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Niger residents abandon farmlands over killings

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Farmers in Niger State are currently living in fear after the killing of 13 farmers in the state.

Some of the farmers were said to have abandoned farming to avoid being shot by the bandits.

Suspected bandits on August 19 killed 13 farmers after tracking them to their farms in the Allawa community of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The bandits were said to have killed them over claims that they supplied intelligence about their (bandits) movement to security agencies.

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This was as the state Police Command said they did not have an update yet regarding the whereabouts of the fleeing bandits.

Bandits have been rampaging local government area in Niger State killing and abducting residents.

They have even subjected some of the communities to payment of levies in order to enable them engage in their farming activities.

Some farmers who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on the development expressed fear over the action of the bandits, saying that the security agencies and the state government had shown that there was nothing they could do to arrest the situation.

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A yam farmer, Musa Abdullahi, told our correspondent on Friday that he had not been himself since he heard the news of the killing of the farmers.

According to him, farmers are an endangered species in Niger State and the government or the security agencies were helpless.

“Since the news of the killing of the farmers broke out, I have not been myself. I have been wondering and imagining how we farmers go into the bush on our own without security men to protect us.

“This action of the killing of our fellow farmers has shown that it could happen to anyone at anytime and nothing will come out of it.

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“It is obvious that both the state government and security agencies cannot do anything about these bandits who go about with sophisticated weapons.

“Every farmer is now afraid of going to his farm. Some of us don’t go the farm for the fear of being killed by bandits. We are begging the state government to invite the Federal Government to come into this issue,” Abdullahi said.

A senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture, who preferred anonymity, said the tragic incident took everyone by surprise. He pointed out that if nothing was done to apprehend these bandits the agricultural plans of the farmer government for this year may be in jeopardy.

“This killing took all of us by surprise. Even the minister has been dumbfounded since that incident. How can those criminals just accuse the farmers of leaking information to security agencies and wasted them just like that?

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“Governor Bago must have to sit up and confront this challenge headlong or else his plans of bumper harvest will become a pipe dream.

“Only recently, the Etsu Nupe prayed for rain for our farmers to experience a bumper harvest but now these bandits have struck farmers in the state. Where do we go from here,” the ministry official asked

Efforts to get state government officials to react to the killing of the farmers and the danger posed to the farming community in Niger State on Friday proved abortive.

None of the officials, including the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mohammed Bello, Commissioner for Agriculture Musa Bosso, Commissioner for Information Binta Mamman and the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Bologi Ibrahim answered calls put across to them.

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Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who was also called to react to the incident and provide an update on the possible arrest of the bandits, said the police did not have any update but were still investigating the incident.

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Metro

EFCC arrests 59 suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abuja Zonal Directorate, on Monday, arrested 59 suspected internet fraudsters.

The suspects were arrested at Abacha Road, Mararaba axis of Nasarawa State, following credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet activities.

Items recovered from them include 73 phones of different brands.

When contacted, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development.

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Oyewole added that the suspects will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.

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Alleged herdsmen k!ll two farmers in Edo

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Two residents of Okpekpe community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, identified as Batemue Ebo and Christopher Bello were killed, yesterday by suspected herders.

They were said to have been killed while in their farms.

The deaths were confirmed by both the community’s traditional ruler, Onwuweko of Okpekpe, HRH Peter Osigbemeh and the suspended chairman of the council, Benedicta Atoh.

The royal father on the phone said the policemen were already on the ground in the town to maintain peace and described the situation as bad but urged his people to remain calm as the police would fish out the killers.

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Meanwhile, Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the attack on the people of Okpekpe community in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state by gunmen, leading to the gruesome murder of two farmers.

In a statement by Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, the party expressed disappointment over the killing of Batemue Philip Ebo and Christopher Bello.

It was gathered that Ebo and Bello were attacked and killed on their way to their farms.

The statement read: “We are deeply saddened by the heinous attack on the people of Okpekpe community in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state by suspected herdsmen, which led to the gruesome murder of two innocent citizens

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“We condemn this dastardly act in the strongest terms and send our heartfelt condolences to their families, loved ones, and the entire community during this difficult time

The party urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to take urgent and decisive steps to check the situation before it degenerates out of control.

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Viral social media challenge: Nigerian teenager loses life attempting challenge

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A 13-year-old boy, Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., has reportedly died after attempting a dangerous social media challenge similar to past trends that have claimed multiple young lives.

The teenager was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta on the morning of February 3, just a day after watching the Grammy Awards with his family.

His mother immediately performed CPR while his father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., sought help from a neighbor and called emergency services. Despite their efforts, the boy was later pronounced dead.

While initial signs pointed to a possible su!cide, his parents were unconvinced and began their own investigation. They soon discovered that their son may have been influenced by a hazardous social media challenge that dares participants to render themselves unconscious. The trend, similar to the infamous “Blackout Challenge,” has been linked to several deaths in recent years, raising concerns among parents and authorities.

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Ohaeri Jr. did not have social media accounts, and his phone was equipped with strict parental controls, leading his parents to suspect he learned about the challenge from classmates or friends.

The grieving family now hopes their son’s story will serve as a warning to other parents. They urge families to be vigilant about the content and trends their children may be exposed to, whether online or through peer influence.

Ohaeri Sr. reflected on the tragedy, acknowledging that while he had educated his sons about the dangers of drugs, he had not considered the risks of social media challenges.

“We don’t talk about not following social media trends or playing social media games,” he said. “And maybe we need to.”

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As they struggle with grief and unanswered questions, the family hopes their devastating experience will encourage more parents to have open conversations with their children about the hidden dangers of social media and peer pressure.

Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death, and it remains unclear whether the incident is being investigated as a su!cide or an accident. The Murrieta Police Department has not provided further details on the case.

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