metro

Kaduna protesters seek Leah Sharibu’s release abducted since 2018

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2024

Leah Sharibu

Kaduna protesters seek Leah Sharibu’s release abducted since 2018

Christians in hundreds on Tuesday in Kaduna State raised their voices against the government’s alleged helplessness in rescuing a lone Chibok schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, who has been in Boko Haram’s den since 2018.

Leah and over 100 female schoolmates at the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in Yobe State, were forcefully taken captive by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.

While some were released, Leah, who refused to denounce her Christian faith, remained in captivity.

At a point, she was said to be married to more than two commanders of the sect, which had over the years unleashed terror on Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and some parts of the northern states. She bore three children for the commanders.

But on Tuesday, some Christians under the aegis of Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, in a peaceful protest, demanded the immediate release of Leah and other schoolchildren still languishing in terrorist camps across the north.

The Christian leaders stormed the ECWA Good News Church along Narayi High Cost, Chikun Local Government Area of the state, where the peaceful protest was held at about 10 a.m.

They collectively called on both the federal and state governments to secure the community so that Leah Sharibu and others could go to school without necessarily ending up in kidnappers’ dens.

They carried placards and chanted solidarity songs as they laid siege to the church.

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Some of the placards carried inscriptions such as “Free Leah Sharibu and other abducted girls now,” “Remember Gonin-Gora 16 kidnapped victims,” “Government secure our community,” and “Rescue the remaining Chibok girls now,” as well as “Education is not a crime,” among others.

The Chief Executive Officer of Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, speaking shortly after the protest, described it as unfortunate that 10 years after the incident, Sharibu had yet to be rescued.

Nmadu said the protest was organised to commemorate the 21st birthday of Leah Sharibu while in captivity by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

He called on the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu to do the needful in rescuing Sharibu and other abducted schoolgirls still languishing in terrorist dens across the north.

According to him, it is unacceptable that Nigerians are no longer safe in their homes as they are being abducted willingly by bandits from their homes.

He said, “When it started in Chibok, we thought that was the end, but it keeps reoccurring every now and then. 10 years later, many schoolgirls are still in captivity, and this morning.

“We have all come out to commemorate the 21st birthday of Leah Sharibu, who has become the face of this campaign and many other campaigns for safe schoolchildren. We therefore want to wish her a happy birthday, even in captivity.

“But then, we also want to convince the government that they must do the needful. Nigeria is ebbing out. Nigeria is dying. We are almost surrendering to insecurity and bandits, kidnappers, and all sorts of evil people in our land. It is time to stop.

“Our children must go to school. We must stay safe in our homes. Our homes are no longer safe. Our roads are no longer safe. The government must come to terms with what is happening in the country, and they must save the lives of the populists.

“We voted you in for security, but what we get is insecurity. Therefore, we asked, and we spoke this time to the President of the country, Bola Tinubu. Please up your game and have safe lives. People are dying in their hundreds every day. This is unacceptable to us as citizens of this country. Security is our right.

“Therefore, we hope that the government will listen and do the needful. Safe our schools. Safe, our girls. It is not a crime to go to school because they have chosen to go to school. It is the responsibility of the government to secure our schools and protect the lives and property of the citizens of this country.”

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Emmanuel Okunlola, appealed to the government to protect Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to the CAN’s scribe, Nigeria’s government must rise up and expedite actions to rescue Leah Sharibu and other schoolchildren, report said.

Kaduna protesters seek Leah Sharibu’s release abducted since 2018

metro

Updated: One feared dead, seven rescued in Lagos two-storey building collapse

Published

4 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Trends Admin

building collapse (Photo file)

Updated: One feared dead, seven rescued in Lagos two-storey building collapse

A child was feared dead in a two-storey that collapsed Wednesday on Cameroon Street in the Mushin area of Lagos State.

Seven other residents were also rescued from the collapsed building by sympathisers.

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The building collapsed following torrential downpours in many parts of Lagos.

A statement by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said upon arrival of his rescue team at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that the building was newly constructed.

According to him, the seven rescued persons, consisting of three females and four males, have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The agency also said its rescue team had searched the rubble, confirming that there was no victim underneath the collapsed building.

