Gun men attack Vanguard publisher in Lagos.
By Patience Ogbo

The publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka is lying critically ill in an hospital bed after he was attacked in his home at Anthony village in Lagos State on Sunday by suspected armed robbers.

It was gathered that  five  armed men stormed the building at about 1.30 am after scaling the fence.
They were said to have   cut the burglary of one of the windows and broke into his  bedroom through the ceiling.

The bewildered octogenarian was repeatedly ordered to “bring the money” while sources said they hit him with dangerous objects.
This is the second time Mr. Amuka  will be attacked in his home in Lagos.
The publisher was later rushed to a private hospital where he is still receiving treatment after the bandit reportedly left with valuables.
According to sources, the gunmen escaped before the police arrived the house.
One of the private  guard in Mr. Amuka's house narrated how the attack took place. He said “ I was reclining on a chair at the entrance gate when i saw five young men moving from the wall close to the gate towards the house.

I accosted them but they subdued me and my mate. They tied our hands and covered our faces while one of them kept watch over us at the gate, the rest went inside the house only to come out about 45 minutes later   and ordered us to unlock the main gate. As soon as we obeyed them, they left the compound and we heard the screeching of tyres of a car zooming off”.

It was gathered that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, visited the scene   with the  Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Mr Edgar Imohimi. While, heavily armed security men have been deployed to Mr. Amuka's house and his hospital.
Police sources said ten persons have  been arrested and  transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud,Ikeja in connection with the armed robbery.

 

Nigeria loses trillions from bombing

By Michael Eboh
 The recent spate of bombings of oil facilities in the Niger Delta has put the Nigerian economy in dire straits, plunging the country further down the road to a financial crisis. Latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said the Nigerian economy is teetering on the brink of recession and the increase in bombings is throwing the country deeper into the abyss. The situation becomes worrisome when viewed against the backdrop that crude oil exports account for about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue and 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. In the wake of the return of hostilities in the Niger Delta, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, had a few weeks ago, stated that Nigeria’s crude oil output had dropped to 1.4 million, but analysts are of the view that the country’s crude oil output would have dropped significantly to about 900,000 barrels per day as at today. What is this means that the country is currently losing about 1.3 million barrels of crude oil daily due to the bombing. This is exclusive of the huge volume of gas that is transported through the affected pipeline. In monetary terms, with the current price of Light Crude oil at about $48.94 per barrel, Nigeria is currently losing about $63.622 million on the deferred 1.3 million barrels of crude it could not export. This is an equivalent of N12.724 billion per day and N381.732 billion per month. Already, the NBS GDP report for the first quarter of 2016 had stated that the crude oil component of the country’s total trade decreased by N716.7 billion or 46.6 per cent against the level recorded in fourth quarter 2015. In addition to the loss in revenue to the country, power supply is gradually inching closer to zero, as the attacks have crippled almost all of the country’s power plant. Currently, power supply is put at about 2,800 megawatts (MW), dropping to as low as 650MW within the week, from a high of 5,074MW recorded in February. Dallas Peavey, Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Power Plc, stated that the company’s power generating capacity had dropped to less than 10 per cent of its 1,320 megawatts capacity. “We are just sitting idle here,” he told newsmen. In addition, he stated that until the violence ends and gas supplies resume unhindered, the company has suspended plans to double the capacity of power plant, saying that “We cannot double the capacity if we cannot find fuel.” Desmond Ogba, Managing Counsel and Head of Energy Projects at Templars, a Nigerian law firm, also warned that if the vandalism is not addressed urgently and comprehensively, electricity will continue to deteriorate and the government’s aspiration to significantly increase power generation by 2019 would be a mirage. As a result of all these negatives, economic analysts are of the view that the future for the Nigerian economy appears bleak, and it is expected that the country’s Gross Domestic Product for the second quarter would be negative, meaning that the country is officially in recession. The situation worsened further for Nigeria, especially with the low oil price, as revenue accruable to the Federal Government would drop drastically. Already, the amount shared by the Federal, state and local government, had over the months been dwindling. Even with the slight rebound recorded in the price of crude oil in the last couple of days, the country would still be at a disadvantaged, as its low oil output would further worsen the situation. Reacting to the bombings, Acting Director-General of the proposed Maritime Security Agency (MASECA), Mr. Jacob Ovweghre, said the actions of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA and other militant groups would wreak the Nigerian economy and cause even greater pain to the people of Niger Delta, who would bear the direct burden of the crisis and not the government. According to him, the destruction of the pipelines in the Niger Delta will reduce the states’ revenue bases and bleed the nation’s economy, increase environmental degradation, pollution, poverty, hunger, school drop-out, unrest, insecurity, under-development and economic loss. He called on the NDA and other militant groups to desist from bombing crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta and from engaging in other acts of economic sabotage. Ovweghre advised the NDA to have a rethink of their action and use intellectual agitation within the ambit of the law to pursue their demands, so as to gain credibility. It is hoped that the Federal Government resolve the crisis amicably so as to prevent the economy of the country from being brought to its knees

