Three Sustain Gunshot Injuries As Bribe-Seeking Police Officers Attack Youth

At least three people have been left with gunshot injuries after an altercation between youth of Oria community in Delta State and police officers suspected to be members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

A 59-minute video of the incident posted on social media, showed some youth arguing loudly with three policemen carrying AK-47 assault rifles and dressed in the black T-shirts SARs operatives are known for wearing.

The police officers were standing beside a black police pick-up van with “No 2 SARs Special Anti-Robbery Squad” printed on its side. Soon, the video captured an argument between a police officer and some youth behind the van. One of the youth could be heard shouting: “e no fit shot” in pidgin repeatedly.

Another youth stepped between the police officer, who had half-raised his gun to a shooting position at the time, and the young man. The intervener seemed to try to stop the police officer from shooting the screaming youth. As the police officer moved backwards, some youth moved towards him.

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard and smoke, apparently from the gun could be seen. Four gunshots followed the first one.

“E shoot am, e shoot am?” said the screaming youth. As the youth and the other police officers rushed towards were the gunshot was heard, the same youth added, “hold am, hold am.”

Other gunshots soon followed and the video went black, but loud confused voices could still be heard as the shooting continued.

Ezekiel Egboge, who was involved in the incident, told source that trouble started when he was flagged down by the police officers as he drove to the funeral in his friend’s Honda Crosstour saloon car

“They (the police) stopped us at the road. I was in the car with my brother. As we were trying to park out of the road. They saw that we were young boys and they wanted to claim money from us. They started cracking their guns to put fear in us. We said why are you cracking guns. We are not armed robbers. Suddenly one of them left the front of the car and started dragging my door. I told him to stop dragging the door because if he broke anything in the car he will pay for it. As I was coming down, he gave me a slap,” he said during a telephone chat.

He said after he was slapped, he alighted from the vehicle and accosted the police officer for slapping him. An argument then ensued, which attracted passers-by. He said some of the passers-by rushed to their community to inform youth that they were being harassed by the police.

“The youth from the town came and one of the SARS officers was asking why the youth came and we told him that they are our people and while we were arguing with them they shot one of the boys that came on his leg.”

Mr. Egboge said another youth who confronted the police officers on why he shot the first youth was also shot. He said a third youth was also hit by pellet from a pump-action handgun.

Mr. Egboge said after the incident they went to the nearby Ebu police station to lodge a complaint. But to his surprise, the SARS operatives followed them there, shot into the air and dispensed tear gas on a crowd that gathered at the police station.

He said the police officers at the station told them the SARS operatives were not from the station and they cannot say where they came from.

Eric Adede, who claimed to have recorded the video, told the source that he received a car from his brother who was in the car pulled over by SARS operatives who demanded a bribe of N500,000.

He said after the video was posted on social media the State commissioner of police had invited them to a meeting on Monday in the state capital, Asaba. He said the commissioner also asked those who suffered gunshot injuries to be at the meeting as they learnt that the SARS operatives claimed they did not shoot anyone.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka told the source during a telephone chat that he was unaware of the incident.

“No such information has come to me,” he said.

“A mother that has so many children does not say never. But having said that, the conduct you describe as having come from members of our own SARS cannot be the SARS that I know. But it suffices to say that I’m not aware,” he added.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES

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Sex Scandal: Stephanie Otobo’s mom, sister beg Apostle Suleman on live TV

The mother of Stephanie Otobo, the Nigerian woman who accused a cleric, Johnson Suleiman, of infidelity and abuse, visited the Omega Fire Ministry headquarters in Auchi, Edo State, on Sunday to plead on her daughter’s behalf.

Ms. Otobo’s sister accompanied their mum who is popularly called Mama Tope to the church. Their statements and apologies were beamed live on the church’s website on Sunday morning.

But in a swift video reaction on Instagram on Sunday, Ms. Otobo, who said she has since returned to Canada, claimed that her mother was threatened to apologise to the embattled pastor.

The budding singer also debunked her apology to Mr. Suleman, popularly called Apostle Suleman, saying she was threatened.

She said, “I just landed Toronto and I heard my mother made a video and apologized to Apostle Suleiman. My mother says she has been threatened and arrested twice. This is what Apostle Suleiman is doing – he is using his power. He should just come to court. I want Nigerians to know that my mother’s life is in danger right now, Apostle Suleiman is threatening my mother and family.’’

