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“We Are ready for Peace, living in the Forest was Hell” – Kaduna Repentant bandits

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Days after the authorities in Kaduna State in collaboration with the office of National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu entered a peace pact with bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, many repentant bandits in Birnin Gwari Emirate, Buruku and at Sabon Birni community have sought forgiveness for the atrocities allegedly committed and assured Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and the NSA that they would be law-abiding citizens in the future.

They, however, said they had lived solitary lives in the forests, divorced from normal life for over a decade, and would therefore be happy if the government gave them a sense of belonging and allowed their children to attend schools.

A Fulani elder who claimed to be a representative of bandit kingpin Jan Bross and a Fulani community leader, Ardo, said it was time for all Fulani leaders across the federation to talk to their subjects and convince them to fully embrace the peace process.

Speaking in Birnin Gwari, he said, “They should follow the Kaduna example and lay down arms.”

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“We are grateful for this peace pact and shall continue to pray for its sustainability. Thank you government,” he said.

The Chairman of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, Hon.Salisu Isa, could not hide his excitement as the Local Government headquarters was bustling with activities again after a very long time of uncertainty due to attacks by bandits and other criminal elements.

During the crisis period, even the Local Council was moved to Kaduna, as bandits had vandalized critical assets and infrastructures in Birnin-Gwari. All banks were razed, the post office destroyed, and schools vandalised. Only the military and other security forces could remain to stop the criminals from completely annexing the historic town that has carved a niche as a major gateway to the Southwestern part of Nigeria.

According to the Local Council boss, the peace pact was reached due to persistent prayers to Almighty Allah.

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“I express my gratitude to my boss, our Governor, Senator Uba Sani and the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu for this initiative, the Emir, LG staff, the Mallams and all others, ” he said.

He said in order to sustain and maintain the peace accord, the council inaugurated a Peace and Reconciliation Committee that meets regularly, which comprised key stakeholders from the government, the Hausa and Fulani communities, and others.

Hon.Isa called on interested investors in agriculture, to use the opportunity and key into the agric sector, as Birnin-Gwari had the potential of feeding the entire North with maize and other crops.

“Other places should emulate Birnin-Gwari and come up with the peace pact, ” he advised.

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He said the public should continue to pray for Birnin-Gwari to restore its past glory and take the path for continued growth and development.

Alhaji Ibrahim Bokolo, a repentant bandit, said the crisis made him and his family relocate to neighbouring Niger state. Now that he had returned to Kaduna State, he appealed for more understanding, especially from local vigilantes and cautioned troublemakers to desist from any act that could breach the peace pact.

Another Fulani chieftain, Alhaji Isa, said they would listen to the government and abide by the peace pact.
He called on the government to check the activities of some vigilante members in neighbouring Zara, Gidigodi in Niger state, who were allegedly stopping the free movement of trucks loaded with cattle.

The Birnin Gwari LG boss had earlier assured that they would liaise with the authorities in Niger state over the matter.

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Muhammadu Lawali, a repentant bandit, assured that the current peace pact was different from previous ones, as both parties had genuine intentions. He prayed for forgiveness and encouraged the Fulani and Hausa to show more love to one another.

According to him,” We now have respite; we can move freely and intermingle with people from different parts of the community. This is a clear departure from the recent past, we were confined to the bush and only saw the town from afar. That was how I lived for the past 7 years. We thank Almighty Allah and the authorities for this peace pact,” he said.

Suleiman Yes Power, another repentant bandit who was full of smiles, was delighted to have sold his cow at the Birnin Gwari cattle market, something he could not do in the previous years.

While displaying a wad of money, he prayed for the peace pact to be sustained so that the town would be full of economic activities, attracting people from far and near. He assured that on their part, they would continue to honour and respect the pact.

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The Sarkin Zango Birnin Gwari, Hambali Muhammad, who was in charge of the cattle market, said the cattle market has not been operational for over 10 years due to banditry.

