Police, service provider probe fake social media posts

The Police Command in Enugu State and relevant service providers have started investigating fake social media posts to track mischief-makers.

The police warned residents of the state against using social media to spread fake news about kidnapping in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Command, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in Enugu on Tuesday that, “the attention of the command has been drawn to some online tweets and postings in the new media (social media), undermining efforts of security operatives “.

According to the police image maker, such tweets and postings have created wrong impression of non-existing and unconfirmed kidnapping activities in some parts of the state.

“Such online report/tweet is false and misleading and it is viewed as a calculated attempt by mischief makers to create in the mind of law abiding and good people of the state.’’

Amaraizu restated the commitment of the command toward ensuring sustenance of peace, security and safety through partnership with relevant stakeholders and other sister security agencies.

“The command, through support of the government and good people of the state, will stop at nothing at ensuring that the existing peace, security and safety is sustained, to keep maintaining the state as the safest in the country.’’

The command, in partnership with sister security agencies, has intensified crime prevention activities such as joint patrols and intelligence sharing according to Amaraizu. (NAN)

Gunmen kill 24 at Iranian military parade

A military parade that Iran had touted to show its strength turned tragic Saturday after four militants shot dead at least 24 people including women and children. Fifty three other people were wounded.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shooting rampage at the parade in southwestern Iran on Saturday. All the four attackers were killed.

Iranian authorities tagged the attack “terrorist” and blamed an unidentified US ally in the region. Saudi Arabia was the prime suspect.

“Terrorists recruited, trained, armed & paid by a foreign regime have attacked Ahvaz,” Foreign minister Javad Zarif said in a tweet, adding: “Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable for such attacks”.

The deadly shooting targeted the city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan, a province bordering Iraq that has a large ethnic Arab community and has seen separatist violence in the past which Iran has blamed on its regional rivals.

“The number of martyrs of the terrorist incident reached 24, some of whom were women and children among the spectators,” IRNA said, adding the death toll could rise further as many of the wounded were in critical condition.

Armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said that the dead included a young girl and a former serviceman in a wheelchair.

“Of the four terrorists, three were sent to hell at the scene, while the fourth who had been wounded and arrested went to hell moments ago due to his severe wounds,” Shekarchi told state television.

Khuzestan deputy governor Ali-Hossein Hosseinzadeh told the semi-official ISNA news agency that a journalist was also among the dead. He also said earlier that “eight to nine” troops had been killed.

Zarif did not specify which regional government he held responsible for the shooting, but Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said the attackers were funded by Sunni arch rival Saudi Arabia.

“Those who opened fire on civilians and the armed forces have links to the Ahvazi movement,” Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif told ISNA.

“They are funded by Saudi Arabia and attempted to cast a shadow over the Iranian armed forces.”

Zarif vowed Iran would “respond swiftly and decisively in defence of Iranian lives”.

In a message of condolence to Russia’s close regional ally, President Vladimir Putin said he was “appalled by this bloody crime.”

“This event once again reminds us about the necessity of an uncompromising battle against terrorism in all of its manifestations.”

Khuzestan was a major battleground of the 1980s war with Saddam’s Iraq and the attack on the anniversary parade in Ahvaz had significant symbolic value.

The province saw unrest in 2005 and 2011 but has since seen been largely quiet.

Attacks by Kurdish rebels on military patrols along the border further north are relatively common.

But attacks on regime targets inside major cities are far rarer.

On June 7, 2017, 17 people were killed and dozens wounded in simultaneous attacks in Tehran on the parliament building and on the tomb of revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini — the first inside Iran claimed by the Sunni Muslim extremists of the Islamic State group.

In April, 26 alleged IS jihadists went on trial on charges connected with that twin attack.

Police said that five people were arrested at the scene of the attacks and dozens more arrests were reported in the following months — many along the borders with Iraq and Turkey.

The attack in Ahvaz came as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was among the dignitaries at the main anniversary parade in Tehran.

