26 people killed, 17 houses razed in Ebonyi communal attack – Newstrends
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26 people killed, 17 houses razed in Ebonyi communal attack

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The people of Effium/Ezza-Effium in Ohaukwu and part of Ebonyi Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State have been thrown into mourning and confusion, following the invasion of the communities by suspected assailants that claimed more than 26 lives and destroyed 17 houses in the early hours of Sunday, April 10.

The affected villages are Ohagelede, Umuezeoka, Ebbiaji and Ebbeta, all in Ezza/Effium and Ebonyi Local Government areas of state.

People were reportedly seen in groups on Wednesday mourning their family members killed during the attack.

Others were busy relocating members of their families, with properties for fear of further attacks by the suspected assailants.

Chief Daniel Nwanga from Umuezeoka village was quoted by Vanguard as saying the incident happened in the early hours of that day at Ezza villages of Ohagelede, Umuezeoka, Ebbeta and part of Ebonyi Local Government areas, where the assailants invaded the Ezza-speaking side of the community.

Nwanga said the government ordered a ceasefire since two weeks ago, which they obeyed, but that they never knew that their enemies would come to launch another attack.

He said, “In the past three weeks, government has ordered a ceasefire in this community and we agreed to obey, because we don’t disobey any order from the government.

“The assailants came in hundreds and killed four at Ogbabruagu; another four at Ebiaji; another four at Ogbaenyigwe and came to Ebbeta and killed six.

“They went to Izzi-speaking area to trace our people and killed eight there and burnt more than 17 houses.

“The incident happened on Sunday around 6a.m. and they kept operating till 2p.m.

“We called Army people from Nweke Ndiagu, but before they came, the gunmen had already left.

“We counted 26 dead bodies. Government should know that we are law-abiding citizens and should know those who committed these atrocities and those sponsoring them should be arrested and prosecuted.”

Also speaking, Mr. Moses Nwafor from Ebbeta whose wife, step-mother, grandson and younger brother were said to have been killed, stated that he did not know that the war was still ongoing, because there was a ceasefire agreement.

He lamented the loss of four of his family members, including his wife.

“Yesterday (Sunday), I started hearing gunshots from afar. Those warlords from Effium came with matchetes and guns; they killed my wife, my step-mother, my grandson and my younger brother.

“Their burial is ongoing now. Since this incident started, they told us to respect peace talk, which we did but never knew they would come to attack us.”

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Defamation: Court orders arrest of prophet, two others

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Defamation: Court orders arrest of prophet, two others

Justice Olaolu Olanipekun of Oyo State Magistrates’ Court 7 sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has issued a warrant for the arrest of a prophet of a Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) church, Ojo Amos (aka Elewuogbo).

Justice Olanipekun ordered that Elewuogbo and his two sureties be arrested and detained for jumping bail.

Elewuogbo is on trial for alleged defamation of character of the Founder of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji.

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Elewuogbo and a Lagos-based blogger, Gbenga Asabe, had, through publications, accused Maharaj Ji of selling human body parts for money rituals.

The court also granted request for consolidation of the cases against Elewuogbo and Asabe brought by Maharaj Ji’s counsel, Dapo Akinosi.

Akinosi prayed the court that since the facts were related, they should be merged. The court granted the application and adjourned the case till April 30.

Defamation: Court orders arrest of prophet, two others

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Students drag university to court over payment of registration fees

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Students drag university to court over payment of registration fees

Three students of one of the universities in northern part of the country, Al-qalam University, Katsina, have dragged the institution to a High Court in Katsina over payment of registration fees.

The applicants, Hauwa’u Sani-Barda, Rabi’atu Sani-Barda and Hafsat Sani-Barda, all students of the respondent, got admission in 2018 and 2019, and graduated in 2022 and 2023.

They, however, claimed that the respondents had refused to mobilise them for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), because they had not settled all fees due to the institution.

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During the proceedings on Thursday, the applicants’ counsel, Muhammad Mukhtar-Lawal, told the court that his clients had filed an exparte motion in pursuance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Mukhtar-Lawal said that the application sought the leave of the court to apply for judicial review.

After the counsel’s submission, the judge, Justice Abbas Bawale, said that the applicants should have filed a motion on notice.

Bawale, however, granted a leave order to the applicants to apply for judicial review by way of mandamus.
He said after that, processes would be served on the university and enable the court to hear the case.

Students drag university to court over payment of registration fees

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NAFDAC busts fake Eva water factory, arrests suspect

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NAFDAC busts fake Eva water factory, arrests suspect

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has exposed a counterfeit bottled water operation in Port Harcourt, specifically targeting the renowned brand Eva water.

Following a tipoff, NAFDAC officials conducted a raid on a derelict shop situated on Pipeline Road, Eneka.

The establishment disguised as a pool house and served as the hub for producing the fraudulent water.

During the operation, authorities discovered that used Eva plastic bottles were being refilled with contaminated water sourced from a paint bucket.

The water was then filtered through unhygienic rubber funnels covered with cloth.

Counterfeit Eva labels were affixed to the bottles, which were subsequently sealed with fake Eva corks.

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One suspect, identified as Chibunna James, was apprehended while in the process of loading the adulterated water for distribution. However, the mastermind behind the operation remains at large.

The confiscated products were promptly evacuated to the NAFDAC office for further investigation and analysis.

Cyril Monye, NAFDAC’s Public Relations Officer for Rivers State, disclosed that the scheme of the perpetrators involved repackaging contaminated water in used Eva bottles, employing makeshift filters made from unsanitary materials, and applying fake labels and corks to deceive consumers.

While efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the ringleader of the syndicate, NAFDAC urges the public to provide any relevant information that could aid in their apprehension.

Furthermore, Monye revealed that thirty packs of the counterfeit products were confiscated and transported to the NAFDAC office in Port Harcourt for thorough investigation. To prevent the circulation of the counterfeit water, the uncorked bottles were emptied and disposed of.

NAFDAC busts fake Eva water factory, arrests suspect

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