TWO BABIES DUMPED BY ROADSIDE DIES

The Police Command in Ebonyi has confirmed the death of two newborn babies, dumped by unknown persons at different locations.

The Command’s Gender Desk Officer, DSP Loveth Okworogbuanya, made the disclosure on Tuesday while visiting one of the crime scenes in Abakaliki.

Okworogbuanya disclosed that the dumped babies were boys.

She said that the first baby was found at Kpirikpiri Ogbaga Road and the second baby was at Ogbe Hausa, both in Abakaliki metropolis.

“This morning, I received a phone call from Mrs Grace Chima, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ebonyi Chapter, that a baby was dumped.

“At the first scene, people told us that a man riding a motorcycle dropped a sack containing a carton at about 12:00 midnight.

“One of the babies was clothed, covered with a mackintosh, and abandoned inside a carton.

“We believe that the babies were delivered yesterday and while we were at the first scene, another information got to us that another baby was abandoned elsewhere.

“Officials of the Ministry of Environment, Women Affairs and Social Development, as well as the police, evacuated the bodies and took them to the cemetery for burial,” she said.

Okworogbuanya described the act as “pure murder and wickedness”.

She disclosed that investigation was ongoing to unravel the suspects.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Deborah Okah, who also confirmed the incident, told NAN that investigation was ongoing to arrest perpetrators of the acts. (NAN)

POLICE NABS TWO BANDITS FUEL SUPPLIERS

The Police Command in Kano state has arrested two persons for allegedly supplying fuel to bandits in Katsina state, from Kano, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, said in a statement on Tuesday, in Kano.

He identified the suspects as Musbahu Rabi’u, 31, and Jamilu Abdullahi, 37, all residents of Jibiya local government area, Katsina State.

Haruna-Kiyawa said that the suspects were arrested with two J5 vehicles loaded with the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) inside 25 litre Jerrycans concealed in empty sugar bags.

“On Oct. 15, 2021, at about 12:30 hours, a team of policemen led by CSP Abubakar Hamma, while on intelligence-led patrol at Fagge, Kano, intercepted two J5 motor vehicles loaded with foodstuffs.

“On a stop and search operation, five Jerri cans of 25 litres each filled with PMS concealed inside an empty sack of sugar were discovered in one of the vehicles,” he said.

He revealed that the suspect confessed that “they came once to Kano from Katsina, bought PMS in Jerrycans and transported it to Jibiya, Katsina state where he sold it at higher rate”.

The suspect further confessed that, “they were arrested while trying to transport the PMS for the second time.”

Haruna-Kiyawa explained that the state Commissioner of Police, Samaila Shuaibu-Dikko, has in the meantime, ordered for discreet investigation into the matter, after which the suspects would be charged to court.

The CP urged residents of the state to be watchful of their immediate environment and report any suspicious movements of people to the nearest Police station.

He also called on filling stations’ operators in the state to desist from selling fuel to unknown buyers in large quantities and inside Jerrycans.

“Report any suspicious buyer of the product to the nearest Police station,” CP urges filling stations.

He added that, in case of emergency, the command could be contacted on 08032419754, 08123821575, 08076091271, or log in to the “NPF Rescue Me” application available on Play Store”. (NAN)

COURT REMANDS EDUCATION SECRETARY OVER DIVERSION OF UNICEF SCHOOL BAGS

A Yola Area Criminal Court has remanded the Education Secretary of Mubi South Local Government Area for allegedly diverting 800 school bags donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Presiding Judicial officer of the Court, Musa Nuhu Garta, ordered that Mustaspha Mohammed, Musa Mahmud, Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya and one Babale who was officially entrusted with the UNICEF school bags, be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Centre, while hearing was adjourned to November 1, 2021.

The prosecution, alleged that the Education Secretary diverted 800 bags which he gave to the UNICEF Distribution Co-ordinator, Mustang Mohammed, who in turn converted and sold some to Musa Mamud of Mubi North at the sum of N330,000.

