Nigerians mourn UNILAG's electrocuted student, Oluchi

Nigerians are mourning the death of a student of the
University of Lagos, Oluchi Anekwe, who was electrocuted
on her way to her room in Sodeinde Residence, New Hall on
the campus on Tuesday’s night .

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ISIS supporters in Nigeria get visas from Turkish embassy –Syrian envoy

The Head of Mission, Syria embassy in Nigeria, Dr. Shafik
Daiyob has said that the Nigerian supporters of the Islamic
State of Syria and Iraq terrorist group obtained visas to join
the group in Syria from the Turkish embassy in Nigeria.
Daiyob explained that many ISIS sympathisers who were
given visas by the Turkish embassy entered Syria illegally
through Turkey.
The envoy who spoke through an interpreter said this in an
interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday.
The son of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria had obtained
Turkish visa and crossed the Turkish border to join ISIS in
Syria along with his family in February, 2015. Nothing has
been heard about the ISIS sympathiser till date.
But the Turkish embassy said it won’t respond to the
accusation until it is published.
The Secretary/ Personal Assistant to the Turkish
ambassador, Wunmi Ayantade, told our correspondent on
the telephone that the ambassador said he would react only
when he sees the published report of the accusations
against his mission.
She said, “I have conveyed your request for reaction to the
ambassador, but he said he would not react until he sees the
published report (of the Syrian accusations) in the papers.”
Daiyob stated that a large part of the 920 km border between
Syria and Turkey is controlled by ISIS, terrorists, noting that
terrorists’ infiltration into Syria was facilitated by the Turkish
government.
He said, “I am not accusing Turkey, but the Turkish officials
have announced that and their utterances are quite clear on
this and most countries in the world know this fact. Even
United States has mounted pressure on Turkey to stop
facilitation of terrorist organisations into Syria, it is not a
secret, it’s well known all over the world.”
“Most of these ISIS sympathisers were from Nigeria, they
were given the Turkish visas here in Nigeria, they are given
visas to Turkey not Syria. Those who applied to our embassy
are not ISIS sympathisers and they don’t share that ideology.
Even those Nigerian supporters of ISIS that were published
in the papers reached Syria through Turkey.”
When asked to explain how he knew that visa applicants to
Syria were not terror suspects and that Turkey was
facilitating movement of suspected terrorists to Syria, Daiyob
said his mission was experienced in the matter.
“For Nigerians, they are required to state why they are going
to Syria, their sponsor, introduction letter from the
government or private company the applicant is working
with, information about where the person would stay in Syria
and so on. The information would be sent to Damascus for
approval before the visa is issued. This process doesn’t take
more than two weeks,” the head of mission narrated.
According to him, majority of the terrorists in Syria entered
the country through Turkey and Jordan by air, sea or land,
stressing that Turkey is a crossing point for the insurgents.
He said, “Turkish/Syrian border is about 920 km and a large
part of the border is under the control of terrorists supported
by the Turkish government with support and facilitation from
the Turkish government. That was how Turkey became a
crossing point for majority of terrorists who come from all
over the world.”
Asked if the embassy’s visa process is foolproof, the envoy
hinted that it could be breached, “but till now, we have not
received such case or breach.”
He expressed the support of his country to Nigeria, stressing
that the two countries needed to collaborate to fight the
security challenges facing them.
According to him, Syria has wide experience in fighting
insurgency, which he said Nigeria could benefit from.
The Pakistani Ambassador to Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Agha Farooq
(retd.) noted that Nigeria was a victim of Boko Haram and
not the source of the insurgency, noting that Pakistan was
also a victim and not the source of terrorism.
The envoy stated that his mission had issued more than
4,000 visas this year, noting that they were mainly for
businessmen and those going for medical treatment, adding
that the applicants were mostly Christians.

