Crime

17-year-old Kills Father in Edo

Published

7 months ago

July 18, 2024

An anti-death penalty advocate and human rights defender, Arthur Judah Angel has been killed by his 17-year-old son over money at Ugboha, in Esan Southeast Local Government Area of Edo state.

It was discovered that the young boy buried his father in a swallow grave behind his father’s house.

Chidi Nwabuzor, the spokesman for the command, told our correspondent on Wednesday that a preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased’s son had threatened to kill his father and carried it out when he hit him with a sledgehammer.

Acording to the PPRO, “On July 15, 2024, at about 09.00 hours, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugboha Division in Edo State received a complaint that one Arthur Angel Jr. (17 years old) brought a complaint of a shallow grave discovery at the backyard of the compound where he lived with the deceased.
“Immediately, the DPO mobilised his men and they moved out to the scene. On getting there, they saw a shallow grave and decided to exhume the body. When the body was exhumed, they discovered that it was the lifeless body of Arthur Angel, 70, and at a closer look, they saw a sharp injury on the back of the deceased’s head. The body was taken to the Uromi Hospital mortuary.

“According to the DPO, a preliminary investigation revealed that Arthur Angel Jr. had on several occasions threatened to kill his father because his father was expecting some money from Amnesty International.”

He noted that the suspect had a feeling that the money had been paid to the deceased and decided to use the sledgehammer to hit him behind the head while he was asleep.
He said, “As we speak, the suspect has been successfully transferred from Ugboha to the homicide section of the Edo State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation”.

Angel’s cousin, Michael Ihaza, on Tuesday, when contacted by reporters, confirmed the assassination of his uncle.

According to him, “I cannot tell if he had any problem with anyone. He won several cases over family land but I don’t know if that brought issues between him and anyone.

“He never reported any threat to his life to me. However, his 15-year-old son who reported the case to the police in Ugboha has been taken into custody for questioning, but I don’t think he has a hand in his father’s death.

“His son was arrested the same day he was killed. The narrative that is making the rounds within the police circle and in town is that the boy is also a suspect.
He added that, “My late uncle fought for humanity in his lifetime. He worked on prison reform and was a gentleman. I never heard that he had any problem with anyone. The police said they are investigating the matter so we don’t want to say anything that will jeopardise the investigation. Hopefully, the culprit will be identified and brought to justice.”

Crime

Court Freezes $222,729 in Digital Assets Linked to Fraud

Published

5 days ago

February 4, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Abaire Olanlesi

The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim forfeiture order on digital assets worth $222,729.86, allegedly linked to fraudulent activities involving Chinese and Filipino nationals.

Justice Alexander Owoeye granted the order on Monday following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Zeenat Atiku.

The motion was brought under Section 44(2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act No. 14, 2016.

The court directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, giving any interested parties 14 days to contest the forfeiture before the assets are permanently seized by the Federal Government.

According to an affidavit by EFCC investigator Owolabi Taiwo, the assets were suspected to have been acquired through illicit means.

Intelligence reports led to a sting operation in Lagos, resulting in the arrest of 792 suspected cybercriminals and the seizure of approximately 1,000 routers, SIM cards, computers, and mobile phones.

Abuja Reports

Security Operatives Recover Items Worth N1b from Abuja Vandals

Published

1 week ago

January 31, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Patrick Idowu

A joint task force consisting of the FCT Police Command, the Military, NSCDC, and NDLEA has apprehended 31 individuals suspected of vandalizing public infrastructure across Abuja.

The suspects were found with stolen items, including cables and electrical components, valued at over one billion naira.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, revealed that the stolen materials had caused significant disruptions, particularly affecting areas like Dawaki, Mpape, Nyanya, and Karu, which have experienced prolonged blackouts. He added that officials from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed that the recovered items were taken from multiple electricity stations.

Other items recovered include 115 stolen manhole covers, five motorcycles, transformer parts, industrial scaffoldings, bundles of cables, and solar batteries.

Security forces also targeted scavenger colonies and scrap yards, known as “Pantakers,” where stolen public assets were dismantled for resale.

Recent raids conducted on 24th and 26th January in Zuba and Diko led to the recovery of stolen vehicle documents, industrial batteries, and cables.

A subsequent raid on 28th January in Dape Village resulted in the demolition of illegal structures to reclaim public assets.

Sixteen of the arrested suspects have been charged for criminal conspiracy and mischief.

Disu emphasized that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat vandalism and protect critical infrastructure in the FCT and neighboring areas, warning that security forces will continue their crackdown on criminal activities targeting public utilities.

Crime

Bago Warns Against Rising Explosives, Firearms Use among Miners

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Alexis Uchendu

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has warned of escalating security risks in Niger State due to the rising use of firearms and explosives among artisanal miners.

This follows a deadly dynamite explosion in Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area, that killed three and injured several others.

Bago, visiting the site of the explosion, described it as tragic and preventable.

He highlighted the state’s rich gold and lithium deposits as attracting illegal miners who store explosives and weapons, exacerbating security threats.

The governor urged locals to surrender dangerous materials to a designated security committee for safe storage.

He also announced a N174 million relief package for the victims.

Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, condemned the incident as avoidable and called for intensified awareness campaigns.

The explosion affected 69 people, destroying houses and vehicles.

In response, the Mashegu LGA has imposed a temporary mining ban, with calls for neighboring Magama LGA to follow suit.