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  • Police rescue abducted boys, arrest 8 suspects

    Police rescue abducted boys, arrest 8 suspects

    The Police Command in Kebbi, said on Thursday that it had rescued two boys from suspected kidnappers who demanded N2.5 million ransom from their parents, resident in the state.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kabiru, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the boys, aged 10 and 11 were rescued unhurt in Dakinkowa of Kontagora in Niger State.

    Kabiru said that eight suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction and no ransom was paid before the boys were rescued.

    He said that on December 5, one Christopher Nnagbo of new prison area, Birnin Kebbi, reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Birnin Kebbi that his son, 10, had been missing since November 30.

    He said that the boy was on his way home from Anglican Church, Birnin Kebbi when he was abducted.

    “On the 5th of December, a hidden number called the victim’s mother, Mrs Angela Christopher with a view to negotiating for ransom and demanded N2.5 million before the child could be released.

    “On receipt of the report, the police swung into action. The principal suspect was arrested and the victims rescued,” Kabiru narrated.

    He said the second boy was also rescued along with the victim.

    “Effort is now underway to locate the parents of the second boy who was rescued in the operation,” he said.

    Read also: Police arrest 18 suspected criminals, recover 11 stolen cars

    The commissioner said the victims were immediately taken to Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, for necessary observation and medical treatment.

    According to the police commissioner, the principal suspect said he was pushed into the act by the desire to settle his debt.

    Kabiru advised against people borrowing more than they could repay to avoid similar incidents.

    NAN

  • One dead in Bayelsa fresh attack

    One dead in Bayelsa fresh attack

    Another ferry operator has been killed by gunmen on the Yenagoa-Akassa waterway in Bayelsa, NAN reports.

    The incident occurred barely 24 hours after the killing of a boat operator on the Sangana- Igbemotoru waterway on December 13.

    Community sources told a correspondent that the latest killing took place at Okobotuo, near Akassa in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa early on Thursday.

    The victim of the attack was identified as the former chairman of the Akassa Unit of the Nigerian Maritime Workers Union.

    His name was given simply as Mr Suku.

    Confirming the development, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigerian Maritime Workers Union, Mr Lloyd Sese, said the deadly attacks were crippling economic activities in coastal communities in the state.

    He described the death of the former union leader as regrettable and a painful loss to the labour movement in Bayelsa.

    Sese pleaded with security agencies to intensify security patrol on waterways to check the recurring killings.

    A source, who claimed to have witnessed the latest killing, said the assassins shot sporadically to scare away onlookers before killing Suku.

    The source, who pleaded, anonymity said that the killers did not collect anything from the victim after the killing.

    On December 14, the commissioner of police in Bayelsa announced that the command had taken steps to ensure the safety of citizens, following frequent killing of residents of the state.

    No fewer than five people have been shot dead in Bayelsa in recent weeks, according to records.

    A female journalist survived an armed robbery attack in Yenagoa a few days ago.

    Bayelsa, which is rich in oil and gas, has been a hotbed of militancy and abductions of mainly oil workers for decades.

  • Court jailed 19-year-old for criminal intimidation

    Court jailed 19-year-old for criminal intimidation

    A Jos Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old man, Shuaibu Abdullahi, to one imprisonment for criminal intimidation.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Jovita Binjin, convicted Abdullahi of Bauch Road, Jos, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal intimidation and criminal force on arraignment.

    On count one, Binjin sentenced Abdullahi to four months imprisonment but with an option of N2, 000 fine, and six months imprisonment on count two, with N3, 000 fine option.

    After the conviction, the magistrate said, “I hope this will serve as deterrent to others wanting to commit such crime.’’

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Gushe Michanan, had told the court that the case was reported to Nassarawa Gwong Police Station by one Shuaibu Babale of Bauchi Road.

    Michanan said that the convict threatened to kill the complainant’s brother with a knife and in the process, picked a stick and hit him on the head.

    “During police investigation, damaged five Airtel, two MTN and one Glo sim cards were recovered from the convict, and he could not give any satisfactory account of the sim cards in his possession,” he said.

    He told the court that the offences contravened sections 263 and 390 of the Penal Code.

    NAN

  • Girl docked for rice, vegetable oil theft

    Girl docked for rice, vegetable oil theft

    A sales girl, Sylvanus Blessing, who allegedly stole bags of rice and vegetable oil valued at N793, 000, was on Thursday docked before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court.

