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Why I became a gun-runner – Bauchi man

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Why I became a gun-runner – Bauchi man

A Bauchi State-based man, Taimako Mato, arrested alongside four others has disclosed the reason behind his decision to join a gun-running syndicate to supply arms and ammunition to terrorists.

Mato disclosed this while being paraded at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Tuesday.

According to the resident of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, he possessed his first ammunition after some Boko Haram members attacked his community in 2015 but were repelled by security operatives and youths in the area.

He added that the Boko Haram terrorists fled and left their vehicles containing the ammunition which he carted away at the time.

In his words, “My name is Taimako Mato. I am 38 years old. I am from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. I got this gun after some Boko Haram (members) attacked my community two days after the 2015 elections but the youth and security agents chased them which forced them to leave their vehicle.

“The youths decided to burn their vehicle so I searched the vehicle before it was burned and carted a bag containing the gun and some ammunition. I took this bag because it was what I could pick before the vehicle was burnt.”

When asked why he decided to sell the ammunition, Mato noted that family challenges forced him to do it.

He however disclosed that he regretted his decision to have collaborated with other members of the gun-running syndicate.

“I decided to sell the gun because of family challenges. I know that it is criminal to possess prohibited firearms but I do not intend to be a criminal.”

Mato further appealed to individuals who might consider starting a gun-running business and those already in the trade to reconsider their decision as it is not a lucrative business.

“I am advising those who have not gone into this business and those who are into it to stop because the business appears lucrative outside but when you start it, you will realise it is not.

“You will just be suffering in it and be punished by the law. My advice for criminals is to come and surrender their weapons,” Mato said.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumiuyiwa Adejobi, had disclosed during the briefing that Mato alongside four others was arrested in its effort to curb the proliferation of firearms.

He said Mato was the head of the syndicate who specialised in procuring weapons and selling them to other members for onward distribution to criminal elements.

“In more recent events, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have made outstanding breakthroughs in the fight against several types of violent crimes across the country, one of which is the dismantling and arresting of a gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region.

“The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato, ‘m’; John Danladi, ‘m’; Mohammed Munkail, ‘m’; Manasseh William, ‘m’, and Muhammadu Haddi, ‘m’, were arrested with 1 PKT machine gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95 rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition.

“The leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon handling instructor at a Boko Haram camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers,” Adejobi disclosed.

Lagos drivers lament police extortion as taskforce dislodges traffic offenders

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Lagos drivers lament police extortion as taskforce dislodges traffic offenders

Drivers in the Iyana-Ipaja, Ikotun, and Berger areas of Lagos State have raised concerns over a new tactic deployed by the police to extort money from them.

This is just as officials of the Lagos State Taskforce dislodged drivers using the Iyana-Oworo lay-by as an unofficial park for transport activities.

According to Metro correspondent, who monitored the situation in these areas on Wednesday, observed that police personnel stationed at these bus stops employed the services of louts, known locally as “agberos,” to extort money from the drivers.

It was observed that the louts would approach bus conductors to demand payments, often referred to as “owo olopa” or “owo security” on behalf of the police.

Speaking with our correspondent in separate interviews, on Wednesday, the drivers blamed the rising cost of transport in the state on multiple instances of extortion, including those by the police.

They alleged that the police had devised a new method of using louts as intermediaries to avoid being caught in the act of extortion.

A driver, Yemi Tajudeen, lamented that the extortions had forced drivers to increase fares to meet the financial demands of running their businesses. He also noted that failure to comply with the louts’ demands could result in their vehicles being impounded.

Tajudeen explained, “The level of extortion we face as drivers in Lagos is overwhelming. The police now use agberos to collect money from us. They have people who act as agents to collect the money, and if you refuse, they can impound your vehicle.

“We pay between N200 and N500 as “owo olopa” or “owo security” at most major bus stops. As business people, we have no choice but to factor this into the transport fares we charge. So, people shouldn’t blame us when fares are high.”

Another driver, identified as Kunle, noted that the actions of the police had compounded the hardship faced by passengers, who ultimately bear the financial burden.

“As long as the police continue to extort drivers, passengers will be the ones affected because we will include the money we pay to them (agberos and the police) in the fares we charge,” Kunle stated.

