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Offa Bank Robbery Conviction; Group makes case for DCP Abba Kyari before President Tinubu

The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEHUR) has called on President Bola Tinubu to review the case of former Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force, Abba Kyari, and secure his release from prolonged detention.

Kyari has been held in connection with alleged involvement in drug trafficking, charges which he denies.

Currently standing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kyari’s detention has drawn attention from various quarters.

CEDEHUR, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Azeez Folusho, praised Kyari’s past efforts in combating kidnappers and terrorists, including his role in the arrest of the notorious Offa bank robbers.

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The Offa robbery, which took place on April 5, 2018, in Kwara State, claimed 31 lives, marking it as the deadliest robbery incident in Nigerian history.

The robbers involved were recently sentenced to death. CEDEHUR highlighted Kyari’s contributions to public safety and urged for a fair reassessment of his case.

“The arrest, prosecution, and death sentencing of the five Offa robbery suspects would have been impossible without the unwavering dedication, exceptional ingenuity, and swift intelligence of Nigeria’s renowned Super Cop, Abba Kyari, who is now imprisoned on what we believe are trumped-up charges,” the group stated.

They further explained that after the incident, the former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assigned Kyari to relocate to Offa and spearhead the investigation.

The statement added: “Kyari, ever ready to serve his fatherland, immediately obeyed the call of duty,” the group said.

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“Abba Kyari, then an Assistant Commissioner of Police and head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, arrived in Offa town with his team to assess the situation and track down the perpetrators. As usual he followed up the case with doggedness and calculated use of advanced technology in getting the deadly armed robbers arrested.

“The police team led by Kyari were able to arrest 12 additional suspects in connection with the robbery, recovering items such as handsets, iPads, and SIM cards belonging to the victims.

“Some of the suspects arrested included Adegoke Shogo, Kayode Opadokun, Kazeem Abdulrasheed, Azeez Abdullahi, and Alexander Reuben, among others. The police also recovered firearms and ammunition from the suspects.

“It is soul lifting that, on Thursday a Kwara State High Court sentenced the five suspects to death by hanging for their role in the infamous bank robbery. The convicted suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham, were found guilty of armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms.

“The suspects also made off with 21 brand new AK-47 rifles from the police station’s armoury in the devastating attack, which claimed the lives of nine policemen and several civilians during the daring robbery that targeted at least five commercial banks in Offa town.

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“The judge, Justice Haleemah Salman, handed down the sentence after a three-and-a-half-hour judgment, in which he also imposed a three-year prison sentence for illegal possession of firearms. The prosecution views this verdict as a closure for the victims’ families and a deterrent to potential criminals.

“As this sentence marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their loved ones, the Nigerian state needs to revisit Abba Kyari’s case and acquit him of the unfounded allegations levelled against.

“It has been proven repeatedly that the then Deputy Commissioner of Police is merely a victim of media trial before the actual judicial trial upon which the judges have been adjudicating over trumped up charges.”

The group recounted that Kyari’s alleged connection with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi has been dismissed by the Federal High Court 5 on 29/8/2022.

“The Nigeria Police Force and the Presidency at this crucial moment of overwhelming security challenges need the services of Abba Kyari to step in and arrest the drift and revamp the almost collapsed and overwhelmed security architecture.

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“Keeping our best hands away in prison custody on grounds of unproven allegations while the nation groans under insecurity and citizens’ blood flowing from bandits’ daily senseless attacks is a complete embrace for the looming anarchy.

“Leadership is about taking a hard decision and in Abba Kyari’s case, it’s an easy decision to make – that the country’s best hands should lead the fight against threats. The last thing the country needs now is the increasing budget on insecurity in the absence of resources yet in the presence of people like Abba Kyari who can simply solve the problems.”

The statement highlighted several of Kyari’s notable achievements, including the arrest of 52 Boko Haram suicide bombing coordinators in Borno State, the kidnappers of Chief Olu Falae, the individuals responsible for the murder of Rev. Fr. Adeyi in Benue, the assassins of former Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh, billionaire kidnapper Evans, and prominent kidnap kingpins in northern Nigeria such as Halti, Yellow, Kachalla Manu, and Zakari Yau.

The group called on President Bola Tinubu to expedite Kyari’s release from detention, stating, “This is a call for President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action. Your administration will be evaluated based on key issues, particularly insecurity, which has worsened and severely affected the economy and the lives of citizens.

“The President has the opportunity to make the right decision now. Otherwise, history may not be forgiving.”

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Thirteen-year-old Boy dies after ‘attempting viral Social Media stunt

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Thirteen-year-old Boy dies after ‘attempting viral Social Media stunt

A Southern California family is mourning the loss of their 13-year-old son, Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., who they believe died after participating in a dangerous social media challenge similar to a past trend that claimed multiple young lives.

