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Anambra community denies killing three over land dispute

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Anambra community denies killing three over land dispute

The Nawfia community in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, under the banner of the Nawfia Progressive Union, has firmly denied allegations that its Vigilante Group was involved in the recent killing of three individuals at Agu-Isioye, in connection with a land dispute.

The ongoing land conflict involves the Nawfia community and its neighbouring towns, Enugwu-Ukwu and Agu-Isioye, all located within Njikoka LGA.

On Monday, reports surfaced that some youths and residents of Agu-Isioye were lured to the disputed land by unknown armed men pretending to be potential buyers.

Once gathered, the assailants reportedly opened fire, killing three people instantly, while others escaped with injuries.

The Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, noting that three people were shot dead.

He also disclosed that the police recovered a Toyota Sienna van believed to have been used by the attackers.

Following the tragic event, speculation spread, with some accusing the Nawfia community of orchestrating the killings.

This accusation was largely based on the claim that the vehicle found at the scene was linked to the Nawfia vigilante group.

However, in a press statement issued in Awka on Saturday, the President-General of the Nawfia Progressive Union, Chief Daniel Okoye, expressed the community’s condolences to the victims’ families and called for a comprehensive investigation.

Okoye firmly denied the involvement of the Nawfia vigilante group, stating that the vehicle in question did not belong to their operatives.

“The Nawfia community fully supports the ongoing investigation and urges security agencies to uncover the truth behind the tragic events at Agu-Isioye,” the statement read.

Chief Okoye also criticized a report from a socio-traditional group known as Ezumezu Umunri, which claimed to have identified the culprits and their motives. He called the group’s accusations “troubling and misleading,” emphasising that the police investigation was still in its early stages and that no conclusions should be drawn prematurely.

Two feared dead as Rivers gunmen disrupt election

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Two feared dead as Rivers gunmen disrupt election

Two individuals are feared dead following a chaotic shooting during the Ijaw Youth Council election in the Abuloma area of Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The election, organised by the IYC central zone to elect new executives, had initially been postponed but was rescheduled for Saturday.

According to reports, the election was disrupted midway when gunmen stormed the venue and opened fire indiscriminately.

In the ensuing chaos, members of the council fled for safety, with two unidentified individuals reportedly struck by stray bullets. The election was abruptly halted.

In response to the incident, the Rivers State Police Command launched a manhunt for the gunmen involved in the invasion.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, condemned the shooting, describing it as “senseless” in a statement.

While she did not confirm any casualties, Iringe-Koko stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, had immediately dispatched tactical units to the scene.

However, by the time police arrived, the attackers had fled.

“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the senseless and sporadic shooting in the Abuloma area during the Ijaw Youth Council Central Zone elections,” the police statement read. “The Commissioner of Police swiftly dispatched Tactical Teams to the scene, but the perpetrators had already escaped.”

Iringe-Koko further stated that the commissioner had ordered a full-scale crackdown to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.

“Normalcy has returned to the area, and law-abiding citizens are encouraged to continue their daily activities,” the statement added, urging residents to report any suspicious activity to the police.

When asked about the alleged casualties, Iringe-Koko said the command had not yet received confirmation, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Fire guts six offices at police headquarters in Sokoto

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Fire guts six offices at police headquarters in Sokoto

A fire, whose source could not be ascertained, on Saturday morning, gutted six offices at the headquarters of the Sokoto State Police Command.

The fire ravaged the administrative block before firefighters were able to bring it under control.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Rufai, said the fire affected the administrative department.

“Yes, there was fire incident on Saturday at the headquarters of the command in the state.

“The incident affected about six offices at the administrative block. The fire service later put out the fire.

“We couldn’t ascertain the level of destruction, as it falls on the weekend,” he said.

In February 2024, the Kano State Police Command reported that fire engulfed the Divisional Police Office in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

Tosin Oyediran

Tosin, with over six years’ experience, conducts incisive interviews, pens engaging features, subedits and delivers impactful stories for the digital sphere.

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Saudi footballer hospitalised after balcony fall in UAE

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Saudi footballer hospitalised after balcony fall in UAE

Saudi footballer Fahad Al-Muwallad is in intensive care after falling from his second-floor balcony while on holiday in Dubai, according to Dubai Police.

