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I killed Usifo Ataga myself, Chidinma says in video played in court

Published

3 years ago

October 12, 2022

Late Usifo Ataga and Chidinma Ojukwu

The principal suspect, Chidinma Ojukwu, in the alleged murder of the former chief executive officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, confessed to the crime in a video played before the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on Tuesday.

Ojukwu and Adedayo Quadri are standing trial for Mr Ataga’s death on June 15, 2021.

They were arraigned alongside Ojukwu’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, accused of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.

Ataga’s body was seen in the video lying on the ground facing up, with his hands spread.

He was wearing a white singlet and shorts stained with blood.

His head was close to a wall at the short-service apartment where he was allegedly murdered.

There was blood on the floor, pillow and duvet on the bed.

In the video, Ojukwu narrated that she met Ataga through a friend.

She said that, on June 13, 2021, the deceased called her and asked her to get a place for them to stay, and she got the short let service apartment where the deceased died.

She said: “After I got the place on Sunday, we were smoking loud, drinking, watching movies. Then, I went to get food, the drug we were taking got finished and I ordered another one and went downstairs to get it from the delivery guy in the morning.”

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The first defendant said that the above-mentioned incident occurred on June 14, 2021.

“Then, on Tuesday, we drank, smoke loud and I added Rophynol to his drink. We had sex, and I was on the bed and he was on a chair.

“Later, he started disturbing me for more sex. I was tired, and after struggling with him, he had his way and still wanted more.

“He was no longer himself, and I thought he was no more interested in sex, only for him to return to the bed to ask for more.

“I pushed him away which resulted in his hitting his head against a stool that had a glass, he had a cut on his leg and he became weak.”

Ojukwu said that she then took a knife and stabbed Ataga in the neck, ribs and stomach, so he would not be able to harm her.

“I tied his hands with a handkerchief. His blood was out and I was scared.

“I just packed everything, my clothes were also stained with blood, I just packed my things and left.

“I took the knife and handkerchief, and when I got home, I threw the knife and handkerchief away.

“Michael was a friend. I didn’t know him that deeply, and we didn’t talk regularly,” she said in the video clip.

When she was asked in the video if she was assisted in killing the deceased, Ojukwu said, “There was nobody that assisted me, I did it alone.”

When asked why she didn’t call for help, she said, “Obviously I was scared, that was why I left.”

She said that there was no motive behind killing Ataga.

In the video, the ninth prosecution witness in the murder trial, DSP Olusegun Bamidele from the Intelligence and Tactical Unit of the State Criminal Investigating Department, Panti Yaba, was seen interrogating Ojukwu at Panti.

He also asked her why she was using a foreign phone number and the motive behind her hiding her phone number.

Ojukwu said that she already had a foreign number registered on social media which she used to chat with people.

Asked why the owner of the service apartment didn’t know her identity, she said, “She didn’t ask for my identification.

“If she had said that the place was not available I would have left for another place.”

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Ojukwu responded to a question in the video about why she used Mary Johnson to open a bank account.

She said that she was attempting to open an account number which got blocked.

On an Identification card she procured, Ojukwu said, “It was someone that did it and you can’t see his face.

“I don’t know the contact of the person. I was just going through the internet and I saw a contact to call.”

She also said in the video that she opened a domiciliary account for depositing dollars.

At this point, prosecution counsel, Adenike Oluwafemi, reminded the witness of his evidence on May 10, when he said that he recovered some items from the defendant’s house.

Bamidele responded by listing the things he allegedly recovered from Ojukwu’s house.

He told Justice Yetunde Adesanya that he recovered a small pink purse containing two syringes, eight pieces of Rophynol tablets, two sanitary pads, a small perfume, jewellery, an iPhone belonging to the first defendant, a notebook, a diary and an HP laptop.

The witness listed the other items to include an identity card with the name: Ojukwu Chidinma Adora; Ataga’s driver’s licence, Ojukwu’s United Bank for Africa automated teller machine card and an identity card in Ataga’s name.

Other items, according to the witness, are three other cards that had the deceased’s name and six blank complimentary cards.

After identifying the items, Oluwafemi prayed to the court to admit them in evidence.

However, Ojukwu’s counsel, C.C. Ezebube, objected to the admissibility of the items.

Ezebube said that the custody of the items was not specified before the court – from the moment of recovery to that of tendering them before the court.

He said, “Some of the items could have been picked from anywhere, there is no originality as these items can be reproduced from anywhere.”

Quadri’s counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, and Egbuchu’s counsel, F.O. Ilesunmi, did not object to the tendering of the items in evidence.

In a ruling, the judge dismissed the objection and admitted the items in evidence.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday for the continuation of trial.

Related Topics:Chidinma court Usifo Ataga

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Police Debunk Viral Terror Attack Video in Abuja, Arrest Suspect

Published

5 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid

Police Debunk Viral Terror Attack Video in Abuja, Arrest Suspect

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed a viral video circulating on social media claiming an ongoing terror attack in Abuja, describing the content as false, misleading, and deliberately designed to incite panic within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, the police said there is no record of any such attack in Abuja, stressing that the claims in the video are completely fabricated and malicious.

The Force explained that preliminary investigations showed the video was constructed using unrelated footage sourced from online platforms and edited to create a false impression of insecurity in the nation’s capital.

According to the police, the aim of the content was to spread fear, disrupt public order, and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s security system.

The statement emphasized that the circulation of such material amounts to misinformation and fake news in Nigeria, which can trigger unnecessary panic and threaten public safety.

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The police also confirmed the arrest of a suspect identified as Pam Joseph in connection with the creation and distribution of the viral video.

