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Breaking: Gunmen kidnap another Plateau monarch

Published

3 years ago

January 17, 2022

Another traditional ruler in Plateau state, Da Gyang Balak, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

It was gathered that the kidnap victim, who is the Paramount ruler in Vwang District, Jos South Local Government Area, was abducted around 8 pm on Sunday.

It was learnt that the monarch was driving home along the road near the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru community when the gunmen accosted him and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

The Vwang incident is coming less than one month after gunmen had abducted a traditional ruler in Mangu LGA, Charles Dakat, who is the Paramount Ruler of Gindiri. He was later released after a ransom was allegedly paid to the abductors.

The lawmaker representing Jos South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Fom Gwattson, confirmed the latest abduction to The PUNCH in Jos on Monday.

Gwom Rwei of Vwang District, Jos South LGA, Da Gyang Balak. From what I was told, he was on his to his palace when some people blocked his vehicle and forcefully took him away around 8 pm last night”.

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The lawmaker who condemned the abduction of the traditional ruler noted that his kidnap was the second of such incidents in the community in recent times.

He said,” We have a problem at hand in Plateau state regarding kidnapping and abduction of the citizens. The area where they kidnapped the traditional ruler in Vwang District is the same place where another resident was kidnapped about two weeks ago and a ransom of N1m was paid to the kidnappers before they released the young man.

“As lawmakers elected by the people to represent them at the 9th Plateau Assembly, we have done what we are supposed to do to address the problem by passing the anti-kidnapping bill into law which was subsequently signed by Governor Simon Lalong. But who has been tried in plateau state using that law?.

“It’s just there lying in waste while the people continue to cry over their plight in the hands of abductors. I believe that the government which has the duty to arrest and prosecute those responsible for kidnapping but fails to do it knows what it is doing.

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“In Katsina state, over 200 people were killed and nobody said anything. The truth is that the people of Plateau state and indeed Nigerians have entered ‘one chance’ government and unless this Government is booted out of power, the people may continue to suffer the same fate.”

The Military Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Ishaku Takwa, who also confirmed the kidnap of the traditional ruler said, “Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in conjunction with other security agencies are on trail of the kidnappers. God’s willing, the security agencies will soon close-up on the criminals”.

The Punch/Eagle

Related Topics:Gunmen Kidnap monarch plateau

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Man steals goat for daughter’s naming in Ogun

Published

5 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Man steals goat for daughter’s naming in Ogun

A suspect, Akintoye Wariss, has been arrested by the Odeda Division of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly stealing and slaughtering a Savannah he-goat, worth N200,000, for his daughter’s naming ceremony.

Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the police command, confirmed the arrest, which occurred on January 2, 2024, in the Odeda region of Ogun State. Waris was arrested alongside an accomplice, Ajayi Yusuf.

The two men are accused of breaking into a farm in the area to steal the goat. They reportedly waited until December 25, when the farm owner, identified only as Mark, had taken his cattle out to graze.

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Odutola shared that when Mark returned and discovered one of the goats missing, a search was launched in the community. Villagers soon reported seeing the suspects riding a motorcycle with the missing goat and heading toward Olodo town.

The police acted swiftly on the tip-off, deploying detectives who successfully captured the suspects early on January 2, 2025.

During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted to the crime, detailing how they stole, transported, and slaughtered the he-goat on December 27, 2024. They also revealed that the goat was used for the feast at Waris’s daughter’s naming ceremony in Olodo.

The two suspects are now in police custody and are undergoing further investigation at the Divisional Crime Branch. Odutola assured the public that the suspects would face prosecution once the investigation concludes and that any new updates on the case would be shared accordingly.

Man steals goat for daughter’s naming in Ogun

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Privatise Port Harcourt, Warri refineries, PETROAN tells FG

Published

6 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Port Harcourt Refinery

Privatise Port Harcourt, Warri refineries, PETROAN tells FG

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has requested the Federal Government to privatise the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries in 2025 to firms for efficiency and reduction of government spendings.

