Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2024

Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene

Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

Gunmen suspected to be bandits wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s middle belt State of Benue have struck again.

At least six people have been reportedly killed in attacks on Ayati and Borikyo in the beleaguered Ukum Local Government Area of the State.

Many other locals were wounded and houses were set ablaze in the attacks which happened on Wednesday afternoon.

Locals revealed that the the armed militia during the community invasion shot and killed residents indiscriminately and also burned public properties, including the Ukum Local Government Secretariat.

Many residents fled for their lives, but the unfortunate ones were hit by bullets, and several others were injured.

Properties belonging to influential and prominent people in the area, including the residence of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam, in Zaki Biam, were also torched during the onslaught.

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After the attacks, residents, in their numbers, took to the street and blocked the Sankera-Ayati-Sai Road in protest against the perennial invasions of their homes by bandits.

The Ukum Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was razed during the protest against attacks by gunmen.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sewuese Anene, confirmed that six people were killed and many others wounded.

She said, “Upon receipt of this information, police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, rushed to the area and engaged these bandits who were eventually repelled.”

Meanwhile, the senator representing Benue North-East, Emmanuel Udende, has condemned the attack. He called on security agencies to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the killings

Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

2027: Ekiti Driver Takes ₦3.5m Loan to Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

Published

3 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Trends Admin

The driver, Adeleye Adeniyi, popularly known as “Online Loan Man for BAO”

2027: Ekiti Driver Takes ₦3.5m Loan to Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

An Ekiti State commercial driver has revealed that he borrowed ₦3.5 million to support the 2027 re-election ambitions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Ekiti State House of Assembly member Steve Fatoba.

The driver, Adeleye Adeniyi, popularly known as “Online Loan Man for BAO”, made the disclosure in a video interview shared by Ekiti State Television (EKTV), attracting attention over his decision to take a loan to support political candidates.

Adeniyi said the money was intended to demonstrate his support for the three politicians ahead of the 2027 general election. He also displayed a cardboard cheque bearing the name of Wema Bank, detailing how he planned to distribute the funds.

Under the proposed arrangement, Tinubu would receive ₦2 million, Bamidele ₦1 million and Fatoba ₦500,000, bringing the total to ₦3.5 million.

“I am supporting Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his second-term ambition. I have borrowed money. I want to use this money to support him because he’s doing a very great job,” Adeniyi said.

He also pledged to campaign for Tinubu, expressing his intention to mobilise support for the President’s re-election bid.

“Like I said again, I am fully ready to go out to campaign for him. And I’m going to use this song to back him up. On your mandate, we shall stand,” he said.

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Adeniyi urged Nigerians to support Tinubu for another term, saying he believed the President would deliver more benefits to citizens if re-elected.

He also expressed support for Bamidele and Fatoba, citing what he described as their contributions to development. He praised Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji as well, referring to improvements he associated with the administration in healthcare, education, electricity and rural infrastructure.

The driver said Bamidele’s involvement in development projects had strengthened his confidence in the senator’s leadership. He expressed the hope that the lawmaker would continue to advance in his political career.

Adeniyi’s latest declaration follows a similar gesture reported in February 2026, when he reportedly obtained a loan through the digital lending platform OPay to brand a vehicle in support of Oyebanji’s re-election campaign.

The earlier incident brought him public attention and reinforced his reputation as a supporter willing to make personal financial commitments to political campaigns.

His latest pledge extends that support to Tinubu and two other politicians as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the driver’s statement and the displayed cardboard cheque do not independently establish that the loan has been disbursed or that the politicians have received the money. The proposed allocations therefore remain a stated commitment rather than a confirmed donation.

The disclosure has also drawn attention to the financial risks individuals may face when borrowing money to support political causes, particularly when repayment obligations remain regardless of the eventual election outcome.

2027: Ekiti Driver Takes ₦3.5m Loan to Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

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Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

Published

8 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

Gunmen have reportedly abducted three workers of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, triggering another security operation as police intensify efforts to rescue the victims and arrest those responsible.

