Connect with us

Metro

Gunmen Rob, Abduct PUNCH Reporters, Steal Phones, Empty Accounts

Published

on

There was panic following the attack and abduction of two Abuja-based journalists of PUNCH Newspapers, Solomon Odeniyi and Amarachi Orjiude, within 24-hours.

While Odeniyi was robbed around 2am on Saturday in his Lugbe residence of Abuja, Orjiude was picked up by kidnappers in Chika, Lugbe, around 12pm on Sunday.

Advertisement

Narrating his ordeal to PUNCH Metro, Odeniyi noted that he was asleep in his apartment after a downpour in the wee hours of Saturday when a gang of six armed robbers invaded his room.

“They came in around 2am and they were with cutlasses; six in number. They ordered me to give them money. Initially, I didn’t want to give the money to them, but one of them hit my head with his machete and I gave them what I had.

“They kept asking for more. I gave them my two phones, an iPhone and a Tecno phone. Still, they kept cutting me with their machetes after which they ransacked my belongings and took some other things.

Advertisement

“They invaded close to 10 houses in our area in Chika; no one was killed, but quite a number of the people were robbed.”

READ ALSO: Islamic Scholar Advocates Proper Training For Children To Curb Social Vices

Also, Orjiude, who spoke to our correspondent, noted that she was kidnapped along Chika-Aleyita, Lugbe, on her way from the city mall.

Advertisement

She said, “I saw a taxi and I went inside. There were three men and a woman with her baby. The woman and the baby alighted at some point. I didn’t notice anything out of place until they told me to bend down and they told me they’d hurt me if I dared to make a noise.

“They threatened to kill me if I failed to contact my people to make available a ransom of N300,000. I called my fiancé and they told him they’d hurt me if he refused to make the payment.

“At the end, they withdrew about N200,000 from my Union Bank account; they also withdrew money from my other accounts and went away with my phone.”

Advertisement

The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments

Metro

JUST IN: Yinka Ayefele In Tears As Fire Guts Fresh FM

Published

on

By

A fire outbreak has been reported at a popular Ibadan-based radio station, Fresh FM, at Felele area in Ibadan South-West local government area of the state capital on Friday.

The incident, which started a few hours ago, has disrupted other related activities at the station.

Advertisement

Newsmen could not confirm neither the cause nor extent of the damage as at the time of filing this report.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Heavy Gunfire As Benue Community Comes Under Attack

Confirming the incident in a telephone chat, the General Manager, Oyo State Fire Services, Rev Akinyemi Akinyinka said, “our men are on the ground. The situation is under control.”

Advertisement

Founded by popular musician and broadcaster, Yinka Ayefele, Fresh FM is one of the most listened-to radio stations in Ibadan.

Click link below to watch video:

https://cdn.pmnewsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/4YarRfs4-AQPEpS7eh4Sj40BSksJ46sTcwVZZAOsq-ibfVmfuQPhOk5ETRyO-ynZLu4qMgK2n6JR220C0oTevEDxrkfItsdBP66n3H7KR0u2_EYfLrs2ZsQ.mp4?_=1

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Metro

Lagos Woman Remanded For False Foreign Currency Declaration

Published

on

By

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded Ifunanya Phil-Olumba in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre over allegations of falsely declaring and failing to declare foreign currency totaling $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had preferred three counts against the defendant, accusing her of making false declarations to the Nigeria Customs Service and failing to declare foreign currency, contrary to Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Advertisement

At the resumed proceedings, before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, the prosecution, led by Okezie Chineye, called two witnesses.

The first prosecution witness, an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs. Stella Ogar, told the court that the defendant was intercepted during inward clearance from the United Kingdom.

READ ALSO:Hoodlums Loot, Vandalise FG’s 80-bed Specialist Hospital In Oyo

Advertisement

According to Ogar, the defendant declared only CA$4,000, despite allegedly being in possession of CA$14,000, alongside other undeclared sums.

We arrested her and handed her over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation,” Ogar testified.

The second prosecution witness, an EFCC operative, Felicia Paul, confirmed that the defendant was handed over to the commission by the customs.

Advertisement

She stated that the defendant was interrogated and opted to make a written statement, which the prosecution sought to tender in evidence.

READ ALSO:FULL LIST: FG Approves Nine New Private Varsities

However, defence counsel, Edwin Anikwem, objected to the admissibility of the statement, contending that it was not obtained voluntarily and was made without the presence of counsel, contrary to legal requirements.

Advertisement

However, Justice Dipeolu adjourned further hearing to August 19 for continuation of the trial.

The EFCC alleged that on July 22, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the defendant falsely declared the sum of $4,000 while in possession of $14,567; failed to declare CA$40; and falsely declared £1,000 while in possession of £1,030.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offences committed contravened Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Metro

Two Varsity Students Die In Bayelsa Road Crash

Published

on

By

A head-on collision between a truck and a commercial tricycle on the Yenagoa/Amassoma Road, Bayelsa State, has claimed the lives of two students from Niger Delta University, Amassoma.

The accident which occurred on Wednesday also left other passengers of the ill-fated tricycle critically injured.

Advertisement

Residents attributed the accident to absence of road signs and overspending by drivers as the crash occurred at a bend on the road.

The truck negotiated the bend at high speed, lost control and hit the tricycle at top speed, crushing it.

READ ALSO:Gunmen kill community leader in Bayelsa

Advertisement

A trader, Godspower Okilo told The PUNCH on Thursday that the truck driver was moving too fast, and by the time he realised the danger, it was already too late.

He said, “The Keke (tricycle) had no chance of escaping the danger because the tipper was already close to it.
“We’ve been complaining about reckless truck drivers on this road for years, but nothing changes.

“The dangerous impact left the tricycle damaged beyond recognition. Good Samaritans rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the wreckage and transporting the injured to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

Advertisement

“The bodies of the deceased were later evacuated to a nearby morgue.

READ ALSO:Four Sentenced To Death For Killing Driver In Bayelsa

This incident has renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the State Police Command should intensify patrols, introduce speed breakers, and conduct regular safety checks on heavy-duty vehicles.”

Advertisement

Another resident of the area, Mrs. Ebike Ekain, said if the appropriate authorities do not act now, more lives will be lost to accidents in the nearest future.

The Yenagoa/Amassoma Road is without doubt the most dangerous road in Bayelsa State due to the number of accidents that occur every year.
The reconstruction of the stretch from the Etegwe Roundabout to Tombia Community resulted in several turns which motorists do not consider as they often drive at dangerous speeds.

READ ALSO:Cultists Hack Two Graduates To Death In Bayelsa

Advertisement

The Federal Road Safety Commission usually dispatches an ambulance to the road which is stationed at Tombia Community and sometimes at the roundabout leading to Agudama-Ekpetiama Community.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Muhammad, who confirmed the accident, said investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the accident.

Yes, an accident happened there and we are investigating the causes of the accident,” he stated.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version