Metro
Suspected Killers of Deborah Samuel Plead Not Guilty, Remanded in Prison Custody
Police on Monday arraigned two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci over the lynching of a 200-Level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, Deborah Samuel, on May 12.
The suspects, co-students of the deceased, were arraigned at a Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court for their alleged participation in the crime.
They pleaded not guilty to the crime.
Prosecuting Inspector Khalil Musa told the court that an investigation was in progress as Deborah’s corpse was still in a morgue at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
Leading a team of 34 lawyers, the defence counsel, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim, applied for their bail on liberal terms, citing constitutional provisions and sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
The trial judge (name withheld for security reasons) reserved the ruling on the bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded at a correctional centre.
Before she was lynched, Deborah was accused of blasphemy on a WhatsApp chat platform set up by her course mates and refused to retract her post after she was asked to pull it down.
A violent street protest followed the arrest of suspects linked to the lynching of Deborah as the protesters demanded their immediate release by security operatives.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal consequently imposed a 24-hour curfew on Sokoto metropolis on Saturday. He relaxed the curfew on Monday to be observed from dusk to dawn.
(NAN)
Gunmen, on Monday, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killed seven persons.
Reports said that out of the seven persons killed, two are unarmed civilians who were in a compound planning a burial scheduled for January 2, while the others were security operatives.
A viral video being circulated on social media showed two bodies of the victims, said to be members of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG).
The Police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered immediate manhunt of the assailants.
He said the incident happened at about 11.20am, adding that the attack resulted in the death of seven persons, two of them unarmed passers-by.
He said: “The Joint Security Team rescued one of the victims, who is currently responding to treatment at a hospital.
“The CP, while on an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene, interviewed some eye witnesses of the incident. Information also had it that the armed men started shooting sporadically at a venue where preparations were going on for a burial ceremony slated for 2nd of January, 2025.
“Also, while escaping the scene, the armed men shot at two security operatives at a security Observation Post close to the Local Government Headquarters by the Express Road.”
Ikenga said the CP has extended his condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, especially the good people of Ihiala over the tragic incident.
He further assured that the perpetrators would be hunted down.
Some officers attached to the Ogun State Police Command have been arrested for allegedly demanding money from the family of a missing girl before taking action on the case.
The Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a post on X on Saturday.
Adejobi stated that they were being detained pending disciplinary action.
His post partly read: “Otta missing girl: The policemen who demanded money before they could attend to the case have been arrested and are now in detention for disciplinary action.
Adejobi further reaffirmed the command’s commitment to locating the missing girl, assuring the public that she would be found soon.
“The Ogun State Police Command has been on the case. The girl will be found as soon as possible. We also urge the family of the victim to cooperate with the police,” he added.
Adejobi had earlier warned officers against using the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s name to perpetuate fraud, advising the public to report such cases.
The Joint Task Force North West, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has addressed concerns about a recent military airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, clarifying that the operation targeted terrorist elements, not civilian structures.
Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, said all operations of the Task Force were guided by extensive intelligence and reconnaissance efforts.
He said these measures were designed to ensure precision and protect civilian lives, especially in actions against groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organization.
The Task Force called on the public to rely on verified information to avoid misinformation and unnecessary panic.
Abdullahi cautioned against disinformation campaigns by terrorist groups, which aim to discredit military successes and sow doubt in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
According to the military, the areas targeted near Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa were confirmed to be associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the strikes.
The Joint Task Force, therefore, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding civilians while pursuing decisive action against threats to national security.
