Metro

Just In: Fire Razes Former Senate President’s House

Published

3 years ago

January 2, 2020

At least two vehicles and 15 motorcycles were said to have been burnt to ashes after a section of the Otukpo residence of the former Senate President, David Mark went up in flames.

The fire, according to eyewitnesses, was said to have spread from a nearby bush bordering the fence of his guest house and gutted the section of the premises where the two ambulances and the 15 motorcycles kept.

Some workers within the residence who saw the raging fire quickly moved to put it off but couldn’t as the fire was said to have moved so fast destroying everything in sight.

However, officials of the Benue State Fire Service, Otukpo Office were quickly alerted when efforts by workers and neighbours to put out the fire failed and they moved in to quench the fire.

“We made every effort to quench the fire but the more we tried the more it continued to spread. It was when we noticed that we could not stop it so that it did not burn the guest house that we called fire service,” one of the workers told newsmen.

Confirming the incidence in a statement signed by one of his aides, Elijah Adakole, said no life was lost in the fire incidence which occurred early hours of Thursday destroying some property including 15 motorcycles and two vehicles.

The statement titled, “Fire incident at David Mark’s Otukpo house”, read thus, “Earlier this morning (Thursday 2nd 2020), fire incident was reported in the Otukpo residence of the former Senate President, Senator (Dr) David Mark.

“The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained but some properties including 15 motorcycles and two vehicles were burnt.

“The arrival of the Fire Service personnel prevented the inferno from spreading to the entire building. The fire has since been put out. No life was lost,” the statement concluded.

(SUN)

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Metro

EFCC Arrests NCAA Director, Other Officials Over Alleged N2bn Duty Allowance Fraud

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested four top officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

They were taken into custody over alleged N2billion ‘Duty Tour Allowance’ (DTA) fraud, according to PRNigeria.

The suspects are Bilkisu Adamu Sani, Director of Finance and Accounts; Hart Benson Fimienye, Deputy General Manager, Treasury.

Others include Obene Jenbarimiema Turniel, Deputy General Manager (Management Accounts), and Nathaniel Terna Kaainjo, General Manager (Accounts and Stores).

Nathaniel was arrested on Thursday, March 16, while other officials were picked on Monday, March 20.

A team of EFCC investigators are questioning them at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

NCAA, the regulatory body for aviation in Nigeria, ensures safety of the sector and carries out oversight of airports, airspace, and meteorological services.

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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap INEC Electoral Officer In Zamfara With Election Results

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

The electoral officer in charge of Maradun Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Bashir Shagari, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Shagari, according to a source, was coming to INEC collation center in Gusau to deliver the results of the governorship election for Maradun Local Government when he was kidnapped along the road on Monday.

The source further revealed that the electoral officer was together with other INEC staff when they were stopped on a bridge near Maradun town and whisked away to an unknown destination.

Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Muktari Janyau, said the matter had been reported to the police headquarters.

Janyau said, “The resident electoral commissioner in charge of Zamfara State, Professor Sa’idu Babura Ahmed, has reported the issue to the police commissioner for appropriate action.”

The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, results from nine out of 14 local government areas have been announced and the opposition PDP is leading in seven local governments so far declared.

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Metro

Soldiers Shoot Two Policemen Dead, Injured Two In Taraba

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Two police officers attached to the Taraba State Command were killed by soldiers in Jalingo, the State capital, on Monday morning.

Two others were wounded and receiving treatment from gunshot wounds following a scuffle between men of the sister security agencies.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer for the State Command, Abdullahi Usman.

Usman said that the crisis broke out when a female police officer, who was reporting for duty at the INEC State headquarters in Jalingo, was stopped by a military man at a checkpoint close to the headquarters and asked for proper identification.

He said the misunderstanding that ensued was settled, and the female police officer proceeded to the Collation Centre, only for the soldier to go after her and drag her out forcefully, leading to pandemonium.

The PPRO said, “A very ugly incident happened this morning around 8:30am between a female police officer and a soldier. After the initial misunderstanding, the lady was allowed to proceed to her duty post, but later the soldier went back to drag her out. The thing is that he called for reinforcement from his office, and when it arrived, he had nothing to report and decided to create a situation.

“While we were trying to settle things and I was personally taken to one of the senior soldiers there, the soldiers suddenly started shooting. We were caught in the crossfire and had to run for our dear lives. The soldiers proceeded to the Command Headquarters here and shot two police officers, and went away with their riffles.

“One police officer who was going off duty was shot and killed instantly while another who was just reporting for duty and did not even know what was happening was also shot the moment they identified him as a policeman.

“As we speak, we have gotten reports that our men who are escorting election results or on various duties are being stopped at military checkpoints and harassed. They strip them naked and harass them even though they know nothing about what happened.

“For now, the Commissioner of Police,Yusuf A. Suleiman, and the Commander of 6 Brigade Jalingo have met and discussed and have agreed that a commission of enquiry will be set up to look into the real cause of this incident.”

NAN