Metro

Bandits Kidnap Catholic Priest In Zamfara

Published

1 year ago

June 23, 2024

Suspected bandits have kidnapped the parish priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State, Revd. Fr. Mikah Suleiman.

The spokesperson of Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, said the priest was kidnapped around 3 am on Saturday at his residence in the Damba area of Gusau.

He noted that the incident was not reported to the police but the command has deployed a police tactical squad to the trail of the kidnappers and to ensure his safe return.

“Yes, the incident happened early hour of today, the Reverend Father was kidnapped in his residence, we were not informed when the incident happened but what I gathered was that the man stays alone not in the church,” he said.

“We have deployed our tactical squad to go after the kidnappers with the aim of rescuing the victim unhurt.”

The acting Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Very. Revd. Fr. Nuhu Iliya in a statement called on the Christian faithful to pray for the quick and safe release of the cleric.

“With sadness in our hearts, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Revd. Fr. Mikah Suleiman. This sad event occurred in the early hours of today, Saturday, 22nd June 2024 in the Father’s rectory. Fr Mikah is the Parish Priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State,” the statement reads.

“We invite all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release.

“We equally commend him to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors.”

Metro

Two Children Die In Separate Well Tragedies In Kano

Published

10 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in two communities in Kano when two children lost their lives in separate well incidents.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incidents in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi. A copy of the statement was made available to the press on Wednesday in Kano.

According to the statement, both incidents occurred in the Dawakin Tofa and Dala local government areas of the state.

According to the statement, “The first incident took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at about 8:53 a.m. in Kashirmo Village, Sarkakiya, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area. An eight-year-old girl identified as Zara’u Muhammad reportedly fell into a well while playing”.

However, residents of the area made desperate efforts to rescue the child before the arrival of firefighters, but were unsuccessful due to the depth of the well and the high level of water inside.

Metro

ICPC Arraigns Woman For Forging Marriage Certificate, Visa Fraud

Published

10 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before Justice Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, for allegedly forging a marriage certificate and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps to fraudulently obtain a United Kingdom (UK) visa.

The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, followed a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25 Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).

According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed around 2019 within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The ICPC prosecution team alleged that the defendant forged a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by a Nigerian marriage registry, and used it to support her UK visa application.

The Commission also accused Ms. Ojo of forging entry and exit stamps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on her international passport, presenting them as genuine to strengthen her visa application.

These actions, according to the charge sheet, contravene Sections 363 and 366 and are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which deal with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts. She was represented by her counsel, C.A. Owo Ekele.

Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi of ICPC, informed the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and requested a date for hearing, while the defence counsel applied for bail on liberal terms.

After listening to both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum. One surety must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a resident of Abuja with a family and possess landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within the FCT.

The second surety is also required to attach copies of his or her passport and C of O to the bail documents for verification.

Justice Akobi further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

In a statement on Wednesday, ICPC’s spokesperson and Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, said the Commission will continue to collaborate with relevant embassies and international partners to curb visa-related fraud and bring offenders to justice.

Metro

Abductors Kill Seminary, Free One In Edo

Published

12 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Kidnappers have killed Emmanuel Alabi a seminary of Immaculate Conception Minor, Ivianokpodi, Estako East Local Government Area, 95 days after he was abducted.

Late Alabi and two other seminaries, Japhet Jesse and Joshua Aleobua, were abducted on July 10, 2025.

In June this year, Peter Andrew, from the same Ivianokpodi seminary was abducted and killed.

Jesse escaped and regained freedom but others remained with the kidnappers.

Their plea for freedom and rescue did not yield any results even as the kidnappers placed them among their previous dead victims.

Aleobua regained freedom on November 4th but Alabi was shot dead while attempting to escape.

A statement by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi and signed by the Assistant Director of Communications, Fr. Linus Imoedemhe, was silent on how Alabi died.

The statement said Bishop of the Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Gabriel Dunia, expressed deep pain and sorrow over the loss of the young seminarian.

It said Bishop Dunia called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting the lives and property of all citizens and cautioned political leaders against turning a blind eye on the worsening insecurity situation in the nation.

Bishop Dunia urged them to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people over political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi invites all the faithful and people of goodwill to join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and for the peace, healing, and security of our people and land.

“The Diocese of Auchi remains committed to the values of faith, peace, and justice, trusting in God’s infinite mercy to bring comfort to the bereaved family, the seminary community, and all those affected by this tragedy.

“May the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”