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Boko Haram: Tension in Lagos, Enugu markets over DSS arrests

The recent announcement by the Department of State
Security that the dreaded Boko Haram sect has moved into
Lagos and Enugu has led to widespread tension and fear in
the states.
Ever since the security agency made the revelation in a press
statement on Sunday, residents have not stopped
discussing the ominous implications of the development in
the states.
The DSS on Sunday had announced the arrest of 20
suspected Boko Haram commanders in Lagos, Kano, Enugu,
Plateau and Gombe states between July 8 and August 25,
2015. Some of the suspects were said to have
masterminded suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria, and
Jos.
The Baba Oloja (market leader) at Owotuntun, Okrika,
Kaatangwa market, Lagos, Badmus Aboderin, said there has
been palpable tension among traders since the DSS
announced the arrests.
Aboderin said market leaders had been holding prayer
sessions and holding meetings with security agencies to
secure the market from Boko Haram attack.
He said, “We have told our traders to be more observant and
we have also been meeting with security operatives to
checkmate any planned attack on the market. We pray to God
every Thursday to avert any danger from the market.”
Also, traders at Oba Ogunji market, Agege, Lagos, expressed
fear over the development.
The market’s General Secretary, Alhaji Lukman Lamidi, said
the market had employed measures to safeguard their
shops.
He said, “We’re afraid because we don’t want anybody to
destroy our market or Lagos for us, which is why we drive
everyone away from the market by 6.30pm daily.
“We don’t want anyone to hide in our shops at night and we
have also been holding meetings with the police in the area.
We disseminate any information we get from the police to
the traders to ensure security.”
A trader at Yisa market, Lagos, Adedeji Ajayi, said he and
some other traders had put their lives in God’s hands, urging
the government to efficiently monitor the influx of migrants
into the state.
“God will expose anyone who plans evil here but at the same
time, there are too many people in Lagos who have no
business here,” he said.
Fears of possible Boko Haram attacks has also been more
pronounced among traders in major markets like Ogbete
main market, Artisan market, Kenyata market, Mami market,
New Haven market, Mayor market and Relief market in
Enugu.
Our correspondent observed that transporters and travellers
in the major motor parks in the city are afraid of the Boko
Haram sect.
Some traders who spoke to our correspondent expressed
concern at the presence of the Boko Haram sect in Enugu.
Mr. Obinna Ozo, who deals in curtains and fabrics in Kenyata
market, said most traders in the market had been
apprehensive since the DSS made the revelation.
Ozo urged the state and federal governments to beef up
security in the market.
He noted that reports from the North East had shown that
Boko Haram usually target markets because of the large
number of casualties that could be recorded in such attacks.
He said, “Traders here are apprehensive, we are worried.
“Normally I look forward to coming to my shop here six days
in a week, we don’t open on Sundays, but now I am not so
comfortable in the market.
“Who knows when Boko Haram will strike? There are many
people here, who can tell who is a terrorist or someone who
came to buy, or even sell?
“It is so fearful, everyday we hear in the news that one
market or the other was bombed in Maiduguri and other
areas in the north, and now we have been told that Boko
Haram is in Enugu. I wonder how safe we are.”
Another trader, Amadi Nwobodo, who has a provisions shop
in Ogbete main market, told our correspondent that he was
considering moving his business out of the market.
Nwobodo said he would be more secured if his shop was
located in a residential area.
He said, “I am thinking of relocating my shop to a less
crowded place, preferably a residential area.
“Experience has shown that crowded places like this market
are easy targets for Boko Haram.
“I don’t feel safe in the market anymore but I pray that God
will continue to protect us.
“I am not the only one that is worried; other traders here will
tell you the same thing, even customers too.”

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13 inmates escape from Sokoto Remand Home

Head of the Sokoto Remand Home, Alhaji Dahiru Lawal,
on Thursday said 13 inmates had escaped from the
centre in the last two years due to the poor state of its
facilities.
Lawal disclosed this in Sokoto when he received a
donation from an NGO, Housewives Initiative
Development Association,
He appealed to the Sokoto State Government to
undertake massive rehabilitation of the centre which
was in very deplorable condition.
Lawal said that the Home, which served as reformatory
for convicted juveniles, required urgent government
support, to enable it discharge its responsibility more
effectively.
The official said that the inmates were able to escape
due to the poor state of facilities at the centre.
“The inmates dug a hole under one of the windows of
their cell and fled. It had been repaired and seven of
them were re-arrested.
“Four of the escapees surrendered themselves to the
court while two are still at large.”
Lawal disclosed that the Home currently has sixteen
inmates who were either jailed or placed on remand for
offences ranging from armed robbery, theft, rape,
sodomy, among others.
The official, therefore, urged the state government to
rehabilitate the facility “which is now in a serious state
of dilapidation.”
He also solicited for the provision of a borehole, clinic,
vehicle and other facilities to the centre.
Lawal commended the association for the donation,
saying that it would support efforts at rehabilitating the
inmates.
Earlier, Chairperson of the association, Mrs Hassana
Dangaskiya said that the intervention by the group was
to alleviate the suffering of the inmates.
She appealed to wealthy individuals and organizations
to complement the efforts of the state government in
funding the operations of the home.
One of the inmates, Muhammad Sani commended the
association for the gesture, saying,” we are happy that
some people have remembered those of us living in this
pitiable condition.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
association donated assorted foodstuffs, detergents
and toiletries to the remand home. (NAN)

