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Tag: thieves

  • 2019 polls between thieves, trustworthy politicians, says El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said next year’s general elections are between thieves and trustworthy politicians.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Kaduna at the inauguration of 69-member Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has nothing to offer Nigeria as its ideology is for “looting”.

    El-Rufai, who delivered keynote address at the launch of the campaign council at Murtala Mohammed Square in Kaduna, described Monday’s kick-off of PDP’s campaign in Sokoto as a gang-up of “thieves” who rented crowd from a foreign country.

    He said: “The 2019 general elections are between trustworthy people and thieves; between patriotic leaders and those who went to Abuja to loot our treasury. So, we have to stand up and show them that Kaduna is not a state that will allow them to cheat the people and the masses.

    “What we have done in Kaduna State in the last three years has shown that APC is the one that loves the masses and assists the masses, not a party that will take public funds and share them among the rich. That is why we want you to go out and tell the people to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari again.

    “Thieves have ganged up against President Buhari. They were in Sokoto yesterday and they rented crowd from Niger Republic, just to show people that they have supporters, because Sokoto people refused to come out. So, when it is time to launch President Buhari’s campaign in Kaduna, people should come for the whole world to see that Niger Republic people are not the ones disguising as Nigerians.

    “We must show that we are in support of President Buhari. And when is time to cast our votes, we should vote for President Buhari and all APC candidates. In Kaduna, we will support APC from top to bottom.

    “With the hard work of our members and the votes of our people, APC won a sterling victory in 2015. The government we produced has anchored its agenda on putting the people first…”

     

  • Police arrest suspected car thieves

    The police in Lagos have arrested two suspected members of a gang that specialised in snatching vehicles around Lekki and Ajah.

    The suspects, Sunday Ikechukwu and Gabriel Collins were paraded yesterday by the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Imohimi Edgal at the state Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja.

    It was gathered that Ikechukwu, the alleged leader of the gang, had on September 4, fled with his boss’ Honda Accord car with registration number LSD33DF.

    The suspect was said to have relocated to Ghana, while police operatives attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Ikeja were on his trail.

    Thinking that the matter had been forgotten, the suspect was said to have returned to Lagos, where he formed a four-man car snatching syndicate around Ajah.

    It was gathered that a fortnight ago, the gang snatched a Toyota Corolla car from its owner whom they locked inside the boot.

    Unknown to the suspects, the car had tracking device which enabled the owner to open the boot from inside and escaped.

    Undeterred, the suspects were said to have gone to the same neighbourhood they snatched the vehicle to sell it, but they were apprehended by policemen who have been tracking the vehicle.

    According to Edgal, the police recovered the Honda Accord stolen by Ikechukwu in September as well as the Toyota Corolla from the suspects, adding that efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.

  • 2019 polls: Don’t return thieves to power, APC warns

    THOSE ganging up to unseat the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government ruined the nation’s economy, the ruling party has said.

    It alerted Nigerians to be wary of those deploying what it called stolen commonwealth to fund their political activities to stage a comeback to power.

    In a statement yesterday by the party’s spokesman, Yekini Nabena, the party warned that such persons were regrouping to use the stolen funds to subvert the will of the people through vote buying.

    Nabena, who is APC’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, urged relevant agencies to proactively get involved in tracking election financing, pointing out that those with illegally-acquired money were using it to canvass votes for elective positions.

    Nabena said that Nigerians have not forgotten the yoke they bore under the “inept” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regimes and therefore deserve no more of it.

    He pointed out that public funds that could have improved education, healthcare sectors and provided infrastructure to develop the economic and social life of Nigerians were in the pockets of individuals.

    Nabena said in the statement: “While we alert Nigerians to the plot of some politicians to buy votes and deploy other illegal means to subvert the people’s will during the coming elections, we urge relevant agencies to be proactively involved in the tracking of election financing.

    “The same people who criminally-diverted public monies to fund their political activities as brazenly displayed during past administrations must be prevented from doing same in coming elections.

    ”Under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, the scale of recoveries from corrupt elements in the past three years by the country’s anti-graft agencies is testament that the administration’s extensive anti-corruption drive is yielding results.

    “Compared to the past, successful prosecution of many corrupt persons, the hugely-successful whistle-blowing policy and voluntary return of corruptly-acquired funds and assets have shown that it is no longer business as usual and corruption is increasingly becoming unacceptable.

    “Corruption can no longer define how we do things as a country. There is a new realisation among well-meaning Nigerians that if we don’t kill corruption it will kill us.

    “Recently, the media space has been awash with a campaign of calumny against the anti-corruption efforts by the same opposition partisans and their proxies that ruined the country with their institutionalised corruption. This is expected as corruption will naturally fight back.

    “Sadly, these thieves have resurfaced to canvass votes of Nigerians for various elective positions, ostensibly to resume their stealing. Nigerians are neither gullible nor stupid. They have not forgotten the yoke they bore under the corrupt Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regimes and deserve no more of it.

