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Eight Varsity Students Die In Crash, Parent Mourns

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Eight students of Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State have reportedly died in an auto crash on their way to Taraba State from Port Harcourt.

According to reports, the students were travelling home from school on account of the forthcoming general elections.

An eyewitness, Matthew Mbam, said the incident happened on Saturday, February 18, at the TTC/Special Science School junction, Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.

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Seven other students reportedly survived the incident with varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital Hospital in Ebonyi State.

READ ALSO: Family Of 5 Die In Lagos-Badagry Expressway Auto Crash

Mbam, who narrated the incident on his Facebook page, said, “While returning from Nwezenyi, Igbeagu, Izzi, Ebonyi State, Nigeria this Sunday evening where I went to pick some people, I met this horrific scene at exactly TTC/Special Science School junction along the trans-Saharan road.

“Seeing the crowd of persons with some Army officers around the burnt vehicle, I decided to park my car by the roadside and came out to find out what happened. I was told that the accident occurred yesterday twilight being Saturday, February 18, 2023.

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“After asking some persons there who all declined to tell me what happened, I met the soldiers who accompanied the relatives from Taraba State, directly to ask them what happened with the burnt vehicle.

“They briefed me that the bus was coming from Port-Harcourt, conveying some students from Madonna University with some of the parents who were returning to Taraba State for a break due to the upcoming elections.”

Mbam added that the seven persons that survived were in “bad conditions” while the eight that lost their lives were “burnt beyond recognition.”

“The story further has it that eight students/a parent are the bodies/ashes that were burnt beyond recognition. And about seven persons in bad conditions who are currently at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, escaped from the bus when it caught fire after having a head-on collision with a Sienna car,” he added.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: 11 Burnt To Death In Ondo Road Crash

The father of one of the deceased students, Ezra Usman, expressed his sorrow in a Facebook post, attaching a picture of his daughter.

Usman wrote, “Grace Usman Ezra, I never knew sending you to Madonna University would lead to your untimely death. 18 of you left Madonna for Jalingo yesterday only to hear the news that your bus had (an) accident and caught fire, eight out of 18 came out from the bus. It is well with the 10 of you and the rest that are alive, I pray for your speedy recovery and may God comfort us all that lost our children.”

Efforts to reach the Vice Chancellor of the university, Dr Uchenna Anyanwu, were unsuccessful as calls to his telephone were not answered and he had yet to reply to an enquiry sent to his telephone through text message as of the time of filing this report.

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Police Rescue Kidnapped Children In Lagos, Arrest Abductors

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Men of the Lagos State Command have arrested one Tewase Peter and Ternugwa Paul for abducting two teenagers from Benue State.

A statement released today May 13 by the spokesperson of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, says the victims, Precious and Agera, were rescued from their abductees in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He stated that the victims were kidnapped while their mother was at the market.

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The statement in part reads: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted from their home in Benue State while their mother was away in the market.

READ ALSO: Three Suspects Connected To Series Of Kidnappings In Delta Arrested

“After the mother’s numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the older victim via his mobile phone, a Good Samaritan answered the phone while the suspects were not at home with the victims, and informed the mother that one of the suspects, Peter, accompanied by his friend, one Paul, had taken her daughters to Lagos with intentions to transport them to Ghana for forced labour.

“Upon receiving the information at the Lagos State Police Command, detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department busted Peter’s place at Itaoluwo, Ikorodu, and rescued the victims successfully.

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“Investigation is ongoing to apprehend all other individuals involved in this crime. Suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigations.”

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Three Suspects Connected To Series Of Kidnappings In Delta Arrested

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Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested three suspected cultists in connection with a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and other communities in the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 12, 2024, said an automatic pump action gun and a new AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine were recovered from the suspects.

On 9/5/2024 at about 0430hrs, the special team deployed to Ughelli by the commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi led by ASP Julius Robinson acting on technically generated intelligence stormed Oghara town and arrested a 28yrs suspect, who is a member of Eiye confraternity resident in Oghara Delta State,” the statement read.

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READ ALSO: Police Arrest three-member One-chance Syndicate Terrorizing Residents In Rivers

“The suspect led the operatives to a hotel in Koko Junction Oghara where another suspect aged 46yrs and a member of Eiye confraternity was arrested and an automatic Pump Action gun was recovered from him.

“Consequently, upon further interrogation of the two suspects, they led the operatives to the arrest of another 32-year-old suspect in Sapele Delta State where one new AK-47 rifle with and an empty magazine were recovered.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects are linked to a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and the environs. The suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing.”

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Police Arrest three-member One-chance Syndicate Terrorizing Residents In Rivers

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three members of a notorious one-chance syndicate terrorizing residents on flyovers in Port Harcourt and its environs.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, May 13, 2024, said the gang targeted women exclusively, with victims being severely beaten and robbed.

According to the PPRO, the arrested suspects, including a woman, made useful confessions that would lead to the arrest of the remaining members of the gang.

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Iringe-Koko added that the gang managed to extort 1.8 million Naira from one victim using ATM cards and a POS machine.

READ ALSO: Aid Reveals What Peter Obi Discussed With Atiku, Saraki, Lamido During Visits

The Rivers State Police Command has recently made significant strides in the fight against crimes in the state, with the apprehension of a gang specializing in armed robbery and kidnapping on flyovers,” the statement read.

This group, notorious for preying on unsuspecting victims using the one-chance tactic, has been a growing concern for authorities and residents of the state

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“The gang, consisting of four individuals, operates under the guise of passengers in a taxi, targeting victims on flyovers. The modus operandi involves brandishing weapons such as a locally made pistol and daggers to intimidate victims before robbing them of their possessions.

“The gang’s criminal activities commenced in October 2023 when their leader, Smart Obele (currently at large), initiated the one-chance scheme with Michael Gershon, a native of Ikolinem-Ikot-Okon in Esemudim Local Government Area. Michael, aged 27, agreed to use his vehicle for these operations after a meeting over beer bottles, where the details were discussed.

READ ALSO: $2.5bn Fraud: EFCC To Collaborate With UK Prosecutors In Diezani’s Case

“Nsikak Ibanga, aged 26, was introduced by Michael, having arrived in Port Harcourt from Akwa-Ibom state. Nsikak, described as a ‘fearless operator,’ joined the gang alongside Peace Paul, aged 22, who was informed by Michael that he would be sending her money frequently for withdrawal.

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“The gang strategized their operations, targeting women exclusively and executing their plans every week starting at 9 pm. Their criminal activities were fueled by violence, with victims being severely beaten and robbed. Notably, they managed to extort 1.8 million Naira from one victim using ATM cards and a POS machine.

The apprehension of three suspects, Michael, Nsikak, and Peace, has resulted in confessions and cooperation with authorities to capture the remaining members of the gang. The Police have recovered the operational vehicle, an ash-coloured Mazda 323, and are commended for their use of technology in crime prevention.

“Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, urges residents to report suspicious activities promptly, emphasizing the Police’s commitment to ensuring public safety and combating criminal elements in Rivers State.”

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