metro

Troops uncover 40 oil wells in Rivers community, arrests suspects

Published

2 months ago

February 29, 2024

Nigerian Military Troops

Troops uncover 40 oil wells in Rivers community, arrests suspects

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt discovered over 40 abandoned crude oil wells in the Rumuekpe town in Rivers State’s Emohua Local Government Area on Wednesday, providing a significant boost to the fight against illicit oil theft.

Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, led the forces in a sweep and clear operation on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline, which resulted in the discovery of the site.

Speaking to reporters following the raid, Abdussalam claimed that the 40-foot-deep oil wells are the newest method used by thieves to extract crude oil from underground

The GOC described the discovery as an eye opener for the army in the war against the illicit business in the Niger Delta region.

He explained that the miscreants had invented a technique of digging deep into the ground until they reached the crude oil deposits.

Abdussalam stated, “We have been conducting in the past two days and the aim of the operation was to clear the trans-Niger Delta pipeline because we have been receiving complaints from SPDC of breaches on the TNP and based on that we decided to conduct operation to sweep and clear the pipeline.

“It was on the cause of that operation, we came to this particular location and you (journalists) have seen what we have seen.

“If you are not here, you may not believe what we are seeing, this area our troops have discovered more than 40 dug outs and these dug outs are not meant to access pipelines, they are dug out directly into the ground like well and surprisingly have access to crude oil.

“This is the first time I’m seeing this type of thing. You can see all around us are pits and very deep, you will need ladders to have access into it and at the bottom is crude oil, so they are just fetching crude just like water from a well.”

READ ALSO:

Continuing, he said, “This is very sad and with this we have discovered a new dimension to oil theft, it is entirely a new dimension. This is not an issue of pipeline vandalism, this one is digging directly into the ground and having access to these resources.”

Abdussalam added that following the discovery, he would notify the authorities of the development, pointing out that troops would be permanently stationed at the site to prevent continues operation of the site by the oil thieves.

“I will bring the attention of the relevant authorities to this site so that they can come and see what can be done.

“But in the meantime, our men would be deployed so that we can stop people from accessing the area because it is even dangerous to the people involved in this because a little fire will kill everyone conducting this dastardly act.

“It is also not good for the system. See how the whole place has been dug out. It is also very dangerous for people that are not even aware of this, because they can come blindly at night and fall inside this pit and that is the end.

“We would do the needful; we would not get tired until we rid this area of these criminals,” Abdussalam said.

He further said some suspects arrested at the scene were still in the custody of the army as investigation continues.

“Few people have been arrested, they are in our custody, we hope they will give us useful information that would lead to the arrest of others that are involved in this act”.

Answering questions from newsmen, one of the suspects confessed to the crime, saying the wells belonged to different families in the community.

He revealed that sometimes, diggers die in the process of digging the wells when they inhale the smell of the gas, saying they are usually paid about N40,000 to excavate a well of about 15 feet.

The suspect whose name was not revealed as of the time of filing this report stated, “It is owned by the community and not by one person.

“To get oil, sometimes if the place is like here, we dig like 10 to 15 feets. When we dig it and notice that the gas is rising, if you do not run out on time people might suffocate and we bring them out half dead, but the unlucky ones die.

“When we bring them out and pour them water and give them coke. So after the gas, the oil will come out. And another set will come to fetch it after we have finished digging it.”

Troops uncover 40 wells in Rivers community, arrests suspects

metro

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

The suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a lady, Glory Akpaku, in Delta State, Akpoveta School, has narrated how he allegedly killed the victim by stabbing her multiple times.

According to an interrogation video shared on X.com by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Monday, the suspect disclosed that the victim was his sugar mummy before her demise.

PUNCH Metro gathered from the video that things went sour between Akpoveta and the late Akpaku over the sum of N100,000 he allegedly kept with the deceased for safekeeping, but which the deceased allegedly refused to give him when he needed the money.

The suspect claimed that he had gone to Akpaku to demand the money but, instead of receiving it, she insisted that she would give it to him after returning from the market.

The suspect narrated further that he threatened the victim to report their relationship to her son, but the victim threatened back that if he did so, she would not give him the money in her custody.

He added that the threat from his alleged lover infuriated him, which led him to stab her with a knife in the neck, hand, and stomach.

READ ALSO:

Akpoveta narrated in pidgin English (now translated), “She asked me to save some money with her and that she would return the money to me later. But when I needed the money, she refused to give it to me. Rather, she became angry.

“She asked me to escort her to the market, and I thought she would give me the money, but she insisted that she would give it to me after she returned from the market.

“I told her that I would tell her child, and she said if I told the child, she would not return my money. While she was going in front, I took a knife that I had with me and stabbed her in the neck, hand, and stomach.”