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Scores feared dead as fire guts plaza in popular Balogun Market in Lagos

Several people were feared dead and others injured
when a six storey plaza in the heart of the popular
Balogun market in Lagos was gutted by fire on
Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that the
plaza is surrounded by several important businesses
which included the Union Bank, Diamond Bank and the
United Bank for Africa (UBA).
NAN also observed that the plaza which was being used
as a wholesale and retail outlet for shoes and bags is
directly beside and attached to Union Bank building.
NAN investigations revealed that the fire started at
about 9:00 am and was battled by a team of combined
fire fighters from the Union Bank and UBA before the
arrival of the Lagos State Fire Service.
Some eye witnesses, who spoke to NAN, said that
some people who jumped out from various floors of the
burning plaza to escape the fire were carried away dead.
Mallam Hamza Abdullahi, a trader in the market told
NAN that he saw three dead bodies and five people who
were wounded.
“People were shouting and jumping down from up
stairs, I saw a woman dead with her skull open,“ he
said.
Mrs Florence Adewunmi, a staff of the Lagos State
Ambulance Mobile Intensive Care Service (LASAMBUS)
stationed at the scene told NAN that some victims had
been stabilized and transferred to hospital.
“There are several casualties. We got a distress call at
about 10am that there was fire outbreak at Balogun
behind UBA.
“We proceeded here and learnt that they have rushed
some people to General Hospital, Lagos but we met
some casualties on ground.
“The patients jumped from the second, third and fourth
floor and had fractures and various degrees of injuries.
“There were those that inhaled too much smoke so we
gave some oxygen, some Dyclofenac injection, we
treated ankle dislocations, we sutured deep cuts before
carrying them to General Hospital, Lagos.
“So far, we have carried six people to hospital and
discharged four after treatment,“ Adewunmi said.
One of shop owners who deals on female shoes, Mr
Nonso Christian, told NAN that he came to the plaza at
10am and met it on fire.
“I met the plaza on fire and I tried to go in to bring out
my goods but I couldn’t because the fire is too much.
“My shop is on the second floor and I just re-stocked on
Monday, I don’t know what to do because the second
floor is still on fire,“ he said.
Several other shop owners, who were wailing while
watching the fire declined comment, one of them
simply said “we are sad, this hard economy, where do I
start from?’’
A security man attached to Union Bank, Mr Umoru
Monday told NAN that the fire started a few minutes
before the hour of 9:00 am.
“The Union Bank Fire Service came around and started
pushing the fire back so that it would not enter the
bank, and later the fire fighters from UBA came to
assist them before the Lagos State Fire Service came,“
Monday told NAN.
An official of the Lagos State Fire Service carrying a
cylinder on his back into the burning plaza declined
comment.
He told NAN that senior officers of the service who
could speak to press were attacking the fire on various
floors.
“I cannot tell you anything, our fire boss is up in that
burning building now and our main aim is to put the fire
out. We are attacking it on various floors,“ he said.
NAN reports that a lone Police man battled to keep
spectators away while security men of Diamond Bank
situated beside Union Bank turned their customers
away.

