Metro

Edo: Catholic Church Calls Out Police, Govt Over Kidnapped Seminarian’s Death

Published

4 months ago

March 16, 2025

The Catholic Diocese of Auchi has condemned the response of security agencies in tackling kidnappings in Edo State, following the killing of 21-year-old seminarian, Andrew Peter, by his abductors.

The Edo State Police Command announced Peter’s death on Friday while confirming the rescue of Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli, who was kidnapped alongside him.

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr Gabriel Dunia, in a statement on Saturday by the Director of Communications of the diocese, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, called on the government at all levels and security agencies to stop the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Edo North and other parts of Edo State.

The statement read, “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi wishes to announce the release of Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli from the hands of his abductors.

“He was released at about 4.00 pm on Thursday, 13th of March, 2025 close to Amughe village, a few kilometres to Okpekpe town, North Ibie in Etsako East LGA of Edo State, ending 10 days of captivity in the hands of his abductors. He is now receiving appropriate medical attention.

“Unfortunately, however, the 21-year-old major seminarian, Andrew Peter, who was kidnapped along with Fr Ekweli, was gruesomely murdered by the abductors. The Diocese expresses sincere condolences to the family members of Andrew Peter, praying God to grant them consolation and strength in this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace.”

Dunia noted that the state has now become a haven for kidnappers, operating at will while the people have become helpless and abandoned.

He added, “A call goes to the government at all levels and security agencies to stop the deteriorating security situation in Edo North in particular and other parts of Edo State, which has now become a safe haven for kidnappers, operating at will while the people feel helpless and abandoned.

“He urges the government to take proactive steps to deplore the necessary resources to Edo North to secure the lives and property of the people.

“Life has been hell for our people in recent times. People are not safe on the roads, in their farms and even in their homes.

“This is unacceptable when there are elected officials whose duty it is to protect the people.

“The chief shepherd is grateful to the Edo State Government for their sincere efforts in seeing the victims rescued, but expresses dissatisfaction with the response of the police in particular in the rescue efforts, urging them to put in place better measures to rescue kidnapped victims rather than leave the entire rescue efforts solely in the hands of family, friends and acquaintances of kidnapped victims.”

The diocese revealed that in the past decade, six of its priests had been kidnapped and tortured before release, three were attacked but escaped, and two—Fr. Christopher Odia and Seminarian Andrew Peter—were murdered.

“The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, expresses gratitude to all for the prayers and moral support received while Fr Ekweli and the Seminarian were held in captivity.

“May the souls of Seminarian Andrew Peter, Fr Christopher Odia and all those killed by kidnappers in Nigeria through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen,” the statement concluded.

Metro

‘I Found Out That My Husband Was Not Single; He Threatened Me With Gun, Cutlass’

Published

11 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

A woman, Romoke, has dragged her husband, Oluferanmi, before Grade A Customary Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, on the account of deceit, lack of care for her and their children and refusal by the husband to allow the wife to work.

Romoke said that Oluferanmi told her when they were courting that he had a child but that she agreed to his marriage proposal despite this.

The plaintiff stated that she moved in with the defendant only to discover that he already had a wife and children.

Romoke further added that Oluferanmi was mean and that he always bought and fed the whole family, which was large with only a bag of rice in a year.

She further said that her husband was indifferent to their children’s education.

According to her, he relunctantly paid N15,000 out of N48,000, which was their eldest child school fees.

Romoke, who accused her husband of violence, lamented that he did not allow her to work.

According to Romoke, Oluferanmi threatened her with a gun after he demanded that she left her job, and she refused.

The plaintiff told the court that she moved out of the defendant’s house after he almost cut off her head with a cutlass.

Romoke, in addition to divorce, begged the court for their children’s custody.

The plaintiff further requested an order restraining the defendant from threatening and interfering with her private life.

Oluferanmi refused to make an appearance in court despite being served court summonses.

Romoke, in her evidence, said, “My husband and I met in 2011, and we held an introduction ceremony after which I moved in with him.

“My husband is deceitful. He lied to me that he had a child before we got married, but I was surprise to know that he already has a wife who bore him many children.

“My husband did not care for me and our children.

“Despite being aware that his is a large family, he would buy only one bag of rice in a year for the family’s consumption.

“He also gave us all only N1,000 per day for food

“My husband is negligent of our children’s education.

“He paid N15,000 out of N48,000, which was our child’s school fees.

“He is cruel and insisted that I stop working. He threatened me with a gun when I refused.

“My husband later took to raining curses on me and our children on a daily basis.

“This invariably affected the performance of our eldest child academically.

“His first wife and her children also made life unbearable for me, and my children.