It was also alleged that Musa Mahmud later sold the bags to Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya of Mubi North respectively at the sum of N420,000.

The school bags were donated for distribution to vulnerable school children mostly affected by insurgency in Adamawa State, to support education.

Mr Joel Isaiah, a UNICEF consultant for education, condemned the alleged diversion of learning materials for school children, emphasizing that the United Nation Organisation received credible information that UNICEF-sponsored learning materials meant for vulnerable children were being sold in open markets in Adamawa State.

The Defendants were arraigned before the Court for conspiracy, breach of official trust and receiving stolen property.

EDO GOVERNMENT COMMISERATES WITH SOKOTO GOVT, PEOPLE OVER BANDITS’ ATTACK ON GORONYO MARKET

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with the and Government and people of Sokoto State, over bandits attack on the Goronyo weekly Market.

In a statement issued in Benin City on Tuesday, Obaseki described the incident as callous, painful, and regrettable and prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims of the attack which claimed at least 30 lives.

“We are deeply saddened by the terror attack in Goronyo Market, Sokoto State, which has thrown the entire country into mourning. Our hearts are with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the people of the state, as they go through this difficult phase.

“We join all meaning Nigerians in calling on the security agencies to intensify efforts in reining in the marauding bandits so as to prevent this painful loss of our citizens to banditry and terrorism.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Edo State, I commiserate with the people of Sokoto State and the Governor over this painful incident.” the statement added.

THREE PERSONS TRAPPED UNDER COLLAPSED BUILDING

Three persons have been reportedly trapped under the rubbles of a building that collapsed at the Ikorodu area of Lagos on Monday night.

Acting Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA, Southwest, Ibrahim Farinloye who confirmed the incident said the building, located at 97 Lagos Road, Harina, Ikorodu, collapsed around 10 p.m. on Monday.

Mr Farinloye said operations are ongoing to locate the persons trapped in the building.

He disclosed that two persons who sustained various degrees of injuries have been rescued and taken to the Ikorodu General Hospital,were they are receiving medical treatment.

He said though residents of the area, the fire service and Police responded, they were unable to do much due to unavailability of equipment to lift the rumble on the suspected location of the trapped victims.

Farinloye added that the affected building is an abandoned one, whose owner had asked the occupants to leave but some remained without the owner’s consent.

POOR INVESTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIKE IN COOKING GAS -CEO,NPRA

Minister shocked at Indorama-Nigeria transformation from failed public firm to rapid success in private hands — Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva

Poor investment into the gas sector over the years has been attributed to the rising cost of cooking gas.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, stated this on Monday, during his inauguration as CEO of NPRA.

He disclosed that the NPRA would urgently work with stakeholders to tackle the challenge of rising price of cooking gas, emphasizing that with the abundance of gas in the country, Nigeria should not struggle with gas supply.

Mr. Gbenga Komolafe who was also inaugurated as the CEO of the Upstream Regulatory Commission, disclosed that the Commission would seek to not just be a regulator for the upstream sector, but also a business enabler for the sector.

He said the agency would work to meet OPEC oil production quota and benefits maximally from the current rise in price of oil.

Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, challenged the Chief Executive Officers on the need to grow the oil and gas industry, following as a result of the drop in direct investment into the sector , especially, with the coming of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.

The minister stated that he was expecting a lot of growth and development of the industry, saying the industry had been stagnated for a long time because the process of passing the PIA had been very arduous, having taken over 20 years.

TERRORISM: NIGERIAN, CAMEROONIAN TROOPS KILLS ISWAP/BHTs

Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops deployed alongside Cameroonian Defence Force killed four ISWAP/BHTs at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wulgo, on October 18, 2021, as the war against terrorism rages.

He discovered that troops of the Joint Task Force North-East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have killed scores of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in two different encounters in Borno State.

