Imo ex-militants vandalise govt office
The Bureau for Niger Delta Affairs in Imo State was on Thursday vandalised by suspected ex-militants in the state. The men, numbering about 17, reportedly stormed the government office with weapons and shot into the air before vandalising all the window louvers of the building and other valuables worth millions of naira. The leader of the ex militants, Bobby Chukwuka, was alleged to have led the attack.
Herdsman kills mother, brother’s wife in Kwara
A Fulani herdsman, Abubakar Usman, has been arrested for allegedly killing his 65-year-old mother, Khadijat, and his brother’s wife, Ramatu Shagari, aged 35. The 25-year-old suspect was paraded on Wednesday at the state police command’s headquarters in Ilorin. In related development, two suspects – Yahaya Umar and Abubakar Saletu – have been reportedly caught with a human head.
Guard beats salesgirl to coma, steals N2.1m goods
A security guard, Uchenna Okoh, has been arrested for alleged theft of goods worth N2.1m at a shop on Ikotun-Idimu Road, Lagos State. The suspect had reportedly visited the shop – Finest Couture Boutique – on June 20 on the pretext that he wanted to buy jeans, shirts and shoes. While negotiating the prices of the items with the salesgirl, Juliet Aghedo, he was said to have lured her into a corner in the shop and squeezed her neck until she passed out.
One feared dead in Edo fuel tanker explosion
One person was feared dead on Wednesday after a fuel-laden tanker exploded at the Upper Mission Junction on the Benin-Auchi Expressway, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The explosion, which occurred around 7am, left no fewer than four persons injured while electric poles and other property worth millions of naira were destroyed. Our correspondent, who visited the scene saw some personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps trying to ease the gridlock caused by the fallen tanker.
Police nab kidnap suspect in Abia
Police operatives in Abia State have arrested a suspected kidnapper, Kingsley Sunday, in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state. It was learnt that operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, who were acting on a tip-off on August 21, 2016, nabbed Sunday and recovered one grey color Toyota Sienna with number plate, JJJ 227 EE. The car reportedly belonged to one Mrs. Amaka Onwusoh.
66-year-old company driver commits suicide over unpaid salaries
A 66-year-old man, Mr. John Ekue, has committed suicide in the Mende area of Maryland, Lagos State. PUNCH Metro learnt that Ekue used a rope to hang himself by the rod of a ceiling fan in his apartment on Oki Lane around 8pm on Monday. It was learnt that the victim, who worked as a driver for a paint company in Lagos State, killed himself over the failure of the company to pay his five-month salaries.
Hotel workers kill boss, disappear with CCTV, car
The Niger State Police Command has started investigations into the killing of the owner of Deploo Hotel and Suites, Mr. Lucky Okonkwo, who was murdered in his hotel in Suleja, Niger State. PUNCH Metro learnt that 59-year-old Lucky was stabbed to death on Friday by a three-man gang, suspected to be workers at the hotel, shortly after he returned from a trip to Kaduna. He was said to be at the hotel for the purpose of supervision.
Driver impersonates military officer, begs for money
A 28-year-old driver, Mr. Salami Wuraola, has been arrested by the officials of the Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State, for allegedly parading himself as an officer of the Nigerian Army. The Commandant, NNSHS, Offa, Capt. Ibrahim Nurudeen, while handing over the suspect on Tuesday to the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara, said he was arrested along with an accomplice who claimed to be a serving soldier.
Three feared killed as gunmen invade Rivers community
THREE persons were feared killed as gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded Ezelaka Igbodo community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday. One of those shot and killed by the gunmen, who came into the community on motorcycles, was a teacher known as Mr. Chimezie Peter-Nwanyanwu. A source in the community who related the development to Southern City News noted that the gunmen entered the community on motorcycles.
A’Ibom residents protest demolition of houses
RESIDENTS of Ifa Ikot Akpan community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State protested on Tuesday against demolition of their houses. They said the order to demolish their houses was given by a former House of Assembly member representing Uyo State Constituency, Mr. Ekere Afia. The Chairman, Village Council, Chief Edet Okon, said Afia had stormed the community with bulldozers and a team of men in police uniform and ordered the demolition of houses on grounds that they were built on a land he (Afia) had bought in 2014.
Gunmen sack Imo community, kill nine
No fewer than nine people have been reportedly killed after suspected cult members attacked Assa community in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victims were killed in a week-long attack which started last Monday. Residents, who spoke with our correspondent, said they had deserted the community over fear of being killed by the cult members who were said to be fighting over oil deposit in the area.
Wife of Ogun council chairmanship candidate abducted
The wife of a chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Saturday October 8 election in Ogun State, Mrs. Kudirat Balogun, has been abducted. She was abducted at her home on Sunday by four gunmen. Kudirat’s husband, Gafar Balogun, is eyeing the chairmanship seat of Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state and was not around when the gunmen struck.
Pastor, church member arrested for robbery
The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State, has arrested a 45-year-old pastor, Joseph Olude, and his church member, Rasak Raheem, for allegedly robbing in the Idiroko-Oke Odan area, a border community between Ogun State, Nigeria, and the Benin Republic. PUNCH Metro learnt that Olude and Raheem were arrested by the operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad, after a tip-off.
