Miyetti Allah: Presidency replies Ohanaeze on alleged payment of N100b to bandits, kidnappers

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Miyetti Allah: Presidency replies Ohanaeze on alleged payment of N100b to bandits, kidnappers

 

The Presidency has described as an ‘absolute falsehood’ the allegation that the Federal Government gave N100billion to Miyetti Allah, an association of Fulani herders, for ‘dubious reasons’.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

The presidential aide was reacting to comments credited to Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere, who expressed concern about the meeting between the government and Miyetti Allah.

He said: “We are pleased that Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo found our insights worthy of attention even when they disagreed with our view that they, as socio-cultural associations, represent same interests as Miyetti Allah, an association of Fulani herders.

“Miyetti Allah, like any other trade, community, ethnic organization or interest group is a legal stake holder in our nation and should be respected.

“We maintain that the government needs to engage all stakeholders and seek partnership in building our country.

”The activities of Miyetti Allah do not benefit selected ethnicities or Muslims only, but everyone.

“Long before petroleum became the core of Nigerian economy, agriculture was the main source of Nigerian wealth. Cattle, hides and skin were a major part of Nigerian export.

“It is right to state that there are criminals among every group in Nigeria and in every country. There are criminals among the northern population as there are in the southern part of the country.

“It is not good to generalise blames. The government will engage each stakeholder and create dialogue between, and among, different groups.”

Shehu, therefore, maintained that both socio-cultural groups should not have insisted that government should not to talk to Miyetti Allah.

He added that the meeting was necessitated by ”the need to address and engage Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, cultural and economic plurality that was evident when General Yakubu Gowon introduced National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“The need to engage all groups of Nigeria is as much relevant today as it was then.

“The Presidency’s position is that President Buhari’s government is equipped to address these issues.”

According to him, the security challenges faced by Nigeria today make the task of addressing the issues very urgent.

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Abducted VOA Staff's Wife And Child Freed

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Abducted VOA Staff's Wife And Child Freed 

The wife and child of a reporter with the Voice of America, VOA, Malam Nasir Birnin-Yero,who were kidnapped, have regained freedom.

It was reported that they were kidnapped by gunmen on Wednesday.

A member of staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), was killed in the process of the kidnap.

Their release was confirmed by the VOA’s reporter, Malam Nasir Birnin-Yero, on Saturday in Kaduna.

Birnin-Yaro told News Agency of Nigeria that they were released at 9:00 pm on Friday at Sabon Birni, a village near Kaduna International airport.

“When the abductors contacted me they demanded N12 million as the ransom for their release.

“The abductors told me they came to kidnap me but they didn’t find me, so if I want to see my family I must pay the money or I will never see them.

“But we pleaded with them and they later agreed to take N2 million which we paid before they were released,’’ he said.

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Kidnap Kingpin Evans Asks Court To Quash Kidnapping Charges Against Him

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Kidnap Kingpin Evans Asks Court To Quash Kidnapping Charges Against Him

For the third time, alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans has asked a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere to quash the two separate charges filed against him by the Lagos State Government which borders on kidnapping.

Evans kicked against the new five-count charge filed by the Lagos State Government bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder against him and three others.

Evans is charged alongside Joseph Ikenna Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

In the second charge, Evans is being charged alongside Joseph Ikenna Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, the counsel to Evans Olukoya Ogungbeje informed the court that he has a motion on notice to quash all the two count charges filed against the first defendant, dated November 22, 2017.

Ogungbeje said that ‎all the two count charges contained in the information/ charge and the proof of evidence before the court does not disclose any prima facie case against the first defendant/applicant.

Ogungbeje said that all the count charges are grossly defective, incompetent and constitute an abuse of court processes.

He also stated that the prosecution/ respondent had earlier filed similar charges and amended charges bordering on kidnapping against the same first defendant/applicant in Charge No: ID/ 5970C/2017, Charge No: ID/5962C/2017, Charge ‎No: ID/5964C/2017 and Charge No :ID/5958C/2017, between the State VS Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike &others pending before the same High Court of Lagos State.

It also stated in the 12 paragraphs affidavit that the two count charges are oppressive, prejudicial, grossly defective and an abuse of court process, adding that all the count charged are brought in bad faith to harass, oppress, hound, frustrate, vex and intimidate the first defendant.

Ogungbeje further said that the present charge before the court is a calculated attempt to oppress, revenge, hound, frustrate, vex and ensure that a charge is pending against the first defendant/ applicant at every point in time.

He said that there is no prima facie case in the proof of evidence linking the first defendant/applicant to the alleged offences and that the proof of evidence does not disclose any offence against the first defendant.

“It will be in the interest of Justice if all the two count charges are quashed and the defendant/applicant is accordingly discharged.

‎In her response, the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, said there are sufficient proof and evidence linked to the first defendant and urged the court to dismiss the application.

She also stated that the said charge is premised on the applicant’s involvement in the kidnapping of Okereafor and collecting ransom in the sum of $2million, from his family.

Meanwhile the second defendant Joseph Ikenna Emeka also urged the court in a motion on notice, to quash the two-count charge contained in the information preferred against him, as the proof of evidence does not disclose a prima facie case against him.

Emeka through his counsel O. Ogu said that there is nothing in the proof of evidence linking the second defendant /applicant with the alleged offences whatsoever.

