CRIME
Benue Community Demands Justice in the Murder of Lagos House Maid.
The Igede community in Lagos, made up of Benue indigenes from Oju and Obi local government areas of the state, has demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of all culprits connected with the gruesome murder of a Lagos House Maid, Joy Adole.
The call came on the heels of the arraignment of a Lagos woman, Mrs.
Fortune Nwankwo on April 20, 2020 at the Lagos magistrate court, Yaba for murder by physically beating to death her house maid, 19- year – old late Joy Adole.In a statement jointly signed by two leaders of the community, Chief Ode Emmanuel Ochi who doubles as chairman of Middle Belt Traditional Council (MBTC) in the South-West and Tony Iji, the community described the murder of the innocent girl as callous, wicked and inhuman.
It could be recalled that after beating the girl to death in their house at Ogundola street, Sun Gas bus stop, Bariga Lagos, Mr. and Mrs. Nwankwo in an effort to establish alibi to cover up their offence, tied rope round the girl’s neck and hung her to the ceiling fan and went to Bariga police station to report that their house maid had committed suicide in their house.
But the police were able to detect foul-play after visiting the scene of the crime where they saw the girl’s corpse standing on its leg with fresh wounds all over her body.
According to the community, “with the arraignment of Mrs. Nwankwo for murder charged under section 223 of criminal law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015 which punishment carries a death sentence, Mr. and Mrs. Nwankwo have failed woefully in their cruel effort to cover the murder by faking a purported suicide by the murdered young girl” the community said.
According to the community, “now that the police have been able to unravel the truth that the late Miss Joy Adole was mercilessly beaten to death with severe wounds visible all over her body, it has therefore, become pertinent to demand for the arrest of the other conspirators who assisted Mrs. Nwankwo to tie rope round the girl’s neck and hung her to the ceiling fan to create impression that the murdered young lady committed suicide.
To this end, the community said that the number one conspirator in this case was no other person but Mr. Stephen Kwankwo, the murderer’s husband, who was not only in the apartment at Ogundola street Bariga with her wife, where the murder took place, but also went to Bariga police station with his wife to give false statement that the late Joy Adole committed suicide in their house.
To this end, the community has expressed reservation over the curious non-inclusion of Mr. Nwankwo from prosecution so far. In a rhetorical question, the community asked, “or can it be reasonably assumed that the wife, after beating the young lady to death mustered the strength to single-handedly stood the corpse on its feet and tied a feeble belt around its neck and hang it to a ceiling fan?
“Consequent on this, can Mr. Stephen Nwankwo not be said to be an accessory after the act and therefore, liable to trial for conspiring to conceal such a heinous crime committed in his presence and in his house”?
The statement read further, “while we cannot say categorically that Mr. Stephen Nwankwo participated in the beating of the girl to death with his wife, he cannot claim to be ignorant of how a rope was tied to the girl’s neck and hung to the ceiling fan in his house. We therefore, demand for Mr. Stephen Nwankwo’s immediate arrest and prosecution for trying to pervert the cause of justice by conspiring with his wife to conceal the crime of murder.
“We equally call on the police authorities and the Lagos ministry of justice to expand their scope of investigation to bring to justice all other people who may have assisted the couple in their attempt to pervert the cause of justice.”
Meanwhile, the community has expressed its profound gratitude and appreciation to the good people of Nigeria across all walks of life who rose in one voice in solidarity with Igede nation to condemn the gruesome murder of their innocent daughter.
It stated that “while we are highly concerned and embarrassed by the continuous activities of few unscrupulous elements in our midst who form the habit of luring our teenagers away from school for menial jobs in the town, we will not fold our hands and watch such teenagers unjustly maltreated to the point of being killed by their so-called employers”.
CRIME
Police Detain 2 Suspects, Recover 25 Stolen Phones in Borno
The Nigerian Police Command in Borno has apprehended two suspects and recovered 25 stolen mobile phones during a stop-and-search operation along Damboa Road, in Maiduguri.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Daso explained that the suspects, identified as Ibrahim Abubako, and Ibrahim Mohammed, were intercepted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Dec.
10 while riding a tricycle.He said that during the search, the operatives uncovered various mobile phones reportedly stolen from individuals across communities and villages along the Borno -Adamawa State border.
He identified some of the communities as Mubi, Tashan Alade, Miringa, Kwaya Kusar, and Biu Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to snatching the phones from their victims.
“The police have initiated efforts to return the recovered devices with their rightful owner.
“Also, the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” he said.
Daso reiterated the commitment of the Police Commissioner in the state, Yusufu Lawal, to maintain public safety during the Yuletide season. (NAN)
CRIME
Niger Police Command Arrests Three Suspects over Assault on Council Boss
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
CRIME
Chief Imam’s Sallah Ram Stolen in Jos
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.