A 28-year-old woman, identified as Charity Iroakazi, has been dragged before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly having 36 berets with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) insignia on them in her possession.
NIGERIACRIME learnt that the defendant resides at 14 Nurudeen St., Ojo, Lagos.
The defendant, an artisan, is being tried for conspiracy and unlawful possession of IPOB berets, NAN reports.
According to the prosecutor, Insp Samuel Mishozunnu, Iroakazi committed the offences on June 16 at Mosalasi Bus Stop, Satellite Town, Lagos.
Mishozunnu told the court a rider carrying a big black nylon in his motorcycle was intercepted by policemen on patrol.
The defendant said the rider was carrying 36 pieces of black, green and red berets with IPOB insignia written on them.
The prosecutor said that the rider led the police to the sender’s address, leading to the defendant’s arrest.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs Folasade Hughes, granted the defendant bail for N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Hughes adjourned the case until Aug. 2 for mention.
READ ALSO: Anambra: Fake Vigilante Operatives Nabbed
Meanwhile, bandits in their hideouts around Kagarko, Iche, Taka-Lafiya Gidan Makeri and Jangala communities in Kaduna State are said to have fled after over 100 troops invaded the forest in the Kagarko Local Government Area.
Many communities in Kagarko Chiefdom had been under siege by bandits who have been abducting residents and farmers, making life unbearable for the people.
Following the presence of the troops, who raided their hideouts and some rural communities and arrested some suspected informants, the situation had been contained and relative peace had returned to the area.
A traditional title holder in Kagarko, Suleiman Aliyu, said the troops, who drove into Kagarko town at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday in Hilux vans, trucks and motorcycles, moved straight to Iche, Taka-Lafiya, Gidan Makeri and Janjala villages around the forest to hunt down the bandits.
According to him, “the troops moved in after they got intelligence information that some fleeing bandits from the far north were relocating to form a camp around some villages in the area.”
Aliyu, who hailed the efforts of the troops, explained that after some informants were arrested, residents of Kagarko Chiefdom have been relieved, with residents going about their legitimate businesses.