metro
Cult war rages in Benue community, govt imposes curfew

Cult war rages in Benue community, govt imposes curfew
A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on Naka town, Gwer-West Headquarters, following an unprecedented rival cult clash that has resulted in the deaths of 2 members.
While justifying his action before announcing the imposition of the curfew on Thursday, May 16, 2024, the chairman of the LGA, Henry Agba, said he was left with no other option but to impose the curfew to thwart further escalation of the bloody war.
“There was a clash between rival cultists in the local government during which two persons from both sides were killed.
“As a result of that, the LGA became tense, so we had to place a night curfew to contain the situation. As of yesterday (Wednesday), movement ceased from 8 pm to 6 am, so at the moment there is a restoration of peace and normalcy,” Agba said.
Confirming the cult clash, an eyewitness who wouldn’t want his name mentioned said the crisis, which started as a minor disagreement between two young men, escalated into a full-blown cult war.
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“In the last three days, the situation became tense, gang members engaged in bloody street fights, killing two persons and injuring several others.”
“They also resorted to moving from house to house in search of members of rival gangs to attack them, despite the intervention of the police in Naka town.
“The development created tension in the town as people, particularly business owners, started feeling very unsafe, and some even locked up their shops for fear of being attacked,” he narrated.
Two rival cult groups, Black Axe and Red, have been engaging themselves in an all-out war for the past four days.
The clash took on a very dangerous dimension on Wednesday as members of the gangs were going about conducting house-to-house searches of rival cult members, resulting in heightened tension and the eventual imposition of a curfew by the council chairman.
Cult war rages in Benue community, govt imposes curfew
metro
Tinubu, Gov Yusuf asked to resolve Kano Emirate crisis

Tinubu, Gov Yusuf asked to resolve Kano Emirate crisis
A group, One Kano Agenda(OKA), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Yusuf to facilitate peaceful dialogue among the stakeholders to resolve the current Emirship crisis in Kano.
The Director-General of the group, Amb. Abbas Abdullahi, who made the call while addressing a press conference at the NUJ press centre, Kano, on Sunday, also urged Northern Elders to encourage peaceful dialogue over the matter.
“We respectfully appeal to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and His Excellency the Governor of Kano State and the respected elders of Arewa to take a proactive role in encouraging peaceful dialogue among all relevant stakeholders.
“National peace begins with local harmony and the restoration of calm in Kano is a matter of national interest.
“A prompt non partisan mediation effort will go a long way in maintaining mutual respect between state and federal institutions and protecting our traditional values,” Abdullahi said.
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The group also called for peace and unity among residents of the state in the wake of the Emirship tussle.
It emphasized the need for all stakeholders “to put Kano first and avoid divisions that could harm the state’s social fabric.
“We are gathered here because we believe that Kano must come first before political differences, personal ambitions or any divisive agenda.
“Recent developments around the Emirate issue have stirred tensions, sparked public debates and regrettably fueled discord among our people.
“While discussions on matters of history and tradition are important, we must be careful not to allow misinformation or political manipulation to erode the unity we have built over generations,” it said.
The group warned against any attempt to politicize the Emirate issue and emphasized the importance of respecting the state’s traditional institution.
It urged all stakeholders, including youth, civil society groups, and religious leaders “to rise above divisions and work towards peace and unity.”
Tinubu, Gov Yusuf asked to resolve Kano Emirate crisis
metro
JUST IN: Two rescued in Lagos building collapse

JUST IN: Two rescued in Lagos building collapse
Two persons have been rescued after a three-storey building collapsed in Lagos Island.
The building said to be under construction, caved in Sunday afternoon at 4, Agarawu Street, Lagos Island.
The victims were said to have been trapped when the building collapsed and were only extricated from the rubble by emergency workers who rushed them to the hospital.
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Confirming the incident, the Lagos Police Command said no life was lost.
Spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the site had been cordoned off by responders, adding that there was calm in the neighbourhood.
He said the relevant agencies would probe the cause of the collapse.
JUST IN: Two rescued in Lagos building collapse
metro
Police bust car theft syndicate in Abuja, arrest suspects

Police bust car theft syndicate in Abuja, arrest suspects
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismantled a notorious car theft syndicate operating in Abuja, recovering two stolen vehicles and arresting three key members of the gang.
The suspects reportedly confessed to refurbishing stolen vehicles, altering their colours, and reselling them as newer models to unsuspecting buyers.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
“On April 11, 2025, following a distress call received by the Durumi Division regarding the theft of a gold-coloured 2005 Toyota Corolla (registration number KUJ 208 DA) from a residence, operatives swiftly launched an investigation,” she stated.
The stolen vehicle was tracked to a workshop in Durumi, where it was undergoing illegal refurbishment. The car’s colour was already being changed in an attempt to conceal its identity and prepare it for quick resale.
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Further searches at the workshop led to the recovery of another red Toyota Corolla (registration number GWA 844 CK), which had earlier been reported stolen from a residence in Jikwoyi.
Three suspects were arrested at the scene: Steven Musa, David Dalyol (a painter) and Ibrahim Mohammed (a mechanic).
During interrogation, the trio confessed to being part of a larger car theft syndicate operating across Wuse, Central Area, Jikwoyi, and Bwari within the FCT. They admitted to stealing multiple vehicles, refurbishing them, and selling them off as upgraded models.
The suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao S. Adewale, commended the swift action of the officers involved and urged residents to install vehicle tracking systems and anti-theft devices to enhance recovery efforts in the event of a theft.
Police bust car theft syndicate in Abuja, arrest suspects
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