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  • Police kills robbery suspect in Edo

    Police kills robbery suspect in Edo

    The Police in Edo have confirmed shooting to dead a member of an armed robbery gang and the escape of five other members of the gang that escaped with various degrees of gunshot injury

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Benin.

    Kokumo said that in the early hours of Jan. 24, the command received a distress call about the activities of the gang at Evbuomore Quarters in Ugbowo Division.

    He said the command quickly deployed policemen from the division and surrounding division to the scene.

    “There was a gun battle between the robbers and the police, and in the ensuing fire-force, one of the gang member was shot and others escaped.

    “Sadly, one Dr Godwin Omofuma, a lecturer with the University of Benin, later died as a result of gunshot wounds he received from the robbers.

    “Items like phones, one single barrel gun, one iron cutter, one live and 12 expended cartridges, among others, were recovered from the robbers.

    “Similarly, last Thursday, Jan. 18, at about 0700 hours, two suspected armed robbers who robbed their victim of her Lexus 330 SUV, cash, jewelries and other valuables were arrested,’’ he said.

    Read Also:One die, two police  injured in NURTW factions clash

    He said that the items recovered from them included two cut to size guns, one locally made pistol and one live cartridge were recovered.

    Kokumo also said that on the same day, three men suspected to be cultists were arrested in a bus with one locally made pistol and eight live cartridges.

    The commissioner of police also said that two suspects who murdered their victim over an infraction were arrested on Jan. 3, while another suspect was arrested on Jan. 21 in the state capital for being in possession of 150 rounds of live cartridges.

    Kokumo further said that the command was inundated with reports of misuse of policemen attached to VIPs in the state.

    He said in view of this and to sanitise the system, all persons to whom policemen were attached to as escorts and guards should report to the State Police headquarters with their letters of authority for verification.

    NAN

  • Illegal migration: El-Rufa’i seeks involvement of Governors’ Forum 

    Illegal migration: El-Rufa’i seeks involvement of Governors’ Forum 

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State on Wednesday cautioned the youths against migrating illegally out of the country, saying rather, they should remain, work hard and build bright future for themselves.

    The governor, who made the remark when he received officials of NYSC and PAIGAS who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said the campaign instituted by the two on illegal migration was laudable.

    He asked them to extend the campaign to the Nigerian Governors Forum, to accelerate engagement with the youths and help address the menace.

    “Illegal migration is an unusual type of brain drain with several devastating effects synonymous with modern day slavery.

    “The youth population in Nigeria nurture the wrong impression that Europe and the West are greener, whereas, unknown to them. the condition of living there is hard, unsympathetic and devoid of community life that accommodates the interest of one another.”

    Read Also: Buhari has clear plans to end herders / farmers clashes  El-Rufa’i

    The governor, therefore, advised the youths to liberate themselves from “erroneous sense of entitlement, work hard, acquire necessary knowledge, experience, get involved and seize political authority” as practiced worldwide.

    He pledged to partner with the NYSC and PAIGAS in this respect.

    El-Rufa’i assured  the state government would provide additional hostel accommodation and upgrade of facilities at the NYSC Orientation camp in Kaduna.

    Earlier, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, the President, Pan-African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy (PAIGAS), said the group consists of former Nigerians envoys and other imminent Nigerians who are committing themselves to this cause.

    “We have decided to use our wealth of experience and resources to sensitize corps members on the dangers
    associated with illegal migration.”

    Uhomoibhi expressed appreciation to the NYSC Director General, Brig. Gen Suleiman Kazaure for accommodating PAIGAS to reach out to serving corps members, as the bulk of illegal migrants were graduates.

    NAN

  • 2,170 youths get NDE training in Anambra — Coordinator

    2,170 youths get NDE training in Anambra — Coordinator

    No fewer than 2,170 unemployed youths benefitted from the various training programmes of the National Directorate of Employment ( NDE ) in Anambra in 2017, the state Coordinator, Mr Joseph Iroegbu, has said. Wednesday in Awka, said the beneficiaries had concluded their training and were awaiting take-off later this year.

    “Thirty youths graduated from Basic Business Training, while one person out of the 50 that were trained on Own Your Business course qualified for grant of N800, 000 for submitting a bankable proposal.

    “Other areas where youths were trained include women employment, agricultural development scheme, life skills, business development and poultry.

    “Two thousand youths who commenced training on Vocational Skills Development in 2017 are still undergoing the course billed to be concluded before February.

    Read Also:  Edo, NDE  train 4000 on technical skills, cosmetology, others

    “The programme is going concurrently in the 21 local government areas in the state,’’ he said.

