The Nation Newspaper

Tag: killing

  • Bill proposes 10 years jail for killing, exporting donkey

    A BILL prohibiting any Nigerian or foreigner from killing or shipping a donkey for commercial purposes has passed second reading in the House of Representatives yesterday.

    The bill, sponsored by a lawmaker, Garba Datti Muhammad (APC Kaduna) stipulates 10 years imprisonment for anyone that breaks the proposed law.

    Muhammad, while presenting arguments on the bill, said it seeks, among others,  to prohibit the killing of donkeys in Nigeria and the exportation of donkeys or it’s carcasses  or derivatives out of Nigeria.

    He said this is because of the depletion in numbers and threat of extinction, and their aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the nation and the people.

    The lawmaker said the Bill also became necessary to preserve the donkeys for use, particularly in rural transportation.

    “Recently, the donkey population is severely reduced. The reason ascribed to this development, like in many countries in the West African sub-region, is large-scale export to China.

    “In China where the donkey population has also nose-dived, the demand for donkeys is extremely high because gelatin made from donkey skin is highly prized as nutritional tonic,  which nourishes the blood and boosts the immune system.

    “Donkey meat is also a delicacy in some Chinese regions, especially in the North of the country.”

    The lawmaker said Botswana, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Gambia have prohibited the exportation of donkeys.  He also said Zimbabwe and Ethiopia have done same.

    He said the animal, which costs between N15,000 and N18,000 in Kano for instance, now costs between N70,000 to  N75,000.

    “Meanwhile, Dong-E E-Jiao, which is China’s donkey market leader, posted pre-tax profits of US $298 million in 2016, ” Muhammad said.

    When the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, called for a voice vote, it was passed without dissent and referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services for further legislative input.

     

     

  • Outrage as Saudi Arabia confirms killing of journalist Khashoggi

    •UN, U.S. ‘shocked’ •Victim’s editor at Washington Post daubs Saudi statement ‘Utter bullshit’

    The United Nations and the United States yesterday expressed shock at Saudi Arabia’s confirmation that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul after a fight.

    Khashoggi’s editor at Washington Post, Karen Attiah, labelled the Saudi statement on his death as utter bullshit.

    The UN Secretary-General, Anthonio Guterres said in a statement in New York that he was “deeply troubled” by Saudi Arabia’s confirmation.

    After weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia confirmed late Friday that Khashoggi was killed in a “fistfight” inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

    A tweet posted by the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the missing Saudi journalist, a columnist with Washington Post, was killed, claims reportedly echoed on Saudi State Television and news agency.

    The tweet said that “discussions that took place with the citizen Jamal Khashoggi during his presence in the Consulate of the Kingdom in Istanbul…did not go as required and escalated negatively which led to a fight…which aggregated the situation and led to his death.”

    The Secretary-General said he was “deeply troubled by the confirmation of the death of Jamal Khashoggi and extends his condolences to Mr Khashoggi’s family and friends”.

    Guterres stressed the need for a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Khashoggi’s death and full accountability for those responsible.

    Khashoggi’s editor at the Washington Post, Karen Attiah, said on Twitter that his death resulted from a fight in the consulate as utter bullshit.

    Attiah said that the Saudi explanation was ‘almost insulting’ but pointed out that even if someone was willing to give the country the benefit of the doubt there are several key unanswered questions:

    *What happened to the body?

    *Why did officials lie that he left the consulate?

    *What evidence do they have to support that there was a fistfight?

    “The stupidity of the Saudi explanation is mind boggling,” the editor added.

    Saudi public prosecutor also announced on state television that a primary investigation into high-profile journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance had confirmed he was dead.

    The public prosecutor said: “The discussions between Jamal Khashoggi and those he met at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul … devolved into a fistfight, leading to his death.

    “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses deep regret at the painful developments that have taken place in this case and affirms the commitment of the authorities in the Kingdom to bring the facts to the attention of the public and to hold accountable all those involved.”

    Guterres’s comments were the latest in a chorus of concern and condemnation over Khashoggi’s disappearance from UN officials and independent UN human rights experts.

    Over the last few days, statements regarding the Khashoggi disappearance had been released by the offices of UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, the Chair of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, Bernard Duhaime, and the Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Dante Pesce.

    Earlier, White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Washington acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s announcement and was “closely” following the developments.

    “We will continue to closely follow the international investigations into this tragic incident and advocate for justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process.

    “We are saddened to hear confirmation of Mr Khashoggi’s death, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family, fiancée, and friends,” Sanders said.

    U.S. President Donald Trump at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona said that Saudi Arabia’s explanation for how Khashoggi was killed was incredible adding that what happened at the consulate is “unacceptable”.

    Trump said Khashoggi’s death was a “horrible event” that has not gone “unnoticed” but noted that the announcement on the circumstances of the journalist’s death was a “good first step”.

