Villeworth Security Services Ltd

Week 50

SUMMARY OF MAJOR INCIDENTS BY CATEGORY

S/N	CATEGORY	MAJOR INCIDENTS
1	Kidnap/Hostage	6
2	Robbery	6
3	Gang	2
4	Drugs	3
5	Militancy/Maritime Incidents	7
6	Terrorism	2
7	Political/Government Agencies
8	Murder/Assassination	13
9	Rape Incidents	3
10	Others	5

Kidnap/Hostage Incidents

Enugu Police Rescue Kidnap Victim, Arrest 4 Suspects

The Enugu State Police Command, December 5, rescued 18-year-old Chinenye Nwobodo, from the den of kidnappers in Ugbawka forest in Nkanu East LGA. Police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, December 6, said that the victim was rescued through intelligence information obtained by police operatives. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. It was gathered that the gunmen had stormed Umuaragu-Nara community of Nkanu East LGA and abducted the daughter of the Neighbourhood Watch Chairman. The kidnappers later demanded N15 million as ransom. But following intelligence obtained by police operatives, one of the suspected gang members was nabbed in the community. His confessions led to the rescue of Chinenye Nwobodo. The police spokesman said that the police also recovered the Golf car used by the kidnappers. He said that the suspects are assisting the police in their investigation while the victim is reunited with her family.

Ekiti Police Rescues Kidnap Victims

Operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command have rescued three kidnapped victims in different operations carried out in the state. Police Public Relations Officer, Alberto Adeyemi, December 5, confirmed the rescue operations. He disclosed that the victims, Lola Akintunwa and her driver, Soji Jegede, who were kidnapped along Igbara Odo/Ogotun Ekiti Road on November 30, were rescued on December 2 after a massive manhunt launched by the police. The third victim, Adeyomoye Alabi, who was kidnapped from her residence in Ado-Ekiti, on November 25, was also rescued by the police and had been reunited with her family. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects, he added.

Woman Bags 12-months Jail Term for Attempted Kidnap

An Iyaganku Senior Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, has sentenced a 46-year-old woman, Fatimo Olalere, to 12 months imprisonment for attempting to kidnap a 9-year-old boy. Olalere was convicted after she pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of child stealing and act likely to cause a breach of peace. The Magistrate, Patricia Adetuyibi, also ordered the prison authorities to confirm the convict’s state of mental health at a public hospital. Adetuyibi directed that the medical report of the convict should be submitted to the court on June 5, 2017, for review of the sentence. The prosecutor, Inspector Aliu Samod, told the court that the convict committed the offense on December 2 when she attempted to kidnap Kalid Kareem, a 9-year-old boy, by pretending to seek direction to her destination. She allegedly grabbed his hand and attempted to pull something out of her handbag. But the boy broke her grip on his hand and took to his heels. Olalere was apprehended by passers-by after the boy raised an alarm.

Gunmen Kidnap Three Lagos Residents, Sack Community

Residents of Ever Winning Avenue in the Isheri Osun area of Lagos State have fled the area after two landlords and a woman was kidnapped by gunmen. Residents began to panic after the gunmen invaded the neighborhood on December 2 and abducted a woman, identified simply as Iya Mitchell. A resident said as the community grappled with how to raise the N6m ransom reportedly demanded to free the woman, the kidnappers stormed the community again on December 5 and seized two landlords. A community leader said that the incidents have been reported to the police. Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, said the police would ensure that the victims were rescued safely. According to her, the Police Command is on the trail of the 10-man gang of kidnappers.

Kidnapped Radio Benue Editor Regains Freedom

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the release of the news editor of Radio Benue, Mrs. Iyuadoo Tor-Agbidye, who was kidnapped on December 2 from her residence in Makurdi. Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said that the victim was freed in the early hours of December 6 and no ransom was paid before her release. He added that the police had made some arrests in connection with the kidnap. Iyuadoo said although the abductors did not harm her, she, however, suffered trauma in the process. Iyuadoo said she was not aware if her husband paid any money to the kidnappers, but added that they had earlier asked for a ransom of N500, 000, which they later reduced to N100, 000.

