Chiradza, a Zimbabwean national, allegedly defrauded Nigerians of over N1 billion through a fake company, QZ Assets Management, and is facing seven counts of criminal charges along with team members from South Africa before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Ashocking investigation has uncovered a scandalous relationship between a Nigerian police officer, Victor Okeshola, and an international fraudster, Precious Chiradza.
Chiradza, a Zimbabwean national, allegedly defrauded Nigerians of over N1 billion through a fake company, QZ Assets Management, and is facing seven counts of criminal charges along with team members from South Africa before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
What’s even more astonishing is that Okeshola, who is attached to the National Cybercrime Centre (NCC), was the same officer who investigated Chiradza’s fraudulent activities in Nigeria.
Despite this, he smuggled her out of the country with the help of other police officers, reportedly after receiving millions of naira in bribes.
Further investigation revealed that Chiradza, who is also known as Pria and reportedly an HIV patient, is now pregnant with Okeshola’s child. Moreover, she is seeking to divorce her Nigerian husband, who resides in South Africa.
Sources disclosed that Victor Okeshola through the aid of the police prosecutors procured fake sureties to perfect her bail conditions after she was remanded in prison custody by Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/430/2023.
The charge is between the Inspector-General of Police as the Complainant and Precious Chiradza, Gugu Manana, Sicelokuhle Nyath, Samuel Atebefia, Chidinma Clement, Prof. Blake Yeung (at large), Mark Tsu (at large), Absolom Kimathi MUSA (at large), Fidelis Awusa (at large), Ashley (at large) and Blessing Ikwuagwu a.k.a Madam Cash (at large) as the 1st to 11th defendants.
CHARGES
Some of the charges read: “That you PRECIOUS CHIRADZA, GUGU MANANA, SICELOKUHLE NYATHI, SAMUEL ATEBEFIA, CHIDIMMA CLEMENT, PROF. BLAKE YEUNG (At large), MARK TSU (At large), ABSOLOM KIMATHI MUSA (At large), FIDELIS AWUSA (At large), ASHLEY (At large), and BLESSING IKEAGWU ‘A.K.A. MADAM CASH’ (At large) sometime between 2022 and 2023 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did Conspire to commit an offence, to wit; obtaining by false pretence by medium of a contract induced by the false pretence and thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
“That sometime between 2022 and 2023 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtain from one Onyia Ogochukwu and her team about the sum of Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($300,000.00) which funds you obtained through the medium of a fraudulent investment scheme QZ Asset Management Company and thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 1 (1) (c) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
“That sometime between 2022 and 2023 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtain from one Chinagorom Uchechi about the sum of Forty-four Thousand US Dollars ($44,000.00) which funds you obtained through the medium of a fraudulent investment scheme QZ Asset Management Company and thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 1 (1) (c) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
“That you PRECIOUS CHIRADZA, GUGU MANANA, SICELOKUHLE NYATHI, SAMUEL ATEBEFIA, CHIDIMMA CLEMENT, PROF. BLAKE YEUNG (At large), MARK TSU (At large), ABSOLOM KIMATHI MUSA (At large), FIDELIS AWUSA (At large), ASHLEY (At large), and BLESSING IKEAGWU A.K.A. MADAM CASH’ (At large) sometime between 2022 and 2023 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtain from one several persons who you made to believe were investors in index trading about the sum of over One Billion Naira (N1, 000,000,000.00) which funds you obtained through the medium of a fraudulent investment scheme with the name QZ Asset Management Company and thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 1 (1) (c) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006,” among other counts.
GENESIS
The trouble started when the suspects – Precious Chiradza, Gugu Manana, Sicelokuhle Nyath, and Samuel Atebefia, were arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State following a petition by one Uchechi Mercy Chinagorom and Onyia Ogochukwu for defrauding them of over N1 billion invested in their company and thereafter absconded with the funds.
They were subsequently moved to NCC for proper investigation and prosecution through the directive of the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun in 2023.
