Baby making factory uncovered in Delta state

A maternity where newborn babies are sold to wealthy couples has been discovered in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The police in collaboration with local vigilance group recently raided the storey building located in Oduke, a sparsely populated area of Okwe community in the metropolis.

Three pregnant women and a suspected member of the syndicate were apprehended during the raid.

The Delta State Police Command spokesman, DSP Charles Muka, who confirmed the arrest, did not give further details.

Muka said: “We have three pregnant women and an advanced woman in our custody, they are at the Area Command.”

He added that the matter was still under investigation.

Investigation by the Daily Sun however revealed that the racket had been going on for some years at the maternity (name withheld), which was formerly managed by a medical doctor, who was said to have died in a motor accident.

The new managers were said to have turned the facility into a haven of the illicit trade, disguising it as a maternity to cover their track from the prying eyes of the public.

It was gathered that unmarried but pregnant young ladies who had been jilted by their lovers found solace in the hands of the managers of the maternity who lured them with a promise of N50,000 after giving birth to the baby.

“The expectant mothers are closely monitored by the supervisors so that they will not escape from the custody. They give them (pregnant girls) daily meals and nurses come here to give them ante-natal care,” a source said.

“We were surprised that such a thing was going on here. We thought it was just a maternity where medical attention is given to pregnant women until the police came here last weekend to expose the illicit trade,” he added.

Besides, another source said the maternity “is host to all sorts of men who come there under the cover of night to have free and unprotected sex with the pregnant ladies, apparently to nurture the foetus.

And after giving birth, the ladies are allowed to go back to re-unite with the larger society with the N50,000 gratification.

The baby racketeering syndicate, it was learnt, had network with a doctor based in Upper Iweka, Onitsha in Anambra State, whose duty was to distribute the babies to potential buyers at the rate of N250,000, irrespective of the baby’s sex.

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Dana: DNA shocker at mortuary

It is double tragedy for the family of Mr. Moses George, who was killed in the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash in Lagos.

There is confusion over the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (otherwise called DNA) test result of the retired Fire Service official.

His body was intact when the family identified him after the incident.

In fact, he had an identification card on him.

The puzzle facing his family is how to collect his body whose DNA was one of the 132 results that arrived from the United Kingdom on August 6.

However, in a frantic effort to prove Hannah’s paternity and also claim the victim’s body from the mortuary, the family has re-submitted samples from Hannah and the victim’s younger sister to the Consultant Forensic Pathologist and Chief Examiner, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof John Obafunwa.

Recall that on the arrival of 132 DNA results from the United Kingdom on August 6, LASUTH and the Lagos State Government officials met with the bereaved families of the ill-fated plane to brief them on the processes and procedures of collecting the bodies, which were to commence the following day.

As various families besieged LASUTH mortuary to collect the bodies, the George family left no stone unturned to ensure the collection of their late brother’s remains, which they said they identified and were intact at the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial Mortuary, LASUTH.

But to the family’s amazement, their late brother’s name was not among those results pasted on the mortuary wall that were ready for collection.

Prior to the DNA test requirement by LASUTH, a cousin to the late George, Chief Moses Olajide, told Daily Sun that Hannah, the daughter of the deceased, and himself have identified his uncle’s body in the mortuary.

Olajide maintained that the late Assistant Comptroller of Fire Service was neither burnt nor mangled.

Olajide lamented that he began to panic when he discovered that his uncle’s name was not among those whose DNA results arrived from the UK.

He said: “A day after the incident, my cousin (Hannah) and l came here (LASUTH) to identify the body of my uncle. We saw it in the mortuary. The body was intact.

“His identity card was hung on him. The name was number 22 among the names of identifiable bodies released by the hospital.”

“I understand there were 16 bodies that were burnt beyond forensic analysis or some families could not show up with reference samples.

“But our case does not fall into any of these categories. So, where is his body?”

At this juncture, the family raised the alarm, asking for the whereabouts of their late brother.

Olajide, who is one the representatives of the family, lamented that the hospital management was reluctant in telling him what to do.

He bemoaned what he called the lackadaisical attitude with which officials of the hospital were responding to the family’s travail.

Another relative, who was interviewed on phone, a cousin to the late Moses, Abiodun Anthony Dogbo, described the family’s ordeal in the process of collecting the body as untold agony.

