A joint security team consisting of troops of 302 Regiment of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force have dislodged camps belonging to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Idara Nnebo, Ihe Mbosi villages and Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu said, “In a clearance operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday 25 June 2022, troops cleared IPOB fire positions and Improvised Explosive Devices to dislodge the criminals from their hideouts.
“During the operations, troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines with five rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, two pump action rifles and one locally fabricated gun.
“Other items include three power generators, among others.
“Similarly, troops of 103 Battalion conducted a raid operation on IPOB/ ESN camp at Nkwere Inyi Forest in Oji River Local Government of Enugu State.
“The encounter forced the criminals to flee in disarray, while troops recovered one Lexus and a Toyota Highlander SUV suspected to have been snatched by the criminals.
“Other items recovered include two motorcycles, one double barrel gun and seven live cartridges.
“Members of the public are enjoined to continue to support troops with credible information on the activities of the criminal elements in the region.”
A Brazilian returnee, Igwedum Uche Benson has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos with pellets of cocaine concealed in his private part.
NDLEA said Igwedum was nabbed at the Lagos airport on Monday 20th June upon his arrival on Ethiopian Airlines from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa.
According to a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, “Preliminary investigations reveal the suspect had swallowed 50 wraps of cocaine before departing Brazil and excreted 48 pellets in Addis Ababa where he handed them over to another person.
“He however claimed he was unable to excrete the remaining two wraps at the hotel room in Addis Ababa before boarding his flight but later excreted them in the aircraft restroom during the flight from Ethiopia to Lagos.
“In the same vein, after three weeks of painstaking investigation and tracking, operatives of the MMIA command of NDLEA on Saturday night, 25th June arrested a drug kingpin, Onyekachi Chukwuma Macdonald behind attempts to export 40 parcels of Methamphetamine popularly called Mkpuru Mmiri locally to London, United Kingdom through the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport.
“Onyekachi was arrested at Manacola estate, Alakuko area of Lagos at the weekend, three weeks after his Mkpuru Mmiri consignment weighing 2.05kilograms was intercepted at the airport and his freight agent, Peter Christopher Anikan arrested on 7th June.
“During his interview, the suspect said he’s from Ahiazu, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state and had lived in Dubai, UAE for 10 years before returning to Nigeria in 2019.
“He stated that after his return to Nigeria he opened a phone accessories shop in Sango Otta, Ogun state but the business collapsed.
“He then started sending cigarettes to London and decided to conceal the illicit drug in the consignment after advice by a friend”.
Closely related is the seizure of another consignment of 2kg Mkpuru Mmiri at a courier house in Owerri, Imo state.
The cargo seized on Wednesday 22nd June had ankara and lace fabrics in which two cylindrical cellophanes containing the drug heading to Hong Kong were concealed.
Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives on Friday 24th June intercepted 500,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg packed in 10 cartons and labelled Tramaking imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Emirates Airline.
The consignment weighing 407.60kg was seized during a joint examination with Customs and NAFDAC officials.
Same day, a Dubai, UAE-bound passenger, Alegbeleye Taiwo was arrested at the departure hall of the MMIA with 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
The 21-year-old suspect claims he’s from Osun state
Meanwhile, two kingpins behind the importation of two recent drug consignments from Canada concealed in vehicle containers through the Tincan seaport in Apapa, Lagos have been arrested by NDLEA operatives.
One of them, Gboyega Ayoola Elegbeji was arrested at his house, 14 Bakare Street, Idi Araba, Lagos on Wednesday 22nd June, for importing a 40ft container TRHU7874497 containing 33 parcels of cannabis indica (Colorado) weighing16.5kg.
The second suspect, Sunday Joe Oyebola, (aka Otunba) was arrested on Thursday 23rd June.
He’s linked to the importation of a 40ft container MEDU4389887 containing four vehicles used to conceal 290 parcels weighing 145kg cannabis indica (Colorado) from Montreal, Canada.
He had been on the run since March and had in the course of the investigation attempted to bribe officers with N10million to influence the case.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Tincan, and Imo state Commands of the Agency for the drug seizures and arrests especially of those who thought they could evade the long arm of the law.
He encouraged them and their compatriots across other formations to intensify their efforts towards achieving set goals.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the recruitment of additional 500 corps into the State Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Amotekun.
This is contained in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, on Sunday in Ibadan.
The statement indicated that Makinde announced the approval during the monthly security meeting with chairmen of local government areas, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state.
The governor said recruiting new corps would enhance Amotekun’s performance and further deepen the security architecture of the state.