He commended the effort of the Federal and State authorities, the Emir of Birnin Gwari, the Local Government and other stakeholders who ensured that the peace pact saw the light of the day.

“Today, over 50 trucks loaded with livestock, left to different parts of this country. The market is back on track. All praises to Almighty Allah, ” he said.

At the grains market, 25-year-old Yusuf Ibrahim Jonga said one of the benefits of the peace pact was that they now have contact with the Fulani, unlike before.

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” We now communicate with the Fulani, they tell us their grudges and we find ways to resolve issues. ”

” Now, the Birnin-Gwari- Lagos Road is accessible 24 hours, and vehicles are now plying the road comfortably, without any fear of attack by bandits, unlike before. Economic activity has picked up. Farmers have started clearing farmlands ahead of the next planting season. ”

” I lost 2 brothers during the crisis, and my relatives in the Randagi area were dislodged. But now we are grateful to Almighty Allah for this peace pact, ” he said.

Another farmer, Malam Mustapha said nothing could be more enjoyable than the freedom to move and interact
” We see them now, they see us too. The Fulani in the bush, and we, the Hausa, in the town. We are now together enjoying peace and harmony, ” he said.

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“Now, we can go to where we couldn’t go before, during the crisis period. We buy and sell, Alhamdulillah, “he said.

“There are places in the forest where we could not plant crops. This year we are going to cultivate in these forests,” he said.

He called on the people to feel free and visit the Birnin-Gwari grains market, a market he said had in the past, attracted buyers from neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameron.

At the Buruku market, the situation was peaceful and calm, with buying and selling going on, under the careful watch of market and LG officials.

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A local trader said over 100 trucks departed the market full of farm produce, to different parts of the country.

The Sabon Birni community near the Kaduna International Airport, which was a no-go area due to banditry weeks ago, was in a festive mood on Sunday as people from far and near trooped to the market.

The District Head of the community was full of praise for Governor Uba Sani and NSA Ribadu, calling on the government to rebuild infrastructures in the community, like schools and others, which were affected during the crisis period.

The coordinator of the peace trip and the Dan Masanin Birnin Gwari, Zubairu Idris AbdulRauf, was optimistic that ultimate peace would return in the entire state and beyond.

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From Birnin Gwari, Buruku, Sabon Birni Daji, Kidandan and Giwa, bandits have keyed into the process and life returned to normal.

Idris AbdulRauf said once the Kaduna Peace Pact, as exemplified by the Governor Uba Sani administration, through the adoption and application of a kinetic approach, is emulated, such would lead to the continuation of peace and a new lease of life for the people.

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Metro

How I was robbed of N15.5 million by my girlfriend, her brother, and a group of cultists

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It was a sour but unforgettable experience for a 35-year-old Nigerian man identified as Emeka Nwogu last Valentine day as his 25-year-old girlfriend connived with her younger brother and some cultists to attack and rob him of N15.5m.

The attackers also went away with his valuables including three mobile phones.

The story which looks like a script from Nollywood took place at Ago Palace Way in Lagos after the man and his lover girl spent Valentine day in one of the hotels at Ago Palace and decided to eat out the following day little knowing that the girl had another agenda against him with her younger brother and his gang of cultists.

Police sources said while they were in one of the new restaurants enjoying themselves, his girlfriend insisted that they must go back to the hotel for her to ease herself. The unsuspecting boyfriend obliged her but expressed concerns after they passed the bus stop leading to their hotel but the girl asked him not to worry. However, according to sources, as soon as they got down in another bus stop, some armed boys attacked and dragged them to a secluded place in one of the estates where they beat and tortured the man with guns and axes. They then disappeared with his phones after forcing him to disclose the password of his Bitcoin, Binance and Trust accounts and removed about $9,700.

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It was learned that after the attack, the man and his girlfriend rushed to Ago Palace police station where they lodged a report. However, the story took a different dimension after the police got to the scene of the incident as one of the security guards who witnessed the attack whispered to them that one of the perpetrators was always seen with the man’s girlfriend who was busy shedding tears in their presence. Based on this startling revelation, the girl was arrested and taken to their station where she confessed that it was her younger brother and his friends that attacked them.

