Two notorious traffic robbers, identified as Olumide Oladiji and Lekan Ibrahim, have been arrested in the Agungi Lekki area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred on March 15 at about 7.30pm.

A police source told our correspondent that the suspected robbers posed as beggars on the expressway to steal from motorists plying the road.

The source added that the culprits forcibly retrieved the victim’s phone and gold necklace, adding that the victim alerted the patrol personnel of the Ilasan division stationed at the Jakande roundabout, leading to their arrest.

He said, “A motorist while in the traffic at Agungi Lekki Laguna said that two men who disguised themselves as beggars approached him, and they forcefully collected his phone and his gold necklace. He quickly alerted the patrolmen of the Ilasan Division stationed at the Jakande roundabout, and they swung into action speedily. One Olumide Oladiji and one Lekan Ibrahim were arrested and taken to the station.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Metro, noting that the culprits will be arraigned and that the stolen goods have been recovered.

Hundeyin said, “The stolen items were recovered from them. The two suspects will be arraigned accordingly.”

In January, PUNCH Metro reported that some notorious traffic robbers were arrested in the Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos State. The arrest was made after a tip-off by members of the public.

The hoodlums, numbering about eight, were said to have emerged from under the bridge in a commando style, brandishing dangerous weapons such as machetes, broken bottles, sticks, and jack knives to dispossess innocent members of the public of their valuables inside the traffic in the area.

The Borno Youth Forum has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the former head of the IGP Intelligent Response Team (IGP-IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, on account of his exploits against Boko Haram terrorists and kidnappers in the country.

In an open letter obtained by The Whistler, signed by Ahmed Yusuf, Chairman of the Forum, the group said Kyari’s antecedents speak for him, especially now that the country is experiencing kidnapping and other insecurity situations.

They called on “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to our aid and release DCP Abba Kyari unconditionally. The association is pleading that the government should recognise the outstanding and unprecedented achievements recorded by DCP Abba Kyari when he was the commander of IGP-IRT.

“In Borno State, he and his team ended all the Boko Haram terrorist suicide bombings in the state by arresting all the Boko Haram terrorist Commanders involved in over 130 suicide bombings.”

The Borno Youths said Abba Kyari is the only officer who arrested Boko Haram terrorist members involved in the Chibok Schoolgirls’ kidnapping of 2014.

They said he also arrested the terrorist group that conducted the last bombings in Nyanya and Kuje in 2015, which resulted in many deaths.

The group said: “He also discovered and destroyed two of their bomb-making factories in Niger State, and since that operation, no bombing has been recorded in Abuja.

“We can’t forget his arrest of a very deadly and notorious criminal kingpins across the country like Evans, Godogodo, Vampire, Ade Lawyer, Umar Abdulmalik, Halti, Zakari Yau, Ability, Dabo, Dogo Russia, and others.

“The government also needs to recognize how he suffered and risked his life in maintaining peace, security, and the protection of lives and properties of the citizens of this country.

“DCP Abba Kyari received hundreds of awards within and outside Nigeria due to his tireless and outstanding efforts on promoting security through intelligence-led policing, use of human intelligence, use of technologies and technical intelligence, and cogent strategies in maintaining peace in every nooks and cronies of the country.

“For his service to the nation, he received unprecedented triple IGP Medals for Courage, 2012, 2013, and 2014; commendation award from American FBI 2019, for arresting the killers of a serving American soldier in Imo State, and he led the arrest of the kidnappers of four white Americans in Kaduna State.

“Kyari also arrested the kidnappers of American citizen, George Nathan in Sokoto, and earned the presidential Medal for Courage from President Mohammadu Buhari in April 2016.

“Due to his exploits, which you were well aware of, sir, he was awarded Outstanding Service to the Nation from the National Assembly in June 2020 amongst many other unprecedented awards.

“DCP Abba Kyari’s contributions towards Nigeria are uncountable, which ultimately erase whatever kind of allegations levels against him.

“The weight of his contributions and achievement to this nation is a thousand times more than the false allegations against him which is even a malicious set up and personal vendetta, and a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and integrity in the eyes of peace loving Nigerians.

