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Why, we killed Naval officer — Suspects

Published

3 years ago

June 30, 2023

The three suspects arrested over the murder of a Naval Officer, Sub-Lt. Samuel Akingbohun, in ldo- Ani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, has narrated why and how they killed the officer, after an altercation.

In an interview, while they were paraded by the state police command, the suspects, Ayomide Sambo, Johnson Adeleke and Shagari Francis, 17, confessed to killing the officer for assaulting one of them.

It was gathered that the three suspects just finished secondary school in the town.

They narrated how they used an iron rod to hit the deceased officer’s head and scrotum.

Ayomide Sambo, aged 20, narrated that the naval officer physically assaulted his friend, Johnson Adeleke, by slapping and giving him a headbutt, while trying to contest for the right of way in the community.
“We were so annoyed that we went after him and we cornered him at a junction, where we attacked him using an iron rod.

“We were on our way to collect a power bank when we encountered the naval officer. He was coming from the opposite direction, and the portion he was coming from was bad.

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“We were both trying to take a good path when my friend used his shoulder to shove the officer. “In annoyance, the naval officer slapped him and also gave him a headbutt. We started to beg the naval officer. After the naval officer had left, my friend said it was fake military personnel.

“It was then that we took a bike and traced him to the junction and challenged him.

“The naval officer and my friend started fighting. It was in the process that I picked up an iron rod and began to hit him all over his body. My friend also collected the iron rod from them and started hitting him.
“But the two of my friends are now denying it and saying that I was the only one that hit him with the iron rod.

“We have never seen the officer before. That was the first time we set our eyes on him. Even the Okada rider that carried us was saying that where my friend hit him with the iron rod was dangerous.

“We were arrested while trying to flee from the town. I was first arrested, while the other two were arrested the following day after I told the naval officers their whereabouts. The two of them are now saying that I was the only one that hit him.”

The second suspect, Johnson Adeleke, aged 20, however denied his involvement in the beating and killing of the officer.

Adeleke said: “When I was on my way to remove my power bank, I mistakenly hit my elbow with the navy officer. He slapped me and gave me a headbutt. At that moment, we didn’t know that he was a naval officer.

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“After the fisticuffs, we took a bike and traced him. After catching up with him, I confronted him, but he refused to say anything.

“The friend of the naval officer used his elbow to hit Ayomide, it was at that point that Ayomide picked up the iron rod and started hitting him. I did not hit him at all, it was Ayomide that was hitting him.

“I was already out of Idoani in a bid to escape when my mother’s elder brother called me to report to the station.”

The third suspect, Shagari Francis, 17, in an interview said: “I didn’t hit the naval officer. I was just following them. I was arrested when my mother took me to the station to ask if I was part of them.”

Commenting, the spokesperson for the command, Funmi Odunlam, said the suspects would soon be charged in court for prosecution after police investigation.

Odunlami said, “Currently, three suspects are in custody, and in the course of interrogation, we realised that one Ayomide Sambo was one of those mobilised to the scene, and when he got there, he carried an iron rod, hit him on his head and his testicles, and started stoning him.

“Later, he became unconscious, and he was rushed to the hospital in the town, where he was confirmed dead by the Doctor.” (vanguard)

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Three Women Killed, 10 Injured in Multiple Crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge

Published

1 hour ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Three Women Killed, 10 Injured in Multiple Crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge

Excessive speeding and loss of control caused one vehicle to plunge off the Long Bridge into a ditch, according to eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations.

OGUN STATE, Nigeria – Tragedy struck the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday, September 4, 2026, when a multiple-vehicle crash at the Long Bridge claimed the lives of three women and left 10 others with varying degrees of injuries. The crash occurred around 5:10 p.m. at the Long Bridge, opposite Mikano, inward Lagos, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Sector Command. The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident, placing the time at approximately 5:24 p.m. Three vehicles were involved in the crash: a white Mazda bus with registration number AGL 891 XX, a white Toyota bus with registration number KJA 247 YM, and a white Toyota Corolla with registration number BDG 867 HG. According to the FRSC, a total of 16 people—comprising 12 males and four females—were involved in the crash. Ten victims, including nine males and one female, sustained injuries, while three female occupants were confirmed dead.

