The Harbingerngr News

AS the push to rescue the Ekiti State pupils and their teachers continues, gunmen suspected to be bandits kidnapped two teenage sisters from the Guita community in Chikakore, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The development is coming eight days after members of the Chikakore village demonstrated outside the office of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, citing poor condition of the main route connecting their community as one of the reasons for the area’s high rate of kidnappings. It was learned that the kidnappers made their way back at 11:25 p.m., on Sunday, despite the military and police presence in the vicinity. The kidnappers numbering six, took away the girls, who were said to be 16 and 14 years old through the forests and hills in the area. It was learned that the kidnappers have demanded N30 million ransom to release their captives.

werri— Over 30 bodies were said to have burnt to ashes after a tanker suspected to be used by oil bunkerers exploded in the forest of Obitti, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.  It was gathered that the tragedy occurred Tuesday at the place described as Ndorama pipeline right of way in the Obitti rubber estate of Ohaji/Egbema council of the state. At press time, relatives of the victims gave different versions of what caused the explosion.  Some said there was exchange of gunfire between two groups trying to claim dominance of the area of the oil bunkering business. Others believed that leaders in charge of oil bunkering business planned the attack that led to the explosion.  While a community leader,  who did not want his name mentioned, alleged that the victims trespassed the territory of the ilegal bunkering location said to be under the control of a kingpin,  also said to be a politician.   According to a video by the eyewitness, he said: “Vandals came to vandalise pi

THREE  persons have been killed in a renewed hostilities between Ifon-Orolu and Ilobu communities in Osun State. It was gathered that the fresh dispute followed the decision of Ilobu farmers to return to their farms over alleged destruction of farm produce therein. The Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola said the Ifon indigenes invaded farmlands in some villages that fall within Oyo State, where Ilobu indigenes farm and destroyed farmlands in Ologele and Aganna. “While shooting sporadically to disperse farmers, two persons were killed, one Sulaiman Adegbenro and his son died at Aganna village. Later, they stormed the Wooden-gate area of Ilobu, shooting and killed one person,” he said. However, Secretary, Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union Board of Trustees, Prince Jide Akinyooye, alleged that Ilobu indigenes were the ones who stormed Ifon villages destroying property. He said: “The situation led to sporadic shooting in some villages where some of our people were wounded and we have reporte

A 35-year-old labourer, James Emmanuel has been ordered to be remanded in prison custody by a Chief Magistrate's Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State for allegedly raping a 55-year-old co-labourer, Mrs. Deborah Abiodun, to death. The defendant was alleged to have committed the alleged offence at a poultry firm at Oke-Odu area, off Ilere on Ijare Road, Akure. James, who was arraigned on a two-count charge of murder and rape, after allegedly raping her to death, allegedly hit her with stone on her head and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit. Police prosecutor, Anwana Josephine told the court that the suspect committed the offence on January 17, 2024, about 11p.m. Anwana said the offence was contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. The charge sheet read: “That you, James Emmanuel, on January 17, 2024, about 11p.m., at Ilere, on Ijare Road, Akure in the Akure Magisterial District, did rape Debora

AS the round of 16 ended on Tuesday night, South-Arica, dramatically eliminated Morrocco from the competition by 2-0. Earlier, Mali beat Burkina Faso 2-1 to qualify for the quarter-final. Eight teams have so far booked their places in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as of Tuesday. Angola was the first team to qualify after the Parancas Negras (Black Sable Antelopes) thrashed Namibia on Saturday evening. The attacking-sided team will now face the Super Eagles of Nigeria, believed to be one of the favourites of the competition, after beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The surprise of the tournament was the Round 16 match between the hosts, Côte d’Ivoire, and the defending champions, Senegal, as the hosts advanced to the last eight, thanks to Frank Kessie’s penalty that kept them in the game to penalty shoot-outs in the Elephant’s favour. Meanwhile, a late Ryan Mendes penalty sealed the win for Cape Verde, sending them through to the quarter-finals for the se

NO fewer than four persons were feared dead, yesterday, when gunmen attacked POS operators at Ohii junction, on the Owerri-Orlu Road in the state. Two of the victims were said to be policemen on duty. It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the junction in a Toyota Corolla and opened fire.  They were said to have robbed POS operators at Orji and Egbu areas of Owerri the same day. The incident let to the busy junction being deserted. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, was yet to respond to enquiry at press time.