Family Calls on Police to Rescue Kidnapped Businessman

The family of a businessman, Basil Agha, who was abducted by kidnappers, who disguised as policemen since October 28, has called the police and relevant security agencies to help rescue their father. It was learnt that Basil, who is a fuel supplier, was kidnapped in his country house in Umuofor village in the Orlu LGA of Imo State. It was learnt that the 69-year-old was seeing off an electrician when the attackers stormed the compound and abducted him. His son, Ikenna Agha, December 7, said that the kidnappers had contacted the family and had demanded N50m as ransom. He disclosed that even after they paid them a total sum of N2.6m when efforts by the police to rescue him seemed abortive, his father remained in captivity. Ikenna called on the Inspector-General of Police and other security agents to come to the family’s aid and rescue the businessman.

Robbery

Police Begins Mop up of Criminals in Abia State

The Abia State Police Command has commenced an aggressive mop-up of criminal in the state with a view to creating a crime-free environment during the yuletide festivities. The State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, December 2, disclosed that the aggressive mop-up was paying off with massive arrests of suspects and recovery of arms. It was gathered that the command Safer Highway Patrol arrested two suspects over the hijack of a coaster bus and the robbery of its passengers. Exhibits recovered from them include one locally made double barrel pistol, one life cartridge, one hammer, eight different phones and the sum of sixteen thousand naira. Efforts are being intensified to track down and arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

Robbers Write Lagos Residents to Pay Christmas Dues

Suspected armed robbers have allegedly written some Lagos residents urging them to prepare to pay season’s dues to them on a date not mentioned. Residents of Joseph Harrison Estate at the Yaba area of Lagos State got the letter from the bandits on December 7 notifying them of their impending attack to collect their “dues” for the festive season. It was gathered that the letter was placed on the vehicle of one of the residents and was discovered in the morning when he was about to wash his car. Chairman of the Community Development Association, Bolanle Akinyemi, said that they had reported the threat to Sabo Police Division and more guards have been engaged in the estate.

Police Arrest 3 Suspected Armed Robbers in Gombe

The Police in Gombe State, December 6, disclosed that it had arrested a group of suspected armed robbers terrorizing the people of Gombe metropolis and environs. Police spokesperson, Ahmed Usman, said that the suspects were arrested following intelligence surveillance operation led by the Divisional Police Officer, Gombe Low-Cost Division, Safiyanu Saidu. He added that the command was on the trail of another fleeing suspect named Kabiru, alias Dankebbi. Usman said the suspects, who were found with dangerous weapons, have confessed to having carried out many robbery operations in Gombe area. He advised the public to be very vigilant and report any suspicious persons or people around them.

Police Arraign Apprentice for Robbing Chinese Woman

The leader of a robbery gang, Oyekunle Femi and his accomplices, Ebenezer Aina and Ediale Marvellous, have been arraigned in the Ogba Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly robbing a Chinese woman. It was learnt that the victim, Huang Yun, who lives in the Ikeja area, had asked her engineer to help her get a plumber, and he contacted his friend, Olasunkanmi, on November 2. Olasunkanmi was reported to have done the work with his apprentice, Femi, who later went back to the house on November 10 with members of his gang, carting away phones, wristwatches and cash sum estimated at about N3m. Police prosecutor, Raphael Donny, preferred four counts bordering on robbery, assault, and breach of the peace against the suspects. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Davies Abegunde, and were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum. The case was adjourned till December 14, 2016.

Ogun Police Nab 3 Suspected Car Thieves

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three members of a car-snatching syndicate at Temidire area of Sango Ota. The suspects, Kazeem Adeyemi and Jide Omotunde according to a police source, were arrested on December 3 by operatives attached to Sango Divisional Headquarters while on a routine patrol of the area. The suspects were arrested when a Toyota Highlander SUV, with two occupants, was stopped by the police. On interrogation, it was discovered that the duo had conspired to steal the vehicle. In another incident, one Okoye Michael, who was seen with a stolen KIA Cerato car was arrested. The car was said to have been stolen through the help of a security guard of the owner’s company who gave the car key to the suspect and opened the gate for him to escape. Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered a full investigation of the two cases. He appealed to members of the public to properly screen those they want to employ as their domestic staff.

Gang Incidents

Thugs Invade APC Secretariat with Weapons

Political thugs, December 4, attacked the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State with local weapons. The thugs said to be supporters of Senator Shehu Sani, stormed the Party’s Secretariat to register their displeasure over the disciplinary action taken against the Senator by the party on November 30. The thugs numbering about 50 and chanting the Senator’s name hit at the gate of the party Secretariat on Ali Akilu Way with local weapons. However, a detachment of the Nigerian Police was deployed to curtail the situation.

