Metro

Police Arrest Two Notorious Robbers While Stealing From Church In Rivers State

Published

2 years ago

December 25, 2023

Editor

The Rivers State command of the Nigeria Police Force has put in custody two individuals who were caught while trying to deface the iron on the fence surrounding Emmanuel Anglican Church, located at Okoro-Nu-Odo by Rumuokoro Roundabout in Obio-Akpor local government area of the state.

It was learnt that the duo were nabbed by the security guards at the church around 2 am yesterday.

According to reports, there was mild drama on the church premises while questioning the burglary suspects before they were eventually handed over to the police at approximately 9 am.

The PUNCH reported that one of the suspects, who identified himself as Henry, a 19-year-old resident of the Awalama community (the host community of the Church) but originally from Oguta in Imo State, revealed that he had been a frequent inmate at Degema prison in Rivers State.

“I have been in prison at the Degema Correctional Centre, where I was jailed for stealing cartons of noodles from a shop in the Awalama community. For that offence, it was because of hunger. But for this one (stealing iron on the Church fence), the Church security guards arrested us between 12 am and 2 am today while stealing iron fence protectors.

“I’m a school dropout. I stopped at Primary Two at Okoro-Nu-Odo Primary School. I was selling pure water (Sachet Water) before and stopped and later delved into selling of scraps,” the suspect confessed.

Henry further disclosed that scraps of iron are quantified in kilograms. A single kilogram is priced at N200.

While appealing for mercy, he requested that the Holy Bible be brought to him so that he could take an oath not to steal again.

However, the second suspect, who refused to disclose his true identity, confessed to being caught in the act of stealing church belongings, particularly iron protectors. He stated that he is from Obele in Ikwerre local government area of the State.

He claimed that Henry had invited him to partake in the crime, but the Church’s security guards apprehended them.

The suspects narrated further that they have willing buyers for stolen items, particularly individuals who own scrapyards in the nearby Rumuokoro neighbourhood.

On two occasions, Naija News learnt that criminal scavengers cut the iron on the back gates of the church worth more than N200,000 several times.

The Church at the popular Rumuokoro Roundabout had to replace its gate due to its strategic location. The Church and the Diocese of Niger Delta North, DNDN, Anglican Communion Security Company bore the cost of the replacement.

It was also revealed that there was another raid by scavengers between 12 am and 2 am recently. The criminals reportedly managed to cut off the newly replaced gate, which led to the implementation of additional security measures. These measures proved to be effective.

Subsequently, detectives from the Rumuodomaya Divisional Police Station identified and arrested two suspects on Sunday.

These suspects are habitual criminals who have been involved in various crimes such as burglaries, pickpocketing, and robberies in the Rumuokoro area of the State.

Sources within Emmanuel Anglican Church Okoro-Nu-Odo, who wished to remain anonymous, told journalists that there had been an increase in the theft of Church properties. The management has taken appropriate measures to protect these properties.

The two suspects have been handed over to the Special Area Divisional Police Station at Rumuodomaya for further investigation.

Metro

Imo To Arraign Lawyer Over Anti-Uzodimma Articles

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The police in Imo State have charged an Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, with cyberstalking and defamation of character following two opinion articles written by the lawyer criticising the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Agu was scheduled to be arraigned before the magistrates’ court in Owerri on Wednesday but the case was stalled as chief magistrates in the court were away for an official function.

The spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed that Agu would be arraigned for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

“Yes, Mr. Chinedu Agu, Esq., will be arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Owerri on allegations bordering on cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civic disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The arraignment is in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” Okoye said.

Agu, a known critic of Governor Uzodimma’s administration, was arrested on Tuesday after honouring a fresh police invitation.

His arrest followed a petition by the Imo Democratic Alliance, signed by Umukoro Marvis Udochukwu, accusing the lawyer of publishing inciting articles.

Several lawyers thronged the court on Wednesday, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch, Chief Chris Ihentuge; Chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum, Damian Nosike; and a former NBA Owerri Chairman, Chief Stanley Imo (SAN).

However, after waiting for hours without proceedings, Nosike informed them that no chief magistrate was available.

“We have just been informed that there is no chief magistrate available for the charges to be preferred against our colleague, Barr. Chinedu Agu. The police said they will take him back to their office and return him to court tomorrow. The matter cannot be heard today,” Nosike told his colleagues.

Agu has recently gained attention through a series of opinion pieces critical of the Uzodimma administration.

On August 30, 2025, he published an article titled,“Tears from Enugu: A lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a state that works to a state in ruins,” followed the next day by another one titled,“Imo State — where justice is on vacation during court vacation”.

In response, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, wrote a rebuttal titled, “Lawyer Agu’s satanic verses against Imo State”.

Meanwhile, Agu has insisted Imo Democratic Alliance, which wrote a petition leading to his arrest, is a fictitious organisation, claiming it is neither registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission nor traceable to any physical address.

He alleged that the petition against him was sponsored by Emelumba.

Agu’s arraignment is now expected to hold today (Thursday).

Metro

Police Declare Man Wanted For Attempted Murder, Fraud

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has declared one Okoro Prince Nkemakolam wanted for alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, assault, threat to life, and criminal breach of trust.

The Force made this known in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin released via its official X handle on Thursday.

The Force stated that Nkemakolam is wanted by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL), and the Head National Central Bureau, Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The bulletin stated, “The above-named person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force. A warrant of arrest was issued against him by the High Court of Abuja.

“He is wanted for the offence of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, fraud, threat to life, criminal breach of trust, and attempted murder by attacking the complainant with a machete and knife to the extent that he was admitted and stitched all over his head and his body, escaping death by the whiskers.”

The police described Nkemakolam as a 38-year-old man of medium height and build, with copper complexion and a square-shaped face.

According to the police, the suspect dresses in western clothes and speaks Igbo fluently, and was last seen in Benin/Abakaliki in Umobo community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Force urged members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact the Interpol, Force Headquarters, Abuja, through 080622129151.

Metro

JSS 3 Student Hacks Man To Death In Cross River

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

A Junior Secondary School student in Ugboro Secondary School in Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State, identified as Ogbeche, has hacked a 23-year old man to death.

The incident was said to have occurred in Ugboro at the close of school on Tuesday, when Ogbeche and another student whose name was given as Nicholas were engaged in a fight and the deceased known as Oshen went to separate them.

Speaking to Vanguard, an eyewitness simply identified as Lizzy, said while Oshen was separating the fight, Ogbeche took offence that Oshen was siding his opponent and left the fight to pick a pestle used in pounding food and struck Oshen on the head causing him to collapse.

“When he picked up the pestle, people were shouting, asking him to drop it but he did not listen. He went ahead to hit Oshen on the head with it.

“You know the pestles we use here are very heavy not like the ones you people use in the town, that was why it could inflict severe damage to the head with just one strike,” Lizzy said.

According to her, Oshen did not die on the spot but was rushed to a hospital at Ogoja, where he died same Tuesday night.

“Oshen’s father, known as Oshen Ushaka, was one of the early rich men we had here in Bekwara. He passed on some years back and his children are the ones occupying his compound,” she added.

The eyewitness further explained that Ogbeche has a record of regular fights and, some times, he attacked his fellow students with machete but there had been no casualty until the Tuesday incident.

It was gathered that the assailant was arrested by the police and is currently at the Ogoja prison.