Metro

Six Feared Dead As Tankers Explode In Rivers

Published

3 years ago

August 14, 2022

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A wildfire from two petrol tankers has resulted in the death of six persons who were said to be scooping diesel in Eteo, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the truck containing 33,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas popularly known as AGO was set on fire by security men.

The incident occurred in a bush near Trailer Park Junction, a popular business point at the Eleme section of the East-West Road.

An eyewitness identified as Gideon said drivers of two tankers were forced at gunpoint to drive into the bush, where the security agents set the tankers on fire.

Gideon alleged that the drivers may have refused to part with some cash which spurred the men to take such action.

He said, “They (security men) forced the truck owners at gunpoint to drive to the point where this happened.

“Remember, things like this often happen when the tanker drivers refuse to settle them for the amount of money they demand from them.

“I saw many residents scooping and transporting it (fuel) away. As the fire was set on the tankers, they started to burn, exploded and the products spilled. They scooped it at a distance while it was burning.”

He further said since the AGO did not burn as fast as petrol, especially as it was poorly refined, it was easier for locals to scoop the product as it oozed out from the truck into drainages.

Speaking on the development, an activist and executive director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, condemned the action of the security men.

Dumnamene advocated a provision in the Petroleum Industry Act, where security officials who set ablaze petrol tankers and vessels should be tried in court.

He explained that security agents should be dragged to court under the PIA, since host community people who caused pollution could forfeit their three per cent as stipulated in the Act.

“The burning of two tankers of 33,000 litres each has caused the spilling of 66,000 litres of AGO into the environment.

“So, if the PIA says communities will be criminalised and penalised even with the withholding of the per cent, then we can see how to push this advocacy for security officials that set ablaze tankers and vessels to also be dragged to court under this Act.

“In fact, they can set ablaze tankers, but they should not spill its contents.

“The number one reason for confiscating and impounding the tankers is because they’re allegedly carrying illegal petroleum products.

“The reason for setting it ablaze is a combination of the fact that it is carrying illegal petroleum products and they also refused to settle them with something substantial, thus wasting their time,” he said.

On the casualty figure, he said about six persons, including a security official lost their lives, while others were hospitalised in an undisclosed facility on Sunday.

Dumnamene added, “As a result of the increased product scooping activity, with some of the scoopers climbing the tankers that were still standing with some product in them, an explosion occurred in the process, leading to the alleged deaths, burns and injuries to those caught in the fire including a dead body said to be in security uniform.”

He further said fire service arrived at the scene to out the remnants of fire and the area cleaned.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident but said she was yet to get the actual death.

She promised to get back to our reporter, but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

PUNCH.

Metro

Two Children Die In Separate Well Tragedies In Kano

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in two communities in Kano when two children lost their lives in separate well incidents.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incidents in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi. A copy of the statement was made available to the press on Wednesday in Kano.

According to the statement, both incidents occurred in the Dawakin Tofa and Dala local government areas of the state.

According to the statement, “The first incident took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at about 8:53 a.m. in Kashirmo Village, Sarkakiya, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area. An eight-year-old girl identified as Zara’u Muhammad reportedly fell into a well while playing”.

However, residents of the area made desperate efforts to rescue the child before the arrival of firefighters, but were unsuccessful due to the depth of the well and the high level of water inside.

Metro

ICPC Arraigns Woman For Forging Marriage Certificate, Visa Fraud

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before Justice Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, for allegedly forging a marriage certificate and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps to fraudulently obtain a United Kingdom (UK) visa.

The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, followed a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25 Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).

According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed around 2019 within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The ICPC prosecution team alleged that the defendant forged a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by a Nigerian marriage registry, and used it to support her UK visa application.

The Commission also accused Ms. Ojo of forging entry and exit stamps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on her international passport, presenting them as genuine to strengthen her visa application.

These actions, according to the charge sheet, contravene Sections 363 and 366 and are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which deal with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts. She was represented by her counsel, C.A. Owo Ekele.

Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi of ICPC, informed the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and requested a date for hearing, while the defence counsel applied for bail on liberal terms.

After listening to both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum. One surety must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a resident of Abuja with a family and possess landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within the FCT.

The second surety is also required to attach copies of his or her passport and C of O to the bail documents for verification.

Justice Akobi further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

In a statement on Wednesday, ICPC’s spokesperson and Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, said the Commission will continue to collaborate with relevant embassies and international partners to curb visa-related fraud and bring offenders to justice.

Metro

Abductors Kill Seminary, Free One In Edo

Published

13 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Kidnappers have killed Emmanuel Alabi a seminary of Immaculate Conception Minor, Ivianokpodi, Estako East Local Government Area, 95 days after he was abducted.

Late Alabi and two other seminaries, Japhet Jesse and Joshua Aleobua, were abducted on July 10, 2025.

In June this year, Peter Andrew, from the same Ivianokpodi seminary was abducted and killed.

Jesse escaped and regained freedom but others remained with the kidnappers.

Their plea for freedom and rescue did not yield any results even as the kidnappers placed them among their previous dead victims.

Aleobua regained freedom on November 4th but Alabi was shot dead while attempting to escape.

A statement by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi and signed by the Assistant Director of Communications, Fr. Linus Imoedemhe, was silent on how Alabi died.

The statement said Bishop of the Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Gabriel Dunia, expressed deep pain and sorrow over the loss of the young seminarian.

It said Bishop Dunia called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting the lives and property of all citizens and cautioned political leaders against turning a blind eye on the worsening insecurity situation in the nation.

Bishop Dunia urged them to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people over political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi invites all the faithful and people of goodwill to join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and for the peace, healing, and security of our people and land.

“The Diocese of Auchi remains committed to the values of faith, peace, and justice, trusting in God’s infinite mercy to bring comfort to the bereaved family, the seminary community, and all those affected by this tragedy.

“May the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”