Metro

31-year-old Footballer Drowns While Rescuing Victims Of Boat Mishap In Bayelsa

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2022

A 31-year-old grassroots footballer from Bayelsa State, Ernest Peremobowei, has reportedly died while trying to rescue victims of a boat mishap in the raging flood of Bebelebiri Community, in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

The corpse of the deceased was, however, recovered two days after while some of his body parts were allegedly eaten up by fish in the river.

It was gathered that Peremobowei, one of the three joint top scorers in the just-concluded Prosperity Cup, a local tournament organised by the Bayelsa State Government met his untimely death while returning home in a canoe shortly after taking his wife and three children to a higher ground to escape the raging flood.

According to eyewitness accounts, the canoe which was conveying him and six other persons from the Federal Medical Center waterfront capsized because it could not withstand the current of the raging flood.

Confirming the incident, the coach of Bebelebiri FC which he played for during the last edition of the competition, Kenneth Dreams, said that the popular footballer died in the process rescuing other occupants of the canoe.

He said “He took his family to an IDP camp because the flood had taken over his house. So, while returning home, he boarded a canoe with six others when the current of the raging flood capsized the boat.

“We heard that he was able to save four persons who were involved in the boat mishap before drowning at the end. He was a great player during the tournament but we have no other choice but to accept the loss.”

The younger brother to the deceased, Earnest Komboye, who also confirmed the incident.

He said, “Due to the high current of the flood, they lost control of the boat when they smashed into the Government Jetty Barge. He was the only one that knew how to swim well and he rescued the five persons with him. I think he was exhausted and was washed away by the current.”

He also confirmed the last person rescued by his late brother is at the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa for treatment.

Komboye, said the loss of his brother to flood is painful and a huge loss to his wife and two children, aged between 10 months (girl) and 3 years (boy), “the family is appealing to the State Government to assist the deceased’s children and the family at this trying moments.”

Metro

22-year-old Man Arrested With Arms, POS Machine In Edo

Published

4 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old man, Francis Okoye Obinna, for possession of arms and ammunition.

Spokesperson of the command, Chidi Nwabuzor, who made this known in a statement on Monday, April 15, 2024, said the suspect was arrested along the Benin-Lagos expressway during a stop and search operation.

According to the PPRO, a POS machine, a Brownie Pistol, and 9 rounds of 6mm ammunition were found in his possession.

“This young man Francis Okoye Obinna ‘m’ age 22 years old, boarded a bus from Lagos heading to Anambra State was intercepted by operatives of the Edo State Command while on purposeful stop and search along Benin-Lagos expressway on 07/04/2024,” the statement read.

“During the search, the following exhibits were found in his possession; a Brownie Pistol with breach No. PZ1833, 9 rounds of 6mm ammunition and a POS Machine

“In his confessional statement, he said it was one man called Emma in Lagos that gave him the gun to use it to threaten one Mr. Paul Okoye who he alleged to have killed his father with a charm I Anambra State

“Furtherance to their investigation, the operatives of the Command embarked on investigation activities to Lago to ascertain the truth about his statement. On getting to Lagos, it was discovered that the suspect was telling lies about his confessional statement

“Investigation continues to know how he came about the gun and the POS, what he used it for,” the statement reads.

Metro

Man Jailed 27 Years For Stealing N2.3m In Ekiti

Published

8 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Editor

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Dipo Femi, to 27 years imprisonment for conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

The sentences which will run concurrently from the day of arrest included seven years each for three charges (21 years) and three years each for two charges (six years).

Femi was arraigned on July 19, 2022, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary and other offences, contrary to Sections 421, 324 and 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

According to the charge, Femi and others, now at large, on March 14, 2022, at 5:30 a.m., at Oke Ureje, Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did conspire and break into the shops of Victor Mark, Clement Moses and Samuel Lucky and stole various items.

Items stolen during the burglary, according to the charge, included “men’s and ladies’ wears, jewellery, footwear, cash sum of N200,000, perfumes, body spray, fez caps among others valued at N2.150m”.

The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, and bond to produce as exhibits while the defendant spoke in his defence through his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, and he called no witnesses.

In the judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye said, “I will not hesitate to hold that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the basic elements of stealing against the defendant and I so hold.

“In counts 1, 2 and 4, (conspiracy and burglary) the defendant is convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment each and in counts 3 and 5, the defendant is sentenced to three years imprisonment each, time of the imprisonment are to run concurrently from the date of arrest,” the judge pronounced.

Metro

Imo Police Nab Notorious Kidnap Kingpin, Recover Snatched Vehicle

Published

11 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command Anti Kidnapping Unit led have apprehended a notorious kidnap kingpin, 40-year-old Aralu Chukwudi Charis of Nnewi North LGA of Anambra State.

A statement released by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, says the arrest was made following credible intelligence and a well-coordinated operation that led the operatives to the criminal hideout of the suspect at Mgbidi in Oru East LGA of Imo State on April 13 where he was ambushed and eventually arrested.

He stated that the suspect masterminded several kidnapping and armed robbery operations in Imo State.

“On searching his hideout, one Ash Coloured Toyota Camry, 2005 model, with reg no; MUS 509 DS Lagos, reportedly snatched was recovered. In the course of investigation, he confessed that he is the gang leader of a deadly criminal syndicate terrorizing the people of Imo State and provided crucial information that will assist the determined operatives in the arrest of his syndicate at large.’‘ the statement reads in part

The police added that the suspect will be arraigned in court upon completion of a comprehensive investigation.

The statement added that the state Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, therefore reiterated the Command’s commitment to continually clamp down on unrepentant criminal syndicate perpetrating insecurity in the State.

He noted that CP advised the residents of Imo State, particularly the youths to eschew crime, warning that perpetrators will always be exposed and in most cases, end up in tragedy.