    The coordinator acknowledged the rising unemployment rate in the country but regretted the negative attitude of youths to apprenticeship.
    He decried how some of the beneficiaries were not paying back the soft loans because the politicians who nominated them gave them the impressions that NDE empowerment programme was entirely free.

    “Part of the challenges is that our graduates don’t pay back their loans, they use it to shore up their egos and give them the impression that the startup loan is free money from government.

    “So, when we go to them they say we should go and meet the politicians who signed for them.

    “People are not serious in the training and entrepreneurship; they seem to be more interested in the stipend we pay them as trainees.

    “We have good programmes to solve unemployment but we are worried that they are not embracing it, our store is filled with idle equipment, even our forms are not filled to indicate that they want resettlement,’’ Iroegbu said.

    NAN

  • LCCI urges FG to review security strategies

    LCCI urges FG to review security strategies

    Mr Babatunde Ruwase, President of LCCI, made the call on WednesdayThe Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI ) has urged the Federal Government to review its security strategies and prioritise the safety of lives and properties across the country. in Lagos during a media briefing on the State of the Nation.

    He said the spate of insecurity in parts of the country was becoming worrisome and has grave implications for businesses and investors.

    “Incidence of criminality, such as terrorist activities of Boko Haram in the North East, herdsmen killings and destruction of farms, kidnapping, armed robbery and cult related violence.

    Read Also:  LCCI received N30m claims for fire incident

    “Religious and ethnic conflicts are prevalent across the country,” he said.

    Ruwase noted that insecurity issues would affect the country’s quest to achieve food security, contribute to high food inflation rate and cause shortage of raw materials for agro-allied businesses.

    According to him, the situation also has negative effects on investors’ confidence and generates adverse global perception about the country.

    He said that the cost of security have spiked operational costs of some businesses, especially in oil and gas sector by 12 per cent over the last four years.

    “Some of them had to provide private security, escorts, convoy operations and protection of facilities and equipment,” he said.

    Ruwase urged government to provide adequate security and invest in apparatus that would assist in curbing the menace.

    NAN

  • Commonwealth Games selection will be on merit – NTTF

    Commonwealth Games selection will be on merit – NTTF

    The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) said the selection of players for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Australia would be on merit.

    NTTF’s National Coach Nasiru Bello told the Reporter on Wednesday in Lagos that the trials would be very competitive as players would be eager to make the team.

    Reporter reports that the 2018 Games is scheduled for April 4 to April 25 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, would feature 275 events in 18 sports with 70 countries participating.

    “We had a national trial in December which identified some outstanding players in the ongoing camp, but we owe the nation a duty to present a formidable team for the Games.

    “The target is to improve our record because our performance in Glasgow was not impressive where we got only a bronze medal in the men’s team event.

    “Besides, those who have featured in the Commonwealth Games will strive to maintain their position, while first timers will also struggle to displace them in the final trials proposed for February.

    Read Also: NTTF Championship: Men’s champion crashes out

    “The home-based are anxious to make a name for themselves and have the opportunity to be listed in the world ranking after their participation in the Games,’’ he said.

    Bello said that the quest had compelled home-based players in camp to absorb rigorous training daily in the Knock-Up Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

    He said that the players were responsive to the programme which included services, stroke techniques and skills, adding that those were necessary to sharpen their forms.

    “We observe training twice daily; morning and evening sessions and we also carry our foreign-based players along as part of build-up for the final trials.

    “Training is going on well, the players are doing well in line with the programmes we are giving them here, the foreign-based are not left out,’’ he said.

    The coach popularly known as Alakoro expressed confidence that the country would top the medal table in various events that would be featured in the Games.

    NAN

  • Police arrest suspected robber in Enugu

    Police arrest suspected robber in Enugu

    The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested a robbery suspect, Jude Agha, after tracking him for two weeks through intelligence information in the state metropolis.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Ebere Amaraizu, made the disclosure in a statement he issued in Enugu on Wednesday.

    He said that police operatives from Ogui Division in the state capital followed the suspect along Onitsha Street by Udi Road in Ogui axis of Enugu on Jan. 22.

    Amaraizu said that the police recovered one locally-made pistol with two live cartridges from the suspect.

    “Agha, who hails from Afikpo in Ebonyi State, carried out his nefarious activities with some members of his gang.

    “Their activities include armed robbery, car snatching as well as the robbery of a supermarket at Onuasata in Ogui, Enugu on Jan.14 with their locally-made pistols,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Police: We didn’t arrest Ezekwesili, BBOG members

    The spokesperson said the suspect was helping the command in its investigation while manhunt on the fleeing members of his gang had been intensified.

