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Abducted Imo Catholic Priest, Driver Regain Freedom

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The abducted parish priest of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in the Umuekebi community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Reverend Fr Kingsley Eze, also known as Father Ichie, and his driver, Uchenna Newman, have regained their freedom.

Gunmen had on Thursday last week kidnapped the cleric and his driver when they alighted from a Volvo jeep to purchase at Orieama junction around 8 pm.

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Our correspondent gathered on Friday that the kidnapped victims returned home unharmed.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gunmen Kidnap Catholic Priest, One Other In Imo

Though City Round had yet to confirm if any ransom was paid before the priest and his driver were released, a source claimed that the victims paid N500,000 as ransom.

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“I can now confirm that the Reverend Father and the driver have been released after a ransom of N500,000 was paid yesterday around Umucheke Okwe in the Onuimo LGA,” the source said.

Another source, an indigene of the Umuekebi community added, “It is true, the priest and Mr Uchenna have been released. They are back home. The vehicle they were kidnapped in was tolled from the Okigwe area. We thank God that they are home.”

READ ALSO: Abductors Of Imo Catholic Priest, Driver Reduce Ransom From N50m To N10m

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Earlier, the kidnappers had on Sunday and Monday contacted the wife of the driver and demanded a N50 million ransom for the release of the duo. They later called and reduced the price tag to N10m.

The state police command has yet to react to the kidnap of the priest and has not issued any statement over their release.

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Lagos: Police Arrest Security Guard For Stealing Generators, Others

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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old security guard for allegedly breaking into an apartment and carting away household items worth about N1.8 million.

Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the arrest in a statement released on Saturday, adding that the suspect was tracked down by officers attached to the Iju Police Division.

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He said operatives from the Iju Division apprehended the suspect following a report from a resident of the Ifako area, who returned home on August 15 to find his house burgled.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Dismembering Pregnant Sister-in-law In Kwara

Stolen items included a Sumec generator, a Fireman generator, a National air conditioner, and three air conditioner compressor engines, all valued at N1.8 million.

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“Detectives arrested the suspect in the same neighbourhood after investigations revealed he conspired with others, who are still at large, to commit the crime,” Hundeyin said.

He added that the stolen items have been recovered, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.

READ ALSO:Edo Police Arrest Doctor Over Woman’s Death During Caesarean Section

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Hundeyin said the case would be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, assured residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing criminals to justice and urged employers to conduct proper background checks before hiring staff.

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NAF Kills 35 Terrorists In Border Airstrikes Near Cameroon

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The Nigeria Air Force said it had killed more than 35 jihadists in raids Saturday on militant fighters that had gathered near the Nigeria–Cameroon border following an attempted attack on ground troops.

The air strike was the latest by the Nigerian military, which is battling a resurgence of attacks in the country’s embattled northwest.

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Acting on multiple intelligence from several sources, the Air Component executed precision strikes in successive passes, engaging the terrorists and neutralising more than 35 fighters at four identified assembly areas,” said a Nigerian Air Force statement.

READ ALSO:Group Protests Alleged Sale Of Workers’ Housing Estate To NAF

It re-established communication with the ground troops that had been threatened, and they confirmed that the “situation around their location had been stabilised,” the statement added.

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The strike had “intensified efforts” to dominate the battles field and “deny terrorists freedom of action,” said the statement.

While Nigeria’s 16-year-old insurgency has slowed since violence peaked around 2015, attacks have picked up since the beginning of the year.

The Air Force said the latest operation demonstrated the force’s commitment to providing close air support to ground forces, “while also disrupting terrorist logistics and movement corridors along the north east border regions.”

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Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Dismembering Pregnant Sister-in-law In Kwara

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The police command in Kwara says it arrested a man, who allegedly dismembered the body of his pregnant sister-in-law, Mrs Esther Enemo at Egbejila Road in Temidire community, Ilorin.

This is contained in a statement by the command Spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Saturday in Ilorin.

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According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the command wishes to inform members of the public of a tragic incident that occurred in the early hours of Aug. 21, at Temidire community in Ilorin.

‎”At about 9 a.m., a resident of the area reported a suspected foul play within the residence of one Mrs Esther Enemo.

READ ALSO:Final-year Kwara Student, Three Others Jailed For Internet Fraud

“In a swift response, a team of police detectives visited the scene, where the dismembered body of Mrs Esther Enemo (aged 39 years) was discovered in the bush behind her residence.

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“Further search led to the recovery of other parts of her body concealed in a sack and dumped beneath a nearby community bridge.

‎”The suspect, (names withheld), aged 29 years, younger brother to the victim’s husband, who was seen leaving the house a few minutes before the discovery of the incident, has been arrested in connection with the crime.

READ ALSO:Gospel Singer, Eight Others Jailed For Internet Fraud In Kwara

”Meanwhile, the husband has also been contacted for necessary clarification.
“The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) morgue for autopsy.

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‎”The Commissioner of Police (CP), Ojo Adekimi, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter, assuring that the command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served,” he said.

Ejire-Adeyemi expressed the command regret of the unfortunate incident and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid speculations that would incite fear or tension within the community.

READ ALSO:Mobile Court On Standby, As Street Traders Clash With Kwara Govt

He assured that the police would unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring the perpetrators to face the full weight of the law.

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He urged the residents to continue to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that would aid ongoing investigations and security operations.

He reiterated the command to resolve to protect all residents and ensure peace prevailed in the state.

NAN

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