33 killed in petrol warehouse fire at Seme border

A fire at a smuggled petrol warehouse in Seme Krake, a Beninous town on the border with Nigeria yesterday left no fewer than 33 people dead, local authorities said.

Dallys Ahouangbegnon, chief of the local fire brigade, said the fire, which broke out close to the pineapple market in the town, spread to houses and vehicles parked near the site.

Three injured individuals were evacuated for medical treatment.

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Some of those who managed to escape to Banouto from the scene described the effect of the fire as catastrophic and the loss of lives and property as staggering.

Firefighters who rushed to the scene had a hectic time quelling the fire, they said.

Smuggled petrol from Nigeria continues to thrive despite the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government; an action that drove up fuel price.

Thousands of litres of petrol sold on the streets of Benin’s towns and neighborhoods generally come from stations located along the Benin-Nigeria border.

The trade, which generates huge profits, also entails major risks, given the precarious conditions in which the product is stored. As a result, fires occur frequently with heavy tolls.

33 killed in petrol warehouse fire at Seme border

Worshippers sent out as Nigerian church seals headquarters over leadership crisis

One of the major churches in Nigeria, the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturday sealed off its Abia North Conference at Umuoriehi, in Umuahia North Local Government Area, over a leadership crisis rocking the headquarters.

The church leaders sent the worshippers out of the church premises and locked the gate with a padlock immediately after Saturday’s service.

They displayed placards with different inscriptions at the gate, such as “Sealed,” “End of an era,” and “We pray for a new era of unity, peace, mission-mindedness and genuine spirituality,” among others.

Speaking with reporters, Godson Chukwuocha, leader of the Umuahia/Ubakala/Umunneochi Zone, said they were ending the leadership crisis that had lingered at the church headquarters for the past four years.

Mr Chukwuocha said the members were assembled from the 17 districts that make up the conference.

He said the church decided to pass “a vote of no confidence” in Pastor Enyinnaya Uguru with his executive and asked them to leave office because their tenure had expired.

Mr Chukwuocha said Mr Uguru and his executive had been occupying the position for the past 12 years and had refused to leave, as against the church policy of four-year tenure.

He explained that their tenure expired in February, but the union, which is superior to the Conference, extended it to August after the plea by Uguru and his executive.

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“The union again extended it and expected them to organise another election and hand over to a new executive between September 21 and September 23, but they refused,” he said.

Also, Iroabuchi Alozie, the secretary of the zone, said the church has a policy document that stipulates a four-year tenure.

According to him, today (Saturday) is supposed to have been the swearing-in of the new executive.

“But because we are men and women of integrity, we will not watch impunity continue in the Church of God.

“This is the fourth year we are in this crisis, and we cannot continue like this. We want to stop it now,” said Mr Alozie, the Umuahia District’s secretary.

The district leader, Adventist Women Ministry, Priscilla Ogidi, said the women had pleaded with Mr Uguru and his executive to leave the office for peace to reign, but they refused.

A pastor in Umuahia District, Festus Uzochukwu, expressed displeasure over the leadership crisis, saying, “This is God’s church, and there’s no battle anybody can fight for God.”

Eberechi Uwaoma, the assistant secretary of the youth wing in the district, said the church hierarchy was aware of the crisis and had ordered Mr Uguru and his executive to vacate, but they didn’t.

Mr Uguru or any of his executives could not be reached for comment despite attempts by reporters, as they were said to have left their residences in the church premises before the service.

Worshippers sent out as Nigerian church seals headquarters over leadership crisis

Nigerian Army arrests five fake soldiers in Lagos using uniforms for theft, other crimes

The Nigerian Army’s 9 Brigade in Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos State, has arrested five individuals who were posing as soldiers. These suspects were apprehended at different locations in Lagos, including Ojodu Berger, Ikorodu, Ogba, and Ikeja.

After their arrest, the suspects were handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution. According to Major Augustine Kolawole, the Director of Public Relations for the 9 Brigade, the arrests took place during a routine patrol conducted by the Brigade.

One of the impersonators, Johnson Ayemoba, who is 32 years old, was found wearing a complete military camouflage uniform, along with a photo of himself wearing the same outfit. During questioning, Ayemoba claimed that a friend had given him the uniform.

The authorities are taking this matter seriously and will ensure that it is thoroughly investigated. Impersonating a soldier is a serious offense, and those found guilty will face legal consequences.

He said, “I work as a bouncer and provide security at event places like Ikeja, Lekki, and Victoria Island. I obtained the uniform from my friend, Tiger. My arrest occurred in Ikeja while I was not wearing the uniform but in civilian attire. I took this picture during my birthday.”