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Police arrest 9 suspected robbers in Bauchi

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2023

The arrested robbers

Police arrest 9 suspected robbers in Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command has arrested nine suspected armed robbers who had been terrorising residents of the state recently.

Their reign of terror was ended by the bravery of the joint efforts of Operation Restore Peace (ORP) and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Command.

A statement by Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended in recent operations.

“On August 13, 2023, at about 15:03 hours, operatives of Operation Restore Peace (ORP) apprehended three suspected armed robbers who had been causing havoc in the Bauchi metropolis,” he disclosed.

“Acting on credible intelligence regarding the activities of a robbery syndicate in the area, the operatives swiftly took action.

“The syndicate had been under the Command’s watchlist due to their involvement in several armed robberies.

“Their most recent criminal activities occurred on July 10 and July 21, 2023, in the Bayan Gari and Sabon Layi areas of Bauchi State, respectively.

“Following relentless intelligence gathering, the following suspects have been successfully arrested”

Wakil gave the names of suspects arrested as Abdulrahman Yusuf, 21,

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Hassan Adamu, 24,

Usman Samaila, Usman Abubakar, 19.

The PPRO said they confessed to being responsible for nighttime house burglaries and robberies jn the state.

“They confessed to having targeted three different houses in the Unguwar Sabon Layi area, stealing items including a keypad phone, seventy thousand nairas, and a computer laptop,” he said

“Exhibits recovered include one Keke Napep, three handheld phones, and one laptop.

“The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the remaining accomplices who are still at large”

In another development, the RRS on August 14, 2023, at about 03:47 hours received a distress call from a vigilant citizen, the PPRO disclosed.

According to the report a group of seven hoodlums armed with cutlasses and knives were attacking houses in the Dorawan Dillalai area.

“The RRS swiftly responded to the call and arrived at the scene,” he PPRO said

“One Umar Ibrahim Tafida, whose house was targeted first, sustained injuries from the attackers and was immediately taken to General Hospital Bauchi for treatment.

“During the operation, one suspect, Abubakar Yahaya of Unguwar Gwallaga, Bauchi, was apprehended.

“The suspect revealed during interrogation that they were invited by a neighbour named Oba.

“The recovered items from the suspect include three laptops, one laptop charger, and three cutlasses. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts aimed at capturing the remaining accomplices who fled the scene”

In a relatedly operation, to the PPRO revealed that the OPR unit who acted on credible intelligence and arrested four suspects linked to criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, and theft.

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The suspects, he disclosed, are Adamu Mohammed, 23,

Mohammed Shehu, 23, Umar Faruq Mohammed, 23 and

Abdulaziz Usman, 24.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects collaborated to commit burglaries in the GRA area of Bauchi, targeting various households,” hr stated.

“During questioning, the suspects confessed to their involvement, leading to the recovery of stolen items such as two plasma TVs, five mattresses, one refrigerator, and four carpets.

‘Further investigation led to the arrest of the individual who received the stolen goods.

‘The recovered items from him included an HP laptop, clothes, caps, and an iPhone 13 Pro, valued at N750,000.

“The iPhone was traced back to a robbery that occurred on August 2, 2023, in Nasarawa State, where armed robbers targeted a serving corps member’s compound.

‘The suspects have confessed to their crimes and will be charged to court after the completion of the investigations.

“The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad has ordered a meticulous investigation to recover additional stolen properties and apprehend the remaining culprits.

“While Commending Police Operatives for their sacrifice and resilience reiterates the commitment of the Nigeria Police to nip crime and criminality in the Bud, the Commissioner of.Police further expresses his gratitude to the general public for providing credible intelligence that has helped the Police in achieving the successes recorded so far.”

Police arrest 9 suspected robbers in Bauchi

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SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘unlawful suspension of Fubara, Rivers lawmakers’

Published

6 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed-Tinubu with SERAP

SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘unlawful suspension of Fubara, Rivers lawmakers’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the unlawful suspension of democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State while exercising his constitutional powers to proclaim a State of Emergency in the state.”

The suit is brought by Yirabari Israel Nulog; Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal; and Gracious Eyoh–Sifumbukho, who are members of SERAP Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN) in Rivers state. The plaintiffs are registered voters and voted in the 2023 general elections.

Joined in the suit as Defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd).

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the plaintiffs are seeking: “an order setting aside the suspension of the democratically elected officials in Rivers State by President Tinubu while proclaiming a state of emergency in the state.”

The plaintiffs are seeking: “an order setting aside the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking: “a declaration that by virtue of section 1(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”

In the suit, the plaintiffs are arguing that: “The rule of law would be a mere figure of speech if the people’s right to participation can be arbitrarily suspended or violated.”

The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by their lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN read in part: “Democracy is an inherent element of the rule of law. Nigeria’s democracy ought to have as its foundation respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

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“The suspension is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s obligations under article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and articles 2, 3 and 4 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.”

“The combined provisions of sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1) (2) and 305(1) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution create a delicate balance of rights and responsibilities, balancing the exercise of the President’s power against the people’s right to participation in their own government, and the notion of respect for the rule of law.”

“Together, these Constitutional provisions presume that Presidential Powers under section 305 are to be exercised fairly and the duty of fairness requires that the people’s right to participation and democracy should be upheld even in the context of a declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.”

