Nelson Ugwuagbo

Over 150 suspected armed herdsmen have attacked Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing four persons.

The lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Umar Yahaya disclosed this on Wednesday in Lokoja shortly after submitting a report on the attack to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo.

Yahaya, who condemned the incident, described the recent attack in his constituency as one too many.

According to the lawmaker, “At about 3:30 pm on Tuesday, the 30th of January 2024, the peaceful community of Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala LGA was attacked by Fulani herdsmen numbering over 150.

“The militant herdsmen took the village by surprise and were shooting sporadically as they invaded the village in a broad daylight through the eastern part of the town.

“During the attack, a sick woman who was on admission in a local private clinic (St. Peter Clinic) was slaughtered. Two men namely: Mr. Attai John Idagboyi and one Mr. Daniel Shuaibu were also gruesomely murdered.

“The remains of a man was also found butchered in the bush, bringing the total number of the dead to four. That’s one woman and three men.

“They came in through Bagana in Omala LGA which borders the Agatu area of Benue and Umasha community in Nasarawa States.

“The Bagana community has been under attack for a long period now and some of our people have not been able to return home for many years now due to the incessant attacks by these Fulani herdsmen militants.”

He requested the governor’s support in directing the State Commissioner of Police and other heads of Security Agencies to be deployed to provide armed security personnel to the affected area.

Continuing, Yahaya said, “The presence of military or armed personnel will scare the militants away pending further long term measures to prevent reoccurrence or possible solutions.”

He also appealed to the governor to direct the State Emergency Agency to provide relief materials to the victims in Bagana and Agojeju-Odo.

The Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force has smashed a notorious bandit group in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, led by one Isa Dei-Dei.

A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the operation, which was carried out on Monday. led to a gun battle between the officers and the killer bandits.

According to the statement, the notorious Isa Dei-Dei was neutralized during the gun duel, while other members of the syndicate managed to escape with gunshot injuries.

The Force PRO called on the general public, particularly medical practitioners, to raise an alarm if a patient is seen with gunshot wounds.

“We therefore urge members of the public, especially medical practitioners, to call our attention to anyone or patients seen with gunshot wounds for further investigation”, he said.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday nullified a criminal charge preferred against a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, and two others over alleged N21.5 billion money laundering.

LeadingReporters gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had re-arraigned the defendants on an amended 13-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N21.5 billion.

Justice Aneke on Tuesday upheld a preliminary objection by the defence counsel challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case on the grounds that the defendants were serving officers of the military at the time.

It had argued that the defendants were, therefore, only subject to trial by a court martial, since they were still officers during the period.

The wife of the slain Olukoro of Koro Ekiti in Kwara State, General Segun Aremu-Cole (retd), and two others who were kidnapped have reportedly regained their freedom.

They were said to have been released late on Monday.

“The news just received from home confirms that Olori and the girl have been released and have returned to Koro about 30 minutes ago,” the Asiwaju of Koro, Chief Samuel Ayobola told National Pilot

The monarch was killed by the kidnappers as he prepared to have his dinner on February 1, 2024.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the palace at about 9 pm and after killing the monarch, they took his wife and two others in the palace with them.

Initially, the abductors demanded a N100 million ransom, which was reduced to N40 million.

Details later…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International,  Theophilus Ebonyi, over allegations of defrauding church members and other Nigerians.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the pastor was arrested for allegedly using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1,319,040,274.31.

The statement read, “Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising non-governmental organisations and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20 billion to assist the less-privileged in the society.

“He allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phoney grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.

“Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31.

“His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.”

Oyewale said investigations by the EFCC showed that the Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship, or business with the general overseer.

“The Foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them.

“The commission has also traced five properties he acquired as proceeds of his criminal dealings.

“Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation.

“He would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Yet-to-be-ascertained number of travelers from Umuahia, Abia States, in two luxury buses have been kidnapped in Inyele Eteke in the Olalamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened on Friday, February 3, 2024.

