Metro
SAD! Civil Defense Commandant slumps, dies after delivering keynote address
The Edo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Agun Gbenga, on Thursday, slumped and died at a function in Benin City, the state capital, PUNCH Metro learnt.
The commandant slumped on his seat shortly after delivering his goodwill message at an event put up by the International Association of World Peace Advocates, held in the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Benin City.
Our correspondent gathered that efforts to resuscitate him at the venue were abortive, and he was rushed to the Military Hospital, Benin, where he was confirmed dead.
Most of the attendees, who were stunned, ran out of the venue and were discussing what could have led to the death of the commandant, who came into the venue looking healthy.
An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Odion Ugbe, told PUNCH Metro that the deceased came into the venue looking healthy, and it was shocking that he slumped and died. He described the deceased as a gentleman who gave his best to the service of the country.
He said he was at a programme with the deceased last week, where he had a chat with him on the need to make the county more secure.
Ugbe said, “It is unfortunate that the man had to die this way. He came into the hall full of life, but he was carried out dead. He had just read his speech, and he was sitting down when he slumped.
“People with medical experience tried to resuscitate him, but could not succeed. By the time he was taken to the military hospital, he was said to have been brought in dead by the doctor in charge.
Confirming the situation, the spokesperson for the NSCDC headquarters, Afolabi Babawale, told our correspondent, “Yes, it is true that we lost the Edo State Commandant this afternoon. He slumped in a function.”
Metro
Boko Haram Issues One-Week Ultimatum, Threatens To Kill, Marry Off 176 Abducted Women And Children In Kwara
Residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have raised alarm after suspected Boko Haram fighters reportedly issued a one-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government to secure the release of 176 abducted women and children or face mass execution.
Community members and families of the victims told SaharaReporters that the abductees delivered the message after a Jumu’ah prayer session held with their captors on Friday.
According to them, one of the victims was allowed to contact her family on Saturday and confirmed that all the abductees were alive. She also said the captors had been teaching them Arabic and Islamic studies.
A community source said the captors accused the government of not taking negotiations seriously, claiming they were spending resources to keep the victims. The militants allegedly warned that if no agreement is reached within one week, they would begin forcing some of the girls into marriage and kill others they consider “unimportant.”
Residents say the threat has heightened fear in the community, with families of the abducted living in distress as the deadline approaches.
Earlier reports indicated that the victims were shown in a video released by the captors in April, appearing weak and pleading for rescue. In the footage, an armed man claimed responsibility for the abduction of residents from Woro and nearby Kososo communities, saying the victims had been “indoctrinated.”
The group had also previously demanded a ransom of N20 million per victim, but negotiations reportedly stalled as the Kwara State Government refused to meet the demand.
Families of the abducted say they are increasingly worried about the survival of their loved ones, especially children and pregnant women, as captivity continues under harsh conditions.
Tragedy struck Sati-Ikov Council Ward in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State after armed men reportedly ambushed mourners returning from a burial ceremony, killing three persons and abducting two others.
Residents who spoke on Sunday said the attack occurred on Saturday night when the victims were returning home from a burial event in the community, plunging the area into fear and tension.
One resident, who spoke anonymously for safety reasons, said the attackers laid an ambush close to the community and opened fire on the unsuspecting mourners.
“Some mourners who were returning from a burial were attacked close to our community, Sati-Ikov, on Saturday night by local militias. Three of them were killed, and two others, a male and a female, were kidnapped,” the source said.
The attack has since been confirmed by the lawmaker representing Ushongo Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo, who condemned the recurring violence in the area.
Gabo described the situation as disturbing, noting that the constituency has been experiencing repeated attacks in recent weeks.
“I received a call from my people at about 4 am that they went for a burial and on their way back, they ran into armed men,” he said.
“The armed men shot and killed three of them and collected their bags. They also robbed some residents and kidnapped two people. The victims were all young men.”
He identified the deceased as Bem Msughter of Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia of Mbamegh, Daa-Ikov; and Sunday Terwase of Mbakyor, Daav-Ikov.
The abducted victims were named as Aondongu Amos, a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator, and Mrs Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine dealer in the community.
Gabo, who also serves as Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the Assembly, lamented that his constituency had become a recurring hotspot for violent attacks.
He added that similar incidents had occurred just weeks earlier, leaving several residents dead.
“Apart from that, we have had one or two such incidents every other week,” he said.
The lawmaker alleged that the attackers often cross from neighbouring areas before striking and retreating into forested and mountainous terrain believed to provide cover for criminal activities.
“So they cross from there to our side, attack and return to their side. It is a mountainous area with large forests,” he explained, adding that the suspects were believed to operate from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
He further said he had reported the incident to security agencies, noting that police personnel had already been deployed to the area.
However, the Benue State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack adds to growing concerns over persistent insecurity in parts of Benue State, where rural communities continue to suffer repeated assaults and abductions.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday abducted the Head of the Medical Services, General Hospital, New Bussa in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, Dr. Tony Eghagagara.
The spokesman for the state police command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday in Minna.
Abiodun said Eghagagara was kidnapped at 9:30 p.m. by the hoodlums in his private hospital in Wawa, also in Borgu LGA.
He added that a police tactical team had been mobilised for the rescue operation.
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