metro
7 killed as police, cultists clash in Aba, Benin City
Two persons have been confirmed dead in a shootout between the police and suspected cultists, at Ndiegoro Community, in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
Vanguard gathered that the suspected cultists had blocked a police patrol team from the Ndiegoro Division in the area, which led to a shootout between the two groups.
In the ensuing gun duel, a police inspector from the Ndiegoro Division was killed, while two of the cultists were shot dead.
Police sources said that the suspected cultists, who engaged the police in the shootout, were members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN.
The source said that the hoodlums killed the Police Inspector and injured others, but also lost two of their own members. They made away with one AK-47 rifle, belonging to the slain police inspector.
“The Police officer, who was killed by the hoodlums was on routine patrol duty with his colleagues on Umuanyogu Street, Iheorji Ohanku Road, Aba when the hoodlums, who were over 200 chanting war-like songs blocked their Patrol van singing about Biafra.
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“It’s bad that when the Police are killed, nobody talks about it but when a citizen, who attacked the Police dies in the act. people rise against the Police and call them all sorts of names.”
A resident of the Iheorji community, however, told Vanguard that the incident occurred when some police officers from the Ndiegoro Police Division were allegedly extorting motorists and some drug dealers in the area before a disagreement came up leading to a shootout.
“Remember that this same incident happened in 2018 in the same Ndiegoro Division when a police officer was killed and police came to Ndiegoro areas like Okojombo, Ntueke and other streets burning properties and destroying lives.
“They usually come to criminal drug areas here to collect money and when they have disagreements, it leads to such killings and this one, I learnt it was between them and some Aro cultists, who we know have taken control of Ndiegoro area for some years now.
“This place is under-policed. Only one police station oversees the whole neighbourhood in Aba. What do we expect? Why must Ndiegoro Police Division be having such problems all the time? Something must be done,” the resident said.
Contacted, Abia State Police Public Relations Office, Geoffrey Ogbonna, explained that the hoodlums were suspected members of ESN.
This is, however, contrary to the account of the incident by residents of the area.
4 killed in Benin City
Meanwhile, after what looked like a respite, a renewed cult clash in Benin City, Edo State, said to have started last Sunday, has claimed the lives of four persons around Erediauwa, a road linking Sapele and Sokponba roads, in Benin City.
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Investigation showed that what led to the clash was a case of mistaken identity, as it was gathered that there was an issue between Black Axe, also called Aiye, and Vikings, also called Arobaga, around Ekosodin Area of Benin City and that, in the process, a member of the Eiye Confraternity was killed, mistaking him for a member of Aiye and this led to the clash between members of Eiye and Vikings in the Erediauwa area.
A resident in the area, said: “The killing started on Sunday. One was killed on the street, before Osaze Odewengie’s guest house, by the left-hand side if you enter the street from Upper Sokponba near a brothel. Another was killed at Eriaria around a pure water factory, that is where the family stays and I heard he is the only child. The other two were also killed within the same area. The clash was between Eiye and Arobaga cult groups.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor said he was not aware of the clash yet but was awaiting a briefing
As press time, it was gathered that leaders of the various confraternities under a rainbow coalition were trying to resolve the issues.
metro
Excessive speed, substandard tyres caused Kaduna, Kano fatal crashes – FRSC
Excessive speed, substandard tyres caused Kaduna, Kano fatal crashes – FRSC
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists against the use of substandard tyres and excessive speeding while driving to avert road accidents.
The warning came after two crashes that claimed the lives of 18 people at Gaya Junction, Kano State, and Tashar Yari, Kaduna State.
The Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, in a statement posted on the FRSC X handle attributed the main causes of the two road accidents to use of bad tyres and speed limit violation.
Biu urged motorists to comply with maximum safety requirements, according to the statement signed by Jonas Agwu, an Assistant Corps Marshal and spokesman for the corps.
It stated that investigation reports submitted to the Corps Marshal showed the Kano crash involved two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace Bus and a Hijet Bus, occurred on Friday 19 April, 2024.
The report added that it involved 28 people, comprising 17 male adults, five female adults, two male children and four female children.
“From the number, 16 victims comprising five male adults, five female adults, two male children and four female children were injured while 12 persons including the driver, all male adults got killed.
“The FRSC rescue team that conducted the rescue operations has taken the injured victims to Gaya General hospital for emergency medical attention, while the dead bodies have been deposited at the morgue of the same hospital,” it stated.
The statement also disclosed that the Kaduna (Tashan Yari) crash occurred on Thursday involved a total of 57 people comprising 30 male adults, 22 female adults, and five female children.
It stated, “From this number, 30 victims were injured comprising 12 male adults, 15 female adults and three female children as six of the victims all male adults were reported killed.
“The crash which involved a trailer was caused by speed limit violation, use of worn-out tyre that eventually led to loss of control.
“The injured victims and the corpses were conveyed to General Hospital Makarfi, Kaduna State.”
metro
BREAKING: Court acquits Ex-AGF Adoke
BREAKING: Court acquits Ex-AGF Adoke
A former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has been acquitted of money laundering charges by an Abuja Federal High Court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, upheld Adoke’s “no case” submission against the money laundering charges.
In 2017, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, with laundering about N300 million.
While the EFCC acknowledged before Ekwo that it was a mortgage taken by Adoke from Unity Bank, it alleged before Justice Kutigi that the money constituted a bribe from the sale of an oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011.
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On March 28, 2024, Kutigi dismissed the charges against Adoke and others, citing contradictions and criticizing the EFCC for a four-year trial.
Justice Ekwo, on Friday, ruled that the EFCC failed to provide evidence to prove the essential elements of the offence against Adoke, acquitting him of the charges.
However, Ekwo mandated Aliyu, the second defendant, to open his defence, stating that he has a case to answer.
BREAKING: Court acquits Ex-AGF Adoke
metro
Army releases Delta traditional ruler detained over slain 17 soldiers
Army releases Delta traditional ruler detained over slain 17 soldiers
The Nigerian Army has released a Delta State traditional ruler, Clement Ikolo, arrested over the murder of 17 soldiers in Okuama community.
He was released on Friday during a briefing by the Director of the Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu.
Excessive speed, substandard tyres caused Kaduna, Kano fatal crashes – FRSC
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