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Tag: killing

  • Naval rating arrested for ‘killing’ Speaker’s aide’s relative

    The police have arrested a naval rating, Yusuf Owolabi, for allegedly killing a woman, Taibat Badru.

    The late Badru was a sibling of Mr Musbau Rasak, the Chief Press Secretary of the Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

    The incident occurred Friday night at Egan, a riverine community in Ojo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    It was gathered that Owolabi stabbed Badru, 48 with a dagger on her back following a disagreement between the suspect and the woman’s son, Quadri.

    Badru, our Correspondent learnt, was rushed to Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, where she passed on.

    According to sources, the families of Owolabi and the deceased have been at daggers drawn for a while as a result of kingship tussle.

    It was learnt that Owolabi’s father, Moshood, lost the Baale stool to a rival family, which pitched them against each other.

    He was said to have arrived the village on Friday evening armed with the weapon and accompanied by a friend.

    He allegedly bought some alcoholic beverages, which they drank before he set out to fight Quadri.

    A source said: “It was Quadri they came for. Owolabi was attacking Quadri, who then called his mother to see what was happening. The woman rushed out in defence of his son and that was how she was stabbed from behind.

    “The cut was deep and the woman bled too much. She was rushed to the hospital but she died there. Owolabi was recently transferred to Lagos from Port Harcourt.

    “No one really knows what led to this current fight but maybe, the naval man heard that they always mocked his father. Both families have been fighting ever since the Baaleship tussle. The suspect’s father lost out and his supporters went berserk.

    “Because of the problems, the community at a time, set Moshood’s house ablaze. So, maybe, the suspect came to avenge for his father but has ended up killing someone.”

    Although policemen from Ajagbandi Division arrested him, it was gathered that the suspect was moved same day to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba.

    Contacted, spokesman for the command, Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) said the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the hospital’s mortuary for autopsy.

    The murder exhibit has been recovered, Oti said.

  • Protest in Ibadan over killing of 12-year-old boy

    Hundreds of youths at Omi-Adio in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State yesterday protested the killing of a 12-year-old boy by a state’s mass transit vehicle, Ajumose bus, on Saturday evening.

    It was learnt that the driver of the bus was driving from Apata when he lost control and rammed into the ditch, crushing the little to death.

    Angry youths, who rushed to revive the boy, found him dead and seized the driver and the bus.

    The body of the boy was said to have been deposited at Adeoyo State Hospital in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The windscreen and side glasses of the bus, with registration number OY 148860 Y, were smashed.

    It was gathered that the driver, who escaped death by the whiskers, was rescued by policemen from Omi-Adio Police Station, a few metres from the scene of the accident.

    Aggrieved youths carrying placards with various inscriptions stormed major streets and the busy Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway.

    They also carried clubs, sticks and iron rods as they rained abuses on the driver.

    The protesters made bonfires on the expressway to prevent motorists from plying the road.

    Several traders and shop owners were said to have abandoned their wares and hurriedly locked their shops for fear of attacks.

    Eyewitnesses told our reporter that the boy was an apprentice in a rewire workshop near the scene of the accident.

    The carcass of the state mass transit bus was parked in front of the police station at Omi-Adio yesterday.

    Last week, a similar accident occurred involving Ajumose bus, where a teenage secondary school girl was crushed to death at Mokola area of Ibadan.

  • Fed Govt expresses worry over killing of Nigerians in UK

    The Federal Government yesterday expressed worry over the spate of killing of Nigerians in the UK in recent time.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed government’s position on the matter in a statement by her Media Aide Abdur-Rahman Balogun in Abuja.

    Balogun said Dabiri-Erewa had advised Nigerians to be careful and exercise restraint.

    He quoted the presidential aide as saying “the increased killing of blacks, especially those of Nigerian origin in London was worrisome and disturbing.”

    She said it was reported that more than 50 blacks, mainly youths, were either stabbed or gunned down in the first quarter of 2018 in London alone.

    She added that Nigerian boys killed in the UK in the first quarter of 2018, mainly London, included Oluwadamilola Odeyingbo, 18, Taofeek Lamidi, 20, and Harry Uzoka, 25.

