Metro

Anambra: Permanent Secretary Allegedly Beats HoD To Coma, Govt Reacts

Published

1 year ago

August 26, 2024

The Anambra State Government, on Sunday, August 25, reacted to the fight and alleged “strangulation” that occured between the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu and one of the Heads of Department, simply identified as Mrs Nkem.

Achugbu is one of the new permanent secretaries appointed in March 2024 by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

The fight between both women reportedly happened at work on Thursday, August 15, during an argument over a yet-to-be-disclosed matter.

During the fight, Mrs Chigbu is alleged to have strangled Mrs Nkem, thereby putting her in a coma.

According to reports, the fight, which took place at the state ministry located at Dora Akunyili Development Centre, required the intervention of the state commisoner of Women Affairs Mrs Ify Obinabo for temporal peace to be restored between the two senior staff.

However, the injury inflicted on the HoD was so severe that she had to be the rushed to the Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (aka Amaku General Hospital) for emergency treatment to save her life.

Sources allege that physical assault among staff in the ministry has occured multiple times.

Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, told Punch that she was aware of a reported fight at the ministry through social media but had yet to officially be briefed on what happened.

Igwegbe vowed to take action after an investigation and findings had been concluded on the matter.

She said: “I saw the report on social media on Friday, August 23, 2024. I have not received a formal report against the Permanent Secretary in question as provided by Section 7, Chapter 10 of the Public Service Rules (2021).

“That notwithstanding, I have started asking questions to ascertain what happened while I await a formal report, which should be the beginning of a process.”

Metro

16-year-old Killed As NDLEA Operatives, Drug Barons Clash In Edo

Published

22 hours ago

October 30, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, and drug barons reportedly clashed at Okpuje, Uzeba community in Owan West Local Government Area, leading to the death of a 16 -years -old boy, identified as Emmanuel Monday George.

Two others identified as God’spower Omage (20 years) and Ajayi Irobia (54 years), were said to have sustained serious injuries during the gun duel which reportedly happened on Monday.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Thursday.

Ofoyeju said that one of its officers sustained an injury after being struck on the hand with a sharp object.

Recall that Army and NDLEA officers were recently attacked by drug barons in the agrarian community, notable for cannabis cultivation.

Metro

JUST IN: Fire Guts Store At Abuja Mall

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2025

Editor

A fire incident occurred at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja in the early hours of Thursday.

The cause of the fire, which started around 3am, could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

It was gathered that only the Adidas Sports shop was affected.

It was further gathered that firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, the Berger Fire Department, and the FCT Fire Service, as well as police officers, were deployed to the scene.

A resident of Jabi, Saliu, who informed our correspondent of the incident, said the fire had been contained.

He said, “Around 3am., this morning, there was a fire incident at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja. No loss of life or injury was recorded. Only the Adidas Sports shop was affected by the fire.”

The FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH.

Adeh said police officers were deployed to the location to secure the area and prevent looting.

“We received a distress call at about 3:40 a.m. We immediately deployed our men there to secure the place and prevent any breach of public order,” she said.

Metro

JUST IN: Hausa, Benin Youths Clash Over Killing Of Suspected Yahoo Boy

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

Photo: file copy

Several persons were on Wednesday night injured in a clash between Hausa and Benin youths, in Ogheghe community, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, over the killing of a suspected yahoo boy identified as Chizi Benz.

According to sources, Chizi Benz was said to have been stabbed to death by a Hausa youth over a sour deal.

Though details of the deal were not available as at press time, the killing of Chidi Benz sparked outrage as youths stormed the streets with dangerous weapons in a revenge mission.

According to sources, many ‘Abokis’ were injured in a reprisal attack while others fled for safety.

News of the killing was to have spread to nearby communities of Uwelu along the Siluko Axis, forcing Hausa youths who do petty trading and rides okada closed their businesses and fled for safety.

According to sources, policemen who were deployed to the area fired tear gas to disperse the angry youths.

Edo Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, promised to send a detailed statement.

He was yet to do so as at press time.