Headline

Panic In Ekiti Community As Gunmen Kidnap Trader, Fatally Machet Farmer

Published

4 years ago

December 12, 2021

Panic on Saturday evening gripped the people of Iyemero Ekiti, in Ikole local government area of Ekiti State, as gun-wielding kidnappers invaded the community and abducted a popular trader, Nusirat Saliu.

During the invasion, which was accompanied by sporadic gunshots, a man known to be a farmer, sustained severe injuries after he was macheted in the head.

Following the sporadic gunshots, people on the streets ran in different directions leaving room for the kidnappers to grab the victim and forcefully drag her into the nearby forest which leads to Kwara and Kogi borders.

An eyewitness told newsmen on Sunday that the abduction happened around 8pm on Saturday.

He said the abductors, numbering five, who brandished AK 47 rifles, had had a pleasurable time at a section of the town and pretended to be buyers, who came on a friendly visit before they struck and took Mrs Saliu to an unknown destination.

“They were at a section of the town pretending to be buyers and used the opportunity to study the woman’s movements in and out of her shop. They waited till nightfall and suddenly, we heard gunshots that lasted for about five minutes, with this, we knew something was wrong.

“They followed the woman into her shop, grabbed and dragged her into the forest as they shot indiscriminately to scare the people.

“As they were doing this, a farmer who was at the shop then and made efforts to struggle with them was shot. But when they realized the pellets couldn’t penetrate the man, they drew out a sharp cutlass and inflicted a deep cut on his head. He is presently at the hospital”.

The source said the police, local hunters, Amotekun Corps and vigilante groups have started combing the sprawling forest that bordered two neighboring states without success.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, said the Command is yet to be briefed about the incident.

However, an eyewitness revealed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ikole Council area visited the community around 7.12am on Sunday and promised to recover the woman and also apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.