Crime
FCT: Wike orders immediate replacement of vandalised manhole cover for public safety

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed deep concern over the increasing vandalism of manhole covers across the Federal Capital City (FCC).

Addressing journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing repairs on some recently vandalized manhole covers along the B6 and B12 circle roads in the Central Business District of the FCC on Monday, January 6, 2024, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said that such acts of vandalism damage public infrastructure and deprive citizens of essential services and resources.

He explained that the stolen covers were specifically designed to withstand heavy vehicular traffic and are crucial for the proper functioning of the city’s drainage system.
Engr. Dauda also emphasized the security implications of the theft of public infrastructure, stating that the FCT Administration is working with security agencies to strengthen measures to check acts of vandalism in the nation’s capital city.
He said, “It is unfortunate that we continue to face this challenge. Despite our efforts to replace these covers, they are repeatedly stolen. This is primarily a security issue, and the FCTA administration will take decisive action to curb vandalism within the city.”
Recognizing the immediate need for repairs, the Executive Secretary revealed that the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has directed the swift replacement of all stolen covers to ensure public safety and prevent damage to vehicles.
He however explained the challenges of replacing these crucial infrastructure elements, stating: “Because of the nature of our infrastructure design, we have them in the middle of the road. There are sewer lines and some are storm water lines. They are load-bearing because they take the vehicular load. So, they are specially made for that purpose. So, replacing them, it takes time. It takes quite a deal of effort.”
The Executive Secretary highlighted efforts by the FCTA to explore alternative materials for the covers, such as composite materials, which are less attractive to thieves due to their low recycling value but regretted that they were still being targeted by vandals.
He said, “In many other areas we have used other materials… you still see people coming to break them. For what purpose and for what benefit? I don’t know. Because when you steal infrastructure like this, it’s like stealing from yourself. It’s federal government resources, it’s the national resources that have been used to put it in place.”
While assuring that the replacement will be completed soon, the Executive Secretary urged the media to join in the campaign against this destructive behavior and educate the public on the importance of protecting public property.

Crime
Police investigations of alleged Russian KGB infiltration of NASS: Senator Natasha reportedly abandons petition

The alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency being investigated by the Nigeria Police seems to be a quandary.

This is because a source close to the Police headquarter said, Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi was invited for interrogation on the heels of petition before it by his colleague, Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

According to the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan who is currently on six months suspension from the Senate asked the police authority to investigate claim by her counterpart from Kogi west that KGB has infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic processes.
In her petition, she alleged that Senator Karimi shared a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.
In her petition, the embattled female Kogi lawmaker asked the Police not to treat the alarm raised by Senator Karimi with levity, declaring that, “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body.”
It was further revealed that Senator Karimi appeared at Louis Edet, Police headquarter on Monday to state his own side in deference to Police invitation.
Sources at the Police headquarter which described the session with Karimi as “positive with useful disclosure”
as the lawmaker owned up to his post, however revealed that the Force authority were taken aback that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has since distance herself from her petition and subsequently, rebuffed request to appear before the Force headquarter.
“We reached her after the session with Senator Karimi. “We wanted to hear from her too but she has continued to ignore our invitation.
That is disturbing to us because we don’t expect her to suddenly dump a petition with such a sensitive allegation against her colleague and then elope.
“Her excuse was that she is outside the country. But a viral video of her visit to her constituency has since went viral.So, it is difficult to reconcile her claim of being outside the shore of the country with the information available to us.
“We don’t want to meddle in the ongoing intrigues in the Senate. But it will be scandalous for her to try to use the Police to join forces with her against his colleagues.”
Asked what is the possible next line of action, the source said his superior knows what to do with such a petition which he dismissed as frivolous.
Reacting to the Police claim, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan denied that she snubbed invitation to shed light on her petition, insisting that she was never invited of recent by the Police after Senator Karimi’s summon.
She said:”Apart from being invited to adopt my petition, I haven’t been invited.”

Crime
Groups urge Governor Soludo to free detained native doctor, ritualists

Groups operating under the aegis of the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) South East Zone have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to release ritualists and native doctors in detention.

The groups said, the Qnambra Governor should use the three years anniversary of his office to release the ritualists who have been in detention in the government house.

The appeal was contained in a joint statement by the Executive Director of the Human Rights body, CD South East Zonal Chairman Dede Uzor A.Uzor, the groups said he should use their release as a gift to their families in this season and occasion of three years in office.
The group named the native doctors as: Akwa Okuko tiwara Aku in Oba, Eke Hit from Okija and Onyeze Jesus from Nkpor.
The trio were arrested in connection with “spurious and obnoxious social media instigation on our youths” which painted a very bad image for the society.
The group lamented that the native doctors encouraged ostentatious lifestyle and crime, making our youths to believe that hard work doesn’t pay unless you engaged in unwholesome criminal activities like ‘okeite’ or ‘Awale, yahoo plus’ among other false lifestyles.
It also said “their activities promoted serious insecurity and tension in the state with teeming young people turning to such criminal and outlandish lifestyles.
“But since their arrest, we believe they have learnt a big lesson”.
The group advised that Soludo should make them sign undertaking with the hope of discontinuing such crude, unethical and diabolical activities in line with the extant laws of the State,” they appealed to the Governor.
HURIDE said Governor Soludo should grant amnesty to them in the spirit of this successful celebration of three years in office, saying that he has done so much to improve the lives of citizens of the State.
CAPITAL POST recalled that the Soludo administration has been clamping on criminal elements amid high number of missing persons believed to be orchestrated by ritualists in the State.

Crime
Ghana’s anti-drug agency nabs Nigerian drug kingpin, Uchechukwu Chima, seizes $2.1m worth of cocaine, heroin

Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested a drug kingpin of Nigerian origin from the South East , Uchechukwu Chima.

The commission operatives raided his hideout in Accra.

Chima, who is 56 years was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the discovery of 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, valued at $2.1 million on the streets.
The acting Director of of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC, Francis Amoah speaking on the matter in Accra, confirmed that the substances seized were indeed cocaine and heroin.
Authorities believe Chima has played a significant role in previous drug-related operations in the country.
He said the operation marks a critical success in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Ghana.
“NACOC remains committed to making the country a hostile environment for drug trade and ensuring the safety of both Ghanaians and the international community.”

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