    Others were Rotimi Oshinbajo, 26, Fola Odubiyi, 18, Niyi Shode, 24, Kelvin Odunuyi, 19, Abraham Badru, 26,  Israel Ogunsola, 18, and more unreported cases.

    Dabiri-Erewa had last week written protest letter to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, demanding justice and investigation into the matter.

    She, however, advised Nigerians to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by obeying the rules of their host country and not to take laws into their hands.

    She condoled with the affected families and prayed unto God to comfort them.

    She said government would continue to seek for justice and bring to book the perpetrators of the gruesome killings.

  • Police arrest three cult members over killing of teenager

    Police arrest three cult members over killing of teenager

    The Police in Ebonyi have arrested three suspected members of a secret cult group over the death of one Michael Okoro, 19.

    Okoro, according to the Police, was killed at Oroko Onuoha in Abakaliki, the state capital by members of a rival cult group when the two groups clashed.

    Police spokesman in the state, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident to our Reporter.

    She said the victim was not, murdered but died from injuries he sustained after a clash between Junior Python and Black Pander cult groups.

    “Cult boys clashed at Oroke-Onuoha. The police swung into action and arrested about three of them. In the course of the clash, one person died”.

    “He was not murdered but he died during the cult clash. He resides in Kpirikpiri but he was not killed in Kpirikpiri. One person was injured and he later died. The suspects we arrested confessed that it was a cult clash. We have started investigating the matter”, she said.

    But the victim’s mother, Mrs Clara Okoro denied that his son is a member of a cult group in the state.

    Mrs Okoro in an interview at the family’s 3 Muoneke Street Abakaliki residence said the son worked at Cement factory at Nkalagu.

    She said though Michael was only 19 years, he had already become the breadwinner of the family.

    Read Also: Police arrest robbery suspect

    Mrs Okoro who was in a pensive mood while speaking to out reporter, said the victim was helping her to take care other three other siblings.

    “He returned from where he worked at a cement factory in Nkalagu. He brought money for the WAEC fee of his younger brother as he promised. I think it was because of the WAEC fee that he returned because they were paid that day”.

    “He gave me the money before going out to watch football match that evening. After several hours, he didn’t return even when it was time for our family dinner”.

    “So, in the morning, I went to pay the WAEC fee. When I returned, I still didn’t see him. I became more worried. It was somebody that approached me and told me that Samuel is dead.

    “I don’t know if he quarrelled with anyone because he does not live here but in Nkalagu community where he worked.”, Mrs Okoro said.

  • Man arraigned for allegedly killing teenager

    Man arraigned for allegedly killing teenager

    An FCT High Court, Apo, yesterday ordered the remand of a 28-year-old man, Abdulkarim Zubairu, in Kuje Prison.

    He was accused of killing a 13-year-old boy, Umaru Hussini, with a machete.

    Zubairu, a resident of Pangu village, Kwali, is standing trial on a charge of culpable homicide, an offence he denied.

    The prosecutor, Simon Lough, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on October 1, 2013.

    He said Zubairu used a machete to cut Hussini’s hand, after an argument, resulting in the victim bleeding to death.

    Lough said the cutlass was later recovered on the scene of the crime.

    The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened Section 220 of the Penal Code and is punishable by death.

    Justice Bolaji Belgore adjourned the case till March 13 for hearing.

  • Suspected Boko Haram member remanded for killing policeman

    Suspected Boko Haram member remanded for killing policeman

    A self-confessed member of Boko Haram sect, Abdulsalam Adinoyi, has been remanded by an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing a policeman.

    The 36-year-old sect member is on trial for killing Sergeant Gana Jiya in Oye-Ekiti at 11 pm, on February 2.

    According to Police Prosecutor Oriyomi Akinwale, the accused is facing a three-count charge of murder, terrorism and robbery.

    The prosecutor told the court that the accused confessed to the police that he was involved in many attacks by the Boko Haram sect in Kogi State in which many people were killed.

