Metro

Food Seller Murders 33-year-old Man At Ebonyi Bar

Published

3 years ago

May 31, 2022

A 33-year-old man, whose name is yet-to be ascertained as at the time of filling in this report, was on Monday, murdered at a drinking joint along Jemeni Street, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

A reliable source, who spoke to The PUNCH, on grounds of anonymity, said the incident occured at about 7pm, adding that it has created tension and panic within the area.

Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, said that the two men were drunk and exchanged argument at the joint.

Garba said, “The incident happened and victim died. The two of them- both the man that killed the man and the one that died came to the joint together.

“But of course, you should know they were already drunk. The two of them just had little argument in that beer parlour, and one of them took bottle and smashed it on the head of the other person. The incident happened between the two of them.

“The one, whose head was hit with the bottle was rushed to the hospital and he could not survived it.

“By now, I’m sure my men would have arrested the suspect. I’m sure I will be able to give you feedback later.”

The source said that trouble stated when the suspect simply identified as Ayoola who is a food seller at Ekeaba Market attempted hitting the deceased with his car which made the deceased to question his action.

The source said,”Usually, people do gather at the new joint to eat and drink and that faithful day, the deceased was coming into the joint and the suspect with his car drove so rough that he almost hit the deceased with his car.

“The deceased became furious and questioned why he should drive roughly that he almost hit him, the suspect started raising his voice and threatening the deceased.

“Infact, from all indication, it seems both of them might have had issues before now or were already drunk.

“People at the joint were trying to calm the suspect down but he continued threatening the deceased.

“To the amazement of many people, the suspect picked up a bottle and smashed it on the deceased forehead and the young man fell down on the ground.

“Few minutes later, it was realized that the deceased had become motionless and blood gushing out from his mouth and nose. Many of the people there ran away.”

The source stated that shortly after the incident, policemen arrived the scene of the incident and arrested the suspect and took the corpse of the deceased away.

Metro

Police Bust Kidnap Ring, Rescue 23 Foreigners, Arrest 14 Suspects Near Abuja

Published

6 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismantled a transnational kidnapping syndicate that demanded N230 million ransom from foreign nationals lured into Nigeria under the guise of lucrative job offers.

Operatives of the command’s Scorpion Squad launched the sting operation around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, Nasarawa State, a border community near Abuja.

Fourteen suspected kidnappers were arrested and 23 foreign nationals rescued in the process.

According to police findings, the victims, all West African nationals, were deceived into travelling to Nigeria by a criminal network posing as employment recruiters.

Upon arrival, the victims were held captive, and the kidnappers demanded ransom from their families via WhatsApp and other online platforms.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said on Friday that investigations identified the ringleader as Abubakar Jigiba, a suspected notorious cross-border criminal with known residences in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.

The syndicate, she explained, demanded four million CFA francs (about N10 million) per person, a total ransom demand of N230 million.

Adeh confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down the principal suspect, Abubakar Jigiba, and his brother, Sougule Zoubere, both of whom remain at large.

She said: “In a major breakthrough against kidnapping and human trafficking, operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Scorpion Squad have successfully arrested fourteen (14) suspected kidnappers and rescued twenty-three (23) victims, all foreign nationals, from captivity.

“The intelligence-led operation took place at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

“The operation followed a report indicating that several foreign nationals had been lured into Nigeria under the pretext of lucrative job offers. Upon arrival, they were held hostage by their abductors, who demanded ransom payments from their families via WhatsApp and other online platforms.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate is coordinated by one Abubakar Jigiba, a transnational criminal kingpin with known residences in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria. His younger brother, Sougule Zoubere, handles the recruitment, kidnapping and smuggling of victims from Mali into Nigeria, where they are detained pending ransom payments. The group demanded four million CFA (N10,000,000) for each victim.

“Further investigations revealed that the victims were trafficked into the country through illegal border routes in a journey lasting about three days. They were subsequently confined in two fortified two-bedroom apartments under inhumane conditions.

“Acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence, the Scorpion Squad traced the hideout to the above address, where a total of twenty-three (23) victims — fourteen (14) males, eight (8) females and one (1) child — were rescued unhurt, except one who sustained a minor ear injury and has been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment.”

Metro

Woman Begs Court Not To Grant Husband’s Prayer For Divorce

Published

6 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

A housewife, Fauziya Ibrahim, has begged an Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, not to grant her husband, Hamza Musbau’s prayer of divorce.

She told the court that she does not want her marriage dissolved.

“I have been married to my husband for 16 years and I want to remain in this marriage,” she told the court.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),Earlier, Hamza prayed for divorce on grounds of lack of love and affection.

The judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, said that on the strength of the provisions of the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah allows a wife to seek for settlement, just as divorce is allowed.

He, therefore, advised Fauziya to try her best to make peace and settle any misunderstanding between them.

Aluko adjourned the case.

Metro

Woman Seeks Divorce Over Alleged Abandonment, Abuse

Published

6 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

A married woman, Love Thomas, has dragged her husband, Joshua, before an upper Customary Court sitting in Kaduna, Kaduna State, over alleged abandonment and violence.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the complainant’s lawyer, Victoria Omajawu prayed the court to dissolve their marriage on the grounds of abandonment.

She also prayed the court to restrain the defendant from threatening and disturbing her client’s peace or tranquility.

The defendant was however not in court.

The judge, Mrs Patience Musa, adjourned the case.