Fake miracle syndicate nabbed, says pastor hired them
Members of a syndicate, which specialised in confirming fake prophecies for pastors, have been arrested by the police in Enugu State. Our correspondent gathered that the group also faked healings for some men of God, who contracted and paid them for their services. The suspected fraudsters were identified as Obi Ejike from Ubaho Okija in Anambra State; Mary Kuku from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; Joy Oluwakemi from Ojo, Lagos State; Nwosu Chizoba from Umunze, Anambra State; and Peter Uchechi from Ebonyi State.
NSCDC impounds ‘oil wells’ in Lagos, arrests two
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has taken over two new wells containing petrol in Egbeda and Iyana Odo areas, LASU-Igando Road.
It was learnt that one of the wells was discovered at a swampy area on Diamond Estate, Egbeda, while the other was on the premises of Winners Chapel International at the Iyana Odo bus stop. This is just as the command arrested two boat operators – Tope Asemudara, 43, and 23-year-old Alaba Oteje – in the Apapa area of the state for allegedly engaging in illegal oil bunkering.
Legionnaire arrested for stealing motorcycles in Lagos
A member of the Nigerian Legion, Lagos State, Umam Hamid, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly stealing no fewer than four motorcycles in the Agege area of the state. PUNCH Metro learnt that the mode of operation of the 48-year-old Borno State indigene was to stop motorcyclists on the road and allege that they were violating the state traffic law. Hamid, who would claim to be working with the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmenal and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, would then take their motorcycles away after giving them a fake phone number.
N’Delta monarchs meet FG, give terms for peace
Traditional rulers and stakeholders from the Niger Delta coastal states on Thursday met the Federal Government and read out terms that would build confidence as well as restore peace in the region. According to them, this was followed the ceasefire pronouncement by the Niger Delta Avengers and many other militant groups in the region on August 21, 2016.
Edo, Abia workers protest unpaid salaries
The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday staged a protest against the alleged inhuman treatment meted out to workers, especially the non payment of salaries by many state governments across the country. It also condemned the alleged killing of two of its members during a protest in Nasarawa State as well as the death of retired civil servants, due to the non payment of their pensions.
Minimum wage can’t buy a bag of rice – Anambra NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress, Anambra State chapter, on Tuesday described as laughable the fact that the country’s minimum wage could no longer buy a bag of rice. The Chairman of the congress in the state, Mr. Jerry Nnubia, stated this during a rally in solidarity with Nasarawa State, workers who were allegedly killed and injured by the police while protesting against wage cut by the state government on July 29.
Protests rock Nasarawa, Katsina, Kwara, Kogi over workers’ killing
The National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, on Tuesday led workers in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, to protest the killing of two workers allegedly killed by security agents attached to the Government House while on a protest a couple of weeks ago. This is as solidarity protests took place simultaneously in Kwara, Kogi and Katsina states on Tuesday.
Man kills spouse, pastor’s wife, daughter in Sokoto
A 43-year-old man, Taiwo Adio, has clubbed his wife, Yemisi, and three other persons to death with a pestle in Sokoto, Sokoto State. Adio on Saturday night at the Old Airport area of the Sokoto metropolis also reportedly killed Rachael Adewole, 42, Benice Adewole, 10, and Esther Badelu, 14. Rachael, until her death, was the wife of Pastor Jacob Adewole, of Faith Baptist Church (Sanctuary of Mercy and Glory), Old Airport Road, Sokoto. Ten-year old Benice Adewole was their only daughter while Esther Badelu, was Benice’s friend.
Two Imo Poly students burnt to death
Two graduating students of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of the state, were reportedly burnt to death last Wednesday. Vanguard gathered that the unfortunate students, whose names could not be ascertained at press time, had completed their Higher National Diploma, HND, examination and were looking forward to going for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, before tragedy struck.
FRSC jails lorry driver, tries 31 others in Ebonyi
NO fewer than 31 drivers were yesterday tried for various traffic offenses as one of the culprits, a lorry driver, Okwudili Onukwube was sentenced to two months imprisonment by the mobile court sitting in Abakaliki for non-possession of valid drivers licence and dangerous driving.
3000 dock workers retrenched as 20 shipping companies shut operations
MARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, yesterday, said no fewer than 20 shipping companies, had shut operations in Nigeria due to unfavourable government’ policies, leading to the retrenchment of over 3000 workers in the last one year. At a briefing, President-General of the union, Mr. Anthony Emmanuel Nted, among other things, lamented that the jobs of over 2000 workers were also on the line and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene to save the sector from imminent collapse.
More pressures on Naira, depreciates to N410/ USD
A fresh pressure has come on the Naira exchange rate with the local currency depreciating to N410/ USD1, a whopping N8 loss in the parallel market as apprehension continued over the banning of some banks from the interbank foreign exchange market. The currency also dipped further at the interbank market closing at N316.8/ USD1 as against N315.9 the previous day. The currency had lost N5 and N10.4 to the USDollar in the parallel and interbank market segments respectively a day after the ban was ordered by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