Kwara Police Parade Suspected Cultist

The Kwara State Police Command, December 8, paraded a suspected cultist, Salisu Imam, who blamed unemployment for his involvement in cult-related activities. Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore, said following the aftermath of cult killings that took place in Ilorin metropolis and the determination of the command to arrest the culprits, three suspects, Ibrahim Imam, Salisudeen Imam and Saheed Mubaraq were nabbed. He stated that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities. He added that they also confessed to having been involved in series of attacks that took place in Ilorin, adding that three live cartridges and charms were recovered from the suspects. Amore also said the command apprehended Wasiu Sodiq for alleged criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace and being a member of a secret cult.

Drugs

Police in Osun Arraign 8 over Alleged Possession, Smoking of Indian Hemp

The Police in Osun State, December 5, arraigned eight suspects before an Osun State Magistrate’s Court over alleged possession and smoking of Indian hemp. The Prosecutor, Sergeant Ona Glory, told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 25, 2016 at Okeyidi/Egbedore Area in Modakeke, Ile-Ife. Glory said that the accused conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in the area. He added that the accused were found smoking Indian hemp which caused pandemonium in the area and was injurious to public health. The accused, however, all pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them. The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Bose Awosan, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 each, with one surety each in like sum, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. She adjourned the case till December 21 for hearing.

3 Bolivians Jailed for Illegal Drug Production in Lagos

Three Bolivians were, December 6, jailed six years each by a Federal High Court in Lagos for unlawful production of controlled drug known as Methamphetamine. The trio was convicted on November 21 after they changed their plea to guilty over the two count charge of drug related offences levelled against them by the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). NDLEA’s prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, had tendered several documentary evidences and other incriminating materials used in producing the banned drugs. Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, sentenced the three Bolivians to six years on each count. The prison terms will run concurrently. She ordered that the jail terms should start from 2nd of February, 2012 when they were arrested and have been in prison custody. She also ordered that the drugs seized from the convicts should be destroyed by the NDLEA in the presence of the accused counsel.

2 Arrested with 1,300 Parcels of Hard Drugs worth N62.4m

Two suspected drug smugglers, Itobo Egede and Munirudeen Ikumapayi, have been arrested with 1,300 parcels of substance suspected to be cannabis worth N62.4 million by operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service. The suspects, who were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), were arrested at different locations in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode Expressway, Ogun State and Gbeaji Customs check-point, Seme Expressway in Lagos State. According to the Customs Area Comptroller, Haruna Mahmod, the suspected substance with Duty Paid Value of N62.4 million, was heading for Cross River State before it was intercepted by eagle eyed officers of the command. Receiving the suspects, Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, Lawal Opeloyeru Isiaka, assured that the substance would be subjected to scientific examination after which the suspects would be charged to court.

Militancy/Maritime

Five Operators of Illegal Refineries Apprehended in Rivers State

The Nigerian Navy, December 3, said it had arrested five suspects who allegedly operated illegal refineries in the Ijawkiri area of Rivers State. The Director of Information and Public Relations, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, who confirmed the arrest, said the navy also discovered and destroyed five Cotonou boats laden with illegally refined oil. The navy said the suspects had been handed over to the relevant security agency for further action. He revealed that the naval patrol team deployed from Forward Operating Base, Bonny, on December 2, apprehended some illegal refinery owners and destroyed four illegal refineries set up at Ijawkiri. Other items destroyed included 12 tanks laden with illegally refined diesel and six tanks laden with products, suspected to be crude oil, he revealed.

Navy Arrests Suspected Pirates, Razes Militant Camps

The Nigerian Navy has arrested some pirates, razed militants’ camps and destroyed illegal refineries in Bayelsa State. The operation was carried out by the Chief of Naval Staff Team, men of the Nigerian Naval Ship Soroh, Yenagoa, and the Forward Operation Base, Formoso, Brass, during an operation tagged, ‘Exercise Eagle Eye.’ In one of the operations on December 2, four suspected pirates, said to be terrorizing traders and residents of some riverine communities in Bayelsa State, were apprehended. The suspects, who were paraded at the jetty of the FOB Formoso, confessed to being masterminds of the attacks on traders and residents of the Brass area of the state and its environs. Among the items found on them were one pump-action rifle, one AK 47 rifle, walkie talkie and 115 horsepower outboard engine. The Commander of NNS Soroh, Commodore Habib Usman, said the exercise was the annual sea inspection operation by the Chief of Naval Staff and was aimed at enhancing maritime security in Nigerian territorial waters.

