Enugu monarch, 4 others remanded over murder of policemen – Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Enugu monarch, 4 others remanded over murder of policemen

Published

on

Enugu monarch, 4 others remanded over murder of policemen

An Enugu Magistrate Court has ordered the detention of Igwe Herbert Ukuta, the traditional ruler of Igga community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, along with a former councillor and three others, in connection with the alleged murder of two policemen.

Igwe Ukuta, who had been held at the State Criminal Investigation Department for over a month, and his co-defendants were brought before Enugu North Magistrate Court 1 by the Enugu State Police Command. The charges against them include alleged membership in a terrorist group and conspiracy to commit murder.

The case, listed as No: MEN/320c/2024, involves the Commissioner of Police (Kanayo Uzuegbu) against Igwe Herbert Ukuta, 62; Festus Okonkwa, 62; Ofadile Titus Henry, 39; Sunday Ugwu, 26; and Obinna Ayogu, 54.

The accused face multiple charges, including conspiracy, involvement with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and the murders of five individuals, including two police officers.

The police claim that the defendants’ actions violate several sections of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Some of the charges read: “That you HRM Igwe Herbert Ukuta, ‘m, Festus Okonkwa ‘m’; Ofadile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’’; Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the day of May 2024 at about 1315hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Membership of a terrorist group and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) and Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

READ ALSO:

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta, ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did join, belong and participate in the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network which is a proscribed terrorist group by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 25(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta, ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did recruit Festus Okonkwa, ‘m, Ofodile Titus Henry, ‘m, Sunday Ugwu, ‘m’ and others now at large into the membership and activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network which is a proscribed terrorist group by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta, ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu, ‘m’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did knowingly of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network within Igga Community and Adarice Farm Settlement, concealed and failed to report the same to the law enforcement agencies and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16(1)(a)&(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the 3 day of May, 2024 at about 13:15 hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Murder and thereby committed an offence punishable unde Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Inspector Nwoga Cornellus ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

READ ALSO:

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Constable Ikowa Anthony ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Emegoni Aloysius ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkw ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Adada Joshua ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo Titus Henry’’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Eze Fidelis ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

During the court proceedings, the accused did not enter a plea, as the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to handle cases under the Federal Act.

Consequently, all five individuals were remanded to Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.

Enugu monarch, 4 others remanded over murder of policemen

(PUNCH)

metro

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

Published

on

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.

The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.

His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.

“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.

“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.

“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.

READ ALSO:

“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

Continue Reading

metro

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

Published

on

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.

Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.

According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.

READ ALSO:

“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.

Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.

Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.

He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.

 

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

(NAN)

Continue Reading

metro

Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured

Published

on

Dr. Samuel Ekerenam
Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured
Gunmen kidnapped a prominent businessman, Dr. Samuel Ekerenam and k!lled his driver in Eket town, the headquarter of Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Ekerena, the owner of Hephzibah Mall, was abducted about 10:00pm on Saturday, 23 November, 2024.
It was gathered that the gunmen trailed the victim to the shopping complex, shooting sporadically to scare the passers-by away before whisking him away to an unknown destination.
READ ALSO:
The body of Ekerenam’s driver was discovered in the pool of his blood, while his police orderly was severely wounded in the gun attack.
The spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident on Monday, November 25, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo has deployed tactical operatives to comb for the abducted businessman.
The PPRO added that the police were on top of the game and very soon the kidnap victim would be rescued and the perpetrators made to face the full weight of the law.

Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured

Continue Reading

Trending