However, during the course of the investigation, the NCC investigation team led by Victor Okeshola discovered over $1 million in Precious Chiradza’s account. In a bid to scuttle the investigation, Pria as otherwise known, offered the ICT operators in NCC N5 million in bribe not to disclose their findings in their report. other police officers were shared dollars in envelopes including the IPO.
While in NCC custody, Victor Okeshola, the IPO, arranged for the four suspects to spend the night in a police station cell in Abuja. Each evening, they were taken there, only to be returned to NCC headquarters the following morning.
The investigation uncovered that, as part of this arrangement, Pria—who had already been debriefed—would feign a health crisis at night. Victor, acting as the IPO, would then be called in and pretend to take her to a hospital, but instead, the two would spend the night together in a hotel. As a result, Pria never actually stayed in the cell while in NCC custody.
According to insider sources, during this period, Precious Chiradza struck a deal with the IPO, allegedly paying thousands of dollars to senior police officers handling the case at NCC to ease her situation. With the petitioners financially drained and the suspects willing to negotiate, the police investigation team ramped up efforts to destroy evidence, ultimately ensuring all suspects were cleared of any wrongdoing.
In a letter obtained by SaharaReporters which was addressed to the Director/Head, Nigeria Police Force- National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), is titled: “Notice of compromise by the investigative and prosecuting team a request for immediate intervention and change of team to of team to preserve the cause of Justice,” one of the petitioners’ Chinagorom revealed that the police prosecution officer secretly applied to court to withdraw the case after they had facilitated the escape of the first and second defendants – Chiradza and Gugu Manana.
Written through her lawyer, F.I. Ochi, Esq and copied the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the petition was dated December 3, 2024, with lots of pictorial and video evidence showing the IPO and the suspect outside the country.
The petition partly read: “Our client is the second complainant (now a nominal complainant and witness) over the above stated case which was reported to the Inspector General of Police through a letter of complaint on allegation of cybercrime, which our client and many other Nigerian are victims.
“Upon the assignment of the complaint to your office for action, one Victor Okeshola was assigned as the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) which same was investigated upon and subsequently charged to Court with the details of the case above referred.
“While the Suspects have been arraigned and granted bail on terms and at the pendency of the case for trial, it has come to the knowledge of our client of the act of compromise by the Investigative officer who has engaged the 1st Suspect (Precious Chiradza) in an emotional love affair to the extent of going public.”
Specifically, the petitioner presented several positions to demonstrate the compromise by the Investigative Officer, including: “That Victor Okeshola aided/abated the 1st Suspect (Precious Chiradza) and 2nd Suspect (Gugu Manana) to flaunt the bail terms and condition on restriction of travelling outside the country, connived and assisted the Suspect to travel with him outside the country to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dubai and other cities outside Nigeria.
“That while Victor Okeshola, the 1st Suspect and 2nd suspect illegally travelled outside the Country and having fun at several garden and recreation centers, Victor was found confessing his love for the 1st suspect (Precious Chiradza) and making romantic speeches with the suspect.
“Pictures and video evidence of the movement and act of the IPO (Victor) with the Suspects showing the act of comprise are hereby attached and more shall be produced upon request.”
According to the petition, “on the last adjourned date of the case, the 2nd Suspect (Gugu Manana) who did not return from their journey with the IPO, was absent from the Court’s proceeding, and it is to the greatest dismay and chagrin of our client that, the prosecution Counsel applied to Court for withdrawal of the Charges against the suspects which the Court insisted on seeing the 2nd Suspect or her surety in Court before the application could be granted and the case was adjourned to 12th December, 2024.
“Our client is dumbfounded by the application for withdrawal of the Charge by the Prosecuting Counsel, as same is without her instruction and no one has approached her for settlement upon their grievances on crime committed against her and had perceived anticipatory breach of her right with an attempt to truncate the cause of justice in this case.
“In further buttress of the act of compromise of the prosecuting counsel, the Counsel is aware or ought to have been aware of the reason for the absence of one of the Defendants which due to the illegal travelling outside the Country and instead of informing the Court and apply for revocation of bail and summons for surety to show cause, he ignored, connived, condoned and shielded the defendants of their disobedience to the order of the Court.
