Crime
Herdsmen kill two again in Ogun community
…Gov Abiodun vows to deal with perpetrators, deploys task force to troubled areas
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Gun wielding herdsmen struck again on Thursday morning at Owode-Ketu community, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State leaving at least two people dead.
Those killed were said to be among the people who were allegedly ambushed and attacked by the killer herdsmen along Owode-Ijoun-Tata Road around 5a.m.
This is coming on the heels of last week murder of one Dele Olowoniyi at Oha Village in Imeko-Afon local government area of the state by some blood thirsty herdsmen.
According to a source in the town, corpses of the victims identified as Isiaka Apesin and Oguntosin Adebayo, were later discovered in the bush and they had been evacuated by the police from Eggua Divisional Police headquarters.
The source further told our Correspondent that the victims of the early morning attack were shot in the chest and head regions, respectively by the attackers.
Speaking with our Correspondent, Youth Leader of Owode-Ketu town, Sina Olaleye, said the duo were on their way to the market when they were ambushed and killed.
He confirmed that the corpses had been evacuated by the police. He, however, lamented the incessant attacks by the herders and called on the state government to rescue Ketu people from the menace of violent herders.
Olaleye added that the attackers were later located by the police in the bush with assault rifles and other dangerous weapons, but the police were unable to arrest them.
The Baale of the town, Reverend Sanya Fabuyi, said Owode-Ketu has been under the siege of herders, pointing out the latest attack was one of many unprovoked attacks that had led to the death of many indigenes of the town.
He said information at his disposal revealed that the herders who carried out the Thursday morning attack, when later located in the bush, wore bullet proof vests and armed with sophisticated weapons.
“As I am speaking with you, my town is under the siege of herdsmen. My people are living in fears, we are at the mercy of these marauders. Those who carried out this latest attack, I was informed had bullet proof vests on and carried AK-47 rifles. Even, police are helpless to approach them in the bush where they were located after the attack.
“I am appealing to the state government, to as a matter of urgency, release us from the captivity of the herders, who are killing our people and destroying our farms, which remain the major source of our livelihood.” Reverend Fabuyi stated.
When contacted on phone, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi, who said no suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, explained that the police with the support of local vigilance group, hunters and youths, have gone on the trail of the suspects from the Eggua and Igbogila ends of the bush.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, handed down a warning to perpetrators of violence in Owode-ketu, Eegua, Igan-Alade and Igbogila areas of the state, saying that his administration would leave no stone unturned in curtailing the activities of brigands in the state.
This was just as he deployed a special task force comprising the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, including the State Security Service and local vigilante groups, with representatives of other stakeholders entities in the crises-prone areas of Yewa-North, Imeko-Afon and Yewa South Council Areas of the state.
In recent times the areas have witnessed criminal assaults and killings, leading to the closure of schools, public institutions and business facilities.
Governor Abiodun directed that investigations be sped up and concluded so that indicted persons could be charged to court and prosecuted in the interest of justice.
He said: “The government will leave no stone unturned in checking the activities of brigands and criminals in this state. Ogun cannot be defined by crimes and criminalities. Ogun does not have any haven – safe or unsafe – for killers, bandits, insurgents or cultists.
“We shall spare no action, including ruthless ones, to bring peace, public order into every hamlet, town and city in the Gateway State.
“The provisions of the Constitution and the moral authority confer on the government the right to protect the lives and properties of the people. This is sacrosanct and shall not be compromised under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s watch”, a statement issued in Abeokuta by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said.
Last weekend, Governor Abiodun set up an investigation team to investigate and bring to book, all the persons involved in the herders/farmers conflicts in the state.
“Our first priority in Ogun is the safety of lives and property of everyone and we will not compromise on that.
“We will not condone any act of criminality in the state, no matter who is involved.
“The police and other security agencies have been directed to go after the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to book.
“We will not allow anybody to disrupt the peace in Ogun and anyone who tries to test our resolve to maintain peace in our state will have himself or herself to blame,’’ the governor was quoted as saying.
Governor Abiodun commiserated with the families of the deceased and also expressed sympathy to those who lost their farmlands as well as cows during the unfortunate crisis.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered final forfeiture of at least 20 property linked to the convicted former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the property, located in deferent parts of the country, were acquired illegally.
According to Justice Abdulmalik, the applicant effectively discharged its responsibility, under the law, to establish that the property were acquired with proceeds of crime.
The judge also held that the “various individuals, who responded to an earlier interim forfeiture order, requiring interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited, failed to establish their ownership of the affected properties with credible evidence.”
Out of the 23 property listed in the schedule, three of them were left out, which include Flat 42C, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Kaduna; Plot 18, Road F, on TPO 462B C of O Kd5469 and Plot of C of O Bo/426 Beacon B5086, B5087, B5105, B5104, B5099 Cadastral Zone B05 Utako.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina’s wife, Laila, who claimed to be a citizen of the United States, and some of his relatives and associates, including Uwani Usman, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu Wambai, Haruna Mu’azu Musa and Aliyu Abdullahi, had claimed ownership of the 23 property.
The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained an order of interim forfeiture of 23 property linked to Maina, currently on eight-year jail term for pension fraud to the tune of N2 billion.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with lawyer to the EFCC, Farouk Abdullah, that those who claimed to owned the property failed to effectively establish the alleged ownership by producing credible evidence.
She said: “It is trite in law that civil cases in non-conviction forfeiture are hinged on the preponderance of evidence.
“Again, I hold that the respondents have failed woefully in tilting the scale of evidential weight in their favour.
“In all, sequel to the facts and documentary detailed evidence relied on by the applicant (the EFCC) in support of this application for final forfeiture, I do hold that the evidential burden of proof indeed shifted to the claimants to establish by way of cogent documentary evidence, the sequential trail of the genesis of their finances leading to the buildup as well as the the acquisition of the aforementioned properties subject of interim forfeiture.
“In view of this grave omission on the part of the claimants (Maina, his wife and his associates) to show good and credible cause on the history of their legitimate earnings, I hereby find merit in applicant’s application for final forfeiture of properties Nos: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 set out in schedule one, attached to the order of interim forfeiture, save properties No: 3, 14 and 20. I so order.”
The affected properties are located in Abuja, Nasarawa, State Kaduna State and Kano State.
They include “Plot No: 965 Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadastral Zone: CO2, covered by C of O No: 1afew-fe28z-63a5r-e36eu-10.
“Duplex located at No: 16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna.
“52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot 016, comprising of 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow.
“Property at Tola Street, Badarawa, Kaduna, comprising of three bedrooms and an undeveloped land.
“Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna.
“A duplex located at No: 21, 52 Crescent , Kubwa Phase 1V estate
“House 8, 211 Road, a close numbered FHA/EST/264/TA/032.l, 3 bedrooms bungalow.
*Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Another farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O No: KD15452.
“Plot MF-27A, New Pasafi Layout, Kuje, Abuja.
“Plot 1B Ajayi Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O numbered: NC24059
“Block 23 Flat 2 located at Life Camp (2 bedroom semi-detached.
“Property at No: 62 A/C Maternity ward , Damaturu Road, Biu
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi covered by C of O No: KD15452 comprising of uncomplicated buildings.
“Plot covered by C of O B426 beacon: B5086; B5087; B5105; B5104; B5099 at Cadastral Zone B05, Utako.
“No: 16 Dabai Road, off Mangoro Road, Sokoto State.
“No. 13 Korau Road, Nasarawa District, Kano.
“Plot 965 Cadastral Zone C02, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.”
By Adeyanju Esther
The Nigeria Police Force, through its NPF National Cybercrime Centre, has apprehended Ubani Zion Chibuike, also known as ZFancy, at an apartment in Wuye, Abuja.
The arrest comes in response to viral videos circulating on social media, alleging ZFancy’s involvement in serious crimes, including rape, causing widespread concern among the public.
ZFancy later claimed that the videos were staged and intended to attract attention following a hiatus. Despite his explanation, such actions carry significant consequences and cannot be disregarded lightly.
The Nigeria Police Force has emphasised its commitment to public safety and accountability, ensuring individuals are held responsible for actions that provoke fear or disrupt public tranquillity.
The Police has issued a stern warning to pranksters and content creators, urging compliance with the law and caution in producing content that could threaten public safety or compromise national security.
As legal proceedings progress, the public is urged to remain composed, assured that appropriate measures are being taken in this case.
By Adeyanju Esther
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended several suspected kidnappers in the Gwagwa and Dei-Dei areas of the territory.
The arrests were made by operatives from the Utako division acting on credible intelligence between June 30 and July 3, 2024.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer on Thursday, SP Josephine Adeh, the suspects were identified as Umar Abdullahi, also known as Auta, Likita Abubakar, Salisu Sani, Sabiu Mohammed, and Aliyu Suleiman.
They were apprehended in connection with a kidnapping incident that occurred in Gwagwa on June 12, 2024, during which two residents were killed and a ransom of 12 million naira was collected from the victim’s family.
The suspects are also allegedly involved in several other kidnappings and criminal activities within the Capital Territory.
Upon their arrest, law enforcement recovered four AK-47 rifles, a Dane gun, two magazines, and eight unexpended live ammunition from the suspects. All suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crimes.
While investigations continue, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, has reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the security and safety of residents.
The recovery of weapons and the apprehension of the suspects mark a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat crime and maintain law and order in the FCT.
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