24 Chadian soldiers were killed on the night of August 4 to 5th during an attack by Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad region as reported by several Chadian media. 

Xinhua reported that the attack on the Chadian army position in Tchoukoutalia, Lac province, was confirmed by army spokesperson, Azem Bermandoa Agouna.

Agouna however said a counter-offensive is underway. Lac province is said to have repeatedly been the target of attacks by Boko Haram. 

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said;

“Six people died, including a soldier in the attack in Kaiga-Kindjiria district.”

Kaiga-Kindjiria lies in Lac province which abuts the vast Lake Chad, a region shared by Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested three suspected smugglers in connection with pangolin scales and elephant tusks worth N22.3 billion intercepted in Lagos State.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, August 4, in Lagos, the Controller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali, said the 17,137.44 kilograms of Pangolin scales (196 sacks), 870.44 kilograms of Elephant tusks and 4.60 kilograms of Pangolin claws were evacuated at a location in Lekki, after proper examination.

According to the Customs CG, NCS’s extensive collaboration yielded credible intelligence that triggered swift and comprehensive actions by the Customs Intelligence Unit and Headquarters Strike force. 

“The ever increasing and relevant functions of the global Customs community demonstrate the necessity of Customs actions to raise revenue, suppress smuggling and intercept illegal movement of items that can compromise national security, economy, health and environmental protection,” Ali stated 

“Deforestation and depletion of wildlife especially the endangered species have been global concern with nations collaborating, sharing intelligence and expertise that will stamp out indiscriminate killing of endangered species.

“In line with global best practices, NCS has been in robust collaboration with embassies of US, UK and Germany with other credible international bodies already indicating interest to join our quarterly meetings that provide platform for shared experiences.

“I am therefore happy to announce that our extensive collaboration yielded credible intelligence that triggered swift and comprehensive actions by the Customs Intelligence Unit and the Headquarters Strikeforce. This led to the evacuation of sacks of different kilograms of Pangolin scales and Elephant tusks at a location on Eastern side of Ijeoma street, Lekki, Lagos State

Proper examination of the sacks revealed the followings: 17,137.40kg of pangolin scales (196 sacks) 44kg of Elephant Tusks, 60kg of Pangolin claws. All with estimated value of N22,283,747,850.00.

The Controller General said the seizure is in-line with Section 63 “e” and “g” of CEMA, Cap 45 LFN 2004 as amended, adding that it also falls under Export prohibition schedule VI of the extant Common External Tariff which prohibits their exportation. Nigeria is a signatory to CITES convention hence cannot be used as a transit hub.

Ali said the feat is a testimony of what sincere collaboration between nations can achieve for our world, and individual nations in particular.

“While thanking our partners, especially the wildlife justice commission. Let me give the assurances of the Service determination to treat any and every information with utmost confidentiality and swift appropriate action(s) to stem this tide of illegality.

“Already three suspects who are non-nationals have been arrested. They are Mr. Traore Djakonba, Mr. Isiak Musa and Mr. Mohammed Bereta. The kingpin, Mr. Berete Morybinet is on the run thinking he can evade the long arm of the law.

“Security agencies at all entry and exit points are on red alert to track and arrest him to face justice. He is therefore advised in his interest to surrender himself to the NCS.

“The suspects arrested will soon have their date in court as NCS will leave no stone unturned to bring them to justice. We will extend same treatment to any person or organization remotely connected to this or any illegal wildlife trade.” 

All the defendants who were first arraigned on August 30, 2017, on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping, have maintained their innocence. 

After being led in by his defense counsel Victor Okpara on Tuesday August 3, Evans denied all allegations of kidnapping levelled against him by the Lagos State Government, insisting he was a legitimate businessman.

Claiming that he was coerced into admitting being a kidnapper after the police in a bid to make him confess, extra-judicially killed four individuals in his presence, the alleged kidnapper also denied having “Evans” as his nickname. 

He said; 

“I live at Fred Shoboyede Street, Magodo Phase II, Lagos. I am a businessman and I deal in ornaments and Horlicks.

“My lord, my name is not Evans and I don’t have a nickname.”