“It is in view of the foregoing that our client has lost confident on the team of investigation and prosecution, our services has been retained to approach your exulted office with this letter to call your team assigned for the case to order and where appropriate assign new team for continuation of the case in the interest of justice.”
Despite the detailed petition, which included evidentiary pictures and videos, it was learned that the Director/Head of NCC did not act on the petition due to the high level of senior police officers’ involvement in the scandal.
Further investigation showed that when Justice Omotosho rejected the application seeking the withdrawal of the charge before the court, the prosecutor and IPO sought the intervention of the ministry of justice to take over and withdraw the charge.
“Victor Okeshola paid some staff of the ministry of justice N50 million on behalf of his lover suspect for them to takeover prosecution and withdraw it for lack of substantial evidence,” one of the sources revealed.
Reaching out to the nominal Complainant, Chinagorom, she explained that the incident took place in 2023, adding that they (suspects) were first arrested in Port Harcourt and transferred to Kubwa Police Station.
She lamented that it was the same police compromise in Port Harcourt and Kubwa that led her to petition the Inspector General of Police. In his wisdom, he transferred her petition to the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), while Ogochukwu Onyia’s petition was referred to the National Crime Commission (NCC).
She said, “So they told us that they were doing lab forensic with their gadgets, and that even the password, they would ‘unpassword it’, that they have equipment to do so.
“They told us that they wouldn’t be able to access their gadgets but to my greatest surprise I walked in one day and saw Priya Chiraza using her phone. When I walked in, she was on a call inside Officer Bello’s office. So I was like why was she having full access of her phone, and the officer said she wanted to reach out to her family, that the husband was calling and trying to know how they were doing.
“I asked him but you told me all these things are for forensic that they wouldn’t be able to unplug it. That is when I started doubting that they are for the same story we had in Port Harcourt and Kubwa police stations. Because that day they had already told me and Ogochukwu that they had found one million dollars in Priya Chiradza’s account. Our informant told us in confidence that NCC discovered $1 million in their app and that is how they agreed on what would be their share.
“That’s how the IPO fell in love with Priya Chiradza and after her bail, he took her to his house. As soon as they found the money, Priya Chiradza paid the IT guy in NCC N5 million so that he would not tender his findings. It was through our informant that we got to understand why they did not disclose their findings in their report.
“They (suspects) were in the habit of putting dollars in envelopes and giving to whom they want to buy. The money they were sharing was to compromise their investigation and that was why everywhere became soft for them.
“Victor Okeshola was recommended by Chiradza’s husband as a policeman to look after the wife. In the process, he saw what he could gain from Precious Chiradza or maybe he fell in love naturally and they started going out.”
He also did not respond to a text message seeking his reaction to his alleged involvement in the disappearance of the two criminal suspects facing prosecution in Nigeria at the time of filing this report.
Ogun state – Police Command on April 28, arrested a member of a notorious ritualist syndicate who allegedly killed and dismembered the body of one Oyindamola Adeyemi at Ijebu Ode on the 28th of January 2023.
The suspect, 35-year old Ifasoji Ayangbesan, whose other members of his gang had earlier been arrested, was apprehended following a painstaking intelligence-based investigation embarked upon by detectives from Obalende divisional headquarters, which led them to his hideout at Ijade Iloti area of Ijebu Ode.
The suspect who has been indicted by the earlier arrested members of the syndicate as the person who bought the two legs of the victim, took to flight immediately he heard that he has been mentioned by his colleagues.
Since then, the DPO Obalende division, SP Murphy Salami, has detailed his detectives to be on his trail with the view to arrest him and possibly recover the deceased two legs from him and prosecute him with his colleagues in crime. Luck however ran against him when he was apprehended at his Ijade Iloti hideout on the 28th of April 2023.
Immediately after he was arrested, the suspect made an offer of one million naira bribe to the policemen, which was rejected.