In a keynote speech, Rouhani vowed to boost Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities despite Western concerns that were cited by his US counterpart Donald Trump in May when he abandoned a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran.

Security agents frustrate vote buyers at Osun polling units

Vote buyers are having a bad day in the Osun governorship election as Security agents attached to polling units have effectively barred voters from taking their smart phones into voting cubicles.

In past elections, voters took their smartphones into the cubicles and then snapped their ballot papers to present to vote buyers in exchange for cash.

The phenomenon called ‘see and buy’, was deemed a stain on the integrity of Nigeria’s elections. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, along with security agents have vowed to end the practice.

In some of the polling units visited in Ilesa and Ile-Ife, majority of the voters came to the polling units with their smartphones. However, security agents did not allow them to take them inside the cubicles, where they vote.

A security personnel, who spoke with NAN on the condition of anonymity, said move had so far checked the incidence of vote-buying at polling units.

Mr Jimmy George, an election observer, commended security agents for preventing voters from using their phones inside the cubicles.

George , who is the National Secretary of the National Committee of Patriots, said the action of the security agents would minimise vote-buying in the election.

Meanwhile, accreditation and voting in the election continued on a peaceful note in many polling units across the state.

At Unit 12A, Ward 05 in Ile-Ife, voters were seen on the queue peacefully with INEC ad hoc staff attending to them.

It was also observed that the card reader machines were also working perfectly at the polling unit visited by NAN.

Mr Lukman Adedini, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), agent confirmed that the election had been peaceful.

Adedini also commended INEC ad hoc staff for arriving on time.

Also at Ward 6, Remo Unit 2 in Ile-Ife, many voters were seen on the queue.

Mrs Victoria Komolafe, the Presiding Officer, who said the election had been orderly and peaceful, also commended the large turnout of voters.

Mr Olayade Abiola, the SDP party agent at the polling unit, commended INEC for the prompt arrival of materials

NAFDAC seizes cartons of Tramadol, Diazepam from Lagos warehouse

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) operatives raided a Lagos warehouse and seized controlled drugs, such as Tramadol, valued at N105.6 million.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

She explained that NAFDAC carried out substantive surveillance on nefarious activities of a gang involved in illegal importation of banned and controlled pharmaceutical products.

She said that the operatives at about 1.04 am raided a transit warehouse at Ijora Ororo, Lagos State and discovered 187 cartons of assorted Tramadol, with a range of 120mg, 200mg and 225mg doses.

More than 49 cartons of Diazepam (another controlled drug) concealed amongst household items including but not limited to bicycle, used tyres and printers were also seized.

“The seized products, valued at N105.65 million have been evacuated from the transit warehouse for necessary action and further investigation”, she said.

“We are advising the general public to be watchful and should not hesitate to report any suspicious activities within their environment to the nearest NAFDAC office” she added.

Police recover 9657 guns and firearms, 26,994 bullets

The Nigerian Police Force has reported the recovery of 9,657 assorted guns and firearms and 26,994 bullets, the fruits of its efforts to reduce the prohibited weapons in the hands of militiamen, bandits, herdsmen and vigilante groups in the country.

The police gave the update today in a statement by Acting Deputy commissioner Jimoh Moshood.

Moshood said the prohibited firearms recovered included artillery, apparatus for the discharge of any explosives of gas diffusing projectile, Rocket weapons, bombs and grenades, Machine-Guns and Machine-Pistols, Military rifles, namely; those of calibers 7.62mm, 9mm, .300 inches.

Others were Revolvers and Pistols whether rifled or unrifled (including flint-lock pistols and cap pistols, Pump action guns of all categories and other guns locally made to kill.

The police said the firearms recovery, still ongoing, is aimed at the full enforcement of the Firearms Act.

