By Francesca Hangeior.

A Kwara State Magistrate Court has sentenced a teenage boy to one year imprisonment for arson and theft.

It will be recalled that the teenage boy, Olawumi Ayomide, set a building on fire in Ilorin after stealing items belonging to the occupants.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command, arraigned Ayomide on Monday, September 30.

According to a press release made available to journalists on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASC1 Ayoola Michael Shola, the court presided over by Magistrate M.A. Yahaya, found the suspect guilty and sentenced him to one year in Mandala Correctional Centre without the option of a fine.

“On Wednesday, 25th September 2024, at 1200hrs, the suspect broke into a three-bedroom bungalow belonging to one Mrs. Bolatito Adebayo at No. 50, Afenifere Community, Onireke, Upper Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin South LGA,” the statement read.

“During the invasion, he reportedly stole items such as foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing, and subsequently set the residential building ablaze.

“Upon being apprehended at the scene, the suspect attempted to evade capture by igniting the fire as a diversion. Despite his efforts, he was ultimately captured and handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.

“The NSCDC Kwara State Commandant, Dr. Umar J.G. Mohammed, reiterated the Corps’ relentless onslaught against criminal activities in the state and vowed to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.”

By Francesca Hangeior.

Barely two weeks after eight persons were killed in two separate attacks carried out by gunmen in Congo and Zarap communities in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, gunmen have again killed five persons in the council area.

It was gathered that the latest attack occurred in the Mbar community on Sunday night.

Residents confirmed that the victims who were mainly youths were attacked on their way from Mbar town to Koh village along a bypass encircling Yelwa Nono village between 7. pm and 7.30 pm by fleeing terrorists on motorcycles after they were initially repelled by the military from the surrounding mountains.

The Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council Vanguard, Farmasun Fuddang, confirmed the fresh killings in a statement, on Monday.

The statement which was jointly signed by the association’s Secretary, Duwam Bosco, partly read, “We wish to condemn in the strongest terms the tragic killing of five innocent young men in the Mbar community on September 15 (Saturday), despite prior intelligence reports of suspected terrorists’ influx into the area.

“By the time the security forces were informed about the attack and arrived at the scene several minutes later, the terrorists had completed their mission and fled without apprehension.

“This incident adds to a series of armed attacks in our villages, including the recent murder of 11 youths in Tarangol, Daffo, and Bargesh villages on September 3.”

He alleged that the unprovoked attacks were “a calculated attempt at evicting our people from their ancestral homes and taking over the land.

“We request to be involved in the handling of the threats in our land, working in synergy with security forces as is the case with the civilian joint task force in the North-East and North-West regions.

“This is not to undermine or underrate the efforts of the military. However, we understand the logistical and manpower shortages faced by the military, requiring the active participation of local community members who by the way know the terrain and can better assist with intelligence to identify and expose criminal elements in communities.’

He also advised the communities to eschew late movements as advised by security authorities to minimise risks.

The socio-cultural organisation also sympathised with the families of the victims and called on their people to be vigilant.

“We will not stand idly by while our people, a small minority in Nigeria, are eliminated from the face of the earth”, the statement further stated.

The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was not readily available when contacted on the incident as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

By Francesca Hangeior.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has vowed to disrupt the financial channels used by terrorists and other criminal elements in the country.

The agency stated that disrupting these financial channels would weaken the terrorists’ ability to perpetrate further criminal activities.

The Director-General of the NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, made this statement in Abuja on Tuesday during the GIABA workshop on the investigation and prosecution of terrorism financing cases.

She said, “Nigeria has faced an acute threat of terrorism for over a decade, particularly from groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province, and other amorphous groups.

“These extremist organisations have destabilised communities, wasted innocent lives, and continue to pose a threat to national security.

“Without the funds and finances that enable their activities, terrorists and terrorist organisations would not be able to carry out their heinous acts.

“Funds, supplies, and other material assistance are therefore central to terrorists’ ability to operate. That is why this workshop by GIABA is critical.

“Disrupting the financial channels terrorists use is crucial to weakening their ability to function. This workshop could not be more timely or relevant as we seek to sharpen our collective response to this menace.”

Offering solutions, the NFIU boss explained that by analysing transaction patterns, identifying suspicious activities, and tracing funds across borders, it would be easier to uncover the sponsors and facilitators of terrorism.

She said, “At the NFIU, we recognise that to successfully disrupt terrorist activities and ultimately dismantle terrorist organisations, efforts must be geared towards not only apprehending the individuals who commit acts of terror but also tracing and cutting off the funds that fuel their activities.

“Financial investigations are pivotal to this process. By analysing patterns of transactions, identifying suspicious activities, and tracing funds across borders, we can uncover the sponsors and facilitators of terrorism.

“However, financial investigations are complex. Terrorism evolves and typologies are constantly shifting. To keep track and disrupt them requires specialised skills, deep and effective collaboration between agencies, and effective coordination with international partners.”