Headline

Freed Edo IPMAN Chairman Narrates Ordeal, Says ‘I Ate Apple Each Day’

Published

4 years ago

February 20, 2022

Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Egele, factional Edo IPMAN Chairman who was released by his kidnappers on Thursday, has narrated his ordeal in the hands of his abductors.

Egele who narrated his ordeals to newsmen in Benin on Sunday, said he ate a piece of apple on each day of the 14 days he spent in the forest with his abductors.

He said: “Though I was offered food everyday, I told them I was not hungry but only requested for apple which they gave me one each day of the period of spent with them in the forest.

“It was the day I heard I was going to be released that I demanded for a tin of milk; they obliged me with pap.

“I needed it for strength because I knew I was going to trek long distance upon my release,” he said.

While stating that Nigerians must come together to salvage the country from its present challenges, Egele appealed to the people not to shy away from going home as doing so will not solve the issue of kidnapping and the problem of insecurity.

“I want to advise the people not to be discouraged and running away from home, we must come together in prayers and savage the country together.

“I have discovered that Police and Army in the whole world cannot solve what is happening together, but almighty Allah,” he stated.

He commended his well-wishers and Muslim clerics who all prayed for his safe return.

Recall that Egele was kidnapped on Monday, February 7th in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo when he was returning home after the day’s business.

His driver and police orderly were both killed in the process of his abduction by the gunmen who had trailed him to his house.

He was however released 14-days later by his abductors after payment of N70 million ransom.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

51 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.