“In this regard, the initiators of these allegations failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. In totality, DCP Abba Kyari has no case to answer, but rather, the initiators of these allegations were dragging the matter due to lack of substantive evidence to produce in court.”

Nearly a year and a half after his inauguration, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has finally moved into the state’s government house in Osogbo, the state capital.

Naija News recalls that Governor Adeleke, who was sworn in on November 27, 2022, diverged from the norm established by his predecessors by choosing not to move into the state’s government house immediately.

His decision had drawn criticism, especially from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), but it was defended with the explanation that the Government House was undergoing renovations.

However, on Sunday, a statement from the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, announced the completion of the renovation works, paving the way for Adeleke’s move into the government house.

The renovation encompassed extensive work on the main house, completion of a previously abandoned multi-bedroom guest house, remodelling of several structures, and repairs to numerous facilities that had fallen into disrepair.

During the unveiling ceremony of the refurbished Government House, attended by top state officials, Governor Adeleke affirmed his administration’s commitment to upgrading state assets, regardless of their origin.

“I have upgraded the Government House just as I rehabilitated the Governor’s Office. We ensured the Government House was rescued from the open neglect we inherited,” Adeleke stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining state assets for future generations.

The Governor also highlighted that his administration is not only focusing on completing inherited projects but is also initiating new ones, aiming to fulfil the five-point agenda promised to the citizens of Osun State.

However, reacting to the development, Osun APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal criticized the project as a misplaced priority, especially in light of the economic challenges faced by the state’s residents due to the removal of the federal fuel subsidy.

Lawal accused Governor Adeleke of focusing on less impactful projects while his counterparts in other states were seeking ways to alleviate the economic burden on their citizens.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to put an end to the reprisal attacks by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State.

Falana made this call in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.

Recall that some irate youths of the community reportedly ambushed soldiers who were drafted to the community to stop a communal clash in the area.

Fifteen bodies of the soldiers were recovered by soldiers of the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama community.

Some youths from Okoloba were said to have ambushed and killed three Okuama youths – Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa and Okiemute Agbabuleke, over an age-long land dispute in the area as they were returning from Okwagbe.

In a reprisal attack, some Okuama youths on Wednesday reportedly ambushed one Mr. Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage.

But, operatives of the JTF swiftly swung into action and moved to Okuama to rescue the hostages.

Reacting to the development, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the military to halt the killings of residents while calling for a full probe of the incident.

The senior advocate had, in a statement earlier released on Saturday night, condemned the brutal killing of the soldiers. He had also called for the immediate prosecution of the suspects who were arrested for their involvement in the crime.

Falana said, “Unfortunately, some villages were attacked last night by angry soldiers. After the attack, the villages were set on fire during the nocturnal military invasion.

“Having regard to the destruction of Odi and Zaki Biam over the killing of soldiers, the authorities ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent the attack and burning of the affected villages. It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has not issued any statement on the barbaric incident.

“In view of the tragic turn of events, I call on the military authorities to halt the destruction of the properties of innocent people in the warring communities. It ought to be pointed out that collective punishment is a serious offence under domestic and international law.”

Falana further stated, “Therefore, the Delta State Government should ensure that the murder suspects and arsonists among the civilians and soldiers are fished out and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in the society.

“Once again, I commiserate with the bereaved families of the slain officers and soldiers. Since they were brutally killed in the course of duty, the Federal Government and the Delta State Government should compensate the dependants of the deceased military officers and soldiers. Compensation should also be extended to the victims of reprisal attacks by angry soldiers.”

Meanwhile, on 14th March 2024, the troops of the 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on peace mission to Okuoma community in Delta State were surrounded by some irate community youths.

In the unprovoked attack that ensued, the Commanding Officer, 2 Majors, a Captain, and 12 Solders were reported to have been brutalised and murdered in a gruesome manner.

Reacting to the incident, Falana stated, “We join the members of the civilised humanity in condemning the brutality meted out to the military officers and soldiers as they were deployed for peace keeping mission to resolve the crisis in two warring communities in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta state.