“Mopping-up and recovery of all prohibited firearms and illegally acquired weapons and will enable the Nigeria Police Force deal decisively with Herders/Farmers Clashes, Kidnappings, Armed Robbery, Cattle Rustling, Militancy and Terrorism”, the police spokesman said.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on 21 February, 2018 had directed the Commissioners of Police of all the State Commands of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and their Supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police of the Twelve Zonal Commands in the Country, and the Force Headquarters Joint Task Enforcement Team to mop up the prohibited firearms and ammunition and weapons.

After the expiration of the grace period of 21 days, the police swung into actions and embarked on Mop-up, Seizure and Recovery of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunition in wrong hands, suspected Militias, Militants, Criminal/Unlawful Gangs through search, raid and seizure from identified premises, hideouts, dwelling houses, buildings and sites where these illegal/prohibited firearms were kept based on reasonable suspicion and intelligence.

Russia identifies 2 suspects in Skripal poisoning case – Putin

Russian authorities have identified the two people suspected by London of poisoning Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

“We know who they are, we have found them,” Putin told the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

The Russian president noted that the “suspects” were civilians.

“I hope that they will show up and tell everything themselves. There is nothing particularly criminal there, I assure you,” he said.

Putin also urged the two individuals to talk to media.

NAN reports that on Sept. 6, the UK charged two Russian men for the Novichok nerve agent attack on the former spy and his daughter in the English city of Salsibury, accusing them of being Russian military intelligence officers.

British prosecutors issued arrest warrants for Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, charging them with conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Both were poisoned with the military-grade nerve agent – developed by the former Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s – in March but survived after spending weeks in hospital.

The failed attack sparked an international diplomactic crisis with Russia being accused by several countries – allegations Moscow has repeatedly denied.

Britain said it will present its evidence at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.

British officials demanded at a meeting with Russia’s charge d’affaires that those responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals were brought to justice.

Ex Budget Officer in ICPC net over N5.5m gratification

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday said it had arrested a former federal budget officer, for allegedly receiving gratification to the tune of N5.5 million.

ICPC’s Spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, identified the suspect as Henry Oyibo, in a statement issued in Abuja.

According to the statement, Oyibo, formerly with the Budget Office of the Federation, is at the moment with the Ministry of Niger Delta.

She said that preliminary investigation by the commission revealed that Oyibo received the money to facilitate the release of funds, budgeted for the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, between 2014 and 2015.

Okoduwa alleged that the inducement came from the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Sule Otu, and three other members of staff of the centre.

According to her, the suspect was at the time acting as the liaison officer between the budget office and the medical centre.

“The actions of the officials, which border on corrupt offer and receipt of gratification by public officers, are contrary to Sections 8, 9, 16 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“Further investigation also revealed that Oyibo owns assets valued far beyond his legitimate earnings, in breach of Section 44 (2) of the ICPC Law.

“All the suspected staff of the Federal Medical Centre, who had been in custody before, were granted bail and released by the commission.

“Oyibo, who is now in custody, will be released upon the fulfillment of his bail conditions,’’ she said.

The ICPC image maker said, however, that the suspects would be arraigned “as soon as investigations are completed.’’

3 Police Officers Dismissed from Service for Unlawful Invasion of Edwin Clarks Resident

The Inspector General of Police has approved the dismissal from the service of the Nigeria Police Force, three (3) Inspectors namely:

(i) AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa
(ii) AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and
(iii) AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, and the immediate interdiction of AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic who were involved in the unauthorized, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the search of the residence of Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark in Asokoro, Abuja on 4th September, 2018.

Ap. No. 158460 ASP David Dominic was queried and being investigated for Discreditable Conduct, Negligence of Duty and an Act unbecoming of a Police officer which constitute Serious Misconduct and if not checked can be inimical to the image of the Nigeria Police Force and violation of fundamental human rights of the Elder Statesman as provided for in the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended. The gravity of the offences against the officer is serious in nature and dismissal from service is imminent.

Consequently, the Inspector General of Police approved that AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic, be on interdiction from Service pending the determination of his case by the Police Service Commission.

