CRIME
Eid- El- Kabir: Kogi Police Command Vows to Avert Ram Theft
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Edeh, has said all stations in the Command will embark on preventive measures to stem further occurrence of incidence of Ram theft as was being reported in a section of the media.
Edeh who was reacting to a question put before him on rising incidence of ram theft in the State Capital, no formal complaints have been received by the Command.
He, however, that “now that it has come to my knowledge all stations would embark on preventive measures to stem further occurrence of incident of Ram thefts.
”According to the Commissioner, “it doesn’t also add up to the fact that God forbids stealing and would not accept sacrifice of a stolen ram”.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Command has put in place all necessary machinery to ensure a hitch free Eid -El- Kabir festival and assured residents of safety of their lives and property.
It would be recalled that ahead of the eid-el-Kabir festival scheduled for Tuesday next week, some residents of Lokoja, who have purchased their rams said they were now living in fear as the theft of Rams has risen drastically.
Our Correspondent gathered from some residents living in and around 200 housing units of how rams are been stolen from some houses.
Hajia Suleiman Inuwa Kadir, a resident of one of the 200 unit estate said she woke up to a surprise as the ram she bought for N70,000 developed wings and scaled a very high fence.
While she was busy with her lamentations of how she struggled to buy the ram, Mallam Tanke Idachaba, another victim equally expressed disappointment, that up till 2:00AM, the early hours of Friday, he still saw his ram but woke up later for the 5:00AM prayers only to the unplesant surprise that the ram he bought for N120,000 had disappeared.
An average ram is presently sold for between N50,000 and N60,000 with the limit reaching N200,000 to N250,000 in Lokoja, the state capital. The prices are likely to rise during the weekend according to Mallam Bala Mairago, a ram seller located at the Ram Market, near Banda, few metres after Lokoja.
Reacting to the ugly development, a Lokoja based Islamic Cleric, Yahya Salihu advised Muslims to only use their legitimate means to buy ram for Eid-el-Kabir sacrifice.
Sheik Salihu, who is also a Chief Imam of a Jumma’at Mosques, gave the advice in an interview warned Muslims against using ill-gotten money for the purchase of ram for sacrifice, noted that the Almighty Allah was pure and would accept only that which was clean and pure.
Sheik Salihu also admonished Muslims to have good intention for the sacrifice because it was a prerequisite to achieving acceptable sacrifice.
According to him, the meat or blood of the sacrificed ram cannot reach but Allah is only concern about the piety of a believer.
He explained that the act of slaughtering animal as sacrifice was a tradition that was highly encouraged among Muslims, which was performed on the 10th of Zul-Hijjah and the following three days.
“It is an essential religious rite in memory of the sacrifice performed by Prophet Ibrahim.
“It involves the slaughtering of domestic animal (sheep, goat, cow or camel) and offering it as a sacrifice during these days of Sallah celebrations,” he said.
He enjoined Muslims to ensure that the animal to be sacrificed had reached the required age, adding a minimum of six months for a sheep, one year for a goat, two years for cow and five years for camel.
For now some residents spoken to by Our Correspondent say they would begin to mount vigil, pointing out that they cannot afford to loose their rams at this time.
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.
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.
A Student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Modupe Ayandare, was found dead on Monday after attending a church vigil.
The death of Ayandare, who is of the Department of Agronomy, was made known by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
“We express in strong terms our dissatisfaction and agony with respect to the death of one of our students, Miss Modupe Ayandare of the Department of Agronomy.
“According to report, the deceased was said to have committed suicide in the early hours of today at about 4:00am after she returned from a vigil in her church.
“The incident happened beside the church she attended, around Spotless Villa.
“The law enforcement agency has been informed already, and all hands are on deck to get to the root of the situation.
“Be assured that justice will be served and the law enforcement agency will undertake thorough investigation,” Mr Emmanuel Olaogbebikan, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the SUG, stated.
He asked anybody with useful information regarding the incident to give to the concerned authorities to come forward.
Also mourning the death of the student, the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS), AAUA Chapter, said the loss deeply affected the department.
Faith Igba, the PRO of the department, said the demise of Ayandare was a profound loss to the department.
Igba urged the members of the department to come together and be of help to one another, asking those going through challenges to seek help.
“During this difficult time, we urge everyone to come together in support of each other. The mental well-being of our members is of utmost importance, and we encourage anyone who may be struggling to seek help.
“Our faculty offers counselling services, and we are here to support you in any way we can.
“Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to Comrade Modupe’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Let us honour her memory by fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for all,” he said.
Speaking on the death of Ayandare, Victor Akinpelumi, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, said that the institution had confirmed the incident but was yet to know the cause of the death.
Akinpelumi, who sympathised with the family of the deceased, said that the institution would make an official statement known to the public as regards the death later.
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