Metro

Policemen Allegedly Beat Delta Resident To Death, Extort N150,000 From Him Before His Demise

Published

3 months ago

December 2, 2024

Officers of the Nigerian Police Force have allegedly tortured a Nigerian man to death with their rifle in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

According to a report by SaharaReporters, it was learnt that the victim, Okediachi Emeka, lost his life after being hit with a gun by the police personnel.

The family of the deceased told SaharaReporters on on Saturday that the incident happened at the Ogbe-Osowe quarters in Asaba.

His brother, Okediachi Desmond, narated the incident to SaharaReporters.

“The Nigerian police hit his head with a gun, they killed my brother” he lamented.

“On the 14th of November at about 12am to 1am, they were coming from Chronicles hotel, very close to Slot. They saw men who were not wearing uniform who stopped them but they didn’t stop because they thought they were kidnappers.

“My brother, his friend and his girlfriend who were in the car ran to a spot where the police cornered them. They started shooting sporadically and started beating them. My brother’s girlfriend ran into her own house because where they ran to was close to her house.”

“People who wanted to help them could not because of the sporadic shooting and because the police used wood on them. So no one could help them.

“I didn’t know what happened till the next morning. I saw him with a bandaged head and when I asked him what happened, he told me that he was hit in the head with a gun by police officers. The officers after doing this took him to hospital and got his head bandaged. They took his phone too..

“They came back in the morning and asked him to do a video that he hit his head on the wall while running from the police and that’s how he injured himself. They also collected N150,000 from him.”

“When I heard, I was angry and followed him to the police headquarters in Asaba. When we got there he showed me the person that hit him on the head and during the melee, they took him upstairs and I stayed downstairs.

“The police said we should be thankful that at least he was not killled and instead we should take him to hospital for treatment.

“When we took him to hospital at some point, he wouldn’t talk well and we were told that he damaged his jaw when the police officers were beating him. At some point he complained of back pain and we tried treating him.

“My mum called me after some days and said he was jerking, we took him to one hospital and they rejected him, it was at the second hospital that they pronounced him dead.”

He stated that the claims that his brother hit his head on the wall was false.

“I have pictures to show that he was hit in the head and he didn’t hit his head on the wall”.

When contacted, the Delta State Police Spokesperson, Bright Edafe denied that Emeka was hit with a gun, stating that he hit his head on the wall.

“On the 14th of November 2024 at about 0100 hours, the command received a distress call from a concerned citizen that there were some suspicious-looking persons around DBS road.”

“Operatives of the command were detailed to move to the scene, and the operatives who were at that time along Nnebisi Road proceeded to the scene. On their way, they sighted a Venza SUV with reg. No GWK-646-FF but the occupants of the vehicle on noticing there were policemen zoomed off.

“The operatives who were already acting on a distress call suspected the Venza Vehicle hence they went after them. They chased them to a compound along Nnebisi axis. The passengers alighted and were running in a bid to escape from the police.

“The driver was arrested immediately while the deceased initially escaped. A few minutes later right there at the scene, the suspect came out with blood on his head and stated that he hit his head on a wall. The police swiftly took him to the hospital and paid for his medical bill. At about 0500 hours of the same date, the deceased was brought to the Police headquarters where statements were recorded and the deceased stated in his statement that he hit his head on a wall fence while running away from the police.”

He however noted that the Commissioner of Police in the state had ordered investigation into circumstances surrounding the incident:

“The Commissioner of Police has however ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police State Criminal Investigation department to take over the case and ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out.”

“The CP while condoling the family of the deceased assures them that no stone will be left unturned and that if the operatives are found culpable, they will be made to face the law.”

There have been concerns over police brutality and extra-judicial activities which on a number of occasions have led to loss of lives.

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Metro

Days After Massacre Of 16 Farmers, Armed Herdsmen Return To Benue Community, Kill Many Villagers

Published

9 hours ago

February 22, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

“Suspected armed Herdsmen came to Ayin Benue State yesterday night to attack our people again. This attack claimed the lives of multiple villagers and we are still recovering corpses in the bush till now,” a top source told SaharaReporters.

“However, the traditional rulers are trying to hide the situation from escalating.”

Attacks by suspected herdsmen in Benue State have led to the killing of at least 5000 persons in recent times.

The latest attack is coming three days after 16 farmers were ambushed and killed on Kashimbila Road in the state while returning to their community in Mbandwa ward.

The farmers were returning home on Monday when they were ambushed.

Their bodies were dumped in the river by the gunmen.

SaharaReporters had also reported that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had withdrawn all corps members from Mbaa community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State due to escalating violent attacks.

Confirming the development on Thursday, the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations of NYSC in Benue, Yahuza Adamu, said the withdrawal was prompted by incessant security threats in the area.

“Since the beginning of incessant attacks on Mbaa Community which shares boundary with the Republic of Cameroon, NYSC withdrew all Corps Members from the area, and has not posted any there till date,” the statement had read.

