metro
Newly married artisan burns self, blames abusive wife
A resident of Iree, Osun State, Muritala Afolabi, on Friday, sustained serious injuries after setting himself ablaze.
Muritala was, however, rescued by some people who heard his cry as fire burnt his body.
He was rushed to a private hospital in Iree, where he was admitted.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro from his sick bed on Sunday, Muritala, a vulcaniser, said he decided to commit suicide having been subjected to emotional torture and frustration by his wife.
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The 30-year-old artisan said he got married to his wife in July 2022 and since then, the woman had made life difficult by cursing and abusing him.
He said, “I just thought of ending it. That Friday, I went into a filing station, bought fuel and went to a forest behind Baptist High School, Iree, and set myself ablaze.
“I thought of what I was passing through and it made me to decide to end my life. Poverty and repeated curses of my wife made me to lose hope. I married the woman just in July this year.
“Some people heard me when fire was burning my body and rushed to the scene. They rescued me and brought me to hospital.”
When contacted by our correspondent on the phone, Muritala’s wife, Ifedolapo, denied cursing him.
She said, “I don’t know why he decided to kill himself. I am his wife. I am yet to have any child for him.”
metro
Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa
Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed that three people were killed and nine others injured during a gunmen attack on the Akunza Ashige community in Lafia Local Government Area on Tuesday.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, told journalists on Wednesday that two victims were found dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.
Following a distress call, Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, deployed Mobile Police personnel and other tactical teams to the area to contain the situation.
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“During the response operation, two corpses were recovered, while nine injured persons were rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are currently receiving medical attention. One later died in the early hours of today,” Nansel stated.
The commissioner has directed senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
“CP Mohammed has assured residents of Akunza Ashige and environs that the Command remains resolute and will not relent in its efforts until all those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice,” Nansel said.
The Police also urged community members to remain calm and provide timely and useful information to assist in the investigation.
Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa
metro
IPOB Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor Raises Alarm Over Death Threats to Self, Family
IPOB Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor Raises Alarm Over Death Threats to Self, Family
Legal counsel to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised alarm over alleged threats to his life and that of his family, describing the situation as a coordinated campaign of intimidation.
Ejiofor disclosed the development in a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), dated December 29, 2025, in which he said he was compelled to make the threats public to alert Nigerians and the international community.
According to the human rights lawyer, he has been receiving threatening phone calls and text messages, adding that the decision to go public became necessary due to the persistent and escalating nature of the threats, which now endanger the safety of his family.
Ejiofor noted that previous public alarms over similar threats had drawn widespread concern from individuals across different segments of society, but the situation has since worsened.
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“Recall that I raised a public alarm concerning manifest and credible threats to my life and the safety of my family. That alarm elicited calls, messages, and expressions of deep concern from well-meaning individuals across all strata of society,” he stated in the petition.
He added that despite those interventions, the threats have not abated.
“Regrettably, rather than abate, these threats have persisted and intensified, compelling me to place this factual and historical account before the world,” Ejiofor said.
The IPOB legal counsel also disclosed that he is currently at his ancestral home in Oraifite, Anambra State, with his family for the Christmas and New Year festivities, a situation he said further heightens concerns over their safety.
Ejiofor called on the Nigeria Police Force to urgently investigate the threats and take necessary measures to protect his life and that of his family.
IPOB Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor Raises Alarm Over Death Threats to Self, Family
metro
Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno
Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno
The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army have issued conflicting accounts over items allegedly recovered from a suspect arrested in Banki town, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, raising public concern over the true nature of the incident.
Both security agencies confirmed the arrest of the suspect, identified as Abubakar, and said preliminary investigations were carried out. However, while the Nigerian Army described the suspect as a would-be suicide bomber in possession of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials, the Borno State Police Command dismissed the claim and cautioned against misinformation.
In a statement dated December 30, 2025, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lt-Col. Sani Uba, said troops had apprehended a suspected suicide bomber and intercepted primed IED components.
According to the statement, the arrest followed sustained joint security operations and intelligence-led efforts to secure Banki town by troops of the 152 Task Force Battalion, working alongside other security agencies.
Lt-Col. Uba said the suspect, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, was arrested at about 5:40 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, near the Banki Central Mosque, and was allegedly found in possession of materials indicating an imminent terrorist attack.
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“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect hails from Bama Local Government Area and was further discovered to be in possession of additional incriminating materials linked to terrorist activities,” the statement said, adding that the suspect was undergoing further interrogation to uncover possible terrorist links and sponsors.
However, hours later, the Borno State Police Command released a counter-statement through its spokesman, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, titled ‘Borno Police Command clarifies arrest of suspect over alleged IED materials in Banki LGA, cautions against misinformation’.
The police said it had observed the circulation of social media videos alleging the recovery of IED components and sought to clarify the situation.
According to the police, operatives on surveillance duty around a mosque in Banki LGA at about 6:10 p.m. on December 29, 2025, arrested Abubakar with a bag containing electrical wires, old mobile phone batteries, assorted gadget scrap materials, and pairs of shoes.
The Command stressed that preliminary findings showed no evidence of active IED fabrication or priming, contrary to claims circulating online.
The police added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation, while the suspect remains in custody.
The Command warned the public against spreading unverified information capable of causing panic, urging residents to rely on official and credible sources for accurate updates, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.
Police, Army Disagree Over IED Materials Recovered From Suspect in Borno
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