Metro
Controversy as tenant dies in Imo community
By Francesca Hangeior
Tragedy struck in Umuokoto village, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, when Anthony Nwanna, a tenant of Mr. Aloysius Ekeocha, died under controversial circumstances.
While some reports accused the landlord of causing Nwanna’s death over unpaid rent, the Umuokoto Community Council (UCC) refuted these claims, stating that Nwanna did not die in the village or on the landlord’s premises.
According to a statement on Friday by the Umuokoto Community Council (UCC) Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ugwuegbulam and Secretary, Tochukwu Obiako “contrary to the report, the deceased did not die in the village or on the premises of the landlord.
“We urge the public to disregard reports of Nwanna’s death being caused by the landlord or vigilante, as these are false and aimed at spreading hatred and misinformation.”
The community council alleged that the late tenant was in the habit of attacking his co-tenants violently due to his indulgence in hard drugs.
“The deceased was a known habitual hard drug user and was often violent due to his indulgence in hard drugs,” said Tochukwu Obiako, Secretary of the UCC.
According to the UCC, Nwanna was a tenant of Ekeocha, who resides in Lagos State and rarely visits his property in Umuokoto.
When Ekeocha came to the village to bury his younger brother in May 2024, he met with Nwanna over the accumulated rent owed to him.
However, Nwanna refused to pay the rent and became violent, leading to his properties being taken to the vigilante office.
“After signing an undertaking to quit the building, his properties were immediately released to him,” said Ugwuegbulam. “It is on record that he even drove his motorbike himself back to his house,” UCC explained.
The UCC urged the public to disregard reports of Nwanna’s death being caused by the landlord or vigilante, stating that these are false and aimed at spreading hatred and misinformation.
The council has also expressed empathy with Nwanna’s family over his demise.
However, some reports have alleged that Nwanna was beaten and detained by the vigilante, leading to his death.
The Imo Police Command has been called upon to investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible for Nwanna’s death are held accountable.
“We are calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nwanna’s death,” said a human rights activist.
The police spokesman, Henry Okoye, was yet to respond to an enquiry about the incident.
Metro
Lagos taskforce raids Gowon estate, arrests 17 suspects
The Lagos State Taskforce has raided 31 Road, part of Okunola road, Wole Omooso, Blessjar, Idoan at the Gowon Estate area of Lagos.Seventeen persons suspected to be engaging in various criminal activities were also arrested.
This is contained in a press statement by its Director, Press & Public Affairs Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.
During the operation, Taskforce officers uncovered a disturbing cache of illicit substances, including Colorado, Indian hemp, narcotic drugs, and other controlled substances including counterfeit currency.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ridding the state of criminal elements endangering the peace and serenity of the citizenry.
He said the operation reflects the agency’s zero-tolerance policy against illegal activities that threaten the peace and security of communities.
Metro
Bomb Explosions Rock Niger State, One Feared Killed, Four Severely Injured
Suspected bomb explosions have reportedly rocked Bassa community in Shiroro local government area of Niger State, Nigeria.
It was learnt that one farmer identified as Dauda Haruna was killed while four others, including 3 siblings, were severely injured in the incident.
According to reports, the incident happened between Bassa and Gwadara communities on Thursday morning when the victims were going to farm to harvest crops.
Residents disclosed that the first explosion went up while the 3 siblings, Mali (20), Nehemiah (14) and Jona (15) were on a motorcycle, while the second one went up when the motorcycle of those coming for rescue stepped on it, killing one of the rescuers, Dauda Haruna.
Mr Enoch, the father of the three children, who struggled to control his tears narrated the incident to our correspondent at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, where the victims were being treated.
He said it was second time bombs would explode this month in Bassa.
Enoch said the children were ahead on a bike while he was trekking with his wife when they heard a heavy sound.
“We were going to farm to harvest our crops. So, I asked my children to start going on bike while my wife and I followed on foot. They were far from us but we heard a heavy sound like gunshots. While we were discussing that it might be bandits, someone coming from the same direction told us that some children had stepped on a bomb. I knew they were my children.
“Two people who came from Bassa on a rescue mission again stepped on another bomb close to the scene of my children. Unfortunately, one lost his life,” he explained.
Two of the siblings, Nehemiah and Jonah and one of the rescuers, Abdullahi Shuaibu lost one leg each.
An eyewitness, Sa’adu Shuaibu, told Daily Trust that one of the victims who died was taking loafs of bread to the neighbouring villages when he met the three siblings in distress, with their legs shattered.
“When he saw the children, because he could not help them alone, he rushed to the community to tell us to go and rescue them. So, he picked one person on his bike and on their way, they stepped on another bomb. Unfortunately, the victim who rode the bike died while the person he took lost one of his legs,” he said.
Metro
Gunmen kill one, abduct another same day Soludo announced amnesty for criminals
Gunmen operating in Anambra State on Tuesday night shot dead an unidentified man, abducting one more from his vehicle.
The two men were attacked in Ifitedunu community, Dunukofia Local Government Area, while travelling in a Nissan SUV with Lagos registration number; SMK 439 HJ.
This happened the same day that the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo announced total war against criminals in the state while also giving amnesty to repentant criminals.
A viral video circulating on social media showed the body of the slain man in the car, while the driver who was travelling with him was abducted by the criminals.
Members of the Ifitedunu community vigilante who rushed to the scene said the incident happened around 8pm. A voice in the video said the men were chased from a neighbouring community to Ifitedunu by men driving an ash-coloured Lexus Jeep.
They said items in the car showed that the men were returning for Christmas while calling on anyone who knew the vehicle or the slain occupants to come for them.
As of the time of filling this report, the Anambra State Police Command was yet to react to the incident.
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