Crime
Tricycle Rider Killed By Taskforce Over N200 Ticket
Chaos erupted in the Ogbogoro area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State on Thursday when a tragic incident unfolded between a man associated with a task force and a tricycle rider named Esikak Esieme.
According to reports, a heated argument over a N200 ticket escalated, resulting in the alleged punching of Esieme by the task force member.
The incident occurred after the task force officials halted Esieme, who was transporting a passenger, and demanded the fare. However, Esieme explained that he had just commenced his work for the day and did not possess the requested amount at that moment.
Following the disagreement, an altercation reportedly ensued, leading to one of the task force members, identified as Osisi, allegedly delivering a punch to the 39-year-old tricyclist.
Tragically, the impact caused the tricyclist to collapse immediately. In response, Esieme’s fellow colleagues swiftly transported him to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals later confirmed his unfortunate demise.
The incident left his fellow tricyclists deeply angered and frustrated. In protest against the recurring mistreatment and extortion they claimed to endure at the hands of Osisi and his team, Esieme’s colleagues organized a protest to voice their grievances.
Expressing their fury, the enraged tricycle operators decided to suspend their operations momentarily and embarked on a march from Ogbogoro to the premises of a local radio station situated in Port Harcourt to seek justice for their deceased colleague.
Ivumba Friday, the President of the Tricycle Union in Ogbogoro Community, spoke out about the tragic incident, asserting that Nsikak Esieme had been unlawfully killed earlier that day by a persistent troublemaker named Osisi, who, according to Friday, has been inflicting terror upon the residents of Ogbogoro on a daily basis.
He said “Nsikak Esieme was murdered this morning by one Osisi that has been terrorising Ogbogoro and our people daily. We have been reporting this matter to OSPAC, even to the police.”
Lucky, the elder brother of the deceased, recounted the sequence of events and made an initial demand for the release of his late brother’s body to the family.
In response to inquiries, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, acknowledged the incident, describing it as a situation where two individuals fighting.
She said “We are aware of the case but from what the Divisional Police Officer told me, it was a case of two fighting. He was beaten to a coma and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. Efforts are on top gear to apprehend the suspect and make him face the law.”
Crime
Adamawa Courts Jail Twelve Internet Fraudsters
Justices Kayanson Samuel Lawanson, Hammed Isha, Benjamin Manji Lawal and Mohammed Ibrahim Tola of the Adamawa State High Court, Adamawa State have convicted and sentenced twelve internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
The convicts include, Oladele Pius, Emmanuel Bulus, Elijah Elisha, Alamin Mohammed Bappa, Jamilu Usman and Enoch Solomon.
The rest are Emmanuel Anthony, Enebeli Samuel Israel, Dimas Hyellabulatin, Emmanuel Dike , Joshua Umoru and Dan Eden Sunday.
They were separately arraigned between November 6 and 7, 2024 on a one count charge of cheating and impersonation by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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The charge against Alamin Muhammad Bappa reads: “Alamin Muhammad Bappa sometimes in September, 2024 at Sangere area of Modibo Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud one Amity Shane and other unsuspecting foreign nationals, created some fake Gmail’ and Facebook accounts using the name Jacob sermon to pose as a cybersecurity professional that helps people to recover their compromised or blocked Facebook accounts for a service fee of $20 each and thereby committed an offense of cheating by impersonation contrary to Section 314 of Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018 and punishable under Section 315 of the same law”.
The charge against Oladele Pius reads: “ that you Oladele Pius sometimes in September, 2024 in Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being a student of Modibo Adamawa University of Technology Yola, with intent to defraud, did cheat by Impersonation, Having created and operating one Mr. Legit Hassan Abbadin a foreign national with Whatsapp account No. +1 (842) 921332016, through your Your iphone 11 Model No. MWNC2CH/A for ” a virtual funds transactions” with a motive of gaining a financial advantage from other unsuspecting internet users and thereby committed an offense of cheating by impersonation contrary to Section 314 of Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018 and punishable under Section 315 of the same law.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting prosecution counsel Saad .H Sa’ad and M.D Aliyu to pray the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly; however, counsels to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Lawanson thereafter convicted and sentenced Bulus , Elisha, Usman and Israel to ten years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each. However, Hyellabulati bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
Justice Tola convicted and sentenced Dike, Umoru, Sunday and Pius to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) each.
