Metro

Imo: Students, Youths Protest Police Harassment, One Killed

Published

3 years ago

December 16, 2022

Editor

One person was on Thursday shot dead as students of the newly opened Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental sciences, Umuagwo, and youths residents in the area protested alleged police brutality.

The protesting youths who blocked the ever-busy Owerri- Port Harcourt expressway, demanded an end to police harassment and brutality in the area.

Not long after the protest commenced, policemen allegedly mobilized to the scene and started shooting indiscriminately.

While the protesters scampered for safety, 26-year-old Izuchukwu Okorie, who was not part of the protest, was hit by a stray bullet.

He was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The University’s Registrar, Edward Njemanze, who spoke to our correspondent in a telephone conversation said that no student of the varsity was part of the protest.

He also said that the slain youth was not a student of the university.

The registrar said, “The man who was shot dead was not a student of our university. Also, no student of the university took part in the protest. Those involved are youths and residents of the area.”

But sources who confided in our correspondent insisted that students, youths and residents of the area took part in the protest.

They claimed that the aim was to bring to an end the constant brutality of the students and youths of the area.

The immediate younger brother of the victim, Onyinyechi Okorie, who spoke to our correspondent in a telephone interview, said that his elder brother was not a student of the university.

He said that his elder brother came to visit him and was on his way out when he was hit by a stray bullet.

Onyinyechi said “My name is Onyinyechi Okorie. The person killed was my immediate elder brother. He was not a student of the university and was not part of the protest. He was a tiler. I am a businessman in the area.

“He was not part of the protest. He was on his way out when a stray bullet hit him. He was rushed to St John’s Hospital at Obinze by students and some policemen. I met them there. He was confirmed dead.

“He came to visit me. He wasn’t married. We are from Oforola community in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state. Our father is late. Our widow mother is alive. His corpse has been deposited at the Above Mortuary at Obama. They only gave me his ATM card, house key and the sum of N300. His phone is nowhere to be found. As I speak to you his phone number is still switched off.

“Please tell the government that we need justice. This is just three years we lost our father. The policemen refused to give me their phone numbers and also refused to tell me their names or how I could locate them. They just drove out once my brother was confirmed dead,” the statement added.

The police spokesperson for the command, Micheal Abattam, said that the command was the murder incident.

Metro

Truck Crushes Man Rushing For Jumu’ah Prayers In Rivers

Published

5 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

A trailer loaded with goods has crushed a Muslim faithful rushing for Friday prayers to death in Port Harcourt.

According to Vanguard, the tragic incident happened on the ever-busy Nkpolu junction axis of the East-West road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, around 2:05 pm.

It was gathered that the victim was crossing the busy road when a black SUV on speed knocked him down and that the truck, which was on high speed, crushed him to death.

A source, who witnessed the incident, narrated that the young man was behind some of his Muslim brothers, who were also going for the Friday prayers, when the incident happened.

The source, who gave his name simply as Tunde, said the other worshipers had crossed, but that the victim, who did not observe the traffic very well before entering the road, was knocked down by the vehicle.

The source said that when the SUV brought him down, a trailer that was on the speed lane ran over him, dismembering the body beyond recognition.

However, the Muslim faithful who were with him took over the highway in protest until police operatives arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, the police restored normalcy while the protesting Muslims took the remains for burial.

Metro

Three Killed As Suspected Bandits Ambush Motorists In Kwara

Published

14 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have allegedly launched a deadly attack on motorists along the Rore and Aranorin communities in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least three people dead.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, threw residents and travellers into a state of panic as news of the killings spread across the area.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the victims were seen lying lifeless on the roadside, their bodies partially covered with clothing and leaves by sympathisers who arrived at the scene after the attackers had fled.

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the armed men, believed to be operating from hideouts in nearby forests, opened fire on the unsuspecting motorists in what appeared to be a coordinated ambush.

It remains unclear whether the attackers also abducted any victims during the assault, as details were still emerging as of Friday morning.

The attack is the latest in a growing wave of violence that has gripped Kwara State’s Ifelodun and Irepodun local government areas in recent months.

Communities such as Babanla, Shegbe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Oreke in Ifelodun Local Government have faced repeated attacks, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their ancestral homes.

Many victims have been kidnapped for ransom, while others have been killed in similar raids.

Residents expressed fears that the violence could escalate further unless urgent security measures are taken.

Some community leaders have called on both the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel to the affected areas, noting that many villages have been left vulnerable as attacks continue unabated.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had yet to release an official statement on the incident.

However, sources indicate that security operatives have been mobilised to the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents.

On August 24, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that hours after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area to reassure residents of improved security, suspected bandits abducted two people in the area.

The governor visited the area to reassure residents and restore a sense of security amid ongoing fears of banditry and kidnappings.

However, the criminals struck soon after his departure, highlighting the persistent threat and heightening tension in the community.

The incident reportedly threw residents into fresh panic despite earlier promises of tighter security measures.

Metro

Suspected Amasiri Warriors Invade Ebonyi Community, Behead Farmer Amid Land Dispute

Published

14 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck on Tuesday, August 26, at Okporojo Idima, Oso Edda in the Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as armed warriors from neighbouring Amasiri community reportedly invaded the farmland of one Mr. Dike Nnachi, beheaded him, and took his head away as a trophy.

The attack marks a continuation of violent hostilities in the area, coming barely four months after the April invasion in which at least four people, including a pregnant woman and her 12-year-old son, were brutally killed.

That incident also left property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Residents told reporters that the latest killing has deepened fears across Oso Edda, as locals now question the effectiveness of the state government’s ongoing peace efforts.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, had, through the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, initiated dialogue between warring communities to stem the tide of violence.

However, Tuesday’s bloodshed is seen as a direct challenge to those peace moves.

Community leaders have called for urgent intervention, warning that unless decisive action is taken, the violence could escalate further, leaving more lives and property in jeopardy.

In April, renewed violence broke out over a longstanding land dispute between Ndukwe community in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, and Okporojo in Edda Local Government Area of the state.

The hostilities left houses and properties worth millions of naira destroyed, as attackers, reportedly from Amasiri, launched assaults on Okporojo.

The worsening security situation forced many residents of Edda to abandon the Amasiri road, opting instead to travel through Afikpo town due to fear of further attacks.

Although previous administrations attempted to resolve the crisis, including the release of a white paper based on a government committee’s recommendations, implementation has reportedly stalled, allowing the conflict to fester and violence to recur.