Crime
Blasphemy: Nigerians demand whereabouts of Deborah Samuel’s killers after one year
It is exactly one year now after Deborah Samuel, a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State was killed , on May 12, 2022, by Islamic extremists over blasphemy allegations against Prophet Mohammed.
Recall that the 200-level student was set ablaze after she reportedly advised her classmates against posting religious contents on their WhatsApp group which was created for academic purposes.
She was later stoned and beaten with sticks by her Muslim school-mates before setting her ablaze, was shared widely on all social media platforms.
A few days after the unfortunate incident that relatively set the country on fire, the Sokoto State Police Command announced the arrest of two suspects in connection to Deborah’s murder.
The suspected murderers, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci were on May 16 docked at a Sokoto Chief Magistrate’s Court for their alleged participation in the crime.
A total number of thirty-four lawyers led by Professor Mansur Ibrahim, allegedly sponsored by some public figures, stormed the court to defend the suspected killers.
A Catholic Priest, Fr Kelvin Ugwu in a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday, asked the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Police Force to tell Nigerians what happened to the suspects.
He wrote, “I am asking the Governor of Sokoto, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, please sir, where are the killers of Deborah? Have you found them? Where did you keep them? What did you do to them?
“I am asking President Muhammadu Buhari, where are the killers? Are they invisible? Have they been arrested?
“And to the Nigeria Police Force, what has happened to the swiftness you normally employ in arresting people who make posts on social media you consider inciting and divisive? What did you do to the killers of Ms Deborah? Where are the killers?”
This is coming amid allegations that even the two suspects who were in May 2022, remanded in the Sokoto Correctional Centre may have been freed.
An On Air Personality, Mr Joseph Adejor also told our correspondent yesterday that “there may be something fishy about how the case died silently.”
“The question is, have they been able to arrest the prime suspect? After the incident, there were reports that the murderer fled to Niger Republic, have they traced him to that country?
“Like my friend always says, Nigeria is just a joke. A human being was burnt to death and nothing happened to the suspects. You remember how a popular politician condemned the incident and later deleted the post. I doubt if those two suspects that they managed to arrest were not freed later”, he lamented.
However, the Spokesperson of the Sokoto Police Command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar said on Thursday that the command had played its part by charging the suspects to court.
He said, “The police as an institution, when we charge a case to the court, it is left for the judge to determine whether the suspect is found guilty or not.
“Our duty as police agency is to conduct investigation, and charge the suspect to court. It is now in the hands of the court to determine the end.
“We as a police, we have played our part. It is now left for the judiciary to do the necessary”.
Asked to clarify the allegations that some of the suspects were freed, the PPRO said,
“If there is any allegation that the suspects have been freed, I think only the judiciary is in the position to answer that”.
Crime
Immigration Confirms four persons died in Kangiwa Border Attacks
The Nigeria Immigration Service on Sunday, confirmed Friday’s attack by a suspected
terrorist group on border facilities and contractors on site, at the Kangiwa Border in Kangiwa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, which left four dead.
DCI KT Udo, Service PRO Nigeria Immigration, confirmed the development in a statement signed electronically .
It reads: ” The Service regrets that the attack led to the death of four persons; a local watchman and three contractors.
No Immigration officer was killed during the attack.
However, the Service recorded substantial damages on it’s Border facilities.
Our heartfelt condolences goes out to the families of the deceased.
The Service is actively working alongside other sister security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts and bring them to justice.
The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in fulfilling its core mandate of Border Security, aligned with the overarching
objective of enhancing National Security.”
Crime
Naira abuse: EFCC invites billionaire Okoya’s sons
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited Wahab and Raheem Okoya, sons of billionaire businessman, Chief Razaq Okoya, for questioning over alleged naira abuse.
Raheem and Wahab are expected to report to the commission’s Lagos office for questioning on Monday.
The brothers sparked widespread criticism after a video surfaced showing them flaunting and spraying bundles of N1,000 notes in a promotional clip for Raheem’s new song titled “Credit Alert.”
In the video, the duo, dressed in white agbadas, danced while a mobile policeman held stacks of crisp naira notes, which they flung into the air.
The act, perceived by many as disregard for the law, drew condemnation on social media, with some Nigerians expressing doubts about accountability due to their father’s influential status.
The Nigeria Police Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday said the officer seen in the video had been identified and detained.
In an invite signed by the Acting Director of the Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas, the Okoya brothers were directed to report to the Head, Special Operations Team, at 15A Awolowo Road Office of the commission by 10 am on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Confirming the report on Saturday, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said, “Yes, they have been invited.
Although, one of Okoya’s sons, Raheem issued a public apology via his X account, stating, “To the Nigerian people, my actions were not intended to cause any trouble or harm.
My intentions were pure and naive. I ask for your forgiveness and support as I had no intention of raising such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action.”
Crime
IGP Orders Clampdown on Borno Cop-killers
The IGP expresses deep condolences to the families of the deceased officers, affirming that their sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten, as their benefits and entitlements will be immediately paid to their families.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has condemned the explosion attack at Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters, Borno State, on 9th January 2025, at about 12.10am, which led to the death of two police officers -Inspector Bartholomew Kalawa and Corporal Mustapha Huzaifat.
Consequently, the IGP has therefore directed the Zone 15 Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, to mobilize adequate resources and personnel, collaborate with other security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this nefarious act are found and caused to face the full wrath of the law.
The IGP directive is stated in a statement with the Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/329 Date: 10th January, 2025, signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO, Fore Headquarters Abuja.
The IGP expresses deep condolences to the families of the deceased officers, affirming that their sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten, as their benefits and entitlements will be immediately paid to their families.
As investigations continue, the IGP reaffirms the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to holding accountable those who jeopardise and disrupt the security arrangement and safety in Nigeria.
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