we are using before, whereby waste basket has been put beside the road for the people to dump their refuse there.

    “Oyo State government should look for another way of evacuating refuse instead of using these truck and people should also stop dumping reduce on the road side again”.

    Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer of Oyo Command, Mr  Olugbenga Fadeyi, a Superintendent of Police(SP) confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased was an employee of a business organisation in the Sango area of Ibadan.

    He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at Adeoyo Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, while the injured victims, whose identity was yet to be confirmed had been taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.