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Court remands 11 persons over alleged cultism, robbery in Lagos

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2024

Court remands 11 persons over alleged cultism, robbery in Lagos

The Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, Lagos State has remanded 11 persons for allegedly belonging to a secret society, conspiring to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The 11 suspects were on Wednesday arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command before Magistrate O.Y Adefope.

They include: Bamidele Bakare, Muriana Anuoluwapo, Sheriff Alausa, Emmanuel David, Godwin Asado, Abdullahi Taoheed, Olorunwa Ayeniran, Taoheed Alade, Abdullahi Isa, Bolaji Oseni, and Tobi Adedayo

The suspects were charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and belonging to a secret society, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The charges alleged that on May 25, 2024, the 11 suspects, with intent to disrupt law and order in the inhabitants of Itire, Surulere, and Amuwo Odofin, unlawfully belonged and managed a secret society known as the Eiye Confraternity, whereby they organised and disrupted law and order in the inhabitants of the areas of Lagos.

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More so, one locally made single-barrelled cut-to-size gun, two live cartridges, and 14 9MM Beretta pistol ammunition, which they used for their unlawful activities, were found in their possession.

It was gathered that inhabitants of Itire, Surulere, and Amuwo Odofin reported a series of robberies and criminal activities, leading to the investigation into this robbery. Consequently, a tactical team assigned to Amuwo Odofin raided the suspects’ hideout and discovered the ammunition, arresting them on May 27, 2024.

Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offences were committed on May 25, 2024.

He stated that the alleged offences contravened and are punishable under Section 328, Section 2(3)(a)(b)(d)(e) of the Unlawful Society and Cultism Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2021, and Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The defendants’ pleas were not taken in court. Adefope ordered that the defendants be remanded pending further hearing. However, the case was further adjourned to September 25, 2024.

Court remands 11 persons over alleged cultism, robbery in Lagos

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BREAKING: Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna

Published

29 mins ago

July 1, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna

A Nigeria Air Force (NAF) helicopter has crashed in the early hours of Monday in Tami village, located in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.

Eyewitness reports said the incident occurred at the early morning on Monday, causing significant alarm among villagers.

The helicopter, on a routine operational flight, experienced technical difficulties that led to the crash. Fortunately, the pilot managed to execute emergency protocols effectively, ensuring his own survival.

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the pilot emerged from the wreckage unscathed.

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Residents of Tami village quickly gathered at the crash site, offering assistance where possible and expressing relief that no live was lost.

It was gathered that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and conduct an initial investigation.

They cordoned off the crash site to prevent unauthorised access and to ensure the safety of the villagers. The officers also began preliminary assessments to determine the cause of the crash, which remained unknown at this time.

As at the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force has not released any official on the incident.

BREAKING: Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna

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UK cab driver confesses still getting paid in Nigeria as civil servant

Published

2 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Trends Admin

UK cab driver confesses still getting paid in Nigeria as civil servant

Despite leaving Nigeria for the UK two years ago, Sabitu Adams gets paid each month as a junior official at a government agency back home.

Adams, who now works as a taxi driver in the UK, had his name changed by a BBC report to protect his identity.

The taxi driver has yet to resign from his job in Nigeria.

Adams is one of the thousands of ghost workers, a rampant issue in the Nigerian civil service.
Each year, the government carries out biometric verifications and reels out numbers representing discovered ghost workers, and money saved.

But no one is ever announced to have been arrested or prosecuted.

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Last week, President Bola Tinubu directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.

Tinubu also ordered that the culprits’ supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge.

Adams told the BBC that he was not worried about the president’s directives because he earned better as a taxi driver in the UK.

“When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” the 36-year-old said.

The cab driver said he did not resign “in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years”.
Adams was quoted as saying he had an arrangement with his boss in Nigeria who is a “relative”.

UK cab driver confesses still getting paid in Nigeria as civil servant

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Police rescue 2 kidnapped victims in Abuja

Published

2 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Trends Admin

Police rescue 2 kidnapped victims in Abuja

Two kidnapped victims were rescued by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in the Guto community of Bwari, Abuja, on Sunday.

According to a statement by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the rescue operation was triggered by an early morning attack by gunmen on the community. The prompt response from the police and other security agencies was crucial in handling the situation.

The statement noted: “In response to the sudden attack by unknown gunmen in Guto village, Bwari, earlier today, June 30, 2024, at about 01:30 p.m., where two female victims, Mart Ojadi, 15 years old, and Evelyn Chinaza, 12 years old, were kidnapped and forcefully taken to an unknown location, the operatives of the FCT police command from the anti-kidnapping unit swiftly mobilised to the scene.

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The police, along with the DSS and local hunters, pursued the kidnappers into Gauraka Forest in Niger State, which borders the FCT. The confrontation led to a fierce gunfight, eventually causing the kidnappers to flee into the surrounding bushes with various injuries, leaving the two victims behind, unharmed.

The rescued girls have been safely reunited with their families. FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth C. Igweh, praised the operation and reiterated the commitment of the police force to ensure the safety and security of the capital. He also encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.”