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Fire guts Kogi phone market, property worth millions destroyed

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Fire guts Kogi phone market, property worth millions destroyed

Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed following a fire outbreak at a GSM village around Kpata market in Lokoja the Kogi State capital.

Our correspondent gathered that the fire outbreak started in the early hours of Thursday due to a power upsurge.

It was further learnt that shop owners could not salvage anything from the fire after it got out of control.

One of the traders in the market, Muhammed Yahaya who lost his goods to the fire narrated the incident saying, “Somebody called me around 5:30 am today that the market is on fire. On getting there, many shops have already been burnt down. So we tried to look at the actual cause of the fire outbreak. From all indications so far, we were told by the people that stay within that the power voltage they brought was high.

“The neighbouring houses there said it affected their fans, light and other things. Actually, this might be the cause of the fire outbreak in the market. Millions of naira worth of goods have been destroyed. Laptops, phones and accessories got burnt. The most unfortunate thing is that most of these people just received their goods this week. It has never happened before. It is still a big shock to every one of us who owns shop in the market”.

He appealed to the Kogi State Government to intervene by assisting those who lost their goods financially and rebuilding the GSM village.

“We know we have a Governor that has a listening ear. He is a father to us. As you can see, we are Youths who are resourceful. Most of us are graduates, and we are not waiting for the Government to provide jobs for us. We created the jobs on our own.

“The properties that we have been nurturing for over 15 years got burnt within an hour. We want the government to look into it by assisting us financially and rebuilding the market. In this market, we have about 200 Youths who are engaged in this kind of business. People were hungry before this happened” he added.

Also Speaking to newsmen, the Financial Secretary, Kogi Association of Phones and Accessories Dealers, (KAPAD) Moses Felix said the incident has affected him physically, mentally and emotionally.

According to him,” I was crying this morning when my shop got burnt. I couldn’t do anything. I am into laptop repairs and sales. My goods that arrived this week got burnt completely, so am starting from scratch.

“I am a married Man with kids. Where do I go from here and how can I feed my family in the midst of this economic hardship? The Government should come to our aide. We provide jobs for people. I have like three boys that are working for me who are under my payroll. Definitely, they are going back home without job,” Felix lamented

As of the time of filing this report, fire service officials were making efforts to put out the fire.

Bandits block highway, abduct travellers in Zamfara 

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Bandits block highway, abduct travellers in Zamfara 

Armed bandits have obstructed the busy Gusau–Funtua highway, kidnapping an unspecified number of travellers.

According to Channels Television, Yusuf Tsafe, a commuter stranded in the area, said that the bandits set up a roadblock at the Tazame axis early on Thursday.

Armed with about 50 motorcycles, each carrying three people, the bandits abducted several travellers and remained on the road for hours.

Tsafe described how the bandits began their operation around 7 am and continued until at least 9 am.

Despite military efforts to address the situation, the road remains blocked, and no vehicles have been allowed to pass. Another commuter confirmed that the Magazu–Kucheri Road, which links Gusau to Funtua, has also been blocked by the bandits.

“They entered the road around 7 am, and till around 9am, they were still there, we just parked by the roadside waiting for the military to clear the road, we are seeing the bandits taking people inside the bush.

“The military guntruck moved to the area earlier, we were just hearing gunshots, but they are yet to open the road. Till now, no vehicle has been allowed to pass.”

Another commuter also confirmed to Channels Television that Magazu – Kucheri Road, which is also the road linking Gusau to Funtua, have been blocked by bandits this morning

“The military men asked us to stop because the bandits blocked the road, we are still waiting for them to clear the road,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, stated that additional troops, including operatives from the Nigerian Police Mobile Squad, have been deployed to clear the road.

Zamfara State, along with other regions in northwestern and central Nigeria, has been plagued by armed gangs carrying out mass abductions for ransom and engaging in widespread looting and destruction.

The people of Moriki town in the Zurmi Local Government Area of the state are in fear as the deadline given to them by notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, to pay an imposed N30m levy expired, According to Online earlier reported.

But reacting to the development,  the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, described the bandit kingpin as a deranged person, wowing that the military would soon capture him.

No fewer than three persons lost their lives in April when bandits invaded a market in Tsafe town.

In May 2024, bandits attacked no fewer than 50 communities in the Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

49 dead, 226 communities destroyed in Kano flood

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49 dead, 226 communities destroyed in Kano flood

The Kano State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that 49 people have been killed and 226 communities devastated by floods and windstorms across 27 Local Government Areas of the state from January 2024 to date.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, made this disclosure on Wednesday evening while briefing journalists in Kano.

He recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had earlier predicted a high risk of flooding in 14 local government areas of the state.

The affected areas include Tudun Wada, Gwale, Wudil, Danbatta, Ajingi, Dala, Gwarzo, Madobi, Bichi, Kano Municipal, Karaye, Tarauni, Minjibir, Bebeji, Rogo, Shanono, Kabo, Garin Malam, and Ungogo.

Others are Kumbotso, Nasarawa, Kura, Dawakin Kudu, Dawakin Tofa, Gezawa, Rogo, and Bagwai Local Government Areas.

Abdullahi-Kubarachi noted that the floods destroyed 6,583 houses, affecting 38,814 people.

“A total of 8,289 farmlands, equivalent to 36,265 hectares, were destroyed, while 1,414 people were displaced and 139 were injured,” the SEMA chief said.

He added that the agency had promptly responded by visiting the affected areas to sympathise with the victims on behalf of the Kano State Government and distributing relief materials to alleviate their suffering.

“SEMA, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, organised several workshops to provide solutions for preventing environmental hazards, especially flooding.”

He praised Governor Abba Yusuf for providing logistics and other necessary assistance to ease the suffering of the victims.

The Executive Secretary also warned against building on waterways and urged residents to clear the drainages in front of their homes to prevent flooding.

He called on wealthy individuals to complement the agency’s efforts by supporting flood victims with relief materials.

Additionally, he assured the public that the agency would continue its efforts to ensure the protection of lives and property.

17-year-old boy found dead, buried in shallow grave in Lagos apartment

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17-year-old boy found dead, buried in shallow grave in Lagos apartment

A 17-year-old boy, Adeolu Olubade, was found dead and buried in a shallow grave inside an apartment on Jesus Assembly Omoguwa Street in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

According to Online learnt that an unnamed 30-year-old suspect had been arrested in connection with the crime.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to According to Online on Thursday.

Our correspondent learnt that the crime was believed to have occurred between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on September 2, 2024.

Hundeyin said the grieving family identified the 30-year-old suspect as being responsible for the heinous crime.

He said, “On September 3, 2024, at about 8:00 am, a family member of the deceased approached and reported at the station that his 17-year-old cousin was discovered dead and buried in one of the rooms at Jesus Assembly Street, Omoguwa Street, Ejigbo.

“They suspected the crime was carried by a 30-year-old suspect of the same address between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Based on this report, a team of detectives was dispatched to the crime scene and took photographs of the shallow grave before the corpse was exhumed.

“The body has been taken to the Isolo General Hospital for postmortem examination. The suspect mentioned has been apprehended, and the shovel suspected to have been used to bury the victim has been recovered, taken to the station, and registered as an exhibit.”

The command spokesperson added that the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Unit at Alagbon for further investigation.

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Two Ondo poly students killed in road crash

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Two Ondo poly students killed in road crash

Two students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, were killed in a fatal road accident along the Akure-Ondo Expressway on Wednesday evening.

It was gathered that the victims, Chukwu Athanasius and Oladokun Oyindamola, who were said to be on a motorcycle, were reportedly crushed by a speeding vehicle leading to their deaths on the spot.

The incident was confirmed in a statement by the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council Ondo State Chapter on Thursday.

The statement was signed by the association’s chairman, Oluwarotimi Tobiloba Joshua, General Secretary, Oluwanishola Ajibola and Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Blessing.

The statement read, “This loss is a heavy blow to the Ondo State student community.

“The tragic deaths of Chukwu Athanasius and Oladokun Oyindamola remind us of the fragility of life. These were young individuals with promising futures, and their loss is deeply felt.”

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Intending tenant disappears with two Osun children

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Intending tenant disappears with two Osun children

An intending tenant, whose name was not known, has vanished with two children in the Igando area of Ilesa, Osun State.

According to Metro gathered that the tenant allegedly abducted the children, aged four and two, after cleaning her one-room apartment in a ‘face-me-and-face-you’ building around the Cele area of Igando on Saturday.

The tenant reportedly paid N6,000 for six months’ accommodation to one of the existing tenants in the house.

The mother of one of the missing children, Funke Komolafe, told According to Metro that the lady snuck out of the house and lied, claiming she was taking the girls to buy something when confronted by neighbours who saw her leaving with them.

Narrating the incident, the mother of the second child, Itunu Joseph, said, “We have three buildings sharing a common backyard. The woman met us washing our clothes on Saturday morning. My two-year-old daughter was playing with her mates inside the building where the lady had rented a room.

