Metro

Ebonyi: How Nigerian Student Was Drugged To Death By His Friend On Birthday

Published

2 years ago

April 21, 2024

The death of a 23-year-old student of the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State, who was allegedly drugged to death on his birthday by his friend on Thursday, has been confirmed by the Nigerian Police Force.

The deceased identified as Chinedu Hope was lured by his friend, Dan, after much persuasion to a hideout operated by a drug baron, simply known as Yoko in Umuodudu Ibeku.

Mrs Stella Ogbonnaya, Dan’s mother, recounted that when they arrived at the location, Chinedu, who did not use hard drugs, decided to wait for Dan inside his (Dan’s) Keke while Dan entered the bunk.

Ogbonnaya stated that after waiting too long, Chinedu decided to go into the place to phone Dan.

According to PUNCH, she said, “When Chinedu went inside, the operator of the hideout, Yoko, and four others who are also from Umuodudu were all in the hideout.

“When Chinedu got inside, Yoko said that whoever steps into the bunk, must partake in what they are taking. But Chinedu doesn’t take ice, (otherwise known as methamphetamine or mkpurummiri) or jico and Chinedu told Yoko he wouldn’t take it.

“It was at that time that Yoko ordered the rest to tie Chinedu with rope. Dan assisted them in tying him, both hands and legs, threw him on the ground, mixed the ice (methamphetamine) and jico, used a spoon to open his mouth, and poured the mixed substance into his mouth while hitting him with a hammer to make him swallow it.

“After he had swallowed all of the mixed substance, they took him to where they had digged a pit and threw him into the pit. He was struggling inside the pit with both hands and legs with the rope while he kept shouting ‘my stomach, my stomach’”, Ogbonnaya narrated.

When they noticed Chinedu was struggling to breathe, Madam Ogbonnaya stated, one of the individuals at the hideout picked up his phone and called a young man known only as Aham, telling him what had happened.

Aham rushed the dying Chinedu to the Keke to revive him, and when he was taken to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in Umuaha, ASP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident stating that “investigation is on”.

The PPRO continued, “On 19/4/2024, the Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia received a report from Hope Oluoha, a 52-year-old Male of Agbo Emede Ibeku Umuahia that on 18/4/2024, one Daniel Otuechere male 27 years old of same address took his son, Hope Chinedu Prosper, male 23 years old to an unknown destination and returned home with his lifeless body.

“The body was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

“Detectives from the Command visited the scene and the body has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

“Suspects connected with the crime have been arrested, and a discreet investigation is ongoing.”

Metro

Man Dies After Attempting To Flee EFCC Raid In Lekki

Published

39 minutes 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

46 minutes 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

58 minutes 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.