Headline

Rivers Civil Servant’s Daughters Held For 12 Years Over N1m Ransom

Published

5 years ago

November 9, 2021

Twelve years after the disappearance of his two daughters on farmland in Deeyor community, in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, a man, Rowland Monokpo, has said he believes they will return home someday.

Monokpo, a retired civil servant in a radio programme on Rhythm 93.7FM, Port Harcourt, monitored by The PUNCH correspondent on Monday said his daughters were preparing to start university education when they were kidnapped in 2009.

He expressed sadness that the abductors refused to release his two children identified as Scholatica and Maryann, after he paid part of the ransom.

Monokpo said, “I went to Akwa Ibom State to buy palm oil. So, when I returned, I didn’t see them at home. Suddenly, I received a phone call that my two daughters were carried away on the farm.

“I reported the matter to the police when they (his girls) spoke to me that their condition was critical and they (kidnappers) were threatening to kill them if I did not bring N1m.

“I was able to raise N200,000, which I dropped at Kpopie Junction and they picked it.

“Since that time, I have not seen my two daughters till today. But I am still hoping in God that one day I may see my two daughters.”

He asked the police to reopen investigation into the case and unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of his children.

Monokpo also called on the Rivers State Government, civil society organisations and the international community to join him in the search for the girls.

While noting that he had been battling health challenges as a result of the incident, he said his daughters would have graduated from the university and done other things if they were not abducted.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, asked Monokpo to lodge a formal complaint to his office as he promised to look into the matter.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

7 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

7 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

7 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.