A driver in the Berger area, identified as Wale, urged the leadership of the Lagos State Police Command to address extortion of drivers by officers and to help restore public confidence in the force.

“I don’t like the police because the money I pay to them isn’t voluntary. After facing the dangers of driving on the highway, someone will sit somewhere and demand money for no reason, just because they have a gun and a uniform.

“The police authority needs to address this extortion problem among its officers so that people can begin to trust them again,” Wale emphasised.

When contacted for a reaction, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, was yet to reply to calls and messages sent to his line at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Taskforce has warned motorists to stop converting bus stops into unofficial parks for their transport operations.

The task force spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyanka, while reacting to the operations in the Iyana-Oworo area, noted that using bus stops as parks violated Lagos State traffic laws.

In a telephone conversation with According to Metro on Wednesday, Gbadeyanka stressed that illegal parks often contributed to worsening traffic situations across the state.

“What we did in Iyana-Oworo was to dislodge drivers who had turned the lay-by into a park. It’s not a park; drivers are only allowed to drop passengers and move on. However, many of them have taken to waiting for longer periods to pick up passengers, causing a gridlock in the area.

“It is against the Lagos traffic laws to convert a bus stop into a park. We are warning drivers to stop this practice as we will continue to enforce traffic regulations and restore order on Lagos highways,” Gbadeyanka warned.

Six in custody for attempted murder of Ogun man

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Six in custody for attempted murder of Ogun man

Six people have been taken into custody by the Ogun State Police Command on counts bordering attack on a fellow man and attempted murder in the Owode-Egba area of the state.

According to Metro gathered from a police source that the victim was attacked and injured on September 9 after being arrested and taken to the Baale’s house. It was reported that the man was brutalised by members of the Mosadomi community village.

The wife of the victim, Oyegoke Oluwakemi, recounted that she received a call at about 9:35 pm on September 9, where she was informed of the attack on her husband.

The suspects, Oludele Abayomi, 34; Bello Lukman, 42; Seun Adebanjo, 50; Egbodo Buniface, 38; Ogunmefun Omolaja, 52 and Oyinwola Akeem, 45, were all arrested after his wife, Oyekemi Oyewale, reported the incident to the police on September 13.

According to Oyekemi, his boxer Bajaji motorcycle, Samsung phone, jeweleries and wristwatch were missing from the scene.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, in her reaction, on Wednesday, said, “The suspects are currently under investigation and are being questioned about their involvement in the attack.”

The victim is currently receiving treatment at the Healing Gate Hospital and is unable to speak at the moment while experts are working to stabilise his condition.

The crime scene has been visited, and photographs have been taken.

The residents of Mosadami village are in shock over the incident and expressed concerns about the safety of their community and the potential for further violence. Local leaders have called for peace and urged residents to cooperate with the police investigation.

Gunmen abduct, release Anambra community leader

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Gunmen abduct, release Anambra community leader

Some yet-to-be-identified assailants abducted and released the President-General of Abatete community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Ezebinobi Ezigbo.

According to Metro gathered that the hoodlums kidnapped Ezigbo late on Tuesday, a few hours after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

However, he was said to have been released on Wednesday by his captors after spending a night in captivity.

A source and resident of the community, who pleaded anonymity bacause he was not permitted to speak with the media, said the PG, a kinsman of the new-appointed commissioner, was trailed to his house by his abductors, who monitored him from Awka, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The sources said, “The kidnappers trailed him with their vehicle when he was returning to his house at about 6:30 pm on Tuesday, after the swearing-in of the new Commissioner for Information.

“On getting to his house, the assailants jumped out of their vehicle, surrounded him at gunpoint and ordered him to alight from his vehicle, after which they whisked him away in their own vehicle.”

However, our correspondent gathered that the victim regained freedom and safely returned to his home on Wednesday.

Although it could not be immediately ascertained if any ransom was paid to secure his freedom, a community leader confirmed to our correspondent that he had regained freedom and reunited with his family.

“Yes, he has regained his freedom and right now, has reunited with his family members. I cannot tell if any ransom was paid or not,” he added.

Similarly, some hoodlums kidnapped two persons in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of state on Monday evening.

According to eyewitnesses, the Oba kidnap happened around the Agip Junction of the community.