A social media influencer, Chude Nnamdi, who broke the news on his X handle, said that the two buses belong to GIG and ABC Transports.

Chude said that his wife was in one of the hijacked buses but could not ascertain the number of persons in the two buses.

The Kogi State Police Command, while confirming the incident, also could not ascertain the number of people in the buses.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said  the area commander who led his team to the area saw the two buses but did not see the occupants and, therefore, could not ascertain the number of people on the two buses.

“Yes, the incident happened, but the DPO, local vigilantes, and hunters have been in the bush in an effort to rescue the victims” Aya said in a statement issued on Monday in Lokoja.

The PPRO added, “The CP has deployed additional Tactical Squad consisting of Quick Response Unit, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, as well as conventional police personnel to the area to continue with the bush combing and to ensure all victims are rescued unhurt.”

“The report reaching me this morning is that a GIG and ABC transport buses heading to Abuja were hijacked by kidnappers yesterday in Kogi State.

“The GIG bus left Umuahia at 7:30am and was hijacked at Kogi State. GIG company said they have contacted security services and they are tracking them. The kidnappers phoned this morning via my wife’s phone and were demanding N15 million,” Chude said.

Veteran actor, and folk singer, Jimi Solanke, is dead.

The legendary poet and playwright died on Monday at the age of 81.

He was said to have died while being rushed from his country home at Ipara Remo in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan when he succumbed to the cold hand of death.

Chief Solanke was said to have been in and out of hospital from December until he died on Monday morning.

Jimi Solanke celebrated at 80 with week-long events

 I ran away from home to fulfil my dream of becoming a thespian –Jimi Solanke

Hon Dickson Awolaja representing Remo North State Constituency at the state Assembly confirmed the exit of the highly gifted artiste to our Correspondent.

Hon Awolaja said “I got wind of the demise of Pa Jimi Solanke not long ago. His death is no doubt another big loss to us in Remo North and Ogun State as a whole given his worthy contributions to the development of our dear nation. May his soul rest in peace”.

He is known for Kongi’s Harvest, Sango, Shadow Parties, and many more. He is also referred to as Uncle Jimi.

Abductors of the wife of Peter Aremu, the late Onikoro of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti LGA of Kwara state, are now reportedly demanding N40 million as ransom for his wife and other abductees. 

On Thursday, gunmen invaded the residence of the traditional ruler, killed him, and abducted his wife and two others.

Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Kehinde Bayode, chairman of the transition implementation committee (TIC), said the abductors had earlier asked for N100 million, but later reduced their request to N40 million.

“The kidnappers had got in touch with the family. They were demanding N100 million ransom, which has now been reduced to N40 million,” NAN quoted Kehinde as saying.

“But we are still negotiating with them and right now, I am on my way to Koro to get the latest information on the negotiation.

“We will continue to brief you (journalists) as the situation unfolds and we will keep you posted.”

Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, spokesperson of the Kwara police command, said the commissioner of police in the state has deployed a tactical team to the community to fish out the perpetrators of the incident.

“The commissioner of police has deployed a tactical team to Koro-Ekiti to fish out the perpetrators,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.

“Policemen are working with other security agencies to free those that were abducted during the kidnapping incident.

“No arrest has been made yet. We are going to keep you abreast of developments as they unfold.”

A ferocious fire yesterday wreaked havoc at Sango Market, Ibadan, Oyo State consuming goods worth millions of naira.

The goods  were lost to an overnight fire incident which occurred in the market.

The inferno, which was said to have been caused by an electric spark, burnt over 20 shops.

This came a few days after a similar incident occurred at Ire Akari Estate, Soka, Ibadan.

Some traders whose shops were affected by the incident expressed their challenges in rebuilding their shops and businesses, emphasising that the ventures were their sole sources of livelihood.

A victim of the inferno who gave her name as Mrs. Tola Korede said, “I received a call that my shop was burning. On getting to this place, I discovered that everything was gone.’’