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Police arrest 71-year-old pastor, wife for buying baby for N500,000

A 71- year old retired pastor of a pentecostal church in
Abriba, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, Rev.
Chima Egbochiogum, and his wife, Ugo, have been arrested
for an alleged illegal adoption of a baby.
Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila, who paraded the
couple in Umuahia, alongside other suspects in connection
with the incident, alleged they bought a stolen baby.
The police boss said the pastor and his wife were nabbed
following a confession by a notorious child trafficker who
was arrested last month for human trafficking.
According to him, the child trafficker, identified simply as
Ekwutosi, stole an 11-month-old baby girl belonging to a 21-
year -old pregnant mother, who he had pretended to assist.
He said Ekwutosi had approached the young woman, who
had a baby out of wedlock, with promise that he would
secure a job opportunity for her.
The excited woman was said to have left her baby in the
custody of Ekwotosi when she went to buy food for her.
“But by the time the mother returned, Ekwutosi had
disappeared with the baby,” the police commissioner said.
According to Habila, the suspect was later intercepted by the
police at Owerrinta when he was allegedly trafficking
pregnant girls to Port Harcourt.
He said the suspect confessed to his criminal activities
including the stealing of the 11- month old baby during
interrogations.
His confession led to the arrest of the pastor who allegedly
adopted the stolen baby.
Habila said the suspect sold the baby at the cost of N500,
000 to the wife of the pastor.
But later in an interview with journalists, the pastor said he
was not aware that the baby adopted by his wife was a
stolen child.
The retired cleric had married his second wife following the
death of his first wife, who had born children to him.
He said he was innocent of the crime as he thought the
adoption followed due process.
Meanwhile, his second wife, who had yet to have a baby of
her own, decided to adopt a baby.
According to the woman, she was contacted by one Maria
Mba, who told her that one of her relations, a teenager,
wanted to give out a baby she had out of wedlock.
She said that the baby was paid for at the premises of the
Federal Medical Centre Umuahia where it was allegedly
delivered to her. She also claimed that she did not know that
the baby was stolen.
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama when the notorious
trafficker, Ekwutosi said he did not receive up to N500,000 in
the transaction claiming that the intermediary, Mba short-
changed him.
But Mba said she only kept back N100,000 as her
commission , insisting that she gave N400,000 to Ekwutosi.

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Cleaner caught with N53m at Lagos airport

 

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

An airport cleaner has been arrested with the sum of $271,135 (about N53m) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, it has been learnt.

The suspect was arrested by the aviation security personnel of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria while trying to carry the huge sum of money through the screening point.

The airport worker, named Mr. Tijani Owolabi, works with one of the cleaning contractors at the airport, according to a FAAN statement.

The statement quoted the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mr. Onyekwere Nnaekpe, as saying that some of the foreign currency was found on Owolabi while the rest was recovered from the sanitary bucket he was holding while trying to pass through screening machine.

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Nnaekpe said the agency suspected that Owolabi was conveying the currency to an accomplice at the airside of the airport.

The statement by the FAAN read in part, “Aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria today September 3, 2015 prevented the trafficking of a total sum of 271,135 American dollars through the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

“The sum was found on a worker with one of the cleaning contractors at the airport, Mr. Tijani Owolabi, during a pat down at one of the screening points at ‘D’ Finger of the international terminal.

“The airport cleaner who was suspected to be conveying the foreign currency to an accomplice at the sterile area of the terminal, was immediately apprehended by aviation security staff on duty and handed over to the appropriate security agencies at the airport for further investigation.”

The development came barely two weeks after an Arik Air flight attendant, Mr. Chika Udensi, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London with 20 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency later arrested his accomplice, Oliver Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver, an Arik Air catering worker, who smuggled the drug among catering supplies into the aircraft for Udensi.

NDLEA and other security agencies said they had increased security surveillance at the nation’s airports, especially the international airports.

NEWS GENESIS (C) 2014 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from News Genesis.

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Islamic State blows up ancient tower tombs in Palmyra

The Islamic State  group has blown up three tower tombs in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra that were built between the years 44 and 103 AD, the country’s antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim said on Friday.
Abdulkarim told Reuters that sources in Palmyra had confirmed the destruction of three tombs including that of Elahbel, built in 103 AD, which he said was four storeys high and had an underground floor.
IS group militants have blown up two other temples over the past few weeks in Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which it has controlled since capturing the city from the Syrian government in May. The group considers the buildings sacriligeous.

NEWS GENESIS (C) 2015 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from News Genesis.

