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Confusion over husband’s alleged murder of wife in Port Harcourt

Published

1 year ago

March 9, 2024

Michael Chidozie and late wife, Ufuoma

Confusion over husband’s alleged murder of wife in Port Harcourt

Did Michael Chidozie, a middle-aged man, kill his wife of 10 years? The police in Rivers State are battling to resolve the puzzle surrounding the death of Ufuoma, the wife of Chidozie.

Ufuoma, who was about 37 years old, was found dead on March 5. She died at their residence on Chinda Street, Obio-Akpo Local Government Area, Rivers State.

It was gathered that there was an altercation between Ufuoma and her husband on alleged financial irresponsibility of Chidozie. The woman reportedly accused the husband of not providing for the family. She was said to have complained that the man abandoned his financial obligations to his three boys and wife.

On the night of March 4, tempers flared between the man and his wife. The children claimed they saw their father lose his cool and hit their mother. They said they overheard their mother crying but that their father gave them a marching order to hit the sheet. They said while they went to bed in obedience to their father’s order, they could no longer hear the cry of their mother.

On the morning of March 5th, the children were woken up by a bang on the door. They heard the voice of their uncle, their mother’s brother, directing them to call their father, but they discovered that their father was not in the apartment.

The children were said to have told their uncle that their father was not around, following which the uncle said they should call their mother, but all efforts by the kids to wake up their mother were to no avail.

The uncle reportedly asked the children to give him the key to their door. He opened it, entered their room and discovered that his sister was lifeless. He raised the alarm that attracted neighbours, who immediately invited the police.

So what happened to Ufuoma? The uncle said the husband of his sister called him and asked him to come to his apartment, citing emergency. However, on getting to the house, he discovered that his in-law bolted the house and ran away.

While Ufuoma’s body was moved to the mortuary, the police spread their dragnet in search of her husband and arrested Chidozie on March 6. Though Ufuoma is no longer alive to speak about the circumstances that led to her death, her bosom friend of 10 years, Sarah, provided some lead.

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Sarah, who was yet to come to terms with the reality of Ufuoma’s death, said they were classmates at the Auchi Polytechnic where they graduated from the accounting department. She said marriage later brought them together again in Port Harcourt.

“But the last time I saw my friend in December 2023, I discovered that things were not well with her. She complained that her husband was maltreating her financially. She said the husband was working but failed to provide for her and the three boys.

“But I told her to be patient with him, that things were really tough. But she told me that about three months ago, her husband borrowed money but could not pay back.

“She said those he borrowed money from later came to their house to seize some of their items,” she said.

Sarah confirmed that prior to December last year, she did not receive such complaints from her friend. She, however, recalled that following hardship, her friend and the husband relocated from two-bedroom flat along Iwofe Road to a bedroom flat.

On whether the friend complained to her about domestic violence, Sarah said: “She did not complain about violence. She only said the man was not providing for them financially.”

She added: “In February, my friend called me and begged me to help her with some money to feed the children. I asked her about her husband and she said he was out of the house. I later sent her N5000. That was the last time I heard from her.

“But I got a call on March 5 in the morning and the caller asked me to come to my friend’s house. I rushed down there and saw many people in the compound including some policemen. I saw my friend lifeless.

“I cried and they told me that the husband beat her to death. I followed them to take her body to the mortuary.

“I looked at her body but I didn’t see bruises. She was just lifeless. I wondered whether in the heat of the argument the man pushed her and she hit her head on a hard surface. But I checked her head and there was no injury.”

Sarah appealed to the police to diligently investigate the circumstances that led to the death of her friend. She asked the police to thoroughly quiz the husband, insisting that the man has questions to answer.

“Why did he run away if he was not responsible for her death? Why was he not available to even take the woman to the hospital and perhaps to the mortuary? Why did he abandon the children with the corpse and run away?” she queried.

The police are currently trying to resolve the conundrum. It was gathered that the police may resort to conducting an autopsy on the body of Ufuoma to resolve the confusion.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said Chidozie was currently in detention. Iringe- Koko said the suspect was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Port Harcourt for discreet investigation.

