The Nation Newspaper

Tag: smash

  • Police smash child sale syndicate

    The police in Lagos have uncovered a syndicate that specialises in stealing and selling children.

    Three members of the syndicate – Joy Okoye, 28; Uju Obieze, 40 and Ifeyinwa Ezene, 46 – were arrested in Lagos, Delta and Anambra states.

    Their victim, a two-year-old baby, was rescued in Enugu State at the home of Ifeoma Okoye, said to be deceased.

    It was gathered the child went missing on May 1 at her parent’s 27, Test Oluwale Street, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos State.

    The child’s father, Ekene Nwoagbo, was said to have filed a complaint at the police station, which prompted Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal to direct the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take charge of the case.

    Preliminary investigation, it was gathered, indicted Okoye, a resident of 64, Kirikiri Street in Olodi-Apapa.

    She was said to have confessed to the crime, having alleged conniving with another suspect, identified simply as Amarachi, said to be on the run, to sell the child.

    Okoye, it was learnt, told detectives that she and the others sold the baby for N300,000 to Obieze, a resident of 8, Okwe Road, Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    Consequently, the command mobilised detectives to Asaba and Obieze was arrested on September 13.

    She allegedly confessed to have bought the baby in collaboration with Ezene of 2, Eze Bishop Street, Onitsha, Anambra State.

    Following her arrest, Ezene reportedly led detectives on September 14 to 40, Amaechi Street, off Agbani Road, Enugu, said to be the home of Okoye, whom they allegedly resold the child to.

    Policemen were told that Okoye died the previous week though the child was rescued from her relatives.

    Confirming the incident, Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said Okoye’s relatives were mourning her death at the time detectives arrived her home.

    He said: “The little girl has since been reunited with her parents. The suspects will be charged to court on Wednesday (today).”

  • Delta police smash ‘baby factory’

    Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a commercial bus driver and an estate agent for allegedly operating a ‘baby factory’ and child abduction.

    The suspects, identified as Jennifer Obi and Osita Okafor, were arrested along with seven girls.

    Six of the girls, according to the police, are currently pregnant.

    The suspects, who were paraded in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, denied the allegations. They claimed to have been arrested at a maternity home where they were receiving treatment from a midwife.

    The spokesman of the state’s police command, Celestina Kalu, a Superintendent of Police(SP) said: “One Blessing Aondoseer ‘f’ of Ominigboma camp reported at the ‘B’ Division Police station that sometimes in September 2016, her husband, one Telengu ‘m’ (surname unknown) brought her to Asaba with pregnancy for delivery. And that after delivering a baby boy, her husband, Jennifer Obi and two others took away her two-weeks-old baby to an unknown destination.”

    “Detectives swung into action and arrested Jennifer Obi and Osita Okafor. Seven other girls, out of which six are pregnant namely: Joy Chinwendu, Amaka Emeka Joy, Deborah Ogbonna, Ifunanya Agu, Chinecherem Agbo, Ogochukwu Okwe and Chioma Emmanuel were also arrested in the house of Osita Okafor at Oduke area, Asaba. The six pregnant girls confessed that they were there to sell their babies after delivery.”

    But Okafor denied the allegations, claiming that all suspects were arrested at his wife’s maternity home.

    He said that his wife had been away for about three months and that the pregnant girls came regularly for treatment.

    He added that the complainant raised the alarm after she was duped by her husband who collected the money for the ‘stolen child’ and disappeared.

    He claimed the complainant was given a paltry N2, 000 after which she raised the alarm.

    He said: “I am Osita Okafor, a bus driver in Asaba. My wife is a midwife. All these girls came for treatment before they were arrested. This complainant and her husband sold their baby. Her husband ran away with the money and gave her just N2, 000, and that is why the girl reported at the police station. The local vigilant moved in following the alarm she raised.”

    The 40-year-old bus driver and father-of-three denied being a member of the syndicate, adding that he was getting ready for work when he was arrested. The other accused person, Obi, denied her involvement in the alleged crime.

    She said that as an estate agent, she was doing her job, adding that she found a room for the complainant and her husband. According to her, on the day they went to look for a room, she observed that the complainant experienced labour pains and she assisted her to get to a maternity home.

    The leader of the Tiv community in Asaba, Paul Tyokase Ngutur, who acted as interpreter for the complainant, said that Blessing Aondoseer was married to another man who impregnated her in Mbausu community. But because he had no money for the welfare of his pregnant wife, he returned her to her parents only to discover that her parents were separated.

    According to him, Blessing’s mother, who did not know what to do with her pregnant daughter was approached by Telengu, who promised to marry her and subsequently brought her to Asaba only to sell the two-weeks-old baby upon delivery and disappeared.

    He said Blessing and her husband Telengu hails from  Mbausu community, Vandekya Local Government Area of Benue State.