To back her claims, Ms. Otobo also shared a telephone conversion alleged to between herself and her mum in the same video.

Meanwhile, three days ago, Stephanie’s mum reacted to allegations made by her daughter that Mr. Suleman, promised to marry her.

In the video, which was recorded in Sapele, Delta State, the mother of the controversial ex-stripper claimed that she had not seen her daughter in the last three years.

She also described as untrue claims that she accompanied her daughter to the headquarters of Omega Fire Ministries in Auchi, Edo State, for an introduction ceremony.

She also said she had never been to the Omega Fire Ministries, nor met Mr. Suleman and added that anyone manipulating her daughter against the cleric would be exposed. 


She said, ‘I blame the devil for seeking to destroy my daughter. We have tried to get Stephanie to lead a normal life but it has not been possible. I will like to see Pastor Suleiman to apologise if they allow me see him so he can forgive my daughter and forget about the issue.”

Also, a group, Niger Delta Bishops and Ministers Forum, NDBMF, warned Ms. Otobo to stop “blackmailing” Apostle Suleiman. The President of NDBMF, Julius Ediwe, made the call in Port Harcourt recently.

He said, “We want to let Nigerians and the whole world to know that this is propaganda. It is false. As spiritual fathers in the land, we will not be quiet and watch a young girl, with whomever that is sponsoring her, spoil the name of a man of God. A man of God who has single-handedly stood in defence of Christians in this country, Africa and the whole world.”

Ms. Otobo was recently re-arraigned by the police with blackmail, threat to life, conspiracy, and intent to steal from Mr. Suleman.

She was arraigned alongside her associate, Wisdom Godstime, before Magistrate Kikelomo Bukola-Ayeye of the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Ms. Otobo and her co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each. The case was then adjourned to April 27 for commencement of trial.

This development comes a week after Ms. Otobo formally filed a petition asking police to investigate multiple allegations against the preacher.

In a letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, she accused Mr. Suleman of illegal procurement of abortion, threat to life, and attempted murder.

Ms. Otobo’s petition came days after she told journalists at a press conference that her relationship with Mr. Suleman ended after the preacher began to insist he wanted a sexual activity that involved a threesome.

Mr. Suleman has since denied having a relationship with her.

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Boko Haram: Nigerian Army demotes officer

The General Court Martial, GCM, of the Nigerian Army on Friday passed a verdict demoting a captain, Mathew Aroye, to 2^ndlieutenant after finding him guilty of gross indiscipline.

The President of the GCM, Olusegun Adeniyi, a brigadier general, gave the verdict during its sitting in Maiduguri.

Mr. Adeniyi said: “Captain Aroye, having found you guilty of the charge against you and having listened to the presentation of your service record and your touching plea in mitigation, this court hereby sentences you to a reduction in rank to 2^ndlieutenant with four-year seniority on the rank.”

“The sentence is, however, subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided by Section 141 sub-section 2 and Section 152 sub- section 1A of the Armed Forces Act Cap 20 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Aroye, a combatant with the 118 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Gubio, was said to have taken sides with some disgruntled soldiers by unruly announcing that he had quit the army in November 2015 after his unit suffered a huge setback in the fight against Boko Haram.

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Man who attacked Sowore in Lagos petitions Ambode, wants Sahara Reporters publisher ejected

Lekan Fatodu, the man who attacked Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in Lagos in January, has petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, asking him to eject Mr. Sowore from his office in the city.

Mr. Fatodu claimed Mr. Sowore has an office in the Ikeja GRA part of the metropolis allegedly being used to commit crimes and disturb the peace of neighbours.

Mr. Sowore has dismissed the allegation as a proxy attack from powerful political interests in Nigeria.

The March 6 petition was written and dispatched by Mr. Fatodu’s legal representatives, J.C. Ifeonu & Co.

The petition said Mr. Sowore had allegedly been using the house at 13A Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, to coordinate illegal activities.

“We reckon Your Excellency is aware that parts of the consequences of breeding criminality within that choice neighbourhood are a relentless social disturbance, agitation, and protests, which we strongly believe would adversely impact the peace and tranquillity that businesses and residents within the area have been enjoying all this while.

“We humbly urge Your Excellency to swiftly apply your good offices to investigate this complaint with a view to determining culpability and to bringing the full force of the law to bear upon the criminal elements involved in this circumstance,” Mr. Fatodu said.

