News
Another Mystery Helicopter Causes Stir In Benue
By Toryilo KAJO, Makurdi
A helicopter, said to have immediately went up shortly after descent has triggered suspense and security concern in Opialu Village in Edemoga District of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State. The security panic may not be unconnected with the widely held belief that the appearance of a similar helicopter preceded the recent mayhem in Agatu, also in Benue State.
Two occupants of the helicopter which barely touched the ground of the St Theresa’s LGEA Primary School, Opialu about 5 pm on March 10th, 2016, waved at on-lookers, mainly pupils playing football on the mission school ground. But it did not land, although it was close enough for the observing pupils and others who ran towards it to observe, said one of the pilots wore an orange dress. There were only two persons in the helicopter.
An eyewitness account said it tried to land twice. It came so close, and then zoomed off, went as if to one of the nearby villages before coming back. It was at this point that the pilots waved to the pupils. But there was no consensus about the colour and registration number of the helicopter. While Chief Emmanuel Onuh, the Chairperson of the Opialu Community Development Association, told the Divisional Police Headquarters at Okoga that ash was the colour reported to him, other members of the powerful youth association insisted it had navy blue colour.
There has been an obvious confusion over the colour among the observers in the same way as the registration number was unclear. While the pupil mature enough to take any such number sticks to AB/ANA, one person who is though more educated claims it was written AB-ANA. No one reported seeing any number on the registration, prompting speculations that the helicopter must be one of the de-commissioned aircrafts, either of the Nigerian Air force, or one of the charter companies.
Daniel Ojo, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Okpoga, the headquarters of the Okpokwu Local Government Area did not pick his phone, despite that it rang twice, even several attempts on Sunday afternoon did not yield result, but police sources at Okoga confirmed a report to the station on the strange helicopter. The police said it had put the community on the alert while warning against taking the law into their own hand. It was learnt that the police had specifically drawn the attention of the community to anything strange and which could be a bomb on the farms, or within it, asking the local chief to, in such instances, alert the police for action.
Chief Emmanuel Onuh confirmed the police instruction although it was also learnt that following the Agatu incident, mobilisation around the area, stretching from Ojapo up to the railway districts in Idomaland such as Utonkon, Igumale, Ulayi might have reached frightening levels in anticipation of plausible attackers. Given the strong reservoir of retired soldiers and angry youths in the region, analysts speak of the need for the government and the police to do more to avert violence of staggering proportions should there be a bloody clash of any type. A recent similar scenario at Effeche Aiona was described as a fierce and successful resistance although there is authoritative comment on whether the repelled forces were herdsmen or sundry entrepreneurs of violence.
The helicopter incident at Opialu is a bit complicated. Although vast, with over 3000 registered voters, which does not include children, Opialu could attract electoral attention of politicians. It is, however, not a homogenous voting community as to say it is being put under surveillance for voting against any particular interest. There is also no such regular pattern of herdsmen movement into the area previously.
The Federal Government is currently probing the Agatu mayhem where the police said no helicopter actually appeared on the eve of the violence even though that is what is widely believed. No official comments could be obtained on the state of surveillance of aircrafts, particularly into the rural areas. But some security analysts express the fear that Nigeria might be experiencing a deliberate programme of keeping it under fear, thereby imposing a siege mentality. Analysts still make reference to the online article by Gordon Duff, a somewhat repentant mercenary in 2011 claiming that Nigeria was targeted for destruction. The claim is that some of what he listed as scheduled to befall Nigeria have been playing out. The article in question was re-published in some Nigerian newspapers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned N125 million recovered from a suspect in an alleged land fraud case to a Lagos businessman, Akinsewa Akiode.
The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, saying the money was handed over to Akiode on Thursday by officials of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi following the conclusion of investigations.
According to the EFCC, the investigation followed a petition by Akiode, who alleged that Olufemi Fashehun collected N125 million from him for the purchase of a 550-square-metre property at No. 10, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos.
The businessman reportedly discovered after completing the transaction that the property had been involved in litigation since 2011, a development he alleged was concealed from him before the sale.
The EFCC said its investigation established that Fashehun had previously received several court processes, including injunctions restraining him from developing the property, but allegedly failed to disclose the ongoing legal dispute before receiving the payment.
Akiode subsequently lost both the property and structures he had begun developing on the land, prompting him to petition the EFCC for intervention.
Following its investigation, the commission said it recovered the full N125 million from Fashehun and refunded the money to Akiode through Sterling Bank drafts.
The recovery is part of a series of restitution efforts by the anti-graft agency. Earlier, the EFCC returned N108 million recovered during an investigation into an alleged fraud involving two former employees of Greenwich Planet Sun King Nigeria Limited.
In October 2025, the commission also handed over three houses, two vehicles and N1.1 million recovered from a convicted fraudster to one of his victims in Ibadan after a Federal High Court ordered the assets forfeited.
Speaking during the latest handover, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Bawa Kaltungo, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to investigating economic and financial crimes, recovering proceeds of illicit activities and ensuring restitution to victims where possible.
The EFCC did not disclose whether criminal charges had been filed against Fashehun in connection with the alleged transaction.
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested several suspects in connection with alleged theft, shopbreaking and possession of suspected stolen property across the state.
The arrests were made during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted by police operatives in different parts of Jigawa, resulting in the recovery of a tricycle, two motorcycles and 11 Android mobile phones.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lawal Shi’isu, said operatives attached to the Maigatari and Malam Madori Divisions arrested three suspects allegedly found with stolen Royal and Boxer motorcycles.
The suspects were identified as 30-year-old Abubakar Ya’u and 28-year-old Aminu Ya’u, both residents of Dantanoma Quarters in Gumel Local Government Area, and 25-year-old Abdullahi Bala from Garbagar Village in Guri LGA.
The police also arrested 31-year-old Anas Nuhu from Jobe Village in Dawakin Tofa LGA of Kano State. He was allegedly found in possession of a tricycle with registration number MDB 478 QE and Union number GWL 1842, which police said was suspected to have been stolen from a park in Tofa LGA.
According to the command, Nuhu confessed during interrogation to stealing the tricycle. The case has subsequently been charged to court, while investigations into the other cases have been completed and the suspects arraigned for prosecution.
In a separate operation, police arrested 18-year-old Mamman Adamu of Tutiyari Village in Kirikasamma LGA following a report of a shop burglary in Birniwa.
The suspect was allegedly linked to the theft of 11 Android mobile phones, all of which were recovered by the police.
The command said Adamu also confessed to the alleged offence and would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, commended the officers involved for their professionalism, vigilance and dedication.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the police to help prevent and combat crime across the state.
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cannot freeze a state government’s account solely on allegations that public funds may be squandered.
Amadi made the assertion on Friday while speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, following the EFCC’s freezing of the Osun State Government account.
According to him, a state government has the legal authority to spend its funds, and allegations of financial mismanagement should be investigated through appropriate legal channels.
“The EFCC cannot freeze a state government account simply on the fear of squandering or waste. The government has a right to spend its funds,” Amadi said.
He added that even where there are allegations of improper expenditure, government officials could be prosecuted if investigations subsequently establish wrongdoing.
Amadi also expressed concern that the EFCC’s action could be politically motivated, suggesting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be using the anti-graft agency to put pressure on Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
“I have met the EFCC Chairman and had conversations with him, and I consider him an innovative person who is committed to fighting corruption,” he said.
Describing the Osun situation as a major test for the EFCC chairman, Amadi urged him to demonstrate independence and resist political pressure in carrying out the commission’s responsibilities.
“It clearly appeared to be an APC strategy to close in on the Osun State governor,” he added.
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