metro

Newlywed bride killed in Anambra gunmen attack

Published

2 years ago

June 19, 2024

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam

Newlywed bride killed in Anambra gunmen attack

A 22-year-old newly-wedded bride (name withheld), who had her traditional marriage a week ago, was among those killed during the gunmen attack in Nnobi, Anambra State on Monday, PUNCH Metro gathered.

A family source who spoke to our correspondent who visited the town on the condition of anonymity on Tuesday said the victim, who was the only child of her parents, was waiting for her husband based overseas to return home before she was felled by the stray bullets of the assailants.

PUNCH Metro reports that some yet-to-be-identified assailants on Monday attacked Nnewi town in Nnewi North LGA and Nnobi in Idemili South LGA, killing a yet-to-be-identified number of persons, including some vigilante operatives, while several other persons were injured.

The situation created panic in both towns as traders and residents ran indoors while the assailants, suspected to be enforcers of the Monday sit-at-home shot sporadically into the air. Both Nnewi and Nnobi are neighbouring twons.

The source said, “Among those killed yesterday (Monday) at Nnobi was a relative of mine. She was a newly traditionally married bride of one week old, who was waiting for her husband based abroad to return. She was 22 years old and the only child of her parents.

“It was a heartbreaking incident and a heavy blow on the family yesterday (Monday). Her mum sent her to their farm to bring vegetables for the preparation of their food. On her way back home, she was hit by stray bullets during the gunfire between security officials and those dare-devil criminals.

“The hoodlums invaded the Nnobi community in a black Landcruiser jeep, and opened fire on some vigilante operatives, leaving two of the security operatives seriously injured. It is a serious concern that more than 24 hours after, no arrest has been made. We don’t understand why Igbo land has become a land for shedding of blood with all impunity.”

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Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the police command and the vigilante service in the state had begun a hunt to fish out those who carried out the Monday attacks.

While reacting to the development in a statement on Tuesday, the Anambra State police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had ordered an immediate manhunt on the assailants based on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam.

Ikenga assured the people that the police would get justice for the heroic act of the murdered vigilante operative and others who were killed in the attack.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered an immediate manhunt operation on the armed men operating in a red Highlander jeep, who abducted a citizen in Nnewi by 1:30 pm on Monday and were trailed to Nnobi, where they engaged security operatives in a gun battle.

“During the gun duel, one of the security operatives was fatally hit by the bullet, and due to the indiscriminate shootings by the hoodlums in an attempt to escape the scene, the bullet also fatally struck two innocent passersby in the area.

“The Police Responding Team at the scene recovered the bodies of the victims and took them to the hospital but regrettably, three of the victims, including a 22-year-old lady were confirmed dead by the doctors on duty while two others are currently receiving treatment.

“The commissioner condemned the killing in the strongest possible terms and described the killers as cowards who have murdered sleep.”

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Ikenga said the CP also condoled with the families of the deceased and vowed to get justice for the heroic vigilante operative and unsuspecting members at the scene.

He also called on members of the public, especially the eyewitnesses to assist the police with information on the ongoing operation, adding that further development would be communicated.

Similarly, the Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Vigilante Service, Nweke Nweke, said the group had vowed to work round the clock alongside other security forces to apprehend all involved in the killing of its commander at Nnewi and make the perpetrators pay with their blood.

Nweke recalled that the deceased AVG officer, who he identified as Eloka Ubajekwe, otherwise known as ‘Tallest’, was gruesomely murdered by the “children of the darkness who claimed they were enforcing a sit-at-home order” in the Nnewi area of the state on Monday.

He said, “The ugly incident happened when the Nnewi North Local Government Area sector of the AVG got wind that the gunmen were about to enter Nnewi through Nnobi in the Idemili South Local Government Area. He decided to confront them at the boundary between the two communities, unfortunately, the Commander, Eloka Ubajekwe, was the victim.”

