Some of those rescued are natives of Gora Namaye, Rini, and Shinkafi in Zamfara while the others are from Sabon Birnin LGA in Sokoto State.

“Today (Thursday) 187 were rescued as a result of the pressure mounted on these bandits by the state government and other security agencies whereby, we stormed Tsibiri Forest where kidnap victims were kept for various days – some (of them for) 52 days, 48 days, 54 days and four months,” said the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Ayuba Elkana, who handed over the victims to the state government.

“They have now been rescued unconditionally. We are now going to hand them over to the state for medical check-up, debriefing, and, later, to be reunited with their families.

“This is a great achievement, and it goes to all the good people of Zamfara State who have keyed into the resolve to this administration to make sure that Zamfara State is brought back to its normal peaceful state.”

The victims were rescued after an extensive search and rescue operation that lasted for hours, conducted by operatives of the Police Tactical Squad of the command.

Elkana explained that the feat was recorded as a result of the implementation of the new security measures announced by the state government.

As part of the measures, the police and other security agencies have been carrying out assaults on identified bandits’ locations in various parts of the state.

According to the police commissioner, these efforts led to the rescue of hundreds of abducted victims who have been reunited with their respective families.

He revealed that some bandits and their collaborators have been arrested, and some of those apprehended have been charged to court.

Elkana gave the assurance that the police and other security agencies would continue to put in their best to ensure the return of lasting peace and security in the state.

He sympathised with the victims for the suffering they went through while in captivity and promised that the command would redouble its commitment to protecting the lives and properties of the people.

The Secretary to the State Government, Kabiru Balarabe, who received the rescued victims thanked the police and other security agencies for enforcing the new security measures.

He assured them of the government’s continuous support and encouragement to carry out their duties effectively, adding that victims would be properly treated before being reunited with their families.

“We are also grateful to all those repentant bandits who have led the way to this success, may Almighty reward you abundantly,” Balarabe said.

“These rescued victims will be treated well as we have already kept in stock all the medications required to take care of them, we will make sure that we make all efforts to reunite these victims with their respective families.”

ChannelsTV

A new twist to the mysterious murder of Lagos billionaire and former Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, emerged as his family claims that the Banana Island billionaire was tortured before his death.

Ataga was reportedly stabbed to death by his girlfriend,  Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300 level student of the University of Lagos, last week, in the Lekki area of Lagos.

However, his family has called on the Nigeria police to properly investigate the matter as an autopsy carried on his corpse has shed more light on the incident.

The family believes that there were more than one person involved in the murder.

A rope suspected to have been used to tie his hands was reportedly found inside the short-let lodging apartment situated at 19 Adewale Oshin Street in the Lekki phase 1 area.

The deceased’s elder brother, Dr. Isi Ataga, in a statement entitled, “Who will speak for Usifo Ataga?” also confirmed these findings.

He stated, “Usifo died a horrific death. He was not stabbed two or even five times; he was stabbed multiple times. His hands were bound tightly and the marks were still all over his wrists, accompanied with evidence of torture and assault even as his corpse lay in the morgue.

“And no one in the entire building heard his screams because he was gagged. Let that sink in, he was bound, gagged and tortured!”

“The now-viral video of the room with the deceased lying on the floor shows a room with blood-stained walls and floor, evidence of a ferocious struggle. One person could never have carried these out.”

Also, a childhood friend, Douglas Aniemena, stated that there were a “few shocking aspects of this heinous incident” which needed more investigation.

Speaking with Vanguard, he said, “The brutal and gory nature of his body; the amount of stab wounds, bruises, bound marks and other inevitable torture marks on his body. The salacious stories, rumours, and false narratives were particularly shocking also, in a most distasteful way.

“Usifo had a place in the VGC that he could have used apart from his home in Banana Island, Ikoyi.

“He has multiple friends who own hotels and short let apartments in the very same Lekki Phase 1 estate and neighbouring Ikoyi, that would avail him of their facilities if he so needed or asked. So, why would he allow and agree to meet up with someone in a short-let apartment that the person had booked?

