NEWS
Court Orders Detention of Suspected Terrorists for 60 Days
A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Department of State Service (DSS) the go-ahead to detain 10 suspected terrorists, who had planned to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun, for 60 days pending conclusion of investigation.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by DSS lawyer, Y.
I. Umar, held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted.“An order is hereby made enabling the State Security Service (aka DSS)/applicant to detain the respondents for sixty (60) days pending the conclusion of investigation,” he ruled.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until March 3 for mention.
Report says that the DSS had, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC)ABJ/CS/1942/V/2024, listed Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha Katuru Muhammed as 1st to 5th respondents.
The security agency also listed Babakura Mallam Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo,
Muhammed Umoru and and Muhammed Bundi as 6th to 10 respondents respectively.
The DSS, in the motion dated Dec. 18, 2024, but filed Dec. 20, 2024, sought one prayer.
The DSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Yamuje Benye, a personnel of the agency attached to the Legal Service Department at the national headquarters, averred that the suspects were arrested in llesa East LGA in Osun.
It said they were arrested on Dec. 16, 2024, upon reasonable suspicious of their involvement in terrorism.
The security.outfit said preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group,
“Intelligence at the disposal of the applicant revealed that the respondents were planning to launch a Boko Haram /ISWAP cell in Osun State;
“That the respondents were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” it said.
The agency alleged that the suspects were members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa Forest to Osun because of the series of onslaught being carryout by the Nigerian Army against them.
It said the respondents are aiding the applicant to unravel other members of the terrorist group who are stil at large.
According to the DSS, releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation will be detrimental to the applicant’s efforts to arrest other members of the terrorist group.
It said the activities of the respondents constitute potent threat to national security and corporate existence of Nigeria.
“It is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this application,” it prayed.
In a related development, Justice Nwite equally granted an order enabling the DSS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for a period of 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
The judge made the order after Umar, who also appeared for DSS, moved the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1933/V/2024 to the effect.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until March 3 for mention.
The DSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Mercy Ebo, averred that the suspects were arrested on Dec. 19, 2024, by the Service Tactical Team at Ajape Lane 3, Modakeke, Ife East LGA of Osun.
The agency said they were, thereafter, transferred to its headquarters over intelligence report from a foreign Intelligence Service, linking them with Moroccan Terrorist.
“Preliminary investigation and intelligence report revealed that a Moroccan Terrorist currently in custody of the Spanish National Police Service, communicated with Ayomide AKINTUNDE (F) and Nurudeen ADESIYAN on GSM numbers: 08168359934 and 08168542908, respectively.
“That the Moroccan terrorist is being investigated for making jihadist publications and for acquisition of firearms with the intent of conducting terrorist attacks against identified targets in Nigeria,” it said.
It said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects admitted ownership of the identified GSM numbers which they had been using for more than ten (10) months.
According to the agency, the release of the respondents at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as investigation has assumed a wider dimension.
The DSS said there was need for a thorough Investigation of the suspects to ensure that they do not pose any security threat to Nigeria or the world at large.
It said the suspects are helping with vital Information that would lead to the arrest of other members of the gang who are at large, hence the need to grant the application.(NAN)
The Police in Edo have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a cache of weapons, luxury vehicles during a raid on a criminal hideout in Benin.The Command’s spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Benin .Yamu said operatives from the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) on May 13 stormed a hotel in Benin.
