Wenegieme said, “It was the illegal market or settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire. We had enough firetrucks and firemen, but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access to the firefighting hose; that was what caused the delay in putting out the fire,” adding that “no life was lost to the fire incident; goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.”
metro
Bandits abduct four family members, one other in Abuja quarters
Bandits abduct four family members, one other in Abuja quarters
In a distressing turn of events, bandits abducted five individuals from Shagari Quarters, Dei-Dei in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) early Sunday morning.
Vigilante sources in the community reported that the attackers arrived around noon and targeted the residence of a senior customs officer.
The armed assailants invaded the customs officer’s compound, abducting his wife, three of his children, and his younger brother.
“They spent more than two hours before proceeding to the neighbouring Dakwa community,” a vigilante source disclosed. The officer, previously stationed in Abuja, had been deployed to Lagos, but his family remained in the Dei-Dei compound.
The bandits subsequently released the officer’s wife, who was heavily pregnant, but retained custody of his children and younger brother. An attempted incursion into Dakwa town was thwarted by a fierce exchange of gunfire with local security forces, causing the bandits to retreat. Dr. Alhassan Musa Babachukuri, the Chief of Dakwa, confirmed the confrontation and highlighted the persistent threat posed by the bandits.
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Dr. Babachukuri expressed grave concern over the bandits’ established base behind Zuma Rock in Chachi community, near Dakwa in neighboring Niger State. This location provides access to forested areas around Bwari, enabling the bandits to conduct their operations. He urged the government to take decisive action against these criminal elements to prevent further escalation of their activities.
As of now, the FCT police command has not issued an official statement regarding the incident. Attempts to reach the command’s spokeswoman, SP Josephine Adeh, for comments have been unsuccessful.
This alarming incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and swift government intervention to protect communities from the escalating threat of banditry in the region.
Bandits abduct four family members, one other in Abuja quarters
metro
Pastor, 65, defiles 7-year-old househelp in Anambra
Pastor, 65, defiles 7-year-old househelp in Anambra
In Anambra State, one Francis Ogwu has allegedly defiled his seven-year-old domestic help in Awka, the state capital.
He has since been arrested by the police after concerned community residents raised alarm over the incident.
Ogwu, 65, is said to be the pastor and General overseer of Jesus House of Joy Church, Awka.
The suspect, who hails from Imo State, has lived with his wife and children in Anambra State for over 30 years.
The state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has also taken over the case.
Ogwu, who, during interrogations confessed to the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, that he “just fingered the girl once”, denied other allegations of penetration as against what the seven-year-old victim said.
On why he defiled the child, the suspect explained, “I was tempted because my wife usually gives excuses that she’s fasting whenever I want to have quality time with her.”
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Meanwhile, the seven-year-old victim who narrated her side of the story, told the commissioner that her guardian(the suspect) had had carnal knowledge of her three times of which he usually gave her money ranging from N500 to N1,000 after each experience.
She also said that at some point, she was accused by her Oga’s wife of snatching the husband from her, adding that what forced her to leave was the beating she got by the suspect’s daughter over an irrelevant issue.
Speaking, the mother of the victim, a native of Awka, Mrs Destiny Nwabueze, said she handed the daughter over to the Ogwu family due to the relationship they have had over time but was shocked when her daughter returned to her and told her of the development.
Nwabueze revealed that she quickly called the suspect, who upon arrival denied the allegations, which prompted her to involve other persons by raising the alarm.
Reacting to the ugly incident, Obinabo vowed to see that the seven-year-old got the deserved justice and advised women to always be vigilant and stop sex-starving their husbands as that could lead to bad behaviours of some men.
Obinabo, who charged women always to protect their girl child at all costs, noted that defilement is no longer excusable in Anambra State.
Later, the family of the suspect stampeded the office of the commissioner, pleading for pardon, but was asked to head to the police as the case would be charged to court.
Pastor, 65, defiles 7-year-old househelp in Anambra
metro
I lost over N10m to Abuja market fire, trader laments
I lost over N10m to Abuja market fire, trader laments
A trader in the Old Karu market in a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has lamented her financial loss over the fire that engulfed the market on Thursday evening.
The female trader who spoke to Channels Television in the market on Friday noted that she is feeling pain and worried over the loss to the inferno.
The trader, who was flanked by other women in the video, cried out, saying, “Everything has burnt down. I could not recover anything. This is where we feed from o. Ah, my children’s school fees are there.
“I cannot hold myself, I am in pain, I don’t know if the government can help us. My money that has gone here is over N10 million. I am tired and I don’t know where to start.”
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A combined team of the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service yesterday contained the fire.
However, while stating that the cause of the fire remains unknown, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department bemoaned the lack of access to the market, which is located behind the new market under construction.
The acting Director-General, FEMD, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa.
metro
Boko Haram terrorists surrender To MNJTF in Borno
Boko Haram terrorists surrender To MNJTF in Borno
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has said that three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno have surrendered to the troops.
NAN reports that Abubakar Abdullahi, spokesperson of the MNJTF, announced the development in a statement in Maiduguri.
The terrorists are identified as Rawagana Mustapha, Mustapha Ali and Ibrahim Malam.
Abdullahi said the Boko Haram terrorist caved in as a result of intensified operations targeting terrorist groups within sector of the MNJTF.
The MNJTF is a combined multinational formation comprising military units from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
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- Tale of woes in Abuja market after fire outbreak
- JUST IN: JAMB releases UTME supplementary results
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The headquarters of MNJTF is located in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, and has the mandate of bringing an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.
”In Cameroon’s Sector I, two terrorist fighters surrendered to the troops at Wulgo,” the statement reads.
”They have been identified as Rawagana Mustapha, 18, and Mustapha Ali, 20.
”Similarly, Sector III in Nigeria reported the surrender of one terrorist fighter, Ibrahim Malam, 28, to the 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga.
”Preliminary investigations revealed that Malam had been a Boko Haram fighter living in Kwaleram, south of Lake Chad, for six years.
“As Operation Lake Sanity II progresses, MNJTF urges other terrorists to surrender and lay down their arms for lasting peace and prosperity in the region”.
Boko Haram terrorists surrender To MNJTF in Borno
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