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A 22-year-old man, Tasiu Danlami, sustained severe burns while attempting to vandalize an electricity transformer in the Hayin-Nasarawa area of Tafa Local Government Area in Niger State.
Danlami was rushed to Musa Yar’Adua Hospital in Sabon-Wuse for treatment following the incident, while his accomplice, 18-year-old Abba Salihu, was arrested by the police.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspects were caught in the act during a routine patrol by police operatives and local vigilantes on October 10, 2024, at approximately 5:45 AM.
He said the duo was apprehended as they attempted to vandalize a transformer belonging to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
Abiodun added that in addition to the arrest of the two suspects, the police have also detained six other suspects on charges of thuggery, public disturbance, robbery, and possession of dangerous weapons and cannabis.
He stated that the arrests were made in response to a surge in criminal activities in the Fadikpe, Kutirko, and Angwan-Kanawa areas of Minna, the state capital.
The suspects, armed with dangerous weapons, had reportedly been attacking residents, shop owners, and unsuspecting members of the public.
Those arrested were identified as Musa Umar (50), a purported youth leader from Kulogbe, Sirajo Isyaku (20), Yusuf Ahmed (18) from Kutirko, Bashir Yahaya (20), Shuaibu Mohammed (38) from Fadikpe, and Usman Adamu (21) from Sabon-Titi.
Recovered items included 25 wraps of cannabis, four handsets, a knife, a sword, and sticks, Abiodun disclosed.
The Nigeria Police Force, on Monday, declared a British national, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich, and a Nigerian, Lucky Obiyan, wanted for allegedly plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government in the country.
The police accused the British national of building a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Wynne rented a space at Labour House and established a school to serve as a decoy.
He said, “The Nigeria Police Force has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of foreign national and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country.
“Following extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, nine suspects have been apprehended, who received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilise the country.
“Preliminary findings suggest they orchestrated and funded violent protests, disseminated false information, and engaged in other unlawful activities to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot to overthrow the democratically elected government.
“Investigations have identified a foreign mercenary, Andrew Wynne (also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey), a British national, who built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos. He rented space at Labour House, Abuja, for an ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and established ‘STARS of Nations Schools’ as a cover for his subversive activities.”
Adejobi said documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Wynne provided finance and operational guidance to allegedly topple an elected government in the country.
He said, “Documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Andrew Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, and provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria.
“He mobilised and deployed several billions of naira to his Nigerian collaborators, urging them to mobilise the public to violently storm police facilities and military barracks, anticipating a bloodbath that would instigate international condemnation of the Nigerian government. These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws,” the FPRO added.
Adejobi said Wynne and his local coordinator, Obiyan, had fled the country.
He said, “Since the commencement of investigations, Andrew Wynne has fled the country. He and one of his local coordinators, one Lucky Ehis Obiyan, have accordingly been declared wanted, and global hunting for them has commenced in connection with this investigation.”
Details later….
A yet-to-be-identified mechanic had a narrow escape from a mob attack on Monday after he was caught attempting to steal vehicle spart parts at the Jemi Alade Estate, along the Isheri-Igando area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a resident confronted the suspect after he was seen leaning on one of the vehicles in the estate around 9 am.
The resident later raised the alarm which led to the suspect being apprehended, and a mob threatening to lynch him.
One of the residents, Timothy Ajibade, told PUNCH Metro that the suspect identified himself as a mechanic but could not prove it.
“We saw him loitering around in the morning but did not notice that he was up to something. He was later seen leaning on a vehicle and that was when we became suspicious. When we approached him, we saw him holding some tools while he identified himself as a mechanic who came to work for someone in the estate. But when asked who he came to work for, he could not answer.”
The residents immediately descended on him and started to use various objects on him, causing him to bleed. He was also dragged outside while the residents repeatedly slapped him.
Another resident who refused to disclose his identity explained why he was treated in such a manner, lamenting the incidences of theft in the estate.
He said, “We battled with many cases of robbery and theft in our estate and people are angry about this. There are times when vehicles parked overnight will be vandalised before morning. We have also experienced cases where they use bikes to steal our valuables. That is why we have been as vigilant as possible and why we challenged and treated him the way we did.”
Efforts by officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps to rescue the suspect were met with stiff resistance by the mob as they continually beat him and also stripped him naked in the process.
Meanwhile, the leader of the mechanic association in the community when invited to identify him confirmed that he was once an apprentice in a certain workshop but stopped coming a long time ago.
The leader identified simply as Alhaji said, “I was surprised when they called me on the phone that a robber was caught and that he identified himself as a mechanic who knew me. That was why I had to rush down here before I discovered that it was one of the boys who came for an apprenticeship but did not stay long.”
The suspect was later handed to the association who took him away from the spot.
Attempts to reach the Lagos police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, provided abortive as his number did not connect.
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old woman, identified as Yetunde Gbadebo, for attempting to sell her three-year-old daughter on Aladiye Street in Sagamu.
Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the incident occurred at about 10:00 on July 25, 2024.
PUNCH Metro learnt from a police source at the command that the suspect was caught while negotiating a N700,000 price for the toddler with a 38-year-old man identified as Sunday None.
A team of police detectives from the Sagamu Division stormed the area after a resident reported witnessing the duo during the negotiation.
During interrogation, the spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, stated that Gbadebo denied the allegation, while None had confessed to the crime.
She said, “The woman was about to sell her three-year-old daughter to another suspect. A resident who saw the two suspects negotiating the price approached our station in Sagamu to report what she saw.
“The Sagamu Police Division detached a team of detectives who stormed the scene and arrested the two suspects. The man has confessed to the crime.
“The case will be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department as soon preliminary findings are concluded.”
In January 2024, PUNCH Metro reported a similar incident in which a 38-year-old woman, identified as Chinyere Chukwu, was arrested in Anambra State for attempting to sell her two sons, aged nine and seven.
The suspect allegedly conspired with her eldest daughter, Joy Chukwu, 17, to sell the minors to Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, who posed as a buyer after receiving a tip-off.