The Nigeria Police Force has detained Victor Ogungbero, a video editor and cameraman with Sahara Reporters.
He is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State.
Ogungbenro was arrested alongside eight others at the scene of RevolutionNow protest in front of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Others arrested include Segun Babatunde Osunla, Gabriel Ojumah, Ehis Omohomio, Aniobi Stanley, Elias Ozikpu, Kenechukwu Ukachukwu, Banwo Olagokun and Sanyaolu Juwon.
The police clamped down on the protesters earlier today, using live bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the people, who turned out in large numbers to express their displeasure against the state of affairs in Nigeria.
A colleague to Ogungbenro, who witnessed the arrest said the video editor was not allowed to identify himself before he was dragged away by armed security officials.
The young lady, who is not named for security reasons, said, “We kept telling them that he is with Sahara Reporters but instead that worsened the case and made them to take him away.
“They did not allow him to identity himself. He was beaten and dragged on the floor while being taken away.”
The arrested persons were first held in a black truck at ‘Area C Police Command, Funsho Williams Road, Surulere, Lagos, before being taken to Panti where they are yet to be released.
Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court, on Monday, granted leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Elzakzaky, leave to seek for medical attention in New Delhi, India.
Khobo while granting the IMN leader the leave said he would travel in company of State officials.
He said the IMN leader must return immediately after his discharge from the hospital to face his charges.
The IMN leader and his wife had applied to the court seeking to travel, following poor health while in detention.
The State Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Dari Bayero, briefed newsmen, shortly after Monday’s ruling in Kaduna.
Bayero, who is the respondent in El-Zazaky’s application, said the team had taken time and examined the eight medical reports by Nigerian and foreign doctors that accompanied the IMN leader’s application.
“The context of the court ruling is that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are granted leave to travel out for urgent medical attention.
“The court looked through the medical reports filed and believed Mallam is indeed in dire need of medical attention.
“This is not a bail, but a leave to travel. So as soon as his discharge from the hospital and he returns to the country, his trial will resume,” he said.
Bayero said the team of lawyers would study the ruling and explore whether there is a need for appeal, “We have a month to go through that.”
On his part, Mr Marshal Abubakar, counsel to El-Zakzaky recalled that before July 29, the lead counsel to the applicant, Femi Falana was in the court to move the application, which was adjourned to today.
“It is not a bail application as is being wrongly reported by some media, it was an application to save the life of the applicants, El-Zakzaky and his wife.”
According to him, “The ruling came up today and the court graciously agreed with Mr Femi Falana SAN and the various medical reports that were attached to the applications.
“There were eight medical reports that clearly show the applicants are in dire need of medical treatment abroad.
“The court agreed that they should be allowed to seek treatment that they sort for and with supervision,” Marshal said.
El-Zazaky had in the application said he and his wife would return to Nigeria as soon as they were discharged.
The IMN leader is standing trial in another court over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other charges.
Justice Gideon Kurada, who was handling the case, had on April 25 adjourned the trial of the IMN leader indefinitely.
The indefinite adjournment was to enable the judge to serve on the panel of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Yobe State.
The Chief Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger State has sentenced a 33-year-old Islamic teacher, Abubakar Abdullahi, to seven years imprisonment for having anal sex with 35 of his pupils, the News Agency of Nigeria Reports.
Abdullahi, a resident of Sabon Gari, Kontagora, was charged with an unnatural offence, contrary to section 284 of the penal code law.
The Police Prosecutor, ASP. Daniel Ikwoche had told the court that one Murtala Abdullahi, a Hisbah Commander in Kontagora Local Government Area reported the matter at the ‘A’ Police Division in Kontagora on July 22.
Ikwoche said the complainant alleged that the accused lured 35 of his pupils, who are between the ages of 9 and 14 years, into his room and had anal intercourse with them on different occasions between March and July.
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.
The prosecutor thereafter prayed the court to try him summarily in line with section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In her ruling, Magistrate Hauwa Yusuf sentenced Abdullahi to seven years in prison with hard labour.
Yusuf, however, said the convict will have the option of a N2 million fine after serving the first four years of his sentence.
A security expert and retired Captain in the United States of America Army, Mr. Sunday Adebomi, has said the Nigerian Army and Police lack the equipment necessary to combat the rising wave of kidnapping, insurgency and banditry being witnessed across the nation.
This, Adebomi, said was responsible for the under performance of the security architecture in combating the men of the underworld terrorizing the country.
