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Many feared dead as Anambra anti-tout squad vehicle collides with tipper

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At least six operatives of the Special Anti-Touting Squad of Anambra State (SASA), popularly known as Ndi Aka Odo, were killed on Friday after their vehicle collided with a tipper truck fully loaded with sand in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The accident occurred along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway when the anti-tout squad’s vehicle rammed into the tipper, leaving several operatives dead on the spot, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

According to eyewitnesses, the crash occurred as the squad’s vehicle, a branded Toyota Hiace bus, was speeding out of a junction while conducting their daily stop-and-search operation. The bus collided with the tipper, which was coming out of another junction on the road.

One eyewitness, Peter Eze, recalled that the Toyota vehicle was carrying about eight young men at the time of the accident. “The vehicle was running at full speed before it rammed into the tipper,” he said. “Some operatives died instantly, while others were badly injured.”

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The impact of the crash trapped some operatives inside their vehicle, and passers-by had to rescue their bodies from the wreckage. Over six lifeless bodies were seen on the road, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The incident, which could have elicited sympathy, instead triggered jubilation among some members of the public who are frustrated with the tactics of the anti-tout squad. There has been growing anger over the squad’s recent illegal activities and the callous behavior of some operatives, which have sparked widespread criticism.

A video circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the accident, with lifeless bodies on the road and bystanders either assisting with the rescue efforts or condemning the actions of the victims and their squad.

When contacted for comment, a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official from Anambra State said he was driving and could not make a statement. The FRSC Public Relations Officer, Margaret Onabe, also said she was reaching out to personnel in the area to confirm details of the incident.

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The State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report.

It is worth noting that this incident follows previous controversies surrounding the anti-tout squad. Last year, a motor park operator, known as Mgbiliba, was brutally beaten by SASA operatives, an act that sparked nationwide outrage. Despite calls for the squad’s dissolution and scrapping, the state government ignored the pleas, and the operatives’ controversial actions have continued, with many citizens expressing discontent over the squad’s growing influence and methods.

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Metro

Benue boils again as gunmen k!ll six, others missing after invasion

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Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have attacked several communities of Tse Ugema Chul, Mbakesa, Ugbaam, in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA), of Benue state killing six villagers.

Tse Ugema village settlement is just a few kilometres to Zaki Biam International Yam Market.

As at the time of filing this report on Sunday evening, a resident from the area, who didn’t want to be named, told newsmen on phone that six dead bodies have already been recovered while many others are still missing.

It was gathered that the incident took place on Friday when some cattle strayed into their farmlands and destroyed their yams.

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Some youths in the area mobilized to defend their village and farm produce from the invaders when they were ambushed and killed.

The source said “while the youths were going after the cattle, unknown gunmen who laid ambush open fire and killed many of them.

He said they informed men of Nigeria Army who are stationed at a village called Wuaze, in Ukum LG which is few meters away from the scene of the attack.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue Command, CSP Catherine Anene said she was yet to get report from Ukum.

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Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ukum LG, Mr Jonathan Modi has confirmed the attack.

Modi who went to the scene of the incident said he couldn’t grant interview on phone because he was in a pensive mood.

He said “I’m in Zaki Biam right now and in pains about what happened in Zaki Biam.”

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Despite N10m ransom payment, 300L student dies in bandits camp

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Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a 21-year-old student at the Federal University Gusau, has tragically passed away while in captivity, four months after being abducted along with her two siblings.

This information was shared on Sunday by Zagazola Makama, an expert in counter-insurgency with a focus on the Lake Chad region, via a post on his X account.

Zarah, who was in her third year of studies, was taken from her residence in the Damba area of Gusau during the early hours of Sunday, November 3, 2024, by armed assailants.

Makama reported that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N35 million for their release, but after negotiations, they settled for N10 million.

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Despite receiving the ransom, the abductors refused to release Zarah, instead insisting on the provision of four motorcycles (Boza) and four cartons of engine oil. After extensive efforts to fulfill these demands, the items were finally obtained.

However, upon informing the kidnappers’ leader, it was revealed that Zarah had already died and had been buried two days prior. She was the only daughter of her mother and endured four months of captivity before her tragic demise.

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Doctor regrets relocating his wife to Canada who dumped him 4 months after

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A Nigerian doctor is devastated after his marriage went South shortly after he moved to Canada with his wife and two female kids.

The embattled man shared his story with Adeolatalks on Facebook and sparked mixed reactions on social media.

“I swear my wife ruined me in this country and we just landed o,” the man, who is Yoruba, lamented bitterly while chatting with Adeolatalks.

In a lengthy read, the man said his wife took advantage of the Canadian criminal justice system, which is not sympathetic to domestic abuse claims.

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“…Please share my story, I am a doctor married to a doctor and we recently immigrated to Canada.

…We ended up separating when we arrived in Canada about 4 months later. She even went as far as to involve me in the criminal justice system here, which is not sympathetic to claims of domestic abuse…”

While admitting that they had arguments and that he was controlling, the man said he never hit his estranged wife, who hails from Edo.

“I admit we had arguments, and I accept that because I am older than her, I may have lorded some authority over her. My controlling behaviour was wrong, and I apologize. But I never for once hit her. It felt to me like a set up…”

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He further accused her of being abusive and recounted how she got entangled in a N10 million loan while she was in Nigeria.

“However, when it came to finances, my wife was abusive. She became entangled in a loan cycle of approximately 10 million naira, which she used for self-care over the course of eight months

“I was unaware of this because I was not in the country at the time. This money was intended to be her personal contribution to the proof of funds for permanent resident immigrants, which she squandered without anything to show for it. I must add that my wife is not the fashionable type nor the type that spends money on herself.

I was livid when I found out about the loan and even sought to end the marriage because of her recklessness. She used Canadian immigration as a bargaining chip, claiming that if I did not provide funds for proof of funds, she would not travel with men and the children…”

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The father of two added that she placed a restraining order on him, which prevents him from reaching her.

“As I speak to you, I do not know where she lives, and I can not talk to her because she issued a restraining order against me in this country, which she refused to lift even when asked by the government

“I have spoken to her family to reach out to her from Nigeria but they are not ready to.

“We have 2 little girls and I am concerned about them.”

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He said he has done his best to resolve their differences but his estranged wife wants none of it. The man said she now lives with another guy.

“I have done my best to get her back but she got the police to put a no-contact order on me from the very first day. Her family won’t get involved.”

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