Ifeanyi and Aduba, two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army who also testified on Tuesday, denied being accomplices to the crime.

Aduba recounted refusing to sign a written statement admitting to the crime after allegedly being ordered to do so by one Idowu Haruna, said to be a member of the police intelligence response team (IRT). He also showed the court an injury on his body, claiming he was taken to a “theatre” where he was beaten and cut with a machete by Haruna.

Aduba also recalled how three men; Felix Chinemeren, Paul Samyan and Chukwuma Nwosu who were initially paraded before the media as kidnappers, were killed by members of the IRT.

He said; 

“I was still being told to sign some papers but I refused and I said if I refuse I will travel (slang for killed). At that point, Idowu Haruna brought out his phone for me to look at some pictures.

“When I looked at it, I discovered it was the dead bodies of the three men with whom I was in custody. That was how I was forced to sign the papers.”

As the defence team of Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans and that of his five co-defendants closed their case before the Ikeja high court, Justice Hakeem Oshodi gave the defence 30 days to file their final written addresses.

The prosecution was given another 30 days to respond to the final written addresses of the defence.

The case was then adjourned till November 5 for adoption of the final written addresses.

Zimbabwe, known for its exotic wildlife and animal reserves has denied reports that it plans to be exporting live elephants to other countries for money.

Experts believe Zimbabwe and neighbouring Botswana could be home to about half of Africa’s 400,000 elephants.

According to Zimbabwe’s wildlife authority, doing so will be going against the advice of conservation groups.

Releasing a statement on Wednesday, August 4, the Wildlife authority said that allegations by some NGOs that the process of capturing the animals had begun 
were “speculative and baseless”.

“Zimbabwe is not considering any live African elephant exports and the country has not processed any export trade permits since 2019,” the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) said.

Its spokesman Tinashe Farawo said they were not planning to capture elephants “now or in the near future” – noting that the authority was recently collaring the animals to monitor their movements.

According to Tinashe, human-elephant conflicts had claimed dozens of lives and that Zimparks was exploring new ways to end the problem.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted a flight ban on Nigerian travellers with effect from Thursday, August 5.

This comes 5 months after the ban was put in place over Covid-19 protocols.

Emirates announced on its website that the UAE authorities have announced that effective 5 August 2021, eligible travellers from Nigeria and 10 other countries will be allowed to travel to and through the UAE.

The countries are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Vietnam, South Africa, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Emirates said in the notice: “We will publish details of the latest protocols and requirements on our travel requirements page, as soon as these are available.”

An asylum request filed in Benin Republic by Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho will reportedly be determined this week. 

Punch reported that the bail application for Igboho was deferred by his lawyers because of his medical report and the probable result of his asylum application among others.

Olasupo Ojo, one of Igboho’s lawyers said though there had not been an official statement from Benin Republic government on the asylum request, there is hope that a position will be made known this week.

He said; 

“I have not got any official report in relation to that. Yes, we are expecting feedback this week.”

Spokesperson for Ilana Omo Oduduwa, Maxwell Adeleye also disclosed that the organisation is expecting a positive response.

Adeleye told Punch; 

“We have submitted an application and we are hoping to get a positive response before the end of the week.”

Ibrahim Salami, one of the Cotonou, Benin Republic-based lawyers of Igboho, who expressed hope of the charges against being neutralised if he is granted asylum, also said Igboho was not arrested for possessing a Benin Republic passport as he only had a Nigerian passport with a German residency card. 

Salami said; 

“When he left Nigeria, he took the backdoor into Benin. It was at the airport that security operatives stopped him that he was on the watchlist. He didn’t go against any law in Benin Republic. They didn’t find any Beninese passport on him. He had a Nigerian passport with a German residency card. He needed no visa at that point.

“When we understudied the case, we realised that the Nigerian government had not filed a case for extradition. They only claimed that he is wanted in Nigeria for criminal offences. Our argument is that he was arrested because of Nigeria’s request, and there is no proof to show that he is a criminal. He spent barely 24 hours in the country and filed an asylum.”

Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has revealed that the IPOB leader is alive, dispelling rumors that have emanated since the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to provide him in court at the July 26 hearing .

