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A-Ibom Village Head, 12 Others Nabbed For Beheading Three Hunters

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The Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have apprehended the village head of Utit Antai village in the Unyene community of the Mbo Local Government of the state, one Okon Asuquo Etteokpo, and 12 others for allegedly kidnapping and beheading three marine hunters.

It was gathered that the suspects who allegedly kidnapped their victims beheaded them and buried them in a shadow grave in a forest while getting spiritual strength from the village head.

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The state commissioner of police, Joseph Eribo, who briefed journalists in Uyo, on Monday while parading the suspects along with other criminals, said that suspects were arrested following intelligence that revealed that the marine hunters were killed and buried at a shadow grave in a forest between Efiat and Unyenge villages in Mbo LGA.

He said upon the arrest of the suspects, the operatives launched a comprehensive search for the corpses and found them buried in shallow graves with their heads dismembered.

READ ALSO Panic In 11 States As Release Of Water From Lagdo Dam Begins:

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“On Thursday, August 29, 2024, following information received on the 18th of August, 2024 that the Marine Hunters abducted and killed were buried in shallow graves within the community, the Command’s operatives, upon getting the information, embarked on a hot chase of a gang of sea pirates/kidnappers led by one Success (other names) unknown who usually terrorise Oron waterways and its environs.

“The intelligence gathered revealed that they were camping in a forest between Efiat and Unyenge villages in Mbo L.G.A. The Command operatives combed the areas and arrested the suspects,” Eribo said

He disclosed that about 15 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects, whom he listed to include one Jephter Inwang, Clement Emmanuel, Promise Nkerobia, Anthony Atte, Nkereuwem Edet and Joseph Asuquo

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Others include Anietie Tom, Gad Inwang, Emmanuel Otoyo Emmanuel, Daniel Ekpo, Mary Edet Isong and Godswill Jackson, and the village head of Utit Antai village in Unyene community, Okon Asuquo Etteokpo, who is said to be their ally and spiritual fortified.

READ ALSO: APGA Factions Clash Over Threat To Suspend Soludo

Also paraded include one Ukpono Etim Effiong, Samuel Young and Faith Richard for unlawful possession of firearm.

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The CP said, “On 05/09/2024, one Abasiama James reported to the Command through a written petition. On the strength of the report, Operatives of the Command swung into action and arrested one Ukpono Etim Effiong and immediately a search was executed in his house and premises.

“Items recovered from his possession include; one locally made short gun with 19.87mm life ammunition and a four (4) gallon containing raw acid. The suspect will soon be charged in court.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: UNIBEN Students Trapped as Three-storey Building collapses

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“Also on 19/08/2024 at about 12:30 pm, operatives of the Command during active stop and search along Ikot Obong road by Mary Slessor in Ibiono Ibom L.G.A intercepted one Samuel Bassey Young and Faith Richard Peter searched and recovered a Beretta pistol and some wraps suspected to be Indian hemp.

“Suspects confessed to the crime and mentioned other names. Efforts are ongoing to arrest others who are at large.”

Eribo, who called on officers and men of the command to sustain the peace being enjoyed in the state, added that the command would not hesitate to reward any outstanding police officer or officers for doing a good job while at the same time punishing the erring ones.

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‘Nigerians Must Go,’ Ghanaians Protest Alleged Prostitution, Ritual Killings

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Some Ghanaians have protested against Nigerians for allegedly engaging in mass prostitution and ritual killings in their country.

In a viral video on Tuesday, the protesters in their large numbers, were seen wielding placards with various inscriptions such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop; “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution; “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians; “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals; “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” among others.

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They also displayed a picture of a man who was allegedly killed by a Nigerian in the Accra area of the country.

Speaking in the video, a lady in her mid-30s said Nigerians must go because of their anyhowness in their country.

READ ALSO:Ghanaians Protest, Decry ‘State-sponsored’ Harassment In Abuja

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Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go,” she yelled.

Another protester said Nigerians have taken over their major markets and are perpetrating evil of sorts in their country.

These Igbo, they are in every part of the country and have targeted our markets. Not just Igbo, Nigerians are in almost every village, and our laws have not allowed foreigners to engage in real dealings. They are perpetrating evil in our country. They even have a Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country,” he stressed.

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Recall that a similar occurrence popularly christened “Ghana must go” happened in 1983 when the Nigerian government under President Shehu Shagari enacted a directive ordering about two million undocumented immigrants, many of whom were Ghanaians, to leave the country.

READ ALSO:June 12 Protest: Security Operatives Barricade N’Assembly Gate

If they don’t leave, they should be arrested, tried and sent back to their homes.

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“Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever. If you break a law, then you have to pay for it,” the President had said.

This action gave birth to a checked bag called “Ghana must go” into which the Ghanaians packed their belongings, and in turn became a symbol of exclusion and intolerance.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ghanaian government has yet to comment on the situation and the plight of their countrymen on returning Nigerians to their country, irrespective of their status.

