Kidnapped victims were freed, and three AK-47 guns and ammo were recovered, according to the Zamfara Police Command. Mr. Ayuba Elkanah, the state Commissioner of Police, said this yesterday while presenting suspects in various criminal activities around the state.

Elkanah went on to say that the command had also apprehended some members of the outlawed Yansakai organization for the suspected murder of Fulani herders, as well as other individuals in connection with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and other crimes.

At the news conference, Elkanah stated that the command has made significant progress in continuing police operations around the state.

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“You will recall that last week, our operatives successfully rescued 13 kidnapped victims, including pupils from Government Day Secondary School, Birnin Yero, and Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, during a search and rescue operation along the Shinkafi axis.

“On Nov. 26, the same operatives raided the abductors’ strongholds, where they engaged in a gun battle and many of them escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.

“Three AK-47 rifles with magazines holding 50 rounds of live ammo were seized from the scene while searching for an abandoned enclave,” he said.

“On November 27, police operatives in Talata Mafara Local Government Region reacted to a distress call about a report of unidentified hoodlums abducting children in the Low-cost area.

“The Talata Mafara Divisional Police Officer who led the operatives to the area repelled the abductors and rescued the above-mentioned victims who had already been kidnapped by the hoodlums.”

“The victims were transferred to the Gusau Police Clinic for medical treatment, and the police debriefed them before reuniting them with their families,” he added.

“During the attack, the suspects seized the following items: two Techno and one Infinix handsets worth N135,000,” he added.

“In partnership with the state administration, the police and other security agencies are working hard to guarantee peace and safety in the state,” he added.

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The command, according to the CP, will not accept any conduct that disrupts the state’s law and order.

“As a result, any community or group of persons blocking any roadway or engaging in illegal protest in any manner will not be tolerated, and the culprits, if captured, will be probed to determine their accomplices in crime and charged to court for prosecution.”

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja declared the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, free after a Federal High Court in Abuja declared his banishment from Kano to Awe in Nasarawa State a violation of fundamental human rights.

Mr Sanusi was already dethroned on March 9, 2020, for insubordination. He did not contest his dethronement, but he did ask the court for a temporary injunction allowing him to be released from “unlawful detention/confinement” at a private house until March 13.

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Sanusi’s forced removal from the palace, according to Justice Anwuli Chikere, was a heinous breach of his rights, particularly his personal liberty and freedom of movement.

Sanusi, a Nigerian citizen who had not committed any type of offense, was entitled to reside in any area of the country, according to the Emirate Council Law 2019, which governs and acts on the Kano State. Because the law is absolute, any law that deviates from the scribe is declared null and void.

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Some contended that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction because Sanusi’s alleged breach occurred in Kano, not Abuja. The court, however, dismissed the argument on Tuesday.

Apart from granting Mr Sanusi his freedom, the judge also ordered the Kano State Government, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services to issue a public apology.

The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have been summoned by the House of Representatives over a seven-year power outage in Mosogar, Edjemuoyavwe, and other affected areas in Delta State’s Ethiope West Local Government Area.

The House also encouraged the NERC to fulfill its mandate of overseeing and ensuring that distribution corporations across the country do not continue to flourish on deception and consumer exploitation.

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The House resolutions followed the adoption of Hon. Ben Rollands Igbakpa’s motion of urgent national concern, which was moved in plenary yesterday.

Major parts of Ethiope West, particularly Mosogar and Edjemudarho villages, have been in total darkness for almost seven years, according to Igbakpa, as a result of the BEDC’s absolute inability to execute their duty in the distribution of power/electricity to the afflicted areas.

He claimed that the BEDC collected bills from customers promptly, but that whenever technical issues or faults requiring their attention to repair assets under their management and control, such as transformers, cables, poles, and so on, the company abandons and or abdicates such responsibilities by forcing customers to fix such faults or provide money to purchase them.

Since 2015, Igbakpa has been trying to get a transformer (step-down) from the BEDC but has been unsuccessful.

He went on to say that in 2016, the BEDC, in one of its memos to the community, demanded that the communities pay all of their outstanding debts, which totaled over N12 million, as a condition of bringing a step-down transformer that could service the increased demands of electricity in the community due to expansion.

“Despite the early payment thereof, the BEDC brought a substandard transformer with little capacity to the village, and the transformer went out barely two days after its installation,” Igbakpa said.

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“Similarly, in 2018, the state government introduced a new step down, which the BEDC hesitantly and badly erected and promptly ruined.”

The village petitioned the Delta State Government again in 2020, and two units of 2.5 KVA transformers were granted for Mosogar and separated into two sub-stations, according to the lawmaker.

The BEDC refused to power the step downs after the project was completed, instead demanding a reconnection cost of N10 million, which was paid by the community, but shortly after the BEDC replaced the transformers, they crashed again, according to Igbakpa.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the leaders of the affected communities have made several attempts to work with the BEDC, including paying millions of Naira to provide a solution, but that there has been no success because the BEDC has either failed, refused, or neglected to perform its responsibilities in a creditable manner, instead ripping the communities/consumers of millions of Naira through their illicit demands.