She reportedly told detectives that she was angry after seeing her boyfriend’s Whatsapp chats with other girls and that was why she contracted her younger brother to organize the attack with his friends. Crime Guard learned that at this stage, the case was transferred to the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 1, while the police succeeded in tracing her residence but her younger brother had fled.

Sources said her father, on hearing the development, promised to search for his son and return the stolen items. He however returned only N3m which his son claimed was part of the N5m kept as his sister’s share of the loot. It was gathered that when detectives intensified investigations, they arrested four other members of the gang who confessed that they were members of Aiye confraternity at Ago Palace Way. Those arrested include Ogbuka Tochukwu, 22; John Wisdom, 25; Odora Michael, 24, and Babatunde Ibrhaim, 20. Items recovered from them are; one locally made gun, four local cartridges, one battle axe belonging to Aiye confraternity and N7.5milliom cash.

The victim told reporters that he was greatly traumatized after realizing that his girlfriend of four years masterminded the attack. “I spent Valentine’s night with her in a hotel and we enjoyed ourselves. The following day while we were in a lounge enjoying ourselves, she went out severally after her phone rang. I did not know she was planning to attack me with her brother and cultists and steal my hard-earned money and property. I commend the CP squad for doing a good job.”

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Recall that it was the same squad that eliminated a notorious gang of kidnappers that were terrorizing Lagos and environs last year at the popular Ladipo market in Lagos.

(Saturday Vanguard)

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Court remands three Anambra native doctors over alleged criminal activities

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The Anambra State Government yesterday arraigned three native doctors before a State High Court for alleged involvement in criminal activities.

The suspects were Chidozie Nwangwu popularly known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki”, Onyebuchi Okocha known as “Onye Eze” and Ekene Igboezekwe popularly known as “Eke Hit”.

They were charged in suit numbers A/41C2025, A/40C2025 and A/42C2025 respectively with alleged claims of possessing supernatural powers to make money or stagnate destiny, as well as conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping and obtaining by fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects were all arrested by the Anambra Security outfit known as “Agunechemba” in February and have been in detention till date.

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The prosecution counsel, Mr. F.C. Okeke, told the court that the charges against the suspect had been served them and that they were ready to proceed with the case.

But the defence counsel, Mr S.O. Iwuoba and others took turns to inform the court that the processes were not served in good time to enable them to respond.

The charges were not read in detail as a result of the development.

The presiding Judge, Justice Jude Obiora, ordered that the suspects be returned to Agunechemba detention facility to make for proper processing.

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Obiora adjourned the cases to April 11 for proper arraignment and pleadings.

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Plateau attack: 40 more bodies recovered as death toll hits 52

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The search and rescue operation that followed this week’s apparently co-ordinated attacks on some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has yielded additional 40 bodies, officials confirmed yesterday.

The recovery has now taken the death toll in the attacks on Mangor Tamiso,  Daffo, Manguna (Tagai),  Hurti and Tadai to 52.

The state government said some arrests have been made in connection with the Wednesday night mayhem.

Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang said 31 persons were given a mass burial on Thursday.

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According to him five under age victims were burnt to ashes at Hurti village, 11 were killed at Ruwi village, four persons killed at Manguna with one killed at  Dafo.

The condemned the attacks.

It said some suspects have been arrested but did not put a figure to the arrests.

Information and Communication Commissioner Joyce Ramnap in a statement in Jos, extended government’s condolences to bereaved families and said every effort was being made by the security agencies  to stem the wave of killings.

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The Mutfwang Administration, the commissioner added, had deployed strategic measures to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response mechanisms in collaboration with security operatives.

She asked religious, traditional, and community leaders to reinforce the message of peace, unity, and lawful engagement while residents were advised to remain law-abiding, support security efforts, and utilize official channels for security concerns.”

Residents of the affected communities said the invaders shot sporadically, catching the people unawares.

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