He called on the Federal Government to provide necessary military hardware required and ensure proper funding of the nation’s security formation, adding that all hydra- headed security threats could be easily surmounted if federal police structure is decentralized to give way for the creation of a state police.
He said a nation-state with wide territorial expansion and dense population like Nigeria can only guarantee the safety of lives and property of the citizens, if it spreads the dragnet of security to the grassroots.
Adebomi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, gave the advice in a chat with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, calling on members of the public to be conscious of their environment and report suspicious persons and movement to security agents.
Adebomi, who tasked the security operatives, particularly in Ekiti to step up surveillance and patrol in order to nip the rate of insecurity in the bud, said such can only be achieved if those with the deep knowledge of the terrain are integrated into the security architecture to gather information for proper actions.
He commended the various efforts of Governor Kayode Fayemi towards stopping criminal activities and called on the people of the state to always support the government in this regard.
“I want to express concerns on the alleged killing of about 23 people at a funeral ceremony in Borno State last weekend by suspected Boko Haram sect. The news was disturbing and traumatizing to me.
A leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has been shot dead, according to latest reports.
The deceased, Saidu Kolaku was the zonal vice chairman of MACBAN, Adamawa South, until his death on Saturday.
An official of MACBAN and other informed persons in the state have described the murder as a possible reprisal attack.
The deceased, until his death, was said to be helping security operatives track down kidnappers and other criminals and was honoured recently by the state police command for his efforts.
A gunman wearing body armor killed nine people and injured 26 in a Dayton, Ohio, neighborhood of bars and restaurants, authorities said, in the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours and the third in eight days. The gunman was killed by police.
The shooting began at 1 a.m., police said, in the Oregon district, a popular spot on weekend nights. Officers were “in the immediate vicinity when this shooting began and we were able to respond and put an end to it quickly,” the Dayton Police Department said in a tweet.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said during a press conference Sunday morning that the shooter was wearing body armor and had a .223 caliber high-capacity gun, with additional magazines. She added that first respondents in the area, which is regularly patrolled, took out the shooter in under a minute.
“As bad as this has been, it could have been much, much worse,” Assistant Police Chief Matt Carper said.
Authorities said they would provide more information later. Speaking on CNN Sunday morning, Ms. Whaley said there was no known motivation for the shooter and that FBI investigators are on the scene.
A shooting at a Texas shopping mall has ended in “multiple fatalities”, local officials say.
The shooting happened at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, just a few miles from the US-Mexico border.
At least 22 people arrived at local hospitals for treatment for their injuries.
One person is in custody, and police did not believe there were multiple gunmen, a spokesperson said, but was unable to provide casualty figures.
“We don’t want to do anything prematurely until we have accurate facts for you,” Sergeant Robert Gomez said, declining to provide details on the injured.
First reports of a shooting emerged at around 11:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
There were reports of gunfire in several locations – in both the Cielo Vista mall and the nearby Walmart, police said – but reports of further gunshots at another nearby mall, Bassett, were not true.
“Initial reports of the weapon was a rifle – I can’t confirm that yet,” the spokesman said.
He could not confirm any details about the suspect, except that he was male. No officers had fired their weapons in apprehending him, he said.
Police said they no longer believed there was any immediate threat to the public, but were continuing searches. A family reunification area had been set up nearby for those searching for loved ones.
The Police say the call by the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, inciting Nigerians to join a planned revolution march against the Federal Government is a treasonable and terrorism offense.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
He said that the attention of the Police had been drawn to a video circulating on the social media inciting Nigerians, home and abroad to join in the revolution march.
Mba said that the sole aim of the revolution march slated for Aug. 5 was to force a regime change in the country.
He said the police would not stand and watch any individual or group in the society causing anarchy in the land.
According to him, while acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government.
He said Nigeria is a democratic republic with well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.
“The Force, therefore, warn the organizers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathizers of the group Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria to steer clear of any such planned protest and proposed ‘revolution’.
” The warning is for the group to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed “revolution”.
“The full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above planned criminal act,” he said.
He, therefore, called on parents and guardians to impress on their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used in whatever form to breach the law and order in the country.
Mba said that the Police would work with other Law Enforcement Agencies and positive minded Nigerians to protect, defend and secure public peace.
Arsenal are set to take on Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Sunday for the pre-season Joan Gamper Trophy.
Off the pitch, the Gunners’ head of football Raul Sanllehi will be in attendance and is set to meet his Barcelona counterparts. And with talk over a move for Philippe Coutinho in the offing it is being claimed Sanllehi could look to secure a shock deal.