“The only reason that makes remote sense to me, the only one I can fathom, and I will probably fall for as well, is, if it was set up as a place where some people or person I need to meet, perhaps investors, business I do not know, will come to meet and perhaps, do not want the publicity of hotel foyers or restaurants.

“I do not really know. I am struggling with that one. One thing is clear to me, he was set up to go there.

“The narrative introduced by the suspect, that he willingly gave her his ATM card and pin number, is as laughable as it is preposterous, especially with the proliferation of mobile banking. What would be the reason to give her his bank card and pin number and according to her, ask her to go and withdraw whatever amount she wanted? This is so absurd on so many fronts. Those who knew Usifo, will attest, that he would not talk and act like that; that is so unlike him.

“That notwithstanding, does it make any sense to you that he wanted to give her so much money, mind you, within the ATM withdrawal limit, and could not just transfer whatever amount via his mobile app! Come on, withdrawals via ATM have daily withdrawal limits far less than the amount that can be transferred via mobile banking app which we know he had and was used to make payments, why would he not simply transfer the sums she claimed he was freely offering?

“Does it not make sense that if this his supposed free-will offering was to give you as much cash as you wanted, would he not have offered to transfer money to you as opposed to giving you his ATM card and pin number, (apart from the risk associated from divulging such, which is contrary to the behaviour of a person who was neither gullible nor naïve) would mean taking an Uber from the comforts of the apartment to the ATM gallery, with the potential of standing in the queue and then needing multiple withdrawals to satiate your naira thirst.”

The suspect who was paraded alongside his father said he killed the girl in self-defence and not intentionally.

“I invited her for a job and I asked her whether she can work on a farm as a secretary. I told her that I wanted to sleep with her first. She agreed on a condition that I will use a condom which I also agreed to. She became furious when I started removing the condom, and she attacked me. I was bleeding so I needed to defend myself by hitting her which lead to her death,” he said.

Mr Akpan, who lured the 26-year-old graduate of University of Uyo (UNIUYO) with a fake job interview on April 29, killed her and buried her remains in a shallow grave in his father’s compound.

Ms. Umoren was confirmed dead on April 30 and buried on Friday May 14th 2021 at her hometown, Nung Ita, Ikot Essien in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

However, Nigerians online and offline have been demanding that Mr Akpan be brought to justice.

The police in the state have also assured that the culprit would be charged to court as soon as judiciary workers, who have been on strike for weeks, resume nationwide.

The commissioner of police in the state, Andrew Amiengheme, said it was necessary to have the press conference because of the rumor that was going around in the media that the suspect had committed suicide in the cell.

“I don’t know anywhere in the world that a suspect will be allowed to use trousers in the cell to the extent of killing himself with it.

“Social media that is supposed to be a tool that will work to the advantage of the police has become something that is working against them,” he said.

How It Happened

Responding to questions from journalists, the younger Akpan narrated how he attempted to rape the deceased and eventually killed her using a ‘stabiliser’.

“She (Ms Umoren) came for a supposed job interview in which I used reverse psychology on her. I asked her if she can work in a farm where hard drugs are kept as a secretary and she said she can— that she’s ready to do the job.

“When she came, I revealed to her that this farm does not exist. There is no farm like that. It was just a hoax. I told her that before she leaves that I would like to have sex with her and she agreed. She gave a condition that I should use a condom, which I did. While I removed the condom, she became furious. She took a nearby stabiliser to hit me on my head and she bit my left ring finger and tried to reach for the wall, screaming.

“While I was bleeding, in a bid to stop her, I used the same stabiliser to hit her. She fell and started bleeding.”

The ‘stabiliser’ Mr Akpan was referring to is a pressing iron.

He also confessed to having used the same ‘reverse psychology’ on not less than six women in the past, although he stated that Ms Umoren is the only one he had killed.

