Metro

Gas Station Explosion Rocks Calabar, Scores Injured, Property Destroyed

Published

2 months ago

March 21, 2026

A powerful explosion has ripped through a private petrol and gas filling station on Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, leaving several residents seriously injured and destroying property worth millions of naira.

The incident completely razed the facility, identified as the Fonex Gas Station, with fire engulfing its fuel and gas storage tanks and incinerating vehicles within the premises.

The station, located in a densely populated neighbourhood, triggered panic as the blast extended to adjoining buildings and shops, forcing residents and business owners to flee for safety.

Eyewitnesses reported that several victims sustained varying degrees of injuries. While some were treated at nearby patent medicine stores, others were rushed to hospitals for urgent medical attention.

Emergency response was initially delayed, as neither the police nor the fire service had arrived at the scene at the time of filing this report. The resulting security vacuum reportedly led to incidents of looting, with hoodlums carting away goods from affected shops and the damaged facility.

Residents and bystanders made desperate attempts to contain the raging inferno using sand, water, and other improvised means, as thousands gathered at the scene.

Conflicting accounts have emerged over the cause of the explosion. Some residents alleged that a customer’s phone use near the gas dispensing point may have ignited the blast, while others, including a local mechanic, pointed to a possible electrical fault or expired equipment.

The incident also sparked emotional scenes, with distraught parents seen searching frantically for their children amid the chaos.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said officers had been deployed to the area.

He added that efforts were ongoing to mobilise fire service personnel, including support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to bring the situation under control.

Authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause of the explosion, as emergency responders continue efforts to secure the area and prevent further damage.

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Metro

Ex-convict Arrested In Edo For Armed Robbery, Possession Of Firearm

Published

15 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict, Owen Osas, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and suspected involvement in a robbery incident.

Osas was reportedly arrested with a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during a covert operation along Fishpond Road in Eyean, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

The arrest reportedly comes barely a year after he was released from prison, where he had served time for illegal possession of firearms and other criminal offences.

Osas, who confessed to the latest crime, also admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo
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Consequently, a victim of an alleged robbery incident, Reginia Izy, identified Osas as the person who robbed her a day before his arrest.
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The victim narrated that the suspect had approached her residence around 8 p.m., pretending to be familiar before carrying out the attack.
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‎The Deputy Commander Operations of ESSC, Richard Balogun, said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

READ ALSO:Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama
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‎Balogun explained that operatives conduct both overt patrols and covert operations to track and apprehend suspects.
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He said, ‎“Our men are always on patrol. Some operate in plain clothes as part of covert strategies, while others are stationed at strategic locations.

“Osas, who is a former convict, was arrested with firearms and he also confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.”
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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.