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Ebonyi Journalist Assault: LG Chairman Denies Role as NUJ Demands Probe
Ebonyi Journalist Assault: LG Chairman Denies Role as NUJ Demands ProbeĀ
Fresh details have emerged in the assault of a journalist in Ebonyi State, as the Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Peace Agwu, denied any involvement in the attack on Benjamin Nworie, a correspondent with THISDAY Newspapers and former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state.
The incident, which has triggered outrage among media professionals, reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday at Nworieās residence in Ugwuechara, Abakaliki.
According to Nworie, three suspected political thugs stormed his home and confronted him at the entrance before launching a violent attack. He alleged that the assailants dragged and beat him, punching him repeatedly in the face and mouth, while also issuing death threats against him and his family.
āThe thugs forcefully dragged, beat and punched me severely⦠They also threatened to kill my family and me. It took the intervention of neighbours to save me,ā he stated.
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He added that the incident did not come as a surprise, citing what he described as ongoing harassment linked to construction activities allegedly associated with the council chairman, which he said had repeatedly obstructed access to his residence.
In a formal petition addressed to the Ebonyi State Council of the NUJ and copied to the Correspondentsā Chapel, Nworie raised alarm over his safety, warning that his life and that of his family were in danger. He called on security agencies and colleagues to intervene urgently.
The allegation has, however, been strongly denied by the Ishielu council boss, Peace Agwu, who described the claims as false and unfounded.
āIt is a false allegation. I didnāt send anybody to attack him. He should bring evidence of his claim,ā she said.
Despite the denial, the attack has drawn condemnation from journalists and rights advocates, with calls for a thorough investigation into the Ebonyi journalist assault.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ebonyi is expected to escalate the matter, urging law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible. Media stakeholders have warned that attacks on journalists pose a serious threat to press freedom in Nigeria and could create a climate of fear for media practitioners.
Security sources indicate that the case has been reported and is under review, with possible steps being taken to ensure the safety of the victim and his family. However, no arrests have been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Observers say the incident highlights growing concerns about the safety of journalists, especially at the grassroots level, where political tensions and local power struggles often intersect with media work.
As pressure mounts, attention is now on authorities to conduct a transparent investigation and ensure accountability, while safeguarding journalists carrying out their duties across the country.
Ebonyi Journalist Assault: LG Chairman Denies Role as NUJ Demands Probe
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Human Traffickers Remove Teenager’s Womb to Punish Her for Rejecting Sex Work
Human Traffickers Remove Teenager’s Womb to Punish Her for Rejecting Sex Work
UDU, Delta StateĀ ā Residents of Udu Local Government Area are asking a haunting question:Ā “How can a woman with female children allow this kind of thing to be done to another person’s child?”Ā That question has echoed across Delta State after the arrest of two women accused of trafficking 19-year-old Ejiro to CĆ“te d’Ivoire, where human traffickers allegedly removed her womb and fallopian tubes when she refused to become a prostitute. The Delta State Police Command has taken two suspects into custody:Ā Blessing Mongo, 47, andĀ Esther Meeting, 32. According to police, the case was officially reported onĀ April 3, 2026, after the victim’s mother noticed her daughter was seriously ill following a visit from her father’s house. What the mother discovered would shatter any parent’s heart: her teenage daughter had been surgically altered without her consent in a foreign country. Police Commissioner Yemi Oyeniyi confirmed the case during his first-quarter briefing in Asaba, stating that medical examinations revealed the traffickers removed the teenager’s womb before returning her to Nigeria. “During the course of investigation, a medical examination was carried out and it was discovered that the traffickers removed her womb without her consent,” CP Oyeniyi said.
The bizarre and pathetic story begins like many trafficking talesāwith trust. According to SP Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Ejiro was approached by a female friend of her father who offered to help her travel abroad for a job. Though the exact nature of the job was never disclosed, Ejiro believed that Blessing, being a mother and a family friend, would not wish her evil. Ejiro accepted the offer with an open, innocent mind. She looked forward to becoming financially independent and proud of traveling to another country. But that dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Upon arrival inĀ CĆ“te d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)Ā , Ejiro discovered she had been brought to engage inĀ forced commercial sex work. She immediately refused and demanded to be returned to Nigeria. The traffickers told her they had no money for her return fare. When she called Blessing, the woman who facilitated the journey, she also claimed to have no funds.
Further investigation revealed a sophisticated all-female criminal network. According to the victim’s statement to police, inĀ September 2025, Ejiro and two of her friends met Blessing Mongo, who introduced them to Esther Meeting. Esther then introduced them to another lady named Onome, aged 36, all for the purpose of trafficking to Ivory Coast for prostitution. Blessing reportedly handed Ejiro over to a Warri-based lady who is currently at large. That suspect then transferred her to another accomplice in Lagos State, who took Ejiro to CĆ“te d’Ivoire. On arrival, Ejiro was received by a woman known only asĀ “Iron Man,”Ā who police believe still holds many other young girls in forced prostitution.