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Gunmen Shoot, Abduct Anambra Bizman

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Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted a businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, at the Okpuno community in the Awka area of Anambra State.

A security expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known via his X handle on Monday.

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According to him, the attackers invaded the victim’s residence around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, shot him in the leg, and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

He further stated that Onyekere is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and the son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

READ ALSO:Anambra Guber: No Competition, Other Candidates Just Raising Funds – Soludo

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He wrote, “Armed men abducted a prominent Anambra businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekere, on Saturday night in Okpuno community near Awka, shooting him in the leg before taking him to an unknown location.

“Onyekere, who is the Managing Director of Fish Magnet and son of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was reportedly attacked at about 10:30 p.m. at his residence in Ezinifite Village, a remote part of the town.

“Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus SUV, forced their way into the compound, shot the victim in the leg, and fled with him in his own navy blue Toyota Corolla. The vehicle’s registration number remains unknown.”

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While quoting sources, he stated that the assailants escaped through bush paths in the direction of Nawfia, sparking fear among residents.

READ ALSO:Three Rescued As Police Foil Kidnap Plot In Anambra

Local volunteers and security watch groups were also said to have been combing the area in search of the victim, while efforts are being made to trace his phone and contact the abductors.

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When contacted, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, requested a text. The text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The PUNCH reported in June that a 24-year-old suspect, Muanaenye Victor, was arrested for luring his friend to be kidnapped by his criminal gang.

READ ALSO:Anambra Revenue Service Faults Obi’s Claim On Brewery’s Tax Ranking

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The suspect was said to have planned the kidnapping and collected a ransom in dollars, the equivalent of N5.3m, with his gang members before the victim was released.

Ikenga, however, disclosed that police operatives attached to the Uli Divisional Headquarters arrested the suspect, who also helped the police by providing information to help apprehend his accomplices.

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Armed Thugs Invade Stakeholders’ Summit In Edo, Beat Organiser To Pulp

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A disturbing video has gone viral showing an activist, Comrade Okhai Okhani, Coordinator of Edo North Unity Worldwide, being violently assaulted by armed vigilantes in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.

The activist, currently in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital, is calling on the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Directorate of State Services, and the Edo State government to investigate the incident, arrest the perpetrators, and ensure justice is served.

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Narrating his ordeal to newsmen via telephone, Okhani recounted how over 50 uniformed armed vigilantes and thugs stormed the venue of a stakeholders’ summit he organized for political office holders in Edo North to present their scorecards.

The event, according to him is an annual forum to assess and honour public office holders who had positively impacted their constituencies in delivering dividends of democracy.

He stated that he had sent out official invitations to notable political figures including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Hon. Peter Akpatason, Hon. Anamero Sunday, and Hon. Hussein Mustapher, and several others.

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READ ALSO: Why Peter Obi Should Inform Okpebholo Before Visiting Edo – Oshiomhole

The venue for the event, he added, was approved by the Acting Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council, Hon. Valentine Okuilagwe.

Okhani said all was set for takeoff when the venue was not only attacked and vandalized, guests were brutalized and valuables were destroyed and phone handsets were carted away by the attackers.

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Alleging that it was orchestrated by political actors in Edo North, who felt the assessment and honour was not in their favour, he said they deployed the vigilante group with thugs to disrupt the gathering.

According to him, “Shortly before the event commenced, a group of vigilantes and thugs arrived on motorcycles and without any provocation assaulted participants, damaging equipments, and beating me to pulp.

“I recognized some of the vigilante members. They descended on me and my colleagues, beat us up with matchets and clubs and even captured the violence on video. Then threw me into their waiting Hilux vehicle where they continued to brutalize me with the butts of their rifles,” Okhani said.

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READ ALSO: FOI: Access To Public Information, Right, Not Privilege, Says Edo Attorney General

He continued: “They took me to the Auchi Area Command of the Nigeria Police where I was detained for over four hours without formal charges. They falsely claimed that my venue was not approved for the event. Yet the venue, a public event centre was officially approved.

“Worried by the critical condition that I was in, the Police released me to my wife to seek medical treatment,” he added.

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Okhani described the incident as a politically motivated assault and expressed concern that local vigilante groups are now being used as tools of intimidation by powerful individuals in Edo North.

“I am in pain—my ribs, my head. These men dragged me to an unknown location before deciding to hand me over to the Area Commander, ACP Lawrence Adjihu, and his deputy, CSP Albert Udeme.”

READ ALSO: Law Firm Gives Okpebholo 7 Days To Apologise, Retract Threat To Peter Obi’s Freedom Of Movement

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Calling for public support and prayers, he urged the Edo State government to prevent further abuse of power by vigilante operatives while calling for those behind the attack to be brought to book.

Meanwhile the Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident.

Police Public Relations Officers, CSP Moses Yamu in a telephone interview said the command is aware of the incident, stressing that investigation into the incident has commenced.

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