Military Foils Attack by Sea Pirates, Suspect Arrested

The Nigeria military has failed an attack by suspected sea pirates terrorizing various creeks in Cross River State and recovered weapons from them. Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, carried out the operation which led to the arrest of one suspect. The JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, December 8, said that troops of Sector 4, responding to a distress call, intercepted a gang of pirates robbing traders around Ikang axis. The troops reportedly isolated the eight-man gang and engaged them in a gun battle. After fifteen minutes of gun battle, the troops captured one of the pirates, Kingsley Effiong Essien, while seven others escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds. He listed arms and ammunition recovered from the pirates as two speed boats, two General Purpose Machine Gun, 200 Horsepower boat Engine (HP), two 150 Horsepower boat Engine, three AK47 magazines, 306 rounds of GPMG 7.62 millimetre (mm), Browning Machine Gun (BMG) ammunition, one round of 12.7 millimetres BMG feeding tray, three empty ammunition boxes, one dagger knife, empty cases and links.

10 Militants Arrested in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa States

Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe raided a militant shrine at Ube Okobo in Akwa Ibom State and arrested six suspects. In another operation, troops raided militant camp at Bilabiri community in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State following a tip-off and nabbed four suspected militants. The JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, said since he assumed the command of JTF on November 16, his determination to sustain and improve on the pace introduced by his predecessor, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, has yielded successes.

Navy Arrests 10 Robbers, Foils Herdsmen/Community Bloody Clash

At least 10 suspected armed robbers and an illegal oil refinery operator were arrested by the Navy in Onitsha, Anambra State and handed over to the police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The Navy also foiled an attempted bloody clash that would have erupted between herdsmen and Odekpe community in Ogbaru LGA of the state. The Commander of Onitsha Naval base, Navy Captain M.Y Dahiru, disclosed that the quick intervention of his men averted a bloody clash. A community leader, Chief Okoye, thanked the commander for his prompt action.

Navy Hands Six Suspected Oil Thieves to NSCDC in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy, December 7, handed over six suspected oil thieves to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution. The Commander, NNS Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, Commodore Saidu Garba, while handing over the suspects, alongside the evidence including 3,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil and three vehicles, said that the suspects were arrested by a joint team of `Operation Thunder’. Garba said that the suspects were apprehended with two vehicles loaded with products suspected to be AGO at Ikot Osute axis and a Toyota Camry car. Garba warned all perpetrators of oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, sea robbery and other criminal activities to desist from these nefarious activities. The Chief Superintendent of the NSCDC, Nkem Ojimba, while receiving the suspects, said the suspects and their exhibits would be thoroughly investigated and the suspects would be prosecuted if found culpable.

Navy Records Successes in Foiling Oil Theft

The Nigerian Navy has foiled attempts by suspected vandals to attack some oil vessels in Bayelsa State. The Navy spokesman, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, said attempts by some hoodlums to vandalize and siphon oil product from one of the arrested vessels, was foiled by the navy personnel in FOB Formoso. The oil thieves equally fled and abandoned the three Cotonou boats they brought. In another successful feat, operatives on the NNS Pathfinder accosted two Cotonou boats loaded with suspected illegally refined diesel at Onne anchorage in Rivers State. While the boats were destroyed, no arrest was made as the suspect fled on sighting the navy. Similarly, operatives of the NNS Delta destroyed four illegal refinery sites with about 30 metric tons of illegally refined diesel and three Cotonou boats carrying about 40 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil.

Terrorism

Female Suicide Bombers Kill 30 in Adamawa Market

At least 30 people were killed on December 9 when two female suicide bombers detonated their explosives in a busy market in the Madagali area of Adamawa State. Army spokesman, Major Badare Akintoye, said that several people were also injured in the attack. A local government official and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the attack. The two bombers, disguised as customers, detonated their suicide belts at the section of the market selling grains and second-hand clothing, according to Yusuf Muhammad, Chairman of Madagali LGA. NEMA spokesman, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, said rescuers had been deployed to the scene. He added that security agents had cordoned off the scene of the explosions.