Justice Lawal convicted and sentenced Bappa and Solomon to five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each.
Justice Isha convicted and sentenced Anthony to ten years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
The Judges ruled that the mobile phones recovered during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria .
In addition, Justice Lawal ordered that the sum of $20 recovered during investigation from Bappa and being proceeds of crime, be returned to the victim.
The convicts were arrested on September 24, 2024 around Modibo Adamawa University of Technology area of Yola, Adamawa State by operatives of the Commission following actionable intelligence linking them with cybercrimes activities. They were charged to court and convicted.
Crime
NDLEA Nabs Businessman For Using Ingestion To Smuggle Cocaine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of a businessman caught attempting to traffic a significant quantity of cocaine.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed the arrest on Sunday through his official X account.
According to Babafemi, the suspect had ingested the drugs in a bid to evade detection but was apprehended and forced to excrete the contraband while in custody.
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Sharing a video of the seized drugs, Babafemi issued a stern warning to drug traffickers, especially during the upcoming holiday season.
He wrote, “Detty December: Before you swallow those drugs, please remember that the new @ndlea_nigeria has the capacity and capability to catch you.
“The businessman who excreted this amount of cocaine will not only spend Christmas behind bars but also risks a life sentence at the end of his trial. Beware!”
The agency has ramped up its operations to combat drug trafficking as the year-end festivities approach, a period known for increased criminal activity.
Officials warned that traffickers face severe consequences, including life imprisonment if convicted.
The NDLEA urged Nigerians to avoid involvement in illicit drug activities, emphasizing its readiness to ensure a drug-free festive season.
Crime
Angry Mob Burns Two Revenue Touts Alive After Fatal Accident In Onitsha
On Friday, a violent incident erupted in Onitsha, Anambra State, when an irate mob set two revenue touts ablaze after they were allegedly responsible for causing the death of an innocent bystander.
The incident took place along Old Market Road, near Venn Road by Egerton, when a tipper driver, who was reportedly being chased by the revenue agents, lost control of his vehicle.
As the touts grabbed the steering wheel, the driver veered off the road, running over and killing a pedestrian instantly.
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A disturbing video of the event, circulating on social media, shows the mob attacking the two revenue agents with various objects before setting them on fire.
Four other touts managed to escape the scene unscathed.
A witness to the chaos, who recorded the incident, described what transpired: “There was chaos in Onitsha this morning as angry mob set ablaze two revenue touts, while four others were lucky to escape.
“The touts were chasing the driver over a fee, and in the process, the tipper lost control, killing a pedestrian.”
Local residents and traders expressed outrage over the incident, blaming the revenue collectors for the tragedy.
One trader said, “Onitsha was hot this morning at Egerton by Old Market Road. The revenue men were dragging the steering with a tipper driver because he refused to give them a bribe.
“In the process, the vehicle ran over an innocent man, and seeing the result of their actions, they tried to flee. But the angry people chased and caught two of them.”
The victim, who was struck and killed by the vehicle, has yet to be officially identified, but reports indicate that he was a well-known figure in the community.
The tragic event has reignited long-standing frustrations with the activities of revenue collectors in the state, with many calling for immediate reforms.
One local resident lamented, “These revenue touts have killed more people than non-state actors in the last two years.”
In response to the incident, Anambra State Police Command spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the situation and assured that authorities were working swiftly to restore order.
“We are already working with the relevant authorities to ascertain what happened and find an amicable solution to prevent such occurrences in the future,” Ikenga stated.
The police investigation into the incident is ongoing, as officials seek to determine the full details surrounding the fatal accident and the mob violence that followed.