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/nigeria-bleeds-pipeline-bombings-vandalism-wreaks-economy/

NDLEA/PUBAF/074/ VOL. VI/038  June 3, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
NDLEA UNCOVERS HOUSE OF CANNABIS IN LAGOS

Few weeks after Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State donated two operational Hilux vehicles and five motorcycles to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Agency has recorded a major operational success. The command acting on intelligence report discovered a cannabis warehouse where 8,597.63kgs of dried weeds of the illegal substance was illegally stored.  This is the single largest cannabis seizure ever made by the Agency in Lagos. NDLEA has sealed off the six bedroom duplex used in stockpiling cannabis, located at 46, Ateoyo Street, Igbeleri Okoko, Lagos.

The operation which lasted over twelve (12) hours was led by the Assistant Commander Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Ojo Ogbechema. It was cannabis everywhere except a room, a sitting room and a kitchen in the house. Officers spent several hours to evacuate the over eight and half (8.5) tons of cannabis from the illicit warehouse at Okoko, Lagos.

Lagos State commander of NDLEA, Aliyu Sule said that the command made the unprecedented seizure in a cannabis house operated by one Cletus Ishie while acting on a tipoff. "The suspect, his wife and two children were living with the drugs in their family house converted to a warehouse. We engaged different trucks in conveying the drugs to the office because of the large quantity. This is a serious problem that requires concerted efforts and adequate logistic support. Cletus Ishie was not at home at the time of the raid but the wife witnessed the entire operation" Aliyu stated.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) promised to arrest the main suspect, identify and shut down more illicit drug warehouses. "This discovery is impressive and the Agency's strategic approach in eradicating drugs from the country. I assure Nigerians that the main suspect will be arrested and made to answer his charges. Any investment in the fight against the scourge of narcotic drugs will continue to generate commensurate value. The assistance by the State government is yielding the right results. The Agency will remain active in undercover operations and detect more clandestine warehouses" Abdallah assured.

The NDLEA boss added that the provisions of the law shall be strictly applied in every case. Section 12 of the NDLEA Act states that any person, who being the occupier or is concerned in the management of any premises, unlawfully permits or causes the premises to be used for the purpose of storing, concealing processing or dealing in the drug popularly known  as cocaine.  LSD, heroine or any other similar drug shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. The Act also provides for the forfeiture of property or instrumentalities used in any manner to commit or to facilitate the commission of an offence specified under the act.

Police rescue Chinese  kidnapped in Lagos

Expatriate

Chiemelie Ezeobi 

The trio of Adebowale Johson, Oluwadara Segun, Amos Loko, all Nigerians and a Beninnois, Vidiyong Taiye, Thursday revealed how they hatched and kidnapped a Chinese expatriate, Kumming Hyang.

According to the suspects, they had over the course of a year planned on how to abduct a victim for ransom but their plans were aborted due to some unforeseen circumstances.

They however re-strategised recently and picked a new victim, this time the Chinese expatriate, following information from Loko, who also worked with the victim.

According to Loko, he had zeroed in on the Chinese in a bid to ensure a handsome ransom, but their plans were foiled when they were arrested before they could demand for ransom.

The 26-year-old said, "After our plans failed last year, I continued my job as a driver. It was recently I called back my gang and told them that we would pick up my boss.

"The plan was that as soon as I resume work by 5am, they will use advantage of the open gate to come in and pick up my boss. Our plans worked and we took him to a forest behind our house at Igando, Ibeju, Lekki.

