An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday sentenced a 30-year-old hotel staffer, Jeffrey Ehizojie, to death by hanging for strangling his employer, Olusola Olusoga and the hotel manager, Tunji Omikunle, to death.

Delivering judgement, Justice Oyindamola Ogala held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Ms Ogala found Mr Ehizojie guilty of beating and strangling the managing director of Etsahol Hotel and Suites located at Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

She said the crux of the case of the prosecution was premised on the confessional statement of the convict as well as circumstantial evidence.

According to her, the court had carefully considered the retracted defence statement (which was admitted as evidence), which showed where Mr Ehizojie stated that one of the hotel staff, Henry, had informed him that he observed that the owner of the hotel kept much money at home.

Mr Ogala said: “the defendant, in his confessional statement, said that Olusoga treated her workers badly, so they planned to tie her and collect her money.

“Confessional statement is the best evidence to ground conviction and as held in several cases, it can be relied upon solely where voluntary.

“It is curious that the defendant, who was privy to the state of affairs in the hotel, told the court that he was shocked when the police informed him of the death of his boss and the manager when he was arrested at Port Harcourt.

“There is no doubt that the defendant was present at the premises of the scene of crime as confirmed by him in his evidence in chief and exhibits before the court.”

The judge held that the court had carefully considered the evidence of the defendant, particularly his account of how he left the hotel premises on Jan. 25, 2019, and his incredible story as to why he did not return to the hotel after the incident nor report at the police station.

She held that the convict had no clear explanation why he fled to Port Harcourt the next day until his arrest.

According to her, the circumstantial evidence against the convict was unequivocal, positive and irresistibly pointed to his guilt.

She said: “the court believes that the defendant indeed wrote the confessional statement (exhibit PW2a-c) and his feeble attempt to retract same was to exonerate himself from the commission of the deadly act.

“After a careful consideration of the facts in this case, I hereby find the defendant guilty of the two-count charge against him.

“The sentencing of the court upon you Jeffrey Ehizogie is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead.”

The state prosecution said that Mr Ehizogie and others still at large, strangulated the UK returnee Ms Olusoga by beating her with a rope.They also submitted that the convict strangled and beat Mr Omikunle to death.

He then collected a key from his pocket, opened Ms Olusola’s apartment and strangled her to death.

The prosecution called four witnesses, hotel staff, David Nkwor, ASP Chris Akpanomo, ASP Malik Aliyu and Harrison Bruce, against the convict.

The offence contravened the provisions of Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed all commands and formations of the Agency to begin an immediate clampdown on illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas following its abuse by people who use it for recreational purposes.

A statement released by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, today July 11, says Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas that is commonly used for sedation and pain relief, more often by dentists and medical professionals to sedate patients undergoing minor medical procedures.

Popularly called laughing gas or N20, it is fast emerging as a drug in demand in Nigeria by young party-goers or fun-seekers to feel intoxicated or high.

The gas is often transferred from its containers into balloons, from where it’s inhaled for euphoric effects.

The NDLEA in a statement on Tuesday 11th July said the decision to clampdown on those involved in illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide, follows analysis of the effects on those who abuse the substance, which include: dizziness; disorientation, headache; light headedness; fainting spells; hallucinations; falling unconscious and/or suffocating from lack of oxygen; and other neurological complications especially psychiatric symptoms.

The Agency said pending when other measures are taken in consultation with other stakeholders especially the Federal Ministry of Health, to curb the menace, it will not hesitate to wield the big stick against anyone, no matter their social status, involved in illegal sale or use of nitrous oxide in the overall interest of public health.

It urges parents, guardians and other stakeholders to be vigilant, alert and warn their young ones against attempting experimenting or abusing the substance, which poses threats to their mental and overall wellbeing.

This development comes barely 24 hours after a Nigerian doctor called out rapper, Olamide, for sharing a photo with a cannister containing Nitrous Oxide in the background.

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency says it has commenced plans to fill up potholes and intervene in the repair of 50 failed federal roads across the country.

In response to an inquiry by our correspondent on Monday, the Director of Information and Communication, Maryam Sanusi, said the agency had mapped out plans to fix the roads and make them accessible all year round.