    Amaraizu, in a related development, said the command had rescued one Jones Anyim from irate mob that wanted to kill him when he attempted to steal a motorcycle.

    He said the incident happened at Eke Market along Amurri Road in Agbani community of Nkanu West council area on Jan. 22.

    Amaraizu noted that if not for the timely interventions of police in Nkanu West Division, the angry mob would have used sticks and other dangerous instruments to kill the suspect.

    “It was gathered that following the alleged incident, irate mob descended heavily on the suspect and inflicted various degrees of injuries on his head and body.

    “But for the prompt intervention of police operatives that prevented what would have brought about the untimely exit of the suspect.

    “The police also rushed the suspect to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla near Enugu for medical attention,’’ he said.

    The spokesman noted that investigation had commenced on the incident.

    NAN

  •  Residents urge FG to enforce official pump price at filling stations

     Residents urge FG to enforce official pump price at filling stations

    Some residents of Port Harcourt have urged the government to ensure its agencies regulating the sale of petroleum products stopped filling stations from selling above the approved pump price.

    The residents made the call when they spoke with the Reporter on Wednesday in Port Harcourt against the backdrop of the products’ scarcity.

    They decried the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol at N220 per litre instead of N143 or N145 by independent marketers in the state.

    A taxi driver, Mr Ifeanyi Umeh, accused the independent marketers of inflating the pump price, saying that they had become a problem in the oil retail sector.

    “Most of them have fuel but it is either they sell at N220 per litre or they hoard the fuel; it is not fair to most Nigerians.

    “For me, I buy from the marketers because of my business as a taxi driver and because there is no queue at their stations due to the high price.

    “After buying, I recoup my money by charging an increased fare due to the situation.

    “But if I am a private man, I would rather sleep at the filling station with approved pump price than buying at N220,’’ he told Reporter.

    A trader, Mr Tam Igbani, said that the government should stop the petroleum crisis in the country due to its negative effect on the masses.

    “Imagine paying N400 instead of the previous N200 from Obigbo to Mile 1 Park as transport fare for a commercial bus; it is not fair enough at all,” he said.

    A public servant, Mrs Nkem Azuka, said that she had stopped making large pot of soup because she could not afford petrol to power her electricity generator to preserve it.

    Read Also:Petrol pump   price hits N250 per litre

    “Since this month, I lost three pots of soup because the temperature has been high in the city and with the attendant high cost of fuel; I cannot afford to power my refrigerator.

    “We have not had power supply for about eight months now and we have relied on electricity generator.

    “But with the high cost of petrol, coupled with the payment of school fees and house rent, we decided to manage our poverty level,’’ Azuka said.

    Azuka, who said that they lived at Okporo road area, said that cooking soup everyday was not only uneconomical but stressful to her as well.

    She called on the government to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

    A major petroleum dealer on Aba road, who spoke anonymously, accused independent marketers of being very greedy.

    He commended the Federal Government for not listening to the demands of the marketers and said that with time, they would behave themselves.

    According to him, they are selling at high price because some Nigerians patronised them, if not, hunger would have forced them to sell at the normal price.

    “As far as I am concerned, the independent marketers are very selfish and aim at adding to the sufferings of Nigerians; Nigerians should ignore them.

    “We will not hoard petrol and will continue to sell at the officially approved pump price,’’ he said.

    The Reporter reports that long queues are seen at major marketers and the NNPC Mega Filling Stations, resulting in increased transport fares by about 100 per cent.

    NAN

  • EU ambassador urges China to release Hong Kong bookseller

    EU ambassador urges China to release Hong Kong bookseller

    The European Union’s ambassador to China on Wednesday joined the Swedish Foreign Ministry in calling on Beijing to release a Hong Kong-based bookseller of Swedish citizenship who was arrested by Chinese authorities at the weekend.

    Amb. Hans-Dietmar Schweisgut has told the EU expects Chinese authorities to immediately release Gui Minhai from detention and to allow him to reunite with his family.

    “Gui should also consulate support and medical support in line with his rights, because he is a Swedish citizen and also a citizen of the EU,’’ Schweisgut noted.

    A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman replied that the ministry had no “new information” about the situation and that it is “unreasonable” for Sweden and the EU to call for Gui’s release.

    “Any foreign country should respect Chinese authorities’ handling of cases of foreign citizens in China according to the law,’’ spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

    Read Also:EU to immunise children in Lagos

    Hua added that Beijing provides assistance to foreign embassy officials to perform their duties according to international law and that other countries should “educate” their citizens in advance to respect China’s domestic laws.

    Angela Gui said a naturalised Swedish citizen, was arrested on Saturday while en route to Beijing, where he had been due to undergo medical tests, his daughter.