The suspect stated further that he regretted his action but blamed the devil for it.

Reacting to the confession, Edafe urged members of the public to learn from it.

The PPRO wrote, “I share stories like this so we can learn from the mistakes of others. So this suspect allegedly murdered his sugar mummy over her failure to give him back the money she was helping him save. When asked why he did it, he said, ‘NA DEVIL WORK’.”

Meanwhile, giving further updates on the incident, the PPRO noted that the incident happened in April and the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“The incident happened in April. He will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” Edafe concluded.

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

metro

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau of Zamfara state.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge for allegedly stealing the sum of N3, 837,634 according to the Sokoto zonal directorate office of the commission.

Abubakar Garba Dandare’s arraignment was a sequel to the offence he allegedly committed while as Registrar, Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau, Zamfara state.

He was arraigned before Justice Bello Muhammad Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court.

The anti-graft directorate explained that the problem of Dandare began when a petitioner alleged that he dishonestly misappropriated the money being retention fee paid by the Ministry of Finance Zamfara State for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, who was a contractor to the state government.

Mada, who died on 13th May 2010, was awarded a contract by the Zamfara state government for the construction of two student hostels at Government College, Talata Mafara.

The family heirs approached the Registrar to know why the retention money was not disbursed to the family and the Registrar denied knowledge about the money.

READ ALSO:

A committee was constituted in 2022 by the Honourable Grand Khadi of Zamfara state, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad, to investigate the matter and it was established that a UBA cheque countersigned by Judge Almustapha Balarabe and Registrar Abubakar Garba Dandare was given to one Nasir Lawal (a Court Clerk) for the withdrawal of the said amount, which was given to Registrar Dandare, hence the petition.

The committee upon conclusion of investigations directed Dandare to refund the money meant for the heirs of late Alhaji Mada.

Forensic investigations further revealed that the purported signature of Aminu Ladan Mada being bandied by the then Registrar Dandare was fake as it was forged.

However, count one of the charges reads: “That you, Abubakar Garba Dandare, Male, Adult, while being the Registrar Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau Zamfara State, on or about the 4th day of December 2010, at Gusau, within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Zamfara State, while, being entrusted with the sum of N3,837,634 (Three Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Four Naira) retention fee paid by Ministry of Finance Zamfara State for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, did dishonestly misappropriated the money to your personal use in violation of the mode in which the trust is to be discharged and thereby committed the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.”

READ ALSO:

Before taking his plea, the defence counsel, Bello Umar, drew the attention of the court that the charge under which the suspect was being arraigned was defective; but Prosecution Counsel, P. A. Attah, countered as he cited Court of Appeal decisions along with the ACJA 2015.

Justice Mohammad Shinkafi granted the accused bail with two sureties in the sum of N5 million each.

Accordingly, Justice Shinkafi also directed that a surety must deposit a Certificate of Landed Property within Gusau Metropolis, while both sureties must deposit their passport photographs with the Court.

The Judge further ruled that the accused be remanded with the Nigeria Correctional Services pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions and adjourned the matter to 6th June 2024 for trial.

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

metro

Bride cancels wedding as groom insists on living in family house

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Bride cancels wedding as groom insists on living in family house

Florence Friday, a bride-to-be reportedly called off her wedding over the groom’s refusal to leave his family house.

The wedding, which was slated for Saturday, May 4th, 2024, in Farin Lamba, Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, was canceled before the event took place.

According to reports, Florence, the bride-to-be, asked for N30,000 from her groom-to-be, Morgak James, on March 28th to reserve her wedding gown. Morgak, unable to provide the full sum, offered N15,000 and promised to complete it the following week.

Florence, furious, insisted on receiving the entire sum by the end of the week, threatening to cancel the wedding.

It was reported that two days later, Morgak managed to gather the N30,000 and sent it to Florence to proceed with the booking. However, this resolution led to another condition from the bride-to-be.

It was also gathered that Florence reportedly requested Morgak to move out of his family house and get his apartment.

READ ALSO:

According to a source close to the couple, after much deliberation, they agreed to stay in the family home for two months after the wedding before getting their apartment.

This arrangement was agreed upon before Morgak began the introductions, church signature, and payment of the bride price.

However, Morgak was taken aback just before the big day when he received a phone call informing him that his bride-to-be had canceled the wedding because he had not parked out of his family home.

The source further revealed that Morgak had invested significantly in the wedding.

Despite this, Florence’s family had canceled their introduction dates more than three times for a variety of reasons, including visiting a pupil at school.

Our sources also stated that her family once canceled their introduction a day before the wedding.

Speaking on the cancellation of her wedding, Florence said, “I’ve never seen a responsible man who would bring his bride into his family house for his parents to take care of or claim he doesn’t have money while planning his wedding.”