Makinde said the meeting, held at the House of Parliament within the premises of the State House of Assembly, was part of his administration’s efforts to enhance the security of lives and property in the state.
He added that the meeting was to get the situation report from various quarters on security as well as to dialogue on what to do as stakeholders and finetune necessary steps.
The governor said the outcome would help the government to put necessary machinery in place for a safer environment.
He emphasised that security issue was a collective responsibility, “therefore all hands must be on deck in order to curtail insecurity facing the country, in which Oyo State is not exempted.
“Security is everyone’s business and if we all play our parts well, we will have a safer and more secured environment.
“Though the security of lives and property is a paramount responsibility of government, but the government cannot do it alone except with cooperation of the entire citizenry.”
Makinde used the occasion to appreciate the security agencies in the state for their unrelenting support towards making peaceful co-existence among the people of the state possible.
He urged them to keep the up pace in order to allow for more influx of investments and commercial growth.
In his remarks, a former governor of the state, Sen. Rasheed Ladoja, commended Makinde for being proactive in the area of security which has greatly helped the state.
Ladoja urged all stakeholders and members of the public to be vigilant and ensure the safety of their lives.
It is no longer news that the presidential candidate of the Labour party, Mr Peter Obi has been enjoying widespread acceptance and growing popularity among Nigerians ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
It would be recalled that Peter Obi who was vying for the post of the president under the people Democratic Party platform resigned from the party to join labour party where he later emerged as their flag bearer for the election.
Reacting on Peter Obi’s popularity, leader of Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye told Punch Newspaper (not ABN TV) in an exclusive interview that majority of the people that are clamoring for Obi’s Presidential bid are from the Eastern part of Nigeria.
Speaking to Punch Newspaper, the 87-year-old said Yoruba people are not rooting for Peter Obi.
“They are not rooting for Peter Obi – not Yoruba boys. They (those rooting for Peter Obi) are mostly Igbo boys.” Punch Newspaper quoted prof Banji as saying.
Mayor Lucky IgbokweBusinessman and politician, H.E Mayor Lucky Igbokwe (Don Lulu) has condoled with the Late M.I Okpara’s family over the death of his first daughter late Mrs Chinyere Eccles-James.
She was reported dead in the United States of America.
In his condolence message to the family, Mayor Igbokwe said he was very saddened to learn of the death of Mrs Chinyere Eccles-James, the daughter of the former premier of the Eastern region.
Her death in the United States, is coming months after the passing on and burial of her mother, Chief Mrs Adanma Okpara, the late matriarch of the ex-Premier, M. I Okpara dynasty.
He reminded the family that they are not alone in their moment of grief.
He said the last time he saw the late Mrs Eccles-James was at the funeral ceremony of her mother, in Umuegwu Afugiri Umuahia where she showed courage of a woman determined to fight her terminal illness.
He implored the family to accept his sympathy on the loss, praying God to console them.
President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed Nigerian youths excelling at home and abroad, saying the country will welcome inputs and investments from compatriots with international exposure for the economy to thrive.
The president spoke at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday.
Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, in a statement in Abuja quoted the Nigerian leader as saying: ‘‘It gives me great pleasure to be in Kigali, Rwanda and to meet with you, members of the Nigerian Diaspora as part of my regular meetings with Nigerians wherever I visit other countries.
‘‘Let me begin by congratulating and commending Yewande Adebowale for emerging as one of the top four winners at the Commonwealth Youth competition at the Kigali Startup Festival 2022 at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
‘‘I also commend Esther Olanrewaju and Favour Aderinto who are recipients of the Lakshmi Subramanian CMU-Africa Student Excellence Awards for Masters in Information Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
‘‘I am proud of you all, and I remain ever proud of our Nigerian youths excelling at home and abroad.”
The president commended the level of professionalism of Nigerians living in Rwanda and the amiable nature of their interactions with each other.
According to him, living peacefully and in obedience to the laws of the host nation is also paramount as it gives Nigeria a good name.
‘‘Remember that you are our ambassadors-at-large while here. People would read and know Nigeria by your actions and activities.
‘‘Our government is determined to work with Nigerians both at home and abroad to develop our economy and create a nation that is productive, peaceful, and caters fy the needs of its citizens.
‘‘We are also working assiduously to protect all Nigerians, whether at home or abroad, to feel safe and attain their full potentials in life,’’ he added.
Buhari noted that with the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Nigerians abroad could now seamlessly contribute their quota to national development, especially in the areas of investments in the economy.
‘‘Our agriculture, housing and real estate, ICT, healthcare, education and services sectors among others are waiting for your inputs and investments, considering your global exposure.