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When Ejiro refused to cooperate, the traffickers escalated their brutality. According to police, after she complained of feeling unwell, they took her to a place that claimed to be a hospital. “Along the line, she was given something and fell unconscious. When she told them she was sick, they took her to a place that claimed to be a hospital and injected her until she lost consciousness,” Edafe narrated. “On waking up, she saw her stomach plastered. She didn’t know what had happened to her.” Ejiro later told investigators that days after her arrival in Ivory Coast, she was injected with an unknown substance and rushed to a hospital. The location of that hospital remains unknown to her. All she remembers is waking up with her abdomen bandaged and no explanation from her captors.
Ejiro reportedly stayed in CĆ“te d’Ivoire for over a year before the forced surgery was performed. After the procedure, the traffickers noticed she was not recovering wellāher wound refused to heal. She was then put in a vehicle and sent back to Lagos State, Nigeria, where she was abandoned. Roaming the streets of Lagos, she was noticed by a Good Samaritan who asked questions about her condition. Initially afraid because he had heard of cases where people died while trying to help trafficking victims, the man eventually summoned courage. He took her to Warri, from where she located her family and explained everything. Upon arrival in Delta State, Ejiro was taken to a government hospital in Ughelli. Her hospital bill was paid by the Ministry of Women Affairs. It was there that doctors made the shocking discovery: her fallopian tubes had been surgically removed. TheĀ organ harvestingĀ was apparently done to punish her for refusing prostitution, to render her childless for life, or to make it impossible for her to get pregnant while being forced into sex work.
Ejiro narrated her painful experience in simple, devastating terms: “I knew the woman who proposed a job abroad to me through my father. But when I got to CĆ“te d’Ivoire, I saw that I was brought to practise commercial sex work. I told them I wanted to return home, but they said they had no transport fare to give me. I called my father’s friend, who handed me over to the other person, but she replied that I should remain there as she had no money to give me. I didn’t know when I fell unconscious. I just woke up and found my stomach plastered.”
During interrogation, Blessing Mongo admitted her role. “She’s my girl. I knew her through my friend. My friend, Esther, told me that I should help her travel. So I asked Ejiro if she would like to travel, and she said ‘yes,'” Blessing stated. She confessed to receivingĀ N400,000Ā for facilitating the girl’s travel, claiming it was her first time engaging in human trafficking. But when asked why she did not take her own 18-year-old daughter abroad for prostitution, Blessing gave no answer. She only said she was unhappy with what had been done to Ejiroāa statement that has been met with public scorn. The second suspect, Esther Meeting, told police she receivedĀ N150,000Ā as part of the syndicate. She denied knowing the situation would turn out this way, adding that she has two boys and one girl, aged five. Like Blessing, she offered no explanation for why she would help traffic another woman’s daughter while raising her own female child.
Police said two other suspects remain at large: the Warri-based woman who first received Ejiro from Blessing, and the woman known as “Iron Man” in CĆ“te d’Ivoire. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation. The Delta State Police Command has urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involvingĀ human trafficking and exploitation. The command also disclosed that it charged about 455 criminal cases to court between January 2026 and April 2026, with 205 cases already prosecuted and 250 pending across the state’s 25 local councils.
The case has sparked widespread outrage on social media. A video accompanying the police statement bore this inscription: “You want to know how heartless human trafficking syndicates can be, then you need to listen to how they trafficked a 19-year-old girl from Delta State to the Ivory Coast for prostitution, and when she refused to engage in prostitution, they injected her, removed her womb, and returned her to Nigeria.” For the people of Udu Local Government Area, one question remains unanswered:Ā How could any mother do this to another mother’s child?
Human Traffickers Remove Teenager’s Womb to Punish Her for Rejecting Sex Work
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From Police Cadet to Industrial Icon: The Story of Olatunde Badmus
From Police Cadet to Industrial Icon: The Story of Olatunde Badmus
Old age is often described as a gift, but it becomes truly remarkable when it is matched with good health, purpose, and a life lived in service to others. For those who rise from struggle, achieve success, and still carry themselves with humility into later years, their lives become rare examples of resilience and grace.
Life itself is unpredictable and layered with uncertainty. Yet, within that complexity, some individuals manage to build lasting meaning not only for themselves but for entire communities. One such figure is Olatunde Badmus, whose 80-year journey reflects discipline, vision, and sustained public impact.
Born on 9 May 1946 in Akim Oda, Ghana, Badmus began life in modest circumstances as the son of an Arabic teacher. He entered public service early, becoming a cadet inspector at 21, marking the beginning of a long and evolving professional journey shaped by discipline and public duty.
From Police Service to Journalism and Public Service
In 1967, Badmus made a decisive career shift, leaving the Nigeria Police Force to pursue journalism. That decision marked the start of his transition from uniformed service to public enlightenment.
At the Daily Times Nigeria Limited, he worked as a crime reporter, covering stories with investigative depth and a strong sense of social responsibility. His reporting often extended beyond headlines, reflecting concern for vulnerable communities, including elderly residents in Osogbo.