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Dead Syrian boy’s father returns home to bury son

The father of a three-year-old Syrian boy whose body was washed up on a Turkish beach in an image that shocked the world returned to his hometown Kobane on Friday to bury his family, an AFP photographer reported.
Abdullah Kurdi arrived at the Turkish border town of Suruc with the funeral caskets of his son and other family members who also drowned while trying to get to Europe, and headed towards the flashpoint Syrian town with family members and Turkish security forces.
The long convoy was stopped from entering Kobane.



NEWS GENESIS (C) 2015 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from News Genesis.

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Hoodlums kill teenager, damage 50 vehicles in Lagos

A 19-year-old boy, identified simply as
Emmanuel, was hacked to death on Monday night
in the Iwaya area of Lagos State after some
hoodlums raided at least six streets in the
community.
Emmanuel was the only son of his widowed
mother.
The hoodlums, who residents claimed were about
100 in number, also vandalised no fewer than 50
vehicles parked on the roads.
Some of the witnesses added that many residents
were injured, while others were dispossessed of
their valuables during the fracas which occurred
around 9.30pm.
Sources said the violence lasted for about three
hours, without any challenge from security
operatives, who began patrolling the troubled
spots around 2am.
When PUNCH Metro visited the area on Tuesday,
he observed blood stains on a spot on
Moshalashi Street, where Emmanuel was
reportedly killed.
Our correspondent counted six damaged cars on
Balogun Street, five on Akintola Street, three on
Moshalashi Street, two on Arowolo Street and one
each on Salami and Pedro streets. Many others
were said to have been taken away for repairs by
their owners.
Though the main reason for the attack could not
be ascertained, investigations by our
correspondent revealed that the gang came from
the Owode/Oju Ina part of the area.
They were said to be involved in a supremacy
clash with the Iwaya boys.
A resident, who craved anonymity, said, “Around
9.30pm, we were all seated outside and we saw a
crowd of boys entering into the street.
“They were wielding cutlasses, guns, bottles and
irons. People started running helter-skelter. They
attacked many people with cutlasses and used the
opportunity to rob some ladies who were passing
by. They were moving from street to street.”

One of the vandalised vehicles
Hoodlums kill teenager, damage 50 vehicles in
Lagos
DECEMBER 24, 2014 BY SAMSON FOLARIN
14 Comments
Some vandalised vehicles | credits: Samson
Folarin
A 19-year-old boy, identified simply as
Emmanuel, was hacked to death on Monday night
in the Iwaya area of Lagos State after some
hoodlums raided at least six streets in the
community.
Emmanuel was the only son of his widowed
mother.
The hoodlums, who residents claimed were about
100 in number, also vandalised no fewer than 50
vehicles parked on the roads.
Some of the witnesses added that many residents
were injured, while others were dispossessed of
their valuables during the fracas which occurred
around 9.30pm.
Sources said the violence lasted for about three
hours, without any challenge from security
operatives, who began patrolling the troubled
spots around 2am.
When PUNCH Metro visited the area on Tuesday,
he observed blood stains on a spot on
Moshalashi Street, where Emmanuel was
reportedly killed.
Our correspondent counted six damaged cars on
Balogun Street, five on Akintola Street, three on
Moshalashi Street, two on Arowolo Street and one
each on Salami and Pedro streets. Many others
were said to have been taken away for repairs by
their owners.
Though the main reason for the attack could not
be ascertained, investigations by our
correspondent revealed that the gang came from
the Owode/Oju Ina part of the area.
They were said to be involved in a supremacy
clash with the Iwaya boys.
A resident, who craved anonymity, said, “Around
9.30pm, we were all seated outside and we saw a
crowd of boys entering into the street.
“They were wielding cutlasses, guns, bottles and
irons. People started running helter-skelter. They
attacked many people with cutlasses and used the
opportunity to rob some ladies who were passing
by. They were moving from street to street.”
Another witness said the victim,Emmanuel, who
was an apprentice in a vulcaniser’s workshop,
came out with a trolley loaded with bottles.
Some boys in the area were said to be hauling
the bottles in the trolley at the gang in a bid to
repress the aggression.
He said, “They shot Imole (Emmanuel) in the leg
and he could no longer run. That was when some
of the gang members swooped on him and started
hitting him with iron and cutting him with
cutlasses. They left him for dead.”
It was gathered that the deceased was supposed
to have his graduation on Saturday, this week,
when he was killed.
Although the scene of the incident was only a few
kilometers to the Iwaya Police Post, it was learnt
that policemen from the Sabo Division were the
ones that came to evacuate the corpse.
A resident, Ayoola Efunkoya, told PUNCH Metro
that his Toyota Camry was among many of the
vandalised vehicles.
“I learnt they were all teenagers. They broke the
two windscreens and side mirrors of my car. They
ransacked the car to see if there was anything
they could steal, but they only found cassettes
which they took,” he added.
A trader, Lasisi Bodurin, said he was in his room
when he heard a noise.
He said, “The boys were chasing people with
weapons. When they got to Balogun Street, I
overheard them saying, ‘let us finish them off
here’. They damaged two of my vehicles and
fled.”
A pastor, Ayeniran Durotola, whose car was also
damaged, appealed to the government to intervene
before the crisis escalated.
Durotola said he counted over 100 hoodlums,
who moved in and out of his street two times,
while he and his family shook in fright.
Our correspondent gathered that some youths in
the area had promise a reprisal during the week.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State
Command, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the
incident.
He said, “A teenager was killed in the early hours
of the morning. He was killed during a fight
involving two rival factions. The police were
alerted to the disturbance in that neighbourhood.
But by the time our men arrived at the scene, the
hoodlums had absconded from the area and the
young man was met in a pool of blood.
“His corpse has been evacuated to a public
morgue. The area is now under intensive patrol
and the community is now calm. Efforts are being
made to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime.”

