Metro

Trader Slumps, Dies After Brawl In Abuja Market

Published

6 months ago

February 6, 2025

A trader identified as Ifeanyi on Wednesday died, after slumping during an altercation with a fellow trader, one Eze Onuh, at the Utako Ultra Modern Market located in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

In a Facebook post, an eyewitness, Dr Uche Nworah, narrated that while no one was certain of what led to the fight, both men who sold underwear, exchanged blows, before Ifeanyi slumped and died, adding that Eze had been taken to the market police station.

The post read, “I called at Utako Market Abuja this morning to sort out my phone screen guard and a fight suddenly broke out between two Igbo brothers (Ifeanyi and Eze) who sell underwear. No one knows exactly what led to the fight. Blows were exchanged and Ifeanyi suddenly slumped and died. Eze himself has been taken to the market police station. Terrible thing anger in this challenging economic time.”

When The PUNCH contacted Nworah on the telephone, he further stated that both men were said to be origins of Ebonyi State and may have been fighting over allotted spaces in the market before the incident occurred.

“I was at the market when it happened. They said they were brothers from Ebonyi State, and it was like they were fighting about space. When it happened, some of the other traders gathered there so I didn’t go close. They took Eze to the Market Police Station. But later, I saw two officers taking him away in a tricycle, maybe to the FCT Police Command. And they took Ifeanyi’s body to a hospital,” he said.

A trader who shares a stall with the late Ifeanyi, but declined to be named in this report, told our correspondent that other traders had made efforts to resuscitate him, and rushed him to the hospital, where it was confirmed that he was dead.

“I was not around. But when I returned, I was told some people fought, someone fell and they poured water to revive him. When they could not revive him, they took him to the hospital, and they said he was dead,” the trader said.

He added that the rift between both men had been on for over five years, noting that the fact that both men were into the sale of men’s underwear didn’t help matters.

“It was Ifeanyi who brought Eze here. Before, Ifeanyi’s goods were slightly different. But when they started selling almost the same brands, they started having contentions. They’ve been having the issues for nearly five years before today,” he added.

The Chairman, Dynamic GSM Association at the Utako Market, Isa Adamu Goma, said he was informed of Ifeanyi’s death, at about 9 am on Wednesday morning, adding that the altercation started after arguments about the demarcation between both shops.

“This morning, around 9 am, the management of the market called me and said something happened to my deputy, Mr Ifeanyi. They said that somebody had killed him. I asked who killed him, they said it was his neighbour, one Eze Onuh. They said he held Ifeanyi by the neck and was pressing it. People tried to separate them, but he refused.

“I had my bath and rushed to the clinic where he was taken. I met the police and they narrated everything to me before we took him to the mortuary. Then, I went to the police station and met the Divisional Police Officer. They asked him what happened, and he said it was just a little demarcation between both shops that caused the quarrel. There’s only a small board that separates their shop, and they accused each other of encroaching. That was when Eze grabbed him by the neck and then pushed him, and he fell. They poured water but he couldn’t be revived. Eze is in the custody of the police at the Utako Division until tomorrow, because they want his family to come first,” Goma stated.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement made available to our correspondent, said operatives who responded to a distress call from the market at about 9:30am, arrived to the find Ifeanyi’s lifeless body on the ground, adding that the suspect was currently in police custody.

“The FCT Police Command has arrested one Onu Simeon following a fatal altercation that led to the death of Ifeanyi Chukwu at Utako Market, Abuja.

“On February 5, 2025, at about 09:30 AM, the command received a distress call regarding a fight in Utako Market. Police operatives swiftly responded to the scene, where Ifeanyi Chukwu was found lying unconscious on the ground. He was immediately rushed to the NNPC Hospital, Utako, by police operatives, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that Simeon Onu of Anguwan Biggy, Jabi Daki Biyu, and one Ifeanyi Chukwu of Kuchigoro, Lugbe, had earlier engaged in a dispute over a space to display their goods for sale. The disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation, during which Ifeanyi Chukwu suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. His remains have been deposited at a general hospital for further investigation, while the suspect, Simeon Onu, is currently in police custody as investigations continue. Further updates will be communicated in due course,” the statement read in part.

Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has urged residents to “adopt peaceful means of resolving disputes”, adding that violence often leads to tragic and unpredictable consequences.
(PUNCH)

Metro

16 Escape Death In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Crash

Published

1 hour ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Sixteen people narrowly escaped death on Monday night in a crash involving a Camry car, a Suzuki bus, and a tricycle at Iron Market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Ota Divisional Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr Salau Hammed, confirmed the incident to News Agency Nigeria on Tuesday, noting that the crash occurred around 8:20 p.m.

He said the accident involved a Camry car, a tricycle, both with no registration, and a Suzuki bus marked KRD 246 YK.

He said that a total of 16 persons were involved in the accident; however, three persons, comprising two males and a female, sustained various degrees of injuries.

Hammed explained that the Camry lost control due to speeding and rammed into two other vehicles.

“Those who sustained injuries were immediately taken to Adetutu Hospital, Ilepa area for treatment,” he said.

Hammed advised motorists against speeding to prevent avoidable crashes.

He said that the vehicles had been removed from the road to ease free flow of traffic.

Metro

High-tension Wire Electrocutes PoS Operator In Anambra

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

A Point of Sales male operator in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been electrocuted by a fallen high tension line.

It was gathered that the victim got electrocuted after a high-tension wire was cut and fell on him, while standing in front of his shop located under the high-tension wire.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the incident happened over the weekend, but the lifeless body of the victim, which was still lying on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body as of Tuesday, was still oozing out smoke, creating panic in the area.

This was corroborated by a video from the scene of the incident, currently trending on social media, showing the victim lying lifeless on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body, still oozing out smoke and sparks.

Although the full identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, sources from the area said he recently got married.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Ossy Onuko, who reacted to the development on Tuesday, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that such misfortunes are part of the reasons the agency carries out sensitisation and enforcement against building or trading under the high-tension wire.

Onuko also noted that during the sensitisation, people often criticise them for their enforcement against trading under the high tension wire.

He said, “This is something we have been campaigning against from time to time, that it is very dangerous to build or trade under the high-tension wire.

“It is part of the reasons why most times, on social media, we are vilified as being inhumane for trying to let people know that they cannot either build or trade under the tension.

“It is something very pathetic. It’s a suicide mission to have your shop or your kiosk or your roadside activities under the tension. The avoidable loss of life is unfortunate. It is sadly one example of many negative outcomes and resultant effects of such an act of negligence to safety.

“That should serve as a deterrent to others who still indulge in such prohibited acts. This should also make the public understand that the sensitisation and enforcement being carried out by ACTDA against such things are not to witch-hunt them, but for their safety.

“Unfortunately, we have lost a soul. I pray for the peaceful repose of this soul. But also, it should serve as a deterrent to others, that they shouldn’t just fold their arms and wait for us, when we come, they run away and return when we leave.

“People should see it as a personal responsibility to be safety conscious, and also enlighten others, not just themselves. No precious life is worth being lost to such a careless and avoidable death. A stitch in time saves nine.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Cybercrime: Court Fines 21 Foreign Nationals N1m Each, Orders Deportation

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday convicted 21 foreign nationals over high-level cybercrime, fining each of them N1 million.

The trial judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the Nigeria Police Force, ordered the immediate departure of all 21 of them from Nigeria within six working days.

The convicts are among 109 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed threats to Nigeria’s national security in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024.

The 21 convicted individuals are Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), Jupanpan (25), Feng Guo (29), Zhao Yifan (31), Mahunan (26), Wang Yi Bo (24), Chen Yan Qi (26), and Shi Hao Jie (28), all represented in court by Linda Ikpeazu.

Others are Xiejang Bing (29), Zheng Jian Feng, Zheng Peng Fei (32), Wei Tang (32), Wang Hao (27), Cheng Xing (30), Yang Xu Gung (27), Zhu Jiu Hui (28), Xhou Kia Lai (28), and Tue Xue Fie (21, female), represented by Julius Mba.

The 109 defendants, from countries including China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge.

They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Kuje and Keffi Correctional Centres, respectively, pending fulfilment of stringent bail conditions set on November 29, 2024, which included N1 billion bail and five sureties with N200 million worth of landed property each.

The Police alleged that the accused operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a “fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”

One of the counts read that they “aided, abetted, conspired among themselves to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime,” contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).

They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

They were also accused of laundering proceeds generated from illegal platforms, including 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The final charge accused the defendants of overstaying their 30-day business permits — an offence punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act, 2015.

Justice Akpan, in his judgment, held that the sentence was based on the agreed terms of the bargain.

“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.

“The sentence shall be based on the parties’ agreement of N1 million fine each, against each of the defendants which shall be paid before their release. They shall depart the country within six working days,” he said.

When asked if the fines had been paid, defence counsel, Linda Ikpeazu, told the court, “My lord, we are going to pay in the next five minutes.”

Justice Akpan also ordered that all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Lead prosecuting counsel, A.A. Egwu, appeared for the Inspector-General of Police, while Ikpeazu and Mba represented different subsets of the 21 convicts.

The matter was adjourned to October 22nd and 23rd for the continuation of the trial of the remaining 88 defendants.
(PUNCH)