On interrogation, he confessed been part of the syndicate that killed Oyindamola Adeyemi, and that he was the person who severe the two legs of the deceased which he claimed he used for ritual purpose.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the police command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Yomi Oladimeji, commended his men for their uprightness and has directed that the suspect be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments in order to prosecute him with other members of his syndicate.
Enugu, – The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Ahmed Ammani, has ordered the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate, arrest and prosecute an online publisher for allegedly spreading falsehood against authorities in the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the police spokesman in Enugu state, DSP Daniel Ndukwe on Monday in Enugu.
The commissioner described as the height of falsehood and mischief-making, the alleged baseless and misleading publication by one Dave Okanya, an online publisher.
The state police boss said that Okanya stated, among other contrived claims, that he, the commissioner “banged phone call” on Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The commissioner, hence, urged the good people of the state and members of the public to completely disregard the fictitious claim, as there was no iota of truth in it.
“I wonder the source of his impetus to publish and circulate same on the social media.
“Consequently, I have ordered the state CID to immediately commence discreet investigation that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the publisher and his aiders.
“It is not in the character of the command to take seriously, attention and/or relevance-seeking individuals like the publisher, whose stock in trade is to create and peddle mendacious information of this nature on the social media.
“However, the command has made it categorically clear that the content and context of the publication, in this critical moment of the general elections, is one joke taken too far,” he said.
The commissioner also cautioned political actors and their supporters to maintain peace and desist from making provocative utterances that were capable of heating up the polity.
According to him, the command will not allow anybody truncate the immutable quest of the police, working with other security agencies and peace-loving citizens, to achieve a more peaceful and credible Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections come March 18.
He, therefore, noted that the police would not stand idly by and watch any person or group of persons act in the contrary. (NAN)
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, – The Police Command in Rivers says it has arrested a member of the House of Representatives in possession of 498,100 US dollars, approximately N381.1 million.
The command’s Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said in a statement that the suspect was arrested during a stop-and-search operation on Friday in Port Harcourt.
The spokesman said that the lawmaker is being investigated for money laundering and attempt to buy voters ahead of the presidential and national assembly elections.
“He was arrested by 2:45 a.m. on Friday by police officers deployed to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters at Aba Road in Port Harcourt.
“The police officers, who were on stop-and-search found a cash sum of 498,100 USD inside a bag in his car meant for the elections.
“Also recovered from him was a list meant for the distribution of the money,” she said.
Iringe-Koko said that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of elections in the state, Abuto Yero had ordered the lawmaker’s interrogation and arraignment in court.
The police spokesperson urged all contestants and political parties to comply strictly with the provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious movements and actions they believe can cause breakdown of law and order before, during and after the elections.
“Members of the public can reach the command through the following hotlines: 08032003514, 08098880134,” she added. (NAN)
By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, – The police command in Enugu State has arrested three suspected notorious armed robbers and recovered arms and ammunition.
In a statement on Friday in Enugu, the command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said that the suspects were all men and aged 39, 22 and 21.
Ndukwe said that while the 39-year-old suspect and the 22-year-old suspect were arrested at a hideout at New Artisan, Enugu, on Jan. 23, the 21-year-old was arrested on Jan. 31, following confessional statements of the others.
He said that the police recovered two locally-made pistols and eight live ammunition from the suspects.
“Their arrest was actualised through the combined efforts of police operatives and detectives of Enugu State Police Command, respectively serving in Awkunanaw Police Division and Anti-Robbery Section of the command.
“The suspects confessed to have perpetrated acts of armed robbery and other heinous crimes in different parts of Enugu metropolis,” the spokesman said.
He gave the assurance that the suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigations into the case.
Ndukwe said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Ammani, praised the police officers and men involved in the arrest, and advised the state residents to volunteer information that would help the command. (NAN)
The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested some members of an organized syndicate selling the new Naira notes in some parts of the country.
In a statement released on Monday, January 30 by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the DSS alleged that some commercial bank officials were aiding and abetting the act.
The statement reads;
“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the newly redesigned naira notes. In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some Commercial Bank officials are aiding the economic malfeasance.
Consequently, the Service warns the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act. Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address emerging trends.
It should be noted that the Service has ordered its Commands and Formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes are identified. Therefore, anyone with useful information relating to this is encouraged to pass the same to the relevant authorities”.
The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a popular Kano TikTok skit maker, Murja Ibrahim Kunya.
Murja was arrested at the Tahir Hotel in Kano while trying to book rooms for her guests who came from different places to attend her much-publicised birthday party.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement on Sunday night, January 29, 2023, Murja was arrested following complaints from clerics that she uses vulgar language and corrupts the morals of the society in her videos.
Her arrest followed a request from a Shari’ah Court in Bichi to the state’s commissioner of police to arrest and investigate her alongside other TikTok users.
The other TikTok users included in the request letter were Mr 442, Safara’u, Dan Maraya, Amude Booth, Kawu Dan Sarki, Ado Gwanja, Ummi Shakira, Samha Inuwa and Babiana.
The letter reads partly: “Sequel to the complaint lodged by Muhd Ali Hamza Esq, Abba Mahmud, Esq, Sunusi I. Umar Esq, Abba, A.T Bebeji Esq, B.I Usman Esq, Muhd Nasir Esq, L.T Dayi Esq, G.A Badawi & Badamasi Suleiman Gandu Esq, I am directed by the presiding Upper Sharia Court Judge, Bichi Division Kano to write and kindly request you to conduct investigation against the above mentioned suspects for proper action.”
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Dauda has ordered that the suspect undergo psychiatric evaluation.
London, – China’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office amid a diplomatic row over the arrest and alleged beating of a BBC journalist covering COVID protests in Shanghai.
According to a UK government source, Zheng Zeguang has been called by Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, over the treatment of cameraman Edward Lawrence, who the BBC said was “beaten and kicked” by police in the Chinese city.
A source from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “The Chinese ambassador has been called to the FCDO.
“The BBC has been clear one of their journalists was detained and beaten by police when covering these protests.
“We have made it clear this behaviour by the Chinese authorities is completely unacceptable.”
Cleverly on Monday described the incident as “deeply disturbing,” saying the arrest was “shocking and unacceptable” and journalists “must be able to do their jobs without fear of intimidation.”
Downing Street urged Chinese authorities to “respect those who decide to express their views about the current situation,” as citizens take to the streets to oppose the country’s draconian zero-COVID policy.
The BBC said Lawrence was “arrested and handcuffed” while covering the protests in Shanghai.
The broadcaster said “during his arrest, he was beaten and kicked by police and this happened while he was working as an accredited journalist.”
China’s foreign ministry has reportedly contested the BBC statement, claiming Lawrence did not identify himself as a journalist. (dpa/NAN)
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the men of the Jigawa State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old man for killing his 23-year-old wife in the Sule Tankarkar local government area.
The police spokesman in the state, Lawan Shiisu confirmed the arrest in a statement in Dutse on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Shiisu said the suspect was arrested after the police received a report about the killing on December 27, at about 12:50 p.m.
The police spokesperson clarified that the complainant alleged that the suspect hit the deceased with a stick over a misunderstanding.
“On December 27, at about 1250hrs, one Bulama Muntari Ubale of Baldi village Sule Tankarkar LGA reported that on the same date at about 1130hrs, a couple, one Yusuf Zubairu, aged 26, of Fulanin Mailefe in Baldi village and one Fatima Hardo Dare, aged 23, of the same address, were having misunderstanding between them,” said the police statement.
“And in the process of the fracas, the said Yusuf Zubairu, a.k.a Sallau, used a stick and hit Fatima Hardo (now deceased) on her head.”
It added that when a man, Rabi Lawan, of the same address “came to intervene, the said Yusuf Zubairu also inflicted serious injury on her.”
The statement added that upon receipt of the report, a team of policemen rushed to the scene and conveyed the victims to Gumel General Hospital, where Ms Dare was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. At the same time, Ms Lawan was admitted for treatment.
According to the police, the stick was recovered as an exhibit, and that investigation into the case is ongoing, after which the suspect would be charged to court.