At Nnewi, our correspondent gathered that one of the victims (name withheld) who sustained injuries during the attack, had died due to the severity of the wound.

However, the victim’s family declined to comment on the incident, as they said they were still in trauma and shock the unexpected development had brought to them.

Newlywed bride killed in Anambra gunmen attack

Punch

metro

She Was Already Married: Man Tells Court How He Spent Millions on Facebook Wife

Published

20 minutes ago

July 18, 2026

Trends Admin

She Was Already Married: Man Tells Court How He Spent Millions on Facebook Wife

A man identified as Badmus has approached the Grade A Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking the dissolution of his marriage to his wife, Shadia, whom he met on Facebook. He has accused her of being deceitful, diabolic, troublesome, and a threat to his life. Badmus, who resides in the United Kingdom, told the court that Shadia misrepresented herself at the start of their relationship, claiming to be a single parent with two children. He stated that he invested heavily in the relationship, only to discover that she was already married and that her marriage was still intact.

According to Badmus, he proceeded to marry Shadia in a traditional ceremony, paying N100,000 as her bride price. He claimed that she subsequently employed diabolic means to manipulate and siphon money from him. He took on the responsibility of caring for her two children, enrolling them in an expensive private school and covering all their fees. He further claimed to have established four different businesses for her, all of which she allegedly ruined due to her extravagant lifestyle, and also helped her complete the construction of her house.

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The plaintiff made a particularly startling allegation, stating that he spent N6,000,000 in an attempt to have a child with Shadia. He told the court that a medical report later revealed that a scissors had been forgotten inside her womb during a cesarean operation performed when she gave birth to her second child. This discovery was presented as part of his grievances regarding the marriage.

Badmus explained that their relationship began to sour after he refused Shadia’s request to accompany him back to the UK. He claims he had been upfront with her from the beginning that he already had a first wife residing there. The “cat was let out of the bag,” in his words, when he transferred money to Shadia and a man called him. The man, who identified himself as Shadia’s husband, questioned him about the transaction. This revelation confirmed his suspicions that Shadia had been dishonest about her marital status.

Following the discovery, Badmus alleged that Shadia took possession of documents for his property, insisting he share his assets with her. He also claimed she began threatening him, which took a severe toll on his health, leading to high blood pressure that requires medication. In his testimony, Badmus stated: “She has not ceased threatening me. I reported her at the police, she was cautioned but she refused to stop. Shadia’s misbehaviour has hampered my health. I am hypertensive and on drugs.” He has prayed the court to dissolve the union and is also seeking a restraining order against her.

Shadia was notably absent from the court proceedings despite being served with court summons. The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, has adjourned the case for judgment.

She Was Already Married: Man Tells Court How He Spent Millions on Facebook Wife

metro

Justice Served: Two Men to Die by Hanging for Rape, Murder of Anambra Teenager

Published

1 hour ago

July 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Justice Served: Two Men to Die by Hanging for Rape, Murder of Anambra Teenager

Justice U.I. Ndigwe of the Anambra State High Court, Ogidi Division, has handed down a capital punishment verdict against Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu, convicting them on three counts of conspiracy, rape, and murder in the brutal death of 17-year-old Jennifer Anene. In a judgment delivered on Friday in Suit No. HID/23C/2021, the presiding judge ruled that the prosecution had established the guilt of both defendants beyond every reasonable doubt. The court described the convicts’ actions as a violation that “desecrated societal values” and demanded full accountability under the law.

The tragic incident began on November 25, 2020, when Jennifer Anene, a 17-year-old girl described by the prosecution as being mentally impaired, was reported missing by her grandfather, Elder Pius Anene. Her disappearance triggered a desperate search by family members, which ultimately uncovered a horrifying crime. According to the prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Florence Abadom-Igweike, the family’s worst fears were confirmed three days later when a crucial eyewitness came forward — the wife of the first defendant.