According to him, was achieved when the troops successfully foiled an attempted infiltration of the terrorists group into the camp, while on a patrol to dominate their area of responsibility.

The Director, Army Public Relations emphasized that the troops confronted the terrorists in fierce gun battle and with spontaneous reinforcement from the Battalion Headquarters.

He added that three terrorists were killed following exploitation along the terrorists’ route of withdrawal.

The troops recovered three AK 47 rifles, six magazines and 50 rounds of 7.62mm special.

In another development, four ISWAP/BHTs terrorists were killed around 151 Battalion location.

He said, “the terrorists were burnt beyond recognition, as their Gun truck mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns ran over Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device.”

General Nwachukwu said troops are currently conducting further exploitation ahead of the location to clear any surviving terrorist.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, while commending the efforts of the troops further charged them to remain aggressive and focused, as they dominate their areas of operational responsibility, in order to ensure complete extermination of the terrorists and restoration of normalcy.

NSCDC DIMISSES OVER VANDALISM, FORGERY

About 87 men and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been dismissed for various offences considered as gross misconduct.

The dismissal, which was announced in a restricted document dated October 4, 2021, with reference number: NSCDC/NHQ/ 004/ Vol.⅛ and exclusively obtained by LEADERSHIP Sunday, was part of the outcome of plenary meetings held at various panels chaired by the present and immediate past ministers of interior, and the commandant general, Ahmed Abubakar Audi.

The restricted document with the tittle, “List of dismissed officers from 2013-2021”, signed by the acting deputy commandant general (Administration), Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, on behalf of the commandant general, was addressed to directorates, zonal commanders, state commandants, and provosts of civil defence colleges/academy, to mention only few.

LEADERSHIP Sunday also gathered that aside the dismissal, the Civil Defence, Corrections, Immigration and Fire Service Board (CDCIFB) headed by the minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the CG’s of all the paramilitary agencies under the ministry’s supervision, has also approved the demotion of a number of officers of the Corps over different cases of misconduct.

The dismissed personnel comprises deputy commandants, assistant commandants, DCICs, AICs, CCAs, SICs, PICs, Disc’s, ACCs and CSCs, amongst others.

The affected officers were said to be serving in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, Bayelsa, Kwara, Borno , Oyo, Edo, Delta, Benue, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Abia, Katsina, Zamfara, Gombe, Ondo , Kogi, Kano Ogun and the national headquarters to mention just a few.

Against the backdrop of the misconduct which the restricted documents termed as image denting, personnel of the Corps have been warned against sabotage under any guise.

The document read thus, “It has come to the notice of the commandant-general, that some dismissed personnel of the Corps are still parading themselves as and impersonating as officers and men at the various state commands and formations.

“This ugly trend, to say the least, is not only disturbing but also an embarrassment to the Corps, especially in situations that some of those dismissed personnel are in the custody of sister security agencies, thus, tarnishing the image of the Corps.

“This reckless act must be checked forthwith. Consequently, I am directed to convey Management’s displeasure in seeing this compromising trend persist.

“You are further directed to meticulously go through the attached list of dismissed officers.”

Meanwhile, a top source at the CDCIFB, who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday on anonymity explained that, ” The board took severe actions against the wanting officers as punishment for causing the service and their mother agency a lot of embarrassment.

He described the actions, which led to their dismissal, as scandalous and unbecoming of security officers, insisting that their actions were liable to dismissal from service.

A top officer at the CG’s office who does not want his name in print said that the safety and well-being of Nigerians depended considerably on the willingness and readiness of members of the security family to defend the nation against threats to national security.

According to him, to maintain the Corps in a state of readiness, officers and men must be ready to enforce internal discipline effectively, in accordance with extant laws.

Further investigation by LEADERSHIP Sunday further revealed that luck ran out of some of the dismissed officers, especially those guarding critical infrastructure of government, as most of them were intercepted at various security checkpoints where soldiers/ police on duty insisted on verifying the contents of the patrol trucks, and they were found wanting.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that most of them were dismissed for actions prejudicial to the security of the state: sabotage; dishonesty and acts unbecoming of a public officer.