“After cleaning her room, the lady pretended to be pregnant and tired. She sat in the backyard, playing with the children. She told me she liked my daughter in particular and wished to have a child like her.”

Joseph continued, “She stayed with us for about three hours before going inside her room. The children followed her, but we didn’t notice when she left. The people at the front of the house saw her walking away with the children and asked where she was going. She claimed she was going to buy something for them nearby. She walked with them to the junction, where she boarded a motorcycle.

“When I couldn’t find my daughter, I was told that the new tenant had taken her and my neighbour’s daughter away. Fortunately, we know the motorcycle rider. He told us she transferred to another waiting bike at the Adeti area of Ilesa. We searched for them, but haven’t found them yet.”

The distressed mother, who spoke with According to Metro on Wednesday, described the lady as between 17 and 20, fair-skinned, with a low haircut and fixed nails.

“She didn’t tell us her name,” she added.

When asked how the lady paid for the rent, Joseph explained, “A tenant in the house collected the money and informed the landlord. The landlord asked if she knew the woman, and the tenant said she did. The landlord then approved the rent without issuing a receipt.”

The case has been reported to the police and the Osun State Amotekun Corps.

The state corps Commander, Adekunle Omoyele, confirmed the incident, saying, “We are aware of the situation, and we are working hard to locate the woman. By God’s grace, we will find her and the children.”

Man remanded for alleged minor defilement

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Man remanded for alleged minor defilement

A Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Badagry on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 44-year-old man, Sunday Lukas, in the correctional centre for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.

Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya directed that Lukas be held at the Awarjigoh Correctional Centre in Badagry after the defendant pleaded not guilty to defilement.

In addition, Adekomaiya ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that Lukas committed the offence on May 28, 2024, at about 12:20 p.m. at No. 4 Aribena Street, Ijanikin, Lagos.

He noted to the court that Lukas indecently assaulted the girl by inserting his fingers into her private parts.

According to him, the offence committed contravened Section 135, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge that was preferred against him by the police.

Consequently, Adekomaiya remanded him in prison custody pending legal advice from the DPP.

He adjourned the case till October 28, 2024, when a ruling on Lukas’ bail application and the DPP’s advice will be considered.

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Five kidnap suspects arrested in Imo, victim rescued

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Five kidnap suspects arrested in Imo, victim rescued

The Imo State Police Command says it arrested five kidnap suspects terrorising the Obinze, Avu, and Ihiagwa areas of the state.

This is just as the police said it rescued a kidnap victim during an operation in August.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday, identified the suspects as Umaru Usman, Tukur Yau, Musbau Sabo, Abdul Ibrahim, and Jubrin.

He said, “In recent happenings, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command, have recorded several milestones of operational success in the fight against all forms of crime in the state, particularly kidnapping.

“Some of these achievements include the arrest of five suspects linked to kidnappings in Obinze, Avu, and Ihiagwa, and the rescue of the kidnapped victim.

“The suspects identified as Umaru Usman, 40, from Mauree in Sokoto; Tukur Yau, 25, from Dawakinkudur in Kano State; Musbau Sabo, 18, from Warsaw LGA in Kano State; Abdul Ibrahim, 30, from Sokoto State; and Jubrin Idris, 35, from Sokoto State, were arrested on August 21, 2024, in Avu, Imo State.”

Adejobi added that the police also arrested a suspected robber identified as Nwauba Alex with a locally-made pistol while attempting to rob some residents at gunpoint.

“Another groundbreaking achievement was the arrest of one Nwauba Alex, a 25-year-old male from Ezza LGA, Ebonyi State on August 21, 2024.

“The suspect was arrested while attempting to rob two residents at gunpoint near Aladinma Primary School, Owerri. Recovered from the suspect were one locally made pistol, two rounds of live ammunition, and torches,” he stated.

Vehicle kills three in Anambra market

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Vehicle kills three in Anambra market

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra Sector has blamed vehicle brake failure for the tragedy that occurred at the Oye-Agu Market, along the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Old Road in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday, when a speeding vehicle crashed into the market.

According to Metro gathered that the accident, which occurred at about 10:10 am left no fewer than three persons, including a five-year-old girl dead and others injured.

Several items and wares of the traders were also damaged and spilt to the road.

However, the FRSC officials and the state police command said the incident killed one person.

Some of the eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the driver of the ill-fated commercial Toyota Sienna vehicle lost control of its brake and crashed into the market, thereby crushing some of the roadside traders.