The teen was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta on the morning of February 3, just a day after spending time with his family watching the Grammy Awards.

When his parents discovered him, his mother immediately began performing CPR while his father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., sought help from a neighbor and called emergency services.

Despite their efforts, the boy was later pronounced dead. While initial signs suggested the possibility of suicide, his parents were unconvinced and began their own investigation. They soon learned that their son may have been influenced by a hazardous social media challenge circulating among his peers.

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The challenge, similar to the infamous “Blackout Challenge,” reportedly dares participants to render themselves unconscious. This trend has been linked to several deaths in recent years, prompting warnings from parents and authorities alike.

However, Ohaeri Jr. had no social media accounts, and his phone was equipped with strict parental controls, leading his parents to believe he learned about the challenge from classmates or friends.

The grieving parents now hope their son’s story will serve as a wake-up call for other families. They urge parents to be vigilant about the content and trends their children may encounter, whether online or through peer interactions.

Ohaeri Sr. reflected on the tragedy, acknowledging that while he had been proactive in discussing topics like drugs with his sons, he hadn’t considered the dangers of social media challenges.

“We don’t talk about not following social media trends or playing social media games,” he said. “And maybe we need to.”

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In the aftermath of their son’s death, the family is left grappling with guilt and unanswered questions. “I’m going through the Rolodex of guilt now, wondering if we checked in enough or if I should have been less strict years ago,” Ohaeri Sr. shared.

The family hopes their heartbreaking experience will encourage other parents to have open conversations with their children about the hidden risks of social media and peer pressure.

Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death, and it remains unclear whether the incident is being investigated as a suicide or an accidental result of the social media challenge. The Murrieta Police Department has not provided further details on the case.

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Several gunmen neutralised as Military personnel hit suspected Bandits in major ambush

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Several people neutralised as Military personnel hit suspected Bandits in major ambush

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) soldiers have killed a number of bandits in Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA), Zamfara State, in a decisive operation that involved targeted airstrikes.

The strike came after a well-planned intelligence operation, according to a report from “Zagazola Makama,” one of the top counter-insurgency publications in the Lake Chad region.

According to sources, the robbers had left Tsafe LGA and were thought to be connected to the notorious bandit boss Ado Aliero.

Their mission was to rustle cattle from nearby communities, a crime they successfully carried out before attempting to escape with the stolen livestock.

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However, their retreat was cut short when they encountered resistance from local security forces. As the bandits moved into a mountainous area, security forces, tracking their movements, set up an ambush. Upon confirming the bandits’ location, the Nigerian Air Force was promptly alerted.

With precision, air assets were deployed to engage the fleeing bandits. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that numerous bandits were neutralized, though the precise death toll remained unverified at the time of the report.

Sources further revealed that at least 23 bandits were killed, with several others suffering injuries. Additionally, a significant number of rustled cattle were recovered by the troops, dealing a severe blow to the criminal operation in the region.

This successful strike underscores the growing effectiveness of coordinated intelligence and military operations in the ongoing fight against banditry and insurgency in northern Nigeria.

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President Tinubu’s Minister takes on Ganduje as fesh crisis rocis APC

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President Tinubu’s Minister takes on Ganduje as fesh crisis rocis APC

The Minister of State for Housing, Yusuf Abdullahi Atta, has cautioned the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje against any attempts to allow the current Chairman of the APC in Kano to continue in office for a fourth term.

The Minister was quoted to have warned that any attempt to gives the current Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Abbas another chance, would lead to serious crises in the party.

The Minister issued the threats at a caucus meeting in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano, on Saturday.

The Minister said, “we will not take it lightly with anybody trying to return Abdullahi Abbas to office after the expiration of his tenure, because it violates the constitution of the party”.

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“We would not accept the Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas to be imposed on us for the fourth term, this will surely result in us decamping immediately from the party”, he threatened.

“We are saying loud and clear, I swear if Abdullahi Abbas is given another chance all of us will decamp from the party and APC will crash and lose 2027, this is my message to anybody who cares to listen”.

Yusuf Atta alleged that the arrogant and misguided disposition of Abdullahi Abbas as state Chairman is among the many negative tendencies that crippled and made the party to lost power in 2023.

“And up till today, the same person has not changed, therefore we are strongly warning that in any case and anyhow Abdullahi Abbas is given another chance everyone should consider the Party losing 2027.

” We were given good training by our parents and we know who God is, we never dare him but this man doesnt know that, therefore with him as Chairman APC is a foregone party in Kano.”

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Atta said in 2023, APC won the governorship contest with Gawuna and Sule Garo as candidate and deputy but that Anti God remarks of Abdullahi Abbas truncated their victory.

There are reports that the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje is planning on reimposing Abdullahi Abbas to continue as the state chairman of the party for the fourth term.

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