He later trained at the Daily Times Institute of Journalism under Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi before moving into broadcasting with WNTV/WNBC, where he worked until his retirement from broadcasting in 1981.
Building Industry from Community Need
Badmus later transformed his experience in media and public engagement into industrial enterprise. Through the TUNS Group of Companies, he built a diversified business portfolio spanning poultry, manufacturing, food and beverage, water production, biscuits, confectionery, and consultancy services.
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At the centre of his business philosophy was a consistent principle: solve community problems through sustainable enterprise.
This philosophy produced two of his most notable initiatives:
- TUNS Water, created to provide free, clean, and safe water to the community
- TUNS Farms, established to enhance food security, create jobs, and support agricultural development
Rather than charity-based intervention, these ventures were structured as long-term economic empowerment systems rooted in local need.
Education, Media Expansion, and Early Philanthropy
Education has remained central to Badmusā philosophy. Early in his career, he dedicated part of his income to scholarships, a practice that later expanded into broader educational support initiatives.
He also contributed significantly to Nigeriaās media infrastructure. Through TUNS International, he supplied and installed broadcast equipment for NTA stations across the Southwest and former Bendel State, helping sustain broadcast operations during critical periods.
Agriculture, Faith, and Community Development
In 1985, Badmus formally deepened his focus on agriculture, restructuring his operations into TUNS Farms (Nigeria) Limited, with an emphasis on food production and rural economic development.
Beyond business, he has also played a visible role in religious and community advancement. As a supporter of Islamic initiatives, he funded and supported spiritual infrastructure, including a modern mosque for NASFAT in Osogbo.
He also contributed to civic advocacy efforts linked to Osogboās development, while maintaining a long-standing commitment to supporting the elderly and vulnerable in society.
A Legacy Built on Service and Consistency
Across decades of work in policing, journalism, broadcasting, industry, and agriculture, Badmusā guiding principle has remained consistent: service to humanity through structured impact.
His enterprises reflect a model of reinvestment in societyāthrough jobs, infrastructure, education, and community development systems that outlive individual gain.
Even at 80, he remains active and widely respected as a key figure in Osogboās economic and social development narrative.
Conclusion: A Life That Still Teaches
At 80, Olatunde Badmus represents more than longevityāhe represents continuity of purpose. His journey shows that success is not defined only by accumulation, but by the depth of impact left behind.
From cadet inspector to journalist, broadcaster, industrialist, and community builder, his life tells a single, consistent story: purpose sustained over time becomes legacy.
As he marks this milestone, his story continues to serve as a guide for younger Nigerians seeking to balance ambition with service, and success with responsibility.
From Police Cadet to Industrial Icon: The Story of Olatunde Badmus
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How Gunmen Attack TCN Substation in Kwara, Force Power Shutdown
How Gunmen Attack TCN Substation in Kwara, Force Power Shutdown
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed that heavily armed men invaded its transmission facility in Offa, Kwara State, forcing operators to shut down electricity feeders at gunpoint and temporarily disrupting power supply in parts of the state.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2026, targeted the Offa 132kV transmission substation, one of the key facilities responsible for electricity transmission within the area.
In a statement issued by TCNās General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the attackers reportedly stormed the facility, forcefully entered the control room, and held workers on duty hostage during the operation.
According to the company, the gunmen ordered the operator on duty to disconnect both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 a.m., causing a temporary power outage in Kwara State.
TCN further disclosed that the attackers demanded a total shutdown of the transmission substation and allegedly tampered with critical control switches and relay buttons within the facility.
The company stated that the 40MVA transformer at the substation was eventually shut down at about 1:07 a.m., escalating concerns over the vulnerability of Nigeriaās critical power infrastructure to security threats.
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Following the attack, the Transmission Company of Nigeria declared a force majeure on the affected facility.
However, engineers were able to restore the transformer six minutes later at about 1:13 a.m., while electricity supply through the Offa feeder resumed by 1:14 a.m. Supply to the Ojoku feeder was later restored at approximately 2:15 a.m.
TCN apologised to customers affected by the temporary disruption and assured Nigerians of its continued commitment to transmitting bulk electricity efficiently across the country.
The attack has intensified concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kwara State and the growing targeting of strategic national infrastructure.
The latest incident comes amid increasing reports of attacks on security formations and public facilities within the North Central region.
Recently, suspected bandits reportedly attacked a Police Mobile Force camp in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing at least three police officers during a midnight assault.
Security analysts have warned that attacks on critical facilities such as power stations could have serious implications for national security, economic activities, and public confidence in government infrastructure protection.
Residents and stakeholders have also urged security agencies to strengthen surveillance around electricity facilities and other strategic installations to prevent further attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the invasion, while security agencies had yet to announce any arrests connected to the incident.
The development has once again highlighted concerns over the security of Nigeriaās electricity infrastructure amid persistent challenges facing the nationās power sector.
How Gunmen Attack TCN Substation in Kwara, Force Power Shutdown
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