The incident occurred on Friday, October 9, 2026, while the workers were inspecting crops on a farm within the institute’s premises, according to the Oyo State Police Command.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the abduction, saying the command had launched a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers and was working to secure the victims’ safe release.

Police operatives are reportedly pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The command has also urged members of the public with credible information that could assist the investigation or rescue operation to contact the authorities.

The latest attack has heightened concerns about the safety of staff members at the federal agricultural research institution, following previous reports of abductions involving people connected to the institute and its surrounding communities.

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In March 2026, gunmen reportedly abducted four cocoa farmers in the area around the institute, prompting security operations. Subsequent reports indicated that the victims were eventually freed following efforts by security personnel.

In another incident in May, two CRIN staff members were reportedly abducted after armed men invaded the institute’s premises. Police later announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with that case.

The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger security around the institute and neighbouring farming communities, where workers may need to conduct field inspections away from the main administrative facilities.

The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, a federal institution involved in research on cocoa and other industrial crops, plays an important role in agricultural development and the improvement of farming practices.

The abduction has raised fresh questions about the protection of agricultural researchers and field workers, particularly those whose duties require them to work on farms and other locations vulnerable to criminal attacks.

As of Friday, police reports identified three victims in the latest incident. The rescue operation and search for the suspected kidnappers were ongoing, with no further details about the victims’ identities or the circumstances of their possible release immediately confirmed.

Fresh Kidnap at Cocoa Institute: Gunmen Seize Three Workers in Oyo

metro

Anambra Tragedy: Mother, Teenage Daughter Crushed as Three-Storey Building Collapses

Published

8 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Anambra Tragedy: Mother, Teenage Daughter Crushed as Three-Storey Building Collapses

A mother and her 14-year-old daughter have died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed onto their residence in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, amid allegations that warnings about the structure’s safety were ignored.

The victims were identified as Mrs Happiness Ugoagu and her daughter, Confidence, who were reportedly asleep in their home when the neighbouring building came crashing down at Anata Anaba, Okpoko.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night, October 7, according to eyewitness accounts, although an initial report by the state government described it as a Thursday morning incident.

The collapse trapped the mother and daughter beneath the debris, while other people caught in the rubble were reportedly rescued and taken to hospital.

The victims’ son, Chimobi Ugoagu, said he was outside the house when the building collapsed, while his mother and sister were inside. He alleged that residents had repeatedly warned the builder about the potential danger posed by the structure, but their concerns were not heeded.

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Residents also claimed that the building stood on waterlogged land and that an engineer had initially advised limiting the structure to two storeys because of the ground conditions. They alleged that construction continued to three storeys despite the reported warning.

Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, visited the scene and described the incident as unfortunate. He said the building was illegal and that authorities had previously issued a stop-work notice.

Ojukwu also blamed the collapse on the alleged use of substandard construction materials and ordered the demolition of the structure. He said the government was investigating other unapproved buildings under construction in the area.

Emergency responders, residents and local government officials took part in rescue and recovery operations. The Anambra State Emergency Management Agency deployed an excavator to assist with clearing the debris, while the National Emergency Management Agency dispatched a team to support the response.

The remains of the mother and daughter were subsequently recovered and evacuated to a morgue.

Ogbaru Local Government Chairman Nnamdi Ifejika expressed condolences to the bereaved family, describing the deaths as a devastating loss. He also called for greater attention to building safety and urged residents to report structures they believe could endanger lives.

The exact technical cause of the collapse had not been independently established in the available reports. The circumstances surrounding the construction, the reported stop-work notice and the allegations that safety warnings were ignored remain issues for the relevant authorities to investigate.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about building safety, compliance with planning regulations and enforcement of construction standards in Nigeria, particularly where buildings are erected on potentially unstable or waterlogged ground.