CRIME
Police Command Foils Bandits’ Attacks in Niger Communities

From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Niger State Police Command in partnership with a local vigilante group foiled banditry attacks on two communities in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
Niger State Police Command spokesman ASP Waisiu Abiodun disclosed this in a statement made available to DAILY ASSET in Minna.
He stated that the men of the command received an intelligence report that armed bandits on motorcycles were planning to attack Goto-Rishi Village via Kaffin-Koro Paikoro LGA, and were sighted near Kudami Village via Kafin Koro.
On receipt of the information, a joint police/vigilante teams attached to Kaffin-Koro Division were mobilized to the area and engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun battle through which the bandits escaped with bullet wounds into the forest.
Consequently, as a result of the fire power of the police and the vigilante, the bandits abandoned one AK-47 rifle with three live ammunition of 7.62mm caliber and two Honda motorcycles without registration number.
Effort is ongoing to trail and arrest the fleeing hoodlums as investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Command explained the armed bandits blocked Tegina/Zungeru Road, near Kwanar-Barau village, Rafi LGA and reportedly abducted seven passengers from a commercial vehicle.
Police tactical team in collaboration with the army were immediately mobilized to the scene, where the assailants were equally engaged in gun battle and as a result of this, the victims were rescued and subsequently ran back to their vehicle to continue their journey while the road was cleared for the road users and normalcy was restored.
Similarly, hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers wrote a letter, threatening to attack people of Kampani-jibrin Village via Nasko, Magama LGA and “Upon the receipt of the information, the Command swung into action and based on intelligence, police operatives attached to Nasko Division arrested one Bala Mohammed aged 30 years in Wawa Village via New-Bussa, Borgu LGA in connection with the crime”.
During investigation, the following exhibits were recovered from the suspect’s residence at Kampani-jibrin: One locally made pistol, four mobile phones, four similar threat letters, 15 SIM cards, charms, 11 pieces of one hundred dollars and ten thousand Francs CFA suspected to be fake
Fake N250, 000 (two hundred and fifty thousand were also recovered from him.
The suspect confessed to being a member of a four-man gang of kidnapping syndicate comprising of a Cameroonian, one Kariya, Umar from Kano State and one other, all presently at large.
The gang he confessed conspired and originated the said letter to the community while twelve other letters were equally recovered from the community’s mosque.
According to the police, the suspect further claimed that he bought the pistol over a year ago for his personal protection from an unknown person at Kampani-waya Village, Nasko and that the suspected fake currency was given to him by one Aminu Sabon-Pegi, Jamilu Tatabo and Abdulmalik to sell the currency to one Ndamodu of Bida.
CRIME
Wife Seeks Divorce Over Domestic Violence

One Rihanat Kuranga of Egbejila Area, Ilorin, on Wednesday filled for divorce from her husband, Shuaib AbdulRahman at the Area Court, sitting at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, over domestic violence.
Kuranga told the court that her husband started beating her after she gave birth to their second born, saying that it has become unbearable.
According to her, whenever my husband decides to beat me, he will beat me and the children until we start bleeding from our bodies.
”I had to pack out of his house when I gave birth to my fifth born and he didn’t stop beating me and the children mercilessly.”
The woman told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage and wanted divorce, child custody and maintenance.
”I want their father to pay N50,000 monthly for feeding of our five children and be responsible for their education,” she said.
The Presiding Judge, Toyin Aluko ordered that a fresh hearing be served on the defendant, to enable him have knowledge of the court case.
The case was adjourned until June 30, for Defence or hearing. (NAN)
CRIME
Police Evacuates Remains of Bolt Driver Shot Dead in Yenagoa

Police operatives from the Bayelsa command have evacuated the remains of a bolt driver, who was shot dead on Friday morning at Samphino Road Junction , Yenagoa.
The lifeless body of the middle-aged yet-to-be-identified driver was discovered early Friday morning inside his vehicle at the Samphino Road Junction in the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa.
Residents, who discovered the scene raised the alarm which prompted a swift response from police operatives, who quickly cordoned off the area.
The body of the commercial driver has been deposited at the mortuary for possible autopsy.
The residents, who got to the scene early suggested that the victim might have been shot at close range by suspected armed robbers.
Reacting to the incident, a senior police officer, who spoke on anonymity at the crime scene, said that a full-scale investigation was underway.
“We are working to gather all necessary intelligence.
“Forensic teams have been deployed to the scene and we are also liaising with the bolt company to retrieve trip data that may help in tracking down the culprits,” he said.
The Police Spokesman in Bayelsa, ASP Musa Mohammed confirmed the incident to NAN and said that investigation was already in progress. (NAN)
CRIME
Court Remands 18-year-Old Student for Alleged Murder

A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered the remand of an 18-year old student, Joseph Chive, at a Makurdi Correctional Centre for allegedly killing a 14-year-old girl.
Chive, who lives at Veterinary Layout, Northbank, Makurdi, was charged with illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Kevin Mbanongun, did not take the plea of the defendant for want of jurisdiction.
He remanded the defendant and adjourned the case until Aug. 28 for mention.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Godwin Ato, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 25, at Veterinary Layout, Northbank, Makurdi.
He said the case was reported at the ‘C’ Division Police Station, Northbank, Makurdi, by the deceased’s father, Mr Victor Ayom.
According to him, the defendant had an altercation with the victim, a 14-year-old girl, Mimidoo Victor.
“While the altercation was going on, the defendant rushed into his room, brought a loaded dane gun and shot the girl on the head.
“The defendant was arrested during police investigation and he confessed to the crime.
“The dane gun was recovered from him,” Ato said.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 and Section 222 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue, 2004. (NAN)