Crime
JUST IN: Fresh Attack Claims Over 30 Lives In Plateau
There are fears that as many as 30 persons lost their lives in Plateau State following fresh attacks by gunmen at Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government Area.
Biztellers reports that the unfortunate incident transpired in the early hours of Wednesday.
Reports have it that the victims were mostly women and children, who sought refuge in the house of a community leader in the area on Tuesday night following an earlier unrest during the day in Mangu town when the gunmen surrounded them and wiped them out.
A community leader in the area, Mark Haruna, narrated the ordeal on Wednesday, according to PUNCH Online.
Haruna said, “What happened at Sabon Gari and Mangu town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) was just a distraction so that the attention of the people will be shifted away from the villages.
“For the second time, my village Kwahaslalek (behind NYSC camp) came under attack by gunmen yesterday (Tuesday)night. They came at about 12:30 am and killed over 25 people, mostly women and children.”
The Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, Joseph Gwankat, also confirmed the killing, describing it as callous.
“I couldn’t sleep last night as a result of what happened in Mangu town during the day yesterday. Now, I have just been told Kwahaslalek village was attacked last night and about 30 people were killed.
“From what I was told, the unrest in Mangu town yesterday created fears in many communities. Some people in the village went and evacuated their loved ones and assembled them in a place where they thought was safe.
“So in the night, the killers went to Kwahaslalek village where the people, mostly women and children were assembled and killed all of them,” he said
The chairman who condemned the killing added, “I was told that no security was on ground to save the villagers. This act is pure wickedness. How can people who are in their villages be targets of constant attacks and killings without anything being done to stop the perpetrators?”
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, the police was yet to get the report of the incident.
“I have not received any report on that. Let me call my Commander. We will investigate the incident if actually something like that happened,” the PPRO said.
However, Governor, Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, had declared a 24-hour curfew on the Mangu LGA on Tuesday (yesterday).
His action was to address the deteriorating security situation in the area after an unrest left several houses, including churches and mosques, burnt down.
The state is yet to recover from the Christmas Eve attacks on communities in three local government areas of the state.
Gunmen had stormed Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat, and Butura Kampani villages in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos areas of the state, burning houses and shooting residents.
The Christmas eve attack left over 160 people dead.
Bolaji Idowu, the Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), is currently being interrogated by operatives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja.
Sources close to the investigation reveal that Idowu, known for his “Next-Level Prayer Conference,” was arrested in connection with allegations of real estate fraud and money laundering.
A top police source confirmed the arrest, stating, “The Next Level Prayer Conference, Pastor Bolaji Idowu, has been arrested by the police, and he is being grilled in Abuja over real estate fraud and money laundering.”
“He is at the FCID Abuja as we speak,” another source added.
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Idowu founded Harvesters International Christian Center in December 2003, which has since grown into a global congregation with locations in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to the church’s website, the ministry attracts over 70,000 worshippers both online and on-site.
Beyond his pastoral duties, Pastor Idowu is known for his “Next Level Prayer Conference,” a platform aimed at helping individuals build a stronger prayer life, with participants joining both in person and virtually.
The arraignment of Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), was delayed on Monday after he failed to appear in court.
Kuru, who is facing a six-count charge, was to be arraigned for alleged theft of property belonging to Arik Air and abuse of office.
Kuru, along with the current Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu; the receiver manager of Arik, Kamilu Omokide; Union Bank Plc; and the company Super Bravo Limited, were set to appear before Justice Mojisola Dada at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
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The charges are being brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The complaints were filed by Arik’s founder, Johnson Arumemi, and its shareholders, with their petition signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana. The charges allege various acts of fraud, theft, and abuse of office.
In the first charge, Union Bank is accused of making false statements to AMCON, inducing an unwarranted sale of Arik Air’s loans, and falsely reporting the status of the airline’s loans.
This led to the transfer of a fake sum of N71 billion to AMCON, an act considered a violation of Section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
In count two, Kuru, Omokide, and Ilegbodu are alleged to have fraudulently converted N4.9 billion to the benefit of NG Eagle Limited, a company they are accused of setting up for personal gain.
This is considered theft by fraudulent conversion, violating Section 278(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Count three involves Captain Roy Ilegbodu, who is accused of stealing N22.5 million in May 2024 and converting it for the use of Magashi Ali Mohammed, in breach of Arik Air’s property rights.
Kuru and Omokide face further charges in count four, which accuses them of abusing their public office in July 2019 to incorporate NG Eagle Limited for undue personal benefit, a violation of Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
In count five, Kamilu Omokide, Ahmed Kuru, and Captain Roy Ilegbodu are accused of authorizing the destruction of a $31.5 million aircraft, 5N-JEA, in February 2022, an arbitrary act that harmed Arik Air and Nigeria’s economic stability.
Count six accuses Omokide, Kuru, and Super Bravo Limited of dishonestly converting three Boeing aircraft belonging to Arik Air to the use of Super Bravo Limited in November 2023, amounting to theft by dishonestly taking property.
Due to Kuru’s absence from the court proceedings, Justice Dada issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Authorities have been instructed to locate and bring him to court.
The case, which involves key figures in the aviation and banking sectors, is under close scrutiny as the EFCC continues its investigation into the alleged financial crimes.
John Idumangi, a vocal critic of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, has been remanded at the Okaka Correctional Centre following an application presented at the Magistrate Court 10 in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Idumangi faces charges of “criminal defamation of character, publishing seditious publications, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace,” allegedly directed at Governor Diri and his wife, Gloria Diri.
The accusations stem from content posted by Idumangi on his social media platforms and other outlets.
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The Nigerian Police arrested Idumangi on December 1, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before transporting him to Bayelsa for further investigation.
The Magistrate Court has ordered his remand, with the case adjourned to December 23, 2024, for further proceedings.
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