Metro

Man Found Dead In Rivers Abandoned One-storey Building

Published

2 years ago

November 9, 2023

Editor

A man believed to be a scavenger was found dead when a staircase in an abandoned one-storey building reportedly collapsed on him at Elechi Street in the Mile 3 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the area observed that the one-storey building has been taken over by weeds, while the walls are cracked.

Speaking on the incident, the Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu, Godstime Ihunwo, said he received information around 6.15 pm on Wednesday that some hoodlums were in the building smoking substances believed to be hard drugs.

Ihunwo, who is also a member of a vigilante group in the area said he mobilised his men to the scene and on getting to the area, the hoodlums left.

He stated that the group, Diobu Vigilante Service, had previously been alerted of the activities of miscreants who had converted the building into a smoking point.

He stated, “Based on the fresh complaints by residents of 38 Elechi Streets, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt where hoodlums usually go and smoke hard drugs, I quickly mobilised my men to the scene.

“On getting to the scene, the hoodlums had left the abandoned building. But while we were searching, we saw a lifeless body of a man.

“We also observed that the staircase of the abandoned one-storey building collapsed on the deceased. We quickly raised the alarm which drew the attention of residents of the area who came to the scene.

“We quickly informed the Nkpolu Divisional Police headquarters in Mile 3 Diobu, on the development.”

It was gathered that the police had visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday afternoon.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-koko, promised to find out from the Divisional Police Officer and get back to The PUNCH.

She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Thursday.

Metro

Gateman Arrested For Allegedly Defiling Four-year-old Pupil In Oyo

Published

13 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

A 26-year-old gateman identified as Josiah Ayomide has been arrested for allegedly defiling a four-year-old pupil in one of the schools in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The suspect was paraded alongside other suspects arrested for offences ranging from theft, banditry, rape, and other crimes at the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Thursday.

In his briefing, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, said the suspect was nabbed after the victim complained of severe vaginal pains to her parents at home.

Osifeso added that after a thorough investigation and probe, the suspect confessed to the crime.

The police spokesman said the victim later told her mother that her school gateman had unlawfully raped her while she was in the school.

According to the report, “The victim was taken to the Police Medical Clinic, Eleyele-Ibadan, for medical examination and treatment, and the medical report revealed that the hymen was not intact, with tenderness around the vulva and vagina and bruises.”

Osifeso said the suspect would be prosecuted upon completion of the investigation.

Metro

Panic As Fire Guts Fuel Station In Ikorodu

Published

15 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Photo: File Copy

There was pandemonium on Friday when fire gutted A1 Petroleum Filling Station, an independent oil dealer located on Isawo Road, off Agric Bus Stop in Ikorodu, Lagos.

As of 1 p.m., the extent of property destroyed and possible casualties had not been confirmed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, supported by other emergency responders, were at the scene battling to contain the inferno, which reportedly began from a diesel-laden truck within the premises.

Metro

DSS Charges Top Ansaru Leaders Over Terrorism, Kuje Prison Break Roles

Published

15 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has brought terrorism charges against two senior commanders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group, over their alleged role in violent attacks across Nigeria.

The suspects are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, who is described as the Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Malam Mamuda. They were recently captured during security operations.

According to the DSS, the charges against them include leading a terrorist organisation, funding its activities, recruiting members, and planning violent operations nationwide.

Their arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected soon.

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), said the two men were behind the July 2022 Kuje prison attack, where more than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram suspects, escaped.

Ribadu explained: “Abu Bara was the coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism.”

On Mamuda, Ribadu revealed that he trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadists from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in handling weapons and making explosive devices.

The NSA also linked the suspects to the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, the 2019 kidnapping of Musa Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, and the kidnapping of the Emir of Wawa.

Ribadu described their arrest as “a turning point”, noting that the duo maintained strong networks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.