Preliminary investigations identified speed violation (SPV) and loss of control (LOC) as the probable causes of the crash. Eyewitness accounts indicated that excessive speeding and loss of control caused one of the vehicles to somersault into a ditch. The FRSC stated that further investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

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The crash was reported to the FRSC at 5:34 p.m., and rescue teams arrived at the scene six minutes later, at 5:40 p.m. Emergency responders from TRACE, the FRSC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Service all responded to the scene. Some of the injured victims were evacuated to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre in Ojota by the Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Service, while others were transported to AZ Hospital in Magboro by the FRSC. The remains of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital, Ifo, morgue, and the Idera Hospital morgue in Sagamu. The vehicle that plunged into the ditch was recovered and moved to the Warewa Police Station, alongside the other vehicles involved in the crash, for further investigation.

The crash caused significant traffic disruptions along the expressway during evacuation operations, but normalcy was restored after the vehicles were cleared from the scene. The Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery. He urged motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to exercise maximum caution, avoid excessive speed, maintain proper control of their vehicles, and remain alert throughout their journeys. Ogunjobi further advised motorists to “drive within safe speed limits and avoid any behaviour capable of compromising their safety and that of other road users”.

The incident follows a pattern of fatal accidents on the busy expressway. On August 25, 2026, seven people were killed and two others injured in a multiple road crash involving three vehicles around the Kara area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Three Women Killed, 10 Injured in Multiple Crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge

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Socialite Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo Dies After Penis Enlargement Surgery

Published

3 hours ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Socialite Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo Dies After Penis Enlargement Surgery

The British-Nigerian influencer, a close friend of Afrobeats star Davido, was buried in a gold coffin. But an unresolved NDLEA drug trafficking case and the extraordinary timing of his death have fueled conspiracy theories.

LONDON, United Kingdom – British-Nigerian socialite and influencer Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, a close friend of Afrobeats superstar Davido, died on March 6, 2026, from a pulmonary embolism caused by a penis enlargement procedure he underwent in Bangkok, Thailand. He was 43 years old. But long before his death, Ubiribo and his wife, Zimbabwean fashion designer Danielle Simba Allen, had been declared wanted by Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over allegations of running an international drug trafficking syndicate. Adding to the intrigue, reports indicate Ubiribo was expected to appear in a Nigerian court on March 7, 2026—the day after his death—to answer the charges. The extraordinary timing has generated conspiracy theories, with some social media users even suggesting Ubiribo may have faked his death to escape prosecution. However, there is no evidence to support this speculation. A London inquest provided substantial evidence of his death, including treatment at a Bangkok hospital, a UK postmortem, and a coroner’s formal finding.

Ubiribo was on a luxury holiday in Bangkok with his wife when he opted to undergo a cosmetic penis enlargement procedure at an unnamed clinic. An inquest at the Inner West London Coroners’ Court heard that he received approximately 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine injected into his penis on March 5, 2026. After the procedure, Ubiribo and his wife returned to their Marriott hotel and went for a massage. During the massage, he complained of chest pain and lost consciousness twice. He was rushed by ambulance to Sukhumvit Hospital, where he was initially conscious and able to answer questions. His wife informed doctors about the filler injections, but Ubiribo lost consciousness before a recommended CT scan could be performed. Doctors diagnosed him with a pulmonary embolism—a blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs—and transferred him to intensive care. Medical staff reportedly performed CPR for more than 100 minutes, but he could not be revived.

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A post-mortem examination conducted in the UK found cellular material in Ubiribo’s lungs consistent with the hyaluronic acid used in the penile filler. Pathologist John du Parcq stated that the findings were consistent with a pulmonary embolism and matched the results of a Thai autopsy. Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin concluded that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the cosmetic procedure. The inquest also heard that Ubiribo had pre-existing medical conditions, including prediabetes and gout, and had previously undergone joint surgery.

