Goods, shops worth millions of naira go down the drain as Iponri Market burns to ashes

Fire guts Iponri market in Lagos last night, goods and shops were totally destroyed before fire fighters could get to the scene. The first truck that came was not even with water to quench the ravaging fire.

The cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

For effective policing

Something good is about to happen with our Police force and crime investigation system in Nigeria. I am excited. If you are bothered about improving on the effectiveness of our police force to combat crime and ensure security and safety of lives and property, this should interest you.

The Secretary General of Interpol, Jürgen Stock is in Nigeria to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) which will be signed by the Minister of Interior on behalf of the Government of Nigeria. The Interpol Chief was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja  by the CP Interpol and Head, National Central Bureau, CP Umar Garba.
This MOU on Information System will help the Nigeria Police open and maintain better communication with other countries in combating terror, money laundering, human trafficking, cyber crime and other transnational crime.
The use of technology to fight crime is good news for us but bad news for bad guys as information on crime becomes faster to track and easier to go after criminals.

This is the beginning of repositioning of our National Central Bureau for effectiveness and result oriented policing.

■ Petra Oluwamajente Onyegbule

Jealous lover kills girlfriend in Bayelsa

A man, 28, identified as Munabo Tonworio, resident of Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa has allegedly shot dead his girlfriend over suspicion of cheating on him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday night at about 11:00pm.

Tonworio, an indigene of Agada-Ama community of the same LGA reportedly shot his girlfriend, Victoria Ekalamene, in the face while answering a phone call from an unidentified man.

Asinim Butswat, a Superintendent of Police and Spokesperson of the Bayelsa Police Command confirmed the development.

“On April 14, 2019 at about 2245 hours one Munabo Tonworio ‘m’ 28 years shot dead his lover one Victoria Ekalamene ‘f’ 34 years, after a quarrel at the residence of the deceased in Oluasiri, Nembe LGA of Bayelsa.

“The weapon, a locally cut-to-size gun and an expanded AA ammunition were recovered from the scene. The suspect has been arrested and is being detained at the SCIID, Yenagoa. Investigation is ongoing,” Mr Butswat said.

The victim, who hailed from Oluasiri, Nembe, was allegedly habouring Tonworio from arrest by security personnel.

She was reported to be an owner of a provision store and bread winner of the relationship which eventually caused her death.

The suspect is also said to be on the wanted list of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Joint Military Task force code named “Operation Delta Safe” over alleged involvement in preparation of charms for suspected kidnappers.

FG wants Innoson motors' boss arrested

The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant for Innocent Chukwuma, the chairman of Innoson Nigeria Limited, and two of his employees.

The men were charged by the police in a fraud case before Justice Ayokunle Faji, with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud. The case was later taken over by the attorney general of the federation.

The other two men named in the charge are Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

The prosecution urged the court on Monday to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his staff for failing to turn up to take their plea in the criminal charge.

Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Julius Ajakaiye urged the court to grant his application by ordering their arrest.

The defence counsel Chief George Uwechue (SAN) Prof. C. Mbadugha asked the court to dismiss the application. According to them, the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not properly before the court”.

Buhari's aide replies Omotola

Bashir Ahmad, personal assistant on new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, has offered Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, popular Nollywood actress, his two cents on the current state of the country.

The Nigerian actress had called on the Buhari-led government to act fast against the “lack of money in circulation” and police “brutality” in the country.

“The country under your watch is hellish. The lack of money in circulation now coupled with the continuous assault and killings by uniformed men will make this country implode!,” she wrote on Twitter.

“It is unbearable! Do something! Insecurity! Fear and desperation everywhere.”

Ahmad, however, jumped on the tweet to say that those who are making money legitimately will never call the current state of Nigeria ‘hellish’.

Madam Omotola those who are working for CLEAN money are not complaining and will never refer our dear country as ‘hellish’. In Kano State alone, from 2015 to 2018, no fewer than 200 medium and small scale rice milling centres emerged. For that, billions circulated among millions.

“Madam Omotola those who are working for CLEAN money are not complaining and will never refer our dear country as ‘hellish’. In Kano State alone, from 2015 to 2018, no fewer than 200 medium and small scale rice milling centres emerged. For that, billions circulated among millions,” Ahmad wrote.

This is coming at a time when Ikechukwu, Nigerian rapper, expressed outrage over the manhandling of citizens by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

In April, Nollywood stars and singers jointly decried the killing of Kolade Johson, a Lagos resident, shot dead during a police anti-robbery raid in the Mangoro area of Lagos state.

“We are tired of hearing about victims of police brutality and never hearing about the criminals being brought to justice,” Bankole Wellington, Nigerian singer and politician, wrote in a letter to the president.

TheCable

Wike vows to tackle cultists in Rivers State

Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the State Government will frontally tackle  cult-related killings in parts of the state.

Speaking at the Government House,  Port Harcourt on Monday when the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers paid him a congratulatory visit on his re-election,  Governor Wike said that his administration will take the fight to cultists.

He said: "We will not allow these cultists who want to paint the state black continue  to cause mayhem.

"We will take the fight to them. Enough is enough.  These people cannot continue  to kill our people ".

Governor Wike revealed  that he met with the State Security Council on Sunday Night and modalities  were worked out on how to rid the state of cult-related killings.

He urged the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers to support the State Government in the fight against cultism, saying that prompt information  will be useful  in tracking down the criminal elements.

Governor Wike stated  that he will jealously guard the interest of Rivers State and ensure further development of the State .

"I am a total , unrepentant Rivers Man. I will continue  to jealously Guard the interest  of the state", he said.

Governor  Wike thanked the Traditional Rulers for the solidarity visit,  but regretted that some of them were involved in party politics,  despite  his advise that they should stay off the political terrain.

Earlier,  the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo,  King Douglas Dandeson Jaja said that they were in the Government House to congratulate Governor Wike for a well deserved victory.

He thanked Governor Wike for extending the olive branch of peace to his opponents and urged the opponents to accept the governor's offer.

He lauded Rivers women for the wonderful role they played to defend votes across  the state, especially  standing firm to resist  the invasion  of Collation Centres by the Nigerian Army .

King Jaja prayed  God  to always grant Governor Wike the capacity  to lead the state in the right direction.

Wife attacks husband for not telling her she is beautiful

A woman in Texas has allegedly assaulted her husband because he failed to respond when she asked him to tell her if she was pretty.

Woman allegedly attacks her husband because he did not tell her she looked pretty
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According to police, Lizeth Guadalupe Ramirez, 20, was arrested late Tuesday after the alleged incident.

During qurstioning, Lizeth allegedly told investigators that she defended herself after her husband assaulted her and tried to strangle her.

Debunking her claims, her husband told police that trouble started when his wife asked him if she was pretty while they were at a movie theater. He said he didn’t respond because he didn’t hear her. This got his wife upset and prompted them to leave the theater.

The husband claimed she allegedly hit him repeatedly during their ride home amd continued to hit him and even assaulted a family member who tried to intervene when they got home.