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Court jails three fraudsters for stealing N480,000

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos High Court
sitting in Ikeja, has convicted and sentenced the
trio of James Ettete, Ekene Jude and Abidemi
Adesanya to two and half years imprisonment
each, for stealing the sum of N480,000 (Four
Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira only)
belonging to Skye Bank Plc.
They were arraigned in May 2014, on a six- count
charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit felony,
forgery and use of false document.

Justice Ipaye found them guilty on all the counts
and convicted them accordingly.
The sentence is to run from the day of
arraignment.
Trouble came for the convicts, when the
management of Skye Bank petitioned the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over their
fraudulent activities.
They were operating as a syndicate of fraudsters,
who specialized in stealing bankers’ identity, to
enable them effect fraudulent wire transfers from
unsuspecting and well-funded customers’ account.
They contacted some staff of the bank to join the
syndicate.
However, the staff members informed the bank and
were asked to play along.

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Female suicide bomber kills 19 in Gombe motor park

At least 19 people were killed and more than 40
others wounded on Monday when a female
suicide bomber detonated explosives at Dukku
motor park in Gombe, Gombe State.
The bomber was said to have disguised herself as
a passenger with the lethal weapon hidden in a
sack, which she used in deceiving other
passengers at the park.
Eyewitnesses said the incident happened at about
10.50am when the park was said to be filled with
passengers, who were eager to travel out of the
state capital to their respective destinations for
the Yuletide.
The female bomber was said to have detonated
the explosives on her near a Sharoon bus that
was already filled with passengers.
“The bomber chose her target carefully because
she timed when the bus was fully loaded with
passengers. It appeared she was standing by and
observing before carrying out her nefarious act,”
an eyewitness said.
Two buses were completely burnt, while majority
of the victims were said to be hawkers and
passengers.
One of the visitors to the park believed the
bomber would not have succeeded if there had
been serious screening at the gate.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state
command, Fwaji Atajiri, confirmed the incident.
He said 19 people died while 25 were injured,
adding that the police had already condoned off
the area.
The police spokesman said the casualties had
been taken to mortuary, adding that the injured
were being treated at the Gombe Specialist
Hospital.
Atajiri called on the general public to assist
security agencies by ensuring that they report
suspicious movements in their midst.

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“I Went Into Drug Trafficking To Pay For My Wedding” – Nigerian Man Tells NDLEA

The pressure to have a big, flamboyant wedding has landed a Nigerian man in big trouble.
Chike Pauline, 40, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, after being caught with one kilogramme of substance suspected to be methamphetamine, Vanguard reports. He was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Rwanda Air flight.
During preliminary investigations, Pauline told National Drug Law Agency (NDLEA) officials that he had been lured into drug trafficking because of his desperation to raise money for his wedding coming up in December this year.
“I am a patent medicine dealer in Aba, Abia State. My arrest is very unfortunate because I am a hardworking person. I was deceived into drug trafficking because I was desperate to perform my marriage ceremony by the end of the year. I was optimistic that I will not be arrested, but things did not go according to my expectation. What must I do to set myself free from this predicament?” he said.
He reportedly begged the officials not to imprison him, as he still intends to conduct his wedding in December.
The case is currently under investigation.