Before his death, Ubiribo and his wife had been at the centre of a high-profile drug trafficking investigation. In April 2023, the NDLEA declared Ubiribo, Allen, and Port Harcourt-based prophetess Faith Ugochi wanted over allegations of running an international drug trafficking syndicate. The investigation began after NDLEA operatives intercepted 32.70 kilograms of “Loud” cannabis concealed in cartons of used clothing at the NAHCO import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on November 16, 2022. A freight agent was arrested, and subsequent investigations led to more arrests. The NDLEA alleged that the syndicate recruited teenage girls as sales agents through Ugochi’s church and that Ubiribo and Allen operated the group from Los Angeles. One suspect, Edward Omatseye (alias Montana), told investigators he worked for Ubiribo and Allen, whom the agency described as the “overall heads” of the group. The agency obtained Federal High Court orders declaring the three wanted and blocked about N80 million connected to the investigation. According to the NDLEA, invitation letters sent to Ubiribo and Allen were initially answered through lawyers who requested more time, after which the couple allegedly became unreachable.

Nearly three years later came the remarkable coincidence. GWG.ng reported that Ubiribo was expected to appear in a Nigerian court on March 7, 2026—the day after his death—in connection with the trafficking allegations. While the outlet stated it had not independently obtained the court record confirming that appearance, an NDLEA official confirmed the agency was awaiting documentary evidence of Ubiribo’s death before determining the finality of the case against him. The timing has fueled online speculation, with some even questioning whether Ubiribo could have staged his death to escape the Nigerian case. There is presently no evidence supporting such speculation.

Ubiribo was buried in London in a gold coffin reportedly worth more than $745,000. His funeral was attended by celebrity mourners, including Davido, who delivered an emotional tribute, describing Ubiribo as a man of “light, energy, courage, resilience” and saying his absence “doesn’t feel real”.

Socialite Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo Dies After Penis Enlargement Surgery

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Senator Shehu Buba Denies Bandit Links, Says Viral Videos Manipulated

Published

3 hours ago

September 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Senator Shehu Buba

Senator Shehu Buba Denies Bandit Links, Says Viral Videos Manipulated

The Bauchi South lawmaker rejects fresh banditry allegations, claims footage was spliced, and challenges accusers to provide evidence as Christian elders demand an independent probe.

ABUJA, Nigeria – Senator Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has forcefully denied fresh allegations linking him to banditry, describing viral videos and claims circulating on social media as part of a sustained campaign of disinformation and character assassination. Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence and currently Chairman of the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, has faced repeated accusations of having links with suspected bandits since 2024—claims he has consistently rejected. The latest controversy erupted after a content creator known as ‘D English Alhaji’ circulated videos allegedly showing suspected bandit kingpins visiting the senator’s residence. The allegations gained further traction after a resident identified as Hassan, in an interview with the social media influencer, accused Buba of being among politicians allegedly aiding bandits in the area. Hassan also claimed that individuals linked to notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for specialised training, purportedly facilitated by an aide of the senator.

In a statement issued on Sunday titled, “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation,” Buba dismissed the allegations as false and malicious. He said a fact-check established that the viral material combined two unrelated clips: one showing Kaduna-based Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023, and another showing different individuals displaying passports. “The individuals in the first video spoke Fulfulde; those in the second spoke English. The claim that these clips constitute evidence of bandits visiting my residence is false,” Buba stated. The senator challenged anyone with credible evidence linking him to criminal activities to submit it to the appropriate security agencies, insisting that he had “nothing to hide and nothing to fear from any legitimate investigation”. He also urged journalists, editors, fact-checkers and civil society organisations to independently interrogate the allegations rather than accept viral social media materials at face value.

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Buba traced the controversy to September 15, 2024, when Umar Shayi allegedly led a militia group described as hunters working for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment. The group reportedly killed two charcoal sellers conducting their lawful business. As the elected senator representing the district, Buba said he visited the families of the deceased, demanded justice, and condemned the killings. He alleged that following his intervention, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Bununu, publicly linked his name to banditry—an allegation he rejected as false and unsupported by evidence. Subsequently, Governor Bala Mohammed petitioned President Bola Tinubu, alleging that Buba sponsored a “bandit kingpin” to perform the 2024 Hajj through an aide named Yahaya Ibrahim. Buba categorically denied the allegation, stating he had no aide by that name and inviting security agencies to investigate.