‘‘Let me urge you to key into the programmes of NIDCOM to make your contributions,’’ he said
He stressed the need for them to continue to uphold the good image of Nigeria by obeying the laws of their host country.
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Rwanda, Amb. Aishatu Musa, told the president that Nigerians in the country were generally well behaved, and their population had swelled from 100 to 400 in recent years.
“They are in various fields like banking, agriculture, education, telecommunications, and others,” she added.
She revealed that President of the Association of Nigerians was Prof. Umaru Wali, a Dean at the University of Rwanda, who hails from Sokoto State.
The event, coordinated by Chairman NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, saw the following Nigerians interacting with the President: Kelechi Reginald, Chief Executive Officer of an investment firm and Uduak Udoh, who runs an architectural consultancy.
Others were Muyiwa Omololu, Managing Director of Rope Ways Transit, a company that builds cable cars; Favour Aderinto and Esther Olanrewaju, Lakshmi Subramaniam Excellence Award Winners, and Yewande Adebowale, who runs Salubata, an outfit that makes shoes from recycled plastic waste.
Also at the event were Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and Sunday Dare, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Youth and Sports Development respectively.
The younger brother of David Ukpo Nwanmini, an alleged victim of organ trafficking involving Senator Ike Ekwerrmadu and his wife in the United Kingdom, Jonathan Ukpo Nwanmini, yesterday, said his sibling is 25 years old as against 15 claimed by the British Police.
The brother, who claimed to be 22 years said the victim is his elder brother and is 25 years old, a Vanguard report says. العب اون لاين مجانا
He said:”David is my elder brother because we are both of the same father with different mothers and we hail from Ebonyi State. I will be 22 years old by next month and David is 25 years old. I am aware that he travelled because he told me. He did not disclose the country he was travelling to. He simply told me he was going to school abroad.
“After some months of not hearing from him, I got his number from his girlfriend and called him. I asked about his studies and work.
“He said it was fine but that he was not working yet as he needed to go to school first before he could be given a working paper. I told him about our dad who was not feeling fine. كيف تربح المال من الالعاب
“This was the conversation we had this month since January when he travelled. He was staying with us here in Ikotun before he left. We both sell phone accessories. موقع 1xbet We spoke last week. We even spoke again this week.”
Another businessman in Ikotun who pleaded anonymity also told Sunday Vanguard that: “David left Nigeria in January. He told us that someone promised to sponsor his education in the UK. He never mentioned the name of the person, but from what I have read online, it might be that the person was an intermediary between David and the former Deputy Speaker.”
Last Thursday, the Metropolitan Police announced that Ekweremadu and his wife were charged to court over the allegation of bringing a child with the name David to the UK for organ harvesting.
The police added that an investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
Organ harvesting involves removing parts of the body, often for commercial gain and against the will of the victim. The former Deputy Senate President was said to have needed a kidney donor for his daughter, Sonia, who is down with renal failure.
Ekweremadu and his wife appeared at the Uxbridge Magistrates Court in West London last Thursday and were asked by the clerk for their address, they both replied: “Nigeria”.
While the court denied them bail, it ordered that they be remanded in Police custody till July 7.
The Zamfara State government has asked residents to arm themselves against bandits.
Decrying the high level of attacks in the state, Zamfara authorities directed the Commissioner of Police to issue gun licence to those eligible to bears arms.
The government said it is ready to facilitate securing of basic weapons for the people, especially farmers, to defend themselves.
“Following increase in the activities of bandits in various parts of the state and the government commitment to ensure adequate security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry in the state, particularly during this rainy season, government has resolved to take further measures to deal with the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping and the criminal levies being enforced on our innocent communities.”
“This act of terrorism has been a source of worry and concern to the people and government of the state. Therefore, in order to deal decisively with the situation in our respective communities, government has no option than to take the following measures:
“Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves. Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves. Government has already concluded arrangement to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.
“People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves. A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.
“People are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, address, occupation and witness to testify the genuity of the information given, as government is taking punitive measures against any one found as informant. Any person who give wrong information against anybody, will be served the same punishment with an informant and will be treated as such.
“Government has requested the state House of Assembly to pass, as matter of urgency, the informants bill before it, to enable government take the drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill.
“Government has ordered for the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 emirates of the state, making it 500 per emirate, to increase their manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits,” Ibrahim Dosara, Commissioner of Information, said in a statement.
The government also set up a committee to ensure proper implementation of the measures.
The Police in Anambra State have arrested a 30-year-old man who was allegedly caught raping a 75-year-old woman in Nkwelle Awkuzu, in Oyi Local government of Anambra State, in the victim’s farmland.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the woman had alerted passersby, by raising an alarm, leading to the mobbing of the suspect, who was later rescued by police operatives from lynching.