 
Ejiofor, who visited Kanu on Monday in the custody of the Department of State Services in Abuja, said that the IPOB leader extended greetings to his supporters worldwide and that he is “firm and stable” although he still needs advanced medical care.

According to Ejiofor, Kanu also thanked all foreign governments and institutions that have been involved in his case so far.

Ejiofor said in a statement: “After weeks of speculations and uncertainties, we have finally seen our Client-Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We can authoritatively confirm this position to the World.

“He is firm and stable, less the burden of solitary confinement and concomitant mental torture arising therefrom. Though the detaining authority is giving him medical attention, he still requires advanced medical care, which formed substantial part of the relief in our application before the Court.

“He specifically requested that we should extend his heartfelt compliment to millions of his supporters worldwide and all foreign Governments and institutions who are relentlessly following up. Media houses are indeed not left out of this classification.

“We are winning but your prayers are doing wonders, don’t relent, as you continue to remain law abiding. We shall continue to keep you all in constant communication on every development around him particularly now that the visit will be more regular than before.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja had last Monday July 26, adjourned the trial of Kanu to October 21, due to failure of Nigerian Government to produce him in court.

The court has adjourned his hearing till October 21, 2021.

DCP Tunji Disu has been appointed as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba. 

Disu will be replacing Abba Kyari who was suspended following his indictment in an international fraud case by the FBI. 

The Force spokesman, Frank Mba announced Disu’s appointment in a statement released on Monday August 2. 

It read; 

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has today, 2nd August, 2021 approved the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

“The posting of the officer is on the heels of Management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the Unit for better service delivery.

“The IGP has charged the new Head of the IRT to demonstrate his professional competence in his leadership of the Unit. He also assured citizens that the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its duties in line with national statutes and international best practices.”

Prior to his recent appointment, Disu was a former Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos State, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The Imo state police command has arrested IPOB and Eastern Security Network members who allegedly masterminded and carried out the attack on the Omuma Police station and Njaba  Police Station respectively last week.

According to the police,  the bandits stormed the police stations on two different occasions, During the gunbattle, a Divisional Police Officer was killed while one of the bandits, Emmanuel Nnaji ‘M’ age 15 years, a native of Awala in Ideato South LGA of Imo State, was arrested with bullet wounds.

A statement released today August 2 by CSP Michael Abattam, spokesperson of the state police command, says on interrogation by the command’s tactical teams, ”the arrested suspect gave a vivid description of a Hotel located in Orlu as were they, the bandits stayed, planned before they executed their dastardly act on the police stations. The suspect further stated that the owner of the Hotel has been accommodating and assisting them financially.

Abattam said the suspect volunteered and led security forces to the location of the hotel.

On arrival, the hotel and house were cordoned and searched the following  exhibits were  recovered from the arrested twenty six suspects including seven females in the hotel they incudes; 
 (1) ONE AK47 RIFFLE WITH TWO MAGAZINE LOADED WITH 55 ROUNDS OF LIVE AMMUNITION. 
(2) FIVE  PUMP ACTION GUNS 
(3) TWO  DOUBLE BARREL CUT TO SIZE GUNS 
(4) FOUR DOUBLE BARREL LOCALLY MADE  PISTOL 
(5) THREE SINGLE BARREL LOCALLY MADE  PISTOLS 
(6) EIGHT SIX LIVE CARTRIDGES 
 (7)  CHARMS  
(8) TWO BAGS OF WEEDS SUSPECTED TO BE  INDIAN HEMP  
(9) BIAFRAN FLAG AND  BERET 
 (10) ESN CAP 
(11) FOUR PAIRS OF ARMY  CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS AND A CAMOUFLAGE BAG
(12) A SIGN BOARD WITH BIAFRA INSIGNIA . It is on good record that, it was in the same hotel that the head of a young man was severed and placed on the road close to the hotel premises.”Abattam said

In a related development, Abattam said an IPOB/ESN member, Boniface Okeke ‘M’ age 57 years from Obor Autonomous Community in Orlu LGA of Imo State was arrested some months back in connection with terrorism and attacks on security agencies and private individuals where several Police stations were burnt down and police officers killed in numbers.