    Sylvanus, 21, who works at No. 21, Ogudu Road in Ojota area of Lagos, and resides at Ogba, is facing a charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky, told the court that on December 11, the complainant, Mrs Nnamdi Francisca, owner of the shop, reported the case at Ogudu Police Station.

    Ihiehie said that the complainant discovered that her shop had been broken in and goods worth over N700, 000 were missing.

    “The sales girl has been working with the complainant for over four months and has been with the shop keys since then,’’ he said.

    Ihiehie said on December 10, the accused dropped the keys with the second sales girl and disappeared.

    In the process, the complainant discovered that many bags of rice and a gallon of grounding oil were missing during the period the accused was in charge of the shop’s keys.

    “In all, 30 bags of 50kg rice, 20 bags of 25kg of rice, 10 bags of 12 kg of rice, 15 bags of 5kg rice and 25 litres of vegetable oil were missing in the shop.

    Read also: Guard in court over alleged theft in church

    “The total value of the items stolen in the shop is N 793, 000,’’ he said.

    The offence contravened Section 285 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    According to reports, The accused risks seven years imprisonment upon conviction.

    The accused, has however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule Amzat, granted the accused bail of N100, 000 with two sureties, who must be gainfully employed.

    The case was adjourned until January 29, 2018.

    NAN

  • Baby born with heart outside body survives surgery

    Baby born with heart outside body survives surgery

    Vanellope Hope Wilkins, a baby born with heart outside her body has survived surgery to insert the heart back into her body, CNN has reported.

    Vanellope who is now three weeks old, was delivered by a team of 50 medical professionals at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, UK, on November 22.

    The baby who underwent three intensive surgeries to insert her heart back into her body was reported to have been born with ectopia cordis, a congenital condition causing her heart to grow outside her body.

    According to Dr. Frances Bu’Lock, consultant in pediatric cardiology at Glenfield Hospital, Vanellope was the first baby to survive the operation in UK.

    “I deal with babies with heart problems all the time, some of them very complicated,” Dr. Frances Bu’Lock said.

    “This is only the second case in 30 years that I’ve seen this particular condition, it’s extremely rare.

    “Vanellope is the first baby to survive this operation in the UK.”

    CNN reports that an initial ultrasound scan at nine weeks had alerted Vanellope’s parents, Naomi Findlay and Dean Wilkins, that their baby’s heart and part of her stomach had begun to grow outside of her body.

    Another Ultra Scan at 16 weeks disclosed that while Vanellope’s bowel had moved back to the correct position, her heart was still out of place.

    Bu’Lock, who had fears that Vanellope might not survived, described the surgery a ‘challenging one.’

    “Now she’s out, she’s had three surgeries and her heart is covered — I think her chances are a lot better,” said Bu’Lock, who called the surgery “challenging (rather) than complicated.”

    Meanwhile, Naomi Findlay, Vanellope’s mother said she was not expecting her daughter to survive the surgery.

    According to Naomi, she had prepared herself for the worst.

    Naomi Findlay in a statement on Tuesday said: “I had prepared myself for the worst; that was my way of dealing with it.

    “I had brought an outfit to hospital that she could wear if she died.”

    “I genuinely didn’t think my baby would survive, but the staff at Glenfield have been amazing.”

  • SARS: ‘crime rate has dropped in Rivers upland region’

    SARS: ‘crime rate has dropped in Rivers upland region’

    Mr Akin Fakorode, the Commander of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) in Rivers, says crime rate has dropped to the barest minimum in the upland region of the state.

    Fakorode disclosed this in an interview on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

    He assured the people of the state that the Squad would continue to tackle insecurity in the riverside region until peace was permanently restored following its collaboration with the Marine Police, Navy and other relevant security agencies.

    He disagreed with those clamouring for the withdrawal of SARS from the state,saying the call had no good intention for the residents.

    Fakorede urged members of the public to lodge their complaints about  any misdemeanour on the part of SARS operatives for appropriate sanctions.

    He said that SARS had been able to identify those fomenting trouble and their hideouts, adding that trouble makers would not be given breathing space under his watch.

    “We have increased our presence and we have also strengthened surveillance on the state’s waterways to block the entry points of criminals to the riverside communities.

    “ This measure is to ensure that there is no safe Haven for criminals even in the creeks.

    “I urge the public to enjoy the best Christmas celebration in terms of security as we have positioned our officers and men to ensure security of lives and property in the state,” he said.

    The commander said the presence of SARS in Rivers had brought a sigh of relief to the residents who hitherto were unsafe owing to incessant  kidnappings and cult activities.

