A senior lecturer in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Prof Oguejiofo Ujam was on Sunday abducted along the Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road.

Oguejiofor is the Dean, School of General Studies of the university.

The kidnapping of the varsity don is one in a series of abductions along the road within the last one week.

In a post on his Facebook Page, a social media influencer, Chijinkem Ugwuanyi wrote, “Prof Oguejiofo T. Ujam was kidnapped yesterday morning along Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi-Nsukka road.

“He is a lecturer at the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, and Dean, School of General Studies University Of Nigeria Nsukka.

“Our prayers are needed for his safe return to us, unharmed.”

Similarly, a lecturer, who spoke to our correspondent under anonymity, confirmed that the incident was posted on the WhatsApp page of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, UNN chapter.

“Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, the Dean of GS was kidnapped this morning along Opi-Enugu Road. Please, we need urgent help,” the post on ASUU platform read.

There have been concerns over the spate of abductions along the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road despite the number of police and military checkpoints along that axis.

The hoodlums were also reported to have abducted several other road users on a daily basis in the last one week.

A landlord, identified as Obong Ete, whose house is on Waddel Street Calabar South of Cross River State, has been beaten to a pulp by his tenants and neighbours for robbing them.

The neighbourhood flogged the landlord with horse whips and canes; hit him with planks and severely beat him up.

The incident happened on Sunday just when his tenants and other neighbours were about to depart for Sunday worship.

Residents of the area complained that Obong Ete, in his 30s, a bachelor, was in the habit of terrorising them almost every night.

One of the residents, John Akpan said this young man, despite being a landlord continually steals food items such as bunches of bananas and household items, dispossessing neighbours of their valuables at night.

“Obong Ete has been doing this for a long time. It is good that he is again publicly disgraced. He doesn’t want to repent. Many times, youth leaders and vigilante groups have traced stolen items to his apartment, and beaten him up”, Akpan narrated.

A tenant, Magdalene Effiom, said “We learnt from his family people that he once stole from a church, and worshippers laid curses on him. Perhaps these curses are affecting him.

“Other neighbours whom he has burgled their homes have also been cursing him, too.”

After the severe beatings, the youth leaders who have often handed him over to the divisional police officer of Mbukpa station, forced him to swear an oath that he will not rob or terrorize his tenants and neighbours any further.

Brutalized Obong Ete said, “I am sorry for stealing. I swear that I will not continue to steal again.”

He agreed that if he ever stole again, they were free to mete out any measures deemed fit.

The youth leaders strongly suspected a young man who cohabited with him as an accomplice.

They forced him out of the landlord’s apartment, warning him never to return to the community or face the long arm of the law if he ever did.

In a reaction, the Police PRO, Irene Ugbo disapproved of the brutalization, advising that such cases should always be handed over to the police.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Brandy Nwatu, a passenger, who allegedly assaulted a Bolt driver in a viral video.

A video clip which captured a Bolt driver being assaulted by a passenger in the Galadima area of the FCT had emerged on social media last week.

A statement by the spokesperson of the command, SP Josephine Adeh said following a distress call over the incident, Police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer, Galadima, promptly responded and intervened in the situation.

She said the passenger was taken into custody, while the driver, Emmanuel Ebhohimen was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi for medical attention.

According to the image maker, preliminary investigations into the incident indicated that an argument over luggage handling escalated into a physical altercation resulting in the driver’s injuries.

“Nwatu was later released on bail, with a requirement to return for further action on 28th October 2024.

“The FCT Police Command thanks the public for their prompt reporting, which helped to mitigate tensions”, she added.

Ogun State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has suspended the teacher who punished Monday Ariyo, an SS2 student of Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi.

Ariyo died on Friday at the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, after a teacher allegedly flogged him and asked him to perform 162 frog jumps.

The teacher was reported to have taken a trash can to Ariyo’s class and told the pupils not to break it, but the deceased replied the teacher, saying the dustbin was bought with the students’ money.

Ariyo who was flogged and punished because of his response collapsed.

