Metro

Hoodlums Raze 10 Houses, Kill One In Enugu

Published

3 years ago

December 28, 2022

The Oruku community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State was thrown into chaos on Wednesday morning as hoodlums suspected to be loyal to some powerful individuals prone to war with neighbouring communities razed 10 houses.

The PUNCH gathered the houses were burnt between December 25 and Wednesday, December 28, 2022 morning.

Among the houses burnt on Tuesday and the early hours of Wednesday morning included the palace of the late traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emmanuel Mba, who was killed by paid operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactical Squad on December 26, 2020 by some powerful community leaders.

Others affected are the house of the former local government chairman, Hon. Ejike Ani, and his younger brother, Agozie Ani.

It was also gathered that one man whose identity is yet to be ascertained was equally killed during the burning of the houses.

One of the victims, Agozie Ani, in a message sent to our correspondent, decried the burning of his house, adding he lost everything to the inferno.

He said, “Over 10 houses were burnt in Oruku from 25th December 2022, including my own, Hon. Ejike Ani and the late Igwe Emmanuel Mba’s houses.

“They also shot and killed one man on Christmas Day. Our crime was supporting Gov. Ugwuanyi’s peace deal on Oruku – Umuode crises and he abandoned us,” Ani lamented.

Meanwhile, two videos showed burning houses said to be that of the Agozie Ani and another showing a burnt house said to belong to Ejike Ani.

The arsonists were overheard calling them unprintable names.

In one of the video seen by our correspondent, one of the arsonists was overheard saying “this is the house of idiot Ejike Ani, the devil that bring ruin to Oruku by joining the weakling called Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. This is his house – this is the boys’ quarter, this is also his many building.”

“His house should also look like his own group. We have built him a new house so that his house will look like his own group. He is a human being. This one is the second building. He is the one that causes all the problems we have in Oruku. We have built a story building for him now because the bungalow doesn’t fit him any longer as the former local government chairman, who is destroying the Oruku.”

In a second video showing a burning bungalow, a background voice said “Agozie Ani this is your own house. We have built two storey building for you. This is the house of the vengeance. This is your home since you feel that there was no strength, we want to show you that there’s strength. This is the beginning, you will stay outside to come and implement your governor’s peace. You and others have been boasting to deal with us but we are already dealing with you and your useless governor.”

Meanwhile, the renewed attack followed a judicial panel set up by the Enugu government to look into the Oruku – Umuode communal conflict.

However, the findings and recommendations of the panel had since been submitted to the state government but not much has been heard about its implementation.

No fewer than 12 prominent people from the community who supported Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s peace initiative had been killed and over 100 houses razed down since December 26, 2020.

The murderers and arsonists were believed to be working for some powerful personalities including a military general involved in the protracted communal conflict in the area in the last two decades.

When contacted on the telephone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said “I don’t have information on this”.

Metro

Lagos: Police Arrest Security Guard For Stealing Generators, Others

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old security guard for allegedly breaking into an apartment and carting away household items worth about N1.8 million.

Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the arrest in a statement released on Saturday, adding that the suspect was tracked down by officers attached to the Iju Police Division.

He said operatives from the Iju Division apprehended the suspect following a report from a resident of the Ifako area, who returned home on August 15 to find his house burgled.

“Stolen items included a Sumec generator, a Fireman generator, a National air conditioner, and three air conditioner compressor engines, all valued at N1.8 million.

“Detectives arrested the suspect in the same neighbourhood after investigations revealed he conspired with others, who are still at large, to commit the crime,” Hundeyin said.

He added that the stolen items have been recovered, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.

Hundeyin said the case would be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, assured residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing criminals to justice and urged employers to conduct proper background checks before hiring staff.

Metro

NAF Kills 35 Terrorists In Border Airstrikes Near Cameroon

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Air Force said it had killed more than 35 jihadists in raids Saturday on militant fighters that had gathered near the Nigeria–Cameroon border following an attempted attack on ground troops.

The air strike was the latest by the Nigerian military, which is battling a resurgence of attacks in the country’s embattled northwest.

“Acting on multiple intelligence from several sources, the Air Component executed precision strikes in successive passes, engaging the terrorists and neutralising more than 35 fighters at four identified assembly areas,” said a Nigerian Air Force statement.

It re-established communication with the ground troops that had been threatened, and they confirmed that the “situation around their location had been stabilised,” the statement added.

The strike had “intensified efforts” to dominate the battles field and “deny terrorists freedom of action,” said the statement.

While Nigeria’s 16-year-old insurgency has slowed since violence peaked around 2015, attacks have picked up since the beginning of the year.

The Air Force said the latest operation demonstrated the force’s commitment to providing close air support to ground forces, “while also disrupting terrorist logistics and movement corridors along the north east border regions.”

AFP

Metro

Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Dismembering Pregnant Sister-in-law In Kwara

Published

5 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The police command in Kwara says it arrested a man, who allegedly dismembered the body of his pregnant sister-in-law, Mrs Esther Enemo at Egbejila Road in Temidire community, Ilorin.

This is contained in a statement by the command Spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Saturday in Ilorin.

According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the command wishes to inform members of the public of a tragic incident that occurred in the early hours of Aug. 21, at Temidire community in Ilorin.
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‎”At about 9 a.m., a resident of the area reported a suspected foul play within the residence of one Mrs Esther Enemo.

“In a swift response, a team of police detectives visited the scene, where the dismembered body of Mrs Esther Enemo (aged 39 years) was discovered in the bush behind her residence.

“Further search led to the recovery of other parts of her body concealed in a sack and dumped beneath a nearby community bridge.
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‎”The suspect, (names withheld), aged 29 years, younger brother to the victim’s husband, who was seen leaving the house a few minutes before the discovery of the incident, has been arrested in connection with the crime.

”Meanwhile, the husband has also been contacted for necessary clarification.
“The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) morgue for autopsy.

‎”The Commissioner of Police (CP), Ojo Adekimi, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter, assuring that the command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served,” he said.
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Ejire-Adeyemi expressed the command regret of the unfortunate incident and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid speculations that would incite fear or tension within the community.

He assured that the police would unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring the perpetrators to face the full weight of the law.

He urged the residents to continue to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that would aid ongoing investigations and security operations.

He reiterated the command to resolve to protect all residents and ensure peace prevailed in the state.

NAN