01/03/18

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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

Protesting residents booed and stoned Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, as government drafted troops to quell the massive protest and to prevent mayhem.
The governor had gone to placate the restive youths at Wurukum where the protest was taking place in Makurdi on Wednesday.
Reports say that soldiers from 72 battalion north bank were currently engaging the protesting youths and some two protesters have been wounded.
Residents early on Wednesday trooped out in their thousands to protest against the January 2, herdsmen’s attack on farmers in which 20 people were killed.
The protesters are calling on the presidency to bring the culprits to book.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Presidential Intervention needed”, “Why value cows to Humans”, and “Stop this incessant blood bath”.
Some of them chanted, “We will not vote for the present administration again both the State and Federal level if this crises don’t stop”.
The Latest Reality Metro reports that the protests involved mostly youths who barricaded major roads leading in and out of Makurdi, the state capital.
The youth have vowed not to leave the streets until the presidency spoke on the killings.
They were also asking government to intervene in the series of other attacks on some rural communities by armed herdsmen.
Mr Terhemen Anum, told LR News on Wednesday that residents of Guma and Logo local government areas have yet to determine number of peasant farmers, women, children and the aged inclusive that were killed.
Also Mrs Ruth Agba said the killing of Benue farmers, and destruction to their homes and farms were not different from Boko Haram activities in the northeast.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue told journalists on Tuesday that 20 people were killed in the mayhem.
Ortom called on the Federal Government to wade into the matter so as to avert further destruction of lives and property.
Meanwhile, the Police in Benue have confirmed the arrest of eight herdsmen in connection of the New Year Day’s attacks in Guma and Logo Local Governments.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Moses Yamu, said on Wednesday in Makurdi, “eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, have been arrested in connection with the attacks”.
He added that the command has made additional deployments to the troubled area to forestall further attacks and restore confidence of the people.
Yamu stressed the situation in the two local government areas had been brought under control while investigation was on-going.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

Hundreds of youths on Wednesday stormed the popular Food Basket Roundabout in Makurdi to protest the alleged killing of at least 33 people by herdsmen in Benue State.

The protest led to a gridlock in the area, causing traffic obstruction for motorists travelling through the state capital to the north and southern regions of the country.

The aggrieved youths have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in what they described as “terrorist killings” in their state.


Some of them were in tears as a vehicle conveyed another corpse into the crowd to prove their claims of the ongoing killings, following a reported attack which occurred on Tuesday night.

The protest came barely 24 hours after the State Security Council meeting which held at the Government House in the state capital.

Addressing reporters shortly after the meeting on Tuesday, the state governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, said he had received reports of 20 persons allegedly killed by herdsmen in the state.

During an on-the-spot assessment visit to some of the affected communities, Governor Ortom said an additional 13 deaths were discovered, taking the number of those killed to 33.

The governor, who was addressing some members of the affected communities, said: “Mr President has been briefed about this development, all the security chiefs have been briefed, and our Security Council today directed that security men should come and protect lives and property in this community.

“So I want to appeal to you to be calm, to be law-abiding, and there is no going back on the law that we signed; by the grace of God, it will be implemented.”

The killing of another resident following Tuesday’s reported attack sparked the protest by the youths who have asked the President to come to their rescue.


In a bid to contain the protest, personnel of the Nigerian Police and Nigerian Army were caught up in a faceoff with the irate youths who insist on occupying the road all through the week.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.

The Police in Taraba on Wednesday called for calm following the abduction of Mr Hosea Ibi,  a member of the Taraba House of Assembly by gunmen four days ago.
Spokesman of the police command in the state, Mr David Misal (ASP), told the Latest Reality Metro in Jalingo that the police were doing their best possible to ensure the lawmaker was released unhurt.
Misal said that the police had intensified search for the lawmaker and his captors, adding that significant progress had been made in the operation.
READ ALSO: Police Dismiss Nine Cops Demote 25, Punish 60
He said that giving more information about the operation to the public would jeopardize police investigation.
“The update we have is not for public consumption in the interest of the security and the safety of the lawmaker.
“I am sure you are aware that all the ears of the kidnappers are open to hear what we will say so that they can restrategize and sabotage our efforts.
“Whenever we secure his release, we will inform the public,” Misal said.
Ibi was abducted by gunmen in Takum, headquarters of Takum Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmaker, who represents Takum 1 Constituency, was abducted in his mothers’ house on Dec. 30, 2017.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.
(L) Mrs Margaret Emefiele & (R) Mr Godwin Emefiele



Two soldiers were involved in the September 2016 kidnapping of Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, wife of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, a police report accompanying the amended charges filed against the suspects have shown.

The report sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday indicated that the two soldiers, Musa Maidagara and Edwin George, were arrested by the police, court-martialled and dismissed by the army authorities before they were later handed over for prosecution.

The report stated that Maidabara and George and another soldier earlier dismissed by the army authorities, Ernest Udelefe, were recruited to participate in the crime by the leader of the kidnap suspects, Mohammed Yusuf (also known as Dogo).