Spanish publication Sport claim Barca are ready to send the Brazil ace out on loan with the Premier League the most likely destination.
Barcelona want to sell the midfielder, who cost £143million just 18 months ago, after he failed to make a substantial impact.
But they may struggle to recoup such a hefty fee so are willing to loan the 27-year-old out with an option to buy.
It is thought the La Liga giants will demand a loan fee to cover the instalments they are still paying to Liverpool. And with the Premier League the most likely destination, Arsenal could steal a march on their rivals just by being in the city tomorrow.
The Premier League looks the most likely destination and Sport say Arsenal are closing in on a move for the Brazilian.
However, it is unclear where the north London side will find any money for the deal, especially after shelling out a club-record £72m for Nicolas Pepe earlier this week.
Sheikh Muhammad Yakubu, the brother of Sheikh Ibraheem Yakubu El-Zakzaky, the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites, has reacted to the recent proscription of IMN.
According to him, the proscription by the Federal Government was long overdue.
El-Zakzaky’s elder brother, who is also the Zaria Branch Chairman of Izalatul Bid’ia wa Ikamatus sunna, said that the Federal Government should not stop at proscribing IMN but go further to disband the Shi’ite sect in its entirety.
Speaking with The Nation newspaper, Shiekh Yakubu said there was no difference between his younger brother’s IMN, the Shi’ite sect, and the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.
He added that both the leader of the deadly Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, and his younger brother, El-Zakzaky, were terrorists.
He said the decision taken by the federal government to proscribe the IMN was not only right but overdue because the government can be overthrown through the violent protests of the group.
Sheikh Yakoob said the IMN leader is responsible for whatever calamity that has befallen him, saying that he was warned when he started propagating “his dangerous Shi’ite doctrine.”
He said: “As you may be aware, El-Zakzaky is my blood brother. We were given birth to by the same father. While growing up, before he started this journey into Shi’ism, I didn’t have any close friend apart from him. We did everything together. We studied together in Islamic school.
“We warned him seriously to desist when he started this Shi’ism ideology. I personally warned him several times, and when he refused, I had to abandon him. So, whatever the authorities might have done to him, he caused it for himself.”
Sheikh Yakoob added: “There is nothing good about Shi’ism. These people are supposed to have been proscribed a long time ago, but the government waited until they are now causing havoc.
“In the entire world, where has the Chief of Army Staff ever been blocked on the way and denied right of passage? Since the time Shi’ites people did that to the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, they were supposed to have been stopped. But now, the authorities seem to have understood their mission.
“Anywhere the Shi’ites are, they are always a problem. They are the ones that ruined Iraq. They are the ones that ruined Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. All the crises you see in the Middle-East, Shi’ites are responsible for them.
“You see, with their protests, they çan take over government. The enemies of the country and enemies of the sitting government can take advantage of the Shi’ites protest and overthrow the government.
“I believe the government now understands this secret. What the government has done is very right.”
On Tuesday’s declaration by another Shi’ites group that IMN members are fake Shi’ites, El-Zakzaky’s brother described the declaration as hypocritical.
According to him, all Shi’ites groups have the same doctrine and ideology.
“They are liars. All Shi’ites are one,” he said.
“What they are doing is hypocrisy. All of them have the same doctrine and ideology. They are only in Shi’ites leadership tussle with Zakzaky. That is why they are denouncing him publicly.
“Therefore, it is not only Zakzaky’s group that is supposed to be proscribed. The government should outlaw the entire Shi’ites sect. This is because both Boko Haram and Shi’ites share the same ideology.
“They can continue to fool other people that they are not armed, but we know they carry arms. Didn’t you see them shown with their arms?
“They lied that they were not the ones that killed the police officer in Abuja. The Deputy Commissioner of Police that was killed in Abuja was not the first police officer to be killed by the Shi’ites.”
When asked about the court order that, said his brother should be released and a house built for him anywhere in northern Nigeria, Sheikh Yakubu said, government should only obey such order if it is also ready to build a house for the leader of the dreaded Boko Haram group, Abubakar Shekau.
He said: “Nobody should blame the government for holding him despite the Abuja court order. Some would say, ehn, court ordered that Zakzaky should be released and a house built for him. If they want the government to build a house for Zakzaky, then the government should also build a house for Shekau.
“Do Nigerians agree that government should build a house for Shekau? If no, then government should not build a house for Zakzaky, because they are the same. They are all terrorists.”
He noted that since the exit of El-Zakzaky, Zaria, which was his base, has been very peaceful as security agents have been able to tame their “violent activities.”