Rather than engage in a public exchange, Buba said he filed a defamation suit, marked CV/413/2024, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. He also stated that he had taken legal action against individuals behind the allegations in courts in Nigeria and Niamey, Niger Republic. According to Buba, after the videos circulated and those sharing them demanded money as extortion, he petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025. Five suspects were subsequently arraigned on October 30, 2025, before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on charges including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion. The next hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026. Meanwhile, Buba disclosed that he had submitted a formal criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor at the Tribunal of First Instance in Niamey, Niger Republic, through a legal practitioner in that country, seeking the criminal prosecution of Hassan Saleh Hussein for defamation and insult carried out via electronic communication.

Addressing the origin of photographs and videos now circulating online, Buba said a young man identified as Hassan Husseini had been introduced to him in 2024 as an orphan requiring educational assistance. He enrolled the young man in a private college and an Islamic school in Kaduna and also provided him with a bicycle. According to the senator, Husseini later abandoned his education and requested money to establish a car dealership—a request Buba declined, advising him to return to school. “I later discovered that, while under my care, he had recorded photographs and videos of visitors to my residence. These materials later formed the basis of allegations circulated on social media,” Buba said.

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The controversy has drawn responses from various quarters. The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the allegations. The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, described the allegations as “too serious to be ignored, dismissed, or allowed to be buried under political, ethnic, or religious sentiments”. NOSCEF urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Security Adviser to immediately initiate an investigation capable of establishing the truth or otherwise of the allegations. The group also called on Senator Buba to step aside from his legislative responsibilities pending the conclusion of the investigation, saying this would “demonstrate accountability and enable security agencies to conduct their work without interference or the perception of political influence”. Former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung also urged the DSS to make public the outcome of its investigation into the allegations, stressing that the matter should not be treated as a mere political disagreement.

Buba claimed that his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and pursue his governorship ambition had heightened political attacks against him. He recalled that former Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar made remarks about the source of his wealth in July 2026, which he considered defamatory, and that he had opted for legal action in that instance. “Political disagreement should never justify character assassination. My decision to leave the APC for the Peoples Redemption Party, under whose platform I am pursuing my gubernatorial aspiration, should be debated on policies, competence and vision, not on fabricated allegations,” Buba said. The senator maintained that he was open to public scrutiny but insisted that such scrutiny must be based on verifiable facts. “There is a difference between investigation and fabrication, between criticism and blackmail, and between political opposition and deliberate character assassination,” he stated.

Buba explained that he initially refrained from responding to the allegations because of the sensitive nature of his previous responsibility as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence. “National security demands discretion. Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals and communities involved in sensitive interventions,” he said. He also rejected suggestions that his humanitarian and philanthropic activities were designed to conceal improper relationships, saying his sponsorship of pilgrims, educational programmes, medical interventions and empowerment initiatives were based on recommendations from community and religious leaders. Buba emphasised that Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity by military force alone, advocating complementary non-kinetic strategies involving community engagement, dialogue, intelligence gathering, deradicalisation and confidence-building. “Sustainable security requires winning the trust of vulnerable communities, strengthening local intelligence networks and creating pathways for cooperation with legitimate authorities,” he said.

The Bauchi State Police Command said it had no formal basis to comment on the allegations, as no petition had been received from any of the parties. The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, told Saturday Punch that the matter had not been formally brought before the state police authorities. The Force Public Relations Officer did not respond to calls or messages seeking clarification on the alleged arrests and investigation. A businessman and political ally of Buba, Mukhtar Gwarzo, called on security agencies and other relevant institutions to thoroughly investigate the allegations. Gwarzo, the Managing Director of Nixon Energy and Nixon Telecoms, said the accusations were too serious to be ignored because of their implications for national security. “I am not asking anyone to close their eyes. I am not asking for silence. Let every allegation be thoroughly investigated. Let the DSS speak clearly. Let the National Assembly examine the matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Gwarzo stated.