Metro

Irate Passenger Escapes Lynching After Blocking Abuja-bound Flight

Published

7 months ago

January 11, 2025

An unnamed female passenger narrowly escaped being lynched by angry passengers at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo after she blocked an Ibom Air flight from departing for Abuja.

The flight, scheduled to carry 100 passengers, including the crew, was delayed due to the passenger’s actions, as revealed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu.

According to Achimugu, the issue began when the airline informed passengers that luggage exceeding 20kg might not arrive on the same flight but on the next available one. While passengers initially agreed to this arrangement, the woman became furious upon discovering her bag had not been loaded onto the aircraft.

The irate passenger disembarked and demanded that her bag be loaded immediately, threatening to prevent the flight from taking off otherwise.

Attempts by officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Aviation Security, and the pilot to mediate proved unsuccessful.

The NCAA spokesperson added, “The pilot even offered to carry her checked-in bag in the cabin, but the size was unsuitable. Uyo is a sunset airport, and the airspace was due to close, making timely departure critical. Despite this, the passenger refused to cooperate.”

REASD ALSO: NAMA Begins Calibration Of Landing Equipment At Ekiti Airport

At one point, the woman re-entered the cabin to retrieve her handbag but instead blocked the aisle, continuing her protest. Among the other 89 passengers were an infant and a chef travelling to fulfil a professional engagement in Abuja.

The situation escalated when the airspace eventually closed, forcing the flight’s cancellation. Passengers, visibly enraged, charged at the woman, but swift intervention by AVSEC officials and Ibom Air personnel, led by Amaka Echetabu, prevented violence.

“Had Aviation Security not acted promptly, the unruly passenger might have been lynched. Their timely response saved her life,” Achimugu noted.

In the meantime, the delayed passengers were provided with refreshments, transportation for Uyo residents, and hotel accommodation for those travelling from outside the city. However, Achimugu lamented that the disruption caused scheduling challenges for the airline that might take days to resolve.
PUNCH

Metro

Vigilante Shoots Father Who Prevented Kidnapper Son’s Arrest In Kwara

Published

12 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Police Command in Kwara has confirmed the death of a man who helped alleged kidnap suspect escape.

The Police Commissioner in Kwara, Mr Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday in ilorin.

Ojo further disclosed that a vigilante member who sustained injuries from the incident was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The commissioner of police said the deceased struck a vigilante member, who was holding the alleged kidnap suspect, with a machete, enabling the suspect to escape.

He added that investigation was ongoing.

Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that the deceased prevented vigilante members from arresting his son over alleged involvement in kidnapping.

An eyewitness said the incident occurred on Tuesday at the Shaare Cattle Market in Kwara, as the deceased attempted to help his son evade arrest.

According to the source, the man attacked one of the vigilante members with a machete, creating an escape route for his son.

“In response, the vigilante member shot the man, who later died from his injuries,” the source said.

NAN

Metro

Police Arrest Six Suspected Cultists In Anambra Black Spot Raid

Published

12 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has raided a black spot in Ogidi, the Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, arresting six suspects, including a female.

The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a press statement released on Wednesday, adding that police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugwu-Ukwu, carried out the operation on Tuesday.

Ikenga said the team recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol without a magazine and quantities of illicit drugs, including Mkpuru Mmiri (crystal meth), during the raid.

The statement read in part, “Police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad Enugwu Ukwu on August 12, 2025 at about 2.30pm and acting on credible intelligence, stormed a black spot at 7th Mile, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA.

“The team arrested six suspects, including a female, and recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol without a magazine and quantities of illicit drugs, including Mkpuru Mmiri (crystal meth), during the raid.

“The suspects are: Olisaemeka Izuchukwu ‘M’ aged 21 years, Isioma Chisom ‘M’ aged 22 years, Chinonso Izuchukwu ‘M’ aged 20 years, Chinaza Isioma ‘M’ aged 24 years, Onyekwelu Miracle ‘M’ aged 19 years and Mrs. Chinenye Eloka Okeke ‘F’ aged 35 years.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for their swift action and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain the tempo against cultism, drug trafficking, and other crimes in the state.

“The suspects would be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations.”

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Lady For Stealing New Born In Health Facility

Published

13 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 34-year-old lady, Deborah Ayeni, at the correctional centre in Ado Ekiti over alleged stealing of a day-old baby at a health centre in the state capital city.

The prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence which attracted public sympathy and interest as a result of the prevalence case of child stealing in Ekiti State and reported on August 4, 2025, against her.”

Oriyomi said, “The offence is punishable under Section 292 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021 within Ado Ekiti Magisterial District”.

He urged the court to remand the defendant at the correctional centre, saying, “She is reasonably suspected to have committed the offence”, as he prayed the court to grant his application for remand of the lady.

The police prosecutor said that the duplicate case file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The defendant was represented in court by Stephen Ademuwagun.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the prosecutor’s application for the remand of the defendant.

The chief magistrate adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.