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Police kill two bandits in Benue shoot-out

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2024

Police kill two bandits in Benue shoot-out

Two bandits terrorizing the Sankera axis of Benue North East District have been killed in a shootout with police at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

The bandits were killed following an invasion of their camp by police operatives, who acted on credible intelligence. Superintendent Catherine Anene, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, stated that the police recovered various arms, ammunition, camouflage uniforms, motorbikes, communication gadgets, and other items from the bandits.

The statement highlighted the continuous efforts of the Benue State Police Command over the past three months to clamp down on bandits in the region. Several operations have led to arrests, court charges, neutralization of suspects in shootouts, and the recovery of arms and ammunition.

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During the June 30 operation, the police’s Operation Zenda JTF unit engaged the bandits in a gunfight, resulting in the deaths of two bandits, who succumbed to gunshot injuries and were later confirmed dead by a doctor. Their bodies have been deposited at the General Hospital Ukum. Other suspects managed to escape.

Recovered items include two pistols loaded with ammunition, three locally made short guns, 13 motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six walkie-talkies, a Toyota Corolla, and a tricycle.

The Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, commended the bravery of the officers and urged the people of Sankera to provide information about the escaped suspects, who may have gunshot injuries. He reiterated his commitment to fighting crime in the state.

Police kill two bandits in Benue shoot-out

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JAMB exposes 3,000 fake graduates

Published

6 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Trends Admin

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede

JAMB exposes 3,000 fake graduates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), has uncovered 3,000 Nigerian fake graduates.

According to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, these fake graduates are a result of endemic corruption in the system. Oloyede made this revelation during a meeting with the leadership of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities (COPSUN).

The board has documented these cases and is working to address the issue of illegal admissions in tertiary institutions, which Oloyede described as an “embarrassment and disservice to the nation.”

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“Some ‘graduates’ had never entered the four walls of a university owing to the endemic corruption in the system but the board had documented over 3,000 of such cases.

“Illegal admission of candidates into tertiary institutions is an embarrassment and a disservice to the nation,” he said.

JAMB had earlier warned candidates to refrain from accepting admissions offered without full academic participation.

JAMB exposes 3,000 fake graduates

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Bandits kill Kaduna judge son, demand N300m to free father, other children

Published

6 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Trends Admin

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr Audu Ali

Bandits kill Kaduna judge son, demand N300m to free father, other children

A female Kaduna judge and her four children that were abducted on 23 June are still languishing in bandits’ den as their captors continue to subject them to unspeakable horror and brutal dehumanisation.

They were reportedly abducted after a clutch of bandits stormed their residence in the Mahuta area of the state.

The judge’s husband, one Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, a medical doctor, was said to be away on duty, when the incident happened.

However, news filtered through on Wednesday that the bandits have killed her eldest son and are now demanding for a staggering N300 million to release the judge and her remaining three children.

A human rights lawyer, and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, confirmed the development.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ballason disclose ld that the kidnappers have threatened to kill her remaining sons if the ransom was not paid in time.

Ballason said the abductors killed the 14-year-old son of the judge in captivity when the family couldn’t pay the demanded ransom.

According to her, the boy, identified as Victor Gimba, the first son of the judge, was shot dead on July 2.

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“The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom.

“On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the terrorists shot dead Victor Gimba, the first child of the judge, when the ransom demanded could not be obtained,” she said.

She also called for the protection of the judge and her family, urging the government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and security agencies to take urgent action and ensure the judge and her children are rescued.

Similarly, the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association has issued a statement condemning the incident, while urging the security agencies to rise to the occasion.

NMA’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Shuaibu Joga, expressed shock that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.

He said the NMA would be calling for an emergency SEC meeting on Thursday and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also for the release of their other doctors kidnapped 6 months ago.

“Following the incident, we visited the husband and interacted with him and he informed us that the kidnappers had made a demand of N300 million to secure their release.

“While the security agencies had been informed and negotiations with the kidnappers were ongoing, we received the shocking news today that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.

“In response, we are calling for an emergency SEC meeting today and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also the release of our other doctor kidnapped 6 months ago.

“We call for calm from members and request all to stay safe while we engage the necessary security organs to end this needless wanton evil,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the state government or the state police command.

Bandits kill Kaduna judge son, demand N300m to free father, other children

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Father, son accused of stealing N75m from Lagos firm

Published

8 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Trends Admin

Babatunde Ishola and his father, Bayo

Father, son accused of stealing N75m from Lagos firm

Thirty-one-year-old Babatunde Ishola and his father, Bayo, have been remanded by the court at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly stealing N75m belonging to a lotto company in Lagos State.

The defendants were arraigned on two counts of stealing and diversion of funds at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court in the state.

The duo were alleged to have taken money from the company’s account and diverted it to their accounts and those of their cohorts who are now at large.

In a document signed by the police prosecutor, Mike Enejere, the first defendant, Babatunde, served as the account officer of the lotto company as the funds were diverted between 2020 and 2023.

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The charge read in part, “That you, Ishola Mubarak Babatunde, Ishola Rasheed Bayo, and others now at large, between 2020 and 2023, at Lotgrand Limited, a registered lotto company in Lagos, within the Magisterial District of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

“That you, Ishola Mubarak Babatunde and others now at large, on the same date, place and within the Magisterial District of the aforementioned, did steal the sum of seventy-five million naira (N75,000,000), property of Lotgrand Limited, Lagos, while you served as the account officer, as you dishonestly and fraudulently diverted the said sum belonging to Lotgrand Limited, a registered lotto company, to your personal account and that of your cohorts.”

“You hereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 (8) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

The duo were remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the meeting of their bail conditions of N10m with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mojisola Salau, adjourned the case till September 3, 2024, for further hearing.