Authorities are monitoring his condition as he receives treatment at a local hospital.

The Dubai Media Office confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the fall.

In a statement on Saturday night, the Dubai Media Office said, “Dubai Police General Command announced that Saudi football player Fahad Al-Muwallad was involved in an accident while on a short vacation in Dubai, falling from the balcony of his second-floor home. Initial investigations revealed the accident occurred while he was on the balcony.”

They added that Al-Muwallad remains in intensive care, where medical teams are providing necessary treatment. Investigations are ongoing, and results will be shared with relevant authorities once concluded.

According to Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old winger, who joined Al-Shabab on 28th August 2022, has a contract that runs until 30th June 2025.

Tosin Oyediran

Tosin, with over six years’ experience, conducts incisive interviews, pens engaging features, subedits and delivers impactful stories for the digital sphere.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According to.

Contact: [email protected]

Shettima, Akpabio, others mobilise support for Okpebholo

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Shettima, Akpabio, others mobilise support for Okpebholo

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu, Ondo State Governor Lucky Oyedatiwa, among others, attended the final campaign rally for the Edo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

Addressing the party faithful at the University of Benin Indoors Sports Complex, Ugbowo Campus, Vice President Shettima said Edo State needs a strategic thinker, builder and a man with a compassionate heart who can lead his people aright.

He said intelligence is not determined by the size of the head but by one’s ability to solve problems that affect people.

Shettima added that he has absolute confidence that Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

He urged the people of the state to come out in large numbers to vote for the candidates of the APC come September 21.

Also, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said he believes in the capacity of Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, to deliver on their electoral mandate.

He said he doesn’t need somebody who can speak “grammar” but one who can perform.

Akpabio said Okpebholo, as a senator, has been living up to his billings in the National Assembly, stressing that there is no doubt about his ability to deliver the dividends of democracy at all.

On his part, Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, said Governor Godwin Obaseki has been insensitive to the plights of the people of the state, noting that there is nothing to write home about his eight years in office as the governor of the state.

He said the markets that were burnt during his tenure were not rebuilt; rather, the hospital and the state library were converted into museums and shopping malls.

On the part of the party’s national chairman, Umar Ganduje, said the state has been mismanaged for the past eight years as it was marred with insecurity and unemployment and that it is time for them to take it back by voting for the APC.

He said that, with the likes of Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, who are lawmakers, the state is in safe hands.

On the part of the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Monday Okpebholo, he said he would employ 5000 teachers within his 100 days in office as governor of the state.

He assured the market women of soft loans to boost their businesses just as he promised to build primary healthcare around the 192 wards in the state.

Earlier, the national chairman of the party, Ganduje, received a former senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Senator Francis Alimikhena and the former member representing Oredo federal constituency, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party into the APC.

Senator Francis Alimikhena, who said he was glad to be back at the APC, said he was going to mobilize his followers to vote for the party in the forthcoming governorship election.

Taking his turn, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama said he had earlier advised his former party, the PDP, against its decision when it brought in Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, but they didn’t listen to him.

He also advised when they again brought in Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the PDP, they still did not listen to him.

“In 2020, I advised PDP against impunity when they brought in Governor Godwin Obaseki through the back door. In 2024, Governor Godwin Obaseki, His Excellency who came through the back door, went to Lagos to bring Asue Ighodalo through the back door. The man only joined the party in September last year. That impunity must stop.

“All those who supported that, the national working committee, they should come with their Voter Cards on Saturday.”

One dead, 10 injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway auto crash

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One dead, 10 injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway auto crash

A lone crash on Saturday, at about 2:58 pm around Saapade, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, claimed one life while 10 others were reported to have been seriously injured.

The white Mazda bus with registration number GGE 858 XY involved in the accident was said to have been travelling at high speed when one of its tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to somersault.

The spokesperson of the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Okpe stated that the injured were taken to Patmag Hospital,
Ogere, for medical care, while the body of the deceased was deposited at FOS Morgue, Ipara Remo.

The statement reads, “A total of 17 people were involved in the accident, comprising eight male adults, seven female adults, one female child, and one male child. Sadly, one female adult was killed, while ten people were seriously injured (two male adults, six female adults, one male child, and one female child).

