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Herbalist steals money, beheads lotto operator

Published

2 years ago

November 30, 2022

Idowu Talabi

A herbalist, Idowu Talabi, has allegedly beheaded a lotto operator, Isau Oluwatobiloba, for accusing him of stealing his money at their residence around Ilishan-Remo, in the Ikenne area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Talabi and Oluwatobiloba were at home when the lotto operator accused the herbalist of breaking into his room to steal his money.

The accusation led to an argument between the duo but in a bid to prevent the argument from degenerating, neighbours reportedly intervened and demanded the matter be settled for peace to reign.

It was learnt that after Talabi and Oluwatobiloba were separated, the neighbours went into their various apartments.

However, in the middle of the night, Talabi, while armed with a cutlass, forced his way into Oluwatobiloba’s apartment, and allegedly beheaded him.

Oluwatobiloba’s wife, Esther, told our correspondent that she met her husband’s corpse in a pool of his blood when she returned from vigil on Saturday morning.

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She said, “We both left home in the afternoon on Friday November 25. I went to see my mother and returned in the evening. I told him I was going to church and he allowed me. I asked him to follow me but he said we should not leave our grandma, Mujidat, alone at home and I agreed and left for vigil.

“When I returned home and entered, everywhere was dark. I was scared, so I called my husband. So, to see clearly, I switched on the torchlight and saw his dead body. I shouted and people gathered. I quickly held Oluwatobiloba and accused him of killing my husband.”

A lawyer to the victim’s family, Kayode Oshiyemi, said Talabi took advantage of Esther’s absence at home to perpetrate the crime, adding that he told the deceased’s wife and grandmother to leave the door of their rooms open because he wanted to perform spiritual cleansing in the whole house.

He said, “The deceased’s wife has briefed me about the incident; she wants justice. The man and the landlord’s grandson were not on good terms. The deceased, who is a lotto operator, accused the herbalist of breaking into his room to steal his money and the herbalist confirmed that he stole his money.

“They have been quarrelling since then. So, the herbalist said he wanted to perform a ritual in the whole house and told the deceased’s mother living in the room adjacent to the deceased’s room that she should not lock their doors because of the ritual. The herbalist also told the wife he wanted to do the ritual but the wife left for a vigil.

“When the lotto operator’s wife returned from church around 5am and found her husband in a pool of blood, she accused the herbalist of killing her husband. The matter was reported at the Ikenne Police Station and everybody in the house was arrested. In the course of the investigation, one of the tenants living upstairs said he saw the herbalist burning some clothes soaked in blood in the middle of the night.

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“It was at that point that the herbalist confessed to the crime. The herbalist said he slaughtered him because he was pompous and always lived as if he was rich and had everything. The herbalist told the police that since the main door was unlocked, he used fire to melt the net and used scissors to open the lock to gain entry into the room.”

A picture in possession of our correspondent showed Oluwatobiloba’s corpse lying on the bed that had been soaked with his blood. Deep cuts were observed in the victim’s neck and chest.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, said the suspect was arrested following a report lodged at the Ikenne Police Station by the deceased’s wife.

He said, “Upon receiving the report, the DPO Ikenne Division, CSP Ibrahim Ningi, led his detectives to the scene, where it was discovered that the deceased was killed with a machete while sleeping on his bed.

“It was also discovered that there was no break-in at the scene and nothing was removed from the room. The discovery pointed to the fact that the killing was carried out by an insider, hence all the occupants of the house were invited to the station for interrogation.

“After a thorough investigation, Idowu Talabi, who claimed to be a native doctor, confessed to killing the deceased. When asked the reason for the dastardly act, the suspect alleged that the deceased was fond of accusing him of stealing.”

Related Topics:beheads herbalist Lotto money

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Mother, daughter who stole ponmo, stock fish in Ogun jailed six months

Published

30 minutes ago

March 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Mother, daughter who stole ponmo, stock fish in Ogun jailed six months

A Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday sentenced a mother, Falilatu Amidu, and her daughter, Ayisatu, to six months imprisonment each for stealing dry ponmo, stock fish and dried meat valued N1 million

The defendants, who reside at No 21 Ago-Oko area of Abeokuta, were convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Odumosu, held that the evidence presented by the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts were guilty of the offence as charged.

Odumosu sentenced both mother and daughter to six months in prison each with an option of N5,000 fine.

She ordered that the convicts should refund N100,000 each to the complainant as restitution before accessing the N5,000 fine option.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Kehinde Fawunmi, had told the court that the defendants committed the offence at Lafenwa market sometime in August 2024.

