Crime

NANS seeks holistic approach to rescue abducted students

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2023

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to authorities concerned to use all means to rescue university and secondary school students from their abductors.

Newsmen report that two female Microbiology students of Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, and another 10 female secondary school students of Kachia LGA in Kaduna State had been in captivity.

Mr Vanessa Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator, Inter-Campus Affairs of NANS Zone A, made the appeal in a statement issued to NAN in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

Kwere issued the statement after NANS delegation met with the management of the university shortly after the union’s Zonal Convention held in Jigawa recently.

He pointed out that the call became imperative in view of the fact that the abducted students were under the care of government, hence they remained the property of government.

Kwere said: “We were notified of the sad news regarding the abduction of two 200 level female students of Microbiology Department, Federal University, Gusau.

“It is indeed a really heart touching incident, we had to stop by to pay a solidarity visit, to also sympathise with the institution on this incident.
“We urge the students to remain calm and keep praying for the safe return of their friends and sisters.”

According to him, the union met with the school management, including Prof. Ahmad Galadima, the Acting Vice Chancellor, who is also the current Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university; Dean Students’ Affairs, Prof. Lawal Sa’ad; Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, Dr Tagba as well as the Chief Security Officer.

Kwere said during the meeting, they discussed how the incident happened, the strategies being currently applied by the institution to rescue the abducted students,

“The meeting was presided over by the pioneer Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and President FUBK, Comrd. Usman Ladan-Fakai, and attended by several NANS officials.

“Present at the meeting include Comrd. Vanessa Enoch Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator Inter-Campus Affairs Zone A, and Comrd. Daniyalu Bello Mailafiya, the Director Special Duties NANS Zone A. And a number of stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara axes,” he said.

The deputy coordinator noted that the Dean Student Affairs had enlightened them on the efforts made by the university to guarantee the safe return of the abducted students.
He said the acting VC also assured them that the university was doing its best to maintain security within the institution, assuring that frantic efforts are being intensified to rescue the abducted students.

In a related development, the union expressed deep concern over the abduction of about 10 female students of Kachia LGA in Kaduna State, who according to preliminary report, were students of Government Secondary School, Awon.

“It is very disheartening to learn about this incident, despite still in worry of the two 200 level female students of Microbiology Department, FUGUS, abducted at their Hall of residence.

“We are in constant turmoil because of this reoccurring incidents, our governing bodies have failed to protect us from such menace, students no longer feel safe in their institutions or anywhere at all.

“Predicaments like this are what discourages and interferes with the educational process of Nigerian students, looking at most of this cases, victims always turn out to be females, we’re fragile beings who are abducted, tortured and explored.

“We students’ representatives demand a serious and immediate intervention from the Federal Government and all relevant security bodies, it is our right to feel safe wherever we are,” he pleaded.

Crime

Man sentenced to 16 years in prison for raping minor in Port Harcourt

Published

50 mins ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a man, Charles Ogagbe to 16 years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl.

Ogagbe, originally from Delta State was convicted of the crime, which occurred in 2022 in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Chief Magistrate Rita Oguguo, in her judgment, cited the Child Rights Act, stating that the prosecution successfully proved the case of defilement against Ogagbe.

Chief Magistrate Oguguo sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

Crime

Evans, co-defendant opt for plea bargain in murder, kidnapping case

Published

6 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, have chosen to pursue a plea bargain in their ongoing trial for murder and attempted kidnapping.

This development was revealed on Thursday when the case came up for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Coker of an Ikeja High Court.

The state lead counsel, Yusuf Sule, informed the court that the defendants had applied for a plea bargain, and the terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro.

The defendants were initially scheduled to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, kidnapping, and attempt to murder.

Crime

We’re on the hunt 24/7 — EFCC declares war on fraudsters

Published

6 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned fraudsters, declaring that it is ‘on the hunt’ for them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Executive Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede, issued this warning, while speaking at the commissioning of the EFCC’s new radio station, 97.3FM on Thursday in Abuja, vowing that the agency will leave no stone unturned in its quest to track down and bring to justice all those involved in corrupt practices.

Olukoyede cautioned that the EFCC will not rest to fight corruption, stressing that the agency is now more determined than ever to rid the country of the scourge of corruption.

“We are getting stronger for the fight, and there will be no hiding place for fraudsters as EFCC will get them anywhere, anytime,” he declared.

The EFCC chairman’s warning came on the heels of the agency’s recent successes in prosecuting high-profile suspects and recovering billions of naira in looted funds.

The commission’s new radio station, which was inaugurated by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, is part of the EFCC’s strategy to engage with the public and mobilize support for its activities.

According to him, the station will provide a platform for the EFCC to share information, educate the public on the dangers of corruption, and receive feedback from Nigerians on its activities.

He said, “The journey to this epochal event commenced as far back as 2003, when the idea of establishing a radio station was first mooted under the leadership of one of my predecessors, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“For us in the EFCC, owning a radio station is not a status symbol, but an important organ of mobilization against graft where communication and public engagement have the same impact and depth as our operational activities. With our own radio station, we are in a better position to tell our stories, factually, ungarnished and unspun.”

On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the EFCC for its efforts in combating corruption and urged the agency to continue its good work.

The Minister also charged the management and staff of the new radio station to operate in line with the principles and ethics of broadcasting and journalism.

He said, “As a public-facing agency, it is indeed very important for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be deliberate and strategic about shaping the narratives around the all-important war being waged against corruption in our country.

“The Ministry of Information and National Orientation is resolute in restoring trust in public communication and amplifying the policies and programmes of the Federal Government. This is in line with the first two agendas of the ministry.”