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Tag: Kogi state

  • NDLEA Seizes 56,223 kg Indian Hemp In Kogi, Decorates 18 newly Promoted Officers

    NDLEA Seizes 56,223 kg Indian Hemp In Kogi, Decorates 18 newly Promoted Officers

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Commander National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), Alfred Adewumi said in Lokoja that the state command has seized 56,223.824kg of cannabis sativa known as indian hemp between 2020- September 2021.

    Adewumi disclosed this on Thursday at the launching of War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), and decoration of the 18 newly promoted officers of NDLEA in Kogi State.

    Adewumi noted that the figure of the seizure excludes cannabis sativa and other illicit drug mop ups through the agency inland and it’s patrol operation.

    He attributed the increase in the crime to states that shares borders with Kogi like, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Delta which are known to be heavy Cannabis Sativa cultivating domains predisposes it to Cannabis Sativa trafficking and abuse.

    “The combination of the unlawful but thriving drug business at the Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha, with the possible existence of Clandestine Laboratories for the — production Of Methamphetamine in both Anambra and Delta states which are neighbouring states to Kogi as well as the proximity and easy access it provides to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja further make Kogi State high risk for illicit drug business.”

    “The discovery of over 26 hectares of Cannabis Sativa plantations in the eastern part of the state in the year 2020 and another twenty acres in the year 202l in the same axis are indicative of domestic cultivation of drugs.”

    On the launching of War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), Adewumi explained that it is a call for civil action for all Nigerians to take active part in combating drug abuse and its circulation in the country.

    He recalled that On 26″ June, 2021, President Mohamadu Buhari , launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) which by the directive of Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa, Rtd) Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA OFR directed that it should be replicated in states and to consequently devolve to the local ‘ government and eventually to the family as a unit.

    On the newly decorated officers, the Commander noted that the NDLEA in Kogi has broken 17 years record of seizures, and quality arrest adding that the newly promoted and decorated officers have distinguished themselves and merited the promotion.

    In his goodwill message, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police Idrisu Dauda admonished the newly decorated officers to increase on their performances.

    He explained that NDLEA is a silence achievers stressing that the present problem of insecurity in the country could be traced to illicit drugs in the society, stressing that, the command is fully ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to combat crimes and criminality in Kogi state.

    The State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara Rtd. commended the NDLEA for synegizing with security agencies in the fight against illicit drugs in Kogi State.

  • Man Sentence To Death For Killing Two Women In Kogi

    Man Sentence To Death For Killing Two Women In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja sentenced one Danladi Shado from Odogomu in Ankpa local government of Kogi state to death for manslaughter.

    Danladi Shado was said to have killed the two women on their farm on the 6th of June in 2020, he escaped, but was arrested 7th of July same year.

    According to police first information report, Shado who masked his face to avoid been recognised, traced the three women to the farm and matchetted two of them to death while the third woman escaped.

    It was gathered that one of the women he killed was able to removed the masked from his face while the third woman who escaped was able to see his face.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Nicodemus Awulu said the convict, Shado was sentenced based on sufficient evidence by the prosecuting counsel who proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

    Justice Awulu in his one hour judgement said Counsel to the accused person could not sufficiently prove the innocence of his client in the event leading to the death of two women, Jemila Yakubu and Rabiyetu Yusuf.

    Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to the State, Inedu Opaluwa described the Judgement as well deserved on the accused person. Also speaking the Chief Legal Officer of the State, Omale Usman said the judgement reflects the rule of law where criminal elements cannot evade justice.

    Counsel to the accused person, Richard Ocholi represented by Ahmed Muhammed said he would contact the lead counsel in the matter on the next line of action.

    It would be recalled that Danladi Shado of Odogomu in Ankpa local government of Kogi state was arrested on the 7th July 2020 over the death of Mrs. Jemila Yakubu and Rabiyetu Yusuf.

