Metro

Hoodlums Raze Rivers APC NASS Candidate’s Residence, Party Fumes, Fingers PDP

Published

3 years ago

January 29, 2023

Suspected political thugs have razed the residence of the All Progressives Congress National Assembly candidate for Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency, Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, in Omerelu, Rivers State.

The incident took place on Saturday in Omerelu, his country home in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that the suspected arsonists invaded the area, and broke into his residence, before setting fire to it.

As the fire started, some community youths were said to have intercepted some of the assailants and arrested them.

Soon afterwards, the youths raced to the residence of the senator hopeful.

In a video he personally shared on the incident, Ekekiel- Amadi said most of the rooms were burnt, saying the assailants broke the glass and set fire to the curtains.

In the video, all the louvre glasses in the apartment were destroyed, chairs, tables, ceiling and electronics were burnt.

He stated that one of the assailants who was caught by youths in the community told him how he broke the louvre glasses and set fire to the curtains.

Soon after the arrest of one of the assailants, he said the community youths broke into his house and tried to stop the fire from spreading.

He stated, “This is my aunty’s room, this is the ceiling, the air conditioner. But for the intervention of my relatives and community youths.

“They had into the place to have access so that they could put out the fire. Most of the places are close to the window because what the boy who was apprehended did was that he broke the glass and then lit the curtains.”

The spokesman for the party in the state, Darlington Nwauju, said the incident was masterminded by a suspected PDP arsonist.

Nwauju said the incident has justified the party’s call for the police to increase surveillance on APC leaders and candidates in the state, describing the attack as one too many.

He stated, “We want to warn that these attacks must stop because our party members cannot be expected to be on the receiving end at every election circle.

“It is clear that security agents are not able to cover the state and are not able to mop up all criminal elements and hired thugs acting as predators on APC members.

“We commend the youths of Omerelu community for their intervention and arresting the arsonist who perpetrated this dastardly act.”

Continuing, Nwauju said, “The APC will be watching to ensure that justice is not only done but is seen to be done to serve as a deterrent to other arsonists.

“And to other political predators who do not want the APC and indeed other opposition parties to have a breathing space to campaign and operate in Rivers State.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would find out and get give our reporter feedback.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Sunday afternoon.
PUNCH

Metro

JUST IN: Hausa, Benin Youths Clash Over Killing Of Suspected Yahoo Boy

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

Photo: file copy

Several persons were on Wednesday night injured in a clash between Hausa and Benin youths, in Ogheghe community, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, over the killing of a suspected yahoo boy identified as Chizi Benz.

According to sources, Chizi Benz was said to have been stabbed to death by a Hausa youth over a sour deal.

Though details of the deal were not available as at press time, the killing of Chidi Benz sparked outrage as youths stormed the streets with dangerous weapons in a revenge mission.

According to sources, many ‘Abokis’ were injured in a reprisal attack while others fled for safety.

News of the killing was to have spread to nearby communities of Uwelu along the Siluko Axis, forcing Hausa youths who do petty trading and rides okada closed their businesses and fled for safety.

According to sources, policemen who were deployed to the area fired tear gas to disperse the angry youths.

Edo Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, promised to send a detailed statement.

He was yet to do so as at press time.

Metro

EFCC Arraigns Three Over 25m Petroleum Theft In Lagos

Published

3 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, and three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged petroleum theft involving over 25 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.

In a statement posted by EFCC on Wednesday on X, the defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas — were charged alongside the vessel on a four-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The charges state that the defendants conspired to steal 25,354,000 litres of PMS, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

One of the counts reads: “MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin and Mr. Vincent Wayas sometime in January 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”

Other counts outline alleged thefts of 9 million litres and 3 million litres of PMS on or about January 17, 2024.

All defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the court “to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility. She prayed the court not to grant them bail, that the applicant was a flight risk, that they had nothing to lose if they jump bail or abscond from trial.”

The statement stated that: “However, the defence team informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and urged that the defendants be allowed to continue under the bail conditions earlier granted by the EFCC.”

Justice Dada subsequently ruled, “That the defendants should continue on the existing EFCC bail conditions and subsequently adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.”

Metro

NSCDC Arrests Five Fake Security Operatives In Anambra

Published

4 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has arrested five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump-action rifle during a series of coordinated raids in Awka.

The State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Awka.

Olatunde said the operation, conducted across several hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, around 11 am, followed credible intelligence reports.

He explained that the intelligence indicated the presence of individuals wearing uniforms resembling those of legitimate security outfits, allegedly hired by political actors to cause unrest ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

He said, “In a bid to rid Anambra State of individuals masquerading as private security operatives, the NSCDC, Anambra State Command, has apprehended five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump action rifle during a series of raids conducted in Awka.

“The raids conducted across various hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at about 11:00hrs, were based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of individuals dressed in attire resembling that of a security outfit, who may have been hired by political actors with the intention of utilising them to cause chaos during the election.”

He listed the suspects as Mmeka Ekene (43), Peter Detuchi Kelvin (28), Sunday Akpan Idiong (45), Enemuo Ifeanyichukwu (26), and Francis Ugochukwu Nwosu (28).

Olatunde explained that the operation, which was carried out by the Private Guard Companies Department, was aimed at flushing out undesirable elements, criminal gangs, and irredentists, as well as preventing emerging security threats, illegal possession of firearms, and any form of violence or intimidation that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the election.

He continued, “We are resolute in our commitment to providing a secure environment for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election, slated for November 8, 2025. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Anambra State remains peaceful and secure.”

The Commandant further stressed that the NSCDC would not be swayed by the antics of individuals pretending to be private security operatives in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.

“The Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, will take all necessary measures within its operational guidelines to counter and suppress any act that could potentially destabilise the peace enjoyed in the state,” he said.

Olatunde also revealed that the Command had strengthened surveillance and enhanced intelligence gathering to thwart any attempts by “disruptive elements or desperate politicians” to compromise the electoral process.

He stated, “The arrested suspects are currently being interrogated and will be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigation,” The PUNCH quoted him.