Fawunmi explained that Falilatu conspired with her daughter, Ayisatu, to steal a big sack containing stock fish, dried ponmo and dried cow meat valued N1million, belonging to one Mrs kafayat Alao.

According to him, one of the defendants, Falilatu, used to help the complainant to carry load from her store in Lafenwa to where the complainant sells her items.

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“The complainant asked her to help her pick some goods from the store. She waited for over an hour and did not see the defendant, which made her to go to the store to check on her.

“On getting to the store, she did not find Falilatu, and she noticed a big bag containing dried meat, ponmo and stock fish was missing while the defendant was nowhere to be found,” he said.

Fawunmi further explained that Falilatu stole the goods and gave it to her daughter (Ayisatu) to sell. He said Ayisatu received the goods from her mother, knowing that they were stolen.

The prosecutor noted that the offence committed contravened sections 516, 390(9) and 127 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.

Mother, daughter who stole ponmo, stock fish in Ogun jailed six months

metro

Ex-Rivers HoS wife cries for help over husband’s safety

Published

36 minutes ago

March 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Florence Nwaeke and her husband, George Nwaeke

Ex-Rivers HoS wife cries for help over husband’s safety

The wife of the immediate past Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, has voiced concerns over his whereabouts and well-being following his resignation, saying she has been unable to reach him.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Florence Nwaeke said she became alarmed after seeing an online interview attributed to her husband, which she found suspicious.

“When he got to Abuja, he called that he had landed. I said, ‘Thank God,’” she recalled.

However, after coming across the interview, she began to fear something was amiss.

“I said, ‘That is not my husband. That is not my husband.’

“So I sent him a message. I said, ‘Are you under duress?’ I sent him a message. I said, ‘Have they kidnapped you? Talk to me now. Why are you not talking to me?’ This is the message I sent to him when I saw his interview online,” she said.

Overcome with worry, she made an emotional appeal for help.

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“Oh, Jesus, help me. Nigerians, help me. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. Look at the message I sent to him. See the message I sent to him. I said, ‘Daddy, why? Were you in hostage?’ I said, ‘Why didn’t you talk to me?’ These are the messages I sent to him, but he didn’t reply to me. His numbers are not going through. Nigerians, help me! Nigerians, help me!” she pleaded.

Her concerns follow allegations made by George Nwaeke against suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Nwaeke had accused the governor of plotting to back Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for the 2027 presidency and of using militants to attack oil facilities. He also alleged that Fubara ordered the bombing of the State House of Assembly in 2023 to prevent his impeachment.

Florence Nwaeke, beyond raising alarm in the media, also directed a personal plea to the governor.

“Governor, help me. My husband is in trouble. He is in trouble,” she implored, claiming that her husband resigned under pressure.

However, Fubara dismissed the claims, insisting that Nwaeke had been influenced by external forces.

“The truth is that Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me,” the governor stated late Friday.

Fubara also released screenshots purportedly showing chats between Nwaeke and his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, where Nwaeke allegedly requested financial assistance.

Ex-Rivers HoS wife cries for help over husband’s safety

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Fubara reacts as Ex-HOS, Nwaeke accuses him of bombing oil pipelines, Rivers Assembly

Published

43 minutes ago

March 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Siminalayi Fubara

Fubara reacts as Ex-HOS, Nwaeke accuses him of bombing oil pipelines, Rivers Assembly

Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has denied accusations from his former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, disclosing that he never ordered the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly or any Oil Pipeline.

Fubara, in a statement made available to newsmen, stated that no such thing occurred during his administration. The statement read;

“My attention has been drawn to a press briefing by the former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke aired on Channels Television on Friday the 28th of March 2025. Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his claims, but to correct the erroneous impression such allegations may create in the minds of the people, and the disaffection it is bound to cause in the state and the country.”

“First, on the claim that he was aware of my discussions and plans to support Bala Mohammed’s alleged 2027 presidential bid, it is laughable that Dr. Nwaeke would be part of any high level political meeting as Head of Service, much more sitting in my alleged night meetings with Bala Mohammed and militants like he claimed. Howbeit, none of such meetings ever held.”

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“The truth is that the whole world knew when the Bauchi State Governor, as Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum visited the State, and there was nothing secret about the visits.”

“It is also ludicrous for Dr. Nwaeke to claim that he was aware of my meetings to encourage attacks on oil pipelines and other National assets in the State, as there was no time I held any meeting with militants or any criminal group to destabilise the State. It is on record that I have been at the forefront preaching peace in the State even in the face of obvious provocations.”

“The truth is that Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me.”

“I call on all well meaning Nigerians and the good people of Rivers State to disregard everything said by Dr. Nwaeke as they are mere desperate attempts to discredit me and my administration, and undermine the peace process by Mr. President”.