Metro

Anambra Police Nab 6 Suspects For Kidnapping, Robbery

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2023

The police in Anambra State, weekend, arrested six members of a notorious criminal gang that have been terrorising Eziowelle community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state and its environs for long.

Recovered from members of the gang were three pump action rifles, one barretta pistol, ammunition and other incriminating items, which they used for their deadly operations.

It was gathered that the criminals were rounded up after the state Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, received reports about their criminal activities in the area.

Police sources said members of the notorious gang have, for long, been using an illegal vigilante group to kidnap, rob, intimidate and harass people in the community.

They were also alleged to have broken into homes of prominent individuals in the community, stole property, raped female members of their families and kidnapped others, who would later be forced to part with huge sums of money as ransom.

Sources said a prominent man in the area, who claimed to be a pastor also controls his gang that has been indulging in criminal acts in Eziowelle for long with the tacit support of some leaders of the community, who always claim to have contacts with security agencies in both Anambra State and Abuja that will protect them.

According to sources, they made the town so hot that many indigenes, both in Nigeria and abroad, ran away for fear of being kidnapped and forced to pay ransom.

It was learned that some of their victims were abducted at midnight, taken to offices of some security agencies, where they were tortured, harassed and intimidated into parting with huge sums of money.

Sources said when report of their criminal activities was received by the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, he swiftly directed the Commander of Anti cult Unit in the state, Uche Noah to swing into action and round up all the criminals involved in the nefarious acts.

Their operations reportedly paid off after Uche Noah stormed the town in an operation described as ‘unprecedented in execution’ and rounded up the suspects. This, according to sources, was after they gave the police team stiff resistance and confronted them in an exchange of firepower that lasted for hours.

It was gathered that the police team succeeded in routing them and arrested six of their kingpins, while others escaped with serious bullet wounds.

Police spokesman in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, when contacted, said: “Yes, the operatives raided Eziowellle community and we have six suspects in custody.”

Metro

CBN, UBA, Others In Benin Given Ultimatum To Remove Their Buildings Or Be Demolished

Published

1 hour ago

August 6, 2025

Editor

Central Bank Nigeria, United Bank for Africa and other banks and commercial buildings on the Akpakpava/Ring Road axis of the Benin-Asaba Expressway have been given a seven-day ultimatum to remove their buildings or faced demolition.

The undated eviction notice was seen pasted on perimeter fences, gates, and walls of properties including banks, shops, and churches located within the Federal Government’s designated right of way.

The undated eviction notice was issued to property owners along the expressway by the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC).

The BAECC is the company handling the ongoing expansion of the dual carriageway.

The notice reads in part: “Be informed that your property is on the Federal Right of Way and obstructing construction works on the Benin-Asaba Expressway. Kindly remove your property from the Right of Way within the next seven (7) days to avoid demolition. Your cooperation is urgently needed.”

The Akpakpava/Ring axis of the Benin-Asaba Expressway is a commercial area that plays host to numerious organisations.

Metro

16 Escape Death In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Crash

Published

17 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Sixteen people narrowly escaped death on Monday night in a crash involving a Camry car, a Suzuki bus, and a tricycle at Iron Market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Ota Divisional Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr Salau Hammed, confirmed the incident to News Agency Nigeria on Tuesday, noting that the crash occurred around 8:20 p.m.

He said the accident involved a Camry car, a tricycle, both with no registration, and a Suzuki bus marked KRD 246 YK.

He said that a total of 16 persons were involved in the accident; however, three persons, comprising two males and a female, sustained various degrees of injuries.

Hammed explained that the Camry lost control due to speeding and rammed into two other vehicles.

“Those who sustained injuries were immediately taken to Adetutu Hospital, Ilepa area for treatment,” he said.

Hammed advised motorists against speeding to prevent avoidable crashes.

He said that the vehicles had been removed from the road to ease free flow of traffic.

Metro

High-tension Wire Electrocutes PoS Operator In Anambra

Published

18 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

A Point of Sales male operator in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been electrocuted by a fallen high tension line.

It was gathered that the victim got electrocuted after a high-tension wire was cut and fell on him, while standing in front of his shop located under the high-tension wire.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the incident happened over the weekend, but the lifeless body of the victim, which was still lying on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body as of Tuesday, was still oozing out smoke, creating panic in the area.

This was corroborated by a video from the scene of the incident, currently trending on social media, showing the victim lying lifeless on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body, still oozing out smoke and sparks.

Although the full identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, sources from the area said he recently got married.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Ossy Onuko, who reacted to the development on Tuesday, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that such misfortunes are part of the reasons the agency carries out sensitisation and enforcement against building or trading under the high-tension wire.

Onuko also noted that during the sensitisation, people often criticise them for their enforcement against trading under the high tension wire.

He said, “This is something we have been campaigning against from time to time, that it is very dangerous to build or trade under the high-tension wire.

“It is part of the reasons why most times, on social media, we are vilified as being inhumane for trying to let people know that they cannot either build or trade under the tension.

“It is something very pathetic. It’s a suicide mission to have your shop or your kiosk or your roadside activities under the tension. The avoidable loss of life is unfortunate. It is sadly one example of many negative outcomes and resultant effects of such an act of negligence to safety.

“That should serve as a deterrent to others who still indulge in such prohibited acts. This should also make the public understand that the sensitisation and enforcement being carried out by ACTDA against such things are not to witch-hunt them, but for their safety.

“Unfortunately, we have lost a soul. I pray for the peaceful repose of this soul. But also, it should serve as a deterrent to others, that they shouldn’t just fold their arms and wait for us, when we come, they run away and return when we leave.

“People should see it as a personal responsibility to be safety conscious, and also enlighten others, not just themselves. No precious life is worth being lost to such a careless and avoidable death. A stitch in time saves nine.”
(PUNCH)