The lifeless body of a herder, Yau Ibrahima, who was allegedly killed after he led a herd of cattle for open grazing on Christmas Day in Elega, a sleepy community in Asa Local Council of Kwara state has been recovered by the police.
Guardian reports that Ibrahima was allegedly found dead by a search party inside the bush with his feet and hands firmly tied with ropes, after the cattle returned home in the evening, without him.
The incident could have led to a bloody clash between herdsmen and people of Elega, but was averted by men and officers of the state police command who stepped in to stop a reprisal mission by the herdsmen for the alleged murder of their kinsman.
Confirming this development to newsmen, the spokesperson for the command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, said a suspect has been arrested in connection with the alleged murder, while the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at an unnamed morgue for autopsy and further investigations.
He, however, debunked claims that security guards were rounded off by herdsmen and locked up in an enclosure. According to Okasanmi, the atmosphere was already electrified when policemen, following a tip off, rushed into the settlement to appeal to the two factions to ensure law and order.
He stressed that a herder in the area allegedly led out a herd of cattle into open grazing early in the morning on the fateful day, which also coincided with Christmas celebrations. But at evening time, only the cattle returned home without Ibrahim. A search party, he said, was promptly constituted for him, but he was found dead inside the bush with his feet and hands firmly tied with ropes.
Okasanmi added that the herdsmen were said to have suspected a foul play by security guards at one farm, christened ‘ABC Farm’ adjoining the scene of the sad incident.
According to him, the herdsmen dangling dangerous weapons were said to have swooped on the security men at the farm who had by now equally sent emissaries to other local security operatives in the town for an apparent reinforcement mission. He added that it was at this period that the Police came into the scene and restored the much needed normalcy to the area.
The state Police Commissioner, Tuesday Assayomo, has appealed to concerned parties in the case to allow the Police to perform its functions in the matter, and urged them to sustain the existing harmonious relationship among residents of the state, for accelerated socio, political and economic developments.
“The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that a WhatsApp message that went viral on Christmas day to the effect that a large number of unknown gunmen have overwhelmed the security at a farm known as ABC FARM and locked up all the workers in the farm security post situated at Elega town, Asa Local Council of Kwara State, was untrue and a figment of the imagination of the writer.
The true story was that, on 25/12/2021 at about 2200hrs, one Alhaji Usman Shehu ‘m’ Garkuawan Fulani of Afon, reported at Afon Police station that one Yau Ibrahim ‘m’ 20yrs of Elega village via Afon, went out grazing his cattles in the morning, at about 1700hrs, all the cattles returned to their camp without Yau the herder.
A search party was organised by his kinsmen to look for him, in the course of the search, his corpse was discovered in the bush with his hands tied to his back and his legs equally tied, he was also found blindfolded with a clothing material.
The lifeless body was recovered by the police and taken to the hospital for autopsy, while the suspect arrested is currently undergoing interrogation. Discreet investigation into the matter has commenced.
The herders suspected that the killers of their brother were among the security men in the farm, hence they went to the farm.
The quick response by men of the police Command averted what could have resulted in a serious confrontation. Calm has since been restored.
The Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo wishes to advise members of the public to always avoid spreading unverified stories that could lead to the breakdown of law and order, especially in Kwara State where we are enjoying relative peace.”
Three suspected bandits who escaped Magami area, Zamfara, as a result of heavy security presence have been apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC).
Mr Ikor Oche, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the development at a news conference, said that the suspects were arrested at the state mass transit motor park in Gusau on Monday.
Oche said that the suspects were arrested early in the morning while trying to board a vehicle leaving for Taraba to join other members who had already relocated.
He said: ”Tukur Halilu, 27 years, is from Gabaru Village, Nahuche district, Bugudu Local Government Area of the state, and under a notorious bandits leader, Magajin Kaura”.
According to him, Halilu confirmed to be engaged in cattle rustling in all the villages around the local government.
He said that two other suspects, Mr Hussaini Altine, 40 years, and Mr Abubakar Altine, 60 years, were from Agamalafiya village, Rijiya ward, Gusau Local Government Area.