He said the operation led to the arrest of 22-year-old Endurance Oviojie, while four other suspects identified as Clinton, Jeff, Mike, and Emmanuel alias Slim Khalifa fled the scene by scaling the fence into neighbouring compounds. “The police recovered a significant haul of items including one English Beretta pistol, one locally fabricated pistol, one round of ammunition, 18 live cartridges, multiple mobile phones, a tablet device, charms, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.“In a follow-up operation, the police also seized four unregistered Mercedes-Benz vehicles- a black C350, a grey C300, a grey GLA 250, and a red GLE 350 suspected to have been used for criminal activities,” he said.The police spokesperson said the arrested suspect had already been charged to court, while a manhunt was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members.The Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Agbonika, has warned all criminal elements to either leave the state or face the full wrath of the law.“We are resolute in our mission to rid Edo of criminal elements.“This command will sustain this offensive until law-abiding citizens can feel safe and secure in every corner of the state,” the commissioner assured.He urged the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely information to help clamp down on crime across the state. (NAN)
The Federal Government has begun evacuation and demolition of illegal structures beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, citing serious safety concerns and risk of imminent collapse. The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, gave the order while inspecting the bridge alongside structural engineers and officials of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
, on Sunday. Umahi expressed concern over the condition of the bridge which, he said, had been severely compromised by illegal human activities. He said: “We are here with bridge experts to examine the Iddo Bridge, which was burnt down due to unlawful occupation and activities beneath it. “People have converted the underpass into shops, warehouses, and even residential areas. “These activities have caused significant damage, to the extent that Julius Berger has advised that the bridge must be completely demolished and reconstructed.” He said that the Cowry Bridge and the Independence Bridge had also been affected by similar activities. According to the minister, attempts by the Federal Government to engage with the illegal occupants have met resistance, with some of them saying that the matter is before the court. “They have refused to vacate the premises. They wrote to us, claiming the matter is in court. “It appears that what they are selling is more important to them than the lives of Lagosians, but we cannot allow that,” Umahi said. Umahi directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos state, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, to ensure that all illegal structures beneath the bridge would be demolished before the close of business on Monday. “This is about saving lives. We must act to prevent the collapse of the bridge.“Beams have already been hit by vehicles, and some have been burnt. The structural integrity of the bridge is compromised,” he said. He also said that policemen should be deployed to the site to secure any valuables that might be found during the demolition. “If we find even a pin, it should be recorded and returned but I can tell you that what I have seen so far are mostly iron doors and partitions.“There are no significant goods inside,” Umahi said. The minister emphasised that there would be no going back on the decision to demolish and conduct a thorough examination of the bridge. “We are not trying to punish anyone, we are trying to save lives. Every illegal structure under this bridge must go before Monday ends,” he said. Report says that the contract for the rehabilitation of the Iddo Bridge was awarded in 2024 to Julius Berger Plc. In April, Umahi, explained that one of the major problems with the bridge was low headroom clearance. He noted that a section of the bridge had a headroom of about 3.0 metres, far below the required minimum of 5.6 metres. According to the minister, the situation has resulted in frequent collisions by trucks, which hit the underside of the bridge deck and caused structural damage. Umahi also raised concerns about shops near the bridge which were selling chemicals, warning that such activities posed serious safety risks. He noted that a chemical once caught fire near the bridge and caused extensive damage to the structure. He said that the bridge’s structural elements had been significantly compromised and required urgent attention. (NAN)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, has between January and May, destroyed more than 100 illegal refining sites through airstrikes in the Niger Delta.The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja.
Ejodame said the NAF executed over 173 missions and 265 sorties, accumulating approximately 270 flying hours in support of joint military operations and independent strikes across key oil-producing states. He said the airstrikes also destroyed 53 boats, 74 cooking tanks, two reservoirs and several transport vehicles.According to him, these actions significantly degraded the capacity of oil thieves and vandals operating along critical corridors such as Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji and the Trans Niger Pipeline Right of Way.“The operations are aligned with national efforts to curb militancy, stop environmental degradation caused by illegal refining, and protect strategic oil and gas infrastructure, the backbone of Nigeria’s economy,” he said.NAF spokesman said the NAF had intensified air operations in the Niger Delta, recording significant successes in the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and the protection of vital national assets.He said the NAF 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), which hosts the air component had maintained a high tempo of aerial missions across the region, dismantling illegal refining sites and disrupting the logistics of criminal networks.“While the NAF continues to promote civil-military cooperation and community development in the region, it emphasises that the kinetic component of its campaign remains essential to uprooting entrenched criminal networks.“These sustained air operations underscore NAF’s commitment to national security and economic stability by ensuring that Nigeria’s oil heartland remains secure and productive,” he added. (NAN)
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