  • One Fleeing Inmate Caught Vandalizing AEDC Transformer, 132 Back To Custody In Kogi

    One Fleeing Inmate Caught Vandalizing AEDC Transformer, 132 Back To Custody In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    No fewer than 132 fleeing inmates have been rearrested, out of the over 200 prison inmates freed by unknown gunmen during the attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kabba, killing some security personnel on guard.

    Out of the rearrested inmates, one was caught vandalizing transformer belonging to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, (AEDC) on Sunday 26 Sept. 2021.

    The Kogi State Security Adviser Commodore Jerry Omodara disclosed this at a peace camp organized by Actionaid Nigeria, in collaboration Participation Initiative For Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID).
    Omodara said the arrested inmate now makes it 132 freeing inmates that have been received back to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kabba.

    He noted that the focus of the present administration would not change in providing adequate security for the people of kogi state.

    “Immediately the attack in the last three weeks, we doubled our efforts, rejigged our security architecture, and today I can assure you that we are getting it right again. Since the attack on correctional centre in kabba, as of this morning,, we have received 132 inmates back into the correctional centre.”

    “The fleeing inmate who was caught with another suspect vandalizing AEDC transformer in Kaba is back to the detention centre. The place is better fortified now.”

    “We discovered that a lot of transformers were vandalized around Kabba area. During our security meeting, we mounted surveillance, and success was recorded yesterday. This criminals will not change. He was among the inmates that ran out of our correctional centre. He went back to the society to commit more crimes Again.” Omodara explained.

    The State Security Adviser, however, called on the judiciary to ensure speedy trials of all the suspects in custody stressing that, “If given speedy trial, we won’t have large number in Custodial Centre”.

  • Four Dead , 13 Rescued Alive, One Missing As 18 Seater Bus Plunged Into River Niger In Kogi

    Four Dead , 13 Rescued Alive, One Missing As 18 Seater Bus Plunged Into River Niger In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    No fewer than Four corpse were on Tuesday evening recovered and 13 others rescued alive while one person still missing as an 18 seater bus plunged into the Black River, a tributary to river Niger in kotonkarfe area, kogi state.

    The accident occured around 7.30pm on Tuesday when the driver of the bus was said to have slept off and lost control thereby plunging into the river.

    According to the state Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suleiman Mafara, who disclosed this to our correspondent in Lokoja said on the receipt of the distress call, his men of the Disaster and Crisis Unit in conjunction with the Federal Roads Safety Corps and volunteer divers were mobilised to the scene.

    He said that four corpse have already been recovered and 13 others have been rescued alive while one person is still missing.

    Mafara added that his men and other Security personnel are working round the clock to recover the only person yet to be accounted for.

    He warned drivers and commuters to adhere strictly to the road safety guidelines to prevent avoidable carnage on the highways.

    He added that the corpse have already been deposited in a morgue in Lokoja.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen attack church kill One, abduct 2 In Kogi

    BREAKING: Gunmen attack church kill One, abduct 2 In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Barely one week after gunmen attacked a Federal correctional centre in Kabba where a soldier and a policeman were killed, while over two hundred inmates were set free, another gunmen on Sunday morning  attacked ECWA Church in Kabba killing one person and abducted two worshippers.

    The attack is coming barely seven days after the prison attack in the Federal minimum correctional centre and the abduction of three poultry farmers on their farm; all in the same area

    The ECWA Church is located at Okedayo along Kabba – Okene road in Kogi State.

    The attackers according to source stormed the Church in the morning when Church service

    has commenced and started shooting sporadically where a  member of the church was killed by a stray  bullet while  two others were said to be abducted by the gunmen.

    The Police Public Relation Officer of Kogi State Police command DSP William Ayah in a conversation with our correspondent confirmed the incident, he said the gunmen attacked the Church this morning during the service shooting sporadically to scare people.

    Ayah added that a member of the church, Mr Reuben Gbenga was killed, Elder Oshadumo Julius, and Elder Abiodun T.O were abducted while two are presently receiving treatment in the hospital.

    He assured that the command will not relent in its effort to ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and the abductees are rescue.

    Aya therefore appealed to the general public to furnished the police with useful information that will lead to the arrest of the gunmen.