It stated that the soldiers were recruited by Yusuf to escort him and other suspects away from the crime scene at Ugoneki village, along the Benin/Asaba Expressway on September 28, 2016.

The two soldiers were said to have, in their military uniform, escorted the suspects and paid their shares of the N80m ransom received from the family of Margaret and other victims.

The report stated, “That the three military men (including the earlier dismissed one), knowing that the suspects might have committed a serious crime, aided them to escape from the crime scene by providing escort for them and they did so while dressed in military uniform.”

The report added, “That the two serving soldiers involved have been court-martialled by the army authorities, dismissed and handed over to the police for prosecution.”

The Federal Government had since charged the three former soldiers alongside other suspects with hostage-taking offences under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.

They were also specifically accused of, among other offences, of impersonating the character of army officers, since they were said to have used their uniforms to carry out an illegal act.

On December 6, 2017 the prosecution filed the amended hostage-taking charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja against four surviving suspects, who, in September 2016, allegedly  kidnapped the wife of the CBN governor.

The amendment followed the death of one other suspect, Umar Abubakar, who was said to have died while receiving treatment for bullet wounds he sustained in a gun duel with the police while trying to escape arrest in 2016.

All the five suspects had been in the custody of the police since their arrest, but Abubakar, alias Kiriwa, was said to have been moved to a hospital where the government said he died in November 2017.

The four surviving suspects — Mohammed Yusuf, Edwin George, Musa Maidabara, and Ernest Uduefe — were scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.

The police produced the four in court for the December 5, 2017 proceedings during which the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aminu Alilu of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, announced Abubakar’s death to the trial judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri.

All the defendants and Abubakar were initially charged with five counts of hostage taking on July 7, 2017.

However, following the development of Abubakar’s death, the judge directed the prosecution to amend the charges to reflect the names of only the surviving defendants.

On December 6, the prosecution filed the amended charges retaining the same number of counts and all other particulars of the charges, except the name of Abubakar that was removed.

In the five counts filed against the defendants, the prosecution alleged that the late Abubakar and the four other defendants took hostage of Margaret along with others in her entourage — Odion Anthony, Ngozi Omoile, Uju Anthony and Gladys Omoile — at Ugoneki village, along the Benin/Asaba Expressway on September 28, 2016.

The AGF filed five counts under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 against the alleged kidnappers.

The defendants were said to have demanded N100m ransom from the victims’ family members, but upon a negotiation, reduced it to N80m, which they allegedly took before releasing the victims.

The three former soldiers — George, Maidabara and Uduefe — were accused in count four, of aiding and abetting the act of hostage taking.

In count five, the three were accused of impersonating army officers “with the intent to deceive while aiding and abetting hostage taking.”

The offence of conspiracy is said to be contrary to section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, and punishable under the same section of the Act.

The prosecution also alleged that the defendants’ act of hostage taking in counts two and three constituted an offence of terrorism contrary to section 15(1) of the Act and punishable under the same section.

The offence of “unlawful assumption of character of officer of a security agency” is said to be contrary to section 22 and punishable under the same section.

Justice Quadri has fixed January 25 for the arraignment of the surviving defendants.
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Operatives of the police units from the Lagos Police Command stormed Ayegbami Quarters, Imosan-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Tuesday, and arrested a herbalist allegedly behind Badoo attacks, Fatai Adebayo.

The team, which included men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Rapid Response Squad and Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, was led by the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi.

Panic-stricken residents watched as the police laid siege to Adebayo’s shrine enclosed in a wooden structure.

According to the police, Badoo members usually meet at the shrine to swear an oath of secrecy before going on deadly operations in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Within the shrine, our correspondent observed ritual paraphernalia, including grinding stones, small gourds, rosaries, and bottles of different sizes housing ground substances.

Imohimi told journalists that one of the Badoo suspects arrested last week mentioned Adebayo as an accomplice and led the team to the shrine. He said the unnamed kingpin of the group had also been arrested.

He said, “Over the weekend, we had far-reaching achievements in the fight against these killers in Ikorodu, who some people call Badoo. The head of the group has been arrested. We arrested him on waterways as he was escaping. All the suspects are with us.

“One of them confessed that before they go for any killing, the head of the group would take them to the herbalist to swear an oath and get the stones they use for their killings. According to him, they don’t go for any killing without taking the oaths in the shrine. The herbalist is an accomplice.

“I can assure the people of Ikorodu and Lagosians at large that we will not rest until this evil is completely rooted out of Lagos State.”

However, Imohimi stopped reporters from interviewing Adebayo, saying it would be allowed during a press briefing on Thursday.

In a dramatic turn of events, the suspect flashed a smile as he was asked to hold one of the grinding stones recovered from the shrine.

He protested that he was not involved in ritual killings, saying, “I don’t understand English, but the stones are used for grinding peppers and herbs.”

