POLICE ARRESTS ESCAPEE FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING RETIRED OFFICER

The police in Imo State have arrested one of the suspected killers of a retired chief superintendent of police, Christian Kpatuma, who was killed by suspected cultists on Wednesday, at Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Kpatuma was abducted at his residence by suspected cultists.

They took him to a nearby bush where they allegedly killed him, brought his body back and dumped it in front of his compound.

The police spokesperson in Imo State, Mike Abattam (CSP), said in a statement that the suspects, Deberechi Chukwu, who is the leader of the cult group, was arrested after “discreet investigation”.

Mr Abattam, a chief superintendent of police, said the suspect was arrested while trying to escape to a neighbouring state.

The statement said, “Following a report of a case of murder received by the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters that Kpatuma was abducted by a group of young men suspected to be cultist in his house.

“On receipt of information that Kpatuma was taken to a nearby bush where he was killed and later the corpse was brought back and dumped in front of his compound, the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, immediately dispatched the command’s tactical teams to the Agwa community with a mandate to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“On arrival, the team commenced a discreet investigation and after diligent gathering of both forensic and technical intelligence, one of the suspects, Deberechi Chukwu, was arrested while escaping to another state.”

The police spokesperson said in the course of investigation, it was revealed that “the suspect is a notorious kidnapper and an escapee from the Imo Correctional Center, Owerri.”

According to him, “the suspect, after escaping from the prison, recruited young men into his cult group who were terrorising the Agwa community”.

“It is also on record that he was involved in the killing of a lot of security personnel in the state.

“He has made useful statements and has volunteered to assist the police in the arrest of other members of his gang currently on the run,” he said.

(NAN)

JAMB ADOPTS ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION CODE, WHATSAPP PLATFORM

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has adopted an additional USSD registration code, 66019 to its already existing 55019 code, which had been operational since 2018, for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and its other services.

The Office of the Registrar of JAMB made the disclosure on Monday, in its weekly bulletin.

“This is to facilitate a hitch-free 2022 UTME/ Direct Entry (DE) exercise, by ensuring that there was no difficulty whatsoever, in the creation of profiles by candidates.”

“In essence, both codes are to be used to create profiles for the registration by candidates sitting for the 2022/23 examination.”

JAMB also disclosed that Candidates are expected to send their NIN, via either of the codes for their details to be pulled out from the NIMC database before they proceed to any accredited centre for biometric capturing.

On the planned introduction the use of a WhatsApp platform, as an additional support and complaint platform for clients, JAMB further disclosed that candidates and other stakeholders would have the benefit of instant messaging and solutions to whatever query they might have regarding any of the operations of the board.

“The platform is not meant to replace but complement the existing ticketing system, thereby expanding access to critical services among others,” JAMB stated.

COURT REMANDS NATIVE DOCTOR FOR ALLEGEDLY SLAUGHTERING WOMAN

A herbalist, two men and a woman were on Monday docked before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly dismembering a mother of two.

The police arraigned Mayowa Bamidele, 36, Kemi Azeez, 20, Oyedegun Adewale, 27, and Jejelaye Olusola, 22.

Bamidele is charged with murder and misconduct with regards to corpses while Azeez, Adewale and Olusola are charged with concealing felony and stealing.

Bamidele’s plea was not taken but the three other defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Peter Nwaka remanded Bamidele in Ikoyi correctional centre while the second to fourth defendants were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with three sureties in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses and offices verified by the court.

He held that the sureties must also show proof of employment and proof of their sources of income.

Nwaka adjourned the case until March 4 for legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Earlier, Police Prosecutor, SP Thomas Nurudeen told the court that the suspects committed the offence at 7.30pm on Dec. 16, 2021, at No. 17, Ijedodo road, Ijegun area of Lagos.

He said the deceased, went to Bamidele’s traditional home to receive treatment and that she had called her friend to transfer money to Bamidele’s bank account and that was the last time she was seen or heard from.

Nurudeen told the court that the deceased was declared missing for about a month.

”My Lord, the first defendant put the deceased in a cooking pot. The second to fourth defendants helped the first defendant bury the sack bags in the backyard of the house and the bedsheet in an uncompleted building,’ he said.

The deceased’s Tecno Camon phone was also discovered in their custody, he said.