The sources said, “The kidnappers, after abducting their first victim from his vehicle, on their way going, observed that the vehicle was not moving fast, then stopped two more vehicles at the Idemili end of the road and abducted the occupants, abandoning the other vehicles behind and drove off.

“Although one of their victims escaped, the abductors went away with about two other victims.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, could not confirm both incidents as he said he had no information about the alleged kidnap.

LP in transition, not crisis, Baba-Ahmed clarifies leadership reshuffle

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LP in transition, not crisis, Baba-Ahmed clarifies leadership reshuffle

The Labour Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, says the party is undergoing a transition to reposition its structure and is not enmeshed in crisis, as reported by the media.

The former Federal lawmaker disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday after the inaugural meeting of the LP Caretaker Committee.

Baba-Ahmed, who represented the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also explained that the contentious caretaker committee, which has brought them into conflict with the party leadership, was inaugurated because the tenure of the Julius Abure-led committee had elapsed.

He also absolved Obi and the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of any blame, stressing that the decision to appoint a caretaker committee was constitutional and taken to ensure the party’s continued relevance.

The LP chieftain, therefore, appealed to Abure and members of his National Working Committee to sheath their swords and work in unity with the newly installed committee to rebuild the party.

“No governor unseated Abure; the constitution did. Abure’s time has elapsed. Nobody was unseated. As of today, Abure remains our good friend and a loyal member. We want him back in the fold because we have roles for him to play, along with all members of the former NEC and NWC. They are welcome to join us and continue building the Labour Party.

“We didn’t have a crisis. We managed a transition, which was a bit bumpy, and that was it. I tell you, no other political party of our size could have done that in the time and manner we did. We are a political party that went all the way to the Supreme Court, claiming our 10 million votes. They only gave us six million votes. So we are a force to be reckoned with in Africa. What we’ve done has never been done before. When the PDP came, they had the military. We had nothing,” he stated.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who represented the Governor, Alex Otti, urged the committee members to work for the growth of the Labour Party and shun acts that could be detrimental to the party’s interests.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, has assured members of the Labour Party of their determination to rescue the party from its current challenges and restore it as a viable alternative platform for Nigerians.

The former minister also promised that her team would lead the party towards reconciliation within the short time of their designated assignment.

She said, “We are on a rescue mission, not just for the Labour Party, but for our dear nation, Nigeria. The interest this committee has generated extends beyond party lines. I have received numerous telephone calls, not just from party members, but also from people in other political parties who have told me that if we get this right, we will work together. So we have a huge task ahead.

“Our party, by the grace of Almighty God, will become a platform for all disenfranchised and unhappy Nigerians. For people who are dissatisfied with the way things are going, we will be the platform for them, by the grace of God. Therefore, we must take this significant national assignment seriously.”

Wike-Fubara feud, PDP’s internal affair

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Wike-Fubara feud, PDP’s internal affair

One of the chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, Conrad Utaan, has affirmed that the feud between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be resolved within the party.

Utaan said this a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

In the past two months, the media has been awash with calls by Chief Edwin Clark for the PDP leadership to consider expelling Wike over his continued agitation for the control of the party structure in the state.

But Utaan said the persistent attacks on the FCT minister by the PANDEF leader and other party leaders such as the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is unbecoming.

He said, “Former Governor of Rivers State and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike is an asset to the PDP. Immediately after the last election when people were junketing around the world going to Dubai and America, Wike stayed back and kept the party together.

“It is only fair that he should be accorded the respect that goes with the leadership and followership of the PDP, not to be castigated. The issue of Rivers is an internal affair between the members of the PDP in Rivers State and it can be resolved at that level.

“That is why it is quite unfortunate when you hear comments from the Bauchi governor and a very respected person like Chief Edwin Clark making derogatory remarks about the issues in Rivers State. It is quite unfortunate. This is an internal problem that can be resolved internally by the people concerned. It is an issue between a political godfather and his political godson and they will come to the table at the right time.”

He appealed to the party’s National Executive Committee to cede the seat of the national chairman back to North Central following the exit of Iyorchia Ayu.

While stressing that Umar Damagum has done well in his acting capacity, Utaan appealed for the party to do the right thing in the spirit of peace, unity and reconciliation.