”Although Abubakar Altine claims innocent, Hussaini confesses to belong to the camp of notorious bandits, Gugurawa,” he said.
The NSCDC spokesperson, however, said that Hussaini Altine had taken part in three different bandits attacks in Kurya, Bagawuri, Agamalafiya and Rijiya.
He added that the suspects were under intensive investigation that could spark further arrest of more suspects before prosecution.
Police in Delta say they have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered ammunition from him.
Spokesman of the police in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, said in Warri that the suspect was arrested on the Ughelli-Warri Expressway.
“Operatives intercepted a motorcycle carrying two persons at about 10 a.m. on Dec, 21. Upon sighting the police, the passenger alighted from the motorcycle and ran into a nearby bush.
After a hot chase, one of the suspects, an 18-year-old was arrested and one locally-made double barrel pistol and 10 live cartridges were recovered from him, Edafe explained.
He added that preliminary investigation showed that the suspect was operating with two other gang members.
“The suspect confessed that he was going after one Kingsley with whom he had money issues after he defrauded a victim of N800,000 through internet fraud.
“He was about going to attack the said Kingsley with the gun when the police intercepted and arrested him,’’ Edafe said.
The police spokesman said that the matter was being investigated adding that a manhunt for the other members of the gang was on-going.
(NAN)
The police has rescued a three-month-old baby and seized sophisticated weapons from bandits in Zamfara.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayuba Elkanah, made this known during an interview with newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday.
He said that the victims were abducted from Ruggar Tudu Village in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Elkanah revealed that the police operatives also arrested three suppliers of hard drugs to bandits, and recovered some items from bandits.
They include one motorcycle, eight AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one Rocket launcherand five magazines.
While giving an update on the activities of the police in the last four months, the police commissioner said the State Police Command has recorded tremendous successes in the ongoing war against banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other crimes in Zamfara.
According to him, the police operatives also recovered 69 cows from bandits in the last four months.
This is even as he reiterated the ban on the use of fireworks in Zamfara with a warning that the police would not spare any person found culpable.
To ensure a hitch-free yuletide season, Elkana assured the people that the police would work in collaboration with other agencies to ensure adequate security in the state.
(NAN)
The Federal government has condemned a video in which Nigerians were being assaulted at a Togolese airport.
It was gathered that the victms were traveling to Nigeria via the Gnassigbe Enyeama International Airport in Togo when securty operatives assaulted them.
A video that went viral over the weekend showed the Nigerians being manhandled by some Togolese security agents.
According to the travellers, they left the US en route to Nigeria and had to stop over in Togo for a connecting flight. However, they were told by the Ethiopian airline authorities that the plane was full so they wouldn’t be continuing the journey. This got the Nigerians angry and they started protesting. The Togolese security agents came in and got them arrested forcefully.
Nigerians who have seen the video condemned the treatment meted on the travellers.
Reacting to the development, the Embassy of Nigeria in Lome, Togo, registered its displeasure with the host country over the maltreatment of the Nigerians stating that it was totally unacceptable and not in accordance with international best practices.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo, Debo Adesina, in a statement released, stated that through concerted efforts by the mission in its engagement with relevant Togolese officials, the matter is being addressed. He stated that immediately the incident was reported, he and his officials were at the airport on Saturday and took up the matter until it was resolved and all the passengers were successfully evacuated on two flights.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esther Sunsuwa also confirmed to The Nation that the matter was resolved Saturday night and the passengers were conveyed to Nigeria the same night.
Watch the viral video of them being manhandled below:
The Supreme Court has upturned the conviction of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned him before a Lagos State High Court for the perversion of justice.
The 18 counts bordered on attempting to pervert the course of justice, offering gratification to a public officer and giving false information to an EFCC official. He was convicted in 2018 on 12 of the counts by Justice Raliatu Adebiyi.
Nwobike was subsequently stripped of his SAN title.
Dissatisfied with his conviction, he appealed the matter but the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction.
However, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Monday quashed the conviction.
The court ruled that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute anyone for the offence of perversion of justice.
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