He said on interrogation he confessed to being a facilitator and financer of IPOB/ ESN  Operation in the state to the tune of ten million Naira ( #10,000,000 ) while he was outside the country. Abattam said the suspect assisted the police in the arrest of some of their members and decimation of their Camps in the state.

A man, said to be pretending to be mentally unstable, was beaten to a pulp by locals after he was allegedly found with N250,000, three iPhones, and women’s underwear in Ogun state.

It was gathered that the suspect, who stays under the bridge in Mowe, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, was caught answering a call on Thursday, July 29, and it made residents suspicious to see a supposedly mad man answering a call.

According to Punch, residents asked where he got the phone from but he could not give a satisfactory answer, instead, he tried to escape.

Residents caught him before he could go far and they searched him. They allegedly found the sum of N250,000, three iPhones, and women’s underwear in his possession, and the locals descended on him, beating him.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Ade, told Punch that he and his friends were placing a bet under the bridge when they saw the suspect making a phone call so they confronted him.

The eyewitness added: “He had been at the Mowe bus stop for long and when some passers-by saw what we found on him, they pounced on him and beat him.

“We later handed him over to the police, but policemen at the Mowe Police Division said they could not accommodate a lunatic in their station. Only God knows who he was calling.”

A trader in the area, identified simply as Yetunde, said the suspect was beaten when he refused to disclose who he was talking to on the phone.

She said, “When he was asked who he was talking to, he refused to talk; it was the annoyance that made people to start beating him and wondering where a lunatic got such amount of money, phones and women pants and bra from. This is an eye-opener to everyone in Mowe. Only God knows how many atrocities he has committed in Mowe.

“Probably he is working with ritualists, because I don’t know where he got the money and the phones, and maybe the underwear belong to women he raped or killed and sold their body parts.”

The Bauchi State Government has begun a one-week headcount of commercial sex workers operating in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the enumeration exercise on Wednesday, the Permanent Commissioner, Bauchi State Hisbah Command, Barrister Aminu Balarabe Isah, said it was designed to support the sex workers with economic empowerment to enable them quit prostitution, learn trades and become self-reliant.

He said the state government would also assist the identified sex workers who were willing to be reunited with their families, adding that the exercise was not meant to witchunt or discriminate against them.

The Commissioner said the state government had initiated the exercise after careful deliberations and considerations of the plight of the sex workers.

The exercise, he said, would enable the state government to properly plan and determine the financial and moral commitments to rehabilitate the sex workers.

“The state government decided to provide them with the necessary empowerment skills and seed capital to enable them to quit the immoral attitude of prostitution. Some of them who are not indigenes of the state will be reunited with their parents if they so wish. The state government will contact their state governments for proper handing over of those affected,” he said.

“Biodata forms will be distributed to the sex workers to provide their personal information such as state of origin and the reason why they ventured into prostitution. They are also require to indicaate the type of trade or occupation of their choice. The state will also sponsor the marriage of those willing to marry or remarry. We are fully committed to implementing the Sharia law as provided in our legal code but with full consideration of fundamental human rights of every citizen” he added.

Miss Hafsat Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the sex workers, urged the state government to fulfill its promise and ensure effective empowerment of the affected sex workers.

Aliyu expressed her desire to quit prostitution and engage in meaningful activities to contribute to social and economic development of the state. 

The Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

File photo

According to the Nigeria Customs Service, about 30 out of 65 private airplanes verified so far are liable to pay required duties to the Federal Government.

The Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

Attah explained that some of these airplanes came into the country by Temporary Importation agreement which allows them to bring the jets without payment because it was secured by bond.

He said thereafter many of them failed to turn up to pay on the expiration of the agreement which necessitated the verification.

He stated that with this exercise, there would be more revenue to be accrued to the Federal Government because those who failed to adhere to the agreement would be made to pay the duties.

The customs’ spokesperson said the verification had also given opportunity to the service to clearly differentiate those airplanes in the country that were on commercial operations from those owned and used for private purposes.

Attah restated that the verification was not meant to embarrass anybody but to ensure that the right or required duties were paid to the government by the owners of these private airplanes.

