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Delta Bloodbath: Ex-LG Chairman Sues Army For ₦2bn Over Wanted Declaration

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A former Caretaker Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Lucky Okodeh, has sued the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, at a Federal High Court, Abuja, for wrongly publishing his face among those wanted in connection to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama in Delta State.

Recall that on March 14, 2024, 17 officers of the Nigerian Army were murdered by unknown persons in Okuama in Delta State, causing the Defence Headquarters Abuja, to declare 8 persons wanted.

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Though Okodeh’s name was not published, his photo was posted with a name which is not his, which he also said no member of his family or extended family bears.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct POS Agent in Delta Community As Friend Escapes Gunshots

Okodeh noted that this has cost him his political career as he had already been fronted as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, for the April 11, 2024, council elections, but after his face was published on a name that is not his, his party ( PDP) was forced to drop his name and substitute it with that of another candidate who is now enjoying the position and benefits of Chairman of Southern Ijaw.

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Okodeh, on this note, asked the court to set aside the wanted declaration and award the sum of two billion naira as compensation for damages suffered over the action of the Defence Headquarters Abuja, which has affected his political career and also made him to go into hiding.

The aggrieved claimant also wants the court to put the matter to rest and cause the defendants to tender an apology which is to be published on both print and electronic media, so that he can have the freedom to live his normal life.

READ ALSO: Okuama/Okoloba Impasse: Women Protest In Black Attire, Raise Issues [PHOTOS]

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Although the matter was fixed for mention today, Monday, July 1, 2024, the case was fixed for another date as the court did not sit.

Counsel to the claimant, Femi Falana, and the counsel to the Nigerian Army, Mike Ebah, all made appearances in the court – only to be told that the presiding judge, Justice B.M. Nyako, was attending a conference and was not on seat, and both counsels agreed that the matter be shifted to October 17, 2024, for mention.

Other prayers sought in the suit are that the Federal High Court should restrain the first and second defendants (the Chief of Defence Staff, Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army) perpetually from arresting him or sending anyone on their behalf to carry out or enforce the directive; as the plaintiff is a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria who has never had any criminal record right from childhood.

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Vigilantes Beat, Strip Female Corps Member In Anambra

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A viral video has shown the moment armed men believed to be operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi — also known as the Agunechemba Vigilante Group — stormed a corps members’ lodge in Anambra State and assaulted a female corps member identified as Jennifer Edema Elohor and some of her colleagues.

The video, which was shared by the Haven 360 Foundation on Facebook on Monday, showed the victim, Elohor being beaten and stripped naked, by men wielding guns.

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The foundation said the victims were brutalised and subjected to humiliating and sexually degrading threats.
It noted that the vigilante accused the corps members of being ‘yahoo people’ and still descended on them despite producing their NYSC identity cards.

READ ALSO:Court Orders NYSC To Allow Skirts For Female Corps Members

The foundation wrote in part, “We strongly condemn the brutal assault and violation of rights of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi or ‘Agunechemba Vigilante Group’ in Anambra State.

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“On July 23, 2025, these state actors stormed the corpers lodge, accusing the members of being ‘Yahoo people’, despite their prompt production of NYSC identification cards and uniforms.

“The assault was particularly egregious in the case of Jennifer Edema Elohor, who was beaten, stripped naked, and left exposed and covered in blood.

“The victims were subjected to unsavoury, horrible, sexually degrading words and actions, including threats of sexual violation.”

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Bandits Kill 13 Worshipers In Katsina Mosque

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Katsina State government has mobilised more security forces following the tragic attack by bandits killing 13 worshipers in a mosque at a wee hour on Tuesday at the Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.

The Punch learnt that the bandits who were on a reprisal attack shot at the worshippers at Unguwan Mantau community, leaving 13 dead.

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The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, told journalists on Tuesday that the state government announced immediate security reinforcements and support measures following a tragic incident.

READ ALSO:I Worked Hard Abroad In Order To Pay House Rent, Our Children’s Fees, Even Though My Husband Is Alive —Wife

According to him, “The incident occurred when criminal elements launched a reprisal attack on the community. The Muslim members of the community were praying in the mosque during the Fajr prayer when the criminal element started shooting sporadically in the mosque.

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“The attack was in retaliation for the community’s successful defence efforts two days earlier. The people of Unguwan Mantau decided to lay an ambush against the bandits and killed many of them. They rescued victims taken from Ruwan Sanyi village and seized 3 motorcycles and 2 AK-47s.

“The security agencies are now on the ground in Unguwan Muntau to restore normalcy.

READ ALSO:Police Inspector, Two Officers Die In Kebbi Lakurawa Bandits Attack

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Air component commander of the Forward Operating Base, Nigerian Army, and Nigerian Police Force have already deployed to clear those bandits because during the rainy season, bandits hide under the crops to perpetrate their evil acts. We are working towards bringing the bandits to book.

“As government, we salute the gallantry and disposition of the people of Unguwar Mantau, and we are committed to fighting these bandits and ensuring safety across our communities.

“The State Government extends heartfelt condolences to the families affected and reaffirms its unwavering support for community-based security initiatives while working to eliminate criminal elements from the region.”

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Court Orders Divorce-seeking Woman To Pay Her Husband N120,000

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A Shari’a court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, has ordered a businessman, Malam Baballe Ibrahim, to allow his ex-wife, Hauwa’u to move her belongings out of his house.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad, gave the order after dissolving the one-year-old marriage between Ibrahim and Hauwa’u by way of khul’i (redemption).

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This means that the wife must refund the dowry paid by Ibrahim before the wedding to redeem herself from the marriage.

READ ALSO:Our Children Wrote A Letter Disowning Me After My Husband Accused Me Of Dating Another Man —Wife

The judge ordered Hauwa’u to return the N100,000 dowry to Ibrahim and another N20,000 given as “Kudin Gaisuwa” (money given to her parents during the introduction).

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Ibrahim had refused to grant Hauwa’u divorce.

He also locked her out and demanded that she should pay him everything he had spent on her when he started courting her and during the one-year marriage.

“I took care of her and provided everything she needed during our marriage.

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“I bought skin and hair care products, clothing and make ups for her,” he said.

 

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