She said,

“Our plan is to work in about 50 locations or more, all over the country. We can open up and make all the routes free of potholes and critical failures thereby making it motorable all year round.

“The major work to be done is to fix all the critical failures along the 36,000km which are mainly washouts, and by linear measurements, they are not so much in quantity. Eventually, we’ll give you the result in kilometres, because FERMA has a set target of maintaining 5,000km every year.”

An earlier PUNCH report had revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration inherited 38 uncompleted road projects worth N979bn from the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The projects were identified through an analysis of the 2023 budget and cross-checked with the national monitoring and evaluation platform, EYEMARK, which was launched by Buhari in December last year.

One of the critical projects was the expansion of the Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway and the dualization of the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road in Nasarawa State.

Other key projects that had yet to be completed included the Benue State Phase 1, Lafia bypass, and 9th mile (Enugu)-Otukpo-Makurdi Road in Enugu and Benue States Phase II which reportedly costs about N32.5bn.

Also on the list was the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu Road including the access road to Mosimi in Lagos State at the cost of N100m, and the full scope development of Federal Capital Territory Highway 105 (Kuje Road) from the airport expressway to the outer Southern Expressway with Spur at Kyami District valued at N54.95bn among others.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has announced a total ban on metal scavenging in the state with immediate effect.

The governor said on Monday that an executive order would be issued.

Mr Zulum announced the ban when he sighted metals vandalised by scavengers from government structures during a visit to the Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri.

“All those things are government properties; you can see street lights and communication towers. Such acts can sabotage the activities of state and federal governments.

“We can’t allow that to continue; I want to condemn and announce the ban on metal scavenging in Borno till further notice,” Mr Zulum said.

He observed that many scavengers had lost their lives to insurgents in the bid to vandalise items from deserted communities.

On July 7, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps arrested six suspects for vandalising the NITEL communication mast in Chiki village, Chibok Local Government Area.

The management of General Hospital Badagry, near Lagos State, has released the bodies of 15 dead passengers to their relatives.

Olatunde Bakare, the hospital’s medical director, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Monday in Badagry.

Mr Bakare added that eight other injured passengers had also been discharged and handed over to their relatives.

The medical director said relatives of the discharged passengers had insisted on taking them to Benin Republic for further treatment.

According to him, 13 passengers were brought to the hospital dead, while 10 were gravely injured. He said two of the injured victims later died.

“Their relatives from the Benin Republic came to identify them and later brought a police report, saying they want to continue their treatment at home in Cotonou.

“They also brought police reports asking us to release their dead bodies to them so they can go and bury them at home.

“So, eight treated passengers and 15 dead bodies involved in a fatal accident on Sunday morning have been released to their relatives, and they have taken them to Benin Republic,” he said.

Germany is seeking to recruit 500,000 nurses from Africa in an apparent move to tackle shortages in its health system.

The European country, struggling with a severe labour shortage, was already in discussions with South Africa-trained nurses to fill its vacancies.

Khaya Sodidi, the deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa), who disclosed this, said Germany wants the African country to train nurses for them, especially the unemployed youth.

Mr Sodidi stressed that the European country has a shortage of about 500,000 nurses, while South Africa has about 20,000 unemployed nurses.

“We can confirm there are continuous engagements about nurses between Germany and SA, but nothing has been finalised just yet,” he said in a report published by Africa’s BusinessDay Newspaper.

The global health system is facing a crisis of workforce shortage, and an increasing nurse shortage has called for the need to find more effective ways to recruit and retain them.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) have revealed a global nursing shortage of 5.6 million nurses, with the greatest need for qualified nurses in South East Asia and Africa.

At least 7.3 million nurses and midwives are currently employed in the European Region, but the figure is believed inadequate to meet current and future needs.

A 2022 report published by the National Institute for Health said Germany has been unable to fill up to 520,000 full-time nursing positions.

Although Germany has the highest number (13.9 nurses) per 1000 inhabitants in the European Union, the country has also struggled to address the increasing need for those qualified.