Following the incident, the state government in a post on its X handle on Sunday, said the teacher has been arrested and the Principal of the school, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo, queried for allowing corporal punishment to be used on the pupil against the established rules and regulations in the state.

The post added that a letter of condolence signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry was sent to the bereaved family, commiserating with them on the sudden death of their loving son and promising to get justice for the family.

Part of the post reads: “The Ogun State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has suspended a teacher alleged to have beaten and punished one Master Monday Arijo, an SS2 student of Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi, which reportedly led to his demise.

“The principal was given 24 hours to explain her actions and why disciplinary actions should not be taken against her for acting against the instructions of constituted authority.

“The letter, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, described the late learner as an exceptional pupil who would be missed by his colleagues, the school, and the state at large.

“It then prayed for requisite strength for the family to bear the irreplaceable loss as well as for the repose of the departed soul.”

Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) Felix Agbesanwa in a statement obtained by DAILY POST, said the deceased was not the only one punished.

Agbesanwa explained that the whole class was beaten and Ariyo on regaining consciousness
said he was involved in a bike accident prior to the time he was punished.

The police command in Enugu State has begun an orderly room trial of Inspector Joseph Ozonwanji, allegedly involved in the murder of Enugu-based musician, Chikezie Nwamba, popularly known as “Igbo-Jah”.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Sunday in Enugu, said that the orderly room trial followed the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department conclusion of investigation into the incident.

Mr Ndukwe said that “the detention and investigation of Ozonwanji happened shortly after his alleged shooting of the musician on Friday, Oct. 25, within the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad Headquarters, Enugu.

“Consequently, the orderly room trial of the implicated Ozonwanji has commenced and the trial will facilitate the next course of action in accordance with the Nigeria Police Force’s disciplinary procedures.

“The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, SP Ekeleme Chidobe, to allow for a comprehensive review of the Squad’s operations.

“The commissioner reaffirms his commitment to ensuring that justice is done in the case and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism among all police officers in the state.

“The state police boss calls on the citizenry to continue to keep faith and support the police, especially in bringing this case to a justifiable conclusion,” he said.

Widows and other family members of policemen who were killed in active service have received cash, food, and other relief items from the Peace Fund for Victims of Insecurity in Nigeria.

The items were presented to the families at the Abia State Police Command headquarters in Umuahia on Friday, during the commencement of the distribution in the South East region.

The presentations were done at the conclusion of the group’s preliminary documentation about the slain officers and interface with security high commands in the country.

Five profiled families received a cash gift of 1 million Naira each and food items, even as the other nine families who also got food items will receive their own cash after the verification of their records by the Peace Fund.

Explaining the development, the Secretary of the Peace Fund for Victims of Insecurity, Mary Ikoku, noted that the fund was created to provide succor to families of security officials who paid the ultimate price for serving their fatherland.

In his speech, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Police Command, Danladi Isah, thanked the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, for setting up the Fund, saying that the gifts given to the families of slain officers will encourage the serving officers.

The Commissioner of Police, who said that policemen encounter danger every day trying to secure the lives of Nigerians, stated that the Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun has established and rolled out many welfare schemes to support serving policemen and the families of the late officers.

An Anglican priest identified as Ven David Arinze Ajaefobi, who is said to be the Archdeacon of Oyi Central Archdeaconry and Vicar of St James’ Parish, Awkuzu, has been reportedly kidnapped.

A source said that the cleric was allegedly kidnapped by unidentified individuals on Saturday night.

The source said, “The abduction occurred around 9:00 PM on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the entrance gate of St James’ Parish, Awkuzu, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.”

As of the time of filing this report, no contact has been made by the abductors to the priest’s relatives for ransom or reason for his abduction.

The source said the church has announced prayer sessions for his safe release.

When reached for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer of Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had not received any report of such an incident.

At least 200 violators of the Kwara State environmental law were arrested and charged before mobile courts across the state during Saturday’s environmental sanitation exercise.

This was contained in a statement by the spokesman of the state Ministry of Environment, Kamaldeen Aliagan, in Ilorin on Sunday.

The statement said the Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Musa Buge, again warned residents and commercial transporters against violating the environmental law of the state during the monthly sanitation exercise.

