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Brutality! Human Rights Violation: Police Dehumanises Two Journalists in Delta

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Two journalists were Thursday, brutalized by Police officers attached to Ughelli A’ division in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The journalists, Comrade Andrew Unutame of the Galaxy Television, and Comr. Oghenekaro Awodeha, publisher of The Periscope were attacked by the officers and Vigilantes at the premises of Ughelli A’ division, at the presence and instance of one of the Senior Police officer, Ogwu Chukwutem.

It would be recalled that on November 28, 2022, Police from Ughelli A’ Division led by one Asp Edet brutalized two Journalists attached to Pointer Newspaper and Galaxy Television, under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer, while covering the visitation of the immediate past Deputy President of Nigerian Senate to religious leaders at Oduaran street, Ughelli, Delta state.

Narrating his ordeal, Comr. Gabriel Oghenekaro said, “I boarded a motorcycle, as we were on our way the rider, on sighting the police on stop and search duty, wanted to turn back and run, that he was not having papers, that he left it at home. I then encouraged him not to run but to meet them, that if he is stopped, I’ll plead on his behalf, and I only said so because I was suspicious, I didn’t really believe somebody will ride his motorcycle without photocopy of his particulars.

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“When the police stopped us and demanded for his particulars and the man said he is not with them, one of the officers ordered us to alight and then drove the motorcycle to the police station. At this point the rider was blaming me for allowing the police to hold him because I refused to plead for him. I then told him that if truly he has his papers at home, he should go home and bring them. That once it’s established that he has his papers I’m ready to go with him to the station to assist in securing the release of his motorcycle.

“When the man brought his papers, as promised, I called a colleague and we went to the station with him. We were then directed to a police woman identified as, Corporal Ebi who said “The particulars are not authentic, that it could be forged. She asked us to bring N50,000. She now ordered us to leave her sight to go and look for the money when we tried to speak to her.

“At this point we decided to leave and went to our vehicle. As we were about going she ran towards us and asked the bike man to give her the papers, that we were running away. I was shocked when she said so. I asked the bike man to give her the particulars which he did.

Immediately she started raining abuses on us, when I told her that the insults were uncalled for, she said who am I to challenge her, just as she was shouting another male officer, one Inspector Erasmus Ikperinwa came and grab me on my trouser, cut my belt and started manhandling me before others around, but police and local vigilante joined in the beating.

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“They handcuffed me, and forced me to lay down on the floor, threatening that they’ll throw me inside the cell where I will rot.

The woman Coporal, Ebi stated that she is a lawyer that has been call to the Nigerian Bar and nothing will happen, you can call the IG of Police and if it is case that you want, I will give you to the fullest.”

When my colleague saw what was happening and tried to intervene, they attacked him with woods and gave him the same beating. I only saw him runway towards the Area Commander’s section in the station. After then, the woman Corporal identified as Ebi from Ughelli A’Division brought paper that they force me to write statement and throw me inside cell.

“It was at this point that my colleague who ran to the Area Commander’s section came with a police woman on the instructions of the A.O summoning us to the office to hear what has happened.

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“We did not commit any crime other than trying to do a humanitarian service, so I don’t see why we should be manhandle in such a way. I think it is high time the Inspector General and Delta State Police Command do something about the excesses of the police in Ughelli A Division. Assault on journalist by officers and vigilante attached to the division has been a routine, and must be stopped.”

Corroborating what his colleague said, Comrade Andrew Unutame said, “We come see how we can be of assistance to the bike man, because according to my colleague who called me to accompany him, the bike man told him he is new in Delta and has no one. When we got there we met the lady, she asked us to go and bring N50,000.

We don’t have that kind of money. And she was not ready to listen to any plea. At this point, we went back to our vehicle and wanted to go back, because my colleague said, he left his phones in the office, that he wanted to call someone to do some clarifications.

“This was when one Erasmus Ikperinwa came on the scene and start manhandling my colleague. When I tried to intercede they attacked me.

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One of the vigilante took a 2by2 wood to hit me on my back.

When I saw that they were ready to kill me, I ran to the Area Commander’s office, that was when the A. O, tried to intervene in the matter.” particulars, that we wanted to run away.

We asked the bike man to give her the particulars. We then tried to explain to her that we’re not running and besides we didn’t commit any crime to So what are we running away from? She started raining all manner of curses, we she was not ready to stop, we told her that the fact that she is a police officer was not a license to defame or dehumanize lawful citizens.

“This was when one Erasmus Ikperinwa came on the scene and start manhandling my colleague. When I tried to intercede they attacked me.

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One of the vigilante took a 2by2 wood to hit me on my back.

When I saw that they were ready to kill me, I ran to the Area Commander’s office, that was when the A. O, tried to intervene in the matter.”

For the timely intervention of the Ughelli Area Command, Admin Officer, A.O, we would have been dead or incarcerated by now.

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‘I Hit Her With a Pistol, Hacked Her With Machete’ — Suspect Confesses to Killing Girlfriend in Enugu

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Court orders rapist’s name announced on radio

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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Gunmen Abduct 20 Corps Members In Imo

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Gunmen have abducted 20 corps members serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) along the Owerri–Onitsha Road by Umunoha community in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the unfortunate incident, in a telephone conversation with Channels Television, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said the corps members were reportedly travelling in a commercial bus from Ibadan, Oyo State, to different orientation camps in the South-East and South-South states when they were intercepted by the gunmen.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, while the police and other security agencies have intensified efforts to rescue the victims unhurt and unconditionally.

Okoye added that security operatives were currently combing surrounding bushes, while a Rapid Response Team (RRT) had also been deployed to track down the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the corps members.
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The incident came weeks after the police said that 11 people, including an unidentified number of corps members serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), were rescued after gunmen attacked vehicles along the Aloma–Egane Expressway.

The abduction reportedly occurred at about 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria–Onicha-Igo Junction.

The armed men reportedly emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions, before abducting some of the passengers while others escaped into the bush.

The victims were, however, rescued by Joint security forces comprising the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS), and other auxiliary forces on August 31.

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The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, told journalists that the corps members were rescued from Egume Forest in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, after a coordinated security operation.

President Bola Tinubu has hailed the rescue, saying the well-coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation carried out by a combined team of personnel from the military, the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services, and local vigilantes safely rescued all the abductees, comprising eight males and 13 females, from the den of kidnappers in the forests of Ofu on Monday afternoon.

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