According to a study by the Prognos, the factors linked to increased demand for nurses include an ageing population, globalisation and a growing private sector, a rise in social mobility and unsatisfactory working conditions.

Last month, a report by DW TV said Germany is going through staffing inadequacy for nursing positions for its ageing population despite having one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

The report said that by 2030, the country will need over 300,000 nurses because it has a severe deficit of care workers. Several strategies to address the nursing workforce shortage have been undertaken worldwide.

These include improving working conditions, expanding recruitment, targeting qualified nurses who have left the nursing profession to return, recruiting internationally trained nurses, and improving remuneration

A businessman, Udeme Sunday, was on Monday docked in the Dei-Dei Grade I Area Court in Abuja for alleged pumpkin (ugwu) seed fraud.

The police charged Mr Sunday, who lives in Tasha II, Abuja, with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The prosecution counsel, Charity Nwaosu, told the court that on July 2, the complainant, Ogwu Edith of Shangri quarters Dei-Dei, Abuja, reported the matter at the Zuba Police Station.

Ms Nwaosu said that sometime in April 2023, the complainant gave the defendant N96,000 to supply pumpkin seeds for her.

She said the defendant supplied pumpkin seed worth N20,000 and dishonestly converted the balance of N76,000 to personal use.

The prosecutor said that during the police investigation, the defendant could not give a satisfactory account of himself.

She said the offence contravened section 312 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge, Saminu Suleiman, granted the defendant N100,000 bail with one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned until July 15 for a hearing.

A lawmaker, Sesi Whingah, has urged the Federal Ministry of Works, and the contractors involved, to accelerate the completion of the reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

Mr Whingah, a lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, made the call in a statement on Monday.

His media aide, Peter Dansu, issued the statement after an accident in the area on Sunday, which has so far claimed 15 lives.

Mr Whingah said the completion would facilitate the reopening of both sides of the highway for vehicular movement and reduce such accidents.

Five family members, on February 13, were also feared dead in an auto crash in the same Agemowo axis of the expressway where the Sunday accident occurred.

Mr Whingah said the news of the Sunday crash, with reports indicating many lives lost and some injuries, was shocking.

“Many of these accidents could have been prevented if the construction of the Lagos- Badagry Expressway had been completed promptly,” the lawmaker said.

The lawmaker said he was committed to visiting the Federal Ministry of Works and, if possible, meeting with contractors to emphasise the urgency of the matter.

He commiserated with families of passengers who lost their lives in the accident, which involved a Mazda commercial bus and a truck.

The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday, sentenced a 56-year-old driver, Folarin Raufu, to life imprisonment for defiling his employer’s five-year-old granddaughter.

Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution successfully proved all the ingredients of defilement against Mr Raufu.Ms Soladoye said the conduct of the convict was nasty.

According to the judge, the minor brilliantly presented the sequence of how the convict defiled her.

“The survivor recognised the defendant as Mr Folarin, who had sexual intercourse with her both in the living room and inside her grandfather’s jeep.

“The grandfather, who was Prosecution Witness Two (PW2), in his testimony, said that his granddaughter whispered in his ears that the defendant defiled her, which necessitated his arrest,” Ms Soladoye said.

She described the convict as a liar who tried to avoid the charge by claiming that he did not understand the English Language but still responded appropriately when the court registrar read the charge in the English Language.

“The defendant denied having sexual intercourse with the survivor but told the court that he only planted kisses on her cheeks and cuddled her.

“Under cross-examination, he denied making any statement at Ojodu Police Station, but the same statement was tendered and admitted in evidence as Exhibit B.“He lied to the court,” she said.

The judge held that evidence of the survivor was corroborated by a medical report from Mirabel Medical Centre and testimonies of two other prosecution witnesses.

“The court finds you, Folarin Raufu, guilty of the offence and hereby sentences you to life imprisonment.

“The convict should have his name registered in the sexual offences register as maintained by Lagos State,” the judge ruled.

Ms Soladoye called on parents and guardians to desist from entrusting their children and wards to the care of “good-for-nothing staff” to avoid sexual assault and defilement.

Lagos State counsel, Abimbola Abolade, presented four witnesses during the trial and tendered two documents in evidence, while the defendant testified as the sole defence witness.