- See more at: http://silverbirdtv.com/entertainment-news/i-went-drug-trafficking-pay-my-wedding-nigerian-man-tells-ndlea#sthash.QaLhVK2Q.dpuf

The pressure to have a big, flamboyant wedding has landed a Nigerian man in big trouble.
Chike Pauline, 40, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, after being caught with one kilogramme of substance suspected to be methamphetamine, Vanguard reports. He was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Rwanda Air flight.
During preliminary investigations, Pauline told National Drug Law Agency (NDLEA) officials that he had been lured into drug trafficking because of his desperation to raise money for his wedding coming up in December this year.
“I am a patent medicine dealer in Aba, Abia State. My arrest is very unfortunate because I am a hardworking person. I was deceived into drug trafficking because I was desperate to perform my marriage ceremony by the end of the year. I was optimistic that I will not be arrested, but things did not go according to my expectation. What must I do to set myself free from this predicament?” he said.
He reportedly begged the officials not to imprison him, as he still intends to conduct his wedding in December.
The case is currently under investigation.

- See more at: http://silverbirdtv.com/entertainment-news/i-went-drug-trafficking-pay-my-wedding-nigerian-man-tells-ndlea#sthash.QaLhVK2Q.dpuf

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Woman gets 30-year jail term for human trafficking

It was the end of the road for a human trafficker, Nneka Ebelechukwu when a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola sentenced her to 30 years in prison without option of a fine.
The 30 year old native of Anambra State was accused of organising foreign trips for girls and subjecting them to prosecution.
A press statement released by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) said the accused was arraigned on a three count charge and was first arraigned in court on June 9, 2013 for the offences punishable under section 16 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003, as Amended.
Her sentence is to run concurrently without an option of fine, Justice Adeniyi Ademola said.
the statement reads in part: “Justice Adeniyi Ademola condemned the act in strict terms and also called on parents to desist from handing their children to human traffickers for greener pastures and actually consider offers to assist, with a pinch of salt.
Reacting, the Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba commended the judgement, saying the sentence is commensurate to the offence committed. She also said her agency will continue to advocate for stiffer penalties for offenders of human trafficking in other to discourage others from it.
“…the Agency will continue to boost its prosecution processes and will not relent in its efforts of stamping out human trafficking from Nigeria. This conviction brings the total number of successful convictions to two hundred and forty eight,” the statement added.

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Lagos Babe Smashes Man’s Head WithBottle for Hugging Her

Some people are taking this Ebola scare too
far. A woman who was afraid of contracting
Ebola from hugging on Monday smashed a beer
bottle on a man’s head for during to hug her in
the Ajah area of Lagos.
The woman identified as Bunmi was said to
have been angry when her friend, Ademola
Ojikutu, held her from behind without her
consent in this “dreadful season” of Ebola.
Her elder sister, Yemi, told Leadership that
her sister was afraid of contracting Ebola
and had since refused to shake anybody
including her (Yemi).
The elder sister said she was discussing with
her sister, Bunmi, at Ilaje area when Ojikutu
held her from behind…
Yemi said her sister was enraged and, out of
anger, picked a bottle from a nearby beer
parlour and smashed it on Ademola’s head.
Blood gushed out from his head so much that
people around had to rush him to a nearby
hospital in the area in order to save the guy’s
life.
Although the elder sister confirmed that she
was not happy about what her sister did to
Ademola but added that he was also wrong to
grab her from behind since he knows that
everyone is scared of Ebola.
Ademola is now suffering in pains. Guys,
please stay away from ladies who are good
with beer bottles.

