Connect with us

Crime

“Spike in IPOB Attacks in Enugu Shows Mbah Isn’t Ready for Leadership”, CSO Declares

Published

on

105 Views

The current spike in attacks by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Enugu since the state governor, Peter Mbah, announced an end to the Sit-at-home order in the state three weeks ago has been attributed to the lack of preparedness for leadership by the new helmsman.

According to a civil society organisation based in Enugu, the Oriental Lawyers for Justice (OLJ), the worsened security problem has seen at least eight kidnappings in the capital in the last two weeks plus the attack on the New Haven station of the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company owned by the governor in the early hours of Wednesday last week “show that, contrary to the assertions of those who packaged him for the recent election which he nevertheless lost, Mbah is just another politician and wheeler-dealer rather than a clear-headed leader with a focus on how to get our dear state cracking in the right direction”.

Commercial drivers protested in their hundreds on Tuesday (yesterday) against the new spate of kidnappings on the Enugu–Nsukka Road, as three kidnaps were recorded on Thursday, last week, alone.

If he had prepared himself for high office, the OLJ said in a statement signed by JohnBosco Aninwede, its president, and Mrs Ifeoma Ejike, the secretary, he would have learned from the experience of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of neighbouring Anambra State who in his inaugural speech in March, 2022, announced a war against so-called freedom fighters in the bush, only to face an unprecedented rise in attacks by IPOB members throughout the state, especially in his Isuofia hometown and Aguata Local Government Area whose headquarters was bombed.


“There is no doubt that IPOB has been responsible for the attack on Mbah’s private petroleum firm, as the perpetrators came in a large number of tricycles and armed with rifles, charms, and the notorious red headband worn by the Eastern Security Network (ESN), IPOB’s military wing”, declared the OLJ.

“And everyone knows that Pinnacle is targeted because of Mbah’s moves against IPOB”.

The nongovernmental organisation said that Simeon Ekpa, a top IPOB leader based in Finland, has openly mocked Mbah for lack of legitimately because he didn’t win the Enugu governorship election.

The lawyers argued that no serious leader would announce the cancellation of the stay-at-home order which is enforced with savagery throughout the Southeast every Monday without providing enough security forces on the ground and without constituting his cabinet because tackling profound insecurity is not a one-man show.

“By the time he announced an end to the order by the nonstate actors, the new governor had appointed only the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, and no other person into his administration”, noted the Oriental Lawyers for Justice.

“It was after he had begun to implement the order which failed spectacularly on the first Monday that it occurred to him to consult stakeholders in the state like traders, transporters, religious leaders, traditional rulers, students, town union officers, and the rest to brief them on his plans”.

They added that Mbah was marketed beyond his knowledge and skills by his handlers who “tried to mesmerise our people with his personal wealth and his manifesto promise to increase Enugu’s economy from $4bn to $30bn within four years, even though he has never supplied information on how he plans to achieve this feat”.

The lawyers observed that though they are against IPOB for its streak of violence and such illegal acts as the curfew it imposes on the Southeast weekly, “Mbah has gone about cutting down the secessionist group to size the wrong way because of his poor poor skills as a public leader.

“If he had genuinely won the March 18 gubernatorial election, he would have acted more rationally, and not in this knee-jerk manner meant to get accepted by the Enugu people who rejected him and his Peoples Democratic Party resoundingly in the 2023 general elections.”

Crime

Arise TV News Staff Murder: FCT Police Arrest 12 Suspects

The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.

Published

on

By

75 Views

• Exhibits recovered from suspects/ FCT Police photo.

FCT Police declared on Thursday that operatives of the scorpion squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey , has successfully arrested twelve (12) of the armed robbers that were involved in the murder of Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu , an Arise TV staff (anchor, reporter, and producer) which occurred at unique apartment Gishiri village, Katampe district, Abuja.

The September 29 robbery incident also led to the death of one Mr. Barnabas Danlami – a security guard on duty.

The suspects are:

  1. 1.Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’ from Malumfashi LGA Katsina state
  1. 2 . Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22 years from Zaria kaduna State.
  2. 3. Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. abba ‘m’, 27 years from Musawa LGA katsina state
  3. 4. Sani Sirajo a.k.a. dan borume ‘m’ 20 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state
  4. 5. Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. abba ‘m’ 28 years from Igabi LGA kaduna state
  5. 6. Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. dan-sule ‘m’ 21 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state
  6. 7. Abdul Salam saleh a.k.a. na-durudu ‘m’ from katsina lga katsina State
  7. 8. Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. gwaska ‘m’ 23 years from chikun lga kaduna state
  8. 9. Musa adamu a.k.a. musa hassan ‘m’ 30 years from malumfashi lga katsina state
  9. 10. Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. baby ‘m’ 27 years from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna state
  10. 11. Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. abbati ‘m’, 25 years from Zaria LGA, Kaduna state
  11. 12. Musa Umar a.k.a. small ‘m’ 31 years from Maiduguri LGA Borno state.
  12. Police source told Ohibaba.com that shortly after the robbery incident, four (4) of the suspects shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stollen from the apartment during the robbery.
  13. It said that during interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment.

Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight.

Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation.

The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.

Recovered exhibits include:

One (1) fabricated ak-47 rifle
Thirty-six (36) rounds of 9mm live ammunition
One (1) locally made pistol
One (1) pump-action gun
Two (2) live cartridges
Four (4) mobile phones of the victims
Two (2) sharp knives
One (1) cutlass
Nine (9) torchlights used during the operation

In continuation of investigations, yesterday, 08/10/2025, acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence also provided by us, the remaining members of the gang, Musa umar a.k.a. small, Hassan Isah and other accomplices involved in the gishiri robbery were intercepted while en route to an already planned armed robbery operation scheduled to hold at maitama in the early hours of this morning.

All suspects have confessed to the crimes, investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated.”

Continue Reading

Crime

BREAKING: Judge sentences Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to over 4 years in prison

Published

on

98 Views

American music mogul and businessman, Sean Combs, popularly known as “P-Diddy” was sentenced on Friday to 50 months in prison on prostitution charges under the Mann Act.

Recall that Combs was convicted earlier this year on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said the court had seen a “massive” amount of evidence against Combs and added that a significant sentence was required to be a deterrence and to send a message.

“A substantial sentence must be given to send a message to abusers and victims alike that abuse against women is met with real accountability,” the judge said,

Along with serving four years and two months in prison, Combs also must pay a $500,000 fine.

In his final remarks to Combs, Subramanian noted that he will still have a life after prison, adding “there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

After the judge read his sentence, Combs appeared dejected and worn out as he turned to his mother and children, letting out a sigh and telling them, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,”.

Subramanian cited law that says no limitation can be placed on the “background, character and conduct” that a judge can consider in sentencing. He said the sentence is fair for the severity of Combs’ crimes and other mitigating factors.

During Combs’ sentencing hearing, the judge heard from the rapper’s children as well as multiple defense lawyers and other character witnesses.

The defense argued that Combs should be free for his family’s sake and that he has changed and deserves a second chance to be better.

Defense lawyer Brian Steel argued that “Combs has punished himself more than anyone will be able to punish him and it will stay with him for the rest of his days.

Mr. Combs does not need any additional time in custody. That is not the way we treat drug addiction and trauma today.

”Before the judge gave his sentence, Combs was given a chance to speak, saying that he has lost his business, his career, destroyed his reputation and lost his self-respect.

‘I’ve been stripped down to nothing,” he added.

“I want to thank you for finally giving me a chance to speak up for myself. One of the hardest things I’ve had to handle is to be quiet, not able to express how sorry I am for my actions,” Combs said.

Combs was sentenced under the Mann Act, which makes it illegal to transport someone across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or other illegal sex acts.

He was convicted on counts involving two former girlfriends, R&B singer Cassie and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane.

During the sentencing hearing, federal prosecutors argued that the hip-hop mogul deserved at least 11 years in prison and his defense lawyers asked for a sentence of no more than 14 months,

“Mr. Combs, you’re being sentenced for the offenses of conviction, NOT the crimes he was acquitted of.

However, under law, the court ‘shall consider’ the nature of the offense and characteristics of the defendant,” Subramanian said as he sentenced Combs,

Continue Reading

Crime

Court Rules Nnamdi Kanu Has Case to Answer in Terrorism Trial

Published

on

273 Views

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must face trial in his ongoing terrorism case.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho dismissed Kanu’s no-case submission, stating that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence linking him to terrorism-related activities. The judge ordered Kanu to open his defence on October 8, 2025.

According to Justice Omotosho, the prosecution’s exhibits and witness testimonies raise “serious allegations” that merit a full trial.

In a separate directive, the court also ordered the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to constitute a special medical team to evaluate Kanu’s current health condition. The judge mandated the committee to submit its report within eight days.

The court instructed that the medical panel, consisting of 8 to 10 members including a cardiologist and a neurologist, must assess whether the Department of State Services (DSS) medical facility is adequately equipped to manage Kanu’s health needs. The committee is also empowered to use any medical facility in the country during its investigation.

Justice Omotosho further directed that the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, be included as a member of the committee. Based on the committee’s findings, the court will determine whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital for further treatment.

The trial continues amidst growing public and international attention surrounding Kanu’s detention and the broader implications for the separatist movement he leads.

Continue Reading

Trending