“If the NEC in its wisdom interprets the laws to the effect that the current acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, should continue with the good work he and other members of the NWC are doing, I will accept the decision in good faith and continue to give maximum support to the party a loyal faithful.

“But if it decides that someone from the North-Central should see out the tenure of the current NWC as the national chairman, I am of the firm belief that no other person will be best suited and heeled to discharge that responsibility than my humble self,” he stated.

Obi rallies support for Akpata, seeks credible poll

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Obi rallies support for Akpata, seeks credible poll

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, on Wednesday, tasked security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to adhere to the rules to ensure free, fair and credible poll in the Edo State governorship election.

He gave the charge on the grand finale rally for the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Olumide Akpata, in Benin City, the state capital.

Obi said the people of the state would resist any attempts by any political parties to rig the election, saying, “Nigerians are suffering today because of the wrong choice of leadership they have made,” adding that the “correction must start from Edo State by voting in the governorship candidate of the Labour Party come September 21.

“I urge the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to adhere to the rules to ensure a free, fair and credible poll in the Edo State governorship election.

“If Akpata wins the election, he will fix the federal roads that are connected to the state without waiting for the Federal Government to fix them.”

He blamed state governors who usually shift responsibilities to the FG to the detriment of the citizens of the states, as he assured that the LP candidate wouldn’t do such.

Obi called on the people to come out to vote Akpata and his running mate, Kadiri Asamah.

Also speaking, Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, Yusuf Danti, called on the party’s faithful in the state to utilise their numerical strength to enthrone their choice of candidate come September 21.

He further urged them not to be intimidated but to be ready to vote and defend their votes because power belongs to the people.

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Obaseki’s political woes self-inflicted, says Idahosa

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Obaseki’s political woes self-inflicted, says Idahosa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Charles Idahosa, also a former ally of Governor Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday said there is no truth in the claim by the governor that members of the Peoples Democratic Party are being intimidated.

He stated that the governor is feeling the pressure of bring alone after 90 per cent of party leaders who worked for his re-election left him, noting that his predicament is self inflicted.

The former member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party while addressing journalists in Benin City on Wednesday said the governor was under pressure because this is the first time he would be running an election on his own.

He said: “There was nothing to the alarm being raised by the governor because the state had always won election from the opposition stand different from the government at the centre.

“All the four previous elections held in the state right from when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole became governor have been elections held when Edo State is in opposition to the government at the centre.

“We need to remind Obaseki that he won his first election in 2016 under the APC when the PDP was in power at the centre. He won his second term election in 2020 under the PDP, when the APC was the party in power at the centre. So, what is the difference this time around?”

Idahosa further stated, “The truth now is that this is the first time Obaseki will be on his own. This is the first time he will be conducting an election without all the leaders that supported him in the past in his party today and it is obvious that he will lose.

“Obaseki is only shouting of intimidation because he has no single leader in his party. Over 90 per cent of the leaders that brought him to power have left him. That is what you suffer when you are a serial betrayer.

“His political woes today is self-inflicted. Obaseki is like an apprentice tailor, who his master has taught how to hold the scissors, only to decide that he knows the job and declare himself a fashion designer.”

The former Commissioner for Information under the Lucky Igbinedion government and Special Adviser, Political, to Oshiomhole, assured that “in spite of the alarms raised by the Edo State Government and the PDP, the election would be free, fair and nobody will be intimidated”

Idahosa added that Governor Obaseki would not have had any headaches about the election if he had accorded all those who assisted him politically their due respect.

“But, here we have Obaseki who will leave his comfort zone and will be looking for trouble where there is none.

“During his reelection in 2020, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State was from Bayelsa, who was a governorship aspirant under APC. Is it today that he just realised that the REC in this election is a relation of Wike? ” Idahosa queried.

The APC stalwart appealed to the governor to allow the Police to do it’s job of fishing out those who killed Inspector Akor Anuh on July 18, 2024, adding that it was foolhardy, given past experience to ask the police to prosecute those suspected and arrested in Edo State where the government can easily enter Nolli Prosequi, “When the investigation is over those arrested will be brought back. The Police must be allowed to do it’s job.”

Osun mortuary attendants, five others arrested for selling human parts

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Osun mortuary attendants, five others arrested for selling human parts

The Osun State Police Command announced on Wednesday that it has arrested seven suspects for selling human parts and water used to bathe corpses in the state.