A Bolt driver, Mr. Kingsley Benson, has saved a female passenger from committing suicide in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The driver, who spoke with Vanguard shortly after checking in his passenger into Neuro- Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar Road, yesterday, said the female passenger (name withheld) made a cryptic statement that unsettled him when he picked her up at Bogobiri area of he city. His words: “A lady request a ride from Bogobiri this morning, I observed she was looking really sad. I tried to at least start a conversation, she just gave 'fake' smile and requested I turned on my air conditioner. “Her request was what got me worried because she said 'driver please turn your air-conditioner, let me enjoy this last one'. Although I ignored her first statement, but before we got to her destination at Edgerly in Calabar South, the statement came up again.  “Then out of curiosity, I took a closer look at  the nylon bag that she was with, although not transpar

Send defending champion out after AFCON thriller Hosts Cote d'Ivoire put a disastrous group campaign behind them on Monday to beat holders Senegal 5-4 on penalties and book an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Mali or Burkina Faso. A last-16 thriller ended 1-1 after extra time with Habib Diallo scoring after four minutes and Franck Kessie equalised off a penalty four minutes from the end of regular time in Yamoussoukro. Kessie was the shootout hero, converting the decisive kick after Moussa Niakhate had struck the post with the third Senegalese penalty. A humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea last Monday did not dampen support for the host nation with supporters queueing from the middle of the night to buy tickets in the central city. French coach Jean-Louis Gasset was fired after the record home loss and, after failing in an attempt to bring back former coach Herve Renard, the Elephants promoted assistant Emerse Fae. The west African showdown pitted the most and leas

 NO fewer than four persons were feared dead in a ghastly motor accident that left several others with injuries along the New Benin/Asaba Expressway in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State. The accident, which occurred at 3:00 pm, yesterday, involved a heavy-duty vehicle, an 18-seater passenger bus and two motorcycles. It was gathered that the injured victims were in critical condition and receiving treatment at the Central Hospital, Agbor, while the corpses of the deceased persons were evacuated and deposited at the mortuary. Sources said the truck, which was fully loaded with consumables, was descending the hills when it lost control at the former Mr Biggs axis of the road. An eyewitness said: “As the driver struggled to control the truck, it crashed into a waiting bus which was parked by the roadside by the driver, who was scouting for passengers. “Aside from the bus, the truck also crushed two motorcycles with one of the motorcycles’ rider crushed beyond recognition,

By Adekunle Adekoya THE Yoruba people of South-Western Nigeria have an anecdotal saying that is applicable to the present state of insecurity in Nigeria. “Ti nani nani ba nna ni, ti gbani gbani nworan lai daa l’ekun, a je wipe gbani gbani lo ni ki nani nani maa nani lo.” The nearest equivalent of this saying, when translated is: “If someone is beating you, and a bystander is looking on unperturbed, then the bystander is likely in support of the person beating you.” I think, in all matters particular, this is not just applicable to the insecurity situation, but actually indicates the state of affairs as regards the ability or otherwise of the security apparatus to deal with the mounting scourge of insecurity. The Plateau killings of last December remain fresh and all of us, those that still have the milk of human kindness that is, and those who have empathy for the plight of their fellow men are still having it tough to discern how the security architecture could be caught, intelligence

 TWO persons were reportedly killed in fresh attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in Ikpele and Okpokpolo communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. It was gathered that the attackers of the Ikpele and Okpokpolo communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State also razed several houses while many have been declared missing. A source in the area disclosed that the marauders stormed the communities in their numbers, Tuesday night,  about 10 pm from neighbouring Nasarawa State. According to the source, "They attacked Ikpele and Okpokpolo and other places all through yesterday night and we are yet to get the exact number of persons killed. “There was a serious battle in the night. Two bodies have so far been recovered. Many houses were burnt. In fact, within the attacked communities, at least 17 burnt houses were counted. People have deserted their homes and seeking shelter in neighbouring towns and villages.” A community leader and former Commissioner for Info