    “Saudi Arabia has been a great ally, but what happened is unacceptable,” Trump said, adding he prefers that any sanctions against Riyadh do not include cancelling big defence orders.

    The Saudi government said it arrested 18 Saudis as a result of the initial investigation and fired five top officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s adviser Saud al-Qahtani and deputy intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri.

    Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, went missing on Oct. 2 after entering the consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents needed for his upcoming marriage.

    Saudi officials had previously denied Khashoggi had been killed and dismembered inside the diplomatic facility, insisting the journalist left the consulate before disappearing.

     

  • Court remands man for ‘killing’ 65-year-old woman

    An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered the remand of 29-year-old Ojo Yemi for allegedly killing a 65-year-old woman, Josephine Ajayi.

    The defendant, who was arraigned for alleged murder, reportedly killed the woman and threw her body into the river.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 9 in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    Okunade said Ajayi’s body was later found on the river bank.

    He said the offence contravenes Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison, pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The plea of the accused was not taken, while Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, adjourned the matter till October 8 for mention.

     

     

  • Court remands two drivers for ‘killing, $80,000 robbery’

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State yesterday remanded two commercial drivers for allegedly killing a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Victor Thorpe, after robbing him of $80,000 (about N28,960,000).

    The accused, Monday Okoh, 50 and Johnbull Friday, 35, whose home addresses were not provided, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, robbery and manslaughter.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, who did not take the pleas of the accused, said the duo should be kept behind bars pending the advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Fashola adjourned the matter till November 26 for DPP’s advice.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Unah, told the court that the men, while armed with a locally made pistol and other offensive weapons, robbed the late Victor Thorpe of $80,000 .

    Unah told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 27 at about 12.40p.m. at Bonny Camp Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    According to him, the accused, while riding on a motorcycle, double-crossed the commercial bus, which the deceased boarded, went inside, snatched the money, and shot him in the chest.

    He noted that the late Victor Thorpe dropped his car for fear of being trailed, not knowing that the accused were already monitoring him.

    The prosecutor said: “Thorpe was the only one killed in the bus.”

    The offences contravene Sections 222, 297 (2) and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of the Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section provides life imprisonment for manslaughter, while Section 297 stipulates 21 years jail term for robbery.

     

  • 31 suspects nabbed for kidnapping, killing, others

    The Police have arrested 31 suspects for alleged involvement in kidnapping, killing, armed robbery, and other crimes.

    According to the Police, the suspects were responsible for the kidnap, killings, armed robberies of innocent commuters and travelers and villagers in villages and towns along Abuja- Kaduna –Birnin Gwari- Funtua – Zamfara state.

    Read Also:Brass crisis: Bayelsa probes killings, vows to prosecute perpetrators

    The suspects who belong to six different gangs were also responsible for the kidnap of Sheik Mohammed Ahmed Alqarkawi in Kaduna State.

    Some of the gang members also collected N12million as ransom before the Sheik was released.

    The Sheik’s kidnap also led to the death of four operatives of IGP Intelligence Response Team.

    The Operatives are; AP/No. 148333 Inspr. Benard Odibo, AP/No. 181539 Inspr. Mamman Abubakar, AP/No. 192938 Inspr. Haruna Ibrahim and F/No. 267815 Sgt. Emmanuel Istifanus.

    The operations of some of the suspects has also claimed the lives of many innocent Nigerians in FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Kogi, Benue, and some parts of Plateau States.

    In a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, he said the arrest was made possible after a re-gird of operations Absolute Sanity with the deployment of more operatives and investigators of IGP Special Tactical Squad.

    The Operatives led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Kolo Yusuf were deployed to unravel and arrest those behind the acts and bring them o justice.

    On those arrested, Moshood said: “A total number of 31 suspects in six different gangs including three Commanders of bandits killing innocent people in Zamfara state and those responsible for the kidnap of Sheik Mohammed Ahmed Alqarkawi in Kaduna State and collection of Twelve Million Naira ransom before he was released.”

    Items recovered from them include 22 AK 47 Rifles, one LAR Rifle, two single Barrel Guns, one  locally made Pistol and one  dane gun and 247 rounds of ammunition.

    The Police said most of the suspects confessed to the criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes they were alleged.

    The Police also said most of the victims, some of whom were rescued from their captivities also identified them as those responsible for the kidnaps, armed robberies and car snatching.

  • Man remanded for killing, burying Okada rider

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a farmer, Toyin Ajakaye, for alleged murder and ‘secret burial’ of a commercial motorcyclist, Omoniyi Are.

    Toyin was alleged to have committed the crime on August 22 at Agbado-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area.

    Toyin told the court he engaged the Okada rider to take  him to the farm where a fight allegedly ensued between them following disagreement on the fare.

    The fight, according to him, was sparked by his offer to pay the deceased N100 of the N200 he charged.

    Toyin claimed he held the deceased by the neck as he (Are) was trying to grab his genitals, adding that the deceased died in the scuffle.