She expressed displeasure about some commercial motor parks violating the environmental sanitation law, urging them to desist from such actions capable of sabotaging the environmental law.

The commissioner urged residents to continually abide by the environmental laws of the state to enhance a clean and healthy environment, habitable to all, and attract investors for the overall development of the state.

Represented by her Permanent Secretary, Abubakar Ayinla, the commissioner was excited at the level of compliance among the residents of the state, adding that, “with what we observed today in the metropolis and the reports received from local government areas of the state, the level of compliance has drastically improved.”

“More efforts, therefore, need to be put in place to ensure sustainability in order to promote a hygienic environment with the aim of preventing epidemics in society,” she added.

The commissioner appealed to Kwarans to adhere strictly to the sanitation laws of the state for the benefit of all.

Nafisat, however, commended security agencies and various voluntary organizations for their tireless support in ensuring a smooth sanitation exercise.

She also charged members of the public not to relent in their efforts to make Kwara a pacesetter and a clean and hygienic environment state.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Luong Cuong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on his historic election to the esteemed leadership position by the parliament.

Cuong, 67, has served in the Vietnamese army for over 40 years and has been a Politburo member since 2021.

Tinubu, who spoke through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said he welcomes President Cuong’s post-election promise to promote Vietnam “as a friend, a trusted partner, an active and responsible member of the international community.”

He reaffirmed that the enduring warmth and friendliness of the relations between Nigeria and Vietnam, as evidenced by the steady growth in trade and cultural exchange, are rooted in a shared commitment to fostering a more peaceful world.

The Nigerian President assured the Vietnamese leader of Nigeria’s commitment to improving bilateral relations across various sectors, including trade, agriculture, food production, education, and cultural and technological exchange.

He said he hopes for President Cuong’s successful leadership in serving his people and humanity.

The state governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf made the disclosure while launching the cash distribution to the affected persons in Kano.

The governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Amina Abdullahi, said the gesture was part of the state government’s intervention to bring succour to the affected victims.

She said, “We are here to console and support the victims and to help ease their pains with this token.’’

The Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency, Isyaku Kubarachi, said the victims lost property valued at N835.9 million.

Mr Kubarachi said, “Out of the 62 victims, seven lost their lives, while 11 victims from Dakata small scale benefited from the gesture. We conducted an assessment to determine the extent of damage and prepared a comprehensive report to the state government for assistance.’’

Mr Kubarachi thanked Mr Kabir-Yusuf, the Nigeria Red Cross, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, internally displaced person and other stakeholders for their support.

Also, NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, urged members of the public, especially women using firewood and charcoal, to handle fire with care.

He advised them to always put off their electrical appliances whenever they were going out or going to bed to avoid inferno.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ahmadu Sale, from Tudun Wada, Nasarawa Local Government Area, thanked the government for the support.

He said, “My son, his wife, and five children lost their lives in an inferno due to electrical fault sometime in 2024 at about 3:00 a.m.’’

Tension is high in Enugu, the Coal City capital, following the killing of a popular Ogene musician, Igbo Jah, by a Police officer attached to the Anti-Cult Unit of the Enugu State Police Command.

Angry youths are settling bonfires at the Obiagu and Asata areas of the metropolis in protest.

It was gathered that the musician was shot by an Anti-Cult Police operative, Friday night.

Sources said the musician attended an event at the anti-cult office, during which a policeman shot him.

Igbo Jah was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The Enugu State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday by its spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.

According to him, “A male Police Inspector serving in the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of the Enugu State Police Command has been arrested and detained for the alleged murder of a male traditional Ogene musician, Okezie Chikezie Mba, popularly known as Igbo-Jah.

“The incident occurred around 8:10 p.m. on October 25, 2024, at the Tactical Squad’s Headquarters.

“The musician was reportedly leaving the Squad’s Headquarters after a friendly visit when, for reasons yet to be ascertained, the police officer fired his rifle, hitting the victim.

