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Buhari alarmed as police reveal identities of soldiers who killed Yobe cleric

Published

2 years ago

August 24, 2022

The police have revealed the identities of army personnel who allegedly murdered an Islamic cleric in Yobe State last Friday.

This came as President Muhammadu Buhari described the soldiers’ actions as barbaric and asked the army to swiftly punish those responsible for the heinous act.

One Sheikh Goni Aisami was reportedly killed last Friday night near Jaji Maji in the Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The Yobe State Police Command has since confirmed through its Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkareem, that the suspects behind the crime have been apprehended and are in its custody.

Following further investigations, the police confirmed the identities of the soldiers as LCPL John Gabriel and LCPL Adamu Gideon.

Abdulkareem in a statement obtained by newsmen on Tuesday, said Gabriel and Gideon who were arrested at the scene of the crime are both attached to 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru.

“In its relentless efforts towards combating crimes and criminality, Yobe State Police Command recorded another milestone in the arrest of suspects (two soldiers) in a case of Armed Robbery and Homicide.

“On 19th August, 2022, detectives from Karasuwa Divisional Police Headquarters in response to a distress call apprehended N/A13/69/1522 Lance Corporal John Gabriel and N/A13/70/6552 Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon both attached to 241 RECCE Battalion, Nguru.

“One of the assailants (L/CPL John Gabriel) whose intention was to rob unsuspecting motorists of their vehicle left the barracks on the date in mufti having concealed his rifle in a camp bed for military checkpoint at Nguru at about 2200hrs,” the police statement read.

“Meanwhile, one Sheik Goni Aisami, a prominent Islamic scholar based in Gashua who was travelling alone from Kano to Gashua in his Honda Accord car with Reg. No KBT 31 AE arrived at the military checkpoint at Nguru.

“L/CPL John Gabriel requested the Islamic cleric to offer him a lift to Jaji Maji which he obliged. That while driving and before reaching Jaji-Maji town the Assailant asked him to park that there was an unusual noise at the rear tyre.”

The statement said while the cleric came down to check the tyre, the suspect brought out his rifle, shot and killed him.

The suspects reportedly dragged the cleric’s body and hid it in the bush and took possession of the vehicle with intention of taking it away but the vehicle refused to start after several attempts.

“The suspect called his accomplice L/CPL Adamu Gideon from 241 RECCE Battalion Nguru and an auto-electrician from Jaji Maji to assist in starting the car,” the police statement said.

Nemesis, however, caught up with the culprits when a passerby who was reportedly going to his farm early in the morning sighted the cleric’s lifeless body, a vehicle and some people then alerted the police from Jaji who promptly mobilized and raced down to the scene.

This according to the police report led to the arrest of the two soldiers and recovery of the corpse, decease vehicle and the rifle used in the commission of the offence.

A Volkswagen Sharon bus was reportedly also found at the scene of the crime.

The police said it is still investigating the case and that the suspects who are in its custody will be charged to court soon as it is done with the findings.

Meanwhile, President Buhari , in a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described the soldiers’ actions as barbaric.

According to the President, the soldiers’ actions have the potential to erode citizens’ trust and willingness to assist military personnel.

He stated that the perpetrator’s actions had no place in military training, and that their actions contradict the entire ethos of military life, which is based on discipline and the sanctity of innocent lives.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I am personally outraged by this criminal and wicked act committed by a law enforcement official trained to protect life,” he said.

“By virtue of our training, we are guided by a code of conduct that frowns on such reckless and criminal behavior.” It is not in our nature or training to put innocent citizens in danger. Of course, this soldier’s behavior is an isolated incident involving an individual, but it has the potential to tarnish our military’s collective image.

“This incident has the potential to make our fellow citizens fearful of assisting soldiers, thereby destroying the trust bond between our military and civilians.”

Buhari urged military authorities to swiftly punish the perpetrators of the heinous crime, who are now in police custody.

According to Shehu, the President expressed condolences to the Yobe State Government, the people of the state, and the family of the victim of this tragedy.

Related Topics:cleric Featured Murder police soldiers

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Leadership dispute: NURTW cautions AGF, IGP against aiding Baruwa

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Leadership dispute: NURTW cautions AGF, IGP against aiding Baruwa

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to resist efforts to drag them into the leadership dispute in the union.

Reacting to a recent letter by lawyer to Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, calling on the AGF and the IGP to help enforce a judgment, the NURTW claimed that the said judgment was allegedly obtained by misleading the court.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, a National Officer of the NURTW and immediate past National Financial Secretary, Comrade Uwem James said it was prejudicial of the court for Baruwa to seek to enforce a judgment when cases relating to the dispute over the union’s leadership were still pending in court.

James claimed that Baruwa’s tenure, in which he (James) served as National Financial Secretary) lapsed in August 2023, adding that Baruwa was only seeking to come back through the back door by allegedly concocting a case in which he claimed to have got a favourable judgment.

James, who gave a background to the whole leadership dispute in the union, accused the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of wrongly taking side with Baruwa without seeking to understand the root of the dispute.

He said cases relating to the question of the union’s leadership were still pending before the National Industrial Court in Lagos and Abuja, adding that applications are still before those courts that yet to be determined.

James added: “Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, in defiance of the order of injunction that parties maintain status guo ante belum and the application to restrain him pending in courts, both in Lagos and Abuja, still went ahead to declare himself President at a place in Lafia on 23rd, August 2023 despite all the suits against him.

“As at then, he showed very clear disregard for the rule of law, court order and pending litigations; and now he wants to enforce court orders in his favour, forgetting that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“We are constrained to bring this matter to the public domain in order to clarify some misconceptions among members of the public due to Alh. Baruwa’s outcry of victimization.

“We know as a common order that ‘it is one who is cheated that cries to the court of public justice for redress,’ but the reverse seems to be the case here, where Alh. Baruwa is the one who had heated but seems to be crying the loudest.

“Be it noted that the two cases filed against Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa are pending before the National Industrial Court cill date.

“It will therefore prejudice us and the path of justice should Alhaji Ibikunle Baruwa be assisted in any way to enforce any court judgment that we believe he fraudulently obtained by challenging the wrong parties on divergent issues, while cases bordering on his election and constitution of the union, which were first raised and filed in court by us are still pending and yet to be determined.

“Moreso, it will render our cases useless and may lead to chaos, with the possibility of breakdown of law and order in the union and society at large,” he said.

James prayed the court, where the cases are pending, particularly the one marked: NICN/UY/27/2023 between Comrade Uwem James & six others vs. NURTW, Tajudeen Baruwa & two others, “to expedite action for a speedy trial and determination of the case, which we believe, will bring a final settlement on this matter.”

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Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

Published

6 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Jami’u Abiola

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Jami’u Abiola, son of the late MKO Abiola, as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the appointment, which takes effect on November 14, 2024.

Akume’s statement, issued by Mr. Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, highlighted that the appointment aligns with the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended.

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

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Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Published

6 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Some hoodlums in Adamawa State have reportedly beaten a policeman, Ibrahim Maizabuwa, to death.

Two persons, Ezekiel Kefas and Stephen Zabadi from Wamsa Suwa Ward in Lamurde LGA of the state, have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on November 19, 2024 after the deceased’s son, Danlami Ibrahim Maizabuwa, reported the incident to the police.

According to him, investigations revealed that the police officer was killed and buried in the community.

The deceased was said to have visited his friend, Ezekiel Kefas, in the community.

The police command’s spokesman said during interrogation, Kefas claimed that the officer was killed by a group of thugs after he destroyed property and assaulted people in his (Kefas’) house.