Metro

Celestial Church Members Mob PUNCHman, Police Probe Attack

Published

3 years ago

November 9, 2022

A security guard, identified simply as Rotimi, alongside worshippers of the Celestial Church of Christ, Sharon Parish, have brutalised a PUNCHman, Deji Lambo, on the church premises on Mobolaji Benson Street, Lowa, Igbooluwo, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Deji had visited the church to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death of an electrician, Taiwo Akinlotan, who got electrocuted while fixing some electrical appliances in the church on Friday, November 5, 2022.

Upon getting to the front gate of the church, the reporter approached a young lady, asked for the head of the church, and was directed to a church member, one Mr Lambo, who after hearing the reason for the visit, took him into the church’s premises and introduced him to some colleagues.

A senior member of the church, who was among the colleagues, while attending to PUNCHman, called the Chairman of the church, Adeleke Oduwole, and handed his phone to him (PUNCHman) to explain the reason for the visit.

During the deliberation, the reporter told Oduwole that he wanted to speak with a church spokesman on the events that led to Akinlotan’s death.

Oduwole, thereafter, said he and some church members were with the deceased’s family members at the Ikorodu General Hospital to retrieve his corpse for burial.

Upon hearing this, Deji asked to speak to the victim’s family members in a bid to reflect their views in the report.

He told Oduwole that he would hang up the call so he could use his personal number to call the cleric back.

Shortly after hanging up, the spokesperson for the church, Akin Adesanya, called and while speaking with Deji, said he was informed that the reporter said the family petitioned PUNCH on the tragedy.

He, however, noted that the deceased’s family refuted the claim, adding that policemen were on their way to the church to arrest the reporter.

Afterwards, some church members, numbering about 30, descended on the reporter, pinned him down, seized his phones and demanded his means of identification.

Delta mob kills phone snatcher
Deji brought out his ID card but the church members seized it, pounced on him, as the security guard slapped him and labelled him a thief.

The church members, led by a woman identified simply as Iya Ibeji, also used their mobile phones to film the reporter during the assault.

The church members circled our reporter and interrogated him on his mission in the church as they alleged that he planned to destroy the church’s image.

Adesanya, who had yet to get to the church, later called another PUNCHman, Johnny Edwards, who confirmed his identity.

The spokesman thereafter drove to the church and rescued the reporter while being mobbed by the worshippers.

He subsequently drove PUNCHman out of the premises to his office, where he apologised for the assault.

However, the matter was reported at the Owutu Police Station.

Reacting to the development, Adesanya said the attack was caused by a gap in communication.

He said, “It is never in our character to take laws into our hands. The unfortunate incident negates everything we preach. The security officer in question has been relieved of his role immediately and handed over to the police for further questioning.

“The two parishioners that took out their mobile phones to record the incident have also been reprimanded. Upon going through their phones, we are happy to inform you that there was no recording of any sort found in them; one took pictures and the pictures were immediately deleted.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigations were ongoing into the matter.

Metro

Man Dies After Attempting To Flee EFCC Raid In Lekki

Published

4 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

A man identified as Endurance Udeke has died after jumping from a four-storey building durin
g a raid conducted by operatives of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Lekki area of Lagos.

The EFCC confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the operation, which took place on 4 November, targeted suspected internet fraudsters residing at Periwinkle Estate, Lekki Phase 1.

According to the agency, four suspects were arrested during the sting operation, while Udeke and another resident attempted to escape after learning of the EFCC’s presence.

“Udeke and one other resident of apartment W6a got wind of the operation and tried to escape arrest by jumping down from the four-storey building,” the statement read. “Udeke did not survive the suicidal effort, in spite of medical interventions made to rescue him.”

The second individual survived after receiving treatment and has since been stabilised, according to EFCC officials.

The anti-graft agency stressed that its operatives had no physical contact with Udeke before the incident, describing his action as tragic and unnecessary.

“The Commission is shocked at the suicidal action of the deceased. There was no contact between officers of the Commission and the deceased before the unfortunate incident,” the EFCC said.

The agency added that the case has been handed over to the police for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Udeke’s death.

The EFCC urged the public to remain calm and cooperate during its lawful operations, insisting that its raids are conducted in accordance with due process.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of EFCC operations following several controversial raids in recent months.

In September, the agency faced backlash after an early morning operation at a hotel in Lagos led to the arrest of 11 people, including guests not linked to fraud.

Earlier this year, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Ogun State also accused the EFCC of an unlawful raid on its facilities, demanding ₦3.5 billion in damages and a public apology.

Despite public criticism, the EFCC maintains that its anti-corruption drive remains a key pillar in Nigeria’s efforts to curb cybercrime and illicit financial activities.

While expressing sympathy to the family of the deceased, the Commission reiterated that its operations are conducted lawfully and urged members of the public not to panic or resist EFCC operatives when they act within their mandate.

“While we await the outcome of the investigation, it is important to remind the public that no one with nothing to hide has reason to be afraid of EFCC sting operations,” EFCC noted.

Metro

Ex-convict Stabs Police Officer In Ogun Over Alleged Affair With Wife

Published

4 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

There was pandemonium in the Panseke area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when an ex-convict stabbed a police officer in the forehead.
The incident occurred in the early hours of last Friday.

According to The Guardian, the ex-convict came to Panseke and attempted to retrieve an AK-47 rifle from one of the Ogun State police officers attached to an armoured vehicle in Panseke.

Eyewitnesses said that the aim of the ex-convict, who came on a motorcycle, was to use the rifle to shoot the other police officer, whom he accused of sleeping with his wife and sending him to jail.

He said that the ex-convict, seeing that he had lost his grip on the rifle, engaged the officers in a scuffle and, realising he could not overpower them, removed a knife from his trousers and stabbed the one he accused.

The witness said that the incident drew the attention of other police officers attached to the armoured vehicle at Panseke, who overpowered the ex-convict and tied both his hands and legs before taking him away.

The source said: “What really happened is that he came with his Okada and went to meet those police officers close to the armoured vehicle and started dragging a gun with one of them, hoping to collect the gun and kill the other person.”

“He accused one of the policemen of sleeping with his wife and sending him to jail, and because he could not get the gun, he removed a knife from his trousers and stabbed the police officer he claimed was having an affair with his wife.”

“Later, other policemen came to join those he was fighting, and they tied both his hands and legs before carrying him away.”

Recall that in January 2025, the Social Orientation and Safety Corps of Ogun State, popularly known as ‘So Safe,’ arrested a 54-year-old ex-convict, Adelani Oriyomi, in the Kere area of Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, for allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

Commander of the Corps, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued through the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf. “The suspect, Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide before he was caught by the men of the corps. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape,” Ganzallo said.

Oriyomi, a resident of Kere in the Obada-Oko area of Ewekoro Local Government Area, reportedly confessed to the offence. He also admitted that he had previously exhumed a skull behind his residence on 18 January 2025. The suspect revealed that he had served over six years at the Oba Correctional Centre for a similar crime.

Ganzallo stated that Oriyomi has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. The case underscores ongoing vigilance efforts by the Corps to prevent grave desecration and other criminal activities in Ogun State.

Metro

Police Evacuate Expertriates As Thugs Invade MOWAA In Benin

Published

4 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

Pandemonium erupted on Sunday when thugs invaded a private exhibition hosted by the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City.

The event, organized as an exclusive viewing for select investors, artists, and international dignitaries, was violently disrupted when the thugs forcefully stormed the premises, saying “say no to MOWAA.”

The exhibition was ahead of the scheduled commissioning of the museum on November 11, 2025.

In a video that has gone viral, a fair in complexion middle-aged man is seen with others saying
“We are illustrious sons and daughters of Benin Kingdom, standing right here to say no to MOWAA.

“Politicians cannot stand against the kingdom of Benin.

“We are joining all the socio-cultural groups to ensure MOWAA does not stand in the Benin Kingdom.

“We come in peace; harmless, we are standing for justice to stop MOWAA.”

The thugs in the video are heard chanting songs in their local language seems to be solidarity songs.

Also, in another video that surfaced online on Sunday, policemen are seen seeing expertriates out of the MOWAA building; a scene seems to be a forceful eviction.

But reacting to the incident, Edo Police Command’s Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said operatives of the command went to the scene to restore normalcy and to safely evacuate the expertriates to their respective hotels, and not forceful eviction.

“Intelligence was received regarding a planned protest aimed at disrupting the official launch of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City. In response, the Command made adequate security deployment to the venue to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

“The protesters were addressed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, thereby de-escalating the tension.

“Normalcy was immediately restored, while expatriates and other guests at the venue were safely evacuated to their respective hotels without any hitch,” she said.

Efforts to get reaction from representative of MOWAA proved abortive as he number was busy. Message sent to him was I replied as at press time.