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Rivers Police Arrest Four Over Kidnap, Murder Of Two Victims
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspects allegedly involved in the kidnap and killing of their victims.
The suspects, who include an 18-year-old-boy and a lady, had reportedly abducted their 65-year-old man victim, Sokari Braide.
The kidnappers had during the operation, shot and killed one of Sokari’s younger brothers, Believe Briggs, at the point of the kidnap operation at their home at Elechi Beach Waterfront, Diobu, Port Harcourt on August 4.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Superintendent Nnamdi Omoni, noted that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Eagle Crack Unit of the command in different parts of the state, last Wednesday.
Omoni noted that the kidnappers had shot Braide after whisking him away, and collecting N1million ransom from the family.
The police image maker disclosed that Braide died few hours after his release from a hospital where he was receiving treatment for the gunshot.
The police spokesman disclosed that one of the suspects was an extended member of the family of the victims, adding that Braide had before his death, identified him as one of his abductors.
He stated that investigations were still ongoing into the matter, adding that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a teenager, Ledisi Kote, is currently battling for his life at an undisclosed hospital after some personnel of the Rivers State Police Command allegedly shot his leg for impregnating a girl.
It was learnt that some cops attached to the Kpor Police Division in Gokana Local Government Area of the state, on August 21, 2020, stormed Ledisi father’s residence in K. Dere community at around 7am and demanded to see the 19-year-old boy.
It was gathered that the policemen went into Ledisi’s room, brought him out, and shot him in the leg.
One Tuka Loanyie, who made a post about Ledisi’s ordeal on Facebook, stated that the policemen, who took the victim away after shooting him, dumped him in a private hospital in the area.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.