…Nigerians association raises alarm

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the death of a 40-year-old Nigerian citizen, Benjamin Okoli, while in police custody.

Okoli’s death comes barely a month after NICASA condemned the alleged killing of another Nigerian, 50-year-old Jeremiah Okoye, who died in police custody on January 13.

NICASA President-General, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, described the curious deaths of Nigerians in South Africa as unbearable during a midnight telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Okoli, from Akpu in Orumba South, Anambra, is survived by his wife and child.

“The Nigerian community in South Africa is mourning yet another loss in police custody.

“Okoli was stopped, searched by police officers, and taken to his house with his brother for further inspection.

“In spite of finding nothing, the officers tortured, beat, and brutalised them. Okoli couldn’t withstand the assault and fell into a coma,” Onyekwelu said.

“His brother’s attempts to revive him failed while the police stood by and watched as Okoli’s life slipped away. Paramedics later pronounced him dead,” he added.

He noted that investigations into Okoye’s death were still ongoing when Okoli died in similar circumstances, allegedly at the hands of the same police unit.

“This is the same group of officers accused of killing Okoye. Now, two Nigerians have died in police custody in less than a month,” Onyekwelu stated.

According to him, NICASA leaders in Limpopo are struggling to come to terms with the disturbing trend, which is increasingly targeting Nigerians in the province.

“We call on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure the officers responsible for these gruesome deaths are brought to justice,” he urged.

NICASA has informed the Nigerian Missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg about these disturbing incidents. The organisation hopes the killings will stop.

“We appeal to our nationals to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue their daily activities peacefully,” Onyekwelu prayed

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Police Command in Katsina State has wasted 11 suspected bandits and saveed 85 kidnapped victims in January 2025.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, revealed this to newsmen while reviewing the achievements of the command.

He said that the police also recovered 213 suspected rustled animals during the period under review.

According to him, the command apprehended 45 suspects in connection with 52 reported major crimes.

He said that those apprehended included four suspected kidnappers, six culpable homicide suspects, seven suspected armed robbers and three suspected informants to bandits.

Aliyu added that the other 32 suspects were apprehended in connection with other offenses.

The crimes they allegedly committed, according to him, included armed robbery, culpable homicide, kidnapping, and rape, among others.

The PPRO revealed that the items recovered included four rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, three motorcycles, five vandalized street solar lights, two machetes and two sharp knives.

Our achievements in the month are a testament to our tireless efforts in ensuring a safer Katsina state.

“I want to commend our officers and men for their hard work and dedication to duty.

“I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Katsina state government, members of the press for their objective reporting,” he said.

NAN

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

One month after announcing the commencement of the 125,000 barrels Warri refinery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said the facility is undergoing a planned routine maintenance programme aimed at ensuring optimal operations.

It also denied reports of an explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.

The company, in a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Friday, said operations at WRPC were halted to carry out repairs for efficient service delivery.

He added that routine maintenance was progressing and operations would be back in the next few days.

The maintenance activities, which began on January 25, 2025, according to Soneye, are critical to ensuring the production of on-specification finished and intermediate products, such as Automotive Gas Oil and Kerosene.

The statement read, “NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.

On January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were intentionally curtailed to carry out necessary intervention works on select equipment, including field instruments that were impacting sustainable and steady operations.

“These intervention works are essential to ensure the production of specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil and Kerosene. The routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and Area 1 will be back in operation within the next few days.

Despite ongoing interventions over the past 11 days, AGO loading has been maintained at an average of eight trucks per day, with a sufficient supply available to sustain ongoing truck load-out operations.

“NNPC Ltd remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted product supply and appreciates the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders as it completes these essential maintenance activities,” he added.

Recall that the Warri Refinery returned to operation weeks after NNPC Limited restarted the 60,000 barrels per day at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.