“We are , however, pleased to note that the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

“Having regard to the massacre of innocent people when the military invaded Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State in similar circumstances, we commend the military authorities for resisting the temptation to subject the two warring communities to a reprisal attack. By all means, the army should avoid a repeat of the history of having multiple tragedies.

“We have confirmed that in line with the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Gwabim Musa, some of the gunmen involved in the heinous crime have been arrested. The Delta State Government, the respective local governments, and the leaders of two warring communities should assist the police to identify and isolate the remaining reckless murderers and unravel the motive behind the heinous crime.

“While we commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the bereaved families of the slain military officers and soldiers, we call on the Authorities of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted into the case with a view to prosecuting the suspects without any delay,” he stated.

The lawmaker representing Delta South Senatorial District, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has called for a thorough investigation into the murder of 16 military personnel in Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The lawmaker, in a statement on Sunday in Warri, condemned the act and described it as “a crisis taken too far”.

While calling for calm, he noted that the military operatives were on a peace mission to rescue one Mr Anthony Aboh, who was allegedly kidnapped in Okuama Community.

Thomas, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, commiserated with the military authority and families of the slain soldiers.

He called for a holistic investigation to unearth the remote causes of the crisis and urged both the state and federal governments to urgently intervene to prevent it from escalating.

“There is a need for the security agencies to go after the masterminds of the heinous crime.

“There is also the need for the military to tactically deploy intelligence in tracking the masterminds to avoid the killing of innocent people in Okuama Community.

“I commiserate with the military authority, families of the slain soldiers as well as others who may have lost their loved ones to the crisis.

“I urge the people of Okuama Community to assist the military to fish out the killers of the gallant soldiers,” Thomas said.

The Nigerian Army had in a statement issued on Saturday confirmed the death of 16 soldiers in the conflict between the military and youths of the community.

According to the statement issued by the acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, a Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 other soldiers were affected.

A notorious terrorist recently arrested by vigilantes in North-Western part of Nigeria, Mohammed Dikko Radda, has said that he cannot recall the number of people he has killed.

Naija News understands that the terrorist hails from Jajjaye, a village in Katsina State.

In a video clip shared online by counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, the terrorist said he doesn’t look back to count numbers of casualties whenever he his shooting his victims.

“My name is Mohammed Dikko Radda, from Jajjaye village in Katsina state. I used an AK47 rifle during operations.

“Actually, I can’t remember whether I’ve killed or how many people I have killed because once I shoot, I don’t look back to see whether the victims are dead or not.

“I’ve participated in a couple of kidnap operations in about two communities. I can remember attacking Bargaji and Sabon Gari communities,” the terrorist confessed.

A Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator in Lagos State has successfully foiled a customer’s attempt to carry out a transaction using counterfeit naira notes.

The customer, identified as Linda Ihebinike, attempted to use counterfeit N1,000 notes to complete a transaction totalling N90,000. The PoS operator’s alertness played a crucial role in preventing the fraudulent activity.

Naija News reports that the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, shared details of the incident on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, commending the PoS operator’s vigilance.

“A vigilant POS operator raised the alarm after a customer, Linda Ihebinike, attempted carrying out a transaction with fake N1,000 notes to the tune of N90,000. Investigation is ongoing,” Hundeyin wrote.

Hundeyin further disclosed that the Lagos State Police are currently conducting an investigation to unravel further details and possibly apprehend those behind the circulation of the counterfeit notes.

Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, the popular Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Mayorkun, has bemoaned the worsening economic hardship in the country.

He lamented that no aspect of the Nigerian economy is functioning properly.

The singer lamented how low the country had sunk.

On his X handle, Mayorkun wrote, “Bruh! Nothing dey work! What a place my God.”

Mayorkun is the latest celebrity to lend his voice to the public outcry for urgent economic reforms in the country.

Egba Onisowurun Nduoma, a 300-level Accounting student of the University of Port Harcourt, has died under mysterious circumstances.

It was gathered that Egba, who stayed in Mandela Hostel, Block B, room 201, was found dead at the Delta bus/taxi park on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The cause of the student’s death is unknown at the time of filing this report.

His remains have been deposited in the morgue.

It was further learnt that the school management and the Nigeria police have commenced an investigation into the incident.