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What was meant to be a solemn farewell turned into a scene of horror and wailing at Aleto, Eleme, Rivers State.

A burial ceremony went silent, then erupted in screams, when the preacher himself became the message.

Deacon Steve Eyo, Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Aleto, had mounted the podium with fire. His topic: “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond.”

More than 300 mourners sat in rapt attention. His voice was strong. His delivery, piercing.

Death is certain. You cannot escape it,” he warned. “Death is like going to the market. Some leave early, some stay till late. Some die young, some live long. But it will come when you least expect it.”

He spoke at 1:10 p.m. By 1:25 p.m., prophecy met reality.

Mid-sentence, as he was rounding off with a final charge – “Number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime” – his voice cut. The microphone crashed to the floor with a loud thud. The pastor collapsed on the stage.

For a few seconds, no one moved. Many thought it was drama – an illustration of sudden death.

Then panic set in.

“Pastor! Pastor!” voices cried as people rushed forward.

The choir surged to the pulpit, praying loudly, hands stretched. Ministers surrounded him, shouting prayers. Others with medical knowledge battled to revive him, pressing his chest, calling his name. But his breath was gone.

In a heartbreaking twist, the same ambulance hired to convey the corpse for burial was used to rush the preacher to the nearest hospital.

It was too late.

At the clinic, he was confirmed dead. His body was taken to the mortuary – just hours after he had told the living to prepare for death.

Before he fell, he had told the mourners that death is not the end, that judgment comes after, and that every day must be numbered and lived wisely.

He lived his last sermon.

Aleto is in mourning. The burial ground that came to bury one, almost buried two.

Source: news platforming.ng

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A 30-year-old man, Emmanuel Okpara, has allegedly confessed to killing his girlfriend, Chinyere, in Enugu State on September 19, recounting how a heated argument reportedly escalated into a violent confrontation that left her dead.

In a video recording, Okpara narrated how he met the deceased on Facebook in 2023 while he was living in Nekede, Imo State.

He said he later relocated to Enugu State in December 2025, while Chinyere was serving as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Port Harcourt.

According to the suspect, their paths crossed again in March 2026 after Chinyere returned to Enugu following her service year. The two subsequently began a romantic relationship.

Okpara claimed that Chinyere, who had recently completed her NYSC programme, visited him at his residence, where he allegedly told her he could cure sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis, HIV and syphilis.

He alleged that the disclosure triggered an angry reaction from Chinyere, who accused him of being responsible for infecting her with HIV.

The disagreement reportedly degenerated into a physical altercation, during which Okpara claimed Chinyere struck him on the head with a pistol.

He said he managed to seize the weapon and repeatedly struck her on the head with it, causing her to collapse.

The suspect further admitted to allegedly using a machete to inflict severe injuries on her wrist, head and neck.

Okpara also claimed he was under the influence of hard drugs at the time of the incident.

Recounting what happened after the alleged killing, the suspect said he wrapped Chinyere’s body in nylon and remained inside his apartment with the corpse, adding that fear and confusion prevented him from knowing what to do next.

He disclosed that he stayed with the body for three days before neighbours, reportedly alerted by a foul smell coming from the apartment, broke into the residence.

The neighbours allegedly discovered Okpara inside the apartment with Chinyere’s decomposing body.

The suspect also revealed that he deliberately damaged the deceased’s phone to prevent anyone from reaching her.

The circumstances surrounding the killing, including the suspect’s allegations about the argument and his claimed drug use, remain subject to further investigation.

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The Jigawa State High Court No. 11, sitting at Ringim, has sentenced a 50-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment for raping an 11-year-old girl.

The court, presided over by Hon. Justice Muhammad El-Usman, delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, convicting one Abubakar Biniya of Galadanchi Quarters, Ringim Local Government Area.

The convict committed the offence in January 2024, at Galadanchi quarters, Ringim, where he allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor.

In proving its case, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered five exhibits, including a medical report, before the court.

The convict, however, testified in his defence and did not call any other witness.

Delivering judgment, Justice El-Usman said, “The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and the court has found the defendant guilty as charged.”

The judge said, “The court has considered the plea for leniency made by the convict and the fact that he is a first offender.”

He, therefore, sentenced him to 10 years custodial sentence for the offence of rape.

Justice El-Usman also ordered that, “The convict is to pay a compensation of N5000 to the victim.”

The court further ordered that the name of the convict be entered into the Jigawa State Sexual Offenders Register maintained at the Ministry of Justice.

It also ordered public shaming of the convict through radio announcement, relying on Section 3 (2), (4) and (5) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, No. 02, 2021.

The parties were given three months within which to appeal the judgment.

Shedding more light on the judgment, the Director, Information and Protocol, High Court of Justice, Jigawa State Judiciary, Abbas Wangara, confirmed the development.

Wangara said, “The High Court No. 11 sitting at Ringim has sentenced Abubakar Biniya to 10 years imprisonment for raping an 11-year-old girl.”

He said, “The court also ordered compensation and publication of his name in the sexual offenders register.”

He added that, “The judgment is in line with the VAPP Law 2021 as part of measures to deter sexual offenders in the state.”

Meanwhile, on the same date, the court discharged three other persons standing trial for different offences.

Wangara disclosed that, “The court discharged one Sale Kurma, 55, of Tsinaho Village, Taura LGA, who was charged with rape.”

He also said, “The court discharged Mansur Ahmed, 22, of Tsira Village, Ringim LGA, for rape, and Haruna Ahmadu of Marawa Village, Ringim LGA, charged with criminal conspiracy and robbery.”

According to him, “They were discharged for failure of the prosecution to establish the charges against them.”

The prosecution was led by Aisha Umar Zandam (Mrs), DDPP, and Binta Yusuf Abubakar (Mrs), ADPP, Ministry of Justice, Dutse, while the defence counsel was A.H. Hassan, Esq., of Nexus Legal Hubs, Kano.