Army Rescues 801 Boko Haram Captives in Borno

The Nigerian Army, December 7, announced that it had rescued additional 801 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists in its on-going anti-terrorism operations in the north-east. Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said that the persons were rescued between November 23 and December 6. Irabor added that the military had also arrested a number of terrorists fleeing their Sambisa forest hideout due to the on-going operation. He disclosed that troops in conjunction with local vigilantes intercepted five men, 29 women and children heading towards Goniri from Kafa on December 4. The men were screened by the local vigilantes and two of them were confirmed to be terrorists.

Political/Government Agencies

Murder/Assassinations

Passenger Kills Okada Rider, Flees With Motorcycle

A 20-year-old suspected murderer, Abdulrahman Muhammed, has been arrested after he murdered a commercial motorcyclist, Owechu Odeje (25), and fled with his motorcycle. The incident took place in the Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State on November 29. It was learnt that Odeje was taking Muhammed from Ijaba junction to Ijaba Pipeline, a neighboring community to Iyana Iyesi when the latter reportedly slit his throat and fled with the motorcycle. When the corpse of the motorcyclist was found, a boy said he saw him with Muhammed. A leader of Hausa in the community reportedly helped to facilitate the arrest of the fleeing suspect. The Ogun State Police Public Rations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for investigation.

Gang Hacks Nursing Mother to Death, Sells Baby for N300, 000

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, December 2, paraded four members of a notorious crime Syndicate for hacking a nursing mother to death, smashing her husband’s head with an axe and stealing their five-month-old baby. The suspects allegedly sold the infant for N300, 000 to a buyer in Okporo community in the Orlu LGA of the state. Lakanu said that the alleged kingpin, Uchenna Ozor, with three others, who allegedly perpetrated the dastardly act, had been on the wanted list of the command. The suspects have reportedly confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court.

Man Beheaded in Delta State

A middle-aged man, Samson Bebebo, was, December 3, beheaded following an escalation of violence in the boundary dispute between Aladja community in Udu LGA and Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri South-West LGA, both in Delta State. The corpse of the deceased, an indigene of Ogbe-Ijoh, was found without his head in his farm behind a secretariat located in the disputed land between both communities. Aladja community, inhabited by the Urhobos, and Ogbe-Ijoh, inhabited by the Ijaws, have been fighting each other over boundary demarcation. There have been series of allegation and counter-allegation of missing persons, maiming, kidnapping and other vices in the volatile communities since the crisis started. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident. He added that investigation was on-going to unravel the perpetrators.

One Killed In Ebonyi Communal Clash

One person was killed and another injured in a renewed clash between the people of Ochenyim Amagu community in Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi state and the neighboring Adadama community in Abi LGA of Cross River State. The neighboring communities have been at war for several years over boundary matters with over 100 persons killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed. In the current clash, the deceased, Chubueze Azuegu and the injured, Stephen Nworie, from Ochenyim community, were both shot at when their community was invaded. The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Jude Madu, said that houses and other properties were destroyed during the invasion. He, however, disclosed that over 100 policemen had been drafted to the area to prevent further attacks.

Police Arrest Suspected Murderers, Kidnappers of Dangote Staff

The Nigeria Police Force, December 6, said it had arrested three suspected kidnappers who murdered one of the expatriate staff of the Dangote Group of Companies, while five were held captive in different locations in Lagos, Ogun, and Kwara states. Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, said the arrests were made through the credible intelligence report made available by the public to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) between November 27 and December 3rd when the suspects were arrested. The three suspects confessed to kidnapping and releasing all five initial victims after receiving N5.6 million ransom. They also confessed to kidnapping and murdering the ransom transporter, Istifanus Gurama, also of Dangote group. The suspects allegedly abducted and killed Gurama after three weeks in captivity. Gurama was killed because the kidnappers felt he knew too much about them. The suspects, Abubakar Gide (24), Babuga Adamu (25) and Abdulahi Saliu (22), were arrested at Ijebu Igbo forest in Ogun State, Epe forest in Lagos State, and Ipo forest in Kwara State, respectively.