One of the eyewitnesses said, “The driver of the vehicle lost control and as he was struggling, he veered and crashed into the market, thereby hitting some of the roadside traders. The incident happened this morning just as the traders were settling down for business after observing their environmental sanitation.

“The vehicle was coming from the Awka end of the road before it crashed at the market. The incident caused panic and a crowded scene in the market environs with various rescue efforts carried out to rescue trapped victims, while some of the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital before the arrival of the FRSC and the state police.”

Confirming the incident, the acting Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Margaret Onabe, attributed the cause of the crash to brake failure.

Onabe said, “A fatal road traffic crash was recorded today, September 11, 2024, at Oye-Agu Ifete. The fatal crash was a lone crash. The driver was identified as Eze Uchechukwu with a commercial Toyota Sienna with registration number NEN588YX belonging to TRACAS.

“The probable cause of the crash was attributed to brake failure. According to an eyewitness account, the Toyota Sienna lost its brake, rammed into Oye-Agu Market and crashed.

“Seven people comprising one male adult, three female adults, and three female children were involved in the crash. One female child was killed.

One male adult, three female adults and two female children were injured.”

She further stated that at the time the FRSC rescue team from the RS5.3 Nteje arrived at the scene, they were informed that the injured victims had been taken to the Urban Hospital and Maternity for medical attention, while the dead victim was taken to the morgue. The vehicle was taken by DTO team Oye-Agu.

She added that the FRSC team visited the hospital where the victims were taken for medical attention to ascertain the condition of the injured victims.

“The Sector Commander Anambra State, Corps Commander Joyce Alexander, sympathises with the family of the dead victim and wishes the injured victims quick recovery.

“She admonishes motorists to service their vehicles regularly to comply with minimum safety standards before using the road.

She also warned market women to stop displaying their wares, and selling by the roadside,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Itam, has directed the arrest and interrogation of the driver.

The spokesman for the state police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on the fatal accident.

While condoling with the families of the deceased, the CP cautioned drivers on the need to always do the necessary checks before plying the road.

He said, “The fatal accident occurred today(Wednesday) along Onitsha-Enugu Old Road by Oye Agu Junction in Abagana and resulted in the death of a five-year-old girl and four other persons seriously injured.

“Preliminary information revealed that the accident occurred due to the break failure of the Toyota Sienna vehicle carrying passengers and en route to Lagos rammed into traders selling by the roadside at Oye Agu junction.”

He disclosed that the vehicle has been recovered to the Station as the investigation is ongoing.

One of the survivors, Nkechi, a tomato seller at the market, who spoke from the hospital bed, said, “I am a tomato seller at the market. We had just finished observing our morning environmental sanitation and I was arranging my wares when suddenly I heard a loud noise behind me.

“Before I knew what was happening, I landed inside the gutter where I was picked up and brought to the hospital. Many other traders were badly hit as no one expected it. I thank God for saving my life. Although my tomatoes and peppers have been destroyed in the incident.”

Kwara CP visits slain poly student’s family

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Kwara CP visits slain poly student’s family

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Victor Olaiya, on Wednesday, led a team to commiserate with the family of the late student of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Quoyum Ishola, allegedly killed by an officer last Wednesday.

Olaiya, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, according to a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun DSP, on Wednesday, “expressed gratitude to the family for their cooperation during the investigation and delivered the IGP’s assurance that justice will be served.”

Quoting the CP, the PPRO continued, “The IGP has directed the Federal Criminal Investigation Department to take over the investigation, with all officers involved being transferred for a thorough and impartial inquiry.”

She stressed that the victim’s family while reacting to the visit, expressed confidence that justice would be served.

“Speaking on behalf of the immediate family, the father of the deceased, Mr Muselim Abdulyekeen, alongside her wife, Mrs Ramat Abdulyekeen, expressed their appreciation to the IGP and the Kwara State Police Command for their continuous support.

“They reiterated they are hopeful that the ongoing investigation will lead to justice for their late child.

“Alhaji Mohamed Kewugbemi, the family’s clergy, offered prayers and commended the police for their commitment to justice. Alhaji Erolalujana (Olori-Ebi) expressed his appreciation for the police’s support during this difficult time.”

The statement also added that the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Abdul-Jimoh Mohammed, also accompanied the police team to show his solidarity with the family.

“The Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, assures the family that the command is committed to ensuring justice and transparency in this case”, the statement read.

According to Metro reports that a team of policemen from the Kwara State Police Command had allegedly shot and killed Qoyum, an ND 2 Electrical Electronics Engineering student of Kwara State Polytechnic during a stop and search operation at the Fate area of Ilorin last Wednesday.

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