Dogbo said: “Just imagine my late uncle’s body that was identified at first sight in the mortuary, yet after two months, we cannot still claim it. I must confess that it is prolonging and aggravating our pains.

“I wish everybody understands what we are talking about.

“The only daughter he had was pregnant when the incident happened. It took God’s intervention before she was delivered of her baby.

“I know they have good intention for not giving the victims mass burial. But the procedures of collecting the bodies are too demanding.

“If others could succeed in collecting their relatives, whose bodies were burnt and some dismembered, I see no reason why my late uncle’s body that was intact should become a mystery. I don’t want to think otherwise, l believe the body is somewhere. I beg them to give it to us.”

Dogbo, who claimed to be the family’s spokesman, added: “In short, l am confused at the moment.

“Prof. said the DNA results did not correspond with that of the man (deceased).

“Really, I don’t understand what is happening. What could that mean?

Not satisfied with Prof. Obafunwa’s analysis of the DNA results, the family inquired what should be done to collect their late brother’s body.

We gathered that fresh test was to be conducted, as samples had been collected from the deceased’s sister in addition to Hannah’s.

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Police IG redeploys 18 Commissioners

There was a major shake-up in the police force on Monday.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, redeployed 18 police Commissioners.

The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, according to the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, affected Commissioners of Police (CPs) in Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Sokoto, Imo, Kebbi, Kaduna and Oyo States.

The new CPs have been charged to ensure effective policing of their states and act as agents of positive change and guide against all acts inimical to the fundamental rights of the citizenry.

Similarly, Abubakar has called on citizens of the affected states to give the new police commissioners their maximum support.

Under the new arrangement, Godfrey Okeke is now the new CP for Adamawa, while S.L. Gambo, has been posted to Sokoto.

Adisa Bolanta is to resume duty in Imo State, while Tonye Ebitibituwa is the new boss for Kebbi State and Mbu Joseph Mbu, is CP, Oyo State.

Others are Abdullahi Yaguda. Borno; Olufemi A. Adenaike, Kaduna; and Mohammed  Iyanda Sule, Gombe.

Also on the list are Dokumor CP (SARS), Force CID; Sunday Ogbonna. CP “C” Department, FHQ; Mgbakor Ogugua, CP Criminal Central Record, FCID Annex, Lagos; Mark A. Idakwo, Provost Marshal, FHQ, Abuja; Y.G. Ardo, CP, MDS “F” Department; Mohammed Ibrahim, CP Special Protection Unit (SPU); Sylvester Umeh, CP Border Patrol; Suleiman O. Lawal, Deputy Commandant, Police Academy, Kano; and Idris Faruk Umar, CP Anti-Fraud, FCID.

Others include Edgar Tam Nanakumo, CP Inspectorate “E”Department; and Sunday A. Ogbonna, CP Admin “C” Department, FHQ.

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Shell spends $383m on security in Nigeria in two years – Platform

 Oil company Shell has spent $383 million on security in Nigeria in two years, watchdog organisation Platform has said.According to Platform, a London based non-profit, citing leaked financial data from Shell, the expenditure made between 2007 and 2009 is 40 per cent of Shell’s total expenditure on security globally which it says stood at $1 billion.

In a publication titled ‘Dirty Work’ detailing Shell’s global security expenditure between 2007 and 2009, which Platform says is based on internal financial data from Shell’s security department leaked to it, the data reveals for the first time how much Shell has spent on security, who benefitted and who bore the risks.

“In particular, the data shows the extent of Shell’s funding for government forces and other armed groups in Nigeria during a period of intense conflict in the oil producing Niger Delta,” it says.Platform also says the $383 million Shell spent in Nigeria is an underestimate.  “It does not include expenditure on the Shell operated Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Bonny. Nor does it include an estimated annual $200 million of ‘community development’ funds, which are frequently distributed to groups that threaten Shell’s operations, sparking serious violent conflicts.

 The leaked data covers all four Shell companies in Nigeria,” it says.The Niger Delta in Nigeria where Shell and other oil companies operate has been plagued by tension and violence as local people demand a fair share of money made from exploiting oil from their land. The area is heavily polluted and the people are poor with very little or no infrastructure and jobs.

A study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  released in 2011 made a call for the setting up of a $1 billion fund to clean-up the over 50 years of pollution of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta by the operations of oil companies.

