By Gideon Njoku

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, is hoping to be N10 billion richer than he is. And wants that  whopping amount of money from Sahara Reporters.

The, now, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, says the Media House  defamed him and injured his character.

He has, therefore, sued the publication at an Abuja High Court, demanding the sum.

The suit is a consequence of a report published by the publication which alleged that Buratai stashed the sum of N1.8billion in one of his properties in Wuse, Abuja, which was discovered during a raid on the property by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. Discovered and impounded too, according to the report, were a good number of assorted luxury vehicles. All, including the alleged cash, the publication said, are  suspected to be for the Nigerian Army which Buratai headed before his retirement and appointment as an Ambassador by President Muhammadu Buhari, and were meant to prosecute the war against insurgency.

Buratai denied the allegations, and insisted he had no such property in Wuse, and that no property of his was raided by the ICPC.

The ICPC in a clarification, exonerated Buratai, and said no property of his was

raided, but admitted it raided a property owned by an Army Contractor.

In the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/252/2022,  filed at an FCT High Court by Buratai’s Counsel, Dr Reuben Atabo, SAN, the former Army Chief is not only asking for N10 billion, he is also asking for a retraction of the story, and an apology to be published in two National Newspapers and in Sahara Reporters as well. He, also, wants the publication to desist from a further publication of any libelous or defamatory write-up against him.

By Charles Igbo

Daring gunmen have attacked a Police Division in Abia State, and abducted a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP.

The DSP, identified as Dickson, was the Divisional Crime Officer, DCO.

The Attack on Mbala Divisional Police Division, in Isuochi Community, Umunneochi Local Government Area, Isiukwuato, Abia State, has been described worrisome and unfortunate by the Abia Police Command spokesperson, Geoffrey Ogbonna.

The Attack was said to have been resisted by Policemen as there was a thunderous shoot-out between the hoodlums and the Police, but nobody could stop them from abducting the unfortunate DSP, an indigene of Enugu State.

Umunneochi has become very notorious for the activities of hoodlums and the number of abductions in the area.

24 hours after the attack on the Police facility, the Deputy Registrar of the Spiritan University, Nneochi, Rev. Fr. Dr. Chinedu Nwadike, and a Seminarian, Emmanuel Nwafor, were abducted in the same community  on their way to Enugu. Their abductors have made a ransom demand of N50m.

On May 31, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu Uche, his Chaplain and the Methodist Bishop of Owerri Diocese, were abducted along that stretch on their way to Imo Airport. A whopping sum of N100m was paid for their release.

Reports say the abducted DCO has a couple of years before his retirement from service. No contact has been made by his abductors.

The Abia Police Command says efforts are in top gear to locate and secure freedom for him.

By Charles Igbo

The Deputy Registrar of Spiritan University Nneochi, SUN, Rev. Fr. Chinedu Nwadike, a Catholic Priest,  has been abducted  by gunmen.

Abducted along with Fr. Nwadike on Friday, August 12, 2022, is a Seminarian, Emmanuel Nwafor.

It is not known, exactly, where they were abducted as there are two versions in circulation.

While one version said they were abducted in front of the University, as soon as they drove out of the University’s gate, another said they were kidnapped on Umunneochi-Ihube Road by the Enugu-Okigwe Road.

They are, however, agreed that the abductors have made contacts with families, asking for the sum of N50m for their release.

The Fr. is a native of Nkwerre, Imo State.

A family source is quoted as saying: “Rev. Fr. Dr. Chinedu Nwadike (CssP), from Umuezeanoruo, Eziama Nkwerre LGA, Imo State, and a young Seminarian, Emmanuel Nwafor (Pre-postulant), were on Friday, 12th August, 2022, kidnapped on their way to Enugu State, Umunneochi area, along Enugu-Okigwe road.

“Both are members of the Holy Ghost Congregation Missionaries, living their lives of sacrifice and selflessness in service to a better society.

“He is currently the Deputy Registrar of SUN, Spiritan University Nneochi.”

However, another source said he was kidnapped as soon as he drove out of University gate. The source also revealed that an attempt had been made before now to kidnap the Rev. Fr., but that he miraculously escaped even after some gun shots were directed at him.

Said the source: “Fr. Chinedu  Nwadike was kidnapped August, 12th, 2022, at Nneochi area shortly after driving out of the gate of his University, Spiritan University Nneochi, SUN, on his way to Enugu.”

It is not known if the abduction was random or if the Rev. Fr. was specifically targeted, in which case, somebody must have divulged his itinerary to his abductors.

Said the source: “This is the second attempt to kidnap him in recent time. In the first attempt, they shot directly at him, but he managed to escape. But this time, they succeeded and are said to be demanding a ransom of N50m. Curiously, a Military checkpoint is located around the place.”

That stretch is notorious for the activities of kidnappers the Military checkpoint, notwithstanding.

Recall that the Methodist Church Prelate, Samuel Kanu Uche, was kidnapped along the same stretch on May 31, 2022, along with his Chaplain and the Bishop of Owerri Diocese. The Prelate was on his way to the Imo Airport to take a flight back to Lagos after a Pastoral visit to Umunneochi. Their kidnappers were paid a whopping N100m which was delivered to them within  24 hours.

On release, he made allegations against the soldiers in the area, insisting he strongly suspected a connivance between them and their kidnappers who he identified as Herdsmen.

The youths in the area protested the Prelate’s ordeal by blocking the Enugu-Porthacourt express Road and asked for the sack of Military checkpoints in the area.

Fr. Nwadike’s brother, Chikezie said the family has embarked on prayers for his release and that of the Seminarian.

There is no statement from the Police, yet, at the time of filing this report.