Crime
33 wives of ISWAP fighters killed by Boko Haram
Boko Haram terrorists have slaughtered 33 wives of the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Sambisa Forest, Borno State.This was as the Benue State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, who was kidnapped on Sunday, regained freedom.
The slaughtering of the ISWAP wives was reportedly triggered by the recent killing of Boko Haram Commander, Malam Aboubakar and 15 others in a fierce gun battle in one of the forest camps.
A counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri: “Since December 3, 2022, a top Boko Haram leader in charge of Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Council, Ali Ngulde, has led hundreds of fighters to wage war against ISWAP in the Forest.”
According to military sources, in Maiduguri, the attack commenced with a failed negotiation initiated by Boko Haram commanders, who invited ISWAP and said they were ready to surrender to its leadership.
“Unknown to ISWAP, Ngulde and his team had laid an ambush against them, in which at least 12 of them were killed in Yuwe,” Makama said, adding that others escaped with gunshot wounds into the forest.
Besides, he said the Boko Haram terrorists seized four gun trucks and other weapons of ISWAP and set them ablaze. On how the 33 women were killed, he said: “Shortly after the victory, the Boko Haram fighters mobilised more fighters from Abu Ikilima’s camp at Gaizuwa, Gabchari, Mantari, and Mallum Masari to attack more ISWAP positions in Ukuba, Arra, Sabil Huda and Farisu,” adding that 23 fighters were killed in the multiple clashes.
“A few hours later, a top ISWAP leader, Ba’ana Chingori, called for a declaration of war by leading a handful of fighters to carry out reprisal attacks on Boko Haram in Farisu. The attack paid off as the ISWAP neutralised 15 Boko Haram terrorists, including a unit Commander, Malam Aboubakar (Munzir), and seized seven motorcycles.
“The ISWAP group later retreated and took a position at the Izzah camp.” He continued that the ISWAP fighters moved to Garin Abbah, two kilometres away, and waited for the Boko Haram terrorists.
“Instead of going to meet the ISWAP rivals to continue with the fight, the Boko Haram elements made a detour and headed to where their wives were and killed 33 of them.
“We believe that in the coming days, ISWAP fighters are likely to react to the brutal killing of their wives,” he said.
MEANWHILE, The Guardian gathered that the abductors of the Benue commissioner and three others made contact with the family on Monday night.
The source revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded N 11 million but later cut it down to N5 million. Details of his release were still sketchy as at press time, as it could not be ascertained whether the family or the state government paid ransom.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, confirmed that the commissioner and the three others abducted with him had been released, but did not give details when prodded further. Ogbu and others were kidnapped along the Oturkpo/Ado road on his way back from a thanksgiving Mass in honour of Senator Abba Moro in Oturkpo.
Crime
Court remands 2 brothers for alleged culpable homicide, armed robbery
A Kaduna High Court on Tuesday ordered that two brothers be remanded in a correctional centre for alleged culpable homicide and armed robbery.
The police charged Hamza Jibrin, 27 and Yusuf Jibrin 24, with conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
Justice Aisha Shagari ordered the remand of the defendants, after they pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
Shagari adjourned the matter until Dec. 12 for hearing.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, James Edward, said that the defendants and two others at large, while armed with matchete and other dangerous weapons along Airport Road, Kaduna, on Nov. 7, robbed and caused the death of a 26-year-old man, Rabiu Sani.
He said the defendants stole the deceased’s HP laptop, two cell phones, his wallet which contained two ATM cards and cash sum of N30,000.
Edward said that the offence is punishable under the Robbery and Firearms ( Special Provision) Act LFN, 2004.
The Defence counsel, Habiba Usman, had pleaded with the court to grant her clients bail.
Usman while moving her bail application, urged the court to gtant her client bail on literal terms, adding , that the defendants would be of good behaviour and would not jump bail.
Crime
Trader bags 9 months jail term for attempted theft
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced a 20-year-old trader, Darwang Chung, to nine months in prison for attempted theft.
Chung, who resides at Gyel in Jos South, pleaded guilty to the one count charge of attempted theft.
The Magistrate, Mr Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos, in his judgement, gave the convict an option of N30,000 fine, or to risk six months in prison and a compensation of N15,000 or another 3 months in prison in default.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Labaran Ahmed, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 6, at the”B” Division Police Station by one Yohanna Dalyop, the complainant.
Ahmed said the convict jumped over the fence into the house of the complainant and was caught.
He said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code Law.
Crime
Special Fraud Unit arraigns suspect for cybercrime
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police, on Tuesday arraigned a defendant before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged unlawful interception of digital infrastructure.
The defendant, Ayodeji Oyenekan, was charged before Justice A. Aluko, on a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
He, however. pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Mr M. Y. Bello, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in February 2022.
He, alleged that the defendant intentionally and without authorisation, intercepted digital infrastructure server hosted by Amazon Web Services, property of Meplaylist Classic Entertainment.
According to the prosecution, the defendant caused the said Meplaylist Classic Entertainment Ltd. loss of property, by altering Amazon Web services, which restricted the rightful owner access to its server.
He alleged that the defendant inputted his email address ayodeji.oye@meplaylist.com, and allegedly built a mobility startup called Hellobikee, for purposes of conferring economic benefits to himself.
The defendant was also alleged to have fraudulently made use of the electronic unique identification feature of Meplaylist, through his email, for purposes of conferring economic benefits to himself.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 12(1), 16(1), and 22(2)(a) of the Cybercrime ( Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015.
The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
The court held that the defendant shall remain in the correctional facility, pending perfection of all conditions of bail as spelt out by the court.
He adjourned the case until Jan. 21, 2025, for trial.
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