The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of sections 222, 165, 98 and 280 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. (Revised) (NAN)

REV. FR. KIDNAPPED BY GUNMEN -CATHOLIC CHURCH

Authorities of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan has confirmed the kidnap of Rev. Fr. Joseph Shekari of St Monica’s Catholic Church, Ikulu Parish in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A statement issued on Monday by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, said Shekari was kidnapped at about 11.30pm on Sunday from his residence.

The statement read in part, “May Jesus crucified on the cross, listen to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His priest and all others kidnapped’’.

Rev. Fr. Okolo enjoined all to pray for the safe realease of the kidnapped Priest.

Sources disclosed that the kidnappers are demanding the sum of 60 million naira as ransom for the release of the Rev. Fr.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Shekari was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen on Sunday evening, while a cook in the Parish house was allegedlly killed by the kidnappers.

CULTISTS ALLEGEDLLY MURDER RETIRED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Christian Kpatuma, populalry known as HIPPIES, have been allegedlly murdered by suspected cultists.

Sources say, the incident occurred in Agwa clan in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State in the early hours of Wednesday, when the alleged cultists stormed the residence of the retired ACP, who is also a lawyer and gruesomely murdered him .

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Michael Abattam, said he was Tet to confirm from the DPO of the jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

TROOPS BRING DOWN THREE ALLEGED KIDNAPPERS ON BENIN-AUCHI ROAD

Troops of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have killed three suspected kidnappers that laid siege on the Benin-Auchi road, Wednesday morning.

The suspected kidnappers believed to be terrorising the ever-busy Auchi-Benin Road were brought down by men of the Nigerian Army following intense gun duel from both sides.

A statement issued by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed that the vigilant troops swooped on the gang, during an operation on the road and engaged them in a gun duel that led to the elimination of three members of the gang, while others fled.

General Nwachukwu said efforts were being intensified to bring down the fleeing criminals and free up the corridor from all forms of violent crime.

According to him, one AK-47 rifle, one Pump Action Shotgun were amongst other dangerous weapons recovered from the criminals.

Motorists and other road users were stocked on the road, for over an hour, Wednesday morning, when suspected kindnappers engaged in a gun battle with men of the Nigerian Army.

Some motorists and road users, who commended the Army for the huge success and sued for continuous patrol on the road by security operatives.

A commuter disclosed that the kidnappers barricaded the road at Okwo in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of edo State,in an attempt to carry out the kidnapping operation when the Army opened fire on them.

Sources disclosed that the kidnappers were given a hot chase by security operatives on Tuesday and they ran into the nearby bush, only to resurface on Wednesday to continue from where they stopped.

The Benin-Auchi road, which is notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery activities, have become a nightmare for the road users.

FIVE KILLED AS ARMED GROUPS CLASH OVER LAND

The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects

No fewer than five residents of Ilesa, Osun State, have been killed during clashes between two rival cult groups and suspected land grabbers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fight started on Friday afternoon after some youths, suspected to be cult members, stormed a new building that was being roofed at Omi-Tuntun area of Ilesa and demanded for money from workers at the site.

One witness, Bisi Oyetade, told NAN that the hoodlums, who also operate as land grabbers, were told to stop extorting workers at the site by some suspected cultists, said to be relations of the house owner.

Mr Oyetade explained that in the process, clashes broke out and a suspected cultist was overpowered, dragged to the bush and hacked to death by the gang protecting the new building.

He said that the hoodlums regrouped at night and avenged the death of their colleague. The group stormed Ijoka Area of Ilesa and killed another suspected cultist.

He added that in a bid to maim their opponents, an innocent woman was shot dead by the warring suspected cultists on Friday night.

According to him, the rampaging youths resumed their hostilities on Saturday and ended up killing two innocent residents.

The police have since launched an intensive manhunt for the suspects while some patrol vans of Ijamo and Ayeso Police Divisions in Ilesa were seen patrolling the town in order to restore peace and order.

NAN reports that all efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yemisi Opalola, on the matter were not successful.
(NAN)

20-YEAR-OLD GIRL MURDERED BY UNKNOWN BURGLARS

A 20-year-old girl, Ebunoluea Osatuyi, has been hacked to death by yet-to-be-identified burglars in Akure the Ondo State capital.