It made the request in a document titled: “To whom It may concern,” which The Nation obtained from Abuja on Saturday.

The document was signed by the National President, Billy Hary; Secretary, Barr Adedibu Aderibigbe, and Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele.

In its recommendations, the association said: “Based on PETROAN’s observations, the following recommendations are made to

ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the downstream sector in 2025:. “Privatization of Nigerian-Owned Refineries: Privatize Nigerian-owned refineries, such as the Warri and Kaduna refineries, to reputable private companies to improve efficiency and reduce government spending.”

It further noted that privatisation of the plants would foster a competitive market by encouraging new entrants and promoting a level playing field to prevent monopolies and ensure fair pricing.

It said it would enhance transparency and accountability.

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PETROAN also requested President Ahmed Tinubu to save the businesses of 10,000 oil and gas marketers with N100billion intervention.

This followed the perceived job losses due to the removal of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol subsidy.

The document said: “PETROAN request for a grant of ₦100 billion from President Bola Tinubu to help prevent the closure of 10,000 marketers’ businesses.

” The request is in response to the threat of job losses that would result from the removal of the fuel subsidy.”

PETROAN also urged the government to address cross-border smuggling of petroleum products by collaborating

with neighbouring countries to strengthen border security and prevent

smuggling, and also utilize digital tracking systems to monitor petroleum

products from refineries to retail outlets.

The association further asked the government to prioritise local refineries’ access to crude oil to boost Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

Privatise Port Harcourt, Warri refineries, PETROAN tells FG

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How I escaped death after my 14-year-old bride poisoned my meal – Jigawa man

Published

6 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

How I escaped death after my 14-year-old bride poisoned my meal – Jigawa man

A 34-year-old man has shared the story of how he narrowly escaped death while his friend lost his life after his 14-year-old bride poisoned their meal two days after their wedding.

Kamisu Haruna recounted that the incident occurred on December 22 at his home in Albasu village, Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

According to Haruna, after marrying Zahra’u Dauda on December 20 in Kiyawa Local Government Area, he brought his young bride to his residence.

Two days later, as the wedding guests had departed, Zahra’u reportedly sent some of her friends to deliver food to him and his companions around 10pm.

“On Sunday night (December 22), after the wedding guests had dispersed to their various homes, my friends were preparing to take me to the bride’s room. Suddenly, we saw her friends coming towards a nearby shop where we were sitting. They came with cooked spaghetti with beef and said the bride sent them to give us the food.

“While eating the food, we noticed a taste of chemicals and stopped eating, suspecting the food was poisoned. Then we started feeling stomach ache.

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“We took milk, but our condition kept worsening. We were rushed to the hospital where my friend, Muhammad Alpha, was confirmed dead,” the groom narrated to a reporter who visited the village.

Haruna alleged that his wife had been influenced by her former lover, who he claimed supplied her with the poison.

“After the wedding in Kiyawa, she (the bride) told me she would go back to her town to collect her belongings. It was there that her former boyfriend gave her the poison and asked her to put it in my food,” he alleged.

The groom also denied accusations of coercing his bride into the marriage, maintaining that Zahra’u genuinely loved him but was misled by her ex-boyfriend due to her inexperience.

“Everyone can testify that we are true lovers. What happened is just our destiny and due to her little experience of life.

“She is still my wife even though her action led to the death of my friend. We prayed for the repose of his soul, and the law enforcement agencies should do justice for all of us,” Haruna said.

Jigawa State Police spokesperson, Lawan Adam, confirmed the incident, stating that Zahra’u, a resident of Bagata Gabas village, conspired with her former lover, 22-year-old Lawan Musa of Bagata Gabas Yamma village, to poison her husband’s food.

“The husband and his two friends ate the food together, and as a result, they both developed stomachaches.

“Victims were rushed to the hospital, where one of the groom’s friends was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on call. The case is under investigation,” the police spokesperson said.