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Police arrest two mastermind of Port Harcourt cult clashes

The Rivers state police command has arrested Ejike Samuel and Victor Kokoriko alleged to be masterminds of deadly, destructive cult clashes in Port Harcourt, early this year.

The Police announced the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, the two suspects spearheaded the violent cult clashes that rocked the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt early in 2024.

The Command recalled that on January 30, 2024, the Gambia/Ayama area of Diobu, Port Harcourt, witnessed a series of destructive clashes between rival cult groups clashes that left many people injured and millions of Naira lost in damage to property.

“Several vehicles had their windshields smashed, and shops in the area were damaged and looted as the melee gained momentum, but the men of the Mile 1 Police Division intervened to curb the growing exchanges.

Several suspected cultists were arrested, and the case was transferred to the Anti-Cultism unit, where further investigations were carried out.

According to the Police as a fallout of the investigation, seven suspects arrested were charged to court and remanded in the Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt.

But the police said investigations also revealed that the leading cause of the clashes was one Ejike Samuel, a former leader in the Castle (Dey-Bam) cult group.

“On February 14, 2024, Ejike, a 32-year-old native of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and resident at Okonkwo in Gambia, Diobu, was arrested alongside his accomplice, Victor Kokoriko, 29, from Sampo, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA in Bayelsa.

“Ejike confessed to being a leader in the Castle cult group but decided to call it quits after he was restricted from interacting with his pals from a rival cult group, JVC (Junior Vikings Confraternity).

“He was an armourer of Castle and was in possession of a locally made revolver that had been placed in his care by his superior leader in Castle, one Jamil, who he said operates as a meat seller in the local abattoir but coordinates all the activities of the cult group. The gun was handed over to him in October 2022.

“He also intimated the Police that on several occasions, he had been badly beaten and ‘drilled’ for associating with friends from JVC, so he decided to cross-carpet to the JVC once and for all.

“After he decided to quit and join JVC, he switched lanes with the revolver still in his possession and refused to return it. This provoked the Castle group, and they launched attacks of gathering spots of the JVCs to recover the revolver, which culminated in the violent confrontations of January 2024.

“The duo was arrested on their way back from demanding royalties on behalf of JVC from dealers in scrap materials inside an area in Gambia they referred to as “bribabo”.

“According to Victor, they usually collect these royalties and pay to the ‘Doff-man’ (Treasurer) of the cult, who then gives them a cut for their troubles.

“He also spoke of how they were accosted by the Police in collaboration with the local Diobu vigilante.

“Victor, who was incarcerated at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre between 2020 and 2021 for cult-related violence that led to grievous bodily harm to a victim, stated that Ejike received a phone call from a certain Effiong, who was a ‘Senior man’ (a former cultist).

“While he was on the call and distracted, he was apprehended by the Police accompanied by the vigilante. They were searched, and the locally made revolver was recovered from them on the spot.

“They have been cooperative with the Police in the investigations.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu, has expressed optimism that synergy between the Police and Community-Based Security outfits can yield the desired result of addressing the menace of cultism.

He also commended the Men of the Mile 1 Police Division and the Anti-Cultism Unit for their ingenuity in forging collaborations to achieve results.

He warned cultists and other criminals in the state to steer off crime as the hand of the law was closer to them than they realised.

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Policeman remanded for allegedly raping teenager inside Lagos office

An Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos State, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of 56-year-old policeman Owolabi Akinlolu at the Maximum Correctional Centre Kirikiri for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in his office.

Owolabi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Ogudu Police Station in Lagos, allegedly raped the survivor in his office after promising to help recover her phone, which was stolen by one-chance robbers while she was returning from Ikeja with her grandmother and siblings.

Akinlolu reportedly summoned the teenager to his office on June 29, claiming they had apprehended the suspect who had stolen her phone two weeks earlier.Upon arriving at the police station, the senior police officer allegedly locked his office door behind him and raped the teenager.

In July 2024, the survivor’s mother, Mrs Aramide Olupona, accused the police of attempting to cover up the case, revealing that the suspect’s wife and family had pleaded with her to drop the charges, as Akinlolu was set to retire in December 2024.

At the Magistrate Court 11 on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, backed by a seven-paragraph affidavit, urged the court to remand the defendant, stating that the offence of defilement violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.In response to the prosecution’s request, Magistrate O.O. Fagboun ordered the defendant’s remand at the Maximum Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until March 11, 2025, for trial and further proceedings. Punch

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Saudi Arabia releases new 2025 Hajj rules, bans children, updated visa policies

Saudi Arabia has announced new changes to the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, including a new restriction barring children from participating.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the move aimed to protect children from potential dangers posed by heavy crowds during the pilgrimage.

The decision is part of broader efforts to ensure a safer and more seamless Hajj experience.

According to the ministry, the large crowds during Hajj pose serious risks to children, making this precautionary measure necessary.

Additionally, priority for the 2025 Hajj will be given to first-time pilgrims to allow more Muslims the opportunity to undertake this religious obligation at least once in their lives.

● Changes in visa regulations

Starting February 1, 2025, Saudi Arabia will issue only single-entry visas for pilgrims from 14 countries, including India, to prevent unauthorized Hajj participation.

Authorities noted that unauthorized pilgrimages had contributed to overcrowding at key sites, making crowd management and safety more challenging.

The updated visa policy aims to improve the overall Hajj experience by controlling the number of attendees.

Saudi authorities continue to refine Hajj regulations to make the pilgrimage safer and more organized.

Pilgrims are encouraged to register through official channels and follow the new guidelines to avoid complications.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia had also introduced significant changes to its visa policy, effective February 1, 2025, limiting travellers from 14 countries to single-entry visas.

This move aims to address concerns over unauthorized Hajj pilgrims entering the country on long-term visit visas.

● Affected Countries

The new regulations target travellers from the following nations: Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. As part of the policy shift, the Saudi government has indefinitely suspended the one-year multiple-entry visas for tourism, business, and family visits from these countries.

●¡Hajj registration and new payment options

Saudi citizens and residents can register for the 2025 Hajj season via the Nusuk app or the official website. Applicants are required to verify their personal details and register their travel companions.

A new instalment-based payment plan has also been introduced for domestic pilgrims. Payments can be made in three stages: a 20% deposit within 72 hours of booking, followed by two 40% instalments due by Ramadan 20 and Shawwal 20. The ministry clarified that reservations will only be confirmed once the final payment is received.

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Troops rescue three kidnap victims in Plateau

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), have successfully rescued three kidnapped victims along the Barkin Ladi-Mangu road in Mairana village, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Intelligence sources said the rescue operation was carried out on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, following intelligence on the abduction.

The sources said that the victims were kidnapped at approximately 7:45 a.m. on February 11, 2025.

In response, troops from Sector 8 of Operation Golden Peace swiftly mobilized to the scene, where they discovered a red Ford Space Bus parked along the roadside.

Troops immediately conducted a search operation in the surrounding bushes, leading to the successful rescue of the three victims unharmed.

The kidnappers had abandoned them and fled upon sighting the advancing security personnel.

The victims were reunited with their vehicle and continued their journey safely. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing criminals.

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