It was gathered that the deceased, who was seeking admission into the university, returned from a coaching centre where had gone for tutorials in view of the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), that fateful day when the in incident occurred.

Sources disclosed that the deceased was said to have been killed after she ran into some burglars, who broke into her father’s house through the windows, at the Okuta Elerinla axis in Akure.

Narrating her ordeal, mother of the deceased, Bosede Osatuyi, said she discovered her daughter’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, in the sitting room, when she returned home that evening.

“My husband and I entered the sitting room and found our daughter with her two hands tied with rope on the floor.”

“She was bleeding profusely and we also found the axe and a pestle with a bloodstain on the chair including a rope hung on the fan.”

“We quickly rushed her to the hospital immediately where she was confirmed dead before we went to the police station to report,” Mrs. Osatuyi lamented.

The visibly devastated mother called on the State Government and security agencies to unravel those behind the dastardly act and bring them to justice.

The State Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident disclosed that investigation had commenced in the gruesome murder.

EFCC DETAINS VON DG OVER ALLEGED N1.3Bn FRAUD

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has detained the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria(VON), Osita Okechukwu, over allegation of fraud.

The DG was invited by the EFCC to answer questions bothering on a case of alleged conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of ₦1.3 billion naira, milling up against him.

Osita Okechukwu, who reportedly arrived the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja at about 1.30 pm on Saturday to honour the invitation, was still at the office of the anti-graft agency late into the night.

Spokesman of the EFCC Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the invitation of the VON DG but did not give further details.

TWO KILLED AS CULTISTS UNLEASH ATTACKS ON POLICE TEAM

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that cultists attacked and killed a student of Kwara State University, Malete, on Friday.

The Kwara Police Command has confirmed the killing of two suspected ‘cult students’ during an attack on security detectives.

A statement from the command in Ilorin said some cultists on Saturday unleashed attacks on a team of police detectives from the Special Tactical Squad (STS) FIB, Abuja, thereby causing pandemonium around the Kwara State Polytechnic gate, Ilorin.

The statement by the command’s spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, explained that the team came on the trail of some cultists in the area.

It, however, allayed fears among residents around the state Polytechnic area that the pandemonium experienced on Saturday within the area, arose as a result of the attack.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that cultists attacked and killed a student of Kwara State University, Malete, on Friday.

The statement said that four of the cultists were arrested and dangerous weapons recovered from the suspects.

It noted that some of the cultists were hiding at Lajolo area of Kwara Polytechnic Ilorin, where a similar attack was unleashed on one student named Idris Aderemi, “at about 0600hrs on Saturday”.
“This prompted the visit to the area by the STS team.

“Surprisingly, the cultists who were already in ambush, attacked the police team damaging the police Hummer bus, and inflicting a gunshot injury on the head of one police Sergeant, Adebayo Abdulahi, attached to the STS team.

“In the ensuing imbroglio, students in their numbers came out to block the road and prevented free flow of traffic and burning tyres on the road.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, immediately dispatched teams of policemen to the area to restore peace.

“However, two cultists, one Ahmed ‘m’ surname unknown, and one Musibau ‘m’ A.K.A Shaban, were arrested with one fabricated English pistol with 3 live ammunition, 2 live cartridges and one pistol magazine.

“The injured policeman and the suspects have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

“The commissioner of police, had, however, advised members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of attack or intimidation,” the statement read in part.

It said “calm has been totally restored in the affected area, while security men were on standby to forestall any further act of lawlessness”.

Misinformation?

Reacting to the development, the Polytechnic management described as misinformation that the institution’s campus was under siege by students’ protest.

The school’s Public Relations Officer, Yunus Abdulkadir, explained that students of the institution were law abiding citizens and would not indulge in any illegal activity that would disrupt their academic careers.

“Meanwhile, the incident that occurred at Lajolo community early Saturday morning was between the police and Lajolo community and has nothing to do with the polytechnic students or the campus, as first semester CBT examinations are going on right now at the campus without any disturbance.

“However, the management of the polytechnic has magnanimously accepted the plea of the students who could not make it to the campus before the blockage at Oyun.

“Their examinations will be rescheduled to another date, which will be communicated to them via their heads of the department,” the statement said. (NAN)