Metro

Communal Crisis Claims One, Injures Scores In Enugu

Published

5 years ago

April 5, 2020

…Assembly Member Fingered

A communal clash between two villages in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Saturday, April 4, claimed one person while several persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crisis.

Accroding to our source, trouble started when youths from a village named Asisi attacked another village named Ishiagu in the night of 3rd of April, over a barricaded road in the community which led to the death 27-year-old man.

Our source said youths from Ishiagu allegedly organised a reprisal, which resulted in injuries of many persons as houses were destroyed in the two villages.

“The problem started when Asisi youths barricaded the road leading to Ishiagu and other villages at the border between Asisi and Ishiagu making it impossible for trucks and bigger vehicles going to other villages to access the road.

“What happened was that, the road in question was constructed by Barr. Peter Mba, who happens to hail from Asisi. Maybe they don’t want other persons to pass through the road, or else how do you describe a situation where the Asisi village youths barricaded the road, just after their village.

“While trucks and bigger vehicles can come to their village, it cannot access other villages after them. The reason given by them was that trucks coming to carry sand from Ishiagu are damaging the road, but Ishiagu village have created an alternative route for trucks coming to carry sand.

“The point is, if you want to barricade, do that at beginning of the road; let it be clear that you are protecting the road, and not that you are victimising some villages. Now, this is the only road for three other villages: Ishiagu, Ohani and Ogara. Are you saying that people bringing things to these three villages should drop it on the road?” Our source questioned.

Our source alleged a member representing Nkanu East Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, to be sponsor of the crisis.

He continues, “Everybody here is saying that the crisis is being sponsored by Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, representing Nkanu East Constituency, who co- incidentally hails from Asisi. And since that Saturday, many people have been injured ,houses are damagedy and policemen have taken over the community.”

In his reaction, Nnajiofor, denied the allegation, saying it is the handiwork of his political detractors.

According to him, “It is not true. I just heard about the crisis and sued for peace. The allegation that I am sponsoring thugs is incorrect, spurious and the imagination of political detractors sponsored by Igwe Okeke Arum, the Igwe of Mbulu Owo,who ignited and sponsored the crisis in the first instance.I am a leader and a mediator and I, together with other stakeholders are mediating and suing for peace and soon normalcy will return”, He concluded.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami’s Brother For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Published

5 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

… Group lauds agency

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emami Ajetsibogho, younger brother to Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami, for allegedly smuggling drugs worth billions of naira into the country.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by the agency’s strike force at Apapa in Lagos State Command following a tip-of.

Reacting to the arrest in a statement, rights activist and president, Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, commended the agency and in particular Commandant-General of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa for fighting against drug illicit drugs

Ozobo said, “The arrest of Chief Emami’s brother is a milestone, laudable achievement in the fight against drug trafficking in this country.

“I want to commend NDLEA who were able to get the lead information to apprehend this criminal suspect.”

He added: “As Ijaw people, we are happy that God is vindicating us. The Itsekiris are hell bent to kill the Ijaw people to grab their lands.”

He recalled how a British Soldier from the Itsekiri extraction was recently arrested for smuggling guns into Warri to kill innocent people, especially Ijaw and to cause a crisis in Warri, adding, “God exposed him and DSS arrested the British Soldier and thwarted his evil intentions.”

He noted that another Itsekiri person has been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into the Country. “Who knows whether it was to drug miscreants to kill Ijaw people and burn villages? Ozobo asked.

“Ayiri particularly who has been making all kinds of unprintable statements against Ijaw people, we are surprised that his younger brother is a drug baron. Ayiri should be ashamed of himself.

“This shows that Ayiri Emami’s family is not a reputable family, by wanting to bribe NDLEA with a whopping sum of Two hundred million (N200m) to get his brother released. We thought Ayiri had a reputation, but it is shameful.”

Comrade Ozobo, therefore, urged the NDLEA to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute the suspect in line with stipulated laws to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I am calling on the NDLEA to investigate properly and bring to book anyone connected to this crime. If Ayiri is connected, he should be brought to book. Anyone connected connected should be brought to book,” he said.

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Man Over Alleged Threat To Life

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 31-year-old man, Caleb Ajobor, at the correctional custody in Ado Ekiti over alleged assault and threat to life.

The defendant was accused of conducting himself in a way that constituted a threat to the life of a woman, one Omotayo Olowolagba, at the Ekute area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant on June 29, 2025, at about 10am at Ekute Quarters, Ado Ekiti, did assault and threaten the life of Olowolagba Omotayo.

“The defendant did hit the chest of the female victim and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace in society.

“The offence committed is punishable under sections 185, 46, 181(d) laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021,” the prosecutor stated.

Oriyomi pleaded with the court to order the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Adunni Olanipekun, however, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, refused the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre.

Adeosun adjourned the matter till July 11 for hearing.

Metro

Customs Intercept 111 Live Parrots, Illicit Drugs In Adamawa, Taraba

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The Adamawa and Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 111 live African grey parrots, illicit drugs, and other contraband items worth over N67 million.

The Area Comptroller, Garba Bashir, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Yola.
Bashir said that within three weeks, officers recorded 19 seizures valued at N67,785,358 in different locations.

According to him, the locations are Mubi-Sahua, Goshindan-Farang, Belel, Girei-Woro Bokki, Gella, Fufore-Gurin, Damare Waterside, Apawa-Numan road, and the Savannah-Numan axis.

The seized items include; 13,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 1,925 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, packed in 528 and 77 jerry cans respectively.

“11 sacks of second-hand clothing, Tramadol capsules; 5,710 (100mg), 990 (50mg); and 185 packets of Benzhexol tablets, 111 live African grey parrots and nine dead ones,” he said.

The comptroller said that the illicit drugs were intercepted from a suspect along the Apawa-Numan road on June 19.

He noted that the substances were concealed in charcoal sacks and recovered following credible intelligence.

“These drugs, when abused by youths will induce them to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

“Such drugs can be inimical to the health of the citizens and undermining security of the nation,” he said.

On the wildlife seizure, Bashir said a suspected trafficker was caught on June 27 while attempting to smuggle the parrots from Cameroon through the Gurin border.

Bashir said the parrots were stuffed in six wooden boxes, leading to the death of nine resulting from poor handling.

“The interception aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Poaching methods are often brutal and a high percentage of captured birds die even before reaching export sites.

“The species are highly trafficked due to its high demand as intelligent and mimicking pet,” he said.

The comptroller said that the seized drugs and suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, while the parrots would be transferred to the World Parrot Trust for rehabilitation.

He said that 101 raw donkey skins, earlier seized in May, would be destroyed under NCS regulations.

He said the seized petroleum products would also be auctioned immediately to avoid fire hazards, with proceeds paid into the Federation Account.

The customs boss commended the leadership of the Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing an enabling environment and support from sister security agencies.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to curbing smuggling, protecting Nigeria’s borders, and safeguarding public health and the economy.

(PUNCH)