The IGP also approved and upheld the dismissal from service of (i) AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa (ii) AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and (iii) AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, after the trio were tried under Oath in Orderly Room Trial for Discreditable Conduct, Illegal duty, Disobedience to Lawful Order and other misconduct contrary to the Rule of Law.

The suspect (Informant) Ismail Yakubu from Waru Village, Apo District, Abuja, has been charged to Upper Area Court Mpape, Abuja for giving false information and telling falsehood that misled Police action.

Aid workers raped in S/Sudan to get $20,000 compensation

A South Sudanese military court on Thursday ordered the government to pay a total of 20,000 dollars, in damages to the five foreign aid workers raped in a 2016 raid on a hotel in the capital Juba.

The amount represents 4,000 dollars each to the aid workers and as well as to the family of a local journalist killed in the attack.

The judge, Brig,-Gen. Knight Briano found 10 soldiers guilty of rape and murder during a rampage in the capital in 2016 and sentenced them to 14 years in prison.

The attack at the Terrain Hotel in the capital was one of the worst on foreign aid workers since South Sudan was plunged into conflict in 2013.

Eleven soldiers were on trial but one was set free due to the lack of charges against him.

The court It also ordered the government to pay 51 head of cattle to the relatives of the local journalist who was killed in the raid.

The hotel owner is also due to receive compensation for the destruction and looting of his property.

The court case was widely seen as a test of will by the government of President Salva Kiir to bring accountability in the military that has long drawn accusations of widespread rights violations and a culture of impunity.

The case was widely seen as a test of will by the government of President Salva Kiir to bring accountability in the military that has long drawn accusations of widespread rights violations and a culture of impunity.

Gen. Briano delivered his judgment before a group of diplomats, aid workers and officials who have filled the military courtroom Thursday to hear the ruling.

The charges stem from the attacks in the Terrain Hotel in Juba in 2016, when dozens of soldiers broke into the compound, killed a local journalist and gang-raped five international aid workers while UN peacekeepers nearby did not respond to pleas for help

Homosexuality legal says Supreme Court

India’s  Supreme Court has legalised homosexuality and  gay sex and decriminalised Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding out promise of a new dawn in personal liberty and sexual orientation.

The five judge-bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra delivered the much awaited verdict on Thursday, according to Deccan Chronicle

Chief Justice Misra observed that, LGBT Community has same rights like any ordinary citizen. Respect for each others rights, and others are supreme humanity. Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible.

“No one can escape from their individualism. Society is now better for individualism. In the present case, our deliberations will be on various spectrums,” CJI Misra said.

“Sustenance of identity is the pyramid of life,” CJI Misra added.

“No one can escape from their individualism. Society is now better for individualism.”–India’s chief justice

India’s  Supreme Court had in 2013 restored Section 377, a British-era law that bans gay sex. It had overturned a landmark judgement by the Delhi High court in 2009 which had ruled that consenting intercourse between two adults was not illegal.

The position of the court then was that overturning the outdated law was the job of Parliament, which can  decide on scrapping laws.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code bans “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal”.

Gay sex is punishable by up to 10 years in jail under the 1861 law. Prosecution under Section 377 is, however, not common, but activists complain that authorities use the law to harass or scare gay people.

After the 2013 verdict, five high-profile petitioners – Bharatnatyam dancer Navtej Johar, documentary filmmaker Sunil Mehra, restaurateur Ritu Dalmia, hotelier and historian Aman Nath and business executive Ayesha Kapur – challenged it and became the human faces of this battle.

Before their entry, the battle was fought since the early nineties by NGOs, the Naaz Foundation being one of them.

While reserving the verdict on July 17 this year, Misra and Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra brushed aside as “far-fetched” the arguments from opponents of decriminalisation of Section 377 that it could also legalise incest, group sex and sodomy.

The top court had also said, “no one should have to live in fear because of their sexuality.”

The five petitioners had argued that Section 377 violates rights principles enshrined in the constitution, like equality before law, no discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and freedom of speech and expression.