    Read also: SARS: Wike, other campaigners are crime beneficiaries, says Peterside

    Fakorode called for more public cooperation,saying  that SARS operations in the state had also  reduced incidents of senseless killings.

    “We remain grateful to those who came in solidarity to identify with the noble objectives of SARS in Rivers because we cannot talk about policing without public collaboration.

    “At several fora, we have asked the public to make official reports of misconduct by our men to the Inspector-General of Police and top police officers.

    “We made this request because some persons may have been negatively affected by some SARS operatives.

    “I can assure Rivers people that any complaint would be duly investigated and if any officer is found wanting he shall not go unpunished,” he said.

    NAN

  • Nigeria demands restructuring and expansion of UN Security Council

    Nigeria demands restructuring and expansion of UN Security Council

    Nigeria has demanded an immediate restructuring and expansion of the UN Security Council to correct the injustices meted out against Africa in the composition of the prestigious 15-member body.

    Nigeria’s position was delivered by Amb. Babatunde Nurudeen, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS at the UN General Assembly Debate on ‘Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council’.

    The Security Council is UN’s most powerful principal organ charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, accepting new members to the UN and approving any changes to the UN Charter.

    Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, the authorisation of military action and it is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

    Nurudeen regretted that 72 years after its formation, Africa continued to be marginalised in the representation on the prestigious body in spite of its ability and capacity.

    He stressed that a reformed Council would entail a restructuring and expansion of its membership to take account of, inter-alia, the increased membership of UN and the need to reflect the interests of all the constituent regions.

    The Nigerian envoy said: “Nigeria and other emerging nations continue to demonstrate the capacity to add value to the work, of all the organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council.

    “For that reason, we must now commit ourselves to accelerating the long-overdue reforms of the Security Council. This will no doubt make the Council more equitable, more inclusive and more effective”.

    Russia, UK, France, China, and U.S. serve as the body’s only five permanent members that can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.

    Nurudeen stressed: “Nigeria believes that a reformed Security Council with expanded permanent membership would benefit from the unique experiences and capacities that regional representatives could bring to bear on its work.

    “Nigeria has always expressed its support for the advancement of the intergovernmental negotiations process in an open, inclusive and transparent manner”.

    The Nigerian envoy re-affirmed Nigeria’s very strong adherence to the Common African Union Position on the entire subject of Security Council reform.

    “That is important in order to correct the historical injustice done to the continent and its continued marginalisation over so many years.

    “For that reason, we wish to underscore the overriding need to ensure that the interests of Africa continue to be advanced and safeguarded.

    “African States have offered a coherent, practical and persuasive blueprint for the Council’s reform.

    “We have come up with a common position, which asserts the right of our continent that has for so long been marginalised, and we recognise the legitimate aspirations of other regions to be fully represented in the Council.

    According to him, the clear objective of the reform process is based on the sovereign equality of all Member States and on the need to adhere to the principles of democratisation and inclusiveness in the UN.

    “It is undoubtedly a worthwhile process. Therefore, we must muster the desired will that can lead to the achievement of a reformed Security Council sooner rather than indefinitely,” Nurudeen said.

    NAN

  • Presidency moves to end farmers-herdsmen conflicts

    Presidency moves to end farmers-herdsmen conflicts

    The Federal government has opened nationwide consultations with opinion leaders towards ending incessant farmers – herdsmen conflict.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo opened the dialogue with the hosting of some traditional rulers from Adamawa at the State House in Abuja.

    The meeting was sequel to his visit to Adamawa on December 5, in the wake of the communal clashes in the area.

    The meeting had in attendance the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa; elder statesman, Malam Ahmed Joda and other leaders of the Fulani communities.

    Subsequent meetings would focus on other interest groups.

    At the meeting, previous reports on the conflict were presented by the delegation and causes of the conflicts were analysed.

    The meeting condemned the acts of violence that had occurred, especially the killing of children and women.

    It also highlighted the need for Law Enforcement and other Government Agencies to dutifully and objectively perform their constitutional roles.

    Osinbajo assured the delegation of the Federal Government’s resolve and commitment to the entrenchment of lasting peace in all communities across the country and the resolution of all legitimate grievances.

    He said, “There is nothing much more important now, in showing our leadership beyond preventing tragedy and destruction of everything we have built as a nation.

    The entire Nigeria enterprise is bigger than other interests. The overall objective is ensuring that our nation is not enveloped by another crisis.”

    According to the Vice President “We now have an opportunity to do something. We have the opportunity to resolve the issues and to build a nation where we and our children can live in peace.”

