Again bandits strike in Niger, abduct 50

Published

4 years ago

January 28, 2021

Bandits on Thursday abducted about 50 people in an early morning attack on Bassa community in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

There have been regular attacks by bandits in the state. At least 22 people were killed by bandits on September 4, 2020 in the state in two attacks, the APF had reported then.

Earlier, the military had confirmed three soldiers of the Operation Whirl Punch had been killed and two others wounded while repelling an attack by bandits on Tashan Kare community in the state.

The bandits in the early hours of Thursday reportedly invaded the Bassa community in large numbers on motorcycles, according to The Nation’s report.

The people, who were said to be getting set for the day’s activities, were jolted by the bandits’ invasion, causing them to run into the bush for safety.

The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Kokki, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits attacked the town, causing mayhem on unsuspecting peaceful and defenceless people.

He, however, stated that the number of people kidnapped was yet to be ascertained but noted that they were many.

Kokki also disclosed that on Tuesday, some other communities in Bassa/Kokki were attacked.

He said that Shiroro Local Government Area was urgently in need of help, as people had continued to live in fear.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abiodun Wasiu, said he would get back to on the incident.

Related Topics:Bandits Featured Niger State

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Lakurawa terrorists attack Kebbi community, kill 2 policemen, rustle 200 cows

Published

11 minutes ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Nafi’u Abubakar

Lakurawa terrorists attack Kebbi community, kill 2 policemen, rustle 200 cows

Gunmen suspected to be members of the Lakurawa terrorist group have killed two policemen and rustled over 200 cows from Natsini village in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

It was learnt that the incident happened on Thursday at about 11 pm.

According to sources at the village, the policemen were manning a checkpoint along the Augie/Kangiwa road when the terrorists numbering over 50 on motorcycles attacked and killed two of them before rustling cows in the village.

Natsini village is along Augie/Kangiwa road and about 5 kilometres from Argungu town.

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A local, Abubakar Augie, told Weekend Trust that the rustled cows belong to a prominent civil servant identified as Lawali Black in the area.

He said, “The Lakurawa were more than 50 on motorcycles; after overpowering the few policemen at the checkpoint, they went to where the cows were kept in his ranch and went away with them.”

The local government chairman, Aliyu Gulma, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said the council was already holding a security meeting on the issue and that the state government had directed security agents to go after the terrorists with a view to recovering the stolen cows.

The police command public relations officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Lakurawa terrorists attack Kebbi community, kill 2 policemen, rustle 200 cows

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Money laundering: Court freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

Published

11 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Trends Admin

Money laundering: Court freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the temporary freezing of 21 bank accounts domiciled in some commercial banks and directed the arrest of the account holders by the police.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

Justice Nwite also granted the “order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATMs while allowing inflow into the said accounts” pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence.

“I am of the view that the motion ex-parte is meritorious.

“The application is hereby granted except that the period of the investigation can only last for a period of 90 days,” Justice Nwite said.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 3 for mention.

The banks are Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Ltd, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Guarantee Trust Bank Ltd, United Bank of Africa Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, TAJ Bank Plc and Keystone Bank Plc.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the I-G is the applicant in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1965/V/2024, the 13 banks are sued as 1st to 13 defendants respectively.

The I-G, in the motion filed by Mohammed, sought an interim order directing the listed “banks to freeze the accounts mentioned in the schedule attached to this summon pending investigation and prosecution of this case.

“An order directing the banks to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATM while allowing inflow into the said account as from the date of this court order.

“An order of the court, directing the bank to apprehend the account holder or any person transacting business on the said account and contact the police through this number 09011483807”

Giving two grounds, the lawyer said the accounts are subject of investigation and are reasonably suspected to be warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities or fraud.

He said, “If there is any dealing with the accounts by way of withdrawal or transfer to another account by the person under investigation/investigator and the person that have absolute power to deal with the account will render nugatory any consequential order(s) which the court may make at the conclusion of this application.”

In the affidavit deposed to by Glory Ohio, a detective with the Nigeria Police Force attached to Force Criminal Investigation Department, on Feb. 12, 2024, the I-G received a petition bordering on stealing and breach of trust which preliminary investigation revealed to be money laundering.

Ohio averred that the head of the team was assigned to investigate the complaint to determine the allegations contained in the petition and investigations were initiated in that respect.

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“That the complainant alleged that, he needs a (SPV) Special Purpose Vehicle company to enable him secure the contract with Nigeria Navy which led him to entered a joint venture agreement with the defendant who has the company name Indetix Limited.

“That the petitioner was offered contract to supply ICT Equipment and Accessories, supply 10 wooden canoes and out Board engines, supply of 13x115HP Yamaha 4-stroke long shaft outboard engines, supply and installation of inverter batteries and supply of outboard engines and firefighting equipment.

“That the Nigeria Navy offered the petitioner the contract and both parties open a joint account with Zenith Bank where they made themselves the two signatories to the account.

“That both parties concerned drafted memorandum of understanding and a clause spelt the sum of 15% of the profit to be paid to the defendant and parties append their signatures.

“The Nigeria Navy disbursed the contract sum in instalment to be used in execution of the contract.
“That the petitioner received a letter from the complainant that he is not comfortable with the first agreement signed by both parties for 15% of the profit rather a 7.5% of the total sum of the contract to his own share of the contract.

“That the petitioner disagreed with the proposal and the new terms intended to be smuggled into parties earlier agreement.

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“That the refusal of the petitioner does not go well with the suspect as a result of which the suspect sent a purported company resolution to the bank and removed the petitioner as a signatory to the joint account, which makes him the sole signatory.

“That his act was motivated in furtherance of his clandestine motives to steal from the joint account and he did stole money under the guise of purchase of the board engine.

“That the suspect further transferred the contract sum paid into the joint account to various accounts in other to disguise the origin of his illegal activities,” the officer said.

Ohio said the purported money disbursed for the purchase of the engine board was later transferred back to the suspect different account from the joint account.

According to the detective, this is done to promote money laundering and conceal his illegal activities.

The officer said the intelligent report gathered so far revealed that the suspects were making effort to transfer or withdraw money from the accounts and that unless the court grants the order, otherwise, the investigation will be jeopardise.

Money laundering: Court freezes 21 bank accounts, orders holders’ arrest

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Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam

Published

12 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Trends Admin

Youths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam

Enraged residents of Hallelujah community in Osun State on Friday beat a newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya, while attempting to conduct Jumat service in the area.

The Ajeniju, who was installed by the Timi of Ede a few months ago, against the will of the Ido-Osun community, was beaten to a pulp by angry youths, saying he had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.

It was gathered that the monarch last week turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community, but while gathering some people at his palace to observe Jumat prayer, some youth from Ido-Osun reportedly invaded the palace and disrupted the prayer session.

Some of the aggrieved youths while shouting at the monarch queried his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch.

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The mob beat the monarch and vandalised the palace before security operatives could intervene.

A security source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that it took the intervention of security operatives to rescue the monarch from the scene.

“The situation escalated, resulting in the vandalization of the palace and a physical attack on Ajenifuja of Hallelujah, who sustained serious injuries.

“He has since been taken to the State CID for further investigation and safety,” said the source.

However, another source in the community disclosed that the monarch had been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security, Hon. Samuel Ojo, said he would not comment on the incident pending the outcome of the investigation on the matter.