Wanted bandit leader Bello Turji sighted in Sokoto, imposes N25m levy on villages – Newstrends
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Wanted bandit leader Bello Turji sighted in Sokoto, imposes N25m levy on villages

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Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji

Wanted bandit leader Bello Turji sighted in Sokoto, imposes N25m levy on villages

A Sokoto State lawmaker, Aminu Boza, has raised alarm over the resurgence of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, accusing him of imposing a ₦25 million levy on each village in parts of the state’s eastern region.

Boza, who represents Sabon Birnin Gobir in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, disclosed this during an interview with journalists on Tuesday.

He revealed that Turji has reappeared in the Isa and Sabon Birni areas, demanding huge levies from local communities.

According to the lawmaker, villages unable to pay risk deadly attacks, further worsening the insecurity already plaguing the region.

Boza urged the Sokoto State Government and security agencies to take urgent action to protect residents and prevent further extortion by the bandit leader.

“Bello Turji is currently in the Isa and Sabon Birni axis of Sokoto. He has even imposed a ₦25 million levy per village in some communities,” Boza stated.

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His statement comes amid reports that Turji, after months of being in hiding, is now active in the region again.

The lawmaker called on security agencies and local authorities to take immediate action to combat the growing insecurity and protect residents from further attacks.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, recently disclosed that Turji has expressed willingness to surrender, following intensified military operations that have weakened his network.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, General Musa revealed that Turji has lost his second-in-command and several top lieutenants, leaving him with limited options.

“He is now forced to release most of the people under him. Recently, he has begun to say he doesn’t want anything; he is ready to surrender,” General Musa said.

However, the Defence Chief emphasized that surrendering would not absolve Turji of his crimes, stating that all those responsible for killings and kidnappings must face justice.

Bello Turji remains one of Nigeria’s most wanted terrorists, notorious for orchestrating violent attacks, mass kidnappings, and killings across the Northwest region.

Wanted bandit leader Bello Turji sighted in Sokoto, imposes N25m levy on villages

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BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

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BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has stopped the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

The court on Friday halted the enforcement of its January 10 judgment, which upheld the Kano State government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirates Council Law, pending the Supreme Court’s determination of an appeal on the same matter.

The ruling was unanimously delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang.

It ruled that the applicant, having served as Emir for five years before his removal, had legal rights that required protection until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.

The appellate court had earlier set aside a June 20, 2024 ruling by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano, which nullified the Kano State government’s dissolution of five emirates in the state and the subsequent reinstatement of Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The Court of Appeal then ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the case

Dissatisfied with the ruling, an injunction request was filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

Dan Agundi sought to restrain the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while awaiting the apex court’s decision.

However, in its unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal agreed that the application had merit and granted the injunction.

Justice Abang stated, “The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice.”

The ruling ordered that all parties must maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” preserving the situation as it was before the Federal High Court’s judgment on June 13, 2024.

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Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

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CSP Omolola Odutola

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

The Police Command in Ogun State has launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and said the body was found around 4:30 p.m.

According to Odutola, a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, came across the scene while on a hunting trip and promptly reported the discovery to the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters.

After spotting the body, Olawalose sought assistance from a nearby village, where he met the deceased’s elder brother, Joseph Dominic.

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The brother disclosed that Toye had left for the farm earlier in the day but failed to return, prompting a search by concerned family members.

“Policemen and villagers on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident,” Odutola said.

She added that officers documented the scene with photographs, and the body was taken to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination.
Odutola assured the public that the police would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the events leading to the tragedy.

She also encouraged community members to stay alert and support people who might be experiencing emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and timely intervention.

 

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

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Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

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Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

The Kwara State High Court has fixed April 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial of former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of 5.78 billion naira from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two officials, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying in court, Engineer Abdulsalam Olanrewaju, a former project manager at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that despite the state paying counterpart funds in 2014 and 2015, no contracts were awarded.

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He stated that while the 2013 contractors were eventually paid after protesting delays, funds meant for subsequent projects remained unused.

During cross-examination, Olanrewaju clarified that signatories to the SUBEB account were the accountant, permanent secretary, and executive chairman of the board.

Earlier, a second witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, emphasized that matching grants from UBEC and SUBEB are strictly meant for school infrastructure and cannot be diverted for other purposes.

 

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

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