It was further revealed that in most cases, some of the affected officers raised fake letters purportedly to escort vehicles and suspects to police stations with dubious intention of ensuring their unlawful release.

Other dismissed officers were found guilty of disobedience to lawful order,discreditable and scandalous conduct, and unlawful use of authority.

As of the time of filing this report, all messages and calls put through to the service spokesperson, Mr Sola, were neither replied nor responded to.

VIGILANTE MEMBER, TWO OTHERS ARRESTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a member of the local security outfit and two others for alleged armed robbery.

Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Sulaima Nguroje, disclosed that Police operatives attached to Surveillance unit of Criminal Investigations Department in Yola, arrested the three-man criminal gang that attacked and robbed a resident.

The JTF operative, Abdulrasheed Suleiman, allegedly coordinated a syndicate that attacked and robbed the apartment of a resident of Yola North Local Government Area, Musa Adamu, and made away with his Sport Utility Vehicle on October 10, 2021.

“The robbers robbed Adamu between the hours of 10 am and 11am and fled with his vehicle a CRV FWD 2020 model Jeep.

“The breakthrough that led to the arrest of the suspects began with the arrest of Abdulrasheed Suleiman (21) a member of the civilian JTF, Adamawa State chapter.

“Abdulrasheed is the principal suspect and the private security guard of the house who betrayed the trust entrusted on him. The confession of the suspect revealed how he conspired with the other two suspects and stole his boss’ vehicle.

“investigation extended to FCT where one Oguchukwu Augustine (34), a resident of Amaulu Mbieri, Oweri, Imo State and Emmanuel Tochukwu, (29) a resident of Bonsacc avenue, Asaba, Delta State were arrested while trying to dispose the stolen vehicle.

“On the strength of that, the Commissioner of police, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, commended the police officers for making it difficult for such criminals to escape arrest.

“He equally called on members of the public to continue to give credible, actionable and timely information regarding any person or group of persons with suspicious character around their neighborhoods to police.

The police boss directed that discreet investigation be carried out on the matter and assured that the suspects will be prosecuted accordingly.” the PPRO stated.

COVID-19: FG MOVES AGAINST VACCINE RACKETEERING

Dr Faisal Shuaib - COVID-19 vaccine racketeering

NPHCDA boss, Dr Faisal Shuaib

The Federal Government has set up a joint task force on COVID-19 vaccine racketeering to curb misses.

Dr Abdullahi Garba, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) made the disclosure at the bi-weekly COVID-19 update in Abuja on Monday.

Garba said that so far, over four million Nigerians have been vaccinated.

He also said that the NPHCDA had expanded the COVID-19 vaccination sites to every ward across the country.

He added that “we have expanded vaccination sites to all primary and tertiary healthcare centres. Private health facilities are also being engaged.”

The director noted that the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines was not the issue in the country, stressing that “vaccines are available. Please go to any centre and get vaccinated.”

He explained that the vaccines were free no matter where it was given, but that owners of private facilities may apply charges for utilities.

On his part, Dr John Oladejo, the Director, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said Lagos, Rivers and Edo were some of the states contributing to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.

According to him, Abia, Anambra, Cross River and Edo recorded high number of cases in the last seven days.

He noted that the international travel protocol had been reversed to remove some countries.

While answering questions from journalists at the briefing, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the country was determined to deal with the COVID-19 virus.

Ehanire noted that the Nigerian vaccine policy was set up in such a way that the country could begin to manufacture its own vaccine through direct or contracted man power.

The minister said there was a two-billion-dollar arrangement for vaccine provision on ground that would cover the country for the next seven years.

He, however, called on Nigerians to continue to protect themselves and others by wearing the face mask and washing their hands correctly. (NAN)