She said: “The suspect has been arrested. He has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Port Harcourt for discreet investigation.”

Confusion over husband’s alleged murder of wife in Port Harcourt

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Explosion in Yobe, three people hospitalised

Published

20 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Yobe State Police spokesperson, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim

Explosion in Yobe, three people hospitalised

At least 3 persons have been hospitalised after an undetonated Improvised Explosive Device exploded in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The explosion took place on Saturday at Ngomari Community in Buni Yadi, headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area.

A reliable source in the area told Daily Trust that the incident happened when a 22-year-old discovered live ammunition and four AK47 rounds while fetching firewood in the bush.

“The young man attempted to open the ammunition out of curiosity.

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“He proceeded to strike the ammunition with a hammer, which triggered an explosion. 3 persons including the young man sustained various degrees of injury,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Secretary of the Local Metal Fabricators Association, Gujba LG, Malam Isyaku Dahiru, said the victims were moved to Yobe State Specialist Hospital Buni Yadi for urgent treatment.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Police Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, were not successful as he did not pick his calls and was yet to reply to the calls as at the time of filing this report.

Boko Haram terrorists have been using IEDs to launch attacks on communities in the area.

Explosion in Yobe, three people hospitalised

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Rivers: Presidency reveals security intelligence leading to emergency rule

Published

20 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Rivers: Presidency reveals security intelligence leading to emergency rule

The Presidency has revealed that security intelligence reports led to the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and elected members of the State House of Assembly.

According to the government, militants were already targeting oil pipelines, posing a serious threat to national security and the economy.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in an article titled “Imagine Rivers State Without a State of Emergency”, published on Sunday.

He maintained that intelligence reports showed an escalating crisis in the oil-rich state.

President Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, explained that his efforts to mediate the political conflict in Rivers had been ignored. He stated that worsening security threats necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency.

“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants, without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines,” Tinubu said while announcing the emergency rule.

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The decision has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many questioning its necessity. However, the Presidency has defended the move, insisting it was based on credible security intelligence.

Onanuga explained that Section 305 of the Constitution empowers the President to act when there is a threat to law, order, or economic security.

“Impeachment threats might have spurred attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, while militants in the creeks—primed to sabotage critical oil infrastructure—could have plunged Nigeria’s oil production back to pre-2023 lows,” he stated.

He further alleged that militants were awaiting instructions from Fubara before launching attacks on pipelines.

“Intelligence confirmed that militants, told by Fubara to await signals, were already targeting pipelines, risking a collapse in output and a Niger-Delta domino effect,” Onanuga added.

According to him, Tinubu’s intervention was crucial, as Rivers State is a key player in Nigeria’s oil sector. He warned that any disruption in the region could have dire economic consequences.

He dismissed claims that the emergency rule undermines democracy, arguing that it is a “temporary, surgical” measure aimed at restoring order rather than replacing democratic institutions.

Rivers: Presidency reveals security intelligence leading to emergency rule

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Shehu Sani faults senators taking voice vote objection to media

Published

20 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani faults senators taking voice vote objection to media

A former senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District has slammed lawmakers for going to the media to raise objections against the adoption of voice voting for the confirmation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

Shehu Sani said that any lawmaker who wished to raise such an objection ought to have done so in the chambers of the National Assembly and not the media.

Recall that members of the National Assembly had voted on the proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

However, rather than adhere to the provisions of the law by taking a head count to determine that the Assembly had formed a quorum, the leadership of both chambers adopted voice voting.

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Shortly after the voting process which was condemned by many including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and the Peoples Democratic Party among others, Ireti Kingibe, a serving lawmaker condemned the process.

In his reaction, to this Sani said all objections should be done within the chambers, not outside or in the media.

He wrote on X, “If any lawmaker had issues with voice votes or quorum, he or she is supposed to raise a point of order on the floor and insist on being heard; and not be silent in the chamber then come to the media to raise objections.

“If there is no quorum, it’s because some lawmakers deliberately chose to abstain,” Sani noted.