Police Arrest Suspect for Hacking Friend to Death

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Haruna Abubakar, a security guard, for first killing and then butchering his colleague in a farm at the Ibeju Lekki. The suspect was said to have hidden the dead body in a bush after the fit of rage. A police spokeswoman, Dolapo Badmos, disclosed that Abubakar and victim were co-workers on a farm in Ibeju Lekki, where the suspect is a guard and the victim was a herdsman. Brother to the deceased had reported the case of a missing person to the police after his brother did not return home after the day’s work. The clue gathered by the police led to the arrest of the suspect, who eventually confessed to the crime and led operatives to where the dismembered body was hidden. The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation and prosecution.

2 Killed, in Fresh Hostilities over Land Dispute

Tension, December 6, heightened at Igbide and Okpolo-Enwhe communities, both in Isoko South LGA of Delta State as two men were allegedly killed and two others severely injured, following a protracted land dispute between the communities. It was gathered that one of the deceased, Felix Abrere, from Igbide, was allegedly beheaded at about 6 am at a bridge between the warring communities, while the other, Ezeze Udumedjeno, from Okpolo-Enwe, was shot dead in the early hours of the day. President General of Igbide community, Chief David Edeguare, claimed that three indigenes of the community were also missing after their neighbors attacked them. In a counter-accusation, the President General of Okpolo-Enwhe community, Sunday Egboye, alleged that the people of Igbide invaded his community and shot one person dead, with two others injured. Soldiers who were on the ground helped to quell the crisis. Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident.

DSS Arraigns Three for Murder of NDDC Staff

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned three persons before the Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State over the November 8 killing of an employee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sophia Horsefall. The accused, Sotonye Martin, Innocent Oluche and Wachukwu Ugochukwu, had allegedly stabbed their victim to death with a jack knife. During the hearing, counsel for the DSS, C.S. Eze, alleged that Martin (first defendant) lured their victim to the residence of Oluche, who is the second defendant in the matter. Eze told the court that the victim’s corpse was buried in a shallow grave before inviting the third defendant (Ugochukwu), a spiritualist, to the shallow grave to carry out some rituals. The suspects did not take their plea, as the Chief Magistrate, F. Alikor, ordered that they be remanded in prison custody. The chief magistrate directed that the case file be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution and adjourned the matter indefinitely.

Naked, Headless Lady’s Body Found in Enugu

Residents of Ugene area of Abakpa in Enugu East LGA of Enugu State, December 7, woke up to the gory sight of the headless body of a naked woman. The Police said it had commenced an investigation into the discovery. Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, assured that the police would unravel the mystery, even as evidence at the scene revealed that the killing could have taken place somewhere else before the body was dumped there as there was no trace of blood at the scene. A resident of the Abakpa area said that an identity card suspected to belong to the deceased was found close to the body.

Air Force Men Kill 60-Year-Old Man over Woman

A 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bulama, was, December 7, beaten to death by two Air Force men during a clash over a woman in Maiduguri, Borno State. According to witnesses, one of the Air Force men had a disagreement with the old man and some youths in the area supported the old man and beat up the Air Force man. The airman returned to the place with his colleague to beat up the 60-year-old man, who later died of the injuries he sustained during the encounter. The 105 Composite Commander, Air Commodore Charles Owho, who confirmed the beating to death of the old man by the airmen, said that one airman, Lance Corporal Kamal Usman, who was also injured in the fracas, was first attacked with a machete by the deceased, who also snatched his rifle. According to him, the Lance Corporal left and mobilised his colleague for assistance. The two Air Force men beat-up the deceased and recovered Usman’s rifle. He added that while the airman is recuperating at the Air Force medical facility in Maiduguri, his colleague had been detained, pending further investigation.

Soldiers Torture Man to Death for Theft

The police in Adamawa State have launched a manhunt for some soldiers, who allegedly tortured a man, Umar Abdulaziz, to death for stealing a phone in the Ganaye LGA of the state. Abdulaziz was accused by a woman, simply identified as Fatima, of stealing her mobile phone. The woman was said to have reported the alleged theft to her boyfriend, who was a soldier. It was gathered that the soldier then mobilized three of his colleagues and dragged Abdulaziz to a corner of the compound, where they battered him until he went into a coma. The matter was said to have been reported at the Area F Police Station, after which policemen and neighbors rushed the victim to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead. The Police Public Relations Officer, Adamawa State Police Command, Othman Abubakar, confirmed the incident.

