News

JUST IN: Nigerian Stabbed South African Police (UPDATED)

Published

5 years ago

January 10, 2020

A Nigerian alleged to have stabbed two South African Police operatives in Rosedale near Upingto, South Africa has been arrested, it was learnt.

Though his identity is yet to be known, it was however learnt that he will be charged to court soon.

The unfortunate incident, which occurred on Tuesday, it was also learnt led to disruption of peace and order in the area and its environs before the intervention of police operatives.

The ugly incident has been condemned by the Nigerian community in South Africa.

The Consul General was said to have also been informed of the ugly development.

Meanwhile, the National President of Nigerian Citizens in South Africa (NICASA), Mr. Benjamin Okoli has debunked the news of ultimatums issued to Nigerians and other foreigners in the affected areas.

Okoli noted that the incident is most regretted as it negates the peace and confidence-building that was already going on between the South Africans and their Nigerian counterpart.

Okoli said it was not yet clear what led to the attacks, but one thing that was certain was the involvement of a Nigerian who was the aggressor in the case.

He noted that a policeman was stabbed to death while a second was wounded and rushed to the hospital, where he later died as a result of the injuries sustained.

According to Okoli, “The ugly incident happened yesterday (Tuesday) in the town’s of keimos, and Rosedale near Upington and continued up till today (Wednesday) afternoon.

“A Nigerian is alleged to have stabbed a member of the South African Police Service. It is not yet clear why the Nigerian allegedly stabbed the policeman to death and wounded another who was critical in the hospital, report has confirmed the second victim has died.

We understand that the alleged killer and the stabbed police victim are known to each other”.
On getting information on the incident, he said they contacted the local police to step in so as to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Nigerians in the affected areas have also been advised to stay out of trouble.

“We got information about the ugly development from the Northern Cape provincial chairman of NICASA who confirmed the incident.

“We immediately contacted the local Police in the areas of Keimos and Rosedale where the attack on foreign nationals started. The Nigerian Citizens in the area were quickly advised to stay out of trouble.”

NICASA president also commended the South African police for their timely intervention, while at the same time condemned the killing.

“We truly appreciate and commend the police (SAPS) for their quick and professional response in containing the crises. The local community members of Rosedale out of frustration had warned and asked that foreigners should leave their town. This is not xenophobia, the reaction by the locals was instigated by the criminal action of the Nigerian who allegedly stabbed the two victims.

“We condemned in the strongest terms the killing by the alleged accused. It is not yet very clear what caused the attack.

The attack is regrettable as this has affected some innocent Nigerians and other foreign nationals disrupting their peace and destroyed their businesses and properties, which were attacked by some criminal elements that took advantage of the situation.

The incident has truly negated the success we are making in building understanding and social cohesion with South Africans.

“We sympathize with the immediate family of the deceased police officer and the other victim. We also sympathize with the South Africa Police for the loss.

Meanwhile, police investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the true circumstances of the incident. The alleged attacker a Nigerian was arrested and will appear in court soon.

“We appeal to the Nigerian Citizens to stay safe, law-abiding and not take the laws into their hands,” he stated

News

Court jails two for N22.1m fraud in Maiduguri

Published

1 hour ago

February 5, 2025

Seyi Babalola

Justices Aisha Kumaliya and Amina Ibrahim of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri on Tuesday, convicted and sentenced two persons to three years imprisonment each for fraud.

The convicts are; Anaryu Akindaraju and Umar Alhaji Bukar who were prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on one-count separate charges bordering on criminal misappropriation and cheating.

According to the Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, Akindaraju was convicted by Justice Kumaliya while Bukar was jailed by Justice Ibrahim.

The charge against Akindaraju reads: “That you, Anaryu Akindaraju, sometime in March, 2022 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced Alhaji Tijjani Muhammad to deliver to you the sum of N15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira) via your account number 0241908016 domiciled with FCMB, and vide your account number 0060784408 domiciled with Access Bank respectively, while some of the monies were transferred to you vide the account number 1010381257 bearing Abubakar Musa domiciled with UBA under the guise that the said amount represents payment for a purchase of three bed room flat situated at House of Assembly Quarters Maiduguri, Borno State, which you are yet to deliver and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State”

That of Bukar reads: “That you, Umar Alhaji Bukar with National Identification Number 86732517860, sometimes in 2013 at Maiduguri Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of N6,736,000.00 and a house estimated at N450,000.00 belonging to late Alhaji Bukar Fannami for the benefit of Aisha Bukar Fannami and Hauwa Buakr Fannami and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994 respectively.”

Oyewale said they all pleaded guilty to the charges when read to them and counsel for the prosecution Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, Faruk Muhammad and Abdulmalik D. Aliyu went ahead and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

“Justice Kumaliya convicted and sentenced Akindaraju to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.00 while Justice Ibrahim convicted and sentenced Bukar to one year imprisonment or an option of fine of N100,000.00.

“The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre began when Akindaraju received payment for a purchase of a three bed room flat without delivering the property to the victim or returning the money to him.

“Bukar, on his own, dishonestly misappropriated an inheritance property and converted it to his use”.

News

Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo orders investigation of alleged criminal activities at Delta correctional centre

Published

2 hours ago

February 5, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into allegations of criminal activities within the Okere Correctional Centre in Warri, Delta State.

A recent armed robbery incident in Delta State was allegedly traced to inmates of the correctional centre.

Tunji-Ojo’s directive was contained in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Babatunde Alao, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister strongly condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, stressing that any form of indiscipline or misconduct would be met with severe consequences.

He reiterated his commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the administration of justice within the correctional service system.

“I will not allow indiscipline to fester under my watch. Any officer found wanting will face the full weight of the law. The leadership of the Nigerian Correctional Service must provide explanations.

“We take these allegations seriously and will not tolerate any form of misconduct within our correctional facilities,” he stated.

The minister urged the general public to provide any relevant information that may aid the investigation.

Politics

‘You’re backing Tinubu for personal gains’ — El-Rufai slams Kaduna Gov Sani

Published

2 hours ago

February 5, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticised his successor, Governor Uba Sani, for supporting President Bola Tinubu, alleging that it is for personal gain.

In a post on X, El-Rufai claimed that Sani’s unwavering support for Tinubu was linked to over N150 billion in federal reimbursements received by Kaduna State in the past 18 months.

“Every day I see this governor embarrassingly and sycophantically rambling, I used to wonder why. However, confirming that Federal Government ‘reimbursements, interventions, and grants’ in excess of N150bn have been given selectively to Kaduna by Tinubu in the last 18 months now explains everything.

“By all means, defend Asiwaju for the conditional cash transfer. Asiwaju has earned it, coming from you. The people of Kaduna State will judge at the right time and place. Have a nice day,” El-Rufai wrote.

The former governor’s criticism comes in the wake of Sani’s remarks during a news interview on Monday, where he expressed surprise at the growing criticism of Tinubu’s administration from some founding members of the All Progressives Congress.