“The injured victims were taken to Patmag Hospital, Ogere, for medical attention, and the body of the deceased was deposited at FOS Morgue, Ipara. The suspected causes of the crash were speed, tyre burst, and loss of control.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Akinwumi Fasakin, has advised motorists to pay closer attention to their tyres by checking the expiration dates and tread and by avoiding substandard tyres.

Fasakin stated that a tyre burst at a controlled speed could have been handled better.

41 feared dead in Zamfara boat accident

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41 feared dead in Zamfara boat accident

Forty-one persons are feared dead in a boat accident in Gummi town, the headquarters of Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

An eyewitness, who is an indigene of the town, Abubakar Muhammad, told According to Online that the deceased were going to their farms in the early hours of Saturday when the boat capsized.

Mohammed said there were 53 farmers in the boat, and only 12 were rescued alive, including the captain of the boat, and the remaining 41 were dead.

He said, “When the boat capsized today, Saturday morning, I was one of those who were present near the river close to Gummi town.

“Immediately, the boat capsized. It sunk into the river with all the passengers.

“We did our best to rescue them, but unfortunately, we were only able to bring out 12 persons alive, including the captain of the boat.

“The bodies of the other 41 passengers were evacuated out of the water.”

Confirming the accident to According to Online on the telephone, the Sole Administrator, Gummi Local Government Area, Alhaji Na’Allah Musa, said the boat was overloaded.

According to him, the captain of the boat told the passengers that some of them must come down, but all of them refused to listen.

He said, “There were many people on the boat, and the captain did all he could to reduce the number, but nobody wanted to be left behind.

“When he did all he could to reduce the number but failed, he was left with no option but to start going.

“As he moved forward, the boat capsized and sunk into the river due to overloading.

“Only four of the passengers were able to swim out of the river, while the rescue operators were able to save others.

“There were many casualties, but actually I can’t say exactly how many of them have died because we are still looking for other missing passengers.”

Anambra LG election a fraud, offensive, says LP

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Anambra LG election a fraud, offensive, says LP

The Anambra State Chapter of the Labour Party has rejected the nomination of certain members and current Local Government Transition members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance as Labour Party candidates for the upcoming Local Government election.

The party has reaffirmed its stance of non-participation in the election, scheduled for September 28, 2024, calling it a “sham” and “obnoxious.”

In a press release signed by the LP’s State Publicity Secretary, Theo Egbe, obtained by our correspondent on Saturday and dated September 14, 2024, the party accused the Anambra State Government and the State Independent Electoral Commission of orchestrating a fraudulent election process.

According to the party, the local government election has been marred by “illegally packaged” candidates, many of whom are affiliated with the Charles Soludo faction of APGA, the ruling party in Anambra State.

The LP Anambra chapter claims that the recent publication of these so-called Labour Party candidates by ANSIEC is misleading and reflects a larger issue of compromised governance.

Specifically, the party highlighted that key figures in the ANSIEC list, including the current Transition Chairman for Orumba North LGA, Nwafor Chinonso, are APGA stalwarts and should not be associated with the Labour Party.

The party also disclosed that it has initiated legal proceedings against the Anambra State Government and ANSIEC.

Their court case, A/265/2024: Labour Party vs. Anambra State House of Assembly & Others, challenges the legitimacy of the election. The suit, already served, is still pending in court.

The statement read in part, “This our unchanging position that LP is not participating in the charade has officially been conveyed to ANSIEC, and the entire Anambrarians were unmistakably and unequivocally put on the same notice too.

“Our suit with NoA/265/2024 has been duly served on the commission and is still pending in Court.

“Our official letter to ANSIEC is copied to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Director of DSS, and other relevant bodies, dated 9th September 2024; Labour Party remained unequivocal about our total lack of faith, trust, and confidence in both ANSIEC and the shabby illegal process they adopted, for being at complete variance with due process and the Electoral Act, 2022.”

The statement further added, “It is very worrisome, criminally egregious and outlandishly absurd that Labour Party that sued the commission never sold nomination forms nor conducted any primary elections, and never submitted its register not to mention submission of any list of candidates to ANSIEC, was dubiously published and held out to have ‘sponsored’ candidates for the farcical Local Government Election.