According to UNEP however, full environmental restoration of Ogoniland may take up to 30 years.UNEP, indicated that the assessment which has been unprecedented, was carried over a 14-month period and more than 200 locations were examined, 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way were surveyed, more than 5,000 medical records were reviewed and over 23,000 people were engaged at local community meetings.

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Ramadan Continues Over Non-Sighting of New Moon

Hopes that the Ramadan fast would be concluded last night was dashed over the failure to sight the new moon. A statement from the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, noted that the Muslim fast will continue through the weekend as a result.

The Eid-el-Fitr celebrations would have been held on Sunday.

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Governor appoints three physically-challenged persons as aides

GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday approved the appointments of three physically-challenged persons as his special assistants.The appointments are contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

The approval followed a protest by physically-challenged persons, who barricaded the Tombia Roundabout on Monday over government’s alleged indifference to their plight.

Those appointed are Mr. Ekpemekumo Major-Doutimiari, Mr. Napoleon Azeke and Mr. Itekesi Amangala, as the governor’s special assistants for West, Central and East senatorial districts.

Dickson said the appointees would coordinate the activities of physically-challenged persons in their senatorial zones.

According to the statement, the appointments are with immediate effect.

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ESUT Vice Chancellor Kidnapped-Police escort shot

Armed gunmen today kidnapped Prof Cyprian Onyeji the vice chancellor of the Enugu State University (ESUT).Sources disclosed that the kidnappers numbering about 10 also shot the police escort.

Reliable sources disclosed that the incident happened this morning when the Vice Chancellor was on his way to his office at ESUT campus. No information on whether the police escort engaged in gun duel with the abductors before he was shot and taken away with the abducted VC,

No demand for ransome yet.Police sources disclosed that investigation into the matter have already started.

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Cultist hacks 300 level student to death

Tragedy struck in Warri, Delta State, last weekend, when a 300-level student of the Delta State University, Abraka, was hacked to death allegedly by a suspected cultist over a N5,000 internet modem.

The victim, Solomon Onyeoghani, was a student in the Department of Business Education, while his alleged killer, 29-year-old Chukwu Kelubia, is of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred barely hours after Onyeoghani returned from school. He was said to be on his way to visit his mother, a petty trader, when he was attacked by Kelubia.

Sources at Osamede Street, Okumagba Layout, where the incident occurred, told Nation Evening Express that the suspected cultist had earlier accused his victim of stealing his GSM internet modem, an allegation the deceased reportedly denied.

However, unknown to him, Kelubia was lurking at No13 Osamede Street on the fateful day. He was reportedly armed with jagged-edged broken bottle.“He chased Solomon and stabbed him severally on the neck. As the boy was running, he kept on stabbing him.

 Desperate for help, Solomon ran towards a private hospital close by, but he fell down and died at the entrance.” Confirming the report, father of the deceased, Mr. Augustine Onyoghani, said his son’s alleged killer, who is a feared leader of one of the notorious cult groups in the area, had earlier warned him “that he would kill my son over the missing internet modem.”

­“Not up to one hour that the boy (Kelubia) left, someone came to tell me that Solo was dead. I didn’t know that the boy meant to kill my son. They did not fight. The boy rushed out from nowhere and started stabbing him with broken bottle. He stabbed my son severally on the neck.”

Although the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, could not be reached for comment, a senior officer at the B Division confirmed the incident, disclosing that the father of the suspect had relocated to the station for fear of attack by angry mob.

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Humongous Snake Killed In Egypt Red Sea - Photo Humongous Snake Killed In Egypt Red Sea - Photo

Amazing Giant Snake found in the Red Sea that killed 320 tourists and 125 Egyptian divers, has been killed by a professional team of elite Egyptian scientists and qualified divers in Egypt. 

Names of scientists who participated in the process of catching the huge snake were: 

D. Karim Mohammed, d. Mohammed Sharif, d. Mr. Sea, d. Mahmoud students, d. Mazen Al-Rashidi. And the names of divers who participated in the process of catching the huge snake were: Ahmed leader, Abdullah Karim, fisherman Knight, Wael Mohammed, Mohammed Haridi, spears Alvajuma, Mahmoud Shafik, a full-Sharif. The Snake body has been transferred to in the Egypt morgue at Sharm El Sheikh international animal.

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