By David Owei,Bayelsa

A Bayelsà State High Court has sentenced two persons to death by hanging over their involvement in the 2022 an in-law to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, the Paramount Ruler Kolibo Francis Amabelimo, and the CDC Chairman of Kalaba community, Samuel Oburo in Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State.

The two suspects, Gideon Atama, 32 years old and Clever OVO, 33 years old, arrested by the Police Investigation team attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (formerly Operation Puff Adder) led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, charged the suspects with conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder in suit number BYHC/YHC/CR/32/2025.

One of the accused persons, Bethlehem Nwanlia, 50 years old on October 27th slumped and died inside the State High Court premises while awaiting ruling on the matter.

He died of health complications of high blood pressure and stroke which was reportedly developed while in custody at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Micheal Amadise Ekade, after listening to the thorough case presented against the accused, convicted and sentence the accused to death by hanging.

Some family members of the deceased victims expressed appreciation to the men of the Operation Puff Adder now Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo and the State Government through the State Ministry of Justice for quick arrest and diligent investigation and prosecution.

By John Thomas, Makurdi

In an effort to rid the country of banditry and kidnapping,troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force,JTF, Operation Whirl Stroke,OPWS, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested a suspected kidnapper and recovered ₦200,000 allegedly demanded as ransom from a victim.

Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke,OPWS,and General Officer Commanding, 5 Division, Nigerian Army, Major- General Moses Gara, announced the arrest in a statement.

The statement released at the weekend signed by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu,said DSS operatives on October 29,alerted troops of Sector 2 to an incident involving an adult female resident who was allegedly threatened by one Mukaila Iliyasu.

He said the suspect reportedly demanded ₦200,000 from the victim, threatening to abduct her if she failed to meet his demand.

Gara, further disclosed that following the report, troops and DSS operatives promptly coordinated an anti-kidnapping operation to apprehend the suspect.

He said in a well-coordinated sting operation, a soldier, acting in disguise and displaying exceptional gallantry, delivered the money to the suspect, leading to his arrest while receiving the alleged ransom.

Gara further revealed that the suspect have been subsequently handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution, describing the operation was successfully conducted with precision and professionalism.

The Force Commander, commended the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, gallantry and effective inter-agency collaboration.

He urged them to sustain the existing intelligence-sharing framework and operational synergy towards tackling kidnapping and other security threats within the Joint Operations Area.

By Agency Report

U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to facilitate a visa for the Ghanaian mother of Javits Frimpong, a teenager killed while walking to school in New York.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Trump’s intervention on Saturday, as Ghana demanded justice for 15-year-old Frimpong, whose killing has shaken the Bronx.
“The murder of a child is a pain no parent should have to endure, let alone from thousands of miles away,” Mamdani declared.
The mayor said Trump agreed during their telephone conversation to grant a visa immediately to the teenager’s mother, Doris Gyamfi, who lives in Kumasi, Ghana.
However, the White House had not independently confirmed the arrangement, and it remained unclear whether the visa had been issued by Saturday evening.
Frimpong was shot in the abdomen around in the morning in Bronx’s neighbourhood.
Police officers rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead while investigators began searching for three suspected teenage assailants.
The teenager had moved from Ghana in October 2025 to reunite with his father, Thomas Frimpong, hoping to pursue his education and build a promising future.
“He was very clever, so he always says he wants to be a physician,” his grieving father told newsmen in New York.
The elder Frimpong said his son had complained of persistent bullying at DreamYard Preparatory School, where two students were reportedly suspended, although police have not established any connection to the killing.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, subsequently contacted the bereaved father, conveying condolences from President John Dramani Mahama and promising government support.
“We will pursue justice, and we will make sure that those who did this do not get away with it,” Ablakwa declared.
Ghanaian diplomats in New York visited the family while the government demanded a thorough investigation and pledged legal and consular assistance to secure accountability.
Following Mamdani’s announcement, Ablakwa welcomed Trump’s intervention and disclosed that Ghana would finance the mother’s travel, assist with visa arrangements and support funeral expenses.
“The Government of Ghana welcomes your intervention and President Trump’s timely decision,” Ablakwa said, acknowledging the cooperation between the American and Ghanaian authorities.
Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres also expressed grief, saying: “Our entire borough is mourning a young man who should have had his whole future ahead of him.”
The New York City Department of Education offered counselling and cooperation with investigators, stating: “Our hearts are with this young person’s family and school community during this unimaginably difficult time.”
Meanwhile, vigils brought together Ghanaian residents, religious leaders and neighbours demanding justice on Saturday as police continued investigating the killing without announcing arrests or establishing a motive.