Robbery suspect narrowly escapes lynching

In an attempt to escape arrest by a team of policemen on patrol on the LASU-Isheri Expressway on Wednesday, a robbery suspect, Godwin Ibe, narrowly escaped death in the hands of a mob in Lagos.

Ibe, 29, was apprehended by some members of the Odua People’s Congress keeping the watch in the neighbourhood, in a manner that was reminiscent of the Aluu killings, at about 6 am with a shotgun and four live cartridges allegedly found on him.

Some moments before he was caught with the weapon, policemen patrolling the expressway had demanded to know the contents of the polythene bag in his possession. But scared that he might be discovered, he beat a hasty retreat and took to his heels.

CRIME DIGEST learnt that in order to prevent him from escaping, the patrolmen raised the alarm and followed him in a hot chase.

The sound of running feet attracted the attention of the resident OPC vigilante group. The latter joined in the chase and eventually caught up with the fleeing suspect.

But Ibe denied ownership of the gun found in his possession. In an interview with CRIME DIGEST, he said, “I came to that area in the morning at the behest of Moses, who is a friend of mine and a fellow armed robber.

Covenant University expels 200 students for not attending Church service

About 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, recently for what was described as “disregard of paramount core values.”

Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in order to save their future.

Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, meant to sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and Matriculation of students on November 30. Five other students were thrown out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got the same fate for violating other rules bordering on the University’s core values. A few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.

A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia Ubong, a copy which was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the affected students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014 Student Handbook.

We gathered that the massive expulsion was predicated on the anger of the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to have been infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service.

He was said to have personally chased students to the Chapel and ordered for a search into all the halls and colleges to fish out those who did not attend the service.

Several attempts to get the school authorities comment on the issue proved abortive. The Instituion’s Corporate Affairs Head, Mr Igban Emmaunel also refused to comment as calls pulled through to him were unanswered and text messages not replied.

How it happened

A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to Saturday Vanguard at different points. The similar accounts go thus: “On November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December break, there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in fact some students had their last semester exams on that day, some of them finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around 8am. Some students retired to their rooms to relax while some engaged in some other activities jubilating the end of the semester.

Obama signs a rare private bill to grant Nigerian student U.S. permanent residency

Victor Chukwueke (second from the left) is shown with his surgeon, Dr. Ian Jackson, the doctor's wife and the nun who has cared for him since he came to the United States.

A Nigerian immigrant's dream came true when President Barack Obama signed into law a rare private bill granting him permanent residency in the Unites States.

Victor Chukwueke, who lives in Michigan on an expired visa, came to the United States 11 years ago to undergo treatment for massive face tumors.

He graduated from a university in the state, and plans to attend an Ohio medical school that requires him to have permanent residency, also known as a green card.

In a rare act, the United States Congress passed a private bill this month granting him permanent residency. Obama signed the bill Friday.

Private bills -- which only apply to one person and mostly focus on immigration -- are rarely approved. His is the only one to pass in Congress in two years.

"I was overwhelmed with joy; it was nothing less than a miracle," the 26-year-old says. "Only in this country can so many miraculous and wonderful things happen to someone like me."

 

Photo:Victor Chukwueke attends his graduation at Wayne State University, where he served as commencement speaker.

 

Before coming to the United States at age 15, Chukwueke lived in the southeastern Nigeria town of Ovim.

He suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes massive life-threatening tumors on his face.

Treated as an outcast because of his deformed face, he was depressed and humiliated, he says. His family abandoned him at an orphanage after taking him to the nation's best facilities for treatment.

PHOTOS: Calabar International Carnival 2012

The 2012 edition of one of Africa’s biggest street carnivals, the Calabar International Carnival, lived up to expectations as it attracted lots of foreign tourists who visited Calabar for the carnival.


It is gradually matching up to the standard big carnivals like the Nottinghill Carnival in the UK and the Rio Carnival in Brazil have set.

Top Africa’s pay-TV provider, DSTV did a live broadcast of the event. Both local and international media had their reporters covering the carnival.

Brazilian Sampa performed on the stage right before the performance of TRINADAD AND TOBAGO who used drums and acoustics to play many local tunes.

2012 CALABAR INTERNATIONA CARNIVAL is great fun filled event that truly worths all the troubles and roads closed to allow the processions of the entertainers. The carnival was started by Donald Duke, former governor of the state.

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5 Boko Haram Suspects Killed, Bomb Factory Demolished In Kaduna

In Kaduna State, the Joint Task Force (JTF) early on Thursday killed five Boko Haram suspects and captured two others.

According to a statement by the spokesman of 1 Division, Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Col. Sani Usman, the incident happened in Rigasa, in Igabi local government area.

He said the operation followed information received from well-meaning citizens, upon which the JTF carried out a Cordon and Search Operation in Rigasa.

“On the approach to the factory, some suspected terrorists opened fire and also threw already primed IED at the troops. The exchange of fire that ensued resulted in the death of five terrorists, while two that sustained various degrees of injuries are being treated. In line with our resolve to deter terrorists, the building housing the factory was demolished this morning.”

He said another bomb-making factory was discovered at a house located off Makarfi Road, and the following items recovered:
1. Five Mark 4 rifles
2. Three Pump Action Riffles.
3. Twenty Rolls of Detonating Cords.
4. Twenty One 9’ Volt Batteries.
5. Two Remote Switches.
6. One Testing Metre.
7. Five assorted Daggers and Jackknives.
8. One Firing Cable and other Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) materials.

Commending the cooperation of the public, Col. Usman reiterated the resolve of JTF to fight terrorism in this country.

“We wish to inform the general public that whatever we are doing is aimed at ensuring that there is peace in Kaduna State as well as taking necessary steps in safeguarding the lives and properties of law-abiding citizens.”

He urged the public to continue to report any suspicious movement, establishments or persons in their environment, stressing that all such information received will be treated with absolute confidentiality.

Saharareporters