    “Public funds that could have improved the education, healthcare sectors and provided infrastructure to develop the economic and social life of Nigerians are sadly in the pockets of these thieves.

    “To conclude, we share the submission of a former United States (U.S.) Vice President, Joe Biden: ‘Corruption is a cancer; a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity… it wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs’.

    “We must continue to challenge corruption and its related vices. This is line with the Change Agenda the APC promised Nigerians. This is a promise we are committed to keep.”

    But the PDP spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan accused the ruling party of shielding members of questionable characters.

    He said: “We urge the APC to begin its fight against corruption from Buhari Presidency where the most iniquitous felons enjoy presidential cover.

    “President Muhammodu Buhari can demonstrate this anti-corruption fight by mandating the EFCC to immediately commence the arraignment of Babachir Lawal.”

  • Energy firm to arrest, prosecute thieves

    The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has threatened to arrest and prosecute any person, group or corporate body found to be engaged in energy theft in its network.

    Acting Chief Executive Officer, PHED, Kingsley Achife, talked tough yesterday in Rumuorlumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a town-hall meeting on customers’ bill of right, according to the company’s Manager, Corporate Communications, John Onyi.

    He decried the constant loss of about 30 per cent of the company’s anticipated revenue to energy theft on a monthly basis, which he described as unacceptable.

    Achife said: “PHED has collaborated with security agencies. A crack team of anti-energy theft squad has been established to work on a daily basis with the Revenue Protection Department (RPD) of the company (PHED).

    “We can assure you that anybody caught in meter tampering, by-pass through diversion of load or hooking directly to power lines shall not go scot free. He or she must face the full weight of the law. We cannot continue to condone energy thieves in our network. It must be stopped.

    “This is an era of energy accountability. For us to sustain the power industry, energy theft must be eradicated. We urge you to join in the war against energy theft and it must be won.”

    PHED’s acting chief executive officer also stated that the spate of energy theft in the company’s coverage area (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states) was a major source of huge revenue leakage.

    Achife added that with the warning and the setting up of the anti-energy theft crack team, PHED would tackle the ugly energy theft in the system.

  • Thieves stripped my house bare, says Jonathan

    Thieves stripped my house bare, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that his house was stripped bare of all valuables and movable items by those who burgled it.

    A statement by the ex-President’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, said six policemen were under arrest.

    The statement said movable items in the house, including furniture sets, beds,

    electronics, toilet and electrical fittings and all internal doors and frames were stolen.

    It reads: “Following series of enquiries from journalists and other concerned Nigerians on the extent of the reported vandalisation and theft in the house of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan located in Gwarinpa Abuja, we therefore would like to make the following clarifications:

    “The theft was discovered last month upon which a report was duly lodged with the relevant police authorities.

    “The police immediately commenced investigations, which led to the arrest and detention of some suspects, six of whom were policemen, even as investigations continue.

    “The house, which the former President bought from CITEC estate developers in 2004, was totally stripped bare by the thieves who stole every movable item in the house, including furniture sets, beds, electronics, toilet and electrical fittings, as well as all internal doors and frames.”

    But against media reports, the statement said only six television sets, three refrigerators and one gas cooker were stolen.

     

     

     

  • Thieves raid Niger Speaker’s office

    TEN of the underworld yesterday raided the office of the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly carting away two plasma televisions and N50, 000.

    The Nation gathered that the office was scattered as if the men were looking for some documents. The office of the member representing Bida 1 was also raided and the television in his office was dropped at the Speaker’s Office.

    The money stolen, N50,000 belonged to the messenger of the Speaker who said that the money was a contribution by other messengers in the Assembly which he kept in a drawer inside the office of the Speaker. It could not been confirmed if any document was taken away from the office as the office was being put together as at the time of filing this report. The sitting of the House was also shifted because of this incident.

    No member was ready to talk about the incident, as all efforts by our correspondent to get their views about the robbery incident proved abortive.

  • Thieves are now on the run, says Oshiomhole

    Thieves are now on the run, says Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said that thieves that brought Nigeria to its kneels are now on the run.

    He said dubious politicians will not succeed him in office.

    Oshiomhole said God’s vengeance could be seen in the confusion in the Peoples Democratic Party because the party destroyed the country.

    He spoke when he feted Muslims in the state at the state house as part of the Id-el-Fitri celebration.

    Oshiomhole assured the Muslims community that Nigeria would be a great country again with the actions taken by President Mohammadu Buhari.

    He said the Muslims should thank Allah for making President Mohammadu Buhari

    He said President Buhari has to be rigid to be able to find the thieves as well as avoiding building on a foundation already destroyed by the PDP.

  • BEDC begins clampdown on power thieves

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) promised to begin prosecution of anyone caught stealing power from its network.