    The defendant confessed that when he couldn’t carry the body, he dug a shallow grave and tied a rope on the neck of the deceased and buried him.

    Toyin said he was apprehended by passers-by who handed him over to the police.

    But the report of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Lasisi Bashiru, countered the statement of the defendant.

    According to the IPO, investigation showed the defendant tied the rope on the neck of the deceased on the scene of the crime and buried the body.

    He added that Toyin had been detained for stealing goats.

    The police prosecutor, Oriyomi Akinwale, pleaded that the court should grant the request to remand the defendant in prison custody.

    Defence counsel, Busuyi Ayorinde, asked that the duplicate case file be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice, adding that application for bail will be filed before an appropriate court.

    Magistrate Modupe Afeniforo ordered that Toyin be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case till 16.

     

  • Three arrested for allegedly killing 105-yr-old in Enugu

    The police in Enugu have arrested three youths for allegedly killing a 105 years old, Chief Eze Nwah Onu.

    The suspects, Onyeka Abugu, 22; Ogbonna Eze, 22, and Nnamdi Eze, 19, were said to have committed the offence at Ekposhi Umudioko, Ogurute in Igbo-Eze North local council.

    The police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu saidý the assailants could not give any reason for their action.

    Amaraizu said : “It was gathered that on that fateful day the  suspects allegedly conspired and strangled the deceased(to death) over a yet- to- be established issues and escaped. But through intelligence information, the suspects were promptly nabbed and they are now helping the(police) operatives in their investigations while the body of the deceased is now deposited in a hospital mortuary for medical  attention.”

  • Police arrest man for allegedly killing wife in Niger

    The Police Command in Niger has arrested one Bello Muhe, 25, of Gurechi village of Borgu Local Government Area of the state for allegedly killing his wife.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Dibal Yakadi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

    Yakadi said that the suspect was staying at New Busa Fulani camp in Gurechi village which shared a boundary with Bagudu  Local Government Area of  Kebbi.

    He said the suspect had a misunderstanding with his wife, Husse Ali, as a result of which she fled to her father’s house at Gurechi.

    “The husband followed her to her father’s house for reconciliation after which he asked her to follow him back to Kebbi, but she refused,” he said.

    The commissioner said the suspect then drew out his machete and inflicted serious injuries on Husse’s head, neck and back.

    He said the suspect then crossed over to Bagudu local government area of Kebbi but that he was chased and arrested.

    “The victim was rushed to Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, for treatment, where she died.

    Yakadi said upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and would be charged to court after investigation into the matter.

  • Presidency worried over killing of another Nigerian in South Africa

    SENIOR Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is  disturbed by the killing of another Nigerian in South Africa.

    The Nigeria Mission in South Africa yesterday confirmed the killing of Mr. Ozumba Tochukwu-Lawrence by an unknown gunman.

    The Nigeria Consulate-General in South Africa said the ugly incident occurred at 10 Koppe, Middleburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa, on July 6.

    The mission said Lawrence, who  was shot six times by his assailant, died before reaching the hospital.

    Dabiri-Erewa, in message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, described the killing as unfortunate.

    She said further enquiry over the issue should be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa expressed disappointment over an early warning signal put in place by both ministries, which she said had not been implemented.

    She stated that no fewer than 117 Nigerians were extra-judicially killed in South Africa between 2016 and 2018 for one flimsy reason or the other.

    She said many more had followed since then.

    The killing of Nigerians in South Africa had been on the increase in recent times.

     

  • ISPON: trust killing local software industry

    The major obstacle to the acceptance of local software is the absence of trust, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has said.

    Its President, Yele Okeremi, who spoke on the sidelines of the handover of the office to him by the former President, Olorogun James Emadoye, said the group under his leadership, would work hard to build trust in the quality of locally written applications.

    According to him, the software industry in Nigeriahas evolved and has grown, adding that the timw has come for practioners in the industry to have have themselves.

    Okeremi promised to work hard to dispel the lies and celebrate the many feats local applications have acheived.

    He said: “Yes, we do not say we know everything; our doors are open to partnerships.”

    He said since the real wealth of any nation is her reservoir of human capital, the group would work to build internal capacity of members, ensure they see software as a business, adding that the issue of patent would occupy front burners of discourse.

    Okeremi said any country that aspires to be great must prioritise the development of her manpower.

    He said he would continue to build on the legacy of hardwork, selflessness and commitment to the cause of developing the local software industry which he inherited from the former presidents of the group.

    He lamented that practitioners in the information technology (IT) space are hardly recognised in the country because they are neither into oil business nor into stealing public funds.

    According to him, IT firms, such as Oracle and Microsoft have shaped human history through innovation.

    Also, Emadoye said Nigeria must stop consuming what does not produce.

    According to him, patronage of local software is the way to go if the billions of naira lost yearly to capital flight as a result of using offshore must be stopped.