  • NPOWER Applicants Cries Out Over #1,000 Extortion By NSIP officials In Kogi

    NPOWER Applicants Cries Out Over #1,000 Extortion By NSIP officials In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Some officials of the National Social investment programme (NSIP) in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State were allegedly fingered for extorting money from NPower applicants.

    It was gathered on Thursday that some NSIP officials have been collecting N1,000 each from over 500 applicants saying” it was money for attestation which will determine the compulsory physical verification exercise for all the NPOWER applicants.”

    Daybreak gathered that the purported attestation letter was allegedly signed and stamped by the Desk officer of NSIP in Ajaokuta Local Government, Shaibu Ovosi Yakubu.

    It was further learnt that this was not the first time this alleged corrupt practice was carried out in this office as similar alleged corrupt act was carried out in the local government during the Npower batch A and B exercise.

    Some applicants in the report said “they collected N1000 from us all in the name of attestation for our NPOWER physical verification. We called some of our people in other Local Government areas and states, they told us that is free. We don’t know why this place is different” .

    . “We have no choice but to pay the #1,000 because without crossing this bridge, we can’t participate in this NPOWER exercise”.

    Speaking with the Kogi State Focal Person, Social investment Program, Mr Abdulkareem Onyekehi, said only six local government areas out of the 21 local government areas in Kogi State have commenced the physical verification for Batch C Npower.

    Onyekehi explained that the purported physical verification exercise carried out in Adogo under Ajaokuta local government is fraudulent and should be disregarded by the general public, stressing that Ajaokuta Local Government is not part of the local government that has commenced physical verification.

    His words “It is totally wrong. It is a clear violation to what the NPOWER stand for. Whoever collect money from Npower applicants is not under the guideline of NPOWER program. The Abuja Office didn’t instruct anybody to collect money from applicants. It is free.”

    “After my communication with the Kogi State NYSC director, only six local governments are ready for NPOWER physical verification which includes: Lokoja, Ibaji, Igalamela, Kogi and one other Local Government Area.

    The State Focal person, however, vowed to carry out an investigation into the allegation assuring that anybody found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.

  • Suspected Drug addict Allegedly Beats Father To Death In Kogi

    Suspected Drug addict Allegedly Beats Father To Death In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    A 21 year old drug addict identified as Muhammed Yusuf has allegedly beaten his father to death at his resident at the back of St. Mary Primary School, Lokoja, Kogi State.

    It was gathered that the suspect is a secondary school holder who had vehemently refused to further his education despite efforts put in place by his father who was in his late 70’s.

    A reliable source who identified herself as Bello Nana gave an account of the incident “I am their neighbour. The boy has been misbehaving since yesterday morning in which I told the father that we should invite law enforcement agencies to arrest him.”

    ”I left for work at about 4PM yesterday and am supposed to close by 12am but I closed by 10Pm. When I came in, I was knocking the gate, but nobody responded. When I came in with my key inside, I said Baba please open the door for me but the boy replied that Baba was not around.”

    ”I asked him, where has baba been to? And I know that Baba does not go out whenever is 6.00pm. When I came in, I saw him in Baba’s room, and Baba don’t normally allow him to enter his room. Immediately I called my fiancee, telling him that this boy has killed his father because what is he doing in Baba’s room.

    “Then he called Baba’s number but the number was switched off. I now went to the Police station, and we came with SARS to arrest him. When we entered the room, Baba was in a pool of blood but was still breathing. We therefore rushed him to the hospital. This morning, we heard the news that baba is dead.” Bello Nana concluded.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) DSP William Ovye Aya confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Thursday adding that he was yet to get details of the incident.

    The suspect is said to be in custody of the Nigeria Police Force, A Division Lokoja Kogi State.

  • Flooding: Kogi Mobilizes Contractor To The Abandoned Embankment Site

    Flooding: Kogi Mobilizes Contractor To The Abandoned Embankment Site

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Commissioner for works and housing Engr Dr. Abubakar Ohere FNSE, and his counterpart in environment, Chief Victor Omofaye on Wednesday in Lokoja flagged off the construction work on the erosion site.