Speaking on his relationship with Kufre Effiong, a civil servant linked to him in a report, Mr Akpan said he was one of those who came with the police to arrest him.

The report had speculated on a conspiracy between Mr Akpan and other persons suspected to be involved in human organ trafficking.

The report, without providing evidence, suggested some persons might have colluded to kill Ms Umoren while others engaged in a cover-up to free the suspect.

“Kufre Effiong is my cousin. That was when I was coming from Calabar (to Uyo) because in the morning (of April 30), I went to Calabar. He (Effiong) was the one that picked me up together with the DPO of Urua police station (Samuel Ezeugo),” said Mr Akpan.

According to him, his conversation with his older cousin ”was very short and simple”.

“He (Effiong) texted me the number of the DPO. I called him (DPO) when I arrived in Uyo.”

Mr Akpan also told journalists that he is an undergraduate in an unnamed university, where he is studying Public Administration.

‘I’m not aware’

The older Akpan, when speaking with journalists, said he was never aware of his son’s criminal acts.

“I was not aware. I am not happy about it. When the police came to my compound, I was asked to recall him (from his trip to Calabar that day).”

Mr Akpan revealed that he is a retired civil servant, who served in the federal ministry of health in Abuja.

The 64-year-old and father of three also said he relocated to Urua local government about two years ago and was not aware of his son’s deeds.

Like his son, he believed that justice should be dispensed accordingly.

The IGP has approved the deployment of Police officers and other operational assets of the Police Force to ensure security even beyond the Sallah holiday.

CP Frank Mba the Force Public Relations Officer disclosed this in a statement which was released on Wednesday, adding that the IGP’s order was contained in a directive to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other strategic commanders of the Force.

He explained that the order was part of efforts by the police leadership toward stabilising security, improving public safety and making the country a safer place for all citizens.

Stressing that the security of the country is threatened, the police boss promised that these challenges are not beyond control.

The Citizens are assure that the Police Force under his new leadership vision is already carrying out new, improved, tailored-to-suit and robust security solutions targeted at tackling crimes and neutralizing both existing and emerging security threats in the country.

“The IGP, while restating his belief that the nation will soon overcome its security challenges, further noted that the Force is equally upscaling its collaboration with the military and other law enforcement agencies in both intelligence sharing and other target-oriented missions and operations,” the statement partly read.

“He enjoined citizens to support the Police to stage a common front in tackling the challenges. The IGP reminded the citizens of the newly introduced Phase-4 National Response on COVID-19 Health Protection Regulation and called for voluntary compliance with the protocols.”

Commissioners of Police in all the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were also directed to ensure the full enforcement of the orders. He warned that the Police officers deployed for such enforcement must do accordingly with the heights of professionalism while exhibiting compassion, decorum, and due respect for the fundamental rights of the people.

The IGP, congratulated all Muslim faithful in the country as they join the Muslim Ummah across the globe to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr. He did this on behalf of the entire officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP encouraged them to take to heart the virtues and teachings of Ramadan in their daily endeavours and admonished all Nigerians to take in the spirit of obedience to the laws of the land and the pursuit of the common good of their neighbours.

CP FRANK MBA

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA

A police officer, Edogi Bassey, has died in the early hours of Wednesday as gunmen attacks two Akwa Ibom State police stations.

Officer Bassey was killed after the gunmen attacked Etim Ekpo Area Command and Division at about 6.30 am on Wednesday.

A part of the police station was also invaded by the gunmen.

Odiko MacDon, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the tragedy in the state.

“At about 6:30 a.m. today, armed men, in their numbers, armed with AK 47 Rifles and other dangerous weapons, in two vehicles attacked the rented building housing the Etim Ekpo Area Command and Division.

“The undaunted and vigilant Police Officers on duty gallantly fought back, repelled them, and averted the intended carnage.

Unfortunately, a dedicated Officer, one PC Edogi Bassey paid the supreme price while a small portion of the building was touched,” MacDon said.

