Crime
Police Arrest 12-Old-Boy For Alleged Kidnapping Of 3-Year-Old Girl In Bauchi
A 12-year-old boy identified as Dayyabu Abdullahi of Magama Gumau in the state’s Toro LGA has been detained by the Bauchi State Police Command on suspicion of abducting a 3-year-old girl.
According to the information at the Command’s disposal, on November 23, 2022, at around 1740 hours, Yahaya Sale, 56, of Magama Gumau, received a threatening phone call from an unknown caller, demanding N150,000 as a ransom for the release of his kidnapped daughter, one Mariya Yahaya, age 3, of the same address.
According to the Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili, a discreet Investigation revealed that the suspect lured the victim to an isolated place near a football field at Kara Area of Magama Gumau and called the victim’s father on phone, and made the aforementioned demand.
The PPRO added that “On hearing this, the victim’s father hung off the call, while the suspect kept calling but no response from the victim’s father. After a while, the victim’s father called the suspect on phone and identified the suspect as Dayyabu through his voice, as the suspect is known by the victim’s father.”
“The suspect then kept mute and quickly hung off the call when he realized that the victim’s father uncovered his identity. Consequently, he swiftly took the girl back to their house and told her family that he sighted her crying near a football field”, he added.
The PPRO further stated that “In this manner, the victim’s family immediately reported the suspect to the Police authority for necessary action. On interrogation, the suspect stated that he is from Kano state and came to Bauchi state in search of petty business with his siblings.”
“From the little, he earned while hawking fried yam in Magama Gumau, he raised money and bought a mobile phone Techno Camon model”, he also stated.
The investigation also revealed that the suspect got to know about kidnapping when some time ago his friend was kidnapped in Kano state until a ransom was paid before he was released from his captors, that is how he learned about kidnapping and money must be paid to set a victim free.
He also said he would have used the ransom money to buy his desired clothes and phones, but cut short upon his arrest by the Police operatives.
To this end, the Commissioner of Police CP Aminu Alhassan assured the general public that the Command will continue to update them as the investigation unfolds.
He added that he will like to use the medium to reiterate the need for parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance over the activities of their wards.
The CP was quoted saying, “It is pertinent now more than ever that the whereabouts of wards and the company they keep are constantly kept in check by all those responsible, as the investigation continues into the matter after which the suspect will be charged to court.”
Since the CP reiterated that the Command will not preempt investigations just yet, despite violating human rights and the dignity of the girl child, criminal culpability comprises two main components: “Actus Reus” and “Men’s Rea.”
Crime
Court Orders Woman To Pay ₦150,000 For Failing To Visit Boyfriend After Collecting Transport Fare
An Ilesa Magistrate Court in Osun State has ruled against a woman, Rhoda Adu, ordering her to pay ₦150,000 to her boyfriend, Olapitan Sola, for breach of agreement and emotional distress.
The incident occurred after Rhoda collected ₦3,000 as transport fare from Sola but failed to visit him as promised.
According to reports, she switched off her phone after receiving the money, leaving Sola unable to reach her.
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Feeling cheated and emotionally distressed, Sola reported the matter to the Ayeso Police Station, prompting Rhoda’s arrest and subsequent trial.
During the court hearing, Sola presented evidence including the mobile money transfer receipt and WhatsApp messages exchanged between the pair.
In her judgment, Magistrate Akogun Oludare ordered Rhoda to refund the ₦3,000 and pay an additional ₦100,000 for breach of agreement, alongside ₦50,000 as special damages for emotional distress.
“This court seeks to uphold accountability and fairness in personal agreements. Let this serve as a warning to others,” Magistrate Oludare said in her ruling, stressing the need for such decisions to deter similar acts.
The case has sparked widespread discussions, with many debating the implications of the judgment and its impact on personal relationships.
Crime
Police Plotting Kangaroo Trial Against Me – Sowore
Human rights activist and vocal government critic, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of plotting to detain him following his criticism of the extension of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure.
Biztellers reports that Sowore arrived at the Force Intelligence Headquarters in Abuja on Monday at 9:58 a.m., responding to an invitation from the police.
The summons was issued after Sowore uploaded a viral video alleging extortion by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.
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The activist was questioned over multiple allegations, including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.
In a Facebook post, Sowore accused the police of relying on “rehashed information” sourced primarily from the internet.
He revealed that he refused to provide a written statement during the interrogation, citing the lack of a clearly defined crime.
“The police relied on a rehashed set of information sourced mostly from the internet. When I asked them to identify the location of the alleged ‘crime’ in Lagos, they provided a vague response, stating it was along the airport road,” Sowore said.
The activist further alleged that the police intended to detain him and transfer him to Lagos for what he described as a “kangaroo trial.”
“I chose not to provide a written statement, as we informed the Police team that, in the absence of a defined crime, the process to determine such was unnecessary,” he explained.
“They took a break and later informed me that they were awaiting instructions from their superiors. It seems their plan is to detain me and take me to Lagos for a kangaroo trial.”
Sowore maintained that his case stemmed from his criticism of IGP Egbetokun, whose tenure, he argued, was illegally extended.
“I made it clear to the team that the matter revolves around my publicly stated view that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who is due for retirement and clearly tired, had his tenure extended illegally. I maintain that we are entering a promising era, and our fight for justice will persist. #RevolutionNow,” Sowore added.
The police have yet to issue an official response to Sowore’s allegations or confirm the next steps in the case.
Crime
Five Kidnapped, Woman Injured As Bandits Strike Abuja Community
Chikakore, a community in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was rocked by a violent attack on Sunday night, when at least 20 armed bandits stormed the area, kidnapping five residents, including an entire family.
According to police sources, the assailants struck at around 11pm, targeting the Health Centre extension area of Chikakore.
The attackers barged into the homes of their victims, abducting Adesiyan Akinropo, a Southwesterner, his wife, son, and a visitor.
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They also kidnapped another neighbor, bringing the total number of people taken to five.
In the midst of the raid, a woman was struck on the head with the butt of a gun, causing severe bleeding. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment following the brutal assault.
“The bandits kidnapped the man (Akinropo), his wife, and his son, their visitor. The bandits then took away another neighbor to make five persons. They also injured a woman on the head with the butt of the gun. She bled profusely and had to be rushed to the hospital,” a police source said
While the police operatives from the Byzahin division responded to the incident, the assailants had already escaped by the time they arrived at the scene.
Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed response, revealing that the police took over an hour to reach the area.
“The bandits have resumed attacks in Chikakore. We need a police division here in this community. We have land and a five-bedroom apartment already built to accommodate the police, but there is no deployment yet,” a resident lamented.
This attack follows a similar one earlier in January, when bandits fleeing from Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina State detonated explosives in Kuchibuyi, a neighboring area.
The explosion, which targeted an Islamic school, claimed at least two lives, according to the police.
A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, where local leaders and police officials will discuss the ongoing security concerns in Chikakore.
Efforts to reach the FCT police command for comment were unsuccessful, as spokesperson Josephine Adeh did not respond to calls.