“A careful perusal of the commission’s list of these fangled LabourParty “candidates” reveals that the names belong to known members of the defeated Soludo faction of APGA, including the name of a current APGA Transition Chairman,(Orumba North LGA) Mr.Nwafor Chinonso, CharlesMary Casimir and that of both past and current Transition Councilors of APGA extraction.”

The LP further accused ANSIEC of violating the Electoral Act of 2022, highlighting that the commission neither sold nomination forms nor conducted any primary elections to select legitimate Labour Party candidates.

The party stressed that this irregular process undermines the principles of due process and electoral fairness.

In the press release, the Labour Party described the actions of ANSIEC and the Anambra State Government as a “criminal assault” on the electoral process and an affront to the law-abiding citizens of the state.

The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter views this conduct of ANSIEC and Anambra State Government as a criminal assault on due process and a rape of the Electoral Laws of the land, as well as unwarranted provocation of the law-abiding members of the Labour Party at large.

The party further condemned the Anambra government for engaging in what it termed a “farce,” accusing them of “sponsoring” the nomination of individuals who do not belong to the Labour Party.

“The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter views this conduct of ANSIEC and Anambra State Government as a criminal assault on due process and a rape of the Electoral Laws of the land,” the statement stated.

Despite the harsh criticism, the Labour Party still extended an olive branch to the state government, urging it to postpone the September 28 election and save Anambra from what they describe as a costly sham.

The party argued that rescheduling the election would provide an opportunity for a legitimate, well-organized process that adheres to electoral laws, where all political parties can meaningfully participate.

“Anambra state has absolutely nothing to lose by rescheduling this unacceptable and inglorious proposed sham called LGA Council election,” the Labour Party stated, adding that rescheduling would allow for a proper and lawful election in the future.

The LP, however, pledged to remain law-abiding and diligent in its fight against what it views as the unlawful election process.

Group urges INEC to conduct free, fair exercise

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Group urges INEC to conduct free, fair exercise

A civil rights group, under the aegis of Talakawas, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a credible, transparent, free, and fair governorship election in Edo State to avoid a political crisis in the state.

The group also called on the police to discharge their responsibilities in line with the provisions of the constitution and the Police Act by providing security for the voters and other stakeholders during the exercise.

The President of the Talakawas parliament, Kola Edokpayi, who disclosed in a statement on Saturday in Benin, said the provision of adequate security would ensure the people cast their votes without intimidation.

Edokpayi, who also expressed worry over the proliferation of arms in the state, urged security agencies to with immediate effect disarm those with illegal possession of firearms.

He also cautioned “desperate politicians” to desist forthwith from fanning the embers of discord and beating the drum of war.

He said, “The political class take cognizance of the fact that power is transient. The election is not a declaration of war. Let brotherly love continue.

“We don’t see any reason for arming the people with weapons to unleash violence and mayhem in the 21st century.

“As critical stakeholders and advocates of peace and justice, it would amount to tomfoolery if we keep silent in the midst of incipient political conflagration engulfing the state ahead of the poll,” Edokpayi added.

Edokpayi urged eligible voters with Permanent voter cards to come out en masse and cast their vote on September 21.

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Alimikhena dumps PDP, rejoins APC ahead of Edo poll

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Alimikhena dumps PDP, rejoins APC ahead of Edo poll

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, former Edo North Senator, Francis Alimikhena, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.

A Chieftain of the APC in the Etsako West Local Government Area, Zibiri Muhammed, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Saturday.

He said, “Yes, Senator Alimikhena is now a member of the APC. So, he has joined the APC and will officially decamp today.

“Alimikhena would be received by the National Chairman of our party, Abdullahi Ganduje, at our grand finale rally at the UNIBEN sports complex.”

Muhammed said the former senator is already on his way with other party leaders to the campaign rally.

Alimikhena, who served two terms as a Senator under the APC, dumped the party for PDP when he lost the Edo North senatorial ticket to Senator Adams Oshiomhole at the primary election for the 2023 general election.

He then moved to the PDP, where he contested the National Assembly election under the PDP, losing to Oshiomhole.

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