Men of the anti-cultism unit of the Osun State Police Command have arrested a cow allegedly meant for the July 7th Cultists Day celebration in Osogbo.

It was gathered that residents of Egbatedo area of Osogbo alerted the police when the cult members gathered from different parts of the state for the annual celebration on Friday.

A security source who spoke to newsmen on Saturday July 8, said the suspects, took to their heels upon sighting the police, abandoning the cow.

The cow that was inscribed with the words “Oroki” and marked with a symbol of an axe, was later taken away by the police team.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident on Saturday.

“After intelligence revealed plans by a particular cult to celebrate the 7/7 festival, the CP ordered operatives to ensure that the plan by these cultists fail,” the PPRO stated.

“The operatives, working in line with that directive, combed every part of the state and went to Egbatedo, a suburb of Osogbo.

When the suspects saw them, they fled but the cow they planned to use for the celebration was seized. We want to assure people of the state that the command will continue to work hard to keep the state very safe.”

Gunmen have killed nine persons and burnt down six houses in Sabon Gari community in Mangu Local Government Area of the Plateau.

Jerry Datim, one of the leaders in the community, disclosed this via telephone on Sunday in Jos.

Mr Datim, who is the national president of the Global Society for Middle Belt Heritage, said the attack occurred on Saturday night.

“Last night, gunmen attacked my village, Sabon Gari, in Mangu, burnt six houses and destroyed many other properties.

“So far, we have recovered nine dead bodies; we are still searching because some people are still missing,” he said.

Mr Datim, however, commended personnel of Operation Rainbow, a local security outfit in the state, for responding swiftly to the attack.

“I wish to commend men of operation rainbow, their swift response brought the situation under control.

“We call on government to support them with necessary logistics for prompt response,” he said.

Asked if residents had deserted the community, Datim said that they had resolved to remain and defend their ancestral lands.

Capt. James Oya, the spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Nigerian Army, confirmed the incident.

Mr Oya, who didn’t confirm the number of deaths, said that the Commander of the Operation, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar was leading troops to the scene of the attack.

The lndependent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ejigbo Satellite Depot, has raised alarm over incessant activities of pipelines vandalism at Idimu, Alimosho Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

IPMAN Ejigbo satellite depot chairman, Akin Akinrinade, on Sunday, said that some vandals, who were found scooping petrol on System 2B pipeline in front of Good Luck Estate, Idimu, absconded while the security agents tried to apprehend them.

Akinrinade said, “IPMAN Satellite Depot are constrained with heavy heart to announce the vandalisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) pipeline at Idimu in Alimosho LCDA, of Lagos State, in front of Good Luck Estate.

“This continuous vandalism is a setback to the effort of IPMAN and NNPCL to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol to Lagos and the entire Southwest region of Nigeria.

“It is noteworthy that a 33,000 litre truck with registration number JND 162 XA belonging to one R. A. Oluwakemi, a marketer, loading at Ibadan depot was apprehended at the scene of petrol scooping in Idimu.

“The truck was painted in blue and white colour, with registration number JND 162 XA was apprehended at the scene of the vandalism,” he added.

According to Mr Akinrinade, IPMAN appreciated the effort of the security agencies in apprehending the culprits.

“We underscore the immediate effort of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, the Area Commander, Area “M”, Idimu.

“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Navy are also appreciated for their efforts, he said.

He, however, urged the security agencies involved in investigating the unpatriotic act to take the investigation to a logical conclusion and justice is served appropriately.

He called on Lagos State government, whose duty it is to protect lives and properties within its jurisdiction, to be proactive in protecting the NNPCL pipelines, within the state.

The marketer said the residents also have the duty to protect these critical government infrastructures and provide credible and timely intelligence to IPMAN and security agencies regarding the pipelines.

He added, “Together we can make Nigeria a better place for everyone.Akinrinade said that the vandals absconded, while all their scooping equipments and the trucks were abandoned.

According to him, the items abandoned have been taking to Idimu Area “M” Command by the security agents.

“We appeal to the police to do justice and bring the culprits to justice.