THE Minna Chief Magistrate's Court One has ordered the remand of two middle-aged men in Correctional Custody, Minna for allegedly gang-raping a 12-year-old girl. The two suspects, Umaru Hussaini and Zulkibilu Musa, reside in Sabon Gari area, Kagara, headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area, Niger State. They were said to have lured the girl to the room of Zulkibilu Musa where they allegedly raped her one after the other. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Bello Beji, dragged the two suspects before the court on a two-count charge of joint acts and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child. This, he said, contravenes Section 79 of the penal code law and Section 26 (2) of Niger State Child Rights Act 2021.” The prosecutor also told the court that one Lawal Haruna of Sabon Gari area of Kagara in Niger State reported the case to Kagara Divisional Police headquarters that the two defendants lured his 12-year-old daughter to the room and gang raped her one after the other. Inspector Bello sai

APOSTLE Abraham, a Senior Pastor of a new generation church (name withheld) located at Oviri-Ogor community of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State is cooling off in police custody for allegedly defrauding his member  of over N18 million . According to a source, the pastor whose surname is withheld is currently undergoing interrogations and investigation at the Delta State Police Command, Asaba over allegations of defrauding his church member, Mr Goodluck, of over N18m in false pretence of buying a parcel of land for him. According to a Vanguard source, “It was learned that in 2023, Mr Goodluck transferred the money to the pastor’s account for him to purchase land for him. “Bro Goodluck, after waiting for a long period without hearing or seeing the land from the pastor, quietly demanded his N18 million from him. “Severally, the man approached the pastor to refund his money, but he kept saying I would pay until the matter got out of control. “His failure to refund the mone

Residents of Maitama, Abuja, have raised the alarm over what they described as an explosion in the area. In a series of tweets via X, yesterday, some residents said the sound emanated from a nearby dump site. According to an X user, Serah Ibrahim, “Explosion rocks Maitama, Abuja today. An explosion occurred today at Maitama, Abuja.The explosion was said to have happened close to a refuse dump site. It is suspected to be from a possible gas leakage at the refuse dump. “It has been confirmed that the explosion was not a bomb.” But, the FCT Police Command said the explosion was the result of an overheated refuse container, which was activated by intense heat when refuse evacuators went there to remove refuse. Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh in update to the public on explosion said: “A rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were deployed to assess the situation when it occured. “Preliminary findings indicate than an overheated metal refuse cont

*Says electric welding attributed to cause of fire  l16,700 affected traders lament lAs govt demolishes shanties THE Lagos State government, yesterday, said the Mandilas building on Lagos Island, gutted by fire at the weekend, will remain shut indefinitely, pending conclusion of structural integrity test to ascertain its habitable status before it can be re-open for public use. This came as some of LASBCA officials, who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the building might be pulled down if it failed the test. It will be recalled that the popular 16-storey Mandilas building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, was burnt, destroying items and property worth millions of naira in the process. Giving an update on the incident, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, said the incident was “avoidable.”     Olumide said: "The Mandilas building gutted by fire over the weekend will have to undergo a structure integrity test to

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced one Anayor Ugo to seven years imprisonment without the option of a fine for having carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old girl and impregnating her. Ugo, a generator Machanic, had sometime in 2021 visited the home of the underage girl in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state, to repair their generator set on the directives of the girl’s father. The mechanic had reportedly used the opportunity to defile the minor and allegedly impregnated her in the process. Although, Ugo had during the trial admitted having carnal knowledge of the underage girl, but denied ejaculating into the victim. He claimed that it was the minor who held him when he went to repair the power-generating set and dragged him inside her room before he had sex with her. In her judgment, the trial Chief Magistrate, Rita Ogugua, said the prosecution was able to prove the case of defilement and having carnal knowledge of the underage girl through eviden

AN Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a man, Ademola Oladimeji to four life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his three children. The children were aged five, seven and nine. Delivering judgment, Justice Abiola Soladoye, said that the evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses were believable and truthful. Soladoye, however, said that their evidence established the offence of sexual assault by penetration and not defilement. According to her, the evidence of the three survivors was corroborated by the investigative police officer and their mother. He said: “Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the children did not say their father inserted his penis into their ‘bum bum’, they only said he touched their ‘bum bum’. “I observed the three of them. They did not lie against their father, they did not say he used his penis, he only used his fingers. “The children gave an unshaken testimony on how their father fiddles with their innocence