“Anambra State Operatives collaborating with Security agents at about 4pm on 24/6/2022 rescued from mob action one Sunday Nwadiagba ‘M’ aged 30years for allegedly raping a 75yrs old woman living in Nkwelle Awkuzu.
Preliminary information reveals that the suspect was caught in the act at the farm on the victim, before the old woman screaming, got the attention of the passer-by and neighbors.
Before his arrest, angry mob had already beaten him to a stupor, meanwhile, the victim and the suspect have been taken to hospital for medical attention.”
He quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng as condemning the decision of a mob to attack the suspect.
“They should endeavour to take such suspects to the nearest Police Station whenever they are apprehended. This would afford the Police the opportunity to conduct an appropriate investigation into the nefarious activities of the suspects, and bring them to justice in accordance with extant laws,” the commissioner was quoted as advising.
A civil rights organization. Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, has given the Inspector-General of Police a 48- hour ultimatum within which he should arrest and initiate criminal prosecution against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, for allegedly supplying false academic qualifications to secure the nomination.
The organisation threatened that should the IGP fail to act, court action would be instituted against him for an order of mandamus to compel him to effect the arrest of Tinubu at the end of the ultimatum.
The Legal Adviser of the CRPA and human rights lawyer, Agu Kalu, issued the threat during a press conference in Abuja on Saturday.
But when contacted, the Director (Legal Directorate), Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), told our correspondent that they were ready to defend against the threats and allegations.
He clarified that the APC presidential candidate has complied fully with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He said, “There is nothing to respond to them, the Electoral Act is clear. We are waiting, let them go, let them bring the writ, we will defend it. I think we have gone past this stage of some people on social media, for whatever reason in the media, issuing threats.
“If they have anything, let them bring it. As far as we are concerned, our candidate has complied fully with the provisions of the Electoral Act. If they want to go to court, let them go to court. But we must also let them know that we are not unconscious of the laws of defamation in the country. We know the difference between a court process that is privileged and making unfounded allegations in the Newspapers like they are doing now.
“But honestly, our candidate is not perturbed, he can’t be bothered by all these threats. If they want to go to court, let them go to court. When they come, we will react appropriately to the court process. What we know, we have complied fully with the provisions of the law and we will not be blackmailed and intimidated.”
Kalu alleged that the former Lagos State governor was not legally qualified to become the next President of Nigeria in 2023 on grounds of supplying false information on oath in his form EC 9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Amongst others, the legal practitioner alleged that in 1999 Bola Tinubu claimed to have attended Saint Paul Aroloya Children Home School, Ibadan between 1958 and 1964 and Government College, Ibadan between 1965 and 1969, only to turn around in 2022 that he never attended any primary or secondary school in his EC9 form.
He said, “We wrote a petition to the IG on June 16, demanding the prosecution of Tinubu for providing false information on oath in his INEC form CF 001 which he submitted in 1999.
“Since the IG is yet to act on the petition, we are using this press conference to call on the IG to do the needful, he is not above the law, nobody is above the law, Sections 191 and 192 makes it a criminal offence to provide false information on oath.
“We are also calling on President Buhari to direct the IG to arrest and prosecute Tinubu for perjury, it is a very serious issue.”
He added that in the event Buhari and IG failed to do the needful, the group in conjunction with other civil groups will approach a court of law for judicial review and order of mandamus to order the IG to do the needful.
Kalu who presented a Certified True Copy ad-hoc report of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which investigated the former governor in 1999 said that Tinubu clearly admitted discrepancies in his academic qualifications.
He said that the investigation of Tinubu’s academic qualification in 1999 was the aftermath of a petition written by a foremost legal luminary and social crusader, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).
According to him, CRPA’s petition calling for arrest and prosecution of Tinubu was submitted to the IGP since June 16 and lamented that up till now, the police authority had not deemed it fit to effect his arrest.
Kalu emphasized that nobody was above the law under the constitution and demanded that the police must perform its constitutional role without fear or favour.
The activist said that in the event that he was found to have made false allegations against Tinubu, the Police should arrest him and charge him to court appropriately.
The Abuja lawyer explained that the position of his group for the arrest of Tinubu was not politically motivated but predicated on the need for good governance and transparent leadership Nigeria deserved in the 2023 general election.
Among vital documents attached to the petition delivered to the IGP and acknowledged by his office included the forms submitted to INEC by Tinubu in 1999 and 2022 for verification.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his resolve to retire completely from active politics after completing his tenure as Governor, dismissing speculations about...
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