    Its no longer news that the major effects of climate change, flooding has ravaged many communities in kogi State. Since 2012 attempts at mitigating this major effect has not been yielding the desired impact

    There was a jubilation by the residents of Lokoja yesterday when the GYB contractor Ceezali Nig Limited was remobilized to site to commence the abandoned embankment work of the marine road through kpata market Lokoja to provide protection for the state capital against the flooding threat.

    Ohere who commended governor Yahaya Bello for his political will described his proactive consciousness as unprecedented as the project is being fully funded by the state Government and is expected to be completed soon.

    He said the state government has put all the necessary measures in place to explore effective urban planning, developmental control, drainage designs, dredging, construction of drainage channels and environmental education to
    mitigate all climate change -induced problems confronting the state.

    Engr. Ohere also stressed that, “Government had equally embarked on massive de-silting of
    drains, clearing of culverts with identification of black spots, We will continue to reap the gains of planning, as the flood control measures in the state had been stepped up to contain any unforeseen weather condition.

  • Cholera Outbreak: Death Tolls Rises to 8, Infects 66, Records 129 Cases In Kogi

    Cholera Outbreak: Death Tolls Rises to 8, Infects 66, Records 129 Cases In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi state government on Wednesday promised to work with relevant agencies to ensure provision of portable water in communities within the state to ensure that diarrhoea disease is reduced to the barest minimum in the State.”

    Confirming the cholera Outbreak in three communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa local government areas of the state in a press release signed by the State Epidemiologist, Dr Austin Ojotu un behalf of the state Commissioner of Health on Monday said Diarrohea/vomiting have been reported in some Communities in five local government areas.

    “It has become very important for us as a Ministry to brief the press on the outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting suspected to be cholera in some Local Government Areas of the State in recent time”

    Among the affected local government areas according to the release are: Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa and Kabba Bunu between February and August, 2021, recording 129 cases, 66 persons affected while 8 deaths have been recorded.

    “We were able to confirm cholera in three of the communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa LGAs with 66 persons affected and 8 deaths (CFR=12.12%).These are Border Communities with hard to reach terrains.”

    “It is important to mention at this point that most of the deaths have occurred before the reports got to the !ocal government/state authorities. Our findings also revealed that majority of the deaths in all the outbreaks occurred at home.” the statement added.

    The release pointed out that the state is working closely with the local government to avert further outbreaks by strengthening and sustaining community sensitization and mobilization as the State Ministry of Health has also supported the outbreak response with technical and response commodities.

    “The sensitisation would ensure that Communities adopted health safety measures such as good personal and environmental hygiene, washing of hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet, avoid open defecation, boiling of drinking waters and proper cooking and handling of food and vegetables before eating as these measures are very key in preventing diarrhoea diseases.”

    Kogi promised that Government would also collaborate with critical stakeholders and partners to ensure that no single individual dies of preventable disease in the state.

  • Unknown Gunmen Kill Two Policemen In Kogi Checkpoint

    Unknown Gunmen Kill Two Policemen In Kogi Checkpoint

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Two policemen were reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint in Kabba, headquarters of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi state.

    According to an eyewitness account, the policemen were said to have been gunned down at the origa checkpoint along Kabba- Iyara road at about 5 pm on Monday.

    The robbers were said to be passing by in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and when the police who were at the checkpoint flagged them down for a routine check, the robbers were said to have suddenly opened fire on two of them and speed off.

    The source added that three other policemen who managed to escape sustained various injuries as the fleeing robbers shot sporadically to pave their way for escape.

    Daybreak gathered that the affected policemen were from the newly created Kabba police B divisional headquarters.

    Meanwhile, the robbers were said to be coming from the Ekiti axis and were probably heading towards Abuja through Kabba in Kogi state.

    The remains of the two policemen were said to have been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital in Kabba, while the injured are said to be receiving treatment at a private hospital.

    When contacted, the police public relations officer, William Aya could not be reached as of the time of filing the report.