“I would have lost one of my children, but for the timely intervention of our neighbours who came to his rescue when one of my rival’s children attempted to throw her in a well.

“I moved out of my husband’s house after he almost cut off my head with a machete during a misunderstanding.

“I am no longer interested in my marriage to my husband.

“I pray that this honourable court dissolve our union and grant me custody of our children because he cares less about them.

“I further appeal that the court mandates him to be responsible for their upkeep, making feeding, education and health care a priority.

“I also request an order restricting him from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

Ruling, the president of the court, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, stated that the defendant was given ample opportunity to defend himself but that he failed to make use of these.

Owoseni therefore dissolved their union and granted the plaintiff custody of their children while the defendant was mandated to be responsible for their upkeep.
(TRIBUNE)

Metro

My Wife Crushed My Scrotum, Arrested Me With The Police —Husband

Published

14 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

He attempted to strangle me —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the wedlock between a couple, Ayodeji and Bidemi as a result of the display of irresponsibility and lack of love by the latter, and an attempt to usurp the former’s position in the home.

The plaintiff stated that the defendant lacked the attributes of a virtuous woman.

According to the plaintiff, the defendant had no regard for him, and refused that he had peace of mind.

He also said that she abandoned all her responsibilities in the home.

Ayodeji further stated that Bidemi refused to take instructions from him and never ceased to fight him.

The plaintiff recounted how the defendant once crushed his scrotums during a fight, while her brother beat him blue and black for an offence he never committed.

Ayodeji also told the court that Bidemi once arrested him with the police under a false claim.

The plaintiff said he had had enough of his wife atrocities and thus prayed for divorce.

He pleaded for their children’s custody and also requested an order restraining his wife from, harassing, threatening and interfering with his private life.

Bidemi denied all the allegations brought against her but agreed to divorce.

The defendant refused that the plaintiff had custody of their children.

Bidemi explained that the plaintiff refused to give her and their children feeding allowance, adding that he beat her at every given opportunity.

According to the defendant, the last time they fought, he attempted to strangle her.

Ayodeji in his testimony said, “My wife and I held introduction ceremony after we courted and I prayed her bride price.

“I have known no peace since I got married to my wife.

“Bidemi has failed to add value to me, all she does is to fight me. and turn the whole house upside down.

“My wife displays no virtue. She has failed to be a good example to our children.

“She abandoned her responsibilities in the home and turned the whole house upside down.

“Bidemi has no regard for me. She is defiant and always insisted on having her way.

“All that she planned to do was to usurp my position in the home.

“My wife almost killed me when she crushed my scrotum during a fight.

“She arrested me with the police under a false claim and I was detained.

“Her brother is not better. He came to my house to beat me and almost snuffed life out of me.

“My lord, Bidemi has made my life miserable enough. I no longer want her under my roof.

“I pray this honourable court to end our relationship and grant me custody of our children because she is not a good example to them.

“I also request an order restraining her from harassing, threatening and interfering with my private life.”

Bidemi, responding, said, “My lord, my husband lied that he paid my bride price.

“He daily failed in his responsibility towards me and our children.

“He hardly gave us feeding allowance; all that he knew how to do was to beat me.

“Our family members had mediated in our crises on several occasions, but he refused to change.

“The last time we fought, he attempted to strangle me.

“My lord, I give my consent to the dissolution of our marriage, but I disagree that my husband had custody of our children.

“I further appeal to the court to make him responsible for their feeding, education and health care.”

The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, giving her judgment, stated that there was no marriage to be dissolved because no customary marriage was held between the duo and no bride price was paid.
(TRIBUNE)

Metro

Court Orders Man To Pay N36,000 As Child’s Upkeep

Published

28 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

A vulcanizer, Kabir Yusuf, has dragged his former wife, Shafautu Zakari, before a Sharia Court sitting in Majin Garri, Kaduna State, seeking custody of his two-year-old son.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kabir told the court that his former wife leaves their little boy with his grandmother in the market and goes about her daily activities

“I don’t like the way she is training my son. I am praying the court grant me his custody,“ he said.

The defendant, Shafaatu, who sells provisions in Karuwan Bacci, Kaduna, denied the allegation.

“We live around the market area and the boy stays with his brothers at home whenever I am away.

“He only goes to my mother’s shop in the evening with his brothers to carry goods back home when she closes for the day,” she said.

She alleged that Kabir swore that he would not take care of the boy since she dragged him to court and got their son’s custody.

The judge, Murtala Nasir, after listening to both parties, ordered the complainant to pay N36,000 for the upkeep of the little boy.

He also ordered that the boy remain with his mother for the next three years.