Metro
Fire guts school buildings, two shops in Anambra
An evening fire has burnt some parts of the building of Practicing Primary School, located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State.
Although there was no casualty recorded, it was gathered that the fire was caused as a result of bush burning, which occurred late on Saturday and affected some parts of the roofing materials of the school’s classroom blocks.
Some eyewitnesses around the vicinity told our correspondent that the fire burnt for several minutes until men of the state fire service arrived at the scene and stopped it from further escalation to other structures.
When contacted, the head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.
Chiketa said a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to the scene when it received the distress call, and the fire was fought and contained.
He said, “On Saturday, January 11, 2025, at about 4:40 pm, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call reporting about a bushfire outbreak at the Practicing Primary School, located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State.
“Immediately, a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were deployed to the scene, and the fire was fought and contained.
“The bushfire outbreak affected some parts of the roofing materials of the school’s classroom blocks but was stopped from further escalation by the Anambra firemen.
“There was no casualty recorded. The firefighters left the scene at 5:45 pm on the same day.”
He cautioned that due to the dry season, people should avoid anything that could cause fire. He noted that people should clear the bushes/grasses in or surrounding their homes, offices, shops, factories, business areas, schools, and churches, among others.
Similarly, there was a fire outbreak that occurred at the Lord’s Plaza, in the Onitsha Main Market, by Emeka Ofor, opposite the United Bank of Africa.
Although the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, it was gathered that two lock-up attachment shops on the ground floor of the plaza were affected.
The state fire service chief, who confirmed the development, said, “Earlier in the morning at 6:10 am, a tensed-up woman ran into one of the Anambra State Fire Service Stations situated in Onitsha Main-Market and reported the ongoing fire outbreak at the above-mentioned plaza.
“A crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to the scene, and the fire was contained.
“Two lock-up attachment shops on the ground floor were affected. There was no casualty. The firemen departed the scene and returned to the station at about 7:58 am the same morning.
“Be fire conscious. Fire kills, but we can prevent it.”
The state Media and Publicity Unit also confirmed a case of a fire outbreak behind the Security Office, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus, Awka.
It said the call was received at about 04:05 pm on Friday, adding that a crew of firemen on duty and firefighting equipment were deployed to the scene immediately, and they contained the fire outbreak.
“No damage nor casualty was recorded. The firemen withdrew from the scene at 05:09 pm on the same day.”
The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued six kidnapped victims following a search-and-rescue operation.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the victims were rescued on Friday when a joint police and Community Protection Guard team on highway patrol along the Anka-Gummi Road noticed an abandoned ash-coloured Peugeot 206 by the roadside.
Abubakar said, suspecting a kidnapping incident, security operatives immediately launched a search operation, leading to the safe recovery of the six victims.
Those rescued, according to him, were Bakiru Muhammad Masama, Alyh DanTani Masama, Aminu Aliyu Bukkuyum, Ahmad Muhammad Masama, Umar Sa’idu Ruwan Jema and Shehu Mulluwa.
Parts of the statement read, “The rescued persons have since been reunited with their families.
“The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, commended the operatives for their prompt response.
“He reassured the public of the command’s relentless effort in collaboration with sister security agencies to rescue all kidnapped victims and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
“CP Maikaba further urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency for immediate action.”
Abubakar stressed that the state police command remained resolute in its mission to dismantle criminal networks and restore lasting peace in the state.
In what can be said to be a mystery, two suspected lovers were found dead in a room on Friday at Alo in Ankpa local government of Kogi State.
The duo suspected to be lovers were found dead stark naked on the man’s bed.
The deceased persons were identified as Sheriff Salifu and Blessing Adama both from Ankpa.
Confirming the incident, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Ovye Aya who described the incident as sudden and unnatural, said the command was investigating the cause of the deaths.
SP Aya narrated that one Salisu Ibrahim from Alo in Ankpa came to the station at about 12 noon to report that his tenant, one Sheriff Salifu did not come out of his room as usual at about 09:31am.
“So, the brother of the deceased entered the room through the ceiling and met his brother and one Blessing Adama of Ojogobi Road Ankpa lying lifeless in the room. Both deceased were seen naked,” he said.
As a result, the PPRO stated that the Divisional Police Officer in Ankpa detailed detectives to the scene where they saw the bodies of the deceased persons, took photograph of them and the bodies to the zonal hospital in Ankpa where they were confirmed dead.
The state police spokesperson stated further that the bodies were also taken for postmortem examination to determine the cause of their death.
“But the family of the Sheriff requested that the body should be released to them. So, he has been buried according to Islamic rites, while the remains of Blessing Adama is still deposited at the mortuary,” Aya said.
A total of 23 internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to varying jail terms by the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between April 11 and 17, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the official X handle of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday.
“Justices W.I. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between April 11 and 17 convicted and sentenced 23 internet fraudsters to various jail terms,” the statement partly read.
The convicted individuals are: Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, David Ogwunu, Jude Okolie, Lucky Ehizojie, Chineye Isioma Christian, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Uzodion Luke, and Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere.
Others include: Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Ajayi Aisosa, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni.
The statement continued, “They were prosecuted on one count, separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.”
One of the charges against the convicts read: “The charge against Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu reads: ‘That you Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu (m) on or about the 12th of April, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’”
All 23 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them. “All the defendants pleaded ‘guilty’ to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions,” the statement continued.
Justice A.N. Erhabor sentenced Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Jude Okolie, Obadiunor Joseph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni to two years imprisonment each, with an option of N200,000 fine.
Chineye Isioma Christian and Uzodion Luke received three years imprisonment each or a fine of N200,000.
Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin convicted Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, and Ajayi Aisosa, sentencing them to two years in prison or a N200,000 fine each. David Ogwunu and Lucky Ehizojie received stiffer penalties, each being sentenced to three years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.
“In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers and money found in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of crime. They also undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth,” the statement added.
The EFCC revealed that the convicts were arrested in a sting operation by operatives of its Benin Zonal Directorate following actionable intelligence linking them to online fraudulent activities.
“The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities,” the commission concluded.
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