Metro

Engineer Stabs Wife, Son For Refusing To Return Home After Torture

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2022

Editor

Doctors are battling to save the life of a 39-year-old woman, Victoria Emmanuel, after her husband, Haruna Emmauel, allegedly stabbed her.

Victoria was said to have been enduring domestic violence since she married her husband 16 years ago, but left their home in Kaduna after she was almost strangled by Haruna last year.

A family friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Haruna, a building engineer, had under the guise of coming to take his children with him, visited Victoria at her new residence in the state.

The source said Haruna pleaded with Victoria to return to his house, but she asked that he sign an undertaking.

She said, “What happened was that she was beaten on December 28, 2021. He almost strangled her. She took the case to a human rights group and moved out of his house. Her parents rented another apartment for her. She would have left Kaduna, but she was schooling there.

“This was how she has been coping with the torture since she got married to him 16 years ago. Each time she leaves the house, he will come with different ministers of God to meet her parents and he would cry and vow not to do that again, but it continued.

“He has signed undertakings more than three times, but he never honoured them. He signed an undertaking with her parents, another at Sabo Police Station and one at the DSS office. He refused to sign at the human rights organisation because of the conditions.

“Last Friday, he said he wanted to take his children with him; those children were with him, but he sent them to their mother when they were sick. She didn’t stop him, but he later apologised to her and said he wanted her back in his life.

“She asked him to sign the fourth undertaking; he refused to sign. She refused to move in with him; he left with her second son.”

Explaining what transpired, Victoria, who was gasping for breath as she faintly uttered her words, told our correspondent that she was about to walk out after several pleas by her husband to return home when he grabbed her by the neck and stabbed her in the chest and other parts of her body.

Victoria also claimed that Haruna stabbed their son.

She said, “My son that went with my husband ran back panting and sweating. Shortly his father appeared and started begging me for forgiveness, I told him that I had forgiven him, but can’t stay with him. I was about to walk out when he grabbed me from behind and held me by the neck; he had a knife with him and stabbed me in my right chest with force and shouted, ‘Die!’

“He removed the knife and stabbed me in my left and right hands. He also targeted my neck, but I managed to dodge it. He stabbed me in the back. My son was shouting and begging him not to kill me.

“Neighbours were trying to open the door, but they couldn’t. My son summoned courage to push him away. He used the knife on my son’s stomach. The boy narrowly dodged another attempt to stab him before neighbours came to our rescue.”

The family friend said Haruna had not been seen after the incident, adding that the stab injuries on Victoria’s right chest made it difficult for her to breathe properly.

She said he dropped the knife, his phones, car keys and slippers and took to his heels when neighbours were struggling to keep Victoria alive.

The suspect could not be reached by The PUNCH as he reportedly abandoned his phones at the scene.

His sister, Esther, aborted calls as soon as our correspondent introduced himself to her.

A follow-up message was sent, but she did not respond.

Haruna’s elder brother, James, declined comment on the matter.

“We are heading for court and everything will be unraveled there,” he added.

The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, promised to get back to our correspondent.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

There has been an increase in the rate of domestic violence in the country lately.

A Jos-based man, Mathew Samuel, fled after allegedly ripping open his wife’s stomach and cutting her intestines during a disagreement on April 22, 2022.

On April 7, 2022, a pregnant Oyo woman, Omowunmi, allegedly stabbed her husband, Nwankwo, to death after discovering he was planning to marry a new wife.

The police in Ogun State also arrested a 46-year-old man, Sobola Olatunji, for stabbing his 38-year-old wife to death on suspicion of infidelity in February 2021.

PUNCH

Metro

Police Rescue Kidnapped Children In Lagos, Arrest Abductors

Published

12 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

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.

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.

“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.

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

Metro

Three Suspects Connected To Series Of Kidnappings In Delta Arrested

Published

12 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

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.

“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.”

Metro

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

Published

12 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

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.

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

“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

“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.

“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.

“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.”