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JUST IN: Gunmen Kidnap Catholic Priest, One Other In Imo

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Gunmen have kidnapped the priest in charge of St. Michael’s Catholic Church Parish in Umuekebi, Osuoweerre autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev Fr Kingsley Eze, popularly known as Father Ichie.

Vanguard gathered that the priest and another man identified as Uchenna Newman, who drove the priest in a Volvo jeep, were kidnapped at Orieama Junction around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

The suspects were also said to have robbed shop owners at the junction before leaving the scene.

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A parishioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity with newsmen, said the church members were terrified by the abduction of the priest and the other person.

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He said, “It is true. Our parish priest, Rev’d Fr Kingsley Eze, popularly known as Father Ichie has been kidnapped. He was kidnapped alongside Mr Uchenna Newman, at Orieama junction on Thursday around 8 pm.

“They came down from a Volvo jeep to buy something at the junction before they were kidnapped. They also robbed businessmen at the junction. This is so unfortunate. We sincerely pray for the safe return of our parish priest and Mr. Uchenna.”

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An indigene of the area told our correspondent that the incident was not the first in the area in a while.

He said, “Last night, around 8.30 pm, a man and a Rev. Father were kidnapped at Orieama Junction.

Several shops were robbed and destroyed by the kidnappers, who operated on two motorcycles.

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“The name of the priest is Rev’d Fr Kingsley Eze popularly known as Father Ichie of St Michael’s Catholic church at Umuekebi community. The person kidnapped alongside him is known as Uche Newman. This is the third kidnapping taking place within a space of weeks on the Anara Umuelemai road.

“Seriously, we need help. The worst is that, they move around in motorbikes carrying pump action guns. Please, the government should come to our rescue.

“They came on two motorbike and as they were going, they took the car belonging to the priest and the artisan. They also shot and unfortunately, one person was hit by the bullet. The gunshot victim was rushed to a hospital late last night.”

The spokesperson for the state police command, Henry Okoye, had yet to issue a statement on the incident.

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Tanker Explosion Rocks Lagos, Two Burnt To Death

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Photo: file copy

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has disclosed that two men died in a tanker explosion which occurred on Friday night at the Ijesha end of the Cele link-bridge in Surulere area of the state.

The LSFRS Director, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that firefighters responded swiftly to the distress call to extinguish the fire..

The statement partly read, “At approximately 23:12hrs emergency services were alerted to a tanker truck, carrying 33k litres of petrtol, losing control while navigating the roundabout to ascend the bridge. The subsequent spillage ignited into a large fire, engulfing the surrounding area.

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“Prompt action by the Isolo and Bolade Fire Stations of the agency, contained the inferno, preventing further escalation.

READ ALSO: Tanker Explosion Rocks Lagos

“Regrettably, two male individuals were discovered deceased, their bodies tragically burnt beyond recognition and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, overseeing the necessary procedures. The Lagos State Ambulance Service also provided vital assistance throughout the operation.”

Adeseye added that efforts are underway to clear the wreckage of the involved vehicles from the road, to ensure free flow of traffic and to enable investigative procedures.

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The PUNCH reported in April that five people were confirmed dead and over 70 cars burnt in a tanker explosion at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

The incident was reported to have followed the collision between a petrol-laden tanker and a heavy-duty truck, spilling the content of the tanker which burst into flames.

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Kogi University Lecturer Stripped Over Alleged Sexual Harassment

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A lecturer at Federal University in Lokoja, Kogi state, on Friday, May 10, was stripped near naked over allegations of sexual harassment of a female student.

The lecturer whose full name is yet to be ascertained, incurred the wrath of some other female undergraduates of the English Department, where he teaches. They insisted that he must be publicly ‘disgraced’, claiming that ‘his cup was full’.

The lecturer who was stripped to his boxers, was saved from further embarrassment by the combined efforts of the school security unit, at the Adankolo mini campus of the institution.

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The Nation reported that during the interrogation, the lecturer implicated his colleagues, including the Head of the Department (HOD), claiming that they usually provide him with names of female students to either “pass or fail” based on their level of intimacy or absence with them.

When contacted, the school’s spokesperson, Daniel Iyke, said that the management is aware of the development and had immediately set up machinery to investigate the case.

Iyke said: “The thing is that the university has its own internal mechanism in taking care of it.

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“The report has been brought to the attention of the vice-chancellor, and he has set up a body to look into it. This was done immediately and the report or outcome will be made known as soon as it comes out. At this point, this is all I can volunteer.”

 

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Man Arrested For Raping Four-year-old Girl

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The Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended one Afolabi Ojo for allegedly raping a four-year-old pupil.

Leadership reports that the mother of the young girl reported the incident at the NSCDC Command in Ado-Ekiti, where she informed officials that the assault took place on Olujoda Street. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested.

During questioning, the girl disclosed that the suspect had removed her underwear and sexually assaulted her late in April.

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Additionally, the girl’s mother stated that her daughter had confided in her about the incident.

However, the suspect denied all allegations, claiming he was falsely accused.

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, Tolu Afolabi, confirmed that a medical examination had been conducted on the girl.

Afolabi revealed that the medical report confirmed the rupture of the hymen of the young girl.

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Furthermore, Afolabi stated that the command had initiated an investigation into the matter.

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