    Following the vice president’s visit to Adamawa, several food items and relief materials had been distributed to all the affected communities in the state, including Shafaron, Kodomti, Tullum, Mzoruwe and Mararraban Bare in Numan Local Government Area.

    Other communities that received relief materials were Dong, Lawaru and Kukumso in Demsa Local Government Area of the state.

    In the next series of meetings, the vice president will meet with the Batta, Bachama and other groups from Adamawa, while meetings with stakeholders from other conflict-affected states would follow.

    Also at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Musa Bello.

    NAN 

  • TStv to roll out decoders next week – official

    TStv to roll out decoders next week – official

    The Management of the much awaited indigenous Satellite TV, inaugurated on October 1, on Friday said the TStv decoders would be in the market from next week.

    Mr Ernest Essien, the TStv’s Public Relations Officer, made the disclosure in Abuja.

    Essien said the company had concluded arrangement to roll out its commercial decoders from next week after the successful test run of its promo decoders distributed before November 1.

    He said that the service provider was committed to making sure that all the intending customers should have their decoders before Christmas.

    “We are almost done with our test transmission and we are just putting some finishing touches and hopefully by the grace of God, between now and next week the decoders will be out for sale.

    “We are informing Nigerians that they must enjoy their Christmas with their decoders. So before Christmas, the decoders will be everywhere in the market.

    “Everything is in place we have done everything we needed to do before coming out and I want to let you know that TStv is still on course.’’

    Essien reiterated that the price of TStv decoder would remain at the initial N5,000 with all the packages promised, adding that there would  be additional surprise packages for its customers.

    He said that the management had decided to keep the packages secret until the decoders were rolled out.

    “We will display all the packages accordingly but the one we can assure you now is that the price will not change, it remains N5,000.

    “We are trying to see how we can make it simple and easy for every Nigerian to be able to afford it.

    “We are keeping our promises on the channels and all the channels including BEing Sports channels are there with even more other channels that were not included in our bouquet before.

    “We have more channels that are coming and the total number of channels will be over 70,’’ he said.

    Some of the beneficiaries of the promo decoder had commended the improvement in the number of channels and quality of the programmes.

    NAN

  • Pep: i and Mourinho are like twins

    Pep: i and Mourinho are like twins

    Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have enjoyed a rivalry, in Spain and England, that has at times been acrimonious but the Manchester City manager believes they have something in common.

    The Spaniard believes that when it comes to the desire to win trophies they are identical.

    “Definitely. In that, we are twins,” said Guardiola when asked, ahead of Sunday’s derby clash, if he was as obsessed with winning as his United and former Real Madrid counterpart.

    “They want to win trophies, we want to win trophies.

    “I think Antonio Conte is the same as well, and Jurgen (Klopp) and Mauricio (Pochettino), and in all the leagues around the world, the managers are (like that),” the former FC Barcelona manager added.

    “I never criticise my colleagues for the way they play. I never did in the past, I will never do it.

    “Football is magnificent for that, because every manager plays in the way they play. There are different ways to enjoy football. It’s simple like that,” he said.

    Keeping it simple is Guardiola’s mantra ahead of the highly anticipated derby.

    Although City head to Old Trafford with an eight-point lead over their local rivals, the Spaniard is determined that his team keep their focus.

    Their focus, he said, will be on doing what they have done so well this season — playing their style of possession football.

    “The big challenge is to play good, to try to control the start point. It’s hard, because it’s United at Old Trafford. We want to try to play our game.

    “The focus is going there relaxed and knowing that if we don’t win the individual duels, it will be almost impossible to beat them,” Guardiola said.

    “We will try to play well, to play good football, what we have done, to be what we are. So I would like to finish the game and go to the locker room and feel we were what we have been for the season.

    “As for the result, nobody knows what is going to happen. We will try to find the best way to play well and to win the game,” he said.

    While a victory would send City 11 points clear ahead of the festive season, Guardiola has little time for the notion that the game could be a title decider.

    “Winning, drawing or losing on Sunday, we are not going to win or lose the English Premier League. It’s December,” he said.

    “It’s an important game, because it’s United. You can get points and deny your opponent points. But it’s the same for them.

    “I am not going into the game thinking: OK, we have an eight-point lead. What do I have to do because we have an eight-point lead? The Premier League is a marathon. We haven’t even arrived at the halfway stage yet.

    “There are a lot of points to play for, more than 70. We just focus on the game, and the result, and then after, recovery and then thinking about Swansea three days later.

    “It’s simple like that. It’s about going there and doing our game. That is what I want to see from my players.”

    NAN