Metro

Tragedy As Two Brothers Die In Niger Mine Collapse

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2024

Two brothers, identified as Zubairu Ibrahim and Sadiq Ibrahim, have died over the weekend after a mine collapsed in Kakaki village, located in the Paikoro local government area of Niger State.

The tragic incident followed three previous mine collapses in the Shiroro and Paikoro areas of the state in recent months.

The deceased brothers, aged 20 and 25, were said to have left home without informing their parents that they were heading to the mine to dig for solid minerals.

The father of the deceased brothers, Mallam Zubairu Ibrahim, said the family initially assumed the young men were out with friends but when they did not return, the family learned that the brothers had gone to the mine site, hoping to find gold or other valuable minerals.

He said he sent community members to search for his sons, and tragically, their bodies were found buried beneath the collapsed soil at the riverbank.

While speaking with officials from the state Ministry of Mineral Resources who paid a condolence and fact-finding visit to the village, Ibrahim lamented how he could cope with life after burying two sons in one day.

The team from the Ministry of Mineral Resources was led by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni and directors, the Miners Association State Chapter Caretaker Chairman, as well as the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers.

The Permanent Secretary lamented that the death was avoidable if the community had abided with the Governor’s order suspending mining in the state.

He stressed that the directive suspending mining in the state is still in force as the ministry will continue to crack down on illegal mining operations, warning that anyone found violating the regulations would face legal consequences.

Nahauni, who expressed the government’s condolences, reiterated the need to determine the cause of the accident, urging the community to inform the ministry whenever they discover any mineral elements in their vicinity to receive proper guidanc

Metro

BREAKING: Bodies Of 8 Missing Policemen Recovered In Benue

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Lifeless bodies of the eight policemen who were declared missing after a deadly attack on security operatives at Agu Centre, on the border of Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, have been recovered.

Dr Justin Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA disclosed this to reporters in Makurdi on Monday.

According to him, “this brings the number of officers killed to 11 (10 policemen and one BSCPG)”.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, when a team of security operatives came under the attack of armed invaders.

Three personnel were immediately confirmed dead while eight others were declared missing.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Kidnappers Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

She said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

According to the PPRO, the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

The statement read, “On 26th August, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, m of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19th September, 2025, at about 0200hrs arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the State in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, one jack knife and one stainless short knife,” Rivers police imagemaker said.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

The Command said it arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.