“This is not the first time vandals had being arrested and truck recovered at the scene of this nefarious act are found back on the road within a short time,” he said.

The chairman, therefore, condemned activities of pipeline vandals in the area, adding that incessant pipeline vandalism was having negative effects on the country’s economic growth.

He urged security agents at the federal and state levels to live up to their duties, by ensuring that the such acts were brought to an end. He advised that the culprits should be dealt with within the law.

“We at the Ejigbo Satellite Depot are ready to lend a helping hand to security agents in bringing pipeline vandalism to a halt.

“We have adopted a system that does not encourage vandalism. Security agents close to where pipeline network should also assist in patrolling around the axis,’’ he said.

Akinrinade advised that security agents, saddled with the responsibility of protecting the pipelines, to have relationships with IPMAN executives and the traditional rulers in those communities.

He called on the federal government to impose tougher penalties on petroleum pipeline vandals, saying the act affects the socio-economic growth of the nation.

He said that IPMAN also support government’s efforts to ensure that the pipelines were continuously monitored.

According to him, anyone caught, trying to sabotage oil facilities, will be handed over to the law enforcement agency to face appropriate sanctions.

He urged community along pipelines network to always ensure that suspect apprehended are handed over to the security agents.

He assured that IPMAN members would always be ready to support NNPCL, by reporting any suspicious activity around pipelines and other oil and gas facilities.

He stressed that the corporation, on its own part, should do everything possible to ensure the safety of lives and property around its facilities.

Innoson Automobile Company has taken the decision to withdraw the N3 million scholarship awarded to Ejikeme Mmesoma over her involvement in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) result manipulation.

The management of Innoson Group made this announcement through a statement signed by Cornel Osigwe, head of corporate communications, on Saturday in Onitsha.

According to him, the company had been involved in the process of investigating allegations surrounding the 2023 UTME examination results of the scholarship recipient, Ms Mmesoma.

It was reported initially that Ms Mmesoma claimed she had exceptionally high score in her UTME result, “a feat that led to her being awarded a scholarship by our company,” said the Innoson statement.

“However, subsequent reports of discrepancies in her UTME score led us to seek clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and to allow her to voice her stance

“Further to this, a committee set up by Gov. Charles Soludo carried out a thorough independent investigation into this matter,” he said.

Mr Osigwe noted that the findings from the rigorous investigation have now confirmed that Ms Mmesoma did manipulate her UTME results.

“This conclusion is deeply disappointing and stands in direct contravention of the values we hold dear at Innoson Vehicles, particularly those that underscore our scholarship programme.

“In line with these principles and response to the confirmed findings, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the scholarship awarded to Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme.

“This action is a testament to our unyielding commitment to honesty, integrity, and merit-based recognition,” he said.

He acknowledged that the development was regrettable, and it has undoubtedly caused dismay among those who stood by Ms Mmesoma.

He assured that Innoson Vehicles remained steadfast in its mission to support deserving students, invest in the future of the education sector, and uphold the highest ethical standards.

Al-Qalam university, Katsina, has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence six new undergraduate programmes that would be run in the main Campus of the university on a full-time basis.

The head of public affairs of the university, Akilu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Katsina.

Mr Abubakar said the approved programmes would commence in the 2023/2024 academic session.

The new programmes include: B.Sc. Information Technology, B.Sc. Statistics, B.Sc. Cyber Security, B.A. Sharia, B.Sc. Public Administration and BLIS. Library and Information Science.

Mr Abubakar explained that the approval is contained in a letter from the NUC to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, which was signed by NUC’s director of academic planning, N. B. Saliu, on behalf of the executive secretary of the commission.

Mr Abubakar recalled that in April 2023, the university received six resource assessment panels from the NUC, consisting of 15 members, who assessed the resources available in the school to start offering the new programmes.

The president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), says a new Nigeria will require accountability and justice from all sectors.

Mr Maikyau said this at the fifth annual lecture in honour of the late Justice Pius Aderemi of the Supreme Court.

The event took place on Friday in Ibadan with the theme: “Good Governance, Leadership and Accountability: Panacea for a New Nigeria”.