But Mr. Ambode’s office denied receiving such petition.

“We are not aware of any petition from any Lekan Fatodu,” Habib Haruna, a spokesperson for the governor, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night.

This medium however learnt that when Mr. Fatodu tried to submit the petition to Mr. Ambode, he was ignored, and then advised to route his complaints to the police.

The petition came about two months after Mr. Fatodu attacked Mr. Sowore in Lagos and ended up at the police station.

Mr. Sowore told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that he was attacked by Mr. Fatodu and his gang over a report by Sahara Reporters which detailed how Mr. Fatodu was allegedly used as front by former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, to corner public funds through the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

But Mr. Fatodu tweeted the same day that he “just got Sowore Omoyele of Saharareporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career.”

The police confirmed receipt of a petition bordering on criminal defamation from Mr. Fatodu, but summarily released all the parties that evening on the condition that they report back the same day.

When Mr. Sowore arrived at the State Criminal Investigation Department that was handling the matter, the police said they were more interested in “mediation”, asking Mr. Sowore to meet Mr. Fatodu to resolve their differences.

Mr. Sowore refused, saying the police was dishonest in the handling of the case.

Mr. Sowore’s attorney, Femi Falana, said on January 12 that the allegations of threat to life, criminal libel and extortion stated in Mr. Fatodu’s petition were false.

In his petition to Mr. Ambode, Mr. Fatodu admitted the police were yet to complete investigations into the defamation case, but said he was writing to support the governor’s efforts against crimes.

But an official in the governor’s office said Mr. Fatodu should direct his petition to the police.

“What is the business of the governor in the petition about disturbance?” the highly-placed official queried. “He should direct his petition to the police.”

Lagos police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night the command was not aware of the latest petition by Mr. Fatodu.

Mr. Sowore said the police had so far failed to file charges against him because it was clear they had no basis to do so.

The publisher dismissed the content of Mr. Fatody’s petition as “a product of wild emotions, feeble attempt at victimhood and willful distortion of facts.”

Mr. Sowore told PREMIUM TIMES the building in question will be used as a civil technology laboratory centre, a project in which SaharaReporters is collaborating with a several civil society organisations.

The publisher said Mr. Fatodu’s petition was part of an orchestrated plot by powerful Nigerian politicians, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Dino Melaye, a senator.

Mr. Sowore said alleged “corrupt activities” of Mr. Saraki and others had become “a staple” on Sahara Reporters in recent weeks.

The platform had published several reports around the activities of Mr. Saraki and Mr. Melaye, including claims that the Senate President drew questionable accommodation allowances from tax papers and also sought to circumvent duties on importation of exotic vehicles.

Sahara Reporters was also responsible for Mr. Melaye’s brewing university degree scandal.

Mr. Saraki’s media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, denied Mr. Sowore’s allegations that his principal was sponsoring Mr. Fatodu.

“Outright lie. No iota of truth in it,” Mr. Olaniyonu said in a short message to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night.

Calls and text messages to Mr. Melaye were neither answered not replied to Thursday night.

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Suspected kidnappers of two Germans arrested in Nigeria

Two suspects allegedly involved in the kidnap of two Germans in Kaduna State have been arrested.

The State Security Services, SSS, in a statement said on Wednesday that it arrested Ibrahim Sule and Bello Shehu for their alleged roles in the kidnap.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the kidnap of the two German archaeologists, Peter Breuning and Johannes Brehinger, on February 22 in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Two locals who tried to prevent their abduction were killed.

The Germans were later released by their abductors.

The security agency said the suspects were being questioned to establish other possible members of the network

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BREAKING: Body of doctor who jumped into Lagos Lagoon recovered

The man's car was pulled over by his driver before he jumped into the lagoon

The body of a man who jumped into Lagos Lagoon has been recovered.

Allwell Orji, a medical doctor, jumped into the Lagos Lagoon Sunday evening after ordering his driver who drove him to the bridge to pull over.

Efforts by the various emergency management agencies to recover his body had proved abortive.

Earlier, family members of the late medical doctor had said that a body recovered was not that of Mr. Orji.

But the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Wednesday said the late doctor’s body was recovered around 4:00 p.m. by the Marine Police.

Adesina Tiamiyu, General manager of LASEMA said, the body was identified and confirmed as his by family members of the late doctor.

“The body was identified by some of his family including the driver in the presence of the commissioner of Police Lagos State, Mr. Fatai Owoseni,” the LASEMA boss said.

He commiserated with family of the deceased.

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Yung6ix Surprises Man That Gave Him 10k To Relocate To Lagos In 2009 With $10,000

KKTBM frontline hot rapper, Yung6ix just surprised a friend of his who gave him N10,000 he used to relocate to Lagos 8 years back.

The grateful rapper wrote:

“8 years ago @imblackking gave me 10,000 Naira to come to Lagos to chase my dream as an artiste, without that 10k there would be no Yung6ix today.

Showed him I’m grateful by giving him 10,000 dollars today. Strictly for motivational purposes only. Don’t just be great be grateful and don’t forget those who helped you when you were nothing.”

The happy man took to his Instagram account to pen down his appreciation.

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Aggrieved Arsenal Fans Have Launched A “WEXIT” (Wenger Exit) Campaign

Arsenal fans who are not happy with their trophyless position raised over £3,000 on Saturday to demonstrate against how their club is being ran, and also to persuade the Club’s French Manager, Arsene Wenger, to leave the club.

Some of the placards they carried for the demonstration read;

“Arsene 4th place is not a trophy, Arsenal FC not Arsene FC”, “Wenger out”

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‘Will You Keep Quiet!’ – Read How Twitter Users Reacts To Bisola’s Shedding Of Tears Over Tony’s Eviction

Big Brother Naija Contestant, Bisola had an emotional breakdown as she watched Thin Tall Tony get evicted from the show on Sunday night, She was inconsolable, especially as she watched him walk out of the doors, and indirectly, her life. Although she’s emotionally invested in Tony, she doesn’t know she was a pawn in his game. Twitter users blasted her display of emotion. See more hilarious tweets below:

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Omg! Lautech Final Year Student Hanged Himself In His Hostel (Photo)

A final year student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Adesoji Adediran at the weekend committed suicide by hanging himself in the hostel.

It was gathered that the 500-level student of Urban and Regional Planning Department hanged himself in the school’s hostel on Saturday.

It was learnt that his roommates, who had been away for a night study, returned in the morning to find his corpse dangling from the ceiling.

The school management was said to have been alerted, which informed policemen from the Owode division, who removed the remains. The corpse was said to have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.

A classmate of the victim, who asked not to be identified, said Adediran’s remains were found around 5.30am, PUNCH reports.

He said, “He has two roommates. The roommates went for a night study on Friday. When they returned to the room on Saturday, they discovered that he had hanged himself with a cable. Nobody has an idea why he killed himself.”

A close friend of the victim, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at Adediran’s death.

He said, “As his friend, what pained me most was that we still played together on Friday night. He never opened up to me. We asked him to go with us for the night study, but he said he preferred to stay behind. Around 5.30am when we returned, we found his corpse.

He was almost done with his final year project and he never complained of anything. We are a clique and we eat together; it was all fun, until we found his corpse.”

He described the deceased as “funny and lively”, saying Adediran couldn’t have suffered from depression.

He said the police from the Owode division removed the corpse from the room.

Our correspondent learnt that the police took statements from the roommates, which were later withdrawn by the deceased’s parents, who insisted on not pursuing any case due to the nature of the death.

According to the PUNCH, the parents also objected to the idea of holding a candle-light procession in his honour, saying they wanted him to “rest in peace.”

This is just as tributes have continued pouring in from friends of the victim on Facebook. A friend, who identified himself as Horlarholu Xarmoohel Cartel, said the late Adediran was a fan of the Chelsea Football Club.

He said:

“Adesoji, can’t believe my eyes when I saw adieu in your name. I don’t know this is what you mean when you said, ‘I am not coming to class again,’ after we sat for a test last week. Haa! SOJ, the best Chelsea fan I ever knew; the best record keeper who doesn’t need Google before he tells you history of football. Already missing you bro, can’t get hold of myself since I heard about your death. I know God knows best.”

Another friend, Adepeju Babatudne, wrote:

“Hmmm, I saw him and Tayo (bestie) beside my hostel cracking jokes with friends when we finished that test. I even accused him of not coming for the test, but he replied, ‘I came nah…’ I don’t even know what to write right now because I know what you passed through when we were in 200 level, but why now? Rest on dear.”