AN Akure Magistrates’ Court, has ordered the remand of a 30-year-old man, Shola Ayemibo, for allegedly robbing and killing a motorcyclist, Olawale Bello. The police arraigned the defendant, whose address was not given, on two counts of robbery and murder. The prosecutor, Insp Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Oct. 11, 2023, at about 8:30 pm at Adegbemile Area in Akure. Akintimehin alleged that the defendant killed Olawale Bello, a commercial motorcyclist, having succeeded in robbing him of his TVS motorcycle. He said that the offences contravened Sections 316 and 402 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2016. The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant to the Olokuta Correctional Centre in Akure, pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution(DPP). The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences. The Magistrate, Mr Musa Al-Yunus, ordered the remand of the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre in Akure. He adjourn

THE United States of America has urged the Federal Government to implement the reports of various #EndSARS panels set up to investigate human rights abuses by security agencies during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.  The US made the call at United Nations Human Rights Council 4th cycle Universal Period Review of Nigeria in Geneva, Switzerland.  Addressing some human rights concerns in Nigeria, a representative of the US government asked the Federal Government to take steps to implement the #EndSARS report, amend the Nigerian Press Council Act to remove restriction on freedom of expression and review the standard operating procedure of the armed forces to protect human rights.  She said: “Our main concern is on certain restrictions on Nigerians on the enjoyment of human rights. In the spirit of constructive engagement, we recommend that Nigeria implement recommendation from state level investigations panel report on security forces response to the #EndSARS protests including prosecution

A civil servant, Abiodun Akintomowo, has reportedly slumped and died in Ondo town, Ondo State, after a sex romp with his girlfriend in a hotel. Consequently, police detectives have apprehended the suspect and the owner of the hotel where the victim died. Confirming the ugly incident, spokesperson of state police command, Funmi Odunlami, said the deceased had a sex romp with his girlfriend, in a hotel located in the Akinjagunla area of the community. Odunlami said “The man (deceased) was not feeling alright after the sexual intercourse with the lady in the hotel, so he was rushed to the hospital and later died. The two suspects are still in our custody.” She said investigation into the matter was ongoing while the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the hospital morgue. An eyewitness said the girlfriend raised the alarm after the deceased collapsed in the hotel room. According to him, “The woman raised the alarm after realising that the man collapsed. The manager of the hotel

By Adekunle Adekoya Problems are like plants, they have roots — Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987). IN case you don’t know the root cause of our problems today, please take time out and read below: 42 years ago, precisely on 25/07/1980 the exchange rate was: $1 = 0.80k Are you surprised?  Well, we were far more productive in 1980 than we are today. In 1980 the key reasons for economic growth were as follows: *We were a net exporter of refined petroleum products. Today we import all our refined petroleum products. *We rode in locally assembled cars, buses and trucks. Peugeot cars in Kaduna and Volkswagen cars in Lagos. *Leyland produced  trucks/buses in Ibadan and ANAMMCO in Enugu also produced buses and trucks. *Steyr in Bauchi produced our Agricultural tractors. And it was not just Assembly, we were producing many of the components: *Vono products in Lagos produced the vehicle seats. *Exide in Ibadan produced the batteries, not just for Nigeria but for the entire West Africa. Berec was there

*Kick against lopsided allocation, distribution of funds in 2024 budget to north, *To engage  executive, NASS, stakeholders *Afenifere slams northern senators, says they should be concerned about results Outrage has trailed Northern senators’ position on the relocation of federal agencies to Lagos from Abuja. The senators protested what they described as lopsided allocation between the North and South in the 2024 budget, arguing that the development was designed to further under-develop the North. But regional groups, such as the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, flayed the senators for giving the impression that Nigeria wasn’t yet a nation, stressing that what was paramount was result. It will be recalled that the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, had also expressed the same position as the Northern senators. “The CBN’s decision is by no means isolated or normal administrative action to fix some logistics problem.  Rather, it fits in

