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Soldiers Intercept Cannabis Smugglers, Reject N12m Bribe

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In a significant operation, the Nigerian Army has successfully intercepted a drug smuggling attempt at the Balogun border in Ogun State.

The detained individuals, 18-year-old Michael Atanda and 58-year-old Adigun Olatunji, were apprehended after their vehicle was stopped based on credible intelligence.

The suspects were found attempting to smuggle a substance suspected to be cannabis, with a total of 296 wraps discovered concealed in their vehicle.

Despite facing a tempting N12 million bribe from the syndicate, the troops displayed unwavering integrity and rejected the bribe offer.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, released a statement on Sunday, highlighting the successful operation and the commitment of the troops in upholding the law.

The statement partly read,  “Troops of 192 Battalion, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, acting on credible intelligence intercepted a suspected transnational drug syndicate operating with a Sienna 2001 Model Space Bus, with registration number Lagos APP 129 EF, loaded with illicit substances, suspected to be Cannabis Sativa. The suspects were intercepted on Sunday 14  January 2024, along the Balogun border in Ogun State.

“Vigilant troops conducted a thorough search on the vehicle and detected layers of compartments packed with 296 wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the wraps of illicit substance were transported from Benin Republic, through Ilara border communities en route Ifo, Ogun State.

It was further disclosed that transnational drug traffickers spent five months concealing the illicit substance destined for their clients. Two suspects were arrested in connection to the crime.

He said “The suspects, identified as one Mr Adigun Olatunji, age 54 years, and Mr Michael Atanda aged 18 years, both from Ilara Imeko in Afun LGA of Ogun State, reside in Benin Republic. “

The army spokesman added that the suspect had been taken into custody for further necessary actions, “after a failed attempt to bribe troops with the sum of N12,000,000.”

“Other items recovered from the suspects include one Benin Republic National ID Card, one Nigerian National ID card, and two small Itel mobile phones.

“Others include one Benin Republic driver’s licence; a Benin Republic passport, six Benin Republic SIM packs, two Benin Republic SIM cards,  one Nigerian driver’s licence, one power bank, and one MP3 player.

“Additionally, a memory card, local charms, as well as the sum of  N52,700 only were recovered from the suspects.” it added

Last year, the battalion’s troops achieved a significant operational success by seizing a large cache of ammunition and illicit substances along the Nigerian and Benin Republic border on November 12, 2023.

 

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  1. Carolyn King

    January 16, 2024 at 12:19 am

    Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is great, as well as the content!

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Crime

Troops Neutralise 13 IPOB Members, Apprehend 3 Kidnappers

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Insecurity: We’re Gaining Upper Hand in Plateau State – Military

 

The quest for peace in the southeast of Nigeria has seen troops of the Joint Task Force South-East, “Operation UDO KA,” take out 13 armed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and arrest three kidnappers.

The task force Spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, revealed this in a statement in Enugu, on Monday.

According to him, the feat was in furtherance of the troops’ clearance operations to make the southeast safe and peaceful throughout the festive season.

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Lt. Col. Unuakhalu said that the Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Hassan Dada, had called on all well-meaning citizens to continue to support the joint task force.

He opined that citizens of the southeast can do this by providing timely, reliable, and credible information.

In his words, “Remember, security is everybody’s business. It is not in the hands of security agencies alone.

“When you see something, say something by calling the JTF Operation UDO KA’s toll-free line -193 and press Option 2 — to speak directly to Headquarters Operation UDO KA.”

Offering more details, Lt. Col. Unuakhalu said that troops of Sector 1 of the task force on December 21, conducted an ambush operation along Amouka-Umouka Road in 9th Mile, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, to deny kidnappers freedom of action.

In the course of the operation, he asserted, troops came into contact with the kidnappers, and in a firefight ensued, and the troops neutralised one while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“Items recovered at the scene were: one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 17 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition; two cell phones; one power bank; three ATM cards; one wristwatch; a bunch of keys; and the sum of N8,900,” he said.

He added that on December 16, troops of Sector 5 conducted a clearance operation within Mbosi and Isseke general areas in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, where three IPOB members were neutralised.

“Items recovered included: one AK-47 rifle, two loaded AK-47 magazines, and three Dane guns, while a house belonging to one of the irredentist commanders and a shrine used for their fortification were destroyed.

“The gallant troops had earlier recovered five water gel Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and two batteries used for detonating the IEDs while on routine patrol along roads within Ihiala-Orlu, Lilu, Agba Lilu, and Orsumoghu general areas in Anambra State,” he added.

In a related development, he explained that on December 14, troops acting on credible and reliable information from members of the public arrested three suspected kidnappers at Itungwa in the Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia.

He said that on receiving the information about the movement of the suspected kidnappers, troops quickly mounted a snap checkpoint to apprehend the suspects.

“The suspects operating in a stolen tricycle on sighting the troops attempted to make a U-turn but were apprehended.