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Robbers invade popular drinking joint in Benin, dispossess customers of phones, cash

Armed robbers on Sunday night invaded a drinking joint around Trade Fair complex in Benin City, Edo State and dispossessed fun seekers of their mobile phones, jewelleries and cash.
The gunmen who were about six in number, stormed the bar in an Audi car at about 10: 30pm and ordered all the customers at gun point to submit their personal effects.
The brisk operation was said to have lasted for about 5 minutes, with the gunmen carting away expensive brandy and whiskeys from the joint.
The very busy bar became a shadow of itself as customers and passers-by flee, sequel to the shots reportedly fired into the air by the dare-devil robbers.
The crime forced those living around the vicinity to remain indoors for several hours before the arrival of a Hilux van of anti-robbery squad from the state Police Command headquarters.

Meanwhile, residents of the area urged the state police command to increase patrol by its men around the area as the place is becoming notorious for incidents of robbery and rape.


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Carpenter arraigned in court for chopping off lover’s lips

Okechukwu Onyemachi, a 37 year old carpenter who attempted to take his life while at a police cell was arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief’s Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He was said to have attempted to commit suicide by using his pair of trousers to hang himself in order not to be prosecuted for chopping off his ex-lover’s lip.
Onyemachi was apprehended for beating and chopping off the upper lip of his former lover, one Nneka Obi, after meeting another man in her apartment, at 80 Kadara Street, Oyingbo. He is facing a two-count charge of assault and attempted suicide levelled against him by the police.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Quasim Adams, told the court that the defendant had on August 7, 2014 at about 8.30am beat up and hit the victim with a hard object on the head before biting off her upper lip.
He also told the court that the defendant in an attempt not to be prosecuted removed his trousers and attempted to hang himself at the water pipe that runs through the police cell.
According to Adams,the offences are contrary to Sections 244 and 233 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Onyemachi’s counsel, Saka Kayode, asked the court to get the case struck out, as Oyemachi and the victim have agreed to amicably resolve the matter out of court.

However, the prosecutor objected to the application.

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THERE IS GOD O! Man Attempts Selling His 7 Children, Including a Set Of Triplets, In Owerri

Not the real photos

 
Palpable confusion reigned in Owerri, yesterday, as a father tied his seven children, including his triplet, to a wheel-barrow and was heading to an unknown destination before officials of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development intervened.
The 44-year-old man, Israel Dike, is a native of Odenkume, Obowo Local Government Aarea of Imo State, but resides in Ugwu Ekwema, Egbu Road, Owerri.The children’s hands were securely tied to a wheelbarrow while the man was soliciting for buyers for the children, saying he was fed up with his dwindling economic fortunes.
A staff of the ministry said
“Following a tip off, a high powered team led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Nma Onyechere, quickly went and rescued the children.”
Apart from disclosing that he planned selling some of them with a view to enabling him take proper care of others, Dike equally lamented that Governor Rochas Okorocha put him in the mess he has found himself today.
“Owelle Okorocha is the cause of what I am passing through today. He made me a promise in the past and has failed to redeem it till today,”
Speaking to newsmen at the scene, the commissioner described Dike as a “depressed man, who is mentally deranged.”While urging Dike’s wife to go for family planning, the commissioner equally promised that government would carefully ascertain the level of the man’s mental problem.
Mrs. Onyechere said the ministry would find a way of giving out the children to foster parents with a view to ensuring adequate care and their education.

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EFCC Arrests Four Bankers for ATMFraud

Find the EFCC press statement below…
“Four bankers: Mansur Danlami, Ejiro
Eborikpo, Nina Stephen and Samson Nwodo
have been arrested by the operatives of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) for conspiracy to steal the sum of N5,
100, 000 (Five Million One Hundred
Thousand Naira Only) from a customer’s
account….
The suspects, all staff of Zoo Road Branch of
First Bank Plc allegedly conspired among
themselves to issue ATM card to an impostor, in
the name of Samuel Omede, a bona fide
customer of the Bank in Bayelsa State.
After the issuance of the purported ATM card,
the impostor used the card to steal N5, 100, 000
(Five Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira
Only) from Samuel Omede’s account.
The suspects are still being interrogated in the
Kano Zonal office of the EFCC and will be
charged to court as soon as investigation is
concluded

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Breaking News: Police Arrest Boko Haram Suspect At NAMA Office In Lagos

The NAMA office in Lagos was almost hit by an attempt
by a suspected Boko Haram member.
The supect who was arrested a few minutes ago had
explosives with him that have been recovered and is
currently in police
Details shortly..

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