Operatives of the Abia State Police Command have rescued three abducted children from their abductors in Anambra and Delta States.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that the rescue mission led to the arrest of five suspects, including a Reverend Sister.

The statement read, “On May 10, 2024, the Abia State Police Command received a report that three male children, namely: Gideon Osinachi (eight years old), Obioma Divine Osinachi (six years old), and Israel Osinachi (four years old), were abducted by an unknown cyclist from Amoba Okoro village in Ikwuanno LGA of Abia State.

“The children were taken away by the cyclist who was hired by their grandmother to take them to their home after the children had visited her.”

 

It added that Obioma was later rescued on May 21 at Ekwulobia in Anambra State, and Gideon was rescued at Nkpor in Anambra State on May 23.

Israel was reported to have been rescued in Warri, Delta State, on June 13.

“We are happy to announce that all three children have been rescued and reunited with their family,” it added. 

The statement added that during the period of investigation and rescue efforts which lasted from May 10 to June 13, four female suspects and one male suspect were arrested in connection with the crime.

Abia police rescue three abducted children

It read, “The suspects were arrested variously at Amawbia and Nkpor in Anambra State, as well as Warri in Delta State. They include Reverend Sister Pauline Alozie (female), Chizoba DJ (female), Glory Umuna (female), Mrs. Georgina Nonye Okoye (female), and Philip Ibe (male). They are in custody and will be charged in court very soon.”

In the statement, the command appreciated the collaboration of various stakeholders towards the rescue of the children.

PUNCH reported in April that the Ebonyi State Police Command  dismantled a child abduction ring, culminating in the rescue of six kidnapped children.

A former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, on Saturday, berated the extravagant lifestyle of Nigeria’s President, Governors and National Assembly members in the country.

Recall the president had said in his Democracy Day speech that the N62,000 proposed was negotiated in good faith.

 

However Ezekwesili on a Saturday In a post on X formerly twitter, said their financial extravagance was a provocative approach and an insult to citizens.

Ezekwesili who is also the Founder of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) said, “It appears like the latest hobby of the #nassnigeria and the #NGRPresident and #NigeriaGov is to engage in the serial provocation of hard-pressed citizens who are barely managing to keep heads above water in this crisis-economy.

“In a season of famine and leanness when public officials should set the example of fiscal prudence, the sensibilities of our citizens are daily assaulted with the self-indulgent lives of politicians- many of whom were in fact not credibly elected into office.

 
 

“As they say in my place, ‘use your tongue to count your teeth’ because a day shall soon come when at the rate you’re all going with public resources, ‘water go totally pass garri’. He who has ears…..”.

She added, “This democracy belongs to the Nigerian People and not to an insignificant percentage of our population known as politicians.

“One day soon, the people will stare down at you all that think Nigeria exists to give you a luxurious life at the expense of the country.

“The tone deafness towards the pain and anger in this land is not normal and can never sustain. That’s for sure”.

Businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, recently granted an interview to BBC Igbo, where he spoke about the insecurity in the South-East region of the country where he hails from. According to him, that was what led to his relocation to Lagos State NAOMI CHIMA brings excerpts

What can be blamed for the killings and insecurity in the South-East?

It is jealousy and envy that caused everything that is happening in the South-East. If you say you do not like a particular government, do you go and kill your brother because of that? No! You should rather wait for when it is time for election, then you can vote that person out. You should not about hating or killing your brother, because you don’t like him, or because he is supporting a particular government, or the police. How can you kill your brother, because he is a policeman or a soldier? In a state without the police and military, who will maintain peace and order there?

Why did you relocate your business to Lagos State from Owerri (Imo State)?

 

I left the South-East, and relocated to Lagos State because some of our wealthy Igbo brothers are now scared of coming home. Usually, whenever they came home, my business was always flourishing. That is because those who live in Owerri usually buy just beer and little champagne. But, when the big boys who live in Lagos and Abuja come home during the weekends, they usually buy lots of drinks; and I will ultimately make so much money.

For instance, after Christmas in those days when business was booming in the South-East, after every Christmas sale, I would usually buy a new car or start a new business (because of the huge profit recorded). But, business has now become so slow. And, just like the Igbo saying, you will have to move around with your wares to be able to make sales. That was why I packed my bags and relocated.

It is also a way of bringing the things that those who travel home come to enjoy at my place in Owerri here to them in Lagos State.

 

How has the rising insecurity in the South-East affected the drive of Igbo people?

All the bad Igbo people and kidnappers who are working to spoil Igboland are just foolish. In the area of real estate, things are no longer how they used to be. Before we started having insecurity issues in the South-East, people like Kennedy Okonkwo, the billionaire founder and CEO of Nedcomoaks Limited; and socialite, Emeka Okonkwo, aka E-Money, had mansions in their hometown, and that caused a lot of competition among us. Everyone was ‘pushed’, and there was a hunger in our hearts to go home and erect those kinds of edifice in our father’s compound. The Igbos like competition; we are each other’s inspiration.

What is the impact of the situation on the wealthy people who usually visit their hometowns?

What these evil people have succeeded in doing is to make sure that we no longer see the wealthy people at home (in the South-East).  When they see a wealthy person, they would kill him, and say he was a bad person. And, that has caused wealthy people to stay away from home. This has caused hunger in the land. There is great hunger in the South-East now.

What is your advice to people in the Diaspora on how to curb the tension in the South-East?

My appeal to my brothers (in the Diaspora) is this, “Let us not forget our home. We cannot run away from the evil people; they should run from us instead. You people should be coming home”. And, to our brothers at home, “You people are expected to protect the home, because it is the rat inside the house that tells the one in the bush or outside that there is fish in the kitchen”. So, it is some of those at home who burn down their brothers’ houses because of envy. We know that some people are not good, just like it is everywhere; even outside the country. But, it is something we should treat and approach with wisdom. It is not something that requires us to carry guns and machetes.

Our heritage is getting destroyed. We have our own culture, but we cannot project it from afar.

 

What are some of the things that used to make going home interesting?

Sometime ago, in my village, there was a festival called ‘Ofeke Day’, observed on January 1. It was the most interesting festival at that time. But, things like that no longer exist. We need to come together, and agree to bring the South-East back. There are a lot of great things in the South-East. You can imagine that people now host traditional marriages in event centres in Lagos State, or Owerri town. Is that good?  When there is a funeral, the dead would be buried like a thief, in a hurry, and the people will run to somewhere safe for the reception. That is not how we used to live. Before, whenever the corpse of a popular or wealthy person was coming home, there would be a lot of festivities, including gunshot salutes, and masquerade parades, with so much excitement. But, those days are gone and dead. We are gradually losing our heritage and culture.

What approach do you think can end these problems?

Let us go back to our roots and repair our states. Whatever is spoilt can be repaired. We should stop running, because running will not help us. Rather, running will spoil everything completely.

A couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted of human trafficking and operating a brothel.

The 34-year-old Nigerian national, Jude Ikenna Ijegulu, and his 29-year-old partner, Elizabeth Botes, from Centurion in Pretoria, received their sentