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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

December 14, 2017
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.

December 14, 2017
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

December 14, 2017
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

December 14, 2017
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.”

December 14, 2017
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

December 14, 2017
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

December 14, 2017
Messi: I hope football repays its debt to me

Lionel Messi has revealed that he still bears the sad memory of losing the 2014 World Cup but hopes Russia 2018 brings good tidings for him.

The Barcelona forward led a team of Argentine players that had lost three cup finals – 2014 World Cup lost to Germany and back to back Copa America final lost to Chile.

The five-time Ballon D’or winner was instrumental for his country who almost missed the chance of qualifying for Russia 2018 – scoring three goals against Ecuador.

After Argentina 3-0 win of Ecuador, head coach, Jorge Sampaoli said that “football owes Messi a World cup.

When Messi was asked to comment on his coach assertion that football owes him a World Cup in an exclusive interview with fifa.com, the Argentine captain laughingly agreed with his coach.

”Yes, I did hear it, and he said it to me too. I hope football does end up paying me! (laughs).”

Meanwhile, Messi has said that his side 4-2 loss to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a friendly match last month would count for nothing when the two sides lock horns once again in Russia next year.

Speaking on Argentina’s Group D opponents in Russia 2018, Messi added: “Nigeria one day they score four goals, the next one, they leave plenty spaces for you to do anything.

(Iceland) “Might seem easy, but they are tough and well organised on defence.

(Croatia) “They give you more room to play, but have great players.”

December 13, 2017
Primary education should be compulsory – Northern Senators

The Northern Senators Forum ( NSF ), has called for the amendment of the section four of the 1999 constitution to make primary school education compulsory in the country.

This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Forum ‘s Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, and issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina at the end of their two-day retreat.

The Forum also called for the establishment, equipping, and provision of adequate staffing of more learning centers as well as promotion of girl-child education in the region.

They said that the region should strive to reduce the number of out-of-school children roaming the streets.

“The alarming rate of out-of-school children and less number of learning institutions in the region explains why the North is both educationally and economically backward,’’ it said.

The communiqué also called for the revival of agricultural sector, industrial as well as manufacturing sectors so that teeming unemployed youths in the region could be actively engaged and empowered to keep them away from crimes.

It urged state governments in the region to start planning for post-oil era by improving their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and revive moribund industries to provide employment opportunities to their people.

The communiqué assured that the National Assembly would continue to perform their oversight functions seriously to ensure meaningful implementation of all federal budget provisions as it affects the three zones in the region.

It further stated that the North shall take a well articulated, firm and common position on the issue of restructuring.

“Northern members of the National Assembly would be an integral part of achieving that common platform that should also include devolution of power to states and local governments,’’ it said.

Read also: Restructuring: Northern Senators, governors to meet in Katsina

The forum also called for the amendment of the constitution to accommodate the traditional institution by prescribing specific roles and responsibility for them as they are the custodians of peace in their domain.

It also called for unity among people in the region irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious differences.

The senators resolved to partner with their counterparts in the House of Representatives and Northern Governors Forum to design a plan for the Northern region development.

NAN

December 13, 2017
Peace Corps asks court to hold IGP for contempt

The Peace Corps of Nigeria wants the Federal High Court, Abuja, to commit the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris to prison for alleged disregard of court orders.

The corps in Form 48 on Contempt of Court filed on Wednesday prayed the court to jail Idris to serve as deterrent to others in position of authority.

The contempt charge against the IGP was premised on the alleged refusal of the police to vacate the headquarters of the organisation which it sealed on Feb. 28, during its official commissioning.

The suit was predicated on a judgment in a fundamental human rights suit delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole on Nov. 9.

Kolawale in the judgment, ordered the police to unseal the corporate head office of the corps in Abuja.

He also ordered the police to pay the corps N12 million as damages for infringing on its rights to own property and for freedom of movement.

Read also: Peace Corps: Why AGF should compel police to obey court order

The suit was instituted by the National Commandant of the Corps, Mr Dickson Akoh and 49 others.

Speaking to newsmen, Akoh said that his organisation had been pushed to the wall to institute the contempt charge against the police boss.

“The organisation has secured seven different judgments from different courts, all barring the police from arresting detaining, harassing or intimidating our officers in the course of their lawful duties,’’ he said.

Akoh said that his officers would not take laws into their hands but would continue to approach the court for intervention.

NAN

December 13, 2017