Security forces in Kano northwest Nigeria during a dawn raid today discovered a number of Sub machine guns, SMGs, hundreds of live ammunition and explosive materials at a residence in Farawa, Hotoro Quarters of the commercial city.
Also at the Gadon Kaya axis of BUK Road, unidentified gunmen numbering about two on a motor bike targeted and shot dead a Revenue Officer who was just stepping out from his house at about 8 a.m. today.
The incident has further increased security presence in the area.
The BUK Road and indeed, BUK old campus has become a major target by assailants suspected to members of Boko Haram.
In less than two weeks, anti-bomb squad from Kano state Police Command have detonated over 20 bombs planted at different locations and at different times within Bayero University Kano campuses, said the Commissioner of Police.
The Police boss expressed the concern of security agencies over the loose security arrangement in BUK and tasked the university authorities to charge the institution’s security personnel to engage in thorough stop-and-search of human, motorbike and vehicular movements in and out of the two campuses of BUK.
As part of preventive measures, men and officers of Kano state Police Command engaged in the mopping of all empty can drinks across Kano metropolis.
During the mopping exercise, an uncompleted building within Kano metropolis was raided where thousands of empty can drinks suspected to have been gathered for bomb-making were confiscated.
Idris stated that these empty cans of drinks were used by members of the Boko Haram to manufacture local bombs, “and we are calling on the general public to help us by destroying cans of these soft drinks after taking the content.
Intelligence reports reveal that thousands of empty cans of assorted drinks were kept in an uncompleted building for nefarious purposes.
“Bomb experts will tell you how these enemies of the state can use these empty cans to make explosives if they are not destroyed after use.
We have engaged in aggressive campaign to the general public, hotels and restaurants to ensure that these empty cans are destroyed and disposed off immediately after use so as to curtail the activities of these people.”
According to him, security agencies are monitoring the sale and distribution of assorted chemicals and fertilizers, “what we are doing is to ensure that those who buy these products are using it legitimately; and whereby we find out that they are not, we arrest and confiscate the products.
LASU Student Faces Trial For Terrorism
An alleged threat by a suspected terrorist to set the Police Force Headquarters Annex Lagos ablaze has been averted by operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau Headquarters, Lagos.
The suspected terrorist is called Usman Emmanuel, 31, from Kogi State, who claimed to be a final year student of Lagos State University, (Music Department) LASU, Ojo, Lagos State.
He was arrested and arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State on a 2-count charge to commit felony to wit, threat to kill and set ablaze the Force Headquarters building.
Police investigation revealed that in November 2011, the accused and others (now at large) phoned the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, (names withheld) in charge of Intelligence Bureau, Force Headquarters, Lagos, allegedly demanding for N2 million ransom so that they will spare his life and those of other top police officers and shelve the plan to set ablaze the Force Headquarters.
The demand and threat was allegedly sent to the police boss in 16 text messages.
But when the victim could no longer bear the incessant threat messages, he reportedly informed his boss, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Force Intelligence Bureau, who directed him to fish out the caller.
Following the directive, a team led by DSP Austin Osebose down-loaded the phone number of the suspect from a telecommunication network.
They traced the suspect to a motor park in mainland area of Lagos, after a female undercover police officer sold a dummy to him that she had a business deal for him to execute.
Immediately he came to honour the appointment, he was arrested and taken to the station.
During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crime and led the police team to his residence at Okokomaiko area of Ojo, Lagos, where about six sim cards of different networks were recovered from him.
At the conclusion of investigation, he was charged to court for threatening to kill police officers and set ablaze the Police Force Headquarters.
The offences, DSP Raymond Odion Akhaine, the prosecutor said, are contrary to Sections 1 (2) C(ii) of the Terrorism (Prevention Act) and punishable under Sections 2(2, ii) of the Terrorism Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.
The prosecutor objected to the bail of the accused on the ground of lack of jurisdiction to try the case.
