The Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Rt. Hon. Uche Anya has narrated how soldiers from 82 Division of the Nigeria Army invaded his residence by 2.30am and destroyed his residence for carrying out a town planning regulation on an army property in Enugu.

According to Anya, the soldiers who some of them were on mufti, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, invaded his residence with armoured personnel carriers, forcefully jumped into his compound and destroyed most parts of his house and abducted him.

His offence, he explained, was that he demolished a fence that was being made round an army property at GRA area of the Coal City, which the army did not obtain approval plan and permit from his office before embarking on the construction.

“We pleaded with them that we are from the ECTDA and needed to see their approved plan and permit but they asked me to call the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu.

“We insisted on seeing their approval, which they did not provide, leading to our stopping them from working and marking the place with ‘Stop Work’ notice immediately.”

He said that he thereafter reached out to the GOC and informed him about what transpired, but that the army said that they were trying to secure their land.

“I told him that under our law, once a development is taking place in the capital territory, there must be permission. So, three days later, in the course of our routine work, we discovered that they had wiped out our stop work order and proceeded with the work. We rolled down our equipment and pulled down the fence because they reneged on our agreement,” Anya narrated.

The Capital Territory Chairman said that two hours later, he started noticing strange movement around his street, with some people taking photographs.

“So, around 2:30a.m, two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) arrived on my street. Some people in mufti with guns jumped into my compound and I was seeing them through my CCTV. They tried to break into the house but it took them almost 90 minutes to break in through the kitchen.”

When our correspondent visited Anya’s residence, there was a total smash of most properties in the house starting from the gate to the entrance door and windows, television sets, CCTV cameras and so many other things were in complete ruin.

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and seven others for the Christmas party tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The police also in a statement by SP Osifeso Adewale, added that 35 children had been confirmed dead so far with six others critically

Recall that Agidigbo FM, a prominent private radio station, disclaimed involvement in the ill-fated children’s festive party that tragically resulted in multiple deaths on Wednesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

SaharaReporters earlier broke the news about how tragedy struck on Wednesday morning at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan when a stampede occurred during a children’s Christmas party.

The station’s management clarified they were not sponsors or organisers of the event, contrary to initial reports. It identified the organiser as WINGS (Women In Need Of Guidance and Support), whose founder is Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

Eyewitnesses report that many children were trampled in the chaos, with several others injured.

Meanwhile the police statement said, “Sequel to the stampede incident recorded on Wednesday 18/12/2024 at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan venue of the family event Organized by Wings Foundation and Media partners Agidigbo FM, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the good people of the State that (8) Persons have since been arrested for their various involvements.

“These persons include the main event sponsor, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola ’f’ age 31yrs, Fasasi Abdulahi, ’m’ age 56yrs (School Principal Islamic High School, Ibadan), Genesis Christopher, ’m’ age 24yrs, Tanimowo Moruf,’m’ age 52yrs, Anisolaja Olabode, ‘m’ age 42yrs, Idowu Ibrahim, ‘m’ age 35yrs and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, ’m’ age 25yrs.

“So far (35) Thirty-Five Minors have been documented Dead while (6) Six others are critically injured and on various Medical Interventions.

“In furtherance of the above, the case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge leading the investigations.

“So also, residents around the axis are advised not to panic as they would witness high level patrols and visible Police presence to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation.

“Finally, the Oyo State Police Command sympathizes with all the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and assures the good people of the State that Justice will be served accordingly.”

Roy Keane believes leaving Manchester United could do Marcus Rashford the “world of good” as he fears the forward will never regain his hunger at Old Trafford.

Rashford’s future appears to be in the balance after the 27-year-old, a product of United’s youth system, was left out of the Manchester derby.

United won 2-1 at Manchester City on Sunday, with Rashford telling journalist Henry Winter on Tuesday that he was “ready for a new challenge and the next steps”.

“I don’t mind what he said. I think it’s spot on,” former United captain Keane told the Stick to Football podcast.

“Sometimes a deal just works for everybody. It’s been going on for a year or two now, there’s obviously a bit of talent in there, he’s been at the club since he was a kid.

A change would probably do him the world of good, for him and his team and his family. Just go and play, maybe go abroad or whatever it might be.”

Rashford’s current contract at Old Trafford runs until 2028 and although he has been linked to several other clubs, United manager Ruben Amorim is keen for the England forward to stay.

But Keane said: “I always think if you lose that hunger, it is hard to get it back.

“Forget about the few bob (pounds) he’s earned over the years — and listen, good for him — but we know, the great players, it’s nothing to do with that.”

Keane added that leaving United could revive Rashford’s “real hunger” for on-field success.

“I think there’s a good chance he might get it back with a change of a club and scenery, a new country, a new league, whatever, but I don’t think he’ll get it back at United.”

Amorim, talking to reporters ahead of Thursday’s League Cup quarter-final at Tottenham, urged Rashford to “speak with the manager” rather than air his grievances publicly.

Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club since making his senior debut in 2016.

However, he has lost form over the last 18 months with United and was also axed from England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Rashford has scored just 15 goals in 67 appearances since signing a lucrative new contract 18 months ago, with speculation over his future increasing in recent days.

The forward, who was absent from training on Monday through illness, is set to miss the League Cup quarter-final at Spurs.

Amorim is keen to keep Rashford but he admitted he would have handled the situation differently when he was a player.

“If this was me, probably I will speak with the manager,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “But, guys, let’s focus on Tottenham. Tottenham is the most important thing.”