Metro

Niger Boat Mishap: 20 More Bodies Recovered As Victims’ Families Share Grief

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2024

Editor

Twenty additional bodies were recovered on Thursday from the site of a tragic boat accident that occurred on Tuesday in Niger State.

The wooden boat, carrying approximately 300 passengers from Kwara State to an event in Niger State, capsized at Gbajibo in Mokwa Local Government Area.

Local divers, along with officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have been conducting the recovery operation.

The Director-General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed that the total number of recovered bodies has now reached 36, with 16 bodies — 14 males and 2 females — having been retrieved and buried on Wednesday. An additional 20 bodies were recovered on Thursday.

Baba-Arah stated that the search and rescue mission is ongoing, as more passengers remain unaccounted for.

Many of the victims hailed from Kwara State, particularly from Kaiama Local Government Area. Community members and relatives shared the emotional toll of the disaster.

Mahmud Gbajibo, a resident of the Gbajibo community, recounted the loss of seven family members.

“I lost two married nieces, three nephews, and two younger brothers who came for a naming ceremony,” he said.

“We had to bury them on the Niger State side to avoid chaos back home in Kwara.

“Our women were devastated, running around in grief. The entire community has been paralyzed by this tragedy — no shops are open, and no one is cooking.”

Gbajibo also revealed that the community had requested motorcycles to prevent future tragedies.

“Many victims would not have taken the boat if we had motorcycles. We need better transportation to avoid overloading boats,” he stated.

Haron Yohana, who lost five family members, shared his grief. “I lost my father, brother, and three nieces. I said goodbye to them, not knowing it was the last time. The tragedy happened in the night, unnoticed until another boat passed through the area.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences to the people of Niger State and the families of the victims.

In a statement from his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President prayed for the souls of the deceased and called for an investigation into the frequency of boat accidents in the region.

Metro

Ex-convict Arrested In Edo For Armed Robbery, Possession Of Firearm

Published

5 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict, Owen Osas, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and suspected involvement in a robbery incident.

Osas was reportedly arrested with a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during a covert operation along Fishpond Road in Eyean, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

The arrest reportedly comes barely a year after he was released from prison, where he had served time for illegal possession of firearms and other criminal offences.

Osas, who confessed to the latest crime, also admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo
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Consequently, a victim of an alleged robbery incident, Reginia Izy, identified Osas as the person who robbed her a day before his arrest.
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The victim narrated that the suspect had approached her residence around 8 p.m., pretending to be familiar before carrying out the attack.
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‎The Deputy Commander Operations of ESSC, Richard Balogun, said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

READ ALSO:Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama
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‎Balogun explained that operatives conduct both overt patrols and covert operations to track and apprehend suspects.
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He said, ‎“Our men are always on patrol. Some operate in plain clothes as part of covert strategies, while others are stationed at strategic locations.

“Osas, who is a former convict, was arrested with firearms and he also confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.”
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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.