Bandits strike again in Benue, gun down 2 soldiers, 3 others

Five people, including two soldiers, were killed when armed bandits launched an attack in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State on Wednesday, according to local residents.

Eyewitnesses reported that the bodies of the slain soldiers were found at the scene shortly after they were shot by the assailants.

Joseph Har, Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Internal Security, confirmed the attack but stated that he was still gathering details on the incident.

The President General of Mdzough U Tiv World Wide and Chairman of the three main socio-cultural groups in Benue, CP Iorbee Ihagh, also confirmed to journalists in Makurdi that five people—two soldiers and three civilians—were killed in the attack on Jato-Aka.

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Efforts to reach spokespersons from the Nigerian Army in Benue for comments were unsuccessful, as those contacted claimed to have been transferred out of the state and could not verify the incident.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, the state government expressed condolences over the soldiers’ deaths.

Kula stated, “In a solemn reflection, the deputy governor (Barr. Sam Ode) bemoaned the tragic loss of two gallant soldiers from the Nigerian Army, who were murdered by armed herders while on duty, protecting civilians in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area.”

Bandits strike again in Benue, gun down 2 soldiers, 3 others

Court lifts order stopping Senate probe on Natasha Akpoti

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has vacated an earlier order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The initial restraining order, issued on March 4, 2025, was set aside on Wednesday, with the judge ruling that events within the Senate had overtaken it.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan came under Senate scrutiny following a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat reallocation during a plenary session on February 20, 2025. Her actions were deemed disorderly, leading to her referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for alleged misconduct.

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Rather than appear before the committee, the senator sought judicial intervention to halt the probe. However, despite the court’s initial ex parte order, the Senate proceeded with its investigation, concluding the process and presenting its report on the Senate floor on March 6, 2025.

Based on the committee’s findings, the Senate collectively voted to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In response, the second respondent challenged the ex parte order, arguing that it had effectively determined the substantive issue prematurely.

After reviewing the arguments, Justice Egwuatu ruled to set aside the restraining order, affirming the Senate’s authority to conduct its legislative duties.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to March 25, 2025, for the hearing of all pending preliminary objections, applications, and the plaintiff’s request for a mandatory injunction.

Court lifts order stopping Senate probe on Natasha Akpoti

Mohbad’s brother, Adura, arrested by police in Lagos

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested Adura Aloba, the younger brother of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, at the Magistrates’ Court in Ogba, Lagos State.

Adura was reportedly taken into custody on Wednesday, along with his friend Ibrahim Koleosho, aka King White, shortly after attending a legal proceeding related to a phone sale dispute involving Damola Ayinde.

This development comes months after Mohbad’s mother, Abosede, clashed with actor Yomi Fabiyi during a January press briefing, where allegations were made against Adura.

This followed a petition filed by Fabiyi on Friday, December 13, 2024, alleging that the deceased’s brother initiated an Instagram chat wherein he claimed to have video evidence of how Mohbad died.

Fabiyi in the petition he posted on his social media handles alleged that the chat went on with Adura demanding the sum of N3m to be paid in Bitcoin in exchange for the video evidence.

However, Adura denied the allegation stating that the chat was from Ayinde whom he had sold his phone.

A forensic investigation has since been conducted while the court is still probing the case.

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Reacting to the arrest, Abosede broke down in tears in a viral video monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, pleading for help to locate her son.

In the viral video, she could be heard wailing inside a vehicle, claiming that actor Yomi Fabiyi and one Sam Jojo orchestrated the abduction.

Speaking in Yoruba, she said, “Please help me, Nigerians. Yomi Fabiyi and Sam Jojo have taken my son. I don’t know where they are taking him to. He asked them to take my son away. My son did nothing to them. They must not lay a hand on him, he is sick. Demola, you’ve put me in trouble. Mohbad’s spirit will fight you.”

Adura had earlier in December demanded a public apology from Fabiyi, Ayinde, and others, alleging that they hacked his TikTok account to damage his reputation.

He had also filed an N1bn lawsuit against them for defamation, tampering with evidence, and fraudulent claims implicating him.

A member of the family who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday said the arrest was not unconnected to a heated exchange of words between Koleoso and Fabiyi.

“We don’t know the whereabouts of Adura but I can confirm that his friend, Koleosho, was arrested after the court proceedings today. Everything just happened suddenly. We learnt there has been some exchange of words between Koleosho and Fabiyi over the issue relating to the phone and this may have led to the arrest. We don’t know where the security men came from but we have been trying to locate their whereabouts.” the family source disclosed.

Fabiyi did not respond to calls made to his phone, while a text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

A police source who knew about the arrest confided in PUNCH Metro that they were arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command.

“Yes, they were arrested by the police operatives from Zone 2, Onikan, not men of the Lagos State Command,” he said.

When asked why they were arrested, the source directed our correspondent to contact the zonal police spokesperson, Ayuba Umma. As of the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach the spokesperson proved abortive as she did not pick up our calls nor responded to our enquiries.

Mohbad’s brother, Adura, arrested by police in Lagos