Metro
Mother’s Heartbreak: Son Killed After Failed Ransom Payment in Port Harcourt

Gloria George’s life was shattered on the night of September 10, 2024, when her 34-year-old son, Horsefall Rowland, failed to return home. Earlier that day, Rowland had told his mother he was heading to a meeting at Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but as the hours passed without word from him, Gloria’s anxiety grew.
By 10 pm that night, she had spoken to Rowland, who reassured her he was on his way home. However, when she tried to reach him again later, there was no response. Her worst fears were confirmed early the next morning when Rowland called her at 5 am, frantic with fear. He explained that he had been kidnapped.
As the family desperately scrambled to raise the ransom, they began receiving threatening voice notes and photos from the kidnappers, warning them that Rowland would be killed if the money was not paid. In a last-ditch effort, they sent N30,000, hoping it would save their son’s life. Tragically, it was too late. Rowland’s body was later discovered along Queens/Kings Bakery, Abuloma Road, in Port Harcourt.
In a devastating statement to the police on November 1, 2024, Gloria shared the harrowing details of her son’s captivity. She revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded N2.5 million, though they eventually settled for N300,000. The money was transferred into Rowland’s account, but after that, there was no further contact.
“They sent two threatening voice notes and pictures to Rowland’s girlfriend, saying that if they didn’t receive the N300,000 within the shortest time, we should consider Roland dead,” Gloria said. Unfortunately, that was the last time the family heard from him.
After receiving the family’s complaint, the Rivers State Police Command swiftly launched an investigation, arresting five suspects involved in the crime: Endurance Thompson (23), Boma Otonye (41), David Ishaku (34), Moses Benjamin (29), and Emmanuel (32).
The prime suspect, Thompson, was arrested in his hideout in Woji, Rivers State. He confessed to the crime, revealing that Rowland had been beaten to death after attempting to pay for hard drugs with a fake bank transfer alert.
Thompson explained that Rowland had come to buy “Charlie” (a street name for cocaine) from him on September 11, 2024, around 3 am, behind the Port Harcourt Zoo, Trans Amadi. According to Thompson, Rowland had made a series of fake transfer attempts to pay for the drugs. “I received an alert, but the amount in my account remained unchanged. He owed me N150,000 and claimed to have transferred N8,000 first and N20,000. But the money never actually entered my account,” Thompson said.
An argument broke out over the fake transfer, and Rowland was subsequently beaten. He later begged Thompson to take him to the hospital for treatment. Thompson called a friend, Justice, but by the time they arrived, Rowland had died inside the Keke Marwa that had rushed him to Justice’s place. Thompson informed Justice of the death, and together with another accomplice, Michael, they disposed of Rowland’s body, dumping it beside a bakery on Abuloma Road.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed that Rowland’s body had been deposited in the morgue for preservation. She also stated that the investigation is ongoing, with efforts to apprehend other individuals mentioned by the suspects, who were allegedly involved in the beating that led to Rowland’s tragic death.
Metro
Man commits suicide after wife’s death in Niger

A young man identified as Stephen Moses has reportedly committed suicide after the death of his youngest wife in Ikumi Village, Shako District, Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State,
Sources told Daily Trust that Stephen, 30, had battled mental and emotional health challenges since the death of his second wife in March this year.
Sources said he had constantly stated that he could not have a comfortable life without his late wife.
Daily Trust gathered that he used his dane gun with which he hunted to kill himself on his farm.
One of the sources said he left behind his first wife and two children.
Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust.
He said the incident happened on April 24, 2025.
According to him “On 24th April, 2025 at about 8pm, report received that one Stephen Moses 30yrs of Ikumi village via Shako District of Gawu-Babangida, Gurara LGA earlier around afternoon period shot himself on the chest with a Dane gun in his farm.
“Police operatives of Gawu-Babangida Div visited the scene, found a Dane gun and the body on the ground, corpse was taken to the hospital while preliminary findings revealed that the deceased was mourning the death of his wife who recently passed on, and has been threatening to commit suicide, and his relatives didn’t inform the Police for preventive measure”.
Metro
Wanted CBEX promoter surrenders to EFCC

One of the suspected promoters of the cryptocurrency trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange, Adefowora Abiodun, who was recently declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, voluntarily surrendered himself to the anti-graft agency on Monday.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, in a ruling on Thursday last week, approved the EFCC’s request to arrest and detain six promoters of CBEX pending the conclusion of investigations into the alleged offences and possible prosecution.
Abiodun, alongside five others – Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim – was declared wanted by the EFCC following submissions made by the commission’s counsel, Fadila Yusuf.
After hearing the EFCC’s application, Justice Nwite ruled, “I have listened to the submission of learned counsel for the applicant. I have also reviewed the affidavit evidence and exhibits, along with the written address. I am satisfied that the application is meritorious and hereby grant it as prayed.”
All six promoters were declared wanted by the EFCC for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent investment scheme valued at over $1bn.
Following the declaration, Abiodun, accompanied by his lawyers, turned himself in at the EFCC headquarters at around 4:00 p.m. on Monday.
Abiodun expressed his willingness to cooperate with the EFCC.
Counsel for the suspect, Babatunde Busari, stated that his client decided to submit himself for investigation to clear his name and correct the false narrative being widely circulated in the media.
Metro
Boko Haram kills 17, displaces farmers in Adamawa village

The Chairman of Hong Local Government Area in Adamawa State, Usman Wa’anganda, has cried out in anguish following another deadly attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Kopre village, where at least 17 hunters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were killed on Saturday.
The fresh attack, which occurred around 4:00 p.m. on April 26, 2025, saw armed insurgents storm the border community on motorcycles, overpowering local defenders with superior firepower.
The onslaught left many houses burnt and deepened fears among residents already living under the shadow of repeated assaults.
Wa’anganda, speaking exclusively to The Guardian in an interview, lamented the worsening security situation in Kopre, a village sharing a porous border with the notorious Sambisa forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram terror group.
“You know Kopre is one of the villages that shares a border with Sambisa forest, so Boko Haram frequently enters and attacks,” he said. “We only have hunters there. There are no soldiers or any security presence. Even when we call them, they don’t come.”
According to him, 17 people have been killed in Kopre and other nearby villages in the last two weeks alone, with many others fleeing their homes to escape further attacks.
Wa’anganda warned that the continued displacement of farmers could devastate food production as the rainy season approaches.
He acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Adamawa State Government to empower local vigilantes but insisted that more must be done.
“The security situation here is disappointing. I advise the government to send a battalion here so that our people can return to their homes and farms,” he pleaded.
Sources revealed that the hunters and Civilian JTF members killed on Saturday had been deployed from Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State and other parts of Adamawa to reinforce security in Kopre. However, they were overwhelmed by the insurgents’ sophisticated weaponry.
Since 2024, Kopre has suffered repeated terrorist attacks, with at least 40 villagers abducted by insurgents still languishing in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Police Command has deployed additional personnel to the area to strengthen security.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahya Nguroje, said the officers were tasked with improving surveillance, protecting lives and property, and recovering illegal arms.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, urged the deployed personnel to act professionally and respond promptly to distress calls, emphasizing the force’s commitment to safeguarding residents.
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