    He said investigation revealed that the fleeing Telengu had commenced the building of his home in Benue from the proceeds of child sale.

     

  • 11 killed as soldiers smash Boko Haram attacks in Borno

    11 killed as soldiers smash Boko Haram attacks in Borno

    A fresh attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to  attack a military base in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State  yesterday crashed  after soldiers  repelled the invaders.

    Seven of the terrorists were killed in the early morning raid, which came on the heels of  the killing of another four terrorists and rescue of 61 people held captive by the sect in the Nwalemer, Mallemiri and Bale axis of the state.

    Gwoza is about 200 kilometers from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    It was once under the control of the sect but was retaken this year by soldiers.

    Briefing newsmen yesterday on the aborted raid, the Media Coordinator  of Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Tukur Gusau said, although details were  being collated, seven  terrorists were killed.

    A Toyota Hilux vehicle, 11 AK-47 rifles, 1 Shilka Gun, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 6 Hand Grenades and  Shilka Gun and Machine Gun ammunitions were recovered.

    He said troops were continuing  their  raid  and aerial bombardment of the Sambisa forest  with a view to smoking out the remnants of the terrorists.

    Col Gusau also said that troops  from  7 Division Garrison and 112 Task Force Battalion yesterday recovered the following weapons in Busheshe village in Mafa axis: two Hilux vans, two anti-aircraft guns, three 81 milimetre bombs, 101 units of 60 milimetre bombs, 20 ammunition boxes, 21 Rocket Propelled Guns (RPGs) and a large quantity of 7.62 milimeter special ammunition.

    The army also announced in Abuja yesterday that troops of 28 Task Force Brigade, backed by the Nigerian Air Force,  rescued 61 persons from Boko Haram captivity.

    In addition, the troops cleared more Boko Haram camps, recovered two dane guns and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by insurgents.

    In a statement issued, Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed that four Boko Haram men were killed while one was captured, adding that the 61 rescued persons have been evacuated to a safe location.

    He said: “The fight against Boko Haram terrorists is continuing to maintain its momentum with the discovery and destruction of terrorists’ camps, weapons and equipment, while the terrorists have been fleeing and abandoning their bases.

  • New Imo CP leads team to smash notorious robbery gang

    New Imo CP leads team to smash notorious robbery gang

    The new Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, yesterday smashed two notorious armed robbery gangs who have been terrorizing residents of the state.

    Lakanu, who assumed duty Wednesday, warned kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements in the state to relocate or face the wrath of the law, adding that “there will be total annihilation of criminals in the state”.

    Briefing Journalists in the state, the Commissioner of Police, said that the operation started at about 8.30pm following a distress call by residents of Aladinma.

    He said that immediately after the call, he led a crack team of policemen and stormed the area where the notorious armed robbers were rounded up shortly after robbing one Mrs. Shirley Ugoeze.

    According to him, items recovered from the suspects include locally made pistols and live catridges, among other dangerous weapons.

    He assured the residents of the state that the police under his command will partner the public to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum in the state.

    The CP also assured that efforts will be made to create an enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.

  • Wikki aim to smash Ifeanyi Ubah home invincibility

    Wikki aim to smash Ifeanyi Ubah home invincibility

    Wikki Tourists say they will inflict the first home loss of the season on Ifeanyi Ubah FC on Sunday when they clash in an epic Week 14 game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Wikki are second on the league table with 24 points from 13 games, while Ifeanyi Ubah FC are third with 23 points from same number of matches.

    Ifeanyi Ubah have won all their six home games this season with some good results on the road including a 4-1 thrashing of El Kanemi Warriors in Katsina.

    Wikki Tourists defender Peter Ambrose told AfricanFootball.com they hope to beat Ifeanyi Ubah right in front of their home fans.

    “We have been doing well since the season started and our position on the league shows that. We are battle ready for Ifeanyi Ubah and we are going there for a win,” said the younger brother of Celtic defender Efe Ambrose.

    “They are equally strong looking at their results too, but we will give our best as usual to get the victory on Sunday. We want to get to the top of the league table,so it is important for us to win the game and we will give it our best shot.”

  • 3SC smash FirstBank in friendly

    3SC smash FirstBank in friendly

    Shooting Stars of Ibadan were 3-1 better than Lagos lower league side, as the Oluyole Warriors round up their preparations for the new Nigeria Premier League season which will kick off early in March.

    The Ibadan side, who have been on a winning spree as the long Nigerian football close season stretched out, took a 15th minute lead through Seun Akinyemi.

    Moses Ogaga added a second five minutes later, and Olabisi Samuel completed a first half rout with a third on 31 minutes.

    The Oluyole Warriors then took their foots off the pedal, as coach Akeem Busari made a wholesale changes for the second stanza, in his continuing efforts to ensure that the whole team is ready for the new season.

    First Bank pulled a goal back in the second half, to bring a bit of respectability to the score line.