“Invite the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for proper interaction with a view to ascertaining the root cause(s) of the perennial lack of or total failure of electricity supply and or distribution to Mosogar, Edjemuoyavwe and other affected areas in Ethiope West LGA of Delta State with a view to finding a lasting solution,” the House resolved.

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Meanwhile, the House has requested that the BEDC restore power to the Enuani clan in Delta State.

The House passed the resolution after the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, moved a motion in plenary yesterday.

The legislator who introduced the motion stated that Enuani is a Delta State clan made up of the Olodu, Olloh, Ewulu, Isheagu, Isikiti, Ukwu–Oba, Umute, Aba–Unor, and Adonte communities.

The electrical supply in Enuani clan and other adjacent towns was cut off as a result of the dilapidation of a 33KVA line, putting the entire community in constant darkness for nearly two decades, according to Elumelu.

The congressman emphasized that the lack of electricity in the afflicted regions for nearly two decades has caused immeasurable suffering for residents, stifling development.

People’s appeals to BEDC and the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) to restore electricity to the area by incorporating the 2.5MVA line with a substation at Ewulu fell on deaf ears, according to him.

The legislator raised worry that the BEDC had pushed community stakeholders to rehabilitate the 11KVA line attached to the area in order to expedite the repair of the 33KVA line, which the community stakeholders did and paid N4 million to do, only for the BEDC to back out of their agreement.

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Elumelu observed that the continual interruption of electrical supply to communities has not only caused indigenes tremendous hardships, but has also set back and given neighboring towns a developmental advantage, necessitating immediate intervention. As a result, the House charged the Committee on Power to consult with BEDC and Rural Electrification Agency management on alternative measures to restore power to the impacted areas.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested that Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Aviation, appear to its Lagos office for additional investigations into alleged document fabrication.

After his ongoing alleged N4.6 billion money laundering case with former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, before the Federal High Court was deferred due to the absence of the first defense lawyer, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, Fani-Kayode drove to the agency’s office.

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Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and a firm, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd, are also accused with a 17-count conspiracy and money laundering allegation.

The defendants are accused of committing the crimes between January and March of 2015. They had all pled not guilty to the allegations and had been released on bond.

Justice Daniel Osaigor was reassigned to the case, and a re-arraignment was set for October 27. However, because the former minister wrote a letter to the court claiming he was on bed rest, Fani-Kayode was not present in court and was instead represented by the defense attorney, Mr Fred Ajudua.

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Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecutor, informed the court that all of Fani-letters Kayode’s were fraudulent, and that he had sought multiple reasons from the court. After receiving assurances from the prosecution that the agency will deliver a meaningful report, the court decided to postpone the case until January 24.

The Nigeria Police Force Special Tactical Squad has detained a total of 32 infamous criminals for their roles in abduction, armed robbery, arms smuggling, illegal weapon possession, illicit drug trafficking, trans-border auto theft, and rape, among other crimes.

During the follow-up investigation, the police team recovered nineteen (19) AK47 rifles, one (1) GPMG, three (3) revolver rifles, two (2) G-3 rifles, one (1) SMG, one (1) berretta pistol, four hundred and fifty-three (453) rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, twelve (12) magazines, and seventeen (17) stolen cars from the criminals, according to the Force Public Relations Officer Commissioner of Police CP Frank Mba.

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Mbah said that among the instances is the arrest of six (6) known offenders involved in automobile theft in various regions of the country, including Nasarawa, Port Harcourt, the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, and Zamfara.

“These suspects carry stolen cars via our international borders and deliver them to a prominent criminal receiver named Alhaji Garuba (who is currently at large) in Niger Republic,” the spokesman stated.

Investigations further revealed that the suspects’ method of operation includes seizing cars at gunpoint and occasionally removing them from public parking lots such as the Cinema, Church, and Mosque.”

Mbah further said that stolen cars are sold at bargain prices in neighboring countries and occasionally handed to Alhaji Garuba in exchange for illegal weaponry.

“The Nigeria Police’s INTERPOL team is already working with its counterparts in the Niger Republic to apprehend the fleeing criminals and bring them to justice,” he said.

Dayyabu Mohammed, a 27-year-old resident of Soba LGA in Kaduna State, was also apprehended for illegally possessing five (5) AK47 weapons and 250 rounds of AK47 ammunition.

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The culprit was apprehended by STS operatives during a bandit hunt in Saminaka Forest in Kaduna State.

“Investigation reveals that Dayyabu Mohammed is a weapons supplier to two (2) known and wanted bandits in the country’s north west and north central regions,” Mbah said.

The two bandit kingpins were apprehended while transporting firearms in a Golf-3 saloon car from Jos, Plateau State, to the bandits’ hideouts in a forest in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State.

“Investigations by the Police team found that one of the wanted bandits provided the Golf-3 saloon car as an operating vehicle with the assurance that complete ownership of the vehicle would revert to him after five successful guns delivery missions.”

The culprits of a recent murderous attack on travellers on the Tafa axis of the Kaduna – Abuja highway, where two (2) women and their husbands were abducted by the criminals and taken into the forest, were also apprehended by the police.