Authorities said the arrest followed credible intelligence and digital forensic analysis that traced the origin and spread of the false content to the suspect.

The suspect is currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated that while citizens have the right to freedom of expression, such rights do not extend to the deliberate spread of false information capable of endangering public peace and national security.

It urged members of the public to verify security-related information before sharing and to rely only on official communication channels for accurate updates.

The Force further warned that individuals or groups involved in spreading false security alerts online will be tracked and prosecuted under relevant cybercrime laws.

Police authorities assured residents that Abuja remains calm and under tight security surveillance, with routine patrols and intelligence operations ongoing across the city.

They added that the security agencies are fully committed to maintaining law and order and preventing any attempt to create fear or confusion through digital platforms.

The development comes amid growing concern over the spread of unverified security alerts in Nigeria, which authorities say can cause unnecessary tension and disrupt daily life.

Police Debunk Viral Terror Attack Video in Abuja, Arrest Suspect

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Gunmen Wipe Out Family of Eight in Fresh Plateau Attack

Published

7 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Trends Admin

8 killed as gunmen raid Plateau community

Governor of Plateau State, Celeb Mutfwang

Gunmen Wipe Out Family of Eight in Fresh Plateau Attack

At least eight people have been killed in a fresh gunmen attack in Plateau State after armed attackers invaded Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area during a late-night raid.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday around 11pm in Plateau State, saw gunmen storm the community and open fire on residents, leaving several others injured and many still missing.

Victims were largely members of the same family, with the deceased identified as Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr Luck Titus Dakus, Mr Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus, and Mr Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

Confirming the attack, the Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, said the gunmen operated for hours without resistance.

“There was an attack last night at Mbwelle village. So far eight persons have been confirmed dead this morning,” he said.

Mallai added that the attackers moved freely during the operation, firing indiscriminately at residents and escaping before security forces arrived.

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He also alleged a delayed response from security operatives, claiming that residents were left vulnerable despite the proximity of security formations in the area.

According to him, “The attack lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers.”

The development has sparked anger among residents, with reports that some community members were considering protests over what they described as repeated failures to protect rural settlements.

Youth leader Christopher Luka also confirmed the killings, describing the incident as devastating and targeted.

“The gunmen came around 11pm and started shooting sporadically. They targeted one family mostly. Eight people are confirmed dead, some injured, others still missing,” he said.

Three additional victims were reported injured and are currently receiving treatment at undisclosed medical facilities.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson in Plateau State were unsuccessful, while military officials attached to the Joint Task Force said they would provide updates later.

The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Plateau State’s Bokkos and surrounding LGAs, where rural communities have repeatedly come under assault by armed groups.

In recent weeks, neighbouring areas including Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Jos South have also recorded deadly attacks, further heightening fears across the state.

Community groups have continued to accuse attackers of targeting farming settlements and rural roads, while calling for stronger security presence and improved surveillance across vulnerable corridors.

Security analysts warn that the recurring violence reflects a deepening insecurity crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where communities face frequent night raids, ambushes, and displacement.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing, while additional security deployments are expected in the affected area to prevent further escalation.

Gunmen Wipe Out Family of Eight in Fresh Plateau Attack

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Kwara Governor Mourns 5 Forest Guards Killed in Nuku Bandit Attack

Published

7 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Kwara Governor Mourns 5 Forest Guards Killed in Nuku Bandit Attack

The Kwara State Government has condemned the killing of five forest guards in a deadly bandit attack in Kwara State, as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed grief over the tragic incident and unveiled fresh measures to strengthen security.

The हमला occurred in Nuku community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where suspected bandits reportedly launched a coordinated midnight raid on a security outpost around 3:00 a.m., killing five forest guards on duty.

In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media, Bashir Adigun, the governor described the slain guards as brave patriots who died defending their communities.

“I received the news with a heavy heart. These men paid the ultimate price while confronting armed assailants. Nothing can truly compensate for their sacrifice,” AbdulRazaq said.

According to local sources, the attackers arrived in large numbers, overwhelmed the guards, and set fire to motorcycles and patrol vehicles at the outpost, leaving critical security assets destroyed.

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The latest bandit attack in Kaiama LGA has heightened fear among residents, especially as it comes barely two months after similar deadly raids on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities.

Security experts say the increasing frequency of such attacks signals a worrying spread of banditry in North Central Nigeria, with forested areas serving as operational bases for armed groups.

Governor AbdulRazaq commended security agencies for their ongoing efforts but urged them to intensify operations to curb the growing threat.

To tackle the situation, he announced the formation of a Kwara State Security Strategy Committee, comprising retired senior military and security officers tasked with strengthening intelligence gathering and coordinating security responses.

The committee is chaired by retired Major General G.A. Wahab, with members including Major General Yemi Abidoye, Major General Abubakar Ndalolo, Rear Admiral Aliyu Lawal, Air Commodore A.S.A. Buhari, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Aderemi Opadokun, and Lieutenant Colonel W.A. Lawal. Shuaib Abdulganiyu will serve as secretary.

The governor said the committee would immediately begin deliberations on practical strategies to address insecurity, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.

He also assured that the state government would support the families of the deceased guards and work closely with federal security agencies to prevent further attacks.

“Our sincere condolences go to the families and communities of the forest guards. They will forever remain our heroes,” he added.

Authorities have reportedly deployed additional security personnel to the affected area, while investigations are ongoing to track down those responsible for the killings.

The incident underscores growing concerns over insecurity in Kwara State, as residents continue to call for stronger protection and proactive security measures.