Nelson Ugwuagbo

The governor of Ekiti state, Biodun Oyebanji, has directed security agencies in the state to fish out the perpetrators of Wednesday’s bank robbery in Ikere- Ekiti and bring them to book.

The governor, who described the armed robbery incidence, which claimed three lives, as senseless and disheartening, said no stone would be left unturned in the bid to bring the perpetrators to book.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji condoled with families of victims of the robbery, the Ogoga-in-Council and the people of Ikere Ekiti.

He also directed government hospitals in the state to take proper care of those who got injured during the robbery attack. 

Read Also: Three feared killed as robbers attack two banks in Ekiti

Stressing the importance of local vigilance in security, the governor urged citizens who have information that can help security agencies in their investigations to make such known to relevant authorities.

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He said: “The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not go unpunished. Our security agencies will go after them and ensure they face the guilt wrath of the law. 

“Our condolences to the families of victims of the robbery attack and the Ikere people.”  

The governor urged the people of the state to remain calm and vigilant as they go about their daily activities, adding that government is committed to their security and safety and would not spare any efforts at ridding the state of criminal elements.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has disowned a fictitious publication titled “2023 Police Special List,” which it said has been trending on social media.

The Head of Press and Public Relations at the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement, on Wednesday, said the publication for all intents and purposes is obviously planted to confuse and further defraud Nigerian youths who must have genuinely applied for consideration for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force.

Ani warned that only the Police Recruitment Board, comprising representatives from all the stakeholders in the Police Sector is the sole authority managing the ongoing recruitment exercise.

The statement said, ”the Board under the leadership of the Police Service Commission has as members representatives from the Nigeria Police Force; Ministry of Police Affairs; the Federal Character Commission; the Police Trust Fund and Police Colleges.

”The Board will soon announce a detailed programme for the concluding part of the recruitment exercise which will include dates for physical and document screening of candidates; computer-based tests to be conducted by a reputable government examination body and medical tests.

“The board is desirous of giving the nation a new face of exciting Police Constables that will drive the federal government’s policy on effective and efficient internal security architecture.

“Nigerians are advised to discountenance the fictitious list and wait for the official announcement of the next stages of the recruitment exercise”.

Meanwhile, security agencies have been directed to fish out the fraudsters perpetuating the Police Special List scam for prosecution.

Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Beecroft, yesterday, intercepted a huge wooden boat, laden with over 120 bags of narcotics suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.

In a statement by the Base Information Officer, NNS Beecroft, Sub Lieutenant Hapinness Collins, said the intercepted cannabis sativa weighed about 5,250 kilograms along with two foreign suspects, off Lagos Anchorage.

According to Collins, the Ghanaians, Emmanuel Doedcher and Godswil John Olamide, were arrested in the early hours of 7th December 2023.

The statement reads, “In a feat of maritime security prowess, under the ongoing “Operation Water Guard”, the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft’s Patrol Team, under the strategic leadership of the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT and Maritime Component Commander, Operation AWATSE, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, successfully intercepted a huge wooden boat, laden with over 120 bags of narcotics suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, weighing about 5,250 kilograms along with two foreign suspects, off Lagos Anchorage.

This arrest took place in the early hours of 7th December 2023.

“This feat is attributed to the seamless integration of credible human intelligence and effective utilization of the Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcon Eye Alignment. Deployment of cutting-edge technology has consistently delivered positive results, showcasing the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to enhancing maritime security for economic prosperity.”

“The confiscated wooden boat, along with its illicit cargo and suspects, identified as Emmanuel Doedcher and Godswil John Olamide both from Ghana, were promptly apprehended and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and necessary action.”

A Director in the Kano State Government Service, Abubakar Gambo, and two others have been arrested and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department, of the State Police Command over alleged fraud.

The State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Tuesday.

He said Gambo, who is the Director of Administration and General Services in the Ministry of Water Resources, was arrested alongside two others for allegedly misappropriating millions of naira through illegal auction of government properties.

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Gumel said others arrested alongside Gambo are Baba Yahaya, an Assistant Secretary of Administration, and Nuhu Mansir, a former Manager of Karefa Irrigation Scheme in Tudun Wada Local Government Area.

The police commissioner added that the suspects allegedly forged a letter authorising the auction of some high-capacity water pumps and tanks, which he described as critical public assets.

“Everything is now under investigation and as soon as the investigation is completed, they will be taken to court,” the commissioner said.

Residents of Yewuti village in Kwali area council of Abuja have started relocating from their homes over fear of bandit attacks.

Leading reporters understands that bandits had attacked the village and abducted eight persons on November 18.

Among those abducted was the father of the vice chairman of the council. But on December 2, they freed the father of the vice chairman and two others.

It was gathered that that the bandits collected the sum of N5 million ransom and later killed one of the abductees.

A family member of the victims who preferred anonymity said the they were freed on Friday.

A resident, Shuaibu Aliyu, said the villagers, especially women and children, had fled their homes and relocated to neighbouring Awawa, Abaji and Yangoji villages and Kwali town.

“Some residents that have relocated, especially the farmers, do sleep in neighbouring towns and return the following morning to their farms.”

Hundreds of students converged in Kano on Monday to protest against the continuous abduction of female students in tertiary institutions across Northern Nigeria.

The students, who marched along Rijiyar Zaki area of the city, demanded the immediate rescue of female students kidnapped by armed bandits from Federal University Gusau, FUGUS, about three months ago, as well as others abducted from Federal University, Dutsinma, FUDMA, and Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

About 24 female students of FUGUS, and four female students of FUDMA who were seized by bandits over three months ago, are still in captivity.

However, seven more students of the Federal University, Lafia, FULAFIA, Nasarawa State, who were abducted four days ago by bandits, were released on Sunday.

But the four students seized from Nasarawa State University months ago are still in captivity.

The protest was conducted under the banner of ‘Arewa Mufarka’, meaning ‘Northerners let’s wake up’.

Speaking to journalists in Kano on Monday, convener of the protest Sharfuddeen Bature, said: “We have been on the matter for long. It has been eighty days now since the abduction took place. We have ministers in our region – in Zamfara. We have National Security Adviser, NSA, from our region.

“We need these girls back. Their parents are in serious condition. We are not going to stop doing this until they bring back our girls”.

The protesters also condemned the recent massacre of more than 100 civilians by Nigerian Army drones in Tudun Biri community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.