“Operators from the Special Tactical Squad, who had been sent to the area, were promptly mobilized and went after the suspects in order to save the victims.” The police officers soon discovered the culprits’ hideout, mounted a rescue effort, and successfully liberated the hostages, including the women, who were unharmed.”

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C.P Mbah went on to say that the operatives also captured a gang of six people in connection with the attack on a mosque in Mazakuka, Mashegu LGA, Niger State, in which eighteen (18) people were slain and more than thirty (30) were abducted.

“Police investigations revealed that the gang boss and some of the gang members are Lokoja correctional institution escapees,” said the statement. One was apprehended for his criminal part in providing the group with heavy drugs. They were found with two (2) AK47 weapons, three (3) completely loaded magazines, and numerous hard drug bundles.”

While praising the team for their successful operations, Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali promised the public that the Force would continue to pursue these criminal elements who constitute a threat to our national security.

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The IGP urged members of the public who have been victims of auto theft to bring proof of ownership to the STS office in Guzape, Abuja, to claim their vehicles, noting that the color, interior, and vehicle number plate may have been tampered with.

When the investigations are finished, all of the suspects will be arraigned in court.

Mr Rotimi Albert, a former classmate of late Super TV CEO Usifo Ataga, testified yesterday in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspected murder suspect Ataga, about how Ataga’s family and friends discovered his body in the mortuary on his birthday.

Albert, the fourth prosecution witness, said this while testifying in front of a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafa Balewa Square TBS.

Ojukwu, a University of Lagos 300-level Mass Communication student, is charged with Ataga’s murder alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

The witness, who identified himself as a long-time classmate and family friend of the late Ataga, said he planned to call him on his birthday, June 17, 2021, to deliver birthday greetings.

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Albert claimed that on the evening of June 16, 2021, another of their mutual acquaintances called him and asked if he had seen or heard from Ataga.

He claimed that a mutual friend told him over the phone that Ataga had not been heard from since Sunday (June 13th).

The witness stated that he attempted to contact the deceased via phone, and that when his phone rang but no one answered, he sent a WhatsApp message, which was delivered.

Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, testified that Albert saw the deceased was online, as evidenced by the WhatsApp last seen.

“I was taken aback when he didn’t pick up my calls or respond to my messages.

“I began calling other friends to see if they had seen him, and even his brothers in different countries contacted me to inquire about Ataga’s whereabouts.” I expressed my concern to them.

“His wife and family were also hunting for him because they were scheduled to be in Abuja to celebrate his birthday with him,” he said.

The witness told the court that the deceased’s wife had reported their concerns to the police.

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According to him, the deceased’s phone was tracked, and it was discovered that it was last used at the University of Lagos guest house.

According to him, it was already late on June 16th, so he and a mutual acquaintance went to the University of Lagos guest house the next day (June 17th) to look for Ataga’s vehicle, but it was not there.

The phone tracker also showed that the phone was used in the Alagomeji area, he claimed.

Because the movement kept shifting, Albert added, tracking got tough.

“During all of this, we received word that Usifo had passed away and was in the mortuary.”

“As a result, we went to the Panti police station, where we learned that the cops had already been to the murder scene.”

“After arriving at the crime scene, the cops advised us to go to the mortuary to identify the deceased, so we did, and it was Usifo Ataga.”

“At the morgue, I saw that he had many stab wounds on his neck, belly, side, and leg.”

“I also noticed rope marks and large indentations on his wrist.” “That’s how I found out my friend had died,” Albert explained.

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After his direct questioning, the witness was cross examined by Mr Onwuka Egwu, the first defendant’s counsel.

The witness claimed that a common acquaintance was the one who checked and tracked the deceased’s phone and bank transactions, not him.

Albert testified that he gave a statement at the police station, which the defense counsel presented and was admitted into evidence.

Mr Babatunde Busari and Mr A. O. Ogunsanya, lawyers for the second and third defendants, said they had no questions for the witness.

The prosecutor, on the other hand, requested an adjournment so that they could present additional evidence.

As a result, Justice Yetunde Adesanya delayed the case until February 14, 2022, to allow for the continuation of the trial.

On October 12, 2021, the three defendants were arraigned on a nine-count accusation brought against them by the Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are accused of conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, falsifying bank records, and stealing, among other charges.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is charged with taking the late Ataga’s iPhone 7 on the ninth count.

The first and second defendants were accused of plotting and murdering Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest with a knife.

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At 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, the alleged murder occurred.

The first and second suspects were also charged with forgery for obtaining and fabricating bank account statements purporting to be from the deceased.

Civil servants and the general public are currently barred from entering government offices in Abuja unless they have confirmation of vaccination and a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

Remember that the presidential steering group on COVID-19, led by Boss Mustapha, announced in October that civil personnel without proof of vaccination and negative PCR testing will be barred from entering government premises as of December 1, 2021.

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) had requested that the extension be extended until March 2022. However, due to the events of this morning, no extension was given.

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On Wednesday, Nigeria reported three cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, raising major health concerns.

More to come…