CRIME
COVID -19 Restrictions: FCTA Arrests 68 Travellers
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory FCT Ministerial Task-team on the enforcement of COVID-19 Restrictions has arrested 68 persons travelling through the territory from various parts of the country.
This was even as a Mobile Court sitting at Gudu District sentenced one Mr Sunday Okafor to one month imprisonment without an option of fine for slapping a policewoman at the court premises.
Okafor had also assaulted a female personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS whom he pushed to the ground during an argument within the court premises.
The Presiding Magistrate, Abdulrazak Musa Eneye who personally witnessed the assault handed down the sentence.
Chairman of the Ministerial Task-team, Ikharo Attah noted that, “the verdict would go a long way in deterring people from assaulting law enforcement officers who are carrying out their legitimate duties”.
The man who thereafter broke down in tears and pleaded for mercy was immediately moved to the Kuje Custodial Centre by personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his jail term.
Officials Arrest 68 Travellers
The 68 travellers, who were apprehended were hidden in two Dangote Company trucks and another truck conveying fertilisers from Edo state.
Luck had ran out on them around Zuba area when the Task-team insisted on seeing the contents of the trucks.
They were consequently arraigned before Magistrate Ebiwari Damini at the Zuba Mobile Court.
Those convicted were Abdul Sani, a Dangote truck Driver and Mukhtar usman, the fertiliser truck driver.
The Presiding Magistrate ruled that those who were allegedly going back to Zaria having been turned back at the entry of Edo state, be guided out of the FCT and allowed to return to their original place of departure which is Zaria, even as he fined them N5, 000 each.
He also ruled that those from Kano and Zaria be returned to the places of their departure by the FCT Administration.
Speaking to journalists at Zuba, while leading an operation to turn back the trucks, Attah decried the increasing rate at which persons violate the ban on inter- state travel as announced by the president.
Explaining how the suspects were apprehended, Attah said, “Drivers of the two Dangote trucks who were coming from Kano and Zaria after delivering goods, they now took passengers who were charged N1,500 each.”
He noted that, “owners of trucks must do all to ensure their trucks which are meant for haulage of goods are not converted to be illegally transporting persons from one state to another, thus violating the lockdown directives of the president. What the drivers do is to charge passengers along the road between N1,000 and N1,500 to transport them across states. Most of the drivers often ask the passengers to sit on the floor or hide in between bags so that they cannot be spotted by security personnel, but for us in the FCT, we check every truck before allowing them passage”.
According to Attah, “the breakdown of those arrested are 17 persons travelling from Zaria to Lokoja and Asaba in Delta state, 16 persons travelling from Kano to Lokoja and Obajana in Kogi state and 25 persons travelling from Edo state to Zaria in Kaduna state.”
The driver of The Dangote truck, Abdul Sani disclosed that he was earlier apprehended in Kaduna state and fined N5,000 by the state mobile court after which he was allowed to proceed on the journey to Lokoja with those he was carrying.
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.