Akhaine presented before the court an application for the remand of the accused in prison, pending the receipt of legal advice from the office of the Federal Director of Public Prosecution to try the matter at the high court.
The magistrate, Mrs. A. F. O. Botoku, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison pending FDPP’s advice, but urged the police prosecutor to speed up the process and produce the FDPP’s advice within 30 days.
She adjourned the matter till 15 June 2012 for mention.
LADIPO MARKET CRISIS: Armed Thugs Prepare For War
With the new twist in the crisis rocking the Aguiyi Ironsi International Market, Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos, armed thugs are now poised for war.
The Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area, Babatunde Adepitan has therefore raised the alarm over the importation of armed thugs at the market after the Lagos State House of Assembly dissolved its leadership last week, an action that failed to bring a lasting peace to the market.
The Assembly in its resolution last week dissolved all factions in the market and ordered Mushin Local Government to set up a caretaker committee that will run its affairs for three months before the election.
The alleged hiring of thugs popularly known as Bakassi Boys from the Southeast was in response by a factional leader of the market on Friday, Chief Jonathan Okoli, who is believed to be against the dissolution of the market leadership by the state Assembly.
Adepitan alleged that Chief Okoli has formed a terror group terrorising the state.
He appealed to all the security agencies to intervene because the situation was so bad that there is serious threat to life and property not only in Mushin but in Lagos State generally.
The thugs were seen with their knives and they wore red attire.
They were deployed to the market gates and at strategic positions around the market.
When Okoli was contacted, he denied the allegation and said that the traders wanted him as their leader.
Okoli had taken the matter to the House and all factions were invited to their sitting where the crisis was discussed.
The House later discovered that Okoli’s tenure had lapsed since 2007 and he refused to conduct election and hand over to a new exco.
This caused disaffection and crises in the market since then.
Adepitan told journalists in Lagos that Chief Okoli has refused to abide by the resolution of the house and alleged that he is threatening to maim and kill anybody that comes to the market to supplant his leadership.
The council boss also alerted the public that massive looting has been going on in the market after the House passed the resolution lat week.
The Mushin council boss alleged that Okoli was busy forcing the traders to pay N30,000 each per shop in preparation for the battle ahead.
The crisis led to the leadership of the market breaking into about five factions led by different leaders.
After the factionalisation, the market was shut because of filth by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment.
After several peace moves to reopen the market, government discovered that the fierce fight for leadership has led to the neglect of the market in terms of sanitation.
It therefore dissolved the leadership of the market and set up a caretaker committee which had remained inactive.
In March when the crisis took a turn for the worse, Adepitan was battered by thugs allegedly recruited by a factional leader.
Some traders were also attacked during the March peace talks.
Four of them were seriously injured and taken to a private hospital in Lagos for treatment.
Armed policemen and mobile cops drafted to the market were also attacked and chased away by the thugs brought from the Southeast.
19 students arrested for cultism in Ekiti
The police in the Nigerian western State of Ekiti Monday arrested 19 students of All Souls’ Anglican Grammar School, Ado Ekiti, for alleged involvement in cult activities.
Victor Babayemi, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, said the students were arrested following complaints by teachers and parents over their activities.
He, however, said no dangerous weapon was found on any of them at the time of arrest and they had been released to their parents after investigations.
According to him, the students, who are teenagers, were questioned at the Divisional Police Station, Ado Ekiti.
The principal of the school, Mrs Grace Ibikunle, said a male student had threatened to beat up a female colleague for refusing his love overtures.
She said the female student informed the school about some cult practices among the students and cited names.According to her, some of the suspected female students have several tattoos on their shoulders and thighs.
The students of the school were prone to cult activities because they were exposed to students of some higher institutions in the area, she added.
Ibikunle called for adequate security and fencing of the school premises to prevent external students with questionable character from infiltrating the school.
“While the school was investigating the matter with the Guidance and Counseling Unit of the school, some parents, whose children were indicted, ran to the police station to report.“
Later, these students were arrested and detained; though I learnt they have been released on bail,’’ she said.
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