When contacted, an official of the school said the management was not aware of the incident. He, however, promised to get back after contacting a director in the school. He had yet to do so as of press time.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle, said, “The deceased committed suicide by hanging himself on the ceiling fan. He didn’t leave any suicide note. The case is under investigation. Meanwhile, the corpse has been deposited at LAUTECH morgue for autopsy.”

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BREAKING NEWS!! Thin Tall Tony Has Been Evicted From The Big Brother Naija House

Thin Tall Tony on Sunday night ended his quest for the N25 million star prize pegged on the on-going Big Brother Naija reality TV show as he was evicted from the house.

Soma, Miyonse, Coco Ice, Gifty, Uriel had earlier been evicted while Kemen was disqualified for sexual impropriety.

The latest eviction was the first after all the housemates enjoyed automatic immunity from eviction penultimate week.

Last Monday, four housemates in the show were nominated for possible eviction this week.

They were Debie-rise, Efe, TBoss and ThinTallTony.

Initially; Bally, Tboss and Thin Tall Tony were nominated for eviction by fellow housemates. But Bassey as the Head of House saved Bally and replaced him with Efe. While, Marvis used her power card to put Debie-Rise up for nomination.

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Four dead in Maiduguri suicide attack

Borno state police spokesman Victor Isuku said the incident occurred when three bombers — a man and two women — tried to enter Umarari village just outside Maiduguri.<br />STRINGER / AFP

Four people were killed on Saturday evening when suicide bombers blew themselves up in a village on the outskirts of Maiduguri city in Nigeria, police said.

Borno state police spokesman Victor Isuku said the incident occurred when three bombers — a man and two women — tried to enter Umarari village just outside Maiduguri. “They detonated the IEDs (improvised explosive devices) strapped to their bodies while running to different directions,” Isuku said.

Among the dead was a local vigilante and a woman and her two children, he said. Another eight people were wounded. Ibrahim Abdulkadir, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said the vigilante had tried to prevent the bombers from entering the village.

“The vigilante was trying to stop them and that was when he was engulfed by the bomb and the woman was nearby,” Abdulkadir explained. The three bombers also died in the blasts, he said.

The Borno state capital of Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram, a radical Islamist group that has killed over 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million from their homes since taking up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009.

The violence has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region, which has also been hit by the conflict.

Nigerian troops, with the help of regional forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, as well as Benin, have since early 2015 managed to claw back most of the territory lost to Boko Haram in 2014.

But despite claims from the Nigerian military that the group is on the verge of defeat, suicide bomb attacks remain a threat to civilians, particularly in Maiduguri. Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abubakar Shekau made his first appearance in months last week, claiming responsibility for a spate of suicide bombings.

Source: Guardianng

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Wenger to reveal future at Arsenal soon after 3-1 loss to West Brom

Arsene Wenger has said he will announce his plans “very soon” after reaching a decision about his future as Arsenal manager.Wenger would not confirm what that decision was but the Frenchman is under increasing pressure with Arsenal’s season on the brink of collapse after six defeats in the last nine matches in all competitions.

The Gunners lost again yesterday, a 3-1 defeat at West Brom leaving them in fifth place in the Premier League and five points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.

It led to Wenger being asked questions again regarding his future – with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.“I know what I will do so you will know very soon. You will see,” said Wenger.

“Today I do not worry about that.”Wenger had previously said that he had yet to decide what he would do, with the offer of a new two-year contract on the table.

The 67-year-old, who has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996, continues to divide opinion among the club’s supporters. Anti-Wenger fans flew a plane over The Hawthorns trailing a banner asking him to leave while another later proclaimed “In Arsene We Trust #RESPECTAW”.

“I watch the game, I do not watch the stands,” said Wenger.“I believe we have to deal with that and you focus on your job, no matter what people think.”

Asked if he felt making his intentions public might help change the atmosphere among supporters, he replied: “I don’t know. We are in a unique bad patch like we’ve never had in 20 years where we lose game after game at the moment and that is much more important than my future.”

The Arsenal boss, who insisted that he had not informed anyone at the club of his decision, does not necessarily think the uncertainty surrounding his future is impacting on his players.

“I don’t know about that,” said Wenger.“In this job it is like having a problem with your engine, there are problems but you have to find the most important one.“The most important one today was that we had 77 per cent of possession and didn’t create many chances. We have to focus on that.” 

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