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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.

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

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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.

“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.”

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

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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Man Arrested For Raping Four-year-old Girl

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The Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended one Afolabi Ojo for allegedly raping a four-year-old pupil.

Leadership reports that the mother of the young girl reported the incident at the NSCDC Command in Ado-Ekiti, where she informed officials that the assault took place on Olujoda Street. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested.

During questioning, the girl disclosed that the suspect had removed her underwear and sexually assaulted her late in April.

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Additionally, the girl’s mother stated that her daughter had confided in her about the incident.

However, the suspect denied all allegations, claiming he was falsely accused.

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, Tolu Afolabi, confirmed that a medical examination had been conducted on the girl.

Afolabi revealed that the medical report confirmed the rupture of the hymen of the young girl.

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Furthermore, Afolabi stated that the command had initiated an investigation into the matter.

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LAUTECH Student Stabbed To Death In Ogbomoso

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An undergraduate student at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in Oyo State, simply identified as Adedokun Olamilekan was stabbed to death by yet-to-be-identified people at the Under G area in the town on Thursday night.

Olamilekan, a 200-level student of the Department of Information Science, was said to be running a business outfit known as Dcrown Unisex Salon at Under G before he was murdered by his assailants during an argument.

He was reportedly stabbed by yet-to-be-identified colleagues and later rushed to a nearby hospital, where he gave up the ghost.

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READ ALSO: NIMC Warns Against Fake NIN Number

One person who witnessed the incident said, “He was rushed immediately to the nearest hospital where he was confirmed dead.

“The case has been reported to Owode Police Station, Ogbomoso, Oyo state.”

All efforts to get the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso’s reactions were unsuccessful as his telephone mobile number was not reachable.

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Also, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Fadeyi was not reachable as of press time.

 

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Navy Sends Eight Warships, Helicopters After Sea Pirates

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The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanual Ogalla, said eight elite Nigeria Navy warships and two helicopters have left the country’s shores to combat sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The maritime security operations will encompass anti-crude oil, anti-sea piracy, anti-sea robbery, and anti-fishing, as well as boarding and aerial operations, among other activities.

Vice Admiral Ogalla, who disclosed this to newsmen during the flag-off of exercise ‘Obangame Express 2024,’ in Onne, Rivers State on Friday, said the deployment was a global joint naval operation.

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READ ALSO: Navy Arrests 14 Suspects, Uncovers Illegal Refinery In Rivers

Ogalla, who was represented by the Navy’s Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, also said the naval Special Boat Service (Special Forces) would participate in the week-long exercise.

The CNS stated, “Obangame Express, sponsored by the United States African Command (US Africom), brings together naval fleets from the GoG and key partners from Europe, the Spanish navy, and North America to secure the region.

“It offers a platform for like-minded partners to jointly devise African-led solutions to transnational threats and challenges for enhancing regional security,” he said.

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He stated that Nigeria is committed to working with the Gulf of Guinea nations on the anti-piracy mission aimed at securing the maritime environment of the region to promote economic activities.

READ ALSO: Navy Arrests Suspected Oil Thief Enroute Cameroon With 15,500 Litres Of PMS

The CNS recounted recent successful joint operations between the Nigerian Navy and the Cameroonian Navy that led to the arrest of a vessel ‘MV Jasmine’ for alleged crude oil theft.

He added, “Likewise, through information provided by the French navy, another rogue vessel, MT Big Majesty, was arrested two months ago in the Gulf of Guinea. Just a few days ago, the Nigerian Navy, acting on behalf of the Gabonese Government, apprehended MV Blu Shark, demonstrating our commitment to regional collaboration.

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“These successes mirror the objectives of exercise Obangame Express, which are already commonplace in our maritime space”

He noted that the exercise aligns with the African Union’s forthcoming launch of a joint maritime task force to enhance regional cooperation in combating maritime crimes in the GoG.

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