“Items recovered included: one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, one locally-made single-barrel pistol, 10 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 34 rounds of 5.5mm ammunition, two AK-47 rifle magazines, two G3 rifle magazines, and one live cartridge.

“Other items recovered were: one mobile phone, the sum of N6,600, and two Knapsack bags used for concealing the weapons,” he said.

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Crime

#EndBadGovernance Protests: NPF Shreds Amnesty’s Report, To Demand Retraction, Apology

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Stop Tagging Us To Iwo Ritual Killings, Investigate To Nab Culprits – Group Tells Police

 

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has urged the public to disregard the Amnesty International’s (AI) report on the #EndBadGovernance protests, which it described as false, misleading and calculated to tarnish its image.

The NPF has demanded an apology from the AI for its report dated November 28, 2024.

Biztellers reports that in the report, the AI accused the NPF of extrajudicial killings during the #EndBadGovernance protests, and that at least 24 lives were lost in six northern states.

The report, now being refuted by the NPF was titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests”.

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The NPF maintained that its findings were at variance with the AI’s allegations.

The NPF’s position was made public on Sunday by its Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi during a media briefing in Abuja.

Adejobi asserted that a special investigative panel had been constituted to verify the claims.

He highlighted that the Police’s panel, in collaboration with commissioners of police from the affected states, conducted extensive investigations and compiled a comprehensive report which pointed out inaccuracies in the AI’s allegations.

In his words, “Amnesty International is advised to reflect on its frequent false reporting on Nigeria’s law enforcement activities and ensure its reports are accurate and contain a true and fair representation of events affecting national security and public safety.

“Accurate reporting of facts is essential to the integrity of any international organisation, and Amnesty International should not be an exception.”

Adejobi added that the Police would write to demand a retraction of the report as well as a public apology for the alleged inaccuracies.

“The Nigeria Police Force will, in due course, write to Amnesty International to demand the retraction of this report from the public domain along with a public apology. The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in protecting the rights of all citizens while ensuring the security and stability of the nation.

“We, therefore, urge the public to be wary of sensational reports designed to incite mistrust and weaken confidence in law enforcement institutions,” Adejobi said.

On the Police’s findings in Borno, Adejobi maintained that the Police didn’t use grenades as claimed by the organisation.

He said, “In Borno State, it was established that the protesters were violent, engaging in widespread looting, pillaging, and wanton destruction of public and private property.

“For example, the Skill Acquisition Centre of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees was looted and vandalised.

“The warehouse of the World Food Programme, located on Baga/Maimalari Barracks Road, Maiduguri, was also looted, with several items belonging to the international organisation destroyed and stolen by some of the protesters.

“Therefore, the claims by Amnesty International that the police threw a hand grenade from a convoy of vehicles into a filling station killing three persons is a blatant falsehood and leaves right-thinking members of society dismayed at this reported falsehood by an international agency that ought to act in accordance with international norms and standards of fair and honest reporting of human rights violations in the country.”

On Niger State, Adejobi said the claim that three individuals were shot dead in Suleja was debunked in the police findings.

Adejobi said the alleged killing of a 21-year-old in Katsina was also found to be unsubstantiated, adding that local sources confirmed that no such incident occurred.

In the same vein, on Kaduna State, Adejobi asserted that contrary to the AI’s report, no protests occurred in Kaduna on October 1, 2024, and no police killings were recorded.

He said instead, an incident involving the Nigerian Army (NA) was identified and openly investigated.

According to Adejobi, the AI reported the deaths of two women and a man during protests in Jigawa, but the Police’s investigations revealed no such killings, and evidence suggested that the lone fatality was caused by protester violence, not Police action.

On Kano State, Adejobi said the report alleged 12 deaths in Kano due to police actions, stating that investigations indicated that these deaths resulted from violent confrontations involving looters and criminals, not the Police’s activity.

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Crime

Man Arrested After Attempting To Divert Mexico Flight To U.S

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Authorities in Mexico arrested a 31-year-old man on Sunday after he attempted to redirect a domestic flight to the United States, forcing an emergency landing in Guadalajara.

The Volaris Airbus A320 had departed from León, Guanajuato, at 7:17 a.m. local time and was bound for Tijuana.

However, about 45 minutes into the journey, the flight was diverted after the man tried to gain access to the cockpit.

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According to the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection, the man “assaulted a flight attendant and attempted to enter the cockpit to divert the flight to the United States.”

The crew, who managed to subdue the suspect, issued an alert to make an emergency landing at Guadalajara International Airport.

The man, reportedly traveling with family, was taken into custody upon landing.

In a statement, Volaris said the suspect claimed to have been acting under duress.

“The aggressor told them a close relative had been kidnapped and, upon taking off from León, was threatened to be killed if he went to Tijuana,” the airline said.

Authorities have not disclosed how many passengers were on board.

The flight resumed its journey to Tijuana after the incident, arriving without further complications.

 

 

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