Suspected Herdsmen Behead Farmer in Abuja

A farmer, Ndubuisi Uzoma, has been beheaded in his farm at Iddo community along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road, Abuja by assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. The headless corpse was found in the pool of his blood on December 4 by his relations, who went in search of him when he failed to return from the farm. The deceased’s sister, Chidinma Umeh, disclosed that Uzoma had earlier complained that he was having issues with Fulani herdsmen who grazed their cattle on his farm. She stated that the young man stayed late on the farm in order to prevent the herdsmen from encroaching on his farm. Chidinma said that the case was reported to the police but no arrests had been made.

Police Arrest Suspect for Killing APC Chieftain in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested an armed robbery suspect, Dolapo Olajiru, for stabbing and killing a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogochukwu Nwosu, at his Ikorodu residence. The deceased was said to have been stabbed during a struggle with the suspect and his driver. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, December 8, said it was an armed robbery case. She said the matter had been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba and is currently being investigated.

Rape

10 Officials Arrested for Raping and Sexually Exploiting IDPs

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, December 6, disclosed that two policemen, three soldiers, one prison official, one official of the Nigerian Air Force, a staff of the Borno State Ministry of Agriculture, and two members of the Civilian JTF, have been arrested for sexually abusing women and girls displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. A recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) had revealed incidents of sexual exploitation and rape of female IDPs by government officials. The report documented incidents of sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri. President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the IGP and the affected state governors to investigate the allegations. The IGP vowed that any suspect found guilty of the offense would be dismissed and taken to court for prosecution.

Raped, Sodomised 2-Year-Old Girl Dies in Enugu

A two-year-old girl, Chimamanda Olijo, who was allegedly raped and sodomized by an unknown person, is dead. Hospital and police sources confirmed that the toddler died on December 6 after battling for life for about seven days. The girl, who was living with her grandmother at Okpo area of Aji at the time of the incident, was said to have been left with a neighbor, while her grandmother, Madam Lauretta Idoko, went to a nearby market to buy some food items. On her return from the market, Lauretta discovered that the little girl was unconscious and took her to a nearby hospital, where some nurses initially suspected malaria. But as the health of the girl was deteriorating, Lauretta took her grandchild to Divinity Hospital in the area, where it was discovered that the girl had been brutally raped and sodomized as her reproductive organs were damaged and her anus was loose and bleeding. The police have commenced an investigation into what happened to the girl with a view to arresting the pedophile.

22-Year-Old, Two Minors, Docked for Gang-Raping 7-Year-Old Girl

A 22-year-old man, Osholo Samuel; his 17-year-old friend and a 10-year-old boy, who allegedly gang-raped a seven-year-old girl, have been arraigned before an Ikorodu magistrate’s court in Lagos. The accused were said to have, on December 2, cajoled the 10-year-old boy to lure the girl into a room where the trio took turns to rape her. Narrating how the alleged incident occurred, the 10-year-old boy said the victim was the only girl in the building that evening and the other suspects allegedly sent him to call her. But Samuel and his friend both denied the allegation and claimed to have left the area some hours before the incident. The defendants were docked before Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Oshoniyi. Samuel and his friend pleaded not guilty while their 10-year-old co-defendant pleaded guilty. However, the magistrate granted Samuel N200,000 bail with two responsible sureties in like sum among other requirements and ordered that he be remanded in Kirikiri Prison, pending the perfection of his bail conditions. She adjourned the case till January 26, 2017, for mention.

Others

Navy Launches Operation Eagle Eye Exercise in Niger Delta

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, December 1, launched a new strategy codenamed ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ in Warri, Delta State. The exercise, which is incorporated into the Chief of Naval Staff annual sea inspection, involved the deployment of nine capital ships, over 80 gunboats and 11 inshore patrol cars and five Navy helicopters, will cover Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states and would last for five days. Ibas said the operation would be conducted within the Eastern and Central command's area of responsibilities covering a coastline of 220 nautical miles extending seaward up to 80 nautical miles and sea area of 39,000 square nautical miles of the nation’s territorial waters. He said that the Nigerian Navy had to introduce new operation concept to address the emerging challenges in the nation’s waterways and water off-shore arising from the proliferation of militant groups and criminal elements taking advantage to engage in all forms of illicit activities including piracy and attacks on ships in the waterways.

