Crime
Police arrest 30 suspects, recover 63 vehicles, guns in Anambra
The Anambra State Police Command has rescued two kidnap victims and arrested 30 suspected criminals between December 1, 2023, to date.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoye, revealed this at a conference in Awka on Monday, on the yuletide operations conducted by the command.
According to him, 12 suspects were arrested for kidnapping, nine for alleged armed robbery, six for cultism and three over alleged insurgency, saying that 11 vehicles, 12 firearms and 40 ammunition were recovered from the suspects within the period.
Adeoye, however, said two police personnel from Enugu command were killed by a gang of assailants at Uga Roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, stressing that police operatives traced the culprits to their camp in Ogboji forest where two of the criminals were gunned down.
He said the police also apprehended one Emmanuel Orjiakor from Oba, a notorious armed robber and kidnapper, who sustained gunshot injuries in an encounter with operatives of the Anambra Vigilante Group.
He added that one Obinna Ekwunife, 27, was arrested on December 1 over the kidnap of one Emmanuel Tobechukwu, who transferred N9 million to a POS operator as ransom.
“On Dec. 2, Police Operatives arrested one Olobo Ibrahim, 47, a receiver of a stolen Lexus SUV along Kwata Junction, Awka.
“On Dec. 5, Police Operatives attached to Rapid Response and Anti-Kidnap Squad, in collaboration with men of the Obosi vigilante group, arrested one Samson Ubon, 31 and Efobi Ekene, 29, both of Obosi.
“The suspects are assisting operatives to arrest other gang members,” he said.
By Adeyanju Esther
The Federal High Court in Kaduna sentenced 27-year-old Williams David to two years in prison for possessing illicit drugs. The judgement was delivered on Thursday by Justice Hadiza Shagari.
David, apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), faced charges of possessing illegal substances. He admitted guilt, requested leniency, and expressed a desire to reform.
Justice Shagari, considering David’s age and his involvement in serious crimes, imposed a two-year prison sentence without an option for a fine.
“This sentence is intended to deter others,” Shagari stated.
Furthermore, the judge ordered that the seized drugs be destroyed by the NDLEA 30 days post-judgment.
Prosecution Counsel T. J. Atserhegh provided details of the arrest, which took place at 8:00 p.m.
On June 2 in Kinkinau, Kaduna. Authorities found 4kg of marijuana, 49.3g of tramadol, and 8g of Exol-5 in David’s possession. Atserhegh noted that the offence breached the NDLEA Act, Cap 30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
By Adeyanju Esther
On Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwagwalada sentenced 21-year-old student Adakole Peter to one year imprisonment for swindling a Chinese woman out of $50.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Peter on two counts of cheating by impersonation and pretending to be a military personnel.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Aliyu Shafa offered Peter an option of a N150,000 fine.
Shafa also ordered the convict to depose an affidavit of good behaviour and directed that the Redmi cellphone used in the crime be sold, with the proceeds deposited into the Federal Government’s account through the EFCC.
Additionally, the $50 recovered from Peter is to be paid into the Federal Government’s account.
The Prosecution Counsel, I.D. Iloakasia, informed the court that Peter and his counsel had signed a plea bargain on June 10. Iloakasia stated that between April and May, Peter, under the alias Steve M. Marks, deceived Ruth Novick, a Chinese citizen, into giving him $50 worth of gift cards.
Peter then sold these gift cards online for N20,000. Iloakasia noted that the offence contravened Section 321 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation Abuja, 1990, and is punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
Peter pleaded guilty to the charges and begged for leniency, promising the court he had realised his mistake and would not repeat such actions.
“I have repented and realised my mistakes. I plead with the court to temper justice with mercy,” he said.
Defense Counsel Bridget Abang supported Peter’s plea for mercy, urging the court to consider his age and the fact that he was a first-time offender.
The prosecutor had also prayed the court that the money and instrument recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
The Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested two suspected streetlight and electricity cable vandals in the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSC Buhari Hamisu, said this while parading the suspects in Katsina on Thursday.
Hamisu said that the arrest was made by the Special Anti-vandal Unit of the command, headed by CSC Musa Adam-Usman, “based on credible intelligence.”
According to him, On June 10, the team successfully apprehended a suspect, 26-year-old Ma’aruf Yusuf, while on a routine patrol.
“The suspect belonged to a team of notorious syndicate that specialised in theft and vandalising public infrastructure.
“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to committing the crimes and revealed that he conspired with Aliyu (alias Chakal) and one Haduwa, who are still at large,” the PRO said.
He said that the suspect also confessed that the gang went to Magangarin Makudawa and dug out the streetlights cable, using a digger and shovel.
He said that “on sighting the patrol team, the suspects ran away, while Yusuf was apprehended after they attempted to attack the operatives with a knife, double-edged sword, digger and stick.
“Further investigation reveals that they had severally vandalised and removed electric wires of streetlights at the same location and sold 10kg to Ali at the cost of N800 per kg.
“He also sold 15kg to Ayi Guda at the cost of N750 per kg, and both receivers are scrap dealers at Kofar Guga Garage,” he said.
Hamisu said that exhibits recovered from the suspects included one knife, double-edged sword, stick, digger and electricity armoured cables
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