    The suspect’s offence contravenes sections 11 and 12 of Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism Law; Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap and Section 1(2)(a)(b) of Robbery and Firearms (Prohibition Act) Cap R4 Laws of the Federation.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Counsel to the accused Mr. Busuyi Ayorinde applied for bail but the court turned it down.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Dupe Afeniforo, ordered that the accused be remanded, pending a legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    She adjourned the matter till March 26 for mention.

  • Police arrest two for alleged killing of ABU student

    Kaduna State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of a student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, it was learnt.

    “We have arrested two suspects over the killing of the ABU student. One was arrested on Sunday, while another was nabbed on Monday,” spokesman Mukhtar Aliyu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna.

    He said the suspects had been questioned and would be arraigned after investigation.

    NAN reports that the deceased, a 100-level student of Veterinary Medicine, was killed last Friday.

  • Military, AI rejects over alleged killing of 35 Adamawa villagers

    Military, AI rejects over alleged killing of 35 Adamawa villagers

    Amnesty International (AI) in a report published yesterday accused the Nigerian military of killing thirty five villagers in Adamawa State.

    But, the Nigerian Air Force NAF faulted the report.

    According to AI, dozens of villagers were killed and many more injured, when the military on the 4th of December 2017 launched an airstrike on villages being attacked by Fulani herdsmen.

    The organisation, in its report, ‘the military used deadly force’ and video titled ‘why did the Nigerian Air Force do the unthinkable?’.

    AI said: “The Nigerian authorities’ response to communal violence is totally inadequate, too slow and ineffective, and in some cases unlawful, Amnesty International said today, as clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Ondo and Kaduna have resulted in 168 deaths in January 2018 alone.

    “The government must totally overturn its response to these deadly clashes to avoid this crisis getting out of control. They need to investigate and bring suspects to justice,” said Osai Ojigho Director Amnesty International Nigeria.

    “Hundreds of people lost their lives last year, and the government is still not doing enough to protect communities from these violent clashes. Worse, the killers are getting away with murder.

    “In some cases where the Nigerian security agencies did respond to communal violence, they used excessive or unlawful force resulting in even more deaths and destruction.

    “On 4 December 2017, Nigeria’s air force sent fighter jets to fire rockets at villages as a “warning” to deter spiralling communal violence, as hundreds of herdsmen attacked at least five villages in Adamawa state to avenge the massacre of up to 51 members of their community, mostly children, the previous month in Kikan.”

    The NAF, however, dismissed AI claims as baseless and unfounded, maintaining that  “at no time has the NAF been involved in settling any “herdsmen-farmers” clash in Numan.

    The Director Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the intervention of the NAF in the Numan crisis of December 4, 2017 resulted in the successful dispersal of a group of hoodlums who were setting some villages around Numan on fire after unleashing terror on the residents.

    AVM Adesanya said: “To set the records straight, in the early hours of 4 December 2017, a NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform departed Maiduguri to conduct ISR over Numan general area.

    “This was in response to a request by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army (NA), following reports of clashes around that location. Hundreds of people, mostly dressed in black attires, and who appeared armed, were sighted ransacking and setting a village on fire. In addition, the hoodlums set large portions of farmlands ablaze.

    “Furthermore, some of the men were seen guiding livestock out of the village. Consequently, a NAF aircraft was called in to support the NA and other relevant security agencies through ‘show of force’ low-level flights.

    “This was aimed at dispersing the huge crowd and thereby stopping the ongoing carnage. After several low passes, the crowd was undeterred and refused to disperse. Rather, the assailants started firing shots at the aircraft and continued in their dastardly act of burning houses within the settlement.

    “Overall, the NAF wishes to state as follows: At no time has the NAF been involved in settling any “herdsmen-farmers” clash in the Numan general area.

    “The NAF, either with its aircraft or by any other means, did not set any villages near Numan on fire on 4 December 2017 or at any other time.

    “NAF’s aircraft was not used to kill anyone in the villages around Numan during the crisis of 4 December 2017.

    “Amnesty International should produce credible evidence to substantiate its baseless allegations that NAF air attacks led to the destruction in the villages as well as loss of lives, failing which it should go to the press and retract its allegations.”

  • Speaker seeks divine help against crimes

    Speaker seeks divine help against crimes

    The  Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, is seeking divine intervention to tackle kidnapping, militancy, killing, oil bunkering and other crimes in his constituency.

