Metro

PHOTOS: Attackers invade Oyo ex-deputy gov residence, destroy property

Published

2 months ago

March 7, 2026

Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed on Saturday when suspected political thugs launched coordinated attacks on the private residence of former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi, at Asi in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan.

Gbolarumi is a chieftain of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled to hold its nationwide state congress on Saturday.

Investigation revealed that no fewer than ten people sustained injuries of varying degrees in separate incidents across the state.

However, when contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the attack had nothing to do with the party’s state congress.

He said, “A yet-to-be-identified hoodlums launched attacks on the residence of the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi. The coordinated attacks have nothing to do with the state congress.”

The police spokesperson said the incident was under investigation and that appropriate action would be taken against the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the chairman of one of the party factions in the state, Abdulrahman Akinoso, said similar attacks were recorded in other parts of Oyo State.

He said incidents were reported in Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Akinyele, and Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area.

“At least ten people sustained injuries during the violence, while several vehicles were damaged at various locations across the state,” he said.

Akinoso disclosed that three vehicles were vandalised at Gbolarumi’s residence on Are Avenue in the Bodija area of Ibadan, where members of the faction had gathered for the congress exercise.

The attacks have heightened tensions within the party as rival factions continue to struggle for control of the party structure in the state.

In another development, stakeholders of the PDP in Ogbomoso rejected what they described as attempts by some individuals to organise a congress and inaugurate factional executive members in the area and other parts of the state.

The party leaders warned that any move to constitute a parallel executive would not be recognised, insisting that the PDP structure in the state remains united under the leadership of Seyi Makinde.

In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, the stakeholders said they were aware of alleged clandestine plans by certain individuals to conduct unauthorised congresses aimed at installing factional party executives.

“We are aware of the clandestine move by some elements to hold a congress and inaugurate factional executive members in Ogbomoso and other parts of the state,” the statement read.

The stakeholders warned that such actions could destabilise the party if not properly addressed, stressing that the party in the state had continued to enjoy relative unity.

“We are solidly loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership and will not accept any form of factional executive in the state.”

They also warned that individuals allegedly working to destabilise the party’s stability should be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.

The stakeholders urged party members to remain calm and resist attempts to divide the party, reiterating their commitment to the stability and progress of the PDP in Ogbomoso and across Oyo State.

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Metro

How Police Arrested Killers Of Arise TV Anchor, Sommie Maduagwu – Witness Tells Court

Published

20 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

The trial of the eleven accused persons linked to the murder of Arise News journalist and anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, during a robbery at her apartment, continued on Tuesday, with the third prosecution witness giving details of how arrests were made.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police and member of the Scorpion Squad, CID FCT Command, Mr Maxwell Eje, at Tuesday’s proceedings, told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that the arrest of the accused persons began with Shamsu Hassan.

He said that the police discovered on September 30 that Hassan had fled to Zaria after the robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe a day earlier, during which Miss Maduagwu jumped to her death from her three-storey apartment.

ASP Eje informed the court that Shamsu Hassan admitted to the crime and agreed to cooperate with the authorities to disclose the hideouts of others.

Hassan mentioned one Sani Surajo, who was receiving treatment at an unnamed hospital in Gosa, a suburb along the Airport Road in Abuja.

“Surajo was shocked at the sight of the security operatives of the Scorpion Squad at the hospital where he was receiving treatment,” the witness said.

“He too agreed to cooperate and assist with useful information on the whereabouts of others who took part in the robbery.”

The testimony of ASP Maxwell Eje did not get to the point of cross-examination, as Dennis Abu, counsel for the seventh to eleventh defendants, who also held brief for counsel to the first and third defendants, sought leave of the judge, Mohammed Idris, to attend a medical appointment.

This prompted an adjournment until Thursday, April 23, for the conclusion of the evidence-in-chief of the third prosecution witness and for cross-examination.

The prosecutor had earlier informed the court that he had two witnesses available at the start of Tuesday’s proceedings.

The FCT Police Commissioner had filed criminal charges against the 11 defendants bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder in connection with the September 29, 2025, armed robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe, Abuja.

It was during the incident that Arise News anchor/journalist Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami were killed.

The trial began on February 10, 2026, after earlier delays due to the absence of defendants and other issues.

The first prosecution witness, Sani Yusuf, a civil engineer and former resident of Unique Apartments, and the second, Fatou Toborteh, another former resident, have so far testified about the events of September 29.

Both described masked armed assailants raiding apartments but stated they could not identify any of the 11 defendants, who were masked during the attack.

The defendants are Shamsu Hassan, Sani Surajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, and Suleiman Badamosi. Others are Zaradeen Mohammed, Musa Umar ‘Aka’ Small, Mashikur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.

Metro

Again, Truck Crushes Another Dispatch Rider To Death In Lagos

Published

20 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

A dispatch rider has lost his life in a tragic road accident involving a truck at the Otedola Bridge axis in Lagos, occurring less than 24 hours after a similar crash was reported in the same corridor.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq.

The fatal crash occurred along the Ogudu–Otedola Toll Gate stretch, inward the Secretariat, where a heavy-duty Volvo truck reportedly struck the motorcycle, killing the rider instantly.

LASTMA officials on routine patrol responded promptly by securing and cordoning off the accident scene to avert further incidents, especially given the high volume of traffic in the area.

Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, later took custody of the deceased’s remains, while personnel from the Alausa Police Division provided security during the evacuation.

The damaged motorcycle and the truck were subsequently cleared from the road with the aid of a towing vehicle, after which traffic flow was gradually restored.

However, the incident led to significant congestion, with gridlock stretching toward the Berger axis before normal movement resumed.

Reacting, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged all road users to strictly adhere to traffic regulations.

He emphasised the need for increased caution, particularly among drivers of articulated vehicles and dispatch riders, noting that the agency would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to curb road accidents and fatalities across the state.

“LASTMA remains resolute in its commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders in intensifying advocacy initiatives aimed at reducing road fatalities and fostering a sustainable culture of road safety across,” he said.

Metro

NAF Airstrikes Kill Several Terrorists In Sambisa Forest

Published

21 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force says the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has executed precision airstrikes within the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, killing several terrorists on Monday.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ejodame said the military had sustained intense pressure on terrorist elements in the North-East.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence corroborated by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, which confirmed the presence of active terrorist elements within fortified structures and bunkers.

According to him, NAF air assets engaged the targets with precision munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and eliminating key logistics facilities, as confirmed by subsequent battle damage assessment.

He said, “The sustained tempo of air operations continues to degrade terrorist networks, leaving the terrorists increasingly exposed and disrupted, with mounting pressure forcing them into desperate and reactive actions.”

He quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, as reaffirming the NAF’s resolve to sustain relentless, intelligence-driven air operations until terrorist elements were completely neutralised.

“We remain committed to the protection of our personnel, the security of our nation, and the safety of all citizens.

“The NAF will continue to intensify precision engagements across the theatre, maintaining decisive operational pressure while adhering strictly to rules of engagement and minimising civilian harm,” Aneke said.
(NAN)