It added that the area had been cordoned off and that clearing operations were still ongoing in the area as of 12.30pm on Wednesday.

metro

Abductors demand N900m ransom to release Hausa musician’s mother

Published

5 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Trends Admin

Renowned Hausa musician Dauda Adamu (known as Rarara) and mother, Hajiya Hauwa’u Adamu

Abductors demand N900m ransom to release Hausa musician’s mother

A group of bandits who kidnapped Hajiya Hauwa’u Adamu, the mother of renowned Hausa musician Dauda Adamu (known as Rarara), are demanding a ransom of N900 million for her release.

Last week, the Katsina State Police Command confirmed the arrest of two suspects connected to the abduction.

A family source revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N1 billion.

The source was quoted by Daily Trust as saying: “They called the family with a phone of a woman the bandits collected when they came to pick up Hajiya. They demanded N1bn but after a brief discussion with a member of the family, they reduced the amount to N900million.

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“At first, they demanded to seal the deal with Rarara himself because he felt sick following the abduction of his mother. They agreed to strike the deal with a member of the family. They confirmed to the family that Hajiya is in good condition and that she would be released as soon as the money is paid.

“The discussion between the bandits and family was very brief and since then they have not called again. But I believe the negotiation is still on. So, the family is still waiting for the bandits’ call to continue with negotiation.

“We learnt that after they gained access into her bedroom, they woke up all the women that were sleeping together with her and started comparing their faces with the photograph.”

Abductors demand N900m ransom to release Hausa musician’s mother

metro

Couple jailed 11 years for sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl in Lagos

Published

5 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Trends Admin

Couple jailed 11 years for sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl in Lagos

The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday, arraigned and sentenced on an amended charge, a couple, Ezimora Okechukwu, a 49-year-old, to seven years and three years consecutively for indecent handling and sexual assault, and his wife, Ezimora Obioma, to one year of community service for concealing the act of sexual assault done to their housemaid.

According to the prosecution counsel, the offences committed by the couple contravene Section 135 (1), 163 and 415 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The court heard that the incident occurred on July 17, 2022, in the house of the convicts, in the Abule-Osun area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim, a 15-year-old housemaid at the time of the incident, was indecently handled, touched and sexually assaulted by Okechukwu. The victim reported the heinous act to Obioma who concealed the incident and did not report it to the authorities.

Their amended charge read, “Felony contrary to Section 135(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Did you, Ezimora Okechukwu, on July 17, 2022, at No 9, Block 19, Divine Height Street, Abule Osun, Lagos State, indecently handle a victim, a 15-year-old, by caressing her breast?”

“Sexual assault contrary to Section 163 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. Did you Ezimora Okechukwu sexually assault the victim?”

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“Accessory after the fact of felony contrary to Section 415 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. Did you Ezimora Obioma, fail to notify police when the victim age 15 years, reported to you that one Ezimora Okechukwu had sexual intercourse with her.”

Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.

PUNCH Metro reports that the first defendant’s charge, which was, “Defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, was reduced after he applied for a plea bargain through his counsel. He and his wife were then granted a lesser charge and sentence.

The prosecution counsel attested to this saying, “The Honourable Attorney General considered the request on the grounds that the defendants showed remorse for their actions, were first-time offenders with no previous convictions and the impact of the conviction on the second defendant and her four young children.”

He further stated, “The Attorney General then accepted that the 2nd defendant be sentenced to a conditional discharge of one-year community service.”

Delivering his judgment, Justice Ramon Oshodi held that the act committed by the couple was heinous.

“The first defendant stands accused of a heinous act, the defilement of a vulnerable housemaid who found shelter under his roof. The second defendant, rather than being a protector or seeking justice, the second defendant is said to have become an accomplice in silence and an accessory, she stands accused of disregarding the victim’s right by concealing the alleged crime even after the occurrence. These allegations paint a picture of the horror of abuse of power and moral failure challenging our society’s most fundamental principle of care and trust,” he held.

He then sentenced the first defendant, Okechukwu, to seven years for indecent handling and three years for sexually assaulting the victim, both sentences would run concurrently, and also sentenced Obioma to one year of community service.