Notorious Nigerian ‘Job Scammer’ Arrested

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has arrested one of Nigeria’s most wantef notorious fraudsters involved in online advertising scams on non-existing vacancies in government agencies, PRNigeria is reporting The suspected kingpin, whose real name was given as Abubakar Rilwan, had been declared wanted by some security agencies in the country before his arrest.

A top customs officer stated: “Abubakar Rilwan, who is evidently disabled is one of the principal actors and suspect in a job/auction scam syndicate. Whatever he lacks in physical ability, he makes up for in his exceptional ability to manipulate and swindle his victims.

“He has duped desperate job and auction seekers to the tune of over 20 million naira, sometimes using the services of lawyers.

“In one of his escapades, he collected money from 7 (seven) job seekers in Taraba State, issued them fake appointment letters, and caused them to travel all the way to Bayelsa State for fake training. They got there before realizing they were duped.”

While Mr. Rilwan is currently in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service undergoing further investigation, other security agencies that had declared him wanted for related offences are waiting to interrogate him.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi confirmed the arrest.

Former chief of army staff Azubuike Ihejirika arrested by DSS Read

Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Security (DSS) has arrested the erstwhile chief of army staff (COAS) Major-General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) has been arrested by operatives of the DSS,
The ex-army boss was reportedly picked up last night, June 21 at his residence in Maitama, Abuja. It is believed that Mr Ihejerika was arrested in connection with Arms deal probe involving former national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. Recall that an Australian Negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis insisted that former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors. But Ihejirika described the allegations against him as frivolous and unfounded. He said the allegation was meant to divert the attention of the country and its security agencies thereby causing division.

Islamic State and Boko Haram Clashes

A United States, U.S Marine Lieutenant General, Mr. Thomas Waldhauser, has revealed that an internal division has erupted among the Boko Haram militants following the failure of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau to adhere to guidance from the Iraq- and Syria-based Islamic State, IS.

Waldhauser, a nominee to lead the U.S. military’s Africa Command, stated this on Tuesday at his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, asserting that the internal fracture can be seen in the limits of IS’ influence over Boko Haram so far, despite the terror sect’s pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State last year.

He stated that Shekau had not fallen into line with Islamic State’s instructions, including by ignoring calls for Boko Haram to stop using children as suicide bombers.

“Several months ago, about half of Boko Haram broke off to a separate group because they were not happy with the amount of buy-in, if you will, from Boko Haram into the ISIL brand.

“He’s been told by ISIL to stop doing that. But he has not done so. And that’s one of the reasons why this splinter group has broken off,” he said, adding Islamic State was trying to “reconcile those two groups.”

Waldhauser acknowledged differing opinions about how much influence Islamic State has actually had so far over Boko Haram, which won global infamy for its 2014 kidnapping of 276 school girls.

“They certainly have not given them a lot of financial assistance. So the point being is that perhaps improvement in tradecraft, in training and the like,” he said.

While it is estimated to have killed more than 15,000 people since 2009, Boko Haram has not attacked U.S. interests and has deep roots in Nigeria’s Christian-Muslim divide, which long predates the Syrian-based Islamic extremist group.

Waldauser noted Shekau’s local focus and voiced concern about whether a splinter group might act more in concert with Islamic State’s transregional ambitions.

“What concerns me is the breakoff group of Boko Haram who wants to be more ISIL-like, and consequently buy into the ISIL-brand of attacking Western interests,” Reuters reports the U.S general as saying.