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

Police Arrest 13 During Cult Initiation In Delta

Published

15 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has arrested 13 suspected members of a cult group and recovered several firearms and other dangerous items.

The suspects were arrested during an initiation ceremony at the Ekraka Community forest in Kokori on Saturday.

The operation carried out late-night during a tactical operation in Ethiope East local government area of the state followed credible intelligence that members of the Aiye Confraternity, also known as Black Axe, were planning an initiation.

Police, operatives of the Quick Response Squad, led by its commander, SP Collins Achem, were swiftly deployed to the area to prevent the gathering.

Metro

Petrol Tanker Crashes Into Akpabio’s Convoy, Kills Police Dispatch Rider

Published

15 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

A tragic accident involving a fuel tanker and the convoy of Senate President Godswill Akpabio claimed the life of a police dispatch rider, Ibrahim Hussaini, on Sunday.

Akpabio made the announcement on Tuesday while addressing lawmakers during plenary, expressing his condolences to the family of the fallen officer.

Dispatch riders, who are typically police personnel, escort senior government officials on motorcycles marked for official use.

The Senate President arrived in the chamber shortly after the session began and informed his colleagues that Hussaini had already been laid to rest earlier that morning.

Although he did not give a precise location, Akpabio explained that the crash occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, shortly after his convoy picked him up from the airport.

He said: “We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague. Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered. We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left two wives and four children.

“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to; otherwise, I’ll employ them personally in any of my private concerns.”

He noted that the officer was buried in Kogi State and is survived by two wives and four children.

Following the announcement, Sunday Karimi, the senator representing Kogi West, raised a motion on personal explanation to formally present the matter to the Senate.

Karimi described Hussaini as a Deputy Superintendent of Police who was expected to retire next year. He added that the officer, who hailed from Kogi State, had been part of Akpabio’s security detail since 2023, when Akpabio assumed office as Senate President.

Karimi also informed lawmakers of another loss: the death of Ibrahim Tukur, a long-serving driver attached to Isah Jibrin, the senator representing Kogi East. Tukur reportedly passed away at his home on Saturday after 25 years of service.

Jibrin later addressed the chamber, noting that Tukur had worked with him since his early career as a banker at the now-defunct AfriBank. He offered prayers for his former driver’s soul.

The session concluded with Akpabio asking senators to observe a minute of silence in honour of both deceased staff members.

Metro

Fintiri Pardons Man Sentenced To Death For ‘Killing Herdsman In Self-defence’, Others

Published

15 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Fintiri Pardons Man Sentenced To Death For ‘Killing Herdsman In Self-defence’, Others

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has granted pardon to a death row inmate, Sunday Jackson.

An Adamawa farmer, Jackson is widely perceived to have been unjustly sentenced for allegedly killing a herdsman in self-defence.

There has been widespread calls for intervention in his case.

Jackson who is in Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre was pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Yola, and Maxwell Ibrahim, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Kaduna.

The pardon is in commemoration of Christmas and New Year celebrations, according to a statement released on Tuesday in Yola by Governor Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou.

“Others who had the remainder of their sentences remitted whole include Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman and Saidu Abubakar serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Numan and Medium Security Custodial Centre, Jada,” Humwashi stated.

He explained that Governor Fintiri extended his gesture to the inmates because the inmates had demonstrated significant improvement in their behaviour and conduct.

He quoted Fintiri as saying, “In the exercise of my prerogative of mercy as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with the recommendations of the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted pardon to three persons and directed the remission of the remainder of the sentences of five others who have served various jail terms and have significantly demonstrated good conduct over the years.”