Consequently, Justice Akintoye adjourned ruling on the applications to March 22.

The alleged kidnap kingpin was arrested on June 10.

Evans was in August 2017 arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at an Ikeja High Court over the kidnapping.

He has also been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Igbosere High Court, Lagos.

Source – NaijaExclusive

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Anambra Child Trafficking Syndicate Busted By NAPTIP

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Anambra Child Trafficking Syndicate Busted By NAPTIP

The baby factory syndicate after they were caught

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons on Wednesday said it arrested 11 persons over suspected child trafficking, abduction and sale of children in Anambra State.

Mr Josiah Emerole, the NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Emerole stated that the suspects were nabbed in different parts of Anambra in a combined operation carried out with the support of operatives of Directorate of the State Services.

He noted that the suspects, comprising eight women and three men, were said to belong to  a criminal syndicate which specialised in kidnapping and sale of babies across the country.

The spokesperson disclosed that three children whose ages range from eight months to four years old were recovered during the operation, while scores of other children believed to be trafficked by the gang were yet to be found.

According to him, among the children is a two-year-old girl reportedly stolen from Lagos sometime ago and another four-year-old boy allegedly stolen from his parents in Gudaba in FCT.

He added that the boy’s parents were yet to be traced to collect the child.

“The parents of the eight months old child are yet to be traced, while the two years old child whose four year old brother is yet to be recovered has been identified by her parents.

“The baby was stolen from Okpoko in Anambra and recovered in Lagos.”

He said one of the arrested suspects, Rosemary Okafor, 30, allegedly sold one of her four children, a newborn baby, to one woman simply identified as Madam Pink at the cost of N350,000.

-NAN

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Gunmen Kill An FRSC Officer, Abduct A Mother And Child

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Commotion In Kaduna As Gunmen Kill An FRSC Officer, Abduct A Mother And Child

According to a report by The Nation, some unknown gunmen yesterday in Kaduna abducted the wife and child of a Voice of America (VOA) reporter.

The abductors killed an official of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), who attempted to help the victims.

The reporter, Malam Nasir Birnin-Yero, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that about 30 men attacked his residence in Birnin Yero, near Kaduna at about 1:30 am.

“They came to my house at about 1:30 am. I was not at home. They forced themselves into my house and asked my wife of my whereabouts and she told them I was not at home.

“They vandalised my television set and refrigerator before taking my wife and son away, insisting that they must take them to where I was.

“One of my neighbours, who works with the FRSC, Mr. Sabitu Abdulhamid, was shot dead when he rushed out in an attempt to save my family.

“The kidnappers have not made any contact yet,” Birnin-Yero said

Kaduna State FRSC Sector Commander Umar Ibrahim confirmed the death of the corps personnel.

Ibrahim described the deceased as a very hard working person, who was also a member of the community’s vigilante.

“I am just coming back from the burial. It is a sad day for members of his family and the entire FRSC family, “the sector commander said.

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MIRACULOUS: Rescued Kidnapped Pregnant Woman Gave Birth Minutes After (Photos)

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MIRACULOUS: Rescued Kidnapped Pregnant Woman Gave Birth Minutes After (Photos)

A Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) team on Sunday morning rescued a pregnant woman from suspected kidnappers in Badagry, Lagos.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement on Sunday that the woman gave birth to a baby boy immediately after she was rescued “At about 7:30 a.m on Sunday Feb. 25, 2018, a team from the Badagry Unit of FRSC led by Assistant Route Commander, Peace Danboyi, accosted a vehicle with registration number KTU 356 CE at AP Filling station before Aradagun Bus stop in Badagry, Lagos.

“In the vehicle were two suspected kidnappers (male) and a pregnant woman who was their victim.

“The pregnant woman, who had body injuries, was rescued to Ola-Oki Hospital, Ibereko, where she immediately gave birth to a baby boy,’’ he said.

Kazeem said it took the prompt intervention of soldiers to rescue the suspects from a mob that had attempted to attack the suspected kidnappers

Source – Ebiwalismoment

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Adesua Etomi Forfeit Birthday Bash To Pray For The Abducted Yola Students

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Adesua Etomi Forfeit Birthday Bash To Pray For The Abducted Yola Students 

Adesua Etomi

The Wedding Party actress, Adesua Etomi, who is the pretty wife of R&B singer, Banky Wellington, has made a wish over the missing Yobe schoolgirls as she celebrates her birthday.

Popular Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi is a year older today, February 22nd, but while she celebrates her new age, she has also made a wish amidst all the fanfare.

The Wedding Party actress took to her Instagram party, to ask her fans and all Nigerians to pray for some students of the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) who were recently abducted by Boko Haram terrorists.

The girls went missing on Monday after members of the outlawed group invaded their school in Dapchi, the headquarters of Bursari Local Government Area of Yobe State in North-east Nigeria.

While efforts are still ongoing to rescue them, the actress has pleaded with Nigerians to pray for their safe return.

She wrote: “I am completely overwhelmed. Completely! Thank you to everyone that’s showing me, love, today. As you celebrate me, please take a moment to say a little prayer for the girls that were abducted.

“Let’s pray for their safe return to their families who love them”.

Adesua who clocks 30 today, rose to the limelight in 2014 after her role in ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’.

She has since won the hearts of many with her roles in several other movies including hit movie, The Wedding Party and more recently, her marriage to R&B musician, Banky W.

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