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Stop EFCC’s Harassment of Former Governor Yahaya Bello – Group Tells Tinubu

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The Odu Akowe Network Group (OANG) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the alleged harassment of former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The group also urged the EFCC to stop disrupting the administration of the current governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

 

Comrade Noah Agada, the spokesperson for OANG, made this appeal during a press conference held in Lokoja on Tuesday. He expressed concerns over the political tension in Kogi State, attributing much of it to what he described as the EFCC’s undue focus on Bello and his previous administration.

 

Agada urged President Tinubu to intercede and ensure that the EFCC refrains from creating an atmosphere of distraction, rancor, and acrimony that could hinder the progress of Kogi State.

 

He stated, “The recent actions of the EFCC toward Kogi State in the past weeks and months have caused unnecessary disturbances to the peace and development of our state. The commission’s constant interference is distracting Governor Ododo from focusing on governance, thereby hampering the progress of the state.”

 

The Odu Akowe Network, through its youth and student wing, called for an end to the EFCC’s investigations into the former governor, which Agada argued are politically motivated. He claimed that these actions serve no other purpose than to derail the current administration’s efforts to deliver meaningful development to Kogi State.

 

“The Odu Akowe Network, Youth and Student Wing, is using this medium to urge the Federal Government to call the EFCC to order. Their continuous scrutiny of the past administration, driven by individuals seeking political gain, is preventing the current governor from focusing on the future. Let’s prioritize the growth and development of Kogi State,” Agada said.

 

Agada emphasized that such actions could weaken the effectiveness of Governor Ododo’s administration and create unnecessary distractions, stalling the progress and development that the state deserves. He stressed that Kogi State’s future should not be jeopardized by what he described as a “witch hunt” of former Governor Bello.

 

Reflecting on the contributions of Yahaya Bello, Agada noted that the former governor played a key role in the 2023 Presidential election, showing loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite losing his presidential bid. According to Agada, Bello’s dedication to the party was unwavering, as he continued to campaign and mobilize youth support for APC’s eventual victory.

 

“It is important to recognize the contributions of former Governor Yahaya Bello, both to Kogi State and to national development. He was a key player in the 2023 Presidential election. Even after losing his bid for the presidency, he maintained his loyalty to the APC, leading the youth structures and galvanizing support for this administration. However, if this is how loyalty and dedication are rewarded, it sends a wrong message to the youths that there is no system of reward for loyalty,” Agada stated.

 

He expressed disappointment at the way the former governor is being treated, suggesting that the EFCC’s investigations into Bello are politically driven rather than based on genuine accountability.

 

Agada concluded by reiterating the group’s appeal to President Tinubu, urging him to take immediate action to ensure that the EFCC focuses on its primary mandate of fighting corruption rather than engaging in politically motivated inquiries. He stressed that the continuous targeting of former Governor Bello only undermines the efforts of the current government in Kogi State and does not serve the broader interest of the state’s development.

 

“Governor Bello deserves better treatment for his contributions to the success of the APC in the 2023 general election. This harassment is unfair and counterproductive. It is time for the government to focus on moving Kogi State forward rather than revisiting the past with ill-intentions,” Agada concluded.

 

 

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Crime

New Terrorist Group Strikes Kebbi, kills 15  

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A sense of fear gripped Mera town in Kebbi State’s Augie Local Government Area after a brutal assault by a newly emerged terrorist group, known as Lakurawa, left at least 15 residents dead.

 

The attack, which occurred just before Jumuat prayers, marks the group’s first mass killing, as they typically limited their operations to cattle theft and demands for “Zakat” from locals.

 

Witnesses say the Lakurawa militants stormed Mera and seized over 100 cattle, triggering a desperate chase by local residents into nearby bushland.

 

This pursuit resulted in a fierce gun battle, in which 15 villagers and two militants were killed. Alhaji Bashir Isah Mera (Yariman Mera), a prominent community leader, confirmed the fatalities, noting that the group, thought to be hiding in Sokoto, had increasingly escalated its violent tactics.

 

Responding swiftly to the siege, Kebbi State Governor deployed soldiers equipped with gun trucks and armored vehicles. High-ranking officials, including the Commanding Officer of Dukku Barracks, state security services, and the police, mobilized forces to secure the town, and both the state’s Deputy Governor and the Emir of Argungu visited to console affected families.

 

In a separate offensive against terror in the Lake Chad region, the Nigerian Air Force’s Operation Hadin Kai reported eliminating 70 ISWAP fighters in targeted airstrikes.

 

The strikes reportedly dismantled insurgent camps in Borno State’s Marte Local Government Area, dealing a blow to ISWAP factions under the command of Usman Russia.

 

Meanwhile, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda disclosed that intensified anti-banditry operations have led some bandit leaders to seek truce negotiations with his administration.

 

As his community watch corps continues its battle against insecurity, Radda emphasized his government’s commitment to reclaiming peace for terror-stricken communities.

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Crime

Man Gets 12 Strokes of Cane for Stealing Plastic Chairs

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A Chief Magistrates Court in Kaduna on Wednesday ordered that 24-year-old, Edward Williams should be lashed 12 strokes of cane for stealing 12 plastic chairs worth N224,000.

Williams, who resides in Ungwan Yelwa Television, Kaduna, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and theft.

The Chief Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, sentenced the convict after he pleaded for leniency.

Emmanuel said the punishment would have been severe if he had not pleaded guilty, adding that the guilty plea had saved the court the pains of long prosecution.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant, Sarah Nehemiah, of Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, reported the matter at the Sabon Police Station on October 29.

Leo told the court that at about 6:00 a.m., the convict burgled the complainant’s shop and stole 12 plastic chairs valued at N224,000.

According to him, the convict entered the shop through the ceiling and stole the chairs.

He said the convict, who was apprehended and handed over to the police by a security guard, admitted to committing the crime.

The prosecutor added that during the police investigations, the stolen plastic chairs were recovered from the convict.

The prosecutor said the offence contravene the provisions of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

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Crime

Two-Year Old Raped, Killed in Bauchi

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The Bauchi Police Command has revealed that a two-year-old child was raped and killed in Bauchi, the state capital.

Ahmed Wakil, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement on Tuesday that the Ningi Police Divisional Headquarters received a report of a two-year-old baby’s motionless body discovered alongside a Mosque on Deneva Street in the Ningi Local Government Area, with suspected evidence of rape.

Wakil stated, “Upon receiving the report, detectives were dispatched to the scene, and the victim’s body was taken to the General Hospital Ningi, where a medical report confirmed that the baby had suffered severe injuries as a result of penetration, which led to her death.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Auwal Mohammed, has directed the Divisional Police Officer to make extra efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“He also called on parents and guardians to ensure the safety of their children, not to allow them to wander around the streets.”

The leadership also asked the public for any information that could help apprehend and prosecute the criminal(s).

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