The prosecution told the court that the first defendant’s wife revealed she had personally witnessed her husband, Elochukwu Belonwu, along with other men, sexually assaulting the teenage girl while she screamed for help. This testimony became a central piece of the state’s case. However, when confronted by the victim’s family, Belonwu denied the allegations and attempted to deflect blame, claiming he had last seen the deceased in the company of the second defendant, Chukwuebuka Ofokwu.

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The prosecution further narrated that a mutual friend of the defendants, identified only as Akpuchukwu, later brought the unconscious teenager back to her home and immediately fled the scene. Despite intensive efforts, Akpuchukwu remains at large, and his whereabouts are still unknown to authorities. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital on the instruction of the police, but medical personnel confirmed she was dead on arrival.

A postmortem examination conducted on the deceased revealed devastating injuries consistent with aggravated sexual assault, including multiple bruises and vaginal tears. These findings were tendered in court alongside the police investigation report and photographic evidence from the crime scene. The prosecution called two key witnesses: the victim’s grandfather and the investigating police officer. Both gave compelling testimony that helped establish the sequence of events. In a notable twist, the eyewitness — the first defendant’s wife — declined to testify in court despite being properly served with a court summons. Nevertheless, the prosecution argued that the remaining evidence was sufficient to secure a conviction.

The two defendants testified in their own defense, maintaining their innocence and denying all allegations of rape and murder. However, Justice Ndigwe was not persuaded by their claims. Delivering the final judgment, the judge held that the prosecution proved all three counts — conspiracy, rape, and murder — beyond a reasonable doubt. The court sentenced both men to death by hanging on all counts, sending a strong message against sexual violence and homicide in the state.

This ruling is one of several recent high-profile sexual assault cases in Anambra State, underscoring the judiciary’s growing resolve to impose severe penalties on perpetrators of gender-based violence. Legal observers have praised the judgment as a step toward justice for vulnerable victims, particularly those with mental impairments who are often at greater risk of exploitation. As of this report, the third suspect, Akpuchukwu, is still being sought by law enforcement agencies, and authorities have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.

Justice Served: Two Men to Die by Hanging for Rape, Murder of Anambra Teenager

metro

Man Uses Hot Pressing Iron on Daughter’s Private Part for Bedwetting

Published

15 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Man Uses Hot Pressing Iron on Daughter’s Private Part for Bedwetting

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested one Amos Paul, a resident of Unaun, Upenme in Owo Local Government Area, for allegedly inflicting grievous bodily harm on his 10-year-old daughter. The suspect was arrested on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following a report filed with the police regarding the incident. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that the suspect allegedly used a hot pressing iron to burn the private part of his daughter as punishment for bed-wetting. The victim sustained severe injuries and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where she is currently receiving medical treatment. Jimoh stated that upon receipt of the information, detectives from ‘A’ Division, Owo swiftly mobilised to the scene, arrested the suspect without delay, and took him into custody. The case has been transferred to the Gender Unit for discreet investigation and further necessary action in line with established procedures.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the alleged act in the strongest terms, describing it as “cruel, inhumane and completely unacceptable”. He reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable members of society from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation. The Commissioner urged members of the public to promptly report cases of child abuse, domestic violence and other related offences to the nearest police station, assuring that the command will continue to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

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The Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ondo State was reportedly taking over the matter on behalf of the state government. This underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the rising cases of child abuse in the state. Nigeria’s Child Rights Act of 2003 prohibits corporal punishment and protects children from all forms of violence and degrading treatment. However, conflicting constitutional provisions and the partial adoption of the Child Rights Act by states applying Islamic law have impeded its full implementation. Under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, a parent who inflicts bodily harm on a child can be prosecuted, with conviction attracting up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine, or both. The Criminal Code also counts grievous bodily harm as an offence, irrespective of the offender’s relationship to the victim. Despite these legal protections, enforcement remains weak due to poor institutional capacity, limited awareness, and cultural acceptance of corporal punishment. The Nigerian government has pledged to end corporal punishment in schools as part of new global commitments to tackle violence against children.