    Gui was detained on a train by plain-clothes police in the presence of two Swedish diplomats.

    According to Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, Sweden takes Gui’s detention very seriously and expects his immediate release.

    Gui is one of five previously detained Hong Kong publishers with links to a publishing house specialising in books banned in mainland China.

    NAN

  • Doctor indicts two siblings of defrauding, raping undergraduate

    A medical doctor, Dr Alagbe Oyedeji, on Tuesday gave evidence indicting the two siblings — Bright Nwachukwu and Chijindu Nwachukwu — who are standing trial for raping and defrauding an undergraduate of the University of Lagos ( Unilag ).

    Newsmen reports that the brothers — Bright, 32, and Chijindu , 24 — are facing three-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretenses and rape at an Ikeja High Court.

    They allegedly committed the offences when they accosted the 21-year-old undergraduate (name withheld)on Feb. 12, 2016 on her way to the University for her medical clearance.

    Oyedeji, a self-proclaimed atheist, while being led in evidence by Mrs C. K Tunji-Carrena, the lead prosecution counsel, told the court that he worked at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital ( LASUTH ).

    “I work at the Department of Family Medicine and also as a consultant /examiner to Mirabel Centre.

    “My job entails examination, treatment and writing of reports or examination findings on victim of sexual assault.”

    The doctor told the court he was testifying on behalf of his colleague, who had initially conducted the medical examination but was no longer in the employ of LASUTH.

    READ ALSO: Man charged with alleged rape, impersonation

    ““I have a report from the Mirabel Centre dated Feb. 13, 2016 from a colleague of mine, Dr Sholaja,  who is no longer in the workforce of LASUTH, he has relocated outside Lagos.

    “Being an examiner and a colleague experienced in the day-to-day activities of the Mirabel Center, I’m here to interpret the examination findings,” he said.

    Giving details of the examination report, the doctor said:“The examination findings started from when the client entered into the examination room.

    “She was found to be quiet, willing to give information and she was alert as well as well-oriented about time and place.

    “The gross physical findings indicate that there are no significant injuries to her physical structure.

    “Significant findings on her genitalia indicate injuries, there was a focus of injury to the entrance of the urethra.

    “The hymen had injuries called lacerations and the posterior forcet had superficial lacerations.

    “The doctor came to the conclusion that this examination’s findings which are highlighted are consistent with the client’s claim that she had forceful penetration into her vagina.

    “The force in this case which she described happened to be the penis,” the doctor said.

    While being cross-examined by Mr Oganihu Nwosu, the defence counsel, the doctor admitted that the complainant never mentioned the names of the defendants as the alleged perpetrators of the rape.

    He also noted that the examination had also revealed that the complainant had a genital infection prior to the rape.

    “Part of the report said that there was a copious discharge on the client’s genitalia.

    “Analysis was not done on the discharge and it was observed that the client had a staphylococcus infection,” Oyedeji said.

    The complainant, a undergraduate from the Department of Biology Education, had on July 4, 2017 testified about how the siblings defrauded and raped her.

    According to her, she was accosted by Bright on her way to school and was “hypnotized” and as a result, followed him to a house located at No. 4, Odusanya St., Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Lagos, where she was raped by him.

    The UNILAG undergraduate alleged that in her hypnotic state she gave the men her ATM pin and N19,000 was fraudulently withdrawn from her account.

    She was allegedly further instructed by the duo to go home and steal cash and valuables belonging to her mother and bring to them.

    The plan was foiled when her mother noticed her daughter’s strange behaviour and called their pastor and also alerted the police.

    The offences contravened Sections 258, 312(3) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    Justice Josephine Oyefeso adjourned the case until Feb. 19 for continuation of trial.

    NAN

  • CP seeks media support to tame criminals in Sokoto

    CP seeks media support to tame criminals in Sokoto

    The new Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Mr. Murtala Mani has solicited the support of the media in the task of taming criminal activities in the state.

    Mani said at an interactive session with newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto that he would work closely with the media in generating public support to policing in the state.

    The commissioner stressed that security in the state is everybody’s business, and said the media should create awareness for residents to be security conscious and support security agencies with vital information to tame criminal activities.

    READ ALSO: Navy arrests 22 vessels in onslaught on maritime criminals

    “This meeting is the beginning of our journey to work together and bring offender to book.

    “The press is well known for its positive contribution to the development of the society, therefore, feel free to access me and raise any issues especially pertaining to security matters.

    “It is the responsibility of every citizen of the state to know that security is something of paramount importance that all hands must be in deck.

    “It is only when we are secured that we can go out to our places, Churches or Mosques, visit the market and attend to our daily activities.”

    NAN