In addition he said that the gunmen also attacked Ika Division but were successfully repelled by the officers, “without loss of lives or arms. ”

The Spokesperson lamented over the “unacceptable worrisome trend” of unpleasant, troubling attacks on the police facilities and officers.

He gave assuring statements that the Commission is working hard on putting a stop the insecurity situation in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Amiengheme Andrew who is going round formations and Divisions to ensure alertness and safety of officers, men, and the people has called on law-abiding citizens to volunteer timely information that will enable the Police to tackle the present security challenges”, he said.

It’s been recorded that there has been series of attacks on the security agencies in the South-east and South-south which has increased the security challenges in both regions.

The wife of a Police officer and five police officers were killed by gunmen during an attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters, Odoro Ikpe in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State.

In April, two police officers were gunned down and a vehicle of the station was burnt down during an attack on the Ika Divisional Headquarters vicinity.

Updated May 11, 2021

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, announces the review of the existing night-time curfew in Rivers.

He announced this in a state broadcast on Monday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, he noted that the initial starting time of 10pm has been adjusted to 7pm until further notice.

The governor stressed that the time was adjusted by the State Security Council after a deep consideration of the recent security situation in which seven police officers were killed in another overnight attack on two police stations and a checkpoint.

The governor met with the Police High Command in the state before the broadcast where he announced a cash donation of N20 million each to the families of the 11 policemen killed in the attacks on security formations in the state in the past weeks.

Wike expressed his heart felt pain over the killing of innocent policemen as sad and unfortunate, stressing that the security officials did no wrong but were killed doing their job of protecting the people.

A photo of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Wike says, no sum of money that can be equated to life but as a state, the government will constantly stand with security personnel who lose their lives while doing their job.

He made it known that no form of coercion would make Rivers become a part of any secessionist movement, noting that the government was committed to giving the police the all the support needed to overcome insecurity in the state.

See the Governor’s full broadcast below:

My dear people of Rivers State
These are extraordinary times for our country and our State. Last week Friday, we witnessed yet another multiple armed ambush on police checkpoints along the East-West road which resulted in the cold-blooded murder of 7 police officers.

We again express our condolence to the families of the dead officers and the State’s Police Command for this irreparable loss and pray for the peaceful repose of their innocent souls.

We have reviewed the way and manner the recent attacks were executed and discovered that the perpetrators, who disguised themselves as security officers, moved in unhindered from Oyigbo to launch the attack.

The nation’s security agencies are on their trail and we are confident that they will all be arrested soon and brought to justice.
We wish to assure every resident that we are not intimidated by the sporadic and cowardly attacks on predetermined security targets by faceless criminals on our soil; neither will we be cowed into succumbing to a baseless and doomed secessionists agenda.

However, as a further step towards enhancing our collective safety, we have reviewed the existing night-time curfew across the 23 Local Government Areas, which will now start from 7pm and ends at 6am until further notice from tomorrow 11th May 2021.

The security agencies are hereby directed to note the new curfew time, ensure strict compliance and effectively deal with any person or group that violates or attempts to violate it.

We have reviewed, and for the moment, declined the pressure on the state government to activate our youth to defend the state from these terrorists because we don’t want to complicate our very delicate security situation by creating opportunities for some other monsters to emerge.

However, we are determined to deploy everything at our disposal to advance the safety and security of lives and property in our state and nothing will stop us from defeating the evil forces presently threatening our individual and collective security.

We continue to appeal to members of the public to understand with us in the midst of the economic troubles that our actions may inflict as our one and only aim is to achieve and sustain the maximum security of lives and property in our dear State.

We further appeal to the public to understand that security is everybody’s business and play their own roles, especially in passing intelligence information to the law enforcement agencies to process and take pre-emptive measures to counter and advance our collective security.

Once again, thank you for your cooperation as we continue to work with the nation’s security agencies to keep us safe and secure.

Thank you and may God bless Rivers State.