"I was arrested after one Mr. Ken, who is a contractor with my company, called in the police and they arrested me as a suspect. It was during interrogation that I confessed to the police."

However, the trio of Johson, Segun and Taiye, who maintained their innocence, claimed that although Loko contacted them for the job, they didn't actually participate.

The expatriate, who works for GMC Construction  Company, in Lekki was abducted by the four-man group on Sunday, May 29, after they had ambushed him at Igando Oloja Elemoro in Ajah.

As soon as the information filtered in to the police, a crack team from the the Elemoro Police Division were put together and deployed to comb the area for  for possible location of the criminals.

Soon after the manhunt launched by the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, the suspects were arrested four days later and the victim rescued hale and hearty.

Confirming the arrests to THISDAY, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, said, "On Sunday, May 29, 2016, a case of kidnap was reported in Elemoro Police Division.

"It was a case of a Chinese man who was whisked away by armed men to an unknown destination. The command moved into rescue operation immediately the case was reported.

"The command has arrested the suspects and the Chinese member has been reunited with his family hale and hearty.

"This is to send a signal to to criminals that it is no longer business as usual because the command is riding the state of bad eggs."

Badmos said the command is also on the trail of the other fleeing members of the gang, adding that they would all be charged to court at the appropriate 

Police Arrest Couple for Abducting Two children in Lagos

Policemen attached to the Lagos State Lagos State Police Command have arrested a couple, one Saheed Akinwale and  his alleged accomplice  Hajia Zainab Salisu, for allegedly  abducting  two kids, 12-months-old Feyitola Lawal and seven-months-old Taiwo Salisu from the  Abule Egba area of the state

It was gathered that the couple are engaged but  Zainab had convinced Saheed that she was pregnant for him with twins  and needed money to travel to the United States of America  to deliver the babies.

She was said to have allegedly lied to Saheed and collected N250, 000 from him,  but she disappeared only to appear months later with two babies, whom she claimed were their babies.
The bubble burst as  it was later discovered that she allegedly stole the baby from two different families, and passed them off as her twins to family and friends.

While she renamed Feyitola as Kehinde, she gave Philip the name Taiwo, and she remained under that cover till she was arrested by the police and the real parents of Feyitola were notified.

Unknown to her, the police were tracking her using the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) of Justrite Stores, where she was last seen in the company of Mrs. Lawal and her baby, Feyitola.

The suspect, Hajia Zainab Salisu, said, "I did not steal the baby. Feyitola's mother is my friend. I went to their house on May 14 and when she left to get something, I carried her baby and left.

"Since I switched off that sim card, they couldn't reach me. The other baby (Philip whom she had baptised as Taiwo) belongs to my uncle.

"The wife died and he wanted to give away the baby and I told him to give him to me so that I can raise him as my own. I was arrested when the police arrested my finance Saheed."

Saheed Akinwale on his part denied any involvement in the alleged crime. He said  "I met her last year. After she told me that she was pregnant for me and that she wants to travel to the United States to give birth. I gave her N250, 000.

"Sometime in October, she called me that she was back and that she had delivered a set of twins for me. She told me she landed in Abuja and that she would bring them to Lagos to see me.

"Although I am married with kids, I kept Zainab as my other family. I never knew they were not our kids until the police arrested us yesterday."

Feyitola's mother , Mrs. Damilola Lawal debunked claims that she was friends with the suspects.

She said, "I don't know her from anywhere, rather she came to my shop claiming to be a supplier of eggs and would love to supply us with some. I agreed.

"Later, she claimed she was new in the area and thus needed a new place of worship and my mother-in-law took her to our church (Christ Apostolic Church).

"After service she followed us home to use the convenience. She later stayed for lunch and then she said she wanted to buy some souvenoirs.

"I took her to Justrite Stores at Agege but she ended up not buying. When we were leaving, she offered to assist in carrying my daughter. We boarded a bus and got to Abule Egba.

"We entered a bike and when we got to the bus stop, her bike carried her down further. By the time I walked down to that place she had disappeared."

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos saidsiblings

"The case was reported to all the divisions in Abule Egba and she was tracked down and the baby was

recovered from her custody.

 "Also seen in her custody was a seven-months old baby (Philip) she could not give account of which the command reasonably suspects was stolen.

"Parents should be weary of all friends that can't be traced because most of them comes under the criminal disguise of friendships."