    It said 50 per cent of the power generated in Nigeria was stolen through bye-passing of meters and illegal connection.

    Its Managing Director, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, who stated this during an interactive session with reporters in Benin  said the penalty for power theft is great.

    She said a church in Benin City that was supposed to be preaching morals was caught stealing power.

    She said the aim of the clampdown on power thieves was to ensure that those paying electricity bills regularly get adequate power supply.

    On the planned protest by civil societies from four states over high electricity billing,  the BEDC chief said the groups were misleading Nigerians to do the wrong thing by bye-passing meters.

  • Navy arrests 10 oil thieves, kidnappers in Delta

    Navy arrests 10 oil thieves, kidnappers in Delta

    Ten suspects, including one suspected kidnapper and nine oil thieves, were on Friday paraded by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, in Warri, Delta State.

    The Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, who paraded the suspects, also displayed two Cotonou boats, containing a quantity of 195,000 litres of substance suspected to be illegally refined diesel, filled into 39 units of 5000 litre GP tanks.

    The navy chief also displayed arms and ammunition, as well as speedboats retrieved from the locations where his men made the arrests.

    According to him, while Tombra Obaila, a member of a five-man kidnapping gang, was arrested at about 17:30 hours on Wednesday, April 27, at Ndoro camp, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the nine suspected oil thieves were arrested at an undisclosed location.

    “In line with the CNS strategic directives and the mandate of the Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command, to rid the maritime environment of crude oil theft and other illegalities in the Central Naval Command’s area of responsibility, NNS Delta has continued on its aggressive patrols within its Area of operation to reduce kidnapping, sea robbery and hijacking among others to the barest minimum.

    “In this regard, NNS Delta patrol team intercepted and arrested 10 suspects with two sea-going Cotonou boats, laden with a total of 39 X 5000 litres GP tanks containing products suspected to be illegally refined diesel. Other items recovered include a speedboat with 200 horsepower engine and 13 pumping machines. The speedboat was used for surveillance ahead of the Cotonou boats.

    “In another development, a member of a suspected kidnap gang, Mr Tombra Obaila, is currently in our custody. The NNS Delta patrol team encountered the gang at about 1730 on 27 April, 2016, at Ndoro camp in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa state. The 5-man gang, in two speedboats, opened fire on sighting the NNS Delta patrol team. The team engaged the gang and overpowered it, forcing its members to run into the creeks, abandoning their boats and other items”, he said.

    The recovered items from the gang included one FN rifle, its magazine and 57 rounds of 6.72mm live ammunition. Others were a locally-made gun, two AK47 empty magazines, 16 mobile phones, 2 face masks, 3 speedboat fuel lines, one 140 horsepower and one 90 horsepower boat engines.

    On the controversy being generated over the recent confiscation of speedboats fitted with 200 and above horsepower engines, Mohammed said the Navy or government had not banned their use, but restricted them to lawful activities that could be verified by authorities.

  • Thieves steal handset of visiting World Muslim League scribe

    Thieves steal handset of visiting World Muslim League scribe

    Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared the international conference on peace and stability open in Abuja, thieves reportedly stole the handset of the Executive Secretary of the World Muslim League Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullahi Bin Abdul.Security agencies which are said to be hugely embarrassed by the development, are currently probing the alleged security breach which led to the theft.

    The victim himself is said to be worried by the incident.

    Investigation showed that Bin Abdul had been accorded the honour of leading the Jumat prayer at the National Mosque on Friday.

    A heavy security ring was therefore formed around him and his entourage by the relevant agencies.

    After the Jumat service, many dignitaries and worshippers tried to move closer to Abdul which led to the alleged security breach.

    It was gathered that the Secretary of World Muslim League later discovered that his handset had been stolen.

    A top source said: “Despite tight security for him, some thieves made away with the handset of the Executive Secretary of the World Muslim League.

    “The theft occurred after the Jumat prayer session suggesting that there was breach of the security wall at the National Mosque. Some smart guys took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to strike.

    “This incident created an embarrassment for the cleric, diplomats and most of the dignitaries that accompanied him to the service.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The visitor from Saudi Arabia was shocked and embarrassed. No one could explain how it happened.”

    Sources told The Nation last night that the matter was being investigated.

    Another source added: “All the agencies have swung into action to arrest those who perpetrated the act. They will get the brains behind the incident. I cannot confirm whether or not any arrest has been made but we will crack this case to correct any misgivings.”

    It was not immediately clear if the CCTV system at the National Mosque was working as at the time of the incident.

    “The security agencies will determine the efficiency of the CCTV,” the source said.

    Prior to the theft on Friday, the Secretariat of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), within the premises of the mosque, was recently burgled with hard discs of some sensitive computers carted away by unknown thieves.

    The development made the NSCIA to eject some tenant organizations from the main secretariat.