Crime
Insecurity: Kogi Govt commended for recruitment of 1,050 into Hunters Service
Kogi State government has been commended for approving the recruitment of 1.050 young men and women to join the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, NHFSS.
The State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved the recruitment, with a view to strengthening the security architecture of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during the house plenary in Lokoja.
It would be recalled that the State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo had forwarded a letter to the State house of Assembly requesting for approval of the recruitment of 50 people from each for the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.
The letter was sent to the House by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Salami Ozigi Deedat.
After reading the letter at the Assembly chambers, the Speaker of the House, Aliyu Umar Yusuf, noted that it was previously resolved by the lawmakers that given the security challenges in the State, and the shortage of manpower, there was need for the recruitment into the NHFSS to take place.
In a voice vote, the lawmakers unanimously approved the recruitment of 1050 hunters, adding that the payment of their salaries will be shouldered by the Caretaker Chairmen of the Local Government areas.
Reacting to the development, the Commander General of the NHFSS, Dr. Joshua Wole Osatimehin, commended Governor Ododo and the Kogi State House of Assembly for approving the recruitment, saying the action would go a long way in helping the government’s resolve to deal with the challenges of terror attacks, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other related criminal activities in the state.
Dr. Osatimehin stated that by his action of sending the Bill to the state assembly, Governor Ododo has demonstrated that he was not joking when he recently gave quit notice to all criminal elements to leave the state, adding that recruitment of 1.050 indigenes of the state into the NHFSS would ensure that criminal elements operating within the forested regions of the state would henceforth be flushed out.
Also speaking on the development, the Deputy Commander General of the NHFSS in charge of Technical Services, Ambassador John Metchie, commended the Speaker and members of the Kogi State House of Assembly for the promptness with which they approved the Governor’s Bill, describing them as true representatives who are committed to the security, peace and overall wellbeing of the state and its people.
Metchie also used the opportunity to urge other governments to emulate Kogi, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Borno and others that are currently working with the NHFSS, saying their synergy with the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, NSCDC, DSS and others, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering and sharing, has been a major contributing factor to the relative peace in the states.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday remanded an E-payment Service Manager with Premium Trust Bank, Matthew Adeniyi Damilola, alongside four others, over their alleged involvement in hacking into the bank’s server.
The other defendants are Kehinde Odeyemi, a nursing mother, Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka; and Sunday Badeniyi Okunnola were arraigned before Justice Alexander Owoeye.
They are facing six counts bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and unlawful access to the bank’s database, preferred against them, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Zeenat Atiku, told the court that the offences were committed between April and May 2025
She said the defendants acted in concert with three others identified as Humble, Isa Ismaila, and Victor Joshua Ilemona, also known as Oracle, who are currently at large.
Atiku alleged that Damilola, the bank’s E-payment manager, unlawfully disclosed the bank’s server access code, including IP and domain credentials.
This breach allegedly enabled the other defendants to gain unauthorised access to Premium Trust Bank’s database, resulting in a financial gain of $10,000.
She further told the court that the defendants procured an HP ProBook 440 G9 laptop (Serial No. SN#5CD2473N6G), specifically to bypass the bank’s security systems. Additionally, an Eagle flash drive was also acquired for the same purpose.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences contravened Sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c), and 28(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and are punishable under Section 28(2) of the same Act.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants into prison custody pending trial.
Attempts by the defence to make oral bail applications were rejected by Justice Owoeye, who advised them to file formal bail applications.
Consequently, by the agreement of the counsel, the judge adjourned the matter to June 30, 2025, for trial.
The judge ordered that all the defendants be remanded into the custody of a correctional centre pending trial.
The judge, however, advised the defendants’ counsel to apply for the abridgement of the date once their bail applications are ready.
Hannatu Ibrahim, a 28-years old cook, has been arrested by the Gombe State Police Command for allegedly stealing $35,000 (N53,495,400) belonging to her Syrian employer.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Gombe on Wednesday, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the Command’s spokesperson, said two other suspects were also arrested in connection with the alleged theft.
Abdullahi said that Ibrahim, a cook, after allegedly stealing the money also set her employer’s house on fire.
He said a report was received on Saturday from Mohammed Jurdi, a Syrian expatriate with Triacter Nigeria Limited, who alleged that Ibrahim stole $35,000 (N53,495,400) belonging to him and set his house ablaze.
“Upon receipt of the call, Police patrol team from Gombe Division swiftly swung into action and arrested the prime suspect, Hannatu Ibrahim.
“Upon investigation, she was found in possession of 7,100 US Dollars,” he said.
Abdullahi said that further investigation led to the arrest of two other suspects in connection with the crime as one of the two suspects was arrested with $100 note received from Ibrahim.
He said a total of $7, 200 was recovered as exhibits from the suspects, adding that the case would soon be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
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