“He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the attending doctor. His body has been deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”

Ndukwe added that “the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID to conduct a full-scale investigation that will facilitate prompt and appropriate disciplinary actions against the police officer.

“The Commissioner empathises and consoles the victim’s family, friends, and associates, describing the unfortunate incident as unacceptable. He assures that the police officer and anyone else found culpable will be sanctioned in line with the law to serve as a deterrent.

“CP Kanayo urges everyone connected to the victim to remain calm and cooperate with the police to ensure that justice is served.”

A fully-loaded Dangote Cement truck with registration number DGW109XA rammed into a house in Imasayi Yewa North local government area of Ogun state.

The incident occurred on Friday night when residents had already gone to bed.

No life was lost as the
occupants of the house, who were asleep in the parlour, escaped being crushed by a whisker.

The Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, when contacted on Saturday, said the incident happened in front of the house where he was living and thanked God that no lives were lost.

He lamented that this incident, among others, was one of the things they faced with Dangote drivers.

The monarch, however, urged the residents to take laws into their own, adding that efforts are underway to investigate the root cause of the accident.

He said “A Fully loaded Dangote Cement Plc truck swerved into a house in Imasayi yesterday night, God saved the people that slept in the sitting room

“The people inside the room escaped untimely death. It happened in front of the house where I was living before moving into my new house

“This is one of the things we are facing with Dangote drivers”, he said.

Residents of many neighborhoods in Ado Ekiti and other towns in Ekiti State have been thrown into darkness as electric poles were destroyed by a rainstorm Friday evening.

Communities affected include Ajebamidele, Omisanjana, Atlas—all in Ado Ekiti—as well as Ikere Ekiti, Ise Ekiti, and Emure Ekiti, which are experiencing power outages due to the destroyed poles.

A heavy rainfall swept across the neighborhoods Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday, leaving many residents stranded and disrupting traffic, social, and economic activities.

The rain, which started some minutes before 5 p.m. on Friday, ceased briefly before restarting around 6 p.m., accompanied by violent storms that brought down no fewer than six concrete electric poles.

The high-tension cables on the poles connect the 132/133 KVA power substation in Omisanjana and neighboring towns of Ikere, Ise and Emure.

The affected poles were brought down by the rainstorm within the vicinity of the Deeper Life Campground in Ajebamidele, a densely populated neighborhood in the Ekiti State capital.

The main access road, which starts from the Ado-Ikere Highway and terminates at Omisanjana, has been blocked by the fallen electric poles.

The road, constructed by the Biodun Oyebanji Administration and commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima in June, has been left deserted due to the development.

Many residents on their way home from work were stranded for hours. While some stayed inside their vehicles, others sought shelter in nearby shops and houses.

As the rain intensified during the confusion, a number of motorists had to turn back to take the much longer route through Ajilosun, Ijigbo, and Ilawe Road to reach their destinations via Omisanjana.

It was observed that due to the road blockage caused by the fallen electric poles, many motorists abandoned their vehicles in some locations and trekked home in frustration.

Apart from the Ajebamidele neighborhood, the development has reportedly plunged neighboring Omisanjana community and Ikere town into darkness, as the affected poles supplied electricity to them.

Shortly after the rain subsided, some officials from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) visited the scene to assess the damaged poles ahead of a possible rescue mission on Saturday.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed the death of a driver as two trucks collided near the Cane Village, Maryland, area of the state.

The agency’s permanent secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed this in a statement on Friday, said the accident resulted from brake failure.

“LASEMA, in response to distress calls through the 767 and 112 toll-free lines at 12:08 hrs, activated the response team from the command and control centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

“Upon arrival at the incident scene, it was discovered that there was an accident involving a concrete mixer truck, registration number DGW 208 XA, and another truck, registration number SMK 906 YE.

“Investigation conducted by the response team revealed that one of the trucks suffered brake failure, lost control and crashed into a JUSTRITE truck, whose driver was loading items.

“The truck further rammed into the building beside the road and crashed into two people in the process,” he said.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said the JUSTRITE truck driver died instantly, while the two other victims sustained injuries and had been transported to Gbagada General Hospital.