His wife and mother burst into tears as the herbalist was taken away by the police

The mother, Toyin Ogunyemi, who spoke to Latest Reality Metro in Yoruba, said, “He (Adebayo) is my first child. He is a herbalist. He is not a thief and he does not kill. He prepares charms for ailing people, those seeking jobs and traders. He uses the stones to grind herbs for his customers. His wife also helps him to grind.”

 Another mild drama unfolded when the CP, Imohimi, visited the Imosan traditional ruler, Chief Tajudeen Muili, to inform him of Adebayo’s arrest.

Muili, the Ija Oloko of Imosan, said he frowned on crime.

However, when he requested that he should be allowed to speak to the suspect on the alleged offence that he was arrested for, Imohimi cleverly turned down the request, saying investigations were ongoing.

He collected the monarch’s phone number and promised to update him as the investigations progressed.

The team consequently returned to Adebayo’s residence and destroyed the shrine.

It will be recalled that Badoo had been unleashing terror on residents of Ikorodu and environs, wiping out families.

The activities of the gang were curtailed a few months ago while peace returned to the troubled communities.

However, the gang renewed its attacks recently in communities around Ikorodu.

In one of the recent strikes, the ritual cult killed a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Fingers of God Parish, Victor Kanayo, in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.

Kanayo’s wife and child were said to be unconscious and were admitted to the Ikorodu General Hospital.

On December 22, Latest Reality Metro also reported that the assailants attacked a family in Itesiwaju Community Development Area, Ibeshe, Ikorodu, killing a man, his son and sister-in-law and injuring his wife.

The latest attack happened on December 30, on Alajo Street, Abule Osorun, Ibeshe, where the gang smashed the heads of a couple and injured their five-month-old baby.

The husband, Sakiru Yekini, popularly known as Shako, gave up the ghost the following day at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, while his wife and the baby are still undergoing treatment.

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The Lagos State Police Command says it has dismissed nine policemen found culpable of various offences.

The command stated that 25 other cops were demoted for offences bordering on drunkenness, gross insubordination and incivility, among others.

The police, however, did not reveal the names of the erring cops and declined our correspondent’s request for their identities.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, in a statement on Tuesday, said 60 rank-and-file policemen also faced disciplinary action for misconduct.

The statement read, “In keeping with the promise he made to the people of Lagos State on assumption of office that there will be no room for corrupt and undisciplined police officers under his watch, the Lagos State Police Command hereby releases to the general public the breakdown in figures of police personnel punished for various disciplinary offences between the months of September and December 2017.

“Nine officers were dismissed for offences ranging from discreditable conduct, corrupt practices, disobedience to lawful order and falsehood.

“Twenty five were reduced in ranks for offences ranging from gross insubordination, drunkenness, incivility to members of the public and leaving beats.

“A total of 60 inspectors and rank-and-file policemen were punished for major and minor offences.”

The statement quoted the CP, Edgal Imohimi, as saying the punishment would serve as a deterrent to other policemen who might want to “toe the path of ignominy.”

“The CP added that officers who played by the rules would be encouraged,” the statement added.
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.



The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday called on the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to rise up to his responsibility and secure the state or resign.

Amaechi, who is also a former governor of the state, said this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Wike Stakes N200m On Killers Of 16 In Omoku

He was reacting to the killing of 17 residents of the state on their way back from New Year’s Eve service.

“It never happened when I was governor. We (the security chiefs and myself) ensured that we didn’t sleep at night. We stayed awake for the citizens to sleep. I think the governor needs to do much more than that or quit the office,” he said.

The minister said the governor needed to be more serious and stop encouraging militant groups in the name of politics and election.

He said while the killing of the 17 residents was in public domain, two other persons were killed in Akutoru.

He alleged that a similar scenario was playing out in other local government areas in the state.

Amaechi added, “I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a governor because it takes much more than age.

“I was governor of Rivers State; I did not play the PDP/APC politics. Life is life, it has no symbol. Nobody has APC life or PDP life.

“The first responsibility of a governor which is what the oath of office requires, is that you swear to protect lives and property.

“When you don’t protect life and property, what do you do? It is impeachment. Unfortunately, there is no House of Assembly in Rivers State.

“There is too much noise coming from Rivers State. The governor just wakes up and starts shouting, abusing people. That is all he does; Mr. Project painting roads.

“The first thing you do is human capacity development and keeping human beings, but we are losing lives every day.”

The minister said Wike had no reason not to secure the state because he had everything working for him.

“I just don’t know because the things are there for him to work with. He is not like me when during my second term, President Goodluck Jonathan took away the police and the DSS. The army brigade commander couldn’t visit me.

“But in his case, everyone is disposed to him. He can see the Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, unlike my period, but we fought insecurity.

“Because he needs these people for election purpose; that is why they are still there, that is why they are killing; we need much more than that.

“Unfortunately, I swore not to talk about Rivers anymore but you don’t keep quiet in the face of 17 lives, you can’t just keep quiet.

“I have said it that nobody should criticise his successor. Let him do his bit. But a successor that watches the lives of people go like that and does not care? God will bless him,” he said.
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