The NBA president said the three arms of government -executive, legislature and judiciary – must discharge their duties honestly and be accountable to the citizens for there to be a new Nigeria.

“It is important for the executive, legislature and judiciary to focus on justice for the people,” he said.

The NBA president called on lawyers to do more to advise and guide leaders on the path of justice, equity and fairness for the realisation of Nigeria.

“When service charge becomes the motivation, how will you give advice?” he asked.

He added, “We must demonstrate good faith with our profession and focus on justice for us to have a new Nigeria.”

Ondo State acting governor, Lucky Alyedatiwa, said Mr Aderemi’s contributions to national development should challenge the citizens to do their best for Nigeria.

He said Nigerians owed past leaders such as Mr Aderemi and the unborn generations the duty to do more to transform the giant of Africa.

The Lagos State Task Force says it will sustain ongoing dusk-to-dawn operations to checkmate tactics commercial motorcycle operators use to ply restricted routes across the metropolis.

A statement on Friday by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the task force spokesman, said its chairman, Shola Jejeloye, gave the warning while leading a series of week-long operations.

Mr Jejeloye led the operations across strategic locations, where recalcitrant operators resorted to using a different type of inconspicuous motorcycle popularly called “Lady Machine.”

The task force boss said some Okada riders, whose bikes were seized, acquired the new models, which are more portable, to carry out their businesses on highways.

“These bikes are sleek and more evasive, but their antics are no match for us,” he said.

Mr Jejeloye, according to the statement, led his team on a raid to CMS, Ebute Ero, Ijora, Ikeja-Along, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and Oshodi areas of the state.

He said the exercise was to remind the riders of the government’s stand on their operations, vowing that no stone would be left unturned until Okada operations across restricted routes were stamped out.

“Motorbikes with engine capacity below 200cc are not allowed to operate on the state highways.

“Therefore, all forms of bikes that fall within that range, be it the normal Okada or Lady Machine, will be confiscated and crushed according to the provisions of the law,” he said.

Mr Jejeloye promised to carry out more operations from dusk to dawn until the state government’s vision on transportation was completely attained and sustained.

The chairman promised to arrest riders, and passengers caught violating the laws on highways and restricted routes.

“We arrested six suspects, including riders and passengers, today at CMS, and we will ensure that they face the full wrath of the law they violated,” he said.

Police operatives from Awkunanaw Division in Enugu State have dislodged a group of subversive elements enforcing the sit-at-home order in Enugu.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issued the sit-at-home order, which said residents must remain at home for one week.

The government has, however, told the residents to ignore the order and go about their lawful businesses.

The dislodging of the criminal elements was part of steps taken by the police to protect citizens from any form of harassment.

DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the police spokesman in the state, said in a statement on Friday in Enugu that some of the hoodlums were wounded during the operation.

Mr Ndukwe said one AK-47 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of live 7.62 calibre ammunition, two bottles of a petrol bomb, one hammer, one plier and one Jack-knife were recovered.

Also recovered were a pair of canvass with blood stains abandoned by one of the escaping criminals, fetish objects, a mobile phone, three criminal hoods, one hooded long sleeve, and other items.

Mr Ndukwe said the hoodlums were out to enforce the sit-at-home order by the outlawed IPOB but were overpowered by police operatives at One-Day Junction along Agbani Road in Enugu on Friday morning.

He explained that the police operatives intercepted the armed criminal elements attempting to snatch an ENTRACO-branded Sharon minivan from its driver.

“The gallant and eagle-eyed operatives engaged the miscreants in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon the vehicle and narrowly escape with varying degrees of fatal gunshot wounds due to the superior firepower of the operatives.

“An intense manhunt for the hoodlums is ongoing, while the vehicle, with copious blood stains on the seats and other items therein, was recovered among other incriminating items,” he said.

The spokesman said Commissioner of Police Ahmed Ammani had commended the operatives and reaffirmed that the police and other security forces would remain focused.

He urged owners of medical facilities and residents of Awkunanaw, One-Day, Top-land and Achara Layout axis of Enugu “to promptly report to the police anyone, dead or alive, sighted with gunshot wounds”.