Crime
Gunmen kill four in Anambra community
Four persons have been reportedly killed in Ifite-Awka, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, when unidentified hoodlums invaded the area, firing shots indiscriminately.
The incident, which occurred late on Wednesday, caused panic in the community, forcing residents to flee to their homes and traders to close their shops abruptly.
The hoodlums attacked several popular locations, including Book Foundation Junction, Ukwu Aki Bus Stop, “B” Bus Stop, Commissioners’ Quarters, and the Bamboo area.
It was gathered that during the attack, the hoodlums kidnapped the manager of a popular hotel. His whereabouts remain unknown.
A trader dealing in groceries, who spoke anonymously, said, “It was a panic situation around 7 pm yesterday (Wednesday) when the hoodlums suddenly arrived and started shooting into the air.
“They shot and killed three people at Book Foundation Junction and one person at Ukwu Aki Bus Stop. They also invaded a popular hotel at Commissioners’ Quarters, and kidnapped the manager, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
“We heard they were demanding N12 million ransom for his release, though the hotel workers said the initial demand was N20 million before it was reduced.
“I was at my shop when we heard gunshots. Everyone panicked and ran for safety. Traders locked their shops hurriedly, and as of today, many shops remain closed.”
Crime
Police arrest 21-year old man who vandalises graves
Dauda Sa’idu, a 21-year-old resident of Yelwa in Bauchi State, has given reasons why he vandalises graves.
Dauda who was recently arrested by the police for trespassing, vandalism, and theft, said he destroys graves to extract iron rods for sale.
He said the extracted iron rods are therefore sold and the proceeds therefrom, he uses to buy Indian hemp and food items.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, in a statement on Sunday, said, “The detainee unlawfully entered a Christian cemetery in the Yelwan Kagadama area of Bauchi, causing damage to several graves and removing iron rods during daylight hours.
“Following interrogation, Saidu confessed to the offences, admitting to stealing multiple iron rods and selling them to scrap metal buyers in separate transactions, amounting to N9,500, N12,000, and N5,500, respectively.”
The PPRO maintained that Saidu disclosed using the proceeds to purchase an undisclosed quantity of Indian hemp and food items for personal consumption.
Wakil stated that the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, had instructed that the suspect be prosecuted following the conclusion of the investigation.
He urged parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards.
Crime
UK serial rapist jailed 12 years
Aiden Phipps, a serial rapist from Sutton, United Kingdom, has been jailed for 12 years and six months for assault and rape of five young girls.
The 18 years old was aged between 15-17 at the time of the attacks on the girls.
Derby Crown Court heard that several of his victims had tried to take their own lives since their ordeals and the youngest victim was aged just 12.
Judge Jonathan Bennett told Phipps he knew “very clearly” that the girls were not consenting to his advances “but that didn’t matter” to him and his victims were “just objects.”
The court heard how Phipps, aged 15 at the time, forcefully raped a 12-year-old girl having pursued her on Snapchat and persuaded her to meet him.
On another occasion in 2023, he “dragged” a girl aged 17 into an abandoned area before having forced intercourse with her.
Prosecutor Dawn Pritchard described how every time Phipps’ victim tried to get up, he “pushed her back down.”
In November last year, another girl aged 17 approached Police about Phipps, telling them he had groped her sexually over her clothing.
Phipps, the court heard, committed several of the offences while already on bail, having been arrested and interviewed by Police for previous ones.
In a statement read out to the court, the mother of one of the girls said since the assault, her daughter had “shut down” and no longer left the house, going into “shock” when she saw a male.
The young girl had tried to take her own life in November 2022, the court heard.
Judge Jonathan Bennett told Phipps he posed a “significant risk of serious harm,” adding: “You have devastated the lives of these five victims and caused what for some will be irreparable damage.
“To hear the effect your offending has had is distressing to all of us who heard it. It has also had a huge impact upon all the families of the victims.
“Even when on bail you continued to offend. That is a particularly aggravating feature. All of these young girls made it absolutely clear to you they did not consent to what was taking place.
“You knew very clearly these young girls were not consenting but that didn’t matter to you – what was important to you was what you wanted.”
The court was told by Phipps’ defence Barrister that he had suffered a “very difficult” childhood having been fostered from the age of four and having been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
However Judge Bennett told Phipps after reading a psychologists’ report he concluded the defendant posed “a significant risk” of committing further similar offences against young girls.
Crime
Nigerian military kills notorious terrorist Halilu Sububu who trained Bello Turji
A notorious bandit leader, Halilu Sububu who trained wanted terrorist, Bello Turji has been killed by the Nigerian military.
He was killed in an operation by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF alongside 38 of his foot soldiers.
Sububu and his men were killed in Zamfara state by NAF Special Forces on Thursday, near the Mayanchi area of the state.
The operation, according to a statement by a Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations NAF Headquarters, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, was part of an ongoing effort by NAF and ground forces to “exploit intelligence and secure the area” following contact with the adversaries.
The statement said: “NAF Special Forces of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the company of other ground troops initiated a follow-up exploitation mission after troops encountered terrorists in the vicinity of Mayanchi.
“During the mission, it was confirmed that 38 terrorists had been neutralized, with 4 bodies retrieved for verification.”
Sububu’s death was also confirmed by a lot security analyst and counterterrorism expert, Zagazola Makama.
Posting on X, Zagazola wrote: “Halilu is a notorious bandit kingpin who trained Bello Turji. He commands hundreds of bandits and also engaged in gun running activities. He also engaged in arms trade and owned a House in Niger Republic.
“The killing of Halilu is a biggest blow against the terrorists.”
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