Crime
Nigerian Army Plotting To Frame 15 Abuja Cattle Dealers For Assassination, Terrorism
The Nigerian Army is facing accusations of plotting to falsely implicate 15 Abuja-based cattle dealers in a series of terrorist activities, including an assassination attempt on one of its officers.
According to an ex parte motion filed by the Army, the detained men allegedly conspired with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to carry out violent attacks.
However, the military failed to provide any specific details about these alleged activities, leaving several gaps in the case.
The ex parte motion, according to SaharaReporters claims that the suspects were involved in various terrorist attacks, including the brutal murder of 17 Nigerian Army officers in Ukwuoma, Delta State.
They were also accused of participating in an attack on a Joint Task Force unit in Askira Uba on June 25, 2024, as well as suicide bombings in Gwoza and a military base in Damboa, Borno State, on June 29 and 30, 2024.
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However, the suspects’ lawyer, Barr Abdulwahab Aliyu, strongly refuted these allegations, presenting an alibi.
He argued that his clients could not have been involved in the attacks while in detention, stating, “Twelve of them were initially arrested on May 17, 2024, and three others subsequently. How then could they have participated in terrorists’ attacks on targets as claimed while in detention?”
The controversy began when the cattle dealers were arrested at a military checkpoint in Borno State on May 17, 2024, while on their way to purchase cattle.
The Army accused them of possessing large sums of cash, which led to their detention. The military also seized over N88 million and 341 heads of cattle from the dealers.
According to their lawyer, the only offense they committed was carrying a large amount of cash during daylight travel.
Despite a court ruling on August 6, 2024, that ordered the release of the detainees and the return of their seized property, the Nigerian Army has continued to hold them in custody.
The court had also awarded damages of N10 million to each detainee for unlawful arrest and detention.
However, the Army refused to comply with the ruling, prompting the detainees to seek further legal action.
On November 23, 2024, it was reported that the Army was still holding the 15 detainees in defiance of the court order.
Barr Aliyu confirmed that the Army had failed to appeal the ruling but instead filed a motion to keep the detainees in custody, despite already agreeing to release them without returning the seized money and cattle.
The families of the detained cattle dealers have expressed concern over their prolonged detention.
They argue that their loved ones are being arbitrarily held in an attempt to force them to abandon their legal claims for the return of the seized property.
One family member lamented the hardships they have faced since the arrests, stating they have been left without the means to support their children or meet their basic needs.
In a recent development, the detainees’ legal team filed for a garnishee order against 18 Nigerian Army bank accounts in an effort to enforce the court’s judgment.
The next court session is scheduled for December 10, 2024, where the Army will be required to produce the detainees and address the legal motions filed against them.
The families have called on the military high command and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure justice is served.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a series of successful operations across Nigeria, resulting in the arrest of prominent individuals and the seizure of significant quantities of illicit drugs.
Among the key arrests are a Lagos socialite, a filmmaker, and university students involved in drug-related activities.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 61-year-old socialite, Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on New Year’s Day at her mansion in Okota.
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The arrest followed the interception of a truck allegedly transporting a drug consignment linked to her.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis was intercepted on January 1.
The truck was driven by Abideen Adio, a staff member of Elediye.
“On the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath is a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos,” Babafemi said.
Alhaja Ajoke, known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka,” has been on the NDLEA’s wanted list for years due to her alleged leadership of a drug cartel operating out of Mushin, Lagos.
In another high-profile case, NDLEA operatives arrested US-trained filmmaker and motivational speaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe at a hotel in Lekki, Lagos.
His arrest followed the apprehension of his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, earlier on December 27, 2024, at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja.
James was reportedly sent by Mbadiwe to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 17.30 kilograms.
The consignment, concealed in wooden boxes, had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, from the United States on December 24, 2024, aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested two young women—24-year-old Khadijat Abdulraheem, a fresh graduate, and 20-year-old Ayomide Morakinyo, a University of Ilorin student.
The suspects were reportedly producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students.
During a search of their residence on December 29, 2024, operatives recovered 42 pieces of the drugged cupcakes.
Sodade Sunday Eniola, an ex-convict previously sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking, was arrested again for passport racketeering.
NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport intercepted 52 passports concealed in shoe soles and food items destined for Canada, Russia, and other countries.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three other suspects—Ayinde Saheed Awwal, Salaudeen Afeez Ayode, and Sheriff Adebayo Bamigbade.
The suspects and exhibits were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further investigation.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NDLEA officers seized 316,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup from two containers during a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on December 31, 2024.
In Kano, operatives raided a drug den in Dala Local Government Area, recovering 149,090 pills of tramadol and exol-5 on the same day.
The NDLEA also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization programs in markets, worship centers, and schools across the country.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s officers for their dedication to combating drug trafficking and abuse.
“Their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated,” Marwa stated.
A one-day-old baby abandoned along a bush path in the Mpape area of Abuja has been rescued by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
The baby’s mother, who has admitted to the act, is now in police custody.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, describing the act as deeply concerning.
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According to Adeh, the baby was discovered near Crush Rock, behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market in Mpape, on Jan. 3.
The discovery followed a distress call to the Mpape Division’s Juvenile and Women Care Section (JWC).
“The operatives responded swiftly and rescued the baby, taking him to Mpape Primary Health Care Center for medical evaluation. Thankfully, the baby is in stable condition,” Adeh stated.
The mother of the child was later arrested after a tip-off from community members. During interrogation, she confessed to abandoning the baby, citing her inability to care for him after being abandoned by her husband.
While condemning the act, Adeh emphasized the police command’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable members of society. “The rescued baby will be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for proper care,” she said.
The mother, meanwhile, will face prosecution under the Child Rights Act (CRA), 2003, specifically sections 14 and 16, upon the completion of investigations.
Adeh commended the Mpape community for their vigilance and cooperation, which ensured the baby’s rescue.
She urged residents across the FCT to remain alert and report suspicious activities or emergencies through the command’s emergency lines:
08061581938
08032003913
08028940883
CRU: 08107314192
PCB: 09022222352
A joyous wedding celebration in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State turned into a tragic scene after a bride allegedly poisoned food served at the reception, leading to the death of a guest and leaving the groom critically ill.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the bride’s alleged actions might have been motivated by a personal vendetta, although the exact cause remains unclear.
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Speaking to reporters on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the incident and revealed that an investigation was underway.
“We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill,” Adam said.
He further disclosed that two suspects, the bride and another female, have been arrested in connection with the alleged food poisoning and are currently being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department.
“We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served,” the police spokesperson assured.
According to Adam, all other wedding attendees who consumed the poisoned food have been treated and discharged from the hospital, except for one individual who tragically lost their life.
He added “The command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we will provide more details as soon as possible. We urge the public to remain calm and assured that justice will be served.”
The identities of the deceased guest, the groom, and other victims have not yet been disclosed by authorities.
As the community grapples with the shocking turn of events, the police have vowed to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident.
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