News

Villagers Exhume Corpse Over Inability To Pay Fine

Published

4 years ago

October 7, 2021

Editor

The chairman of Usung Atiat village, Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Aniedu Thompson Okon, has allegedly exhumed the corpse of a 61-year-old Aniefiok Daniel Effiong 61 for the deceased failure to pay specified fine for an alleged offence committed while he was alive.

It was gathered that the village council had demanded some items from the deceased to appease his alleged crime before his death.

The items included she goat, tubers of yam, a jar of palm wine, 1 crate of soft drinks, one carton of beer, one bottle of local gin, a bottle of dry gin, garden egg, one bottle of snuff, alligator pepper and other condiments including a bundle of firewood to cook.

But the deceased failed to bring those items while he was alive.

However, prior to the burial date, the village chairman, it was learnt, had sent a letter to the bereaved family warning them of the consequences for failing to provide above items before their father’s interment.

Part of the letter as circulating online read: “Failure to bring the items for committing an abnormal act, burial should not be conducted in the village.”

A source close to the family told DAILY POST that the family ignored the threat letter and continued with the funeral as the family did not understand the ‘abnormal act’ contained in the letter.

He added, “after the burial, the village chairman stormed the deceased compound with thugs, firing gunshots into the air and exhumed the corpse and dumped it along the village footpath to decompose.

“Such act was outright desecration of the dead which would require another round of rituals to rebury and appease the gods to avert calamity in the family and entire community,” the source said.

Also, the son of the deceased, Mr. Uduak Effiong Bassey has cried for justice, demanding the village council to rebury his father or face the law for desecrating the dead.

In a petition entitled: ”A case of Desecration of Corpse and unlawful possession of Arms Perpetrated by the village Chairman – Aniedu Okon Thompson and four others,” the deceased’s son urged the state government to intervene and save the community from impending doom and health hazard as the corpse was decomposing in the village.

The petition dated September 27, 2021 signed by the deceased’s son and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday, stated that urgent steps should be taken to avoid epidemic in the community while the culprits should be brought to book.

Bassey explained that all the perpetrators of the crime could be identified as they are residents in the village.

“Akifa together with me were able to identify the above persons desecrating the remains of late Aniefiok Bassey, firing gunshots into the air and eventually dumped the corpse by a bush track and covered the grave.”

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP Odiko Macdon, confirmed the incident and explained that the decomposing corpse has been recovered and deposited at the morgue.

Macdon, who said one of the suspects has been arrested, noted that the corpse was actually buried in a land in dispute before its exhumation and has nothing to do with inability to pay a fine.

His words, “The incident occurred in Usung Atiat village in OrukAnam LGA. Actually, the body was exhumed and the police have recovered the corpse and deposited same at the morgue. There was a land dispute concerning the bereaved and the other party said the deceased should not be buried in the disputed land . They went and exhumed the corpse after burial .

“Now, the matter is with the State CID in the state police as the commissioner of police has ordered a discreet investigation into the matter. One person has been arrested while others are at large . The police are trailing other suspects to ensure that they are brought to book,” the PPRO said.

News

Tragedy In The Sky As Pilot Dies Mid-air

Published

2 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

What began as a routine trip from Seattle to Istanbul turned tragic. Turkish Airlines Flight 204 was cruising normally when one of the captains, 59-year-old İlçehin Pehlivan, suddenly collapsed.

Despite the crew’s efforts, he sadly passed away mid-flight a veteran aviator lost among the skies he loved.

Over the radio, the co-pilot’s voice trembled: “Initially we had three pilots, but we lost one of our captains today.

That’s why we’re diverting to JFK.” Air traffic controllers responded with compassion, arranging medical help on the ground.

The aircraft landed at New York’s JFK Airport at dawn, met by emergency teams and a heavy silence. Turkish Airlines later paid tribute to Captain Pehlivan, who had passed medical checks just months earlier and spent nearly two decades flying safely around the world.

Passengers continued to Istanbul, but the memory of this flight endures a reminder of the resilience of aviators, the fragility of life, and the bond shared by those who soar through the skies.

News

Foundation Engages Traditional Leaders To Curb GBV In Bauchi

Published

2 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Iqra Foundation for Women and Youth Development (IKFWYD) has engaged traditional leaders across three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State to promote male involvement in efforts to curb Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The intervention is being implemented in Bauchi, Ningi, and Toro Local Government Areas.

Speaking during an advocacy visit, Mr. Ismail Umar, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the foundation, said the role of traditional institutions in influencing positive behavioural change could not be overstated.

“The programme is designed to engage men on issues related to protecting the rights of women and girls.

“Family wellbeing and social harmony cannot be achieved without the meaningful involvement of men.”

Umar noted that challenges such as gender-based misunderstandings, domestic tensions, poor communication between spouses, and limited awareness of shared responsibilities often contribute to family instability.

“By focusing on men as partners in promoting peace and wellbeing, this programme aims to reinforce their positive influence within families and communities.

“We are piloting the initiative in Bauchi, Ningi, and Toro LGAs, and are engaging respected community members to support and guide male involvement in promoting peace, family wellbeing, and the dignity of women.”

He further explained that the initiative would foster unity and cooperation between men and women as partners in building stable and peaceful homes.

Also speaking, Mr. Bamidele Jacobs, Director of Legal at Lawyers Alert, an implementing partner of the project, said the engagement of men was crucial to ensuring sustained support and protection for women in the state.

In their separate remarks, traditional rulers expressed their support and commitments to the programme.

Alhaji Yusuf Danyaya, the District Head of Ningi, pledged to mobilise men for the initiative, noting that “a violence-free home leads to a peaceful society.”

Similarly, Alhaji Hussaini Uthman, District Head of Miri in Bauchi metropolis, said the mission of the programme aligns with the traditional role of community leaders in fostering reconciliation between couples.

On his part, Alhaji Umar Adamu, the District Head of Toro, said addressing GBV is a collective responsibility to ensure that communities remain safe and peaceful.

News

Okpebholo Believes In Courage, Capacity Says Edo Poly Rector

Published

6 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The acting rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Dr Nosakhare Arodoye has promised to implement to the fullest the SHINE agenda of the state government.

Dr Arodoye said he was appointed by the governor to change the narrative of the Polytechnic from the present state to global standard with market-ready graduates and wealth creators within and outside Nigeria.

He spoke during the handover ceremony of the leadership in the state tertiary institution.

According to him, “the governor sent me here for development that will position this institution in a manner that will be productively and evidently attractive to all for visible intellectual results and deliveries.

“I’m for greater impact, lesser noise, the governor as a game changer understands this hence he approved my appointment as a tool for change in Edo Poly. Governor Okpebholo believes in courage and capacity.

“The governor is not a cut to size, he knows how the academic environment works. You can see that his team is made up of global scholars and that is where I belong.

“I’m here to work, I’m going to teach, courses must be allocated to me. I go for what people run from as a progressive, just like the governor, you can see the turnaround of things affecting every area positively.”

Earlier, the immediate past acting rector, Engr. Sylvester Omoruyi briefed the new rector on the present state of the institution particularly the continuous support from the state government.

He said Sen Monday Okpebholo has cleared the backlog of salaries as staff now receive their salary as at when due.

He noted that a total of twenty-two programmes have successfully been accredited with NYSC calling for various HND awarding departments.

On partnership, he said the polytechnic is currently in collaboration with Xianzi and Fuzhou Polytechnic in China where seven students are currently undergoing studies on student exchange programmes.

Before arriving at the polytechnic premises, Dr Arodoye had visited the palace of the Elawure of Usen, Oba Oluogbe III.