Crime
28 Years Old Man Arrested For Hate Speech Against Igbo
The Osun State Police Command has taken into custody Kehinde Adekusibe, a 28-year-old individual who used his Twitter page to incite hate against the Igbo ethnic group.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), confirmed the arrest on Friday morning.
The arrest of Adekusibe, who was located in Ilesa, Osun State, comes as a result of his violation of the social media policy regarding hate speech.
Adekusibe had tweeted “Let’s kill all the Igbos. Let’s flush them out of Yoruba lands. I hate these people with passion. They are violent people. They are the worst. They hate us. Let’s hate them without holding back.”
The police emphasized that this tweet violated the social media policy on hate speech, and it was published on the suspect’s Twitter handle on May 18.
Upon receiving information about the offensive tweet, the police promptly deployed detectives from the Cyber Crime Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
Their diligent efforts resulted in the arrest of the suspect at Ilesa, where he had sought refuge and concealed himself.
The police said “The suspect has confessed to the crime, and he will be charged to court after completion of the investigation,”
Mr Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, wrote “Thanks to Osun State Police Command for its painstaking efforts on this singular case. Kudos. Ire o.”
During the 2023 general elections, tensions escalated between Yoruba and Igbo communities in several South-western states, notably Lagos.
The clashes between these two ethnic groups stemmed from the perceived backing of the Igbo population for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), over his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Bola Tinubu, who is currently serving as Nigeria’s president.
While Mr Obi, the LP candidate, hails from Anambra State, an Igbo-speaking part of the South-east, Mr Tinubu is of Yoruba extraction.
Some thugs attacked some Igbos in Lagos, which has a predominantly Yoruba population and destroyed their properties for allegedly voting for Mr Obi during the election.
Despite Mr. Obi not emerging as the winner of the presidential election, he was declared the victor in Lagos State, where Mr. Tinubu, the former APC candidate, had previously served as governor from 1999 to 2007.
Following the election, Mr. Obi, along with others, lodged a petition with the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, challenging Mr. Tinubu’s victory.
As Mr. Tinubu’s inauguration as president drew nearer in May, speculations arose concerning unnamed political elites allegedly plotting to impede the inauguration and establish an “interim government” once then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure ended on May 29.
Those behind the alleged scheme purportedly argued that Mr. Tinubu should not be sworn in as president until the court case challenging his election victory was resolved.
These speculations exacerbated the tensions between the Igbo and Yoruba communities, with accusations levied against certain Igbo individuals who were believed to have supported Mr. Obi’s unsuccessful presidential bid and were supposedly involved in the plot.
. . . As Operatives Recover Dangerous Weapons, Other Assets
As part of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to emplace peace and public safety across Nigeria, operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against terrorism.
The feat saw operatives neutralised three deadly terrorist kingpins associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN), destroyed their camps and recovered weapons.
In a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Saturday, the NPF wrote, “On January 24, 2025, operatives from the Command’s tactical Unit following credible intelligence launched a coordinated operation aimed at locating and dislodging the terrorist hideouts.
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“The police operatives located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA. Upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
“The operation resulted in the neutralization of 6 members of the terrorist group, with 3 being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)— all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area, and the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with 8 operational motorcycles used by the group.
“Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.
“The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination.
“The IGP charges police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of renowned gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.
Biztellers reports that Thankgod is facing allegations of involvement in a $345,000 fraud case.
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The arrest warrant had been issued by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court on January 16, 2025, following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking to compel Thankgod’s appearance in court.
During a court session on Friday, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, applied to withdraw the warrant, stating that the charges had already been served on Thankgod’s lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, SAN, during open court proceedings.
She argued that the warrant was no longer necessary.
Justice Owoeye granted the application and formally vacated the bench warrant.
Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday to challenge charges of N12.3 billion fraud.
Biztellers reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 13-count indictment against Otudeko, along with Olabisi Onasanya, former Managing Director of FirstBank Plc., Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell, and Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
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During the proceedings, the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), raised an objection, stating that the charge had not been properly served to Otudeko or his co-defendants.
Olanipekun emphasized this issue as a reason for protest in court.
The EFCC has accused the individuals and the company of fraudulently obtaining N12.3 billion under false pretenses.
More to follow………..
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