Crime
Abduction Alert: Southern Kaduna Reports 31 People Missing
In southern Kaduna, it has been reported that no fewer than 27 women and 4 boys were allegedly abducted, according to a statement from the women’s wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union on Monday.
Urging authorities to intervene for the safe rescue of the victims, SOPAPU’s National Women Coordinator, Mrs. Jemutu Katarma, revealed that the abduction took place on October 2, 2023, and the individuals remain captive.
The statement further highlighted the distressing situation in the region, with numerous villages displaced and some seized by bandits, resulting in a considerable number of people being left without homes.
According to Katarma, violence and criminal activities by armed groups, notably bandits and armed herdsmen, have afflicted all but three of the 12 Local Government Areas in southern Kaduna.
She stated that the toll includes thousands of lives lost, houses reduced to ashes, and hundreds of people subjected to kidnapping.
The statement partly read, “After closely observing the policies, words and actions of Governor Uba Sani since he came to power in May 2023, we have good reasons to believe that he has come to restore hope, confidence and unity to the state.
“We also see him working with the Federal Government in helping to solve the serious challenge of the security of lives and property of citizens of Kaduna State.
“It is based on this belief that we are encouraged to use this medium to send him an SoS message on very disturbing security matters, part of which he inherited, and to plead for his urgent intervention.
“As you may all be aware by now, Southern Kaduna is made up of the eight Local Government Areas of Kaduna South senatorial zone, plus Lere LGA in Kaduna North senatorial zone including Kajuru and Chikun LGAs in Kaduna Central senatorial zone.
“Hundreds of our villages have been sacked and some taken over by bandits. Even the immediate past government of the state has been reporting these atrocities to the press every quarter of each year. Our people, especially women and children in their thousands are rendered as IDPs. It is usually women and children who suffer the most during such displacements.
“May I state that it is true that the past government did not show much compassion or interest in assisting us with these evils that have happened to our people? We did not get a good deal at all. Out of the 12 LGAs of Southern Kaduna, Kachia, Kajuru and Chikun are, in our belief, the worst that suffer at the hands of kidnappers. And women and children are their main targets.
“Of particular note, we want to bring to the attention of His Excellency, Gov Uba Sani about a terrible development that happened to his citizens on 2nd October 2023 in Kachuwe, close to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State. After their villages suffered several invasions from bandits in Chikun, they decided to move to Kachuwe which they thought was safer to start life all over again by farming.” The statement added
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the malicious and unsubstantiated statement made by the embattled Ismaila Mustapha, (a.k.a Mompha) alleging corruption by operatives of the Commission.
This was revealed a post on the verified official handle of the anti-graft agency under the signature of its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
ALSO READ: EFCC Secures Jail Terms For NIS Employee In Gombe, Another In Bauchi
Oyewale maintained that the claim, coming from an accused in a criminal trial for conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal activities, failure to disclose assets and property, ought to be ignored as the rantings of a sinking defendant. But his claims strike at the heart of the Commission’s most prized value – integrity and must be challenged.
The Commission is alarmed that the accused will abandon the platform offered by the court to launch a media war against it through spurious claims.
Oyewale cautioned that if he believes that raising phantom accusations against the Commission will scare it from diligently prosecuting his case, he is mistaken as no amount of scaremongering will deter the Commission from pursuing the case to logical conclusion
While Mompha may just be a drowning man clutching at any straw owing to the overwhelming evidence of his involvement in the money laundering case, his unsubstantiated claims against the EFCC is an issue the Commission is taking seriously.
To this end, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has directed that Mompha be invited to bring clasping evidence of any issue of corruption against any staff of the Commission. Besides, the socialite should also justify his labelling of the EFCC as a “useless agency” with evidential proofs.
He also averred that, “As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC would not sit back and allow libellous effusions against its reputation go unchallenged. Mompha, to all intents and purposes, cannot be expected to paint the EFCC in bright colours owing to the professional ways officers of the Commission are handling his matter. The EFCC would not be distracted in plying its job by antics of traducers like Mompha.”
Oyewale added that “The general public is, therefore, advised to ignore his ranting. Mompha should rather face his prosecution before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
In a shocking incident on Saturday night, bandits stormed the Dahjonu community in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area, abducting two journalists and their families.
The victims include Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation newspaper and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper.
Alabelewe, who also serves as the chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kaduna State, was taken along with his wife and two children.
READ ALSO: https://biztellers.com.ng/niger-mali-burkina-faso-cut-ties-with-ecowas-form-new-alliance/
Aodu and his ailing wife were also kidnapped, while their sick daughter was left behind.
The attack occurred around 10:30 PM, according to Taofeeq Olayemi, a relative of one of the victims.
The bandits reportedly fired shots indiscriminately before carrying out the abductions.
He said, “Initially, they picked Abdulgafar, his wife, and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return with one of the children and left with Abdulgafar, his wife, and two children.
“They shattered their doors and windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly torturing his five-year-old son in the Gwalangan Mayaka suburb of Bauchi metropolis.
According to CSP Ahmed Wakil, the command’s spokesperson, a good Samaritan reported the incident to the Police after finding the boy unconscious and shackled.
A team of detectives led by CSP Mubarak S. Baba rescued the boy, who identified himself as Hussaini Abubakar and revealed that his father had treated him inhumanely and confined him without food for three days.
READ MORE: paris-hilton-child-abuse-congress
The father was arrested for alleged child abuse and claimed he was trying to prevent the boy from stealing from their neighbour.
Wakil said, “During an interview, the victim Identified himself as Hussaini Abubakar. He revealed that he was treated inhumanely by his biological father.
“The boy further stated that he was incarcerated with the exception of all humane treatment by the father for many days which he cannot specify and also spent three days without eating.
“That his father was advised to do so by his friend. The police criminal investigation department would investigate discreetly to get to the crux of the matter and other motives surrounding the dastardly act.”
The police spokesperson expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation and vigilance in helping to identify and bring to justice individuals engaging in harmful behavior.
In addition to the arrest of the 50-year-old man for child abuse, the command has also apprehended two suspects for alleged rape in the Bauchi metropolis.
The suspects, aged 28 and 67, allegedly committed sexual assaults on minors, including a 9-year-old girl and two teenage girls aged 17 and 16.
The suspects, according to CSP Ahmed Wakil, have confessed to the crime during interrogation, corroborating the victim’s statement.
He added that the investigation is ongoing, and upon completion, the suspects will be charged in court.
Olukoyede Clinches Anti-Graft Accountability Award
Wrestling Legend, John Cena Announces Retirement From WWE
SSANU, NASU Call For Nationwide Protests
Ex-Minister Ordered To Reveal Details Of N729bn Fund Disbursement
Tinubu Re-elected ECOWAS Chairman For Second Term
State Institutions Approved For Student Loan Applications [Full List]
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
Adeosun: We are investing in infrastructure to grow the private sector
Shell launches Nigeria campaign on energy efficiency