Man Arrested for Supplying Herdsman with AK47

The Police in Enugu have arrested a suspected gunrunner, Samaila Garuba Alhaji, who allegedly supplied AK47 rifles to one herdsman, Ibrahim Adamu, who was earlier arrested. Police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, December 6, disclosed that the suspect was apprehended through intelligence supplied to the police. According to him, the suspect was implicated by Ibrahim Adamu as the one that sold the AK47 rifle to him. But Alhaji escaped when he got the information about Adamu’s arrest, while the police remained on his trail. He was eventually trailed to a motor park at 9th mile where he was nabbed. Amaraizu added that the suspect had been helping the police investigation.

Woman Remanded in Prison for Pouring Hot Water on 10-Year-Old

A Magistrate’s Court in Calabar, Cross River State, December 1, remanded a woman, Uduak Monday, in Afokang Prison for pouring hot water on a 10-year-old boy, Okon Nse. The woman allegedly poured hot water on the victim’s face in an attempt to wake him up on November 24. The incident caused severe burns and injuries on the child’s face and arm. A neighbor to the accused, Emmanuel Agan, who noticed the injuries on the child’s body, immediately reported to Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, a frontline child rights organization in Calabar. The organisation immediately swung into action and ensured the arrest of the woman. The boy said the woman poured hot water on him when she discovered that he did not wake up on time to carry out his domestic duties. The magistrate turned down Uduak Monday’s bail application and remanded her in prison until the next adjourned date of December 9.

Robbers, Kidnappers Now Operate with Tricycles in Borno –NSCDC

The Borno State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), December 5, decried the spate of armed robbery and kidnapping by some tricycle operators in the state. The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said intelligence report from his operatives revealed that certain gang of individuals were hiding under the guise of tricycle operators to perpetrate crimes. He added that the culprits normally operate around 9:30 pm before the curfew time when people would be rushing back home. He urged residents to always look out for tricycles with proper registration.

Parents, Son Missing in Lagos Boat Mishap
…Two Rescued by Local Divers

Three members of a family - father, mother, and child - went missing after a passenger boat travelling from Pathfinder to Gberefu, in Badagry, Lagos collided with a fibre boat and capsized. Local divers were able to rescue the operators of the two boats and are still searching for the passengers. Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, said the case is under investigation as it was revealed that the boats were operating at night, which was prohibited for local boat operators. Efforts are on with local divers to recover the passengers, she added.

Review/Analysis

Murder and assassination remained high with very sad killings on record, this was evident in a case where a nursing mother was hacked to death, while her husband’s head was smashed. The killers then made away with their five-month-old baby that they later sold for N300, 000. It was reassuring as the police caught and paraded four members of the notorious crime syndicate. Other incidents include communal clash, lone and mob killings. The south-east and south-west regions of the country witnessed more of these incidents.

Militancy/maritime incidents took a shocking leap up the index as the Nigeria Navy and other security organizations continue to fight hard to curb the activities of vandals and militants within the Niger Delta region. Activities of militants were severely hampered by the heavy presence of security agents in the Niger Delta region of the country. The security agents continuing their success streak destroyed some illegal refineries and arrested their operators. The navy also discovered and destroyed some boats laden with illegally refined oil produce.

Kidnap/hostage incidents continue to remain a hard nut to crack even as notable arrest of suspected kidnappers were recorded across various regions of the country. Despite the arrest of suspects, the hoodlums remain ever daring. This is as unidentified gunmen invaded the Isheri Osun area of Lagos state and abducted three persons within a week. This has forced residents to flee the area in their hundreds, the police assurance of security notwithstanding. Security agents have been deployed to search for and rescue the victims.

Robbery incidents maintained its spot on the index. There were violent robbery attacks by armed men across the country. The law enforcements agents, however, did not sleep on their duty as they captured and took some robbery suspects into custody. Sadly, many others made good their escape with their loot. The south-west witnessed more of this wicked crime.

The government charges every Nigerian and persons that are resident in Nigeria to be security conscious.

Villeworth also urges you to remain law abiding and report any perceived threat to the appropriate authorities for investigation.