NEWS
Police Nab Fake Soldier, Buyer for Stealing RCCG, MFM Equipments
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force have arrested a Nasarawa State born, fake Army Captain, Monday Akawu who specialised in stealing musical instruments from churches in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Akawu, 39 is said to be a member of a criminal syndicate that pilfered in more than 30 churches within Nyanya and Karu axis of the FCT.
He was paraded alongside his accomplice, Joseph Orazulike, 35 years of EFAB Estate Maraba, Karu who is a regular buyer of those stolen items.
The Force spokesperson, CP Frank Mba while parading the suspects, yesterday in Abuja, said the suspects have committed a “sacrilegious act” and thereby urged church leaders to provide “more security in and around their churches.
”The suspects, Akawu confessed that, he has participated in the burglary of at least 16 churches located in Nasarawa and some parts of Abuja. He also said most of the churches he robbed include The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM).
He further stated that, he usually dressed in Army uniform to beat security checks after each robbery.
“I am here because I stole from the church. I have so far stolen from sixteen churches which includes Mountain of Fire and Redeemed Church of God.
“When I break into church, my boss taught me to bring those instruments out while a vehicle comes with Nigeria Army uniforms; I now change into the uniform in order to bypass security on the road.
“I usually sell each piano keyboard between N60,000 to N90,000 depending on how neat they are,” he said.
Monday is said to be an ex-convict who was imprisoned at Kuje Prison over a rape case while Joseph was also arrested before for receiving stolen items.
Briefing newsmen further on some of the recent operations and investigative breakthroughs by operatives of the special Tactical squad, CP Mba said, a total of 50 suspects comprising of 48 male and two females were arrested.
The suspects, he said have been indicted for different offences ranging from murder, kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery, car theft, illegal possessions of prohibited weapons, possession and distribution of illicit drugs among other offences established against them.
According to Mba, items recovered from the arrested suspects include: 26 assorted firearms made up of 13 AK 47 rifles, four soft machine guns, four locally made pistols and four dane guns among others.
Also recovered from the suspects are 2, 701 live ammunition of AK 47, 20 live GPMG ammunition, 12 Piano Keyboard and other electronic appliances stolen from churches.
Mba also revealed that, investigations conducted showed how Monday Akawu, the principal suspect has had a long pathway with crime.
The suspect, he explained has come to the “end of the road as the force would do everything possible within the law to ensure that he spent the remaining years in jail.”
This is as he urged Churches in Abuja and across the country to ensure physical security in and around the churches as investigation with the suspects indicated clear that the suspects considered the churches vulnerable and weak targets because they believe that they are no guards or security of any sort provided.
“We encourage church operators and leaders not just to provide human guards but also install cameras in their churches and ensure sufficient lighting in and around your churches.
“In addition, we are also calling on all church leaders in and around Abuja that might have been affected in recent time to visit STS office with means of identification to recover their stolen items.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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