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Police arrest 10 Boko Haram suspects in Zaria

From Isa Sa’idu, Zaria

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested 10 suspected Boko Haram

members in Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari, Zaria.

Speaking with Daily Trust yesterday, police area commander in charge

of Zaria, Muhammad D. Shehu, said the police acted on intelligence

report that led to the arrest.

“Some good Samaritans volunteered information to us on the activities

of the suspects. We immediately mobilised with about 100 mobile police

and we successfully surrounded the house the suspects were living in.

We were able to apprehend them and they are in our custody at our

headquarters,” Shehu said.

He explained that preliminary interrogation had shown that the

suspects were formally at Darul Islam in Niger state, and when the

settlement was sacked by the then state government, they moved to

Sambisa forest to join Boko Haram.

Shehu said the ongoing onslaught by Armed Forces in the Northeast

forced the suspects to relocate to Zaria.

“Only God knows their mission here in Zaria, but my chat with them

revealed that the guys were notorious. There was no sign of remorse

with them. They were insisting that what they were doing was the right

thing to do. This is why we are urging Nigerians to be wary of the

people they live with in their communities and report any suspicious

movement to security agencies,” Shehu said.

7 vandals arrested, abducted woman released in Benue

From Hope Abah, Makurdi

The Police in Benue state have arrested seven people in connection with pipeline vandalism in Adiga village of Okpokwu local government area in Benue state.

In another development, a woman who was abducted in Ohimini area of the state has been rescued by the police, but no arrest was made in the process.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Moses Yamu confirmed yesterday that the seven suspected vandals were arrested with weighing machine and diggers, among other instruments used for puncturing petroleum products pipelines.

He said that while the abducted woman was released unhurt through the effort of personnel of the command, investigation had commenced on the suspected vandals.

Customers stranded as banks protest Kogi govt policy

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

Customers were yesterday stranded at the branches of various commercial banks in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital and other parts of the state following a strike action embarked upon by the financial institutions.

Daily Trust gathered that all branches of the over 14 commercial banks across the state with the exception of Zenith and Access banks were directed by their headquarters to embark on strike to protest against a recent policy of the state government which reportedly excluded them.

Our correspondent reports that the decision of the state government to open new salary accounts only at Zenith and Access banks for all workers in its employ has been generating bad blood amongst the financial institutions in the state.

A customer, Sani Rosemary, who was at the UBA to make some transactions, expressed displeasure with the development and appealed to the banks and government to address their differences in order not to subject customers to hardship.

Governor Yahaya Bello, while speaking recently through his Chief Press Secretary Mr Kingsley Fanwo, said the choice of the two banks was meant to streamline the wage system of the workforce and ensure only genuine workers are paid from the coffers of government.

Bricklayer to die by hanging over N850,000 robbery

From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced to death by

hanging a ?bricklayer, Femi Adebowale, having been found guilty of

conspiracy and robbery to the tune of N850,000?.

?

While delivering his ruling, the presiding judge, ?

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye said after considering submissions by both

prosecution and defence counsels, she found Adebowale guilty of the

four-count charge slammed against him.

“?In accordance with the provision of the law, you are hereby

sentenced to death by hanging on the neck. May the Lord have mercy on

us,” Ipaye said.

?

Prosecution counsel, Mr. Akin George had accused Adebowale of robbing

one Alhaja Amudalat Olowo-Eyo of her gold jewelleries valued at over

N500,000.00 and N350,000.00 cash at gunpoint

by the midnight of December 28, 2012 ?at 10, Aiyetolu street, Abule Egba,

Lagos.?

?

Adebowale was said to have carried out the act alongside

others now at large.

??

The complainant, Alhaja Olowo-Eyo had told the

court that she was able to identify the

convict as being one of the bricklayers brought in by her landlord for

the renovation of the house two days before the incident. ?

Prison warden attacks journalists for taking convict photograph

From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos

?

A mild drama played out at the premises of a Lagos State High Court

in Ikeja yesterday when an armed robbery convict, Femi

Adebowale, was being led to an awaiting van and judicial reporter with

the Nation newspaper, Adebisi Onanuga and Gbenga Adewoye of AIT were

attacked by a prison warden, A.A Teriba.

?

The incident took place around ?the motor park adjacent to the Skye

?Bank within the court premises.?

?

Daily Trust correspondent ?observed that in an attempt to prevent the

photograph of the convict being taken while being led to an awaiting

van, Teriba decided to let go of the convict whom he was holding

while he rushed at Onanuga, punching him repeatedly on the chest.

?The prison warden thereafter ordered Onanuga to give him the

Blackberry phone he used to snap the photograph. ?In the scuffle that

ensued, the warden tore the reporter’s shirt.?

?

And when Onanuga gave the phone to a colleague, Gbenga Adewoye of the

AIT/RayPower, Teriba turned his attention to him and punched him also

on the chest in an attempt to forcibly take the phone from him.

?

?It took the intervention of the State Director, Directorate of Public

Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Idowu Alakija to calm frayed nerves.

?

Kano woman’s killing: Court to decide bail application July 20

From Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano

A magistrates’ court in Kano yesterday adjourned to July 20 the ruling on the

bail application by the counsel of the five accused persons arraigned before it for allegedly killing a trader, Bridget Agbahime.

Mrs. Agbahime was killed early this month, June 2, by some hoodlums at Kofar-Wambai market in Kano city for allegedly pronouncing blasphemous statements against the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW).

The accused persons, Dauda Ahmad, Abdulmumini Mustpha, Zubairu Abubakar,

Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi were charged for inciting public disturbance, joint act, culpable homicide and mischief, contrary to sections 114, 80, 221 and 327 of the Penal Code Law.

When the case came up yesterday, the prosecution Counsel, Ekwe Sunday told

the court that police were still investigating the case.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Muhammad Aminu, adjourned further delibeations to July

20, 2016.

Wike leads security agents to demolish cultist’s hideout

From Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday supervised the demolition of the home and hideout of a notorious suspected cultist and kidnapper, Munachim Ihunwo in Rumuolumini, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

He was accompanied by soldiers and policemen.

Wike said his administration was determined to rid the state of cultists and kidnappers, adding that the demolition of the property was in line with the state anti-kidnapping law.

The governor who said no criminals would be spared, stressed, “This is to let members of the public know that this administration is serious. We will chase criminals to their hideouts and remove them.”