Metro

Church Member Matchets Pastor To Death In Delta

Published

2 years ago

September 8, 2023

A Pentecostal pastor, Pastor Greg Sagie, has been killed in his home by a suspected church member, who attacked him with a machete in Sapele, Delta State, yesterday.

The pastor, who was in his 60s, was resting in his bedroom at the pipeline area of MTN Road, around noon, when the assailant barged into his flat and threatened his two children, ages eight and 11, who were in the sitting room.

The terrified children ran out of the house and raised an alarm for help.

A source, who claimed to be part of those who took Pastor Sagie remains to the mortuary and his neighbour told Vanguard that the area was isolated and had few houses.

He said they heard the children screaming that someone was inside, attacking their father with a machete.

“We ran out and saw the attacker. He was a young man in his 20s. He threatened us that if we dared to climb the storey building to meet him, he would kill us. He then jumped from the storey building and fled,” the source who simply called her name as Nneka said.

The source added that the children identified the attacker as a member of their church.

“The children told us he was a member of their church and that they recognize him. They even described where he lived,” the source said.

Pastor Sagie was said to have sustained severe cuts on his head and died on the way to the hospital.

“He breathed his last on the way to the hospital where his car broke down,” another neighbour named Isaac said.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the police were seen cordoning off the area and conducting investigations.

The police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, could not be reached for confirmation of the incident but a source told Vanguard that the police were on the trail of the suspect.

“We are yet to know the motive behind the attack, but the police would unravel it soon,” the security source who craved anonymous said.

He appealed with anyone with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact the nearest police station.

He also urged residents of Sapele to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that justice would be done in the case.

Pastor Sagie was described by his church members as a humble and dedicated man of God, who preached peace and love.
VANGUARD

Metro

Police Arrest Ex-Soldier, Four Others Over Armed Robbery, Kidnapping In Anambra

Published

5 minutes ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of five suspected members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate, including a confessed deserter of the Nigerian Army, in Awka, the state capital.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the operation was carried out on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Awkuzu.

Ikenga said the operation was carried out after the Command received intelligence on the abduction of a farmer at Isiagu, Awka.

The victim was reportedly released after an undisclosed amount of ransom was paid.

The police spokesperson said that, acting on credible intelligence, police operatives stormed the gang’s hideout at Notoko, Awka, leading to the arrest of the confessed deserter soldier and four other suspects.

Ikenga identified the suspects as 38-year-old Dominic Oraz, a confessed deserter of the Nigerian Army; 30-year-old Michael Nwobodo; 29-year-old Eze Friday; 23-year-old Uche Okolo, and 29-year-old Chinedu Gilbert.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include six automatic pump-action guns, 63 rounds of live cartridges, one microscope, five machetes, one military cap, two police teargas canisters, handcuffs, a robber’s rocket launcher, criminal charms, three Motorola walkie-talkies, one jack knife, one power bank and cash sum of N26,000,” Ikenga stated.

He said that during interrogation, Oraz admitted abandoning the military in November 2024.

Ikenga noted that investigations are ongoing, particularly regarding the deserter soldier, in collaboration with military authorities, to guide further police action and prosecution of all suspects.

He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for the operation and urged residents of the state to remain vigilant and to continue to report suspicious activities to the Police for prompt action.

The commissioner also assured Ndi Anambra of the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating violent crimes.

Metro

Enugu Vigilantes Beat Young Man To Death Over Alleged Stealing Of Woman’s Clothes

Published

11 minutes ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Members of the Neighbourhood Watch in Amagu Iwollo Oghe community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, have allegedly beaten a young man, Mr. Nosike Madueke, popularly known as Wojuwo, to death over a false theft allegation.

Community sources told SaharaReporters that the vigilante group was led by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the community, Mr. Chukwuebuka Hillary Ngwueche, also known as Osuofia.

According to one of the sources, the incident occurred on Monday, August 25, 2025, when the local security men attacked Madueke with “dangerous weapons” after he was accused of stealing a box of clothes belonging to Mrs. Nneka Nwankwo.

The source explained that Nwankwo had earlier hired Madueke and his co-workers to repair or dig her septic tank and soakaway, but later raised an alarm claiming her box of clothes had gone missing.

“Instead of handing Madueke over to the appropriate authority, especially the police, they decided to jointly and severally take the laws into their respective hands by arresting Madueke, dragging him to his house for a search, bringing out his clothes, and burning all the clothes,” the source said.

“They tied Madueke on both his hands and legs and started profusely, taking turns by using offensive weapons such as guns, machetes, and irons, to beat him up till he died.”

“This happened in public at Iwollo Oghe Square. How can a trained CSO and his men kill a whole human being on a mere allegation by a woman of stealing her cloth, which was later found,” the source said.

“The young boy was from Imeziolo, Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State.”

According to another source, this marks the third time residents of Iwollo Oghe, either directly or through its purported security outfits, have been linked to the killing of people from the deceased’s community.

“Sometime in 1987, they shot Hyacinth Adinde with a gun and asked the people of Madueke community to do their worst.

“Also, years later, they killed Engr. Christopher Aniagbaoso, and yet they asked the people of the community to do their worst.

“The people of Iwollo Oghe are in the habit of killing the people of Imeziolo on mere suspicious grounds,” the source alleged.

“We call on the Enugu State command to do justice to this case as information reaching us revealed that the men are on the run after killing the young boy,” the source added.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the deceased being beaten with sticks by men believed to be members of the Neighbourhood Watch, who were seen parading him along a community road.

Moments later in the footage, his lifeless body appeared on the ground, surrounded by residents, some of whom lamented, “See how they killed somebody’s only son for nothing.”

According to a source, the case has since been reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Enugu State Police Command.

However, repeated attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain the reaction of the Police Command were unsuccessful.

Calls to the mobile phone of the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, went unanswered, and a WhatsApp message sent to him also received no response as of the time of filing this report.

Metro

Anambra Arrest Four For Impersonation

Published

4 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad

The Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad has apprehended four persons in Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area, for allegedly impersonating SASA operatives and conducting illegal operations.

The suspects, who were reportedly parading the streets of Achalla wearing uniforms and carrying fake anti-tout identity cards, were arrested following complaints from residents who claimed they had been harassed and extorted.

Speaking to journalists on the development on Wednesday, the Director General of Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, Monday Onwe, condemned the alleged impersonation, stressing that his office did not know about any anti-tout initiative in Achalla.

Onwe emphasised that the authority to establish such a formation rests solely with the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

He said, “The alleged activities of this group, including intimidation and extortion using dangerous implements, are unacceptable and damaging to the integrity of the original Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad.

“We remain committed to a full investigation, and anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in a competent court of law.”

He further warned that fraudulent use of the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad name to defraud the public would not be tolerated, assuring residents that the state government remains determined to protect communities from criminal exploitation.

“If you wish to become a member of the anti-touting squad, please be informed that you must undergo mandatory training before acceptance.

“No individual will be admitted into the squad without completing the required training and meeting the set standards.

“This process is for discipline, professionalism, and efficiency in service,” The PUNCH quoted him.