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Fire burn down Kwara market

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A fire outbreak that began in the early hours of Tuesday engulfed several shops at Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State.

A video of the incident seen by SaharaReporters captured the moment some of the shop owners were mourning as they watched their property destroyed by the fire.

“This fire is too much. This is not caused by electricity. Maybe some people were cooking and the fire started from there because this fire is much,” one of the traders said in the video.

A source from the town on Tuesday morning said the fire was eventually quenched by personnel of the Federal Fire Service and Kwara State Fire Service.

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The source added that no fewer than five shops were affected by the inferno.

“The authorities are still assessing the situation, but personally, I know at least five shops were affected. The worth of goods and property destroyed can’t be said now until the assessment ends.

“There are also several claims as to the cause of the fire until we wait for the fire service to release their statement on it,” the source said.

Recall barely eight months ago, there was a report about a midnight fire that razed a residential building in the town and destroyed property worth N6.5m.

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The incident that occurred at about 1:05am at Kowope compound, Olorunkuse area, Offa, affected a two- bedroom flat and four shops.

In December, no fewer than 14 shops were reportedly razed by fire in two incidents that occurred in the Tanke area of Ilorin in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.

At least, seven shops at Zion Overcomer, Opposite Duro Suleiman house, University Road, Tanke, were reportedly burnt while the second incident also occurred at Tanke Oke-Odo area on University Road at about 1.30 a.m.where another seven shops were destroyed by fire.

The source added that no fewer than five shops were affected by the inferno.

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“The authorities are still assessing the situation, but personally, I know at least five shops were affected. The worth of goods and property destroyed can’t be said now until the assessment ends.

“There are also several claims as to the cause of the fire until we wait for the fire service to release their statement on it,” the source said.

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Metro

Father demands justice over son’s death in Benue

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By Francesca Hangeior

Joseph Onminyi, the father of 19-year-old Peter Onminyi, who was allegedly killed by men from the Operation Zenda unit of the Benue State Police Command, has called for justice.

According to Onminyi, his son was killed in the presence of family members on May 19, 2024, around 8 pm while they were having dinner at their residence located at Welfare Quarters, Makurdi.

Speaking to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, the father of the deceased alleged that some policemen invaded their residence, shot his son dead, and took away his corpse.

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While crying out for justice, Onminyi demanded the immediate release of his son’s body for a decent burial according to Idoma’s traditional rites and customs.

He also demanded the immediate return of items taken from their house and access to their home, as they have been traumatised and are tired of sleeping outside.

The father, a retired civil servant, described his son as a complete gentleman and said that, to his knowledge, his son had not committed any offence that would have warranted his killing by the police in front of the family.

He said, “I am Mr. Joseph Onminyi, the father of the deceased, late Peter Onminyi, who was shot to death by the police on May 19, 2024, in my own house, not even outside.

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“No reason was given by the police for their actions. They didn’t ask or tell anyone about the offence he committed; rather, they just killed him while he was eating in the dining room.

“The police didn’t approach me, the father, or ask any of my children who were with me in the room what offence my son had committed. They just jumped over the fence, entered the house, and began shooting sporadically. They even shot at one of my sons, who was eating at the dining table.

“Not only that, after killing him, they took his body away and removed all the home properties, including a radio, refrigerator, washing machine, gas cooker and gas cylinder, as well as two motorcycles and everything else in the house.

“I think this action could be seen as armed robbery because they came unannounced, and nobody was informed of what they were there for. Whether they came to search for something or to investigate someone, they didn’t say anything; they just shot and killed my innocent child.

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“After killing him, the police took his body away to an unknown destination. Up to this moment, I don’t know where my son’s lifeless body is. Not only that, the police locked my house.”

He added, “They locked the entrance gate to my house. My house has been locked and the key withheld since the incident in May.

“My family and I have been sleeping outside our home in an uncompleted building. I therefore appeal to Nigeria and the entire world to come to my aid and address the police brutality against innocent citizens,” Onminyi stated.

While mentioning that he had filed a case for breach of human rights against the police, the deceased’s father accused the police of delaying the case in court.

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“They have refused to appear in court, which means the police believe they are above the law and can disregard the judicial process,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Command, SP Catherine Anene, said that the case involved someone suspected of kidnapping and armed robbery.

She said, “I am aware of the case, which involved a boy who was suspected of kidnapping. I think the police went there to arrest him, and during the process, one of the boys exchanged gunfire with the police, and in the process, he was killed.

“However, I am not sure of the name, but I will get back to you. This happened around the Welfare Quarters in the Makurdi area.”

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Lagos Seals Churches, Others Over Noise Pollution

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The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, has sealed off some churches over noise pollution in the state.

LASEPA confirmed this in a statement on its X page.

LASEPA said it took the action in a bid to address noise pollution and other environmental violations.

It said the establishments were found guilty of breaching environmental regulations despite multiple warnings from LASEPA.

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“The affected establishments include Honourable Lounge & Lodging, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Night Club and Lounge, Bridge Spot Bar.

“Others are Okiki Event Centre and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel,” the statement added.

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Troops kill bandits’ kingpin, four others in Plateau

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Troops attached to the Forward Operation Base of Operation Safe Haven, stationed in the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, have killed five bandits, including their kingpin, Kachalla Saleh.

Our correspondent reports that the incident occurred less than a week after bandits and vigilantes clashed in the Dogon Ruwa community of the council, resulting in four deaths.

A vigilante and youth leader in Wase, Abdullahi Haruna, told newsmen in Jos on Tuesday that the incident happened around 12 noon in Kinashe village, Bashar District, on Monday.

Haruna stated that the bandits, who posed a threat to residents’ lives, were caught off guard by security personnel, allowing for a resistance-free operation.

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He said “The village is a bushy area, and residents had already fled before the latest incident, Haruna explained. “Bandits had displaced people from the area, using it as a hiding place. The bandits didn’t expect security personnel to descend upon them at that time, given the area’s nature.”

Residents of Wase, particularly Bashar District, commended the troops for the successful operation.

Our correspondent reports that Wase LGA villages have suffered from banditry for two years, resulting in numerous deaths, including security personnel.

When contacted on the development, the spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, Maj Samson Zhakom, neither answered calls nor responded to the short message sent to him by our correspondent.

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