Gunmen suspected to be cultists have killed one person at the popular Aroma junction in Awka, Anambra State capital.

The shooting of the youth on Wednesday evening caused pandemonium, causing traders in the area to quickly close their shops and scamper for safety.

The victim, who was said to hail from Amudo Village in Awka, was said to be a tricycle revenue collector who was previously a Keke operator himself.

A source said the assailants trailed him from the Ifite area of the state capital and shot him at close range at a filling station, which serves as a popular bus stop for buses and tricycles.

Business outfits in the area were forced to close shops, and roadside traders abandoned their articles and fled.

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The major roads in the vicinity of the incident suddenly became empty, just as many people abandoned their cars and took to their heels.

The lifeless body of the victim was still lying at the filling station at the time of filing this report.

Awka has been witnessing cult-related killings for some time now, with gangs killing their rivals in broad daylight.

The trial of a Pastor Emmanuel Orekoya at the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for defiling his 17-year-old daughter was stalled on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, because of the absence of prosecution witnesses.

Orekoya was first arraigned on February 27, before Justice Abiola Soladoye on a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration in 2017 in the Itire area of Surulere, Lagos.

NAN reports that the prosecution also told the court that the pastor allegedly defiled his daughter by inserting his fingers into her vagina and also by inserting his penis into her mouth contrary to the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).

The pastor pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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At the resumption of hearing on Wednesday, the prosecuting State Counsel, Mr Olusola Soneye, told the court that his three witnesses could not make it to court.

He explained that he reached out to the witnesses on Tuesday and that they promised to be pre-sent in court.

Soneye then asked for an adjournment to which the defence counsel did not object.

Justice Soladoye adjourned to June 5.

The Anambra State Government has arrested a 40-year-old man, Anietie Tim, who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl.

The State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo, who made this known in a statement on Thursday, April 18, 2024, said the suspect was arrested in Onitsha after several failed attempts.

The statement signed by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the commissioner, said the incident happened in 2022 after which the suspect has been evading arrest through the help of some military personnel at the Barrack where he lives.

It was further gathered that the suspect had on different occasions threatened the mother of his victim, claiming to be untouchable.

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According to the statement, Mr. Tim claimed he never knew his victim was a minor, adding that she was the one that tempted him.

“This she was able to achieve through a radio presenter resident in Onitsha Francis Pember, who volunteered to help after he was intimated of the incident,” the statement read.

“The suspect, Anietie Tim, from Eninan AkwaIbom in his defense said he never knew his victim was an under age and went further to say that she was the one that tempted him and he responded because he’s a man with blood flowing through his veins.

“Mr Tim also explained that before the incident, he was already befriending his 14 Year old victim, who, according to him, was always starved at home.

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“On his part, the On Air Personality Mr Francis, thanked the state government for always fighting for the vulnerable people in the state and stated that he’s rest assured that the ministry will not let the suspect go free.

“The Women Affairs Commissioner, Obinabo after questioning the suspect directed that he be handed over to the police as he will be appearing before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka to answer for his crime.

“It is important to note that the incident happened in 2022 after which the suspect has been evading arrest through the help of some military personnel at the Barrack where he lives and he had on different occasions threatened the mother of his victim claiming to be untouchable.”