Metro
Abductors Demand N90m Ransom For Ondo Travellers
Published
2 years agoon
By
EditorAbductors of Ondo travellers have demanded a sum of N90 million to release their victims who were kidnapped last Saturday.
The travellers were kidnapped on Akure-Benin Expressway at Ifon in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State while coming from Edo State. The victims were said to be returning from a burial ceremony in Ewatto, Edo State when they were attacked at Ifon, a border town between Ondo and Edo State.
It was gathered that the bandits had contacted the families of the victims, demanding between N3million and N10 million to release each of the victims.
Confirming the development, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said the state government was not involved in the ransom negotiation, saying payment of ransom further encouraged and empowered kidnappers to thrive in the illegal business.
He cleared that 18 people were kidnapped on a fateful day but nine of the victims escaped.
READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct Scores Of Travellers In Ondo
She said, “The victims went for burial at Ewatto town. They were returning in a 32- seater Coastal bus hired from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic when they were attacked by suspected kidnappers. The kidnappers shot into the air and took 18 of the passengers.
“Those remaining called the Amotekun Corps who got to the scene within 15 minutes. Among those in the bush, seven were found and two others escaped.
“Amotekun is working with the police, the DSS and the Nigerian Army to secure release of the remaining mine victims. They are demanding ransom of between N3m and N10m.
“We commend the gallant of Amotekun Corps in getting to the scene. Ondo State will not be a safe haven for criminals. They find this spot convenient because it borders Edo State. They will strike and run back into Edo State.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said the men of the command were still in the forest together with other security agencies to ensure other victims were rescued.
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Metro
JUST IN: Four-year-old Boy Dies In Abuja School, Parents Suspect Foul Play
Published
57 mins agoon
April 25, 2024By
EditorTragedy struck at BrickHall Schools located in the Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura in Abuja on Wednesday, when a four-year-old pupil, Miguel Ovoke, died during the school’s feeding hours.
According to the death certificate dated April 24, 2024, issued by Excel Specialist Hospital, Abuja, which was sighted by our correspondent, Ovoke was brought to the hospital by his teachers around 11 am in an unconscious state.
The medical report, signed by Dr. Akinwande Ajayi, on behalf of the medical director, indicated that he was brought in, “on account of aspiration on meat while feeding at school.”
READ ALSO: JUST IN: 118 Inmates Escape As Rainstorm Destroys Niger Prison
The hospital said upon examination, the medical team found that the boy’s pupils were fixed and dilated, with a nonreactive response to light.
His peripheral pulses were said to be “impalpable, blood pressure was unrecordable, and there was no cardiopulmonary activity or respiratory excursions, silent chest.”
The report indicated that all efforts of the medical team to resuscitate him failed.
The report concluded that he was “Brought in Dead.”
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It was learnt that the parents of the deceased, suspecting foul play, have contacted a lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, to handle the case on their behalf.
Adeyanju confirmed the development to our correspondent on Thursday.
Attempts to get the reaction of the school authorities as of the time of filing this report have not yielded any fruit.
The school has yet to respond to an email sent to its known email address.
The PUNCH correspondent also called and sent messages to the Head of School, Gloria Ijezie, to get the school’s reaction.
However, these efforts proved abortive as the calls to her line were redirected, and the messages sent to her as of press time remained unanswered.
Details later…
Metro
JUST IN: 118 Inmates Escape As Rainstorm Destroys Niger Prison
Published
1 hour agoon
April 25, 2024By
EditorA downpour on Wednesday night wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, resulting in extensive damage to the facility and facilitating the escape of 118 inmates.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Adamu Duza, on Thursday.
Duza noted that the downpour caused severe damage to the custodial centre’s infrastructure, including a breach in the perimeter fence, which allowed the inmates to flee.
In response, the NCoS swiftly activated its recapturing protocols, collaborating with other security agencies to recover 10 of the escaped inmates.
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Efforts to recapture the remaining fleeing inmates are said to be ongoing.
Recognising the vulnerability of aging facilities, many of which were built during the colonial era, Duza acknowledged that the NCoS was committed to modernising its infrastructure.
The statement further noted that the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, assured the public that the situation was under control and urged them to carry on with their daily activities without fear.
The public was encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or sightings of escaped inmates to the nearest security agency.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Flights Diverted As Fire Breaks Out At Lagos Airport
The statement read in part, “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying parts of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of 118 inmates of the facility.
“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit to recapture the rest.
“The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak. The Service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all aging facilities give way to modern ones.”
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“The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, wishes to assure the public that the service is on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the United States has underscored the significant challenge of overcrowding in Nigerian prisons.
The US, according to its ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,’ published on its website on Tuesday, noted that numerous correctional facilities were grappling with a staggering 50 per cent increase in the number of inmates beyond their intended capacity, revealing a systemic issue.
Furthermore, it disclosed that a notable proportion of these prisons, some with histories dating back 70 to 80 years, faced difficulties in meeting even the most fundamental standards of living.
Metro
JUST IN: Flights Diverted As Fire Breaks Out At Lagos Airport
Published
3 hours agoon
April 25, 2024By
EditorThe Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has diverted flight operations out of Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos to the D Wing following a fire outbreak at the facility.
The fire outbreak occured at the E54 Passenger Air Bridge at the domestic wing of the Airport.
In a press statement by the director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Obiageli Orah, the incident happened at 5:29hrs on Thursday morning.
According to the statement made available to LEADERSHIP, the fire, however, was brought under control by the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) at 06:41hrs while efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building were in progress.
READ ALSO:Software Engineer Sentenced To Life In Prison For R*ping Neighbour’s Daughter
“At 05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing. The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.
“The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress. In the meantime, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D Wing. More details will follow shortly,” Orah stated.
JUST IN: Four-year-old Boy Dies In Abuja School, Parents Suspect Foul Play
JUST IN: 118 Inmates Escape As Rainstorm Destroys Niger Prison
JUST IN: Flights Diverted As Fire Breaks Out At Lagos Airport
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