Metro

Anambra: Shootings As Candidates Clash Over Attempt To Snatch Ballot Box

Published

1 year ago

February 27, 2023

There were heavy shootings at the Nnewi North Local Government secretariat, Anambra State, as some candidates stormed the area in an alleged attempt to snatch ballot boxes.

It was gathered that the incident happened late on Sunday.

The secretariat serves as a collation centre for the Anambra South Senatorial District election, where there are three top contenders in the race.

A sitting senator, Ifeanyi Ubah, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Chief Chris Uba, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party and the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Chris Azubogu, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, were said to have engaged each other in the battle at the area.

Although no life was lost in the incident, the shootings sent journalists, supporters and even INEC officials scampering to safety.

A source said one of the candidates invaded the secretariat with thugs and forced his way into the collation centre, where he attempted to hijack ballot papers that were being counted.

He said, “As they were about to move out of the premises, another group of thugs loyal to one of the candidates stormed the area, quickly blocking them from leaving.

“This caused heavy gunfire, with one of the candidates confronting each other and dispossessing one another of the results one of them had wanted to go away with.

“Chris Ubah was not lucky, as many voters beat him up after Ifeanyi Ubah intercepted his vehicle and took the materials he had confiscated.

“He ran out of his vehicle and the voters used the opportunity to catch him. Azubogu was luckier as he refused to step out of his bulletproof vehicle.”

Meanwhile, the media aide to Azubogu, Mr Emeka Onyia, insisted that his principal was only at the secretariat to submit a petition.

The YPP candidate was presumed to be leading in the poll.

When contacted, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command was not aware of the incident.

Metro

2 Dead, One Injured In Ogun Road Crash

Published

11 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The Ogun State sector of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Saturday confirmed that two persons lost their lives in a road crash around Iyana Odogo, along Ilaro-Owode road.

It added that one person sustained injury in the said accident.

This was contained in a statement issued by the FRSC spokesperson in Ogun State, Florence Okpe.

The road crash, which according to Okpe involved a Mitsubishi car with registration number JJJ854JH and a truck with registration number
T12224LA, was attributed to obstruction and speed violation.

The statement reads, “FRSC Ilaro Unit command carried out rescue operation on Ilaro-Owode route around Iyana Odogo on a crash that occurred at about 0600hrs”.

“The crash involved two vehicles;
a Mitsubishi car with registration number JJJ854JH and a truck
T12224LA”

“A total of 07 persons were involved (04 male adult and 03 female adult), and 01 female got injured while 02 male adult were killed from the crash”.

“The suspected causes of the crash were obstruction and speed violation”.

“The injured victim and corpses were taken to General Hospital, Ilaro, and Hosanna Hospital, Ilaro”.

The State Sector Commander, Anthony Uga frowned at rate at which vehicles are being picked indiscriminately on road side.

He advised motorists to drive within the stipulated speed limit and observe road furnitures.

Metro

BREAKING: Protests As Gunmen Kill 12 In Plateau Village

Published

21 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

Gunmen have again attacked the Tilengpat Pushit community in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed twelve persons.

It was learnt that the attacks leading to the deaths of the victims occurred in the late hours of Thursday.

Last week, gunmen killed no fewer than ten persons in Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle villages, in the Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of the state.

They also left several persons injured, with property, including the homes of the villagers, set ablaze.

The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Markus Argue confirmed the latest killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday.

He said, “Yes, it is true that our people have just been attacked again and killed for no reason. It happened last night. As I talk to you, I’m in the affected community in Pushit. I can not give you the figure of victims for now because we are still assessing the situation but what we don’t understand is why some people will just target women and children in their homes and just kill them for no reason.”

A community leader in Pushit, who gave his name simply as John, however, told our correspondent that twelve dead bodies had so far been recovered at the scene of the attack and the nearby bush from the latest attack.

John said, “So far, we have recovered twelve dead bodies of individuals who were brutally murdered during the attack in the Pushit community and their bodies recovered.

“The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, pending notification of their families. The Law enforcement agencies are also here and have initiated investigations into the matter to ascertain the motive behind these heinous crimes and to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this reprehensible act”

The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred could not be immediately reached for comment on the incident but sources at the Command headquarters in Jos said that security operatives had been deployed to the affected community

Meanwhile, women in Bokkos Local Government Area have taken to the streets in protests over the renewed violent attacks by gunmen in their communities.

Some residents in Bokkos town said that the protesting women were headed to the Council headquarters to register their grievances

Details later…

Metro

Police Rescue Three Toddlers Locked Up In Lagos Home

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued three toddlers allegedly locked up in a room at Agodo-Egbe in the Ikotun area of the state.

According to The PUNCH, the children, which included a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four years, were locked inside for some time by one Fatimo Ganiyu said to be their grandmother.

Some members of the community who became curious about their whereabouts were said to have immediately alerted the police on Wednesday.

Following the tip-off, a team of policemen visited the scene and forced the door open, thereby leading to the discovery of the children in the room.

It was learnt that the kids were found looking malnourished, while the suspect was arrested on the spot.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At about 4 pm on Wednesday, information was received at Ikotun Police Division that three children, a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four, were locked up by their grandmother, one Fatimo Ganiyu, around Agodo Egbe, Ikotun.

“The DPO immediately led a team of anti-crime detectives to the scene, and the children were rescued and taken to the station.
“They were looking malnourished and unhealthy. The suspect was arrested while the infants were transferred for proper treatment and care. The investigation is ongoing.”