Metro

How Boxer Punched In-law To Death In Edo

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2023

A Benin-based ex-Boxer, Mr Scott Eguabor, has allegedly punched his brother-in-law, identified as Mr. Sunday Okoro to death, while trying to resolve marital crisis between his immediate younger sister and her husband.

The incident which occurred March 19, at Erie Street, off Sokponba Road, Benin City, according to multiple sources, is coming one week after the boxer allegedly assaulted a Pastor following a disagreement over security levy.

Eguabor, a Coach in charge of Boxing in Edo State Ministry of Sports Council and Head of the State Security Network in Erie and its environs, allegedly fled his home after committing the crime, barely one month after the victim’s wife put to bed.

Okoro, a father of three children, was said to have responded to an invitation by his younger sister who is a renowned Judoka in the same sports ministry with her husband, to settle a quarrel in his in-law’s house where Eguabor, allegedly inflicted severe injuries on Okoro’s eyes and nose.

A witness, Mr Osahon Okoro-Obaraye, said that Sunday, wept bitterly over the attack before he proceeded to Esigie Police Division where he formally made the complaint and was advised by a policeman on duty to go and treat the injury.

The witness added that in the heat of his ordeal, Mr Sunday who is believed to be in his early 30’s, bleeding severely trekked to meet his in-law in First Erie Lane and demanded the whereabouts of Boxer, without the presence of the police who did not follow the injured victim to the scene of the crime.

He explained that suddenly, Mr Sunday who could barely mutter a word, allegedly slumped and gave up the ghost and upon sensing danger, the alleged murderer fled immediately.

Okoro-Obaraye recalled how Eguabor bracingly had terrorised residents of Erie and its environs with firearms under the toga of Edo State Vigilante Network, Aruosa Command near Igbesamwan street junction.

Distraught Okoro-Obaraye also revealed that he took Sunday in his vehicle to different hospitals in Benin after he (Sunday) fell for urgent medical attention, but was later doctors confirmed dead by the doctors.

He alleged that Eguabor also dealt with several persons in the neighbourhood including the Cleric who was rescued by his church members in the hands of the fugitive when he launched an attack on a Pastor (name withheld) at the peak of his contemptible rage.

Recalling how Mr Eguabor Scott’s wife, had informed her elder brother who lives in Upper Sokponba Road on a telephone to come to her rescue when she had a fracas with her husband late Saturday, March 18th 2023, Okoro-Obaraye alleged that Mr “Scott’s wife told her brother that her life was in danger.

“Consequently, the elder brother called Mr Sunday who works in Erie street as a coffin maker but lives on Ski street in Benin intervenes.

“After Sunday who was in the church received a phone call from his elder brother, he left his church at about 2 p.m.

“He (Sunday) greeted me (the eyewitness) in Erie Street and thereafter proceeded to a place called “Mama Joy bar” where Scott was relaxing. After greeting his brother-in-law (Scott) and his sister.

“He asked the Couple, why are they always quarrelling? Why can’t they stop their incessant quarrel?

“Suddenly, Scott stood up and gave Sunday a direct punch on his nose and mouth.

“Immediately Sunday fell, Scott began to shout and ordered that Sunday’s life should be terminated.

“Consequently, some persons who were present at the scene were lifted Sunday from the floor. Momentarily, Sunday limped out of the scene and began to lament his ordeal.

“Esigie police immediately prepared an extract for Sunday to go and treat himself at the police Clinic in Benin before Sunday began to make his statement.

“They (sympathizers) wanted to bring Sunday’s corpse to the paternal home of his killer and I opposed it to avert further bloodshed.

“I then took his body to the same police station where we were advised to take his body to one of the hospital mortuaries we took him to after the incident for preservation.

“Mr Sunday, a casket maker, had just finished paying over N300,000 debt he incurred after his wife (widow) delivered of a baby boy via a Caesarian Section (CS).

“Who will take of the young widow and his three children?”, Okoro-Obaraye queried, while demanding justice, and support for the family of the deceased from all forms of intrusion”, the eyewitness said.

As of the time of filing this report, police operatives were yet to visit the scene of the crime after the attack and death were reported, just as the spokesman of the Nigeria police Command in Edo State, SP. Chidi Nwabuzor is yet to respond to an inquiry from journalists.

Metro

Job Seekers Protest Alleged Fake Employment Letters For Ondo Teaching Jobs

Published

2 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Hundreds of aggrieved job seekers on Friday staged a protest at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital, over alleged fake letters of employment issued to them for teaching positions in the state.

