Man to die for killing baby

A graveyard

OWERRI—An Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Nonyerem Okoronkwo, has sentenced Uchenna Uhuegbu, from Odunmara, Orodo, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, to death for the murder of an 18-month-old baby girl.

Uhuegbu was charged for killing the baby girl, Chimuanya Iwuagwu, also from Odummara, Orodo, on May 17, 2009, in very bizarre circumstances.

Chronicling how the innocent suckling was murdered, Justice Okoronkwo recalled that the deceased Chimuanya was heading to throw away refuse with an elder relation and was accosted by the accused on their way.

The Judge agreed with the prosecution that “because the accused was very familiar with the family of the infant girl, her relation had no problem leaving the two and proceeded to throw away the refuse.”

Apart from believing the prosecution’s account, the Judge equally ruled that since the little girl’s relation did not find the duo on her return, it was for the accused to account for the baby that was left in his care.

Justice Okoronkwo co quoted the confessional statement Uhuegbu made to the police, especially how a mystery voice advised him to kill the little girl if his life was to be better.

Eight killed as gunmen open fire on worshippers

Mohammed Abubakar

KANO (AFP) – A gun battle near a mosque in the northern city of Kano and two other shootings left at least eight people dead on Sunday in the latest violence to hit the area, authorities said.

It was not clear who was behind the attacks in the city of Kano, the largest in the mainly Muslim north, but they resembled similar incidents in the past blamed on Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The deadliest occurred on Sunday night when gunmen opened fire in an area around a mosque while Muslims were observing Ramadan prayers and where a police team was already deployed to protect worshippers, a senior police official said.

Police and the attackers exchanged fire and one of the assailants was killed when his own explosive device went off.

Three other gunmen were shot dead by police, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The rest fled, abandoning their car and three motorcycles they came with,” the official said, adding that it was not clear whether police or the mosque was the target of the initial attack.

Earlier in the day, gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on the car of a Nigerian air force officer, killing the driver and an aide, while two other people were killed in a nearby neighbourhood, authorities said.

“A car of one of our officers came under attack this morning,” Air Commodore Sani Ahmed said.

“The officer’s driver and his orderly were travelling out of town, but as they reached an area called Yan-Lemo, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on the car, killing the two personnel.”

The officer was not in the car at the time, he said.

In a similar incident earlier in the day, two gunmen on a motorcycle shot dead two people outside their house in a nearby neighourhood, said police spokesman Rilwanu Dutse.

A police source said the victims were from the mainly Christian Igbo ethnic group.

Boko Haram has carried out scores of bombings and shootings in their insurgency in the north of Africa’s most populous nation that has left hundreds dead.

Police discover human parts in Festac

Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force.

The police yesterday July 26, 2012 made a shocking and bizarre discovery of human parts in a residence at Festac Town in Lagos State when it raided a building believed to be occupied by ritualists.

Police Sources said they were alerted by neighbors who were suspicious of activities going-on in the building located at House No. 6, B Close, Third Avenue Festac which prompted them to storm the building around 12 noon, and searched the entire place leading to the discovery of some fresh human parts inside a bathtub and a room used as a shrine.

The police said that several human parts such as fresh human head, hand, limbs, decomposing head and female breasts were also discovered.

Meanwhile two brothers Omotola and Toye Ajayi, who were occupants of the building, were arrested and taken away by the police. Also a manhunt has been lunched for another occupant said to be at large.

When our source spoke with Omotayo, he said the dismembered body found inside the bathtub was that of his younger brother who he said has been declared missing for some days but denied having any knowledge of who may have killed and dumped him inside the bathtub.

“I stay in that building but I don’t bath inside the bathroom because the bathtub is bad. The body found in the bathtub could be that of my brother. He was missing and I have not seen him for quite a long time”, he said

Empower police to deal with Boko Haram – Buhari

Buhari, wants the Nigerian Police empowered

Presidential Candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 elections, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has asked the Federal Government to empower the police to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency.

Buhari spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of a book titled, ‘How I governed Anambra State: Stewardship & Accountability’ in Abuja, on Thursday.

The book was written by a former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

Also at this event, an All Nigeria Peoples Party stalwart, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezife, said Nigeria and Nigerians had become unpopular because “we have killed our conscience.”

Buhari said, “The bombings have subsided. It’s up to the law enforcement agents. This is probably the problem of the police. You know, they (Police and SSS) have to secure the country. Constitutionally it’s their job

“Boko Haram as I said, I would rather that the police should be empowered.

BANEX PLAZA EXPLOSION IN ABUJA

The explosion occurred at the busy Banex Plaza in Wuse 2 Abuja this night July 3, 2012 Abuja Police PRO has confirmed. Below is an official statement from the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja:

"Today 3rd July 2012 at about 9:30pm, a low level explosion went off somewhere along Aminu Kano Crescent, near Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja. A crack police team led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT Command- CP Aderenle Shinaba- responded to the distress call, arriving the scene few minutes after the incident. The incident had a zero casualty record- no life lost, no person injured and no car damaged or burnt. Detectives from the Bomb Disposal Unit, assisted by their counterparts 4rm FCT CID have commenced investigation. FCT Police are continuing with their intensive overt & surveillance patrols of the city & wishes to reassure the residents of the police preparedness to continue to provide a safe & secured environment for social & economic activities to thrive unhindered. Meanwhile, mischief makers are in their own interest warned to keep off the city or have themselves to blame as the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them...." CSP Frank Mba (Police Spokesman)

CSP Frank Mba (Police Spokesman)