A statement signed by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer for Osun Command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, noted that those arrested included two mortuary attendants: Johnson Daniel, aged 43, and Adetunji Okunade, aged 42.
Giwa-Alade, who listed the other suspects as Olaniyan Azeez, Balogun Temitope, Oladapo Hammed, Kazeem Rasaq, and Asaka Rauf, said the arrests were made following credible information from a concerned individual that Daniel, a mortuary attendant at Ipetu-Ijesa, was selling remains of corpses deposited at the mortuary where he worked to native doctors.

“The suspects used these remains obtained from the mortuary attendant (Johnson Daniel) for various ritual purposes. Daniel also confessed that he conspired with another mortuary attendant, Adetunji Okunade, to sell remnants of water used to bathe corpses to interested native doctors.

“During the investigation, a search was conducted at the residences of these suspects, leading to the recovery of fragments of substances suspected to be human skulls at the homes of Asaka Rauf and Oladapo Hammed, while a female pant and a notebook containing instructions on ritual practices were recovered from Balogun Temitope Asimiyu’s residence,” Giwa-Alade said.

The Osun Police Command spokesperson also reported that three people were arrested for canvassing support for the Yoruba Nation in the state.

According to him, Oluwafemi Fagbuyi, who was picked up at Obada Market in Ikire, where he was addressing people, urged his audience “to denounce their allegiance to Nigeria as a nation.” He claimed that Nigeria ended in 2014 after 100 years of amalgamation and displayed the Yoruba Nation’s flag in the process.

“The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department after a preliminary investigation. Through diligent investigation, Joy Faseyiku, 63, and Alabede Janet, 64, were arrested in Osogbo and Ikire, respectively, in connection with the crime.

“The investigation has been concluded, and the suspects have been charged to the Federal High Court accordingly,” he added.

Obi, Otti betrayed us by aligning with INEC, Abure led LP group

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Obi, Otti betrayed us by aligning with INEC, Abure led LP group

The leadership of the Labour Party loyal Julius Abure has accused members of its National Working Committee of being persecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission for their role in defending the mandates of former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti during the 2023 general elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, made this disclosure at a press conference held in Abuja.
Ifoh lamented that, rather than supporting the opposition party during its difficult time, the two leaders betrayed their trust by publicly aligning with the electoral commission.

“’Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo’” is a popular folk song by highlife artist Mike Ejeagha that went viral on social media this year.
Ifoh said, “The party is dismayed by the actions of our leaders, including our former presidential candidate and our only governor, who should be defending the party at this challenging moment. They should know that the LP is going through difficult times due to its role in supporting both leaders during the 2023 general election. Our leadership stood by Obi, canvassing through every corner for votes.

“For the sake of context, many Nigerians will remember how we accommodated some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their previous parties. Many who are now demanding the removal of Julius Abure were previously begging for tickets and couldn’t even afford the nomination forms.

“The same LP leadership supported our governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, resisting all pressures and overcoming political and judicial challenges to ensure victory. Now, these leaders are aligning with INEC. It’s a betrayal.”

The controversy follows the party’s recent legal action against INEC to prevent recognition of the newly installed Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee.

Two days ago, the media reported INEC’s counter-affidavit arguing that the tenure of the Abure-led executives had expired, thus justifying its attempt to legitimise the 29-member committee inaugurated by Obi, Otti, and other party stakeholders.

Ifoh vowed on Wednesday that the ‘illegal arrangement’ would not stand, stressing that the committee members were handpicked in an undemocratic manner.

He also accused INEC of trying to destabilise the party by taking sides and undermining LP leadership.

“As you are aware, the party has sued INEC over its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

INEC’s counter-affidavit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is invalid and does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention.

“Everyone knows the role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people was undermined. It astonishes us that those who suffered from INEC’s ineptitude in 2023 are now aligning with the commission against the party leadership. For these leaders, there is no hesitation in leveraging INEC’s stance on illegality to seize control of the party.

“We advise these leaders that INEC should not be the model for their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh. We condemned INEC then; now they are seen fraternising with it. Where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the people’s will in 2023? Let us not be deceived.

INEC has not changed, and in 2027, it will serve you the same dish,” he stated.

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