The situation in Mbaa has worsened, with suspected armed herders reportedly killing over 20 people, including 16 farmers whose bodies were discovered in River Katsina Ala.

Adamu assured parents and guardians that NYSC remains vigilant and committed to the welfare of corps members.

He stated that the NYSC Kwande Local Government Inspector had conducted a headcount, confirming that all corps members were safe and accounted for.

“Hence, all Corps Members serving in Jato Acka Turan, which is far away from the affected community, are not exposed to any security threat,” he added.

The NYSC official stressed that the organisation takes proactive measures to safeguard corps members.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Metro

SAD! School building collapses in Yobe, students sustain injuries

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Halima Ibrahim, a Senior Secondary (SS) 2 student of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Potiskum, died on Thursday, following the collapse of their school building during lessons.

Four other students of the school are currently receiving treatment in hospital as a result of the tragedy.

Dr Bukar Aji, Permanent Secretary, Yobe Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, confirmed the incident at a news conference on Thursday in Damaturu.

He said the incident occurred at about 1 pm on Thursday, when a block of two classrooms collapsed on the students during lessons.

“Actually, what happened was that a block, which contains two classrooms, came down to the corridors of the classroom.

“Unfortunately, five of our students were affected.

‘‘One of them gave up along the line, and four of them are in good condition, according to the medical doctor who was in the hospital,” Aji said.

The permanent secretary said that there were about 50 students altogether in both classes, with each class containing 25 students.

“They were in session and they are SS2 students.

“We visited them and actually, they were traumatised,” Aji said.

The permanent secretary said the ministry was waiting for an official report from the school so as to inform the state Ministry of Housing about the development.

“ The ministry is more competent to identify the root cause of the problem and identify measures to prevent future occurrence,” he said.

(NAN)

Metro

NYSC members in panic mode as armed men dislodge Benue community k!lling 20 near army base

Published

2 days ago

February 20, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Jato Aka Turan community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State are currently crying for an urgent security help as they said that herdsmen who launched fresh attacks in the community have killed no fewer than 20 people in two days.

According to the corps members who spoke with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the herdsmen in an uninterrupted sustained attack between Sunday and Tuesday killed at least 20 and injured several others, throwing the community into chaos and tension.

The corps members lamented that Jato Aka Turan community, which is not far from a Nigerian Army base, is known for security vulnerability as they often watch in broad daylight how more than 20 motorcyles loaded with armed men and ammunition pass around the villages.

They said that the security situation in the community is so bad that their Local Government Inspector (LGI) hardly comes to the community except for the monthly clearance exercise, and that the LGI told them that if the attacks enveloped Jato Aka Turan community, they should move to neighbouring Adikpo community.

A corps member serving in another community in the state told SaharaReporters on Wednesday, “I have been able to speak with one of us at Jato Aka Turan, the affected area of Kwande Local Government Area.

“He said Jato is a far remote village from Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area Secretariat main town.

“The LGI hardly goes there except for clearance. Likewise, the corps members there have their own activities and CDS there. They are about 21 serving corps members there in Jato Aka Turan, Kwande LGA.

“The corper who I spoke with, who is currently serving at Jato Aka Turan emphasised on challenges and said that they are not safe and they have reported to the LGI.

“According to him, the LGI said when the issue gets there, in their community, they should move to Adikpo.

“They also went to the nearby military checkpoint, a mini barrack and complained to them. The military men said anytime there is a problem, they (corpers) should contact them.

“Corps members in Jato Aka Turan often watch in broad daylight more than 20 bikes loaded with men and ammunition who head to the nearby communities to fight herdsmen.

“When they (vigilante) relent, herdsmen attack and kill the villagers. If nothing is done about the corps members, God forbid, I fear they might be affected.”

A Facebook user with name, Wase Richie Aondofa, who posted about the attacks on Facebook with some gory photos wrote,

“Pictorial evidence of series of attacks in different communities in my village yesterday, at Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State by the Fulani herdsmen.

“Several lives were lost and properties worth millions destroyed. We are calling on all the relevant agencies responsible for this to please come for our rescue.

“We are dying! My village, Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, is no longer safe. God may your will be done.”

SaharaReporters also got a screenshot of a WhatsApp status of one the corps members which read, “Fulani X men (Fulani herdsmen) killed not less than 20 people between Sunday and yesterday (Tuesday) in a village very close to my PPA centre (Place of Primary Assignment) and NYSC staff told us in camp ‘No insecurity in Benue’.

“This fight started in 2014, meaning NYSC staff are aware of this fight. Today, helicopter fly over the school where I teach (PPA).

“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) went to the village to shell the area. The students started running when they heard the sound of the bomb. We sent them back to the class.”

However, when SaharaReporters called the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, for reaction and comment on the police action on the incident, she rejected the calls.

Anene however sent a text message to our reporter saying, “Can’t talk now. What’s going on?”

However, till the time of filing this report, the police spokesperson has not responded to a text message.

Credit: SaharaReporters