    The Nation learnt that Benson, who represents Southern Ijaw 4, was worried by these vices  and had hired clerics to heal his constituency.

    He was said to have contacted Rev. Uma Ukpai to lead other clerics to his local government for a three-day crusade to discourage people from crimes.

    Benson, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Aotendeike Boloigha, said the crusade was organised to improve his community.

    The Speaker, who addressed heads of clans, paramount rulers and chairmen of community development committees (CDC), said it was unacceptable for a community, hitherto known for peace and good neighbourliness, to assume a negative identity.

    He said: “Travelling to our once very peaceful environment is now done with the presence of heavily armed military men. Traditional and social functions are not left out.”

    The Chairman of Central Planning Committee and General Overseer, Doxa Family Church, Rev. T. Y. Emmanuel, said the programme was timely, adding that it is time for the people to come together.

    He urged every family to participate, saying the Bishop of Ogbia Diocese of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. James Aye-Oruwori is among those expected at the crusade.

    King Timi-Ododo, paramount ruler of Ikebiri I community, who spoke for the monarchs, described the Speaker as a leader who identifies with the people.

    Pastor Job Molo, the CDC chairman of Azuzuama community, on behalf of his counterparts from other communities, said they would mobilise people to the crusade.

  • Ritual killing

    •The slaughter of Gusinu betrays how savage we have become

    It was horror compounded when a suspected ritual killer, 35-year-old Yewunu Tanlaju, gave an account of how he killed 17-year-old Taye Gusinu and sold parts of her body for N8, 500. The killing happened in Idosemo, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    Paraded in connection with the killing at the Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Tanlaju made a chilling confession:  ”It was this man (pointing to another suspect, Olusoji Asamo) who told me to bring human parts. It was at that time I saw the girl selling puff-puff in one school. I called her, bought puff-puff from her. While she was leaving after selling puff-puff to me, I seized her from behind, tied her down and slaughtered her myself. She attempted to shout, but I blocked her mouth.” The victim’s head and hands were severed, and her intestines harvested.

    Shockingly, he added: “This is the second person I have killed. It was in the same area, but I was not caught then. It was the same Soji that requested for human parts then, although I didn’t know what he wanted to use them for. When I delivered the parts, he gave me N8, 500 because we had not agreed on any amount. But it was N10, 000 he gave me when I delivered the first parts.”

    This deeply disturbing picture shows contempt for the sanctity of human life, which is worsened by the cheapness of the transactions. It is unbelievable that low-priced human parts were sold and bought without compunction.

    But for the involvement of members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) whose investigation led to the arrest of the suspected criminals, the teenage victim would probably have been declared missing and her body never found as it was reportedly dumped in a well on an abandoned plot of land. A VGN official, Adebodun Omotolani, was quoted as saying:  “The parents of the girl, when they did not see their child, reported to the VGN, who swung into action, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Yewunu Tanlaju. It was Tanlaju that named his partner, Asamo Soji, who is now in police net and confessed to killing the young girl for money rituals. He later took officers of the VGN to where her corpse was dumped after severing her head and hands, while her intestines were also removed.”

    Tragically, this case is yet another in an escalating number of ritual killings. According to a report, “Virtually every day, many police stations nationwide especially in the Southwest of the country are inundated with reports of missing persons. Available records show that less than 10 percent of such persons ever returned home. A scary 90 percent of them were not found and the bodies of a negligible number that were eventually seen were dumped either on the roadsides, bush paths or inside gutters, mutilated and their vital organs removed.”

    There is no doubt that ritual killers are in business because there is a high demand for human parts.  It is said that those who buy human parts for ritual purposes include the poor desperate for riches and the rich desperate for greater wealth as well as politicians desperate for political power.  It is noteworthy that a 27-year-old herbalist connected with the alleged killer was also arrested, and reportedly said: “It is true that he brought the human parts to me, requesting for money rituals.”   The guilty in this case must be lawfully punished to serve as a deterrent.

    Markets are said to exist where people can shop for human parts. It is scandalous that such markets are allowed to exist. The authorities must act to check ritual killing and dismantle its enabling structures.