He further disclosed that with the impact of the first two weeks extension, the service had again given another two weeks which commenced from Monday, July 26, to Friday, August 6.

“Considering the rising number of compliance and the number of jets that are liable for payment of duties as well as indications by those people to do so, the Comptroller-General has again graciously given them another two weeks.

“The exercise as I stated in our previous briefings, is not intended to be punitive or to embarrass them but to ensure that these private jets that operate in the country are properly documented.

“And also, to ensure every collectable revenue is collected into the coffers of the Federal Government.

“As you all know the case of increasing economic challenge, every source of revenue is important to the government and beyond that, for security purpose.

“With this, you can now tie proper ownership to every aircraft or private jet that flies into and out of the country. Through the exercise, we have been able to know those hiding under temporary importation agreement.

“We are aware that owners of private jets are highly placed Nigerians who should be respected and approached in a manner that provides all necessary convenience and that is what these extensions stands for,” he explained.

According to him, this will be the last extension because whoever fails to turn up for the verification will have his aircraft impounded.

A resident of Borno state has said that Nigeria’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari who is being investigated for the extent of his connection with the suspected fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, sells cars he seizes from kidnappers and armed robbers in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The resident in a private message to a Nigerian academic and media scholar, Farooq Kperogi also claimed Kyari has enriched himself through proceeds of corruption.

According to the anonymous resident, Kyari is not a millionaire but a billionaire, who has more than 20 properties in a posh area in his state, Borno.

Kperogi said: “Na wa o. This is what someone from Maiduguri sent to my inbox in response to my column. It is unedited and unverified but interesting nonetheless: ‘Everyone in Maiduguri knew that Kyari is extremely rich, he gives out cars, monies and sells those he seized from the kidnappers and armed robbers at some selected car stands in Maiduguri and Abuja, as at now he’s building a big plaza along Gombole Road near Giwa Barracks and bought the neighboring plaza.

‘There’s sign post he stood and snapped a picture where street was name after him, that’s New GRA or Bama GRA he has more 20 properties there!

‘You can independently find out from those who knows him, he has properties to his named in lagos, abuja etc, I call him super rich, he surpasses IGP Kamseleem.

‘What those kidnappers were saying is very true, I developed interest on what he’s doing when I read Evans interview where he said what Abba and his team took from his house was far beyond what they declared….he’s not a millionaire but billionaire.

‘He moves in convoys when in Maiduguri and brazenly go round his properties.’”

SaharaReporters had reported how Kperogi also quoted a resident of Borno saying Kyari was building a mansion on Jemina Road of Damboa, with its gate made of glass and steel.

The resident alleged that the police chief offered N70 million to a neighbour who has a house behind his mansion “so he can have his house out of the way to enable him have straight access to the main road from this mansion.”

“Good evening Prof. Just reading your post on the Abba Kyari saga. It didn’t come to me as a surprise. Kyari is so super rich for the job he does. He is building a mansion on Jemina road of Damboa, that house is something else. It is the first gigantic double-gated house I’m seeing in Maiduguri, the gate is made of glass and steel.

“He wanted paying (sic) of a neighbour who has a house behind him 70 million naira so he can have his house out of the way to enable him have straight access to the main road from this mansion. And with a couple of people who have told stories implicating him, and them being shut up, it doesn’t come as a surprise at all,” Kperogi quoted the Borno resident as saying.

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of Kyari, who is also the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the investigation of fraud allegations against him.

The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.

The United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, had issued an arrest warrant against Kyari for his alleged links to Hushpuppi, who is standing trial for various offences that include internet fraud and money laundering.

Hushpuppi has since pleaded guilty to the charges and, if convicted, risks a 20-year-jail term, three-year supervision upon completion of jail term and monetary restitution to the tune of $500,000 or more.

US court documents also outlined a dispute Hushpuppi had with a member of his gang, which allegedly prompted him to arrange to have an individual identified as ‘co-conspirator’ Kelly Chibuzor Vincent, jailed in Nigeria by DCP Kyari.

According to the affidavit, “Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest.

“Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.”