The protesters, who had applied for teaching jobs under the state’s civil service, barricaded the entrance to the Governor’s Office while demanding immediate inclusion in the ongoing biometric capturing exercise for newly recruited teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

According to the protesters’ claims, despite possessing ‘official-looking’ appointment letters purportedly issued by SUBEB and the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), their names were not included in the official list of successful candidates scheduled for the exercise.

While armed with placards of various inscriptions, the job seekers chanted solidarity songs and called on the state government to intervene.

A source said, “The affected members of the newly recruited teachers in Ondo State are protesting their disengagement from the capturing exercise due to backdoor appointment letters issued to them by unscrupulous directors of the personnel at SUBEB and TESCOM offices.”

In a reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed that the protesters had been scammed with fake appointment letters by some unknown people.

“People should please note that those who protested are not teachers but applicants who were duped by some individuals during the recruitment process.

“They all paid money to scammers who issued them fake letters of appointment.

“Those legitimately recruited by the government have been absorbed and have started working,” the CPS stated.

The government, however, maintained that the genuine recruitment exercise is being handled transparently and urged applicants to be wary of fraudsters exploiting the process.

Metro

Police Arrest Suspected Robber, Three Others With Firearm In Delta

Published

2 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Operatives of Safe Delta have arrested a 23-year-old suspected armed robber, Raphael Chukwuemeka, with a cut-to-size double-barrel pistol and seven live cartridges.

The suspect was apprehended along DBS Road, Asaba, Delta State, on September 9, 2025. He is now in police custody.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest in a statement.

The police spokesman said, “On September 9, 2025, operatives of Safe Delta, while on surveillance patrol along DBS Road, sighted a group of boys fighting and engaging in affray, one with a cutlass.”

According to SP Edafe, “The operatives swiftly went to the scene and, in the process, arrested Raphael Chukwuemeka, 23, with one cut-to-size double-barrel pistol with seven live cartridges recovered from him.”

He added, “The suspect was taken into custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”

In a separate incident, operatives of Safe Delta, while on stop-and-search duty at Head Bridge, Asaba, arrested three suspected armed robbers, Solomon Offor, 22, Ifesinachi Nwankeze, 19, and Ambrose Ugwuba, 23.

They were apprehended on September 10, 2025, at about 10:30 am.

Edafe confirmed, “Upon search of the suspects and the motorcycle, a locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, cartridges and a dagger concealed in a bag were recovered.”

Metro

Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

Published

6 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be cultists on Thursday night attacked a burial ceremony in Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing four persons and injuring about 15 others.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants, believed to be from a rival cult group, stormed the venue on motorcycles while family members were performing the burial rites.

They opened fire on mourners, sending others scampering for safety before fleeing the scene.

“The assailants suddenly invaded the scene of the burial on Thursday and opened fire at the gathering, targeting some people who were present.

“The family members of the deceased and other mourners were performing the burial rites in the compound, when they arrived at the scene and shot at the mourners, while others scampered to safety.

“They came in some motorcycles and after carrying out their deadly mission, immediately left the scene,” an indigene who was near the scene, who did not want his name in print, The told PUNCH.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, quickly responded, restored normalcy, and evacuated the victims to hospitals.

Ikenga said the Command has commenced a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, adding that preliminary findings suggested that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups.

He said, “Following a distress call in the late hours of September 11, 2025, that armed men suspected to be cultists invaded a burial ceremony at Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, and opened fire on the attendees, resulting in the death of four persons while 15 others sustained serious injuries.

“Police operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilised to the scene, restored normalcy, and immediately evacuated the victims to hospitals for medical attention. In the course of the operation, 16 expended cartridges were recovered as exhibits.

“The Command has since launched a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, as preliminary findings suggest that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, has strongly condemned the incident and assured residents of the command’s resolve to rid the state of cult-related violence and other criminal activities.

“The Command urges members of the public to remain calm, security-conscious, and to continue to provide useful information by reporting suspicious movements or persons to the nearest Police formation.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” the statement added.

This latest incident comes months after The PUNCH reported that seven people, including five police officers, were killed in January when gunmen invaded a compound in Ihiala LGA during preparations for another burial.

It was gathered that the family members in the compound were making preparations for a burial ceremony scheduled to be held on January 2, 2025, when suddenly, the hoodlums invaded the place and started shooting sporadically, leading to the death of the victims.

The assailants were said to have opened fire at the gathering, targeting security operatives stationed near the local government headquarters as they fled the scene.

The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who visited the scene to condole with the families of the victims, announced a N10m bounty each for information leading to the capture of each of the gunmen responsible for the killing.