“The combined effect of the provisions of sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1) (2) and 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution is that the suspension of democratically elected officials in Rivers state is unlawful and unconstitutional.”

“Democracy works best when everyone participates. The right to participation is the bedrock of any democratic society.”

“The suspension of the democratically elected officials in Rivers state has seriously undermined the ability of the Plaintiffs to participate more effectively in their own government, and the credibility and integrity of the country’s electoral process, as well as the notion of the rule of law.”

“The rule of law ought to be protected to ensure that persons and institutions operate within the defined ambit of constitutional and statutory limitations.”

“Where agencies of government are allowed to operate at large and at their whims and caprices in the guise of performing their statutory or constitutional duties, the end result will be anarchy and authoritarianism, leading to the loss of constitutionally guaranteed freedom and liberty.”

“Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution is neither absolute nor superior to other provisions of the Constitution. Rather, it is expressly made subject to other constitutional provisions.”

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“The phrase ‘Subject to’ as a legislative device is used in a Constitutional provision or statutory enactment to make the provision of the section inferior, dependent on, or limited and restricted in application to the Section to which they are made subject to.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that there is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) that empowers the 1st Defendant to suspend the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State while exercising his powers to proclaim a State of Emergency in the State under section 305 of the Constitution.

2. A DECLARATION that by virtue of section 1(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

3. A DECLARATION that by a purposeful construction and interpretation of the combined provisions of sections 1(2) 180, 176(1)(2), and 305 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as (amended), the 1st Defendant cannot lawfully suspend the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State while exercising his powers to proclaim a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

4. A DECLARATION that the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025 while proclaiming a state of emergency in the State is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

5. A DECLARATION that the appointment by the 1st Defendant of the 3rd Defendant as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State consequent upon the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025 derogates from the provision of section 1(2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and therefore is unlawful unconstitutional, null, and void.

6. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT setting aside the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025 while proclaiming a state of emergency in the State.

7. AN ORDER setting aside the appointment of the 3rd Defendant by the 1st Defendant as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

8. AN ORDER of injunction restraining the 3rd Defendant from acting or continuing to act as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State in pursuance of his appointment as such by the 1st Defendant on 18th March 2025.

9. AN ORDER of injunction restraining the Defendants, including their agents, representatives or such other persons acting on their behalf from treating or continuing to treat the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers as having been suspended.

10. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) that the Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this suit.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘unlawful suspension of Fubara, Rivers lawmakers’

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Wike’s aide reveals PDP leaders responsible for HQ land revocation

Published

7 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Wike’s aide reveals PDP leaders responsible for HQ land revocation

Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has alleged that some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are responsible for the revocation of the party’s headquarters by the FCT Administration.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 22, Olayinka said PDP leaders like Bode George failed to pay the ground rent on the land title for 28 years.

He said, “People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elders like Chief Bode George, should be blamed for the party’s failure to pay Ground Rent for 28 years, which is the reason for the revocation of the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, and not the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.”

Olayinka in the statement said it is unfortunate that leaders like George who were in the PDP’s National Working Committee but failed to conclude the purchase of the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP had the audacity to appear on television to blame Wike.

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Further stating the Wadata Plaza – currently being used by PDP as its national secretariat – is not owned by the party, Olayinka said the building belongs to Senator Samaila Kurfi, who bought the property from Wadata Enterprise Nigeria Limited.

He added that in 2005, the PDP had made an attempt to purchase the property at a N26.9. million offer but the money was never paid.

He said the party wrote to the then minister of FCT, Nasir El-Rufai, also a member of the PDP for a waiver but he (El-Rufai) insisted that the payment must made.

“And if the owner of the building did not pay ordinary N2.8 million as 28 years Ground Rent, who is to blame?” Olayinka queried.

On the proposed site for the PDP’s national secretariat which is located in Central Area, Olayinka said the party also failed to pay N7.6 million – an accumulation of 20 years ground rent – despite raising over N21 billion for the construction of the building in 2014.

He added, “If Chief Bode George had sought necessary information and refrained himself from acting out of hatred for Wike, it would have been known to him that also affected by the revocation were government owned institutions.”

Wike’s aide reveals PDP leaders responsible for HQ land revocation

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Six students die of meningitis in Kebbi varsity

Published

7 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Six students die of meningitis in Kebbi varsity

A major outbreak of meningitis has led to the deaths of six students at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA), according to a statement released on Saturday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Ango.

On behalf of the university’s management, Ango expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, noting that Vice-Chancellor B.G. Danshehu was profoundly saddened by the tragic event.

He stated that the university swiftly implemented several measures to contain the outbreak.

“Upon detecting the initial signs of the outbreak, KSUSTA took immediate and decisive action to mitigate the spread of the disease.

“A specialised committee, led by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Balarabe Adamu Isah, was formed to conduct a thorough investigation.

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“We promptly reported the outbreak to the Kebbi State Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Higher Education. A stakeholders’ meeting was convened, bringing together key health sector experts, including representatives from the World Health Organisation, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Médecins Sans Frontières, and other medical professionals.

“Despite the best efforts of the university and health authorities, six students have succumbed to the disease.

“We deeply regret these losses, and our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families,” the statement read.

Ango further advised students seeking information to reach out to the university’s Public Relations Office for updates.

“We appreciate the continued support and cooperation of our university community and stakeholders as we work tirelessly to overcome this crisis,” he added.