By Ezinwanne Onwuka I AM smitten with nostalgia when I remember the 'good old days'. The days when N5,000 could buy a big fowl that would feed a family of six. How much did you buy a fowl last Christmas?  Oh! How could I have forgotten that Nigeria’s economy dealt with the majority of us last year so much so that we had no option but to be grateful for life and good health, and watch the clock tick away the minutes? 2023 was tough It was a year of sustained financial misery for many Nigerians. It began with a frenzied naira scarcity that had us buying currency. Had it not been for the Supreme Court which came to the rescue, the barter era could have descended upon us.  While Nigerians were still recuperating from the harsh effects of the naira crunch, the new president, Bola Tinubu, scrapped the petrol subsidy that has kept the cost of petrol cheap in the country for decades. Nigerians are yet to recover from the impact of that single decision.  Inflation is reaching for the sk

THE Nigerian Army (NA) 81 Division, yesterday, denied that its operative, Boyi ThankGod, attached to 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, shot himself dead; but rather died of negligence having mishandled his firearms. ThankGod was said to be on barracks’ standby duty at the 35 brigade headquarters, Alamala, Abeokuta on Monday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day when he allegedly shot himself in the head and died immediately. A source had told journalists that the soldier killed himself due to depression and low morale in the system. The Army, in a statement, by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 81 Division of Nigeria Army, described all of the reports as insinuations and misrepresentations of the unfortunate incident. Ayeni  debunked the reports circulating on the various social media platforms that ThankGod terminated his life due to non-payment of Ration Cash Allowance (RCA) The statement partly reads “The at

...as ultimatum to pay N100m ransom ends  THE family of kidnapped Squadron Leader, Nurudeen Popoola, a Nigerian Air Force officer; his wife, Dr Ganiyat Olawale-Popoola, a practising medical doctor and Abdulmugniy Folaranmi, a 16-year-old 100-level student of the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde to come to the rescue of their kidnapped victims. The victims, who hailed from Iseyin, were kidnapped at their residence, National Eyes Centre Quaters, Mando, Kaduna December 27, 2023 and have been with their abductors till now, while an ultimatum of Thursday, January 18 has been given to them to pay N100 milliom ransom to avoid being killed. A cousin of the Air Force officer, Olatunde Rafiu, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, yesterday, said the family members have made frantic efforts to reach out to the state governor through e-mail, as they could not meet with him physically. He stated that the

A suspected armed robber has been confirmed dead after an operational vehicle used by his criminal gang rammed into a stationed trailer while attempting to flee the scene of a robbery operation. It was gathered that the five-man robbery gang had met their waterloo at Ada-George Road/Rumukokwu in Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Mile 3 Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, yesterday after they had attacked a warehouse. An eye witness, Mr. Woke disclosed that the five-man robbery gang had attacked a warehouse along the Ada George/Chinda area that deals in sealed engine oil. Woke noted that the armed robbers came in two vehicles and that while they were leaving after successfully loading cartons of engine oil into their car the private security guard attached to the warehouse raised an alarm which attracted the attention of passersby and the Police. He disclosed that while the police were chasing the gang and in an attempt to use an alternative route the gang rammed into a stationed trailer. A video of the inci

Detectives at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, annex, Alagbon, Lagos, have busted a syndicate that specialised in forging the Nigeria Police Character Certificate for unsuspecting Nigerians travelling out of the country.  Consequently, three suspected members of the syndicate have been arrested with the recovery of  some devices allegedly used to produce the fake certificate  It was gathered that the syndicate met its waterloo after an unsuspecting female victim (names withheld), who was issued the fake document presented the same while processing her visa application at the United Kingdom embassy, in Lagos.  She was reportedly refused a visa and also banned from entering the UK for 10 years when the document was discovered to be fake.  Upon receipt of the report, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, reportedly set up a special operation to smoke out members of the syndicate. A spokesperson for the FCID, ASP Aminat Mayegun, who briefed jour

Nineteen suspected kidnappers have been arrested in the North senatorial district of Ondo State, by the operatives of the state security outfit, codenamed, Amotekun. Parading the suspected criminals, in Akure, Ondo State, the state commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, said 17 of them were arrested in a particular area in the state. Adeleye said, “We are parading about 36 suspects. 19 of them are suspected kidnappers. I want to place it on record that in the last month, there were three kidnap activities that we were able to foil.  “This means that in the last one month, there have been no successful kidnapping activities in the state.  “Today, a cross-section of these criminals is a little bit different from what we normally have where we parade 20 people and 19 of them are kidnap suspects.  “We have more suspects arrested for housebreaking and stealing, we remain resolute in our determination to flush them out of our society. “Across the board, we were able to foil the operation