“The agency’s response team has activated necessary safety measures for the protection of responders at the incident scene.

“Also, the response team has activated traffic control measures and is currently involved in managing the traffic,” he said.

The police command in Akwa Ibom has confirmed the death of a former ExxonMobil staff in Villa Marina Hotels and also its personnel in Tivoli Hotels in Eket.

The police public relations officer, ASP Timfon John, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Friday in Eket, Akwa Ibom.

She said the contractor for the multinational oil company died on Sunday, while the police officer died on October 14.

Ms John, however, could not disclose the names of the victims at the time of filing this report.

“The former ExxonMobil staff died at the hotel in Eket; he died as a result of slipping when he came out of the bathroom and fell and hit his head on the tiles,” Mr John said.

Ms John said a necessary investigation had been done, and the police had released the corpse to the family for burial.

She said the police officer who came from Lagos to Eket on an official assignment died of heart failure.

A woman was sentenced to death for abducting and trafficking 17 children, according to a retrial conducted by a court in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province on Friday.

In September 2023, the Guiyang Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Yu Huaying to death after finding her guilty of abducting and trafficking 11 children.

She abducted the children from Guizhou and Chongqing to the city of Handan in Hebei Province between 1993 and 1996.

Ms Huaying and her accomplice, a man who has since died, sold the children for profit.

She immediately submitted an appeal against the ruling.

In November 2023, the Guizhou Provincial Higher People’s Court held a second-instance trial.

In January 2024, the court ordered a retrial of the case after the police discovered that she was implicated in more child trafficking cases.

The number of children involved in the high-profile trafficking case has since risen from 11 to 17.

The children came from 12 families, five of them losing two children at the same time, according to the court.

Some children were even abandoned midway.

Ms Huaying was also deprived of her political rights for life, and all of her personal property would be confiscated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects Russia to deploy North Korean soldiers from Sunday or Monday.

“This is a clear escalation,’’ Mr Zelensky said on the short message service X on Friday.

He cited intelligence information that the soldiers were to be deployed in the combat zone from October 27 or 28.

Mr Zelensky said this clearly shows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to continue the war.

Mr Putin has not denied the reports of the transfer and training of North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine and had referred to military cooperation agreed with Pyongyang.

“The world can clearly see Russia’s true intentions: to continue the war. This is why a principled and strong response from global leaders is essential,’’ Mr Zelensky wrote.

He said there was a need for tangible pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang.

Mr Putin had previously said it was Russia’s business with whom it cooperated and added that the deal had been agreed upon between two sovereign states.

Russian state media also quoted Mr Putin as saying that Ukraine also chooses its partners in the West.

“We are repeatedly told that it is up to Ukraine how it ensures its security with or without NATO,’’ Mr Putin said.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states for supporting the country in calling for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States.

Mr Mnangagwa, also the chairperson of the 16-member regional bloc, made the remarks in an address ahead of the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day held on Friday.

“In solidarity, the SADC community together joined Zimbabwe in calling for the immediate and unconditional removal of these unwarranted and cruel sanctions.

“The Sanctions violate the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

The United States and its Western allies imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe more than two decades ago.

In 2019, the SADC set aside October 25 as Anti-Sanctions Day to protest the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe by the U.S. and its Western allies.

In March, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order terminating a Zimbabwe sanctions programme that had been in place since 2003 but imposed sanctions on 11 individuals.

The individuals include Mr Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga over alleged human rights abuses and corruption under America’s Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

The United States also maintained sanctions on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.

Mr Mnangagwa said the imposition of sanctions undermines the collective efforts toward regional integration and sustainable development.

“As a community, we have to continue working together to ensure that our region remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.

“May this message transcend our borders and reach the ears and rattle the conscience of those perpetuating these cruel sanctions,” he said.

Mr Mnangagwa said sanctions inflict harm not on the generality of the people of Zimbabwe, the SADC region and Africa at large.

“I implore all progressive countries to continue rendering their principled support to enable Zimbabwe and the SADC region to contribute to the socio-economic development of the region and the world,” Mr Mnangagwa added.