An electrical surge in the Tudun-Wadan Pantami area of Gombe Metropolis claimed the lives of five people and left 13 others injured in the early hours of Saturday, according to the Gombe State Police Command.

According to The PUNCH, the State’s Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Regional Coordination, Abdullahi Kulani, was among those five reportedly affected by the electrocution.

The incident, which authorities said was caused by a high-voltage surge from a nearby transformer, occurred just after dawn, catching residents unawares, according to The PUNCH.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Gombe State Police Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said officers from the Low-cost Divisional Police Headquarters swiftly responded to the distress call.

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Abdullahi said, “Our officers moved quickly to secure the scene and evacuate the victims to hospitals for urgent medical care. Unfortunately, five individuals lost their lives, and thirteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries.”

According to police, the deceased have been deposited in three different morgues; three bodies at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, one at the State Specialist Hospital, one at Bolari Filin Kwallo Mortuary.

The injured victims are currently receiving treatment at several health facilities across the state.

Abdullahi noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Yahaya, described the incident as “deeply saddening” and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

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“We express our heartfelt sympathy to those who have lost loved ones and wish the injured a swift and full recovery,” he said.

He assured the public of a thorough investigation into the cause of the power surge. “We are determined to uncover the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event and ensure accountability where necessary,” he said.

Residents of Tudun-Wadan Pantami are still reeling from the shock. One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, described the moment of the incident as “terrifying,” noting that several victims were electrocuted in their homes.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. People were shouting and running; some were already unconscious by the time help arrived,” the resident said.

Unspecified number of people have been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be armed herders at Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The community is a border town between Nasarawa and Benue States with less than 40 minutes drive to Makurdi, capital city of Benue State.

Police in Benue State which could not give exact casualty figure said that several people including the attackers lost their lives.

The incident, according to a resident from the area who did not want to be mentioned, said that the attackers suspected to be armed herders invaded the community around 10pm on Friday and operated till early hours of Saturday.

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“The attackers stormed the town and unleashed terror on innocent residents, killing over 100 people and setting several families ablaze.

“The attack lasted until just before 1:00 a.m, nearly two hours of horror,” the local said in an emotion laden voice.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Benue State Command, DSP, Udeme Edet, confirmed the attack and added that some individuals and the attackers lost their lives when security men were reinforced to the community.

She said, “According to our information it happened in the early hours of today ( Saturday ) when suspected Bandits invaded Yelwata town.

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“The police and tactical teams posted to the town and reinforcement responded swiftly to the attack and engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange and unfortunately some of the attackers were killed in the process.

“But it’s with great sadness that we report that some individuals lost their lives and others sustained injuries.”
The PPRO said that police has not relented and assured that they would continue in pursuit of the attackers and keep Benue people safe.

“Since the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyode visited the state following escalation of suspected armed herders attacks on the people of the state, killings are yet to abate.

“Barely two days ago, Thursday, suspected armed herders invaded Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in Makurdi LG and killed no fewer than 25 people.”
(PUNCH)

The Anambra State Police Command has nabbed two suspects over alleged theft of two related minors at Okpuno-Oba, Idemili-South Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Awka.

Ikenga said that on June 12, police operatives attached to Ozubulu Division rescued the children between the ages of three and five.

He said that during the operation, the operatives arrested one Daniel Onyedika, male, 19 and Nkechi Onuwa, female, 25, at Okpuno-Oba, Idemili-South LGA.

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According to Ikenga, the operatives swift reaction followed a report by the mother of the victims, that one of her children came and narrated to her how an unknown person had taken away two of his siblings on their way to her shop along Nwafor Junction, Eziora, Ozubulu.

During the interrogation of the suspects, Onyedika admitted to the crime and took the operatives to Oba where he had already handed over the children to Onuwa for the continuation of their criminal plan.

The police spokesman further said that the command has expanded the investigations for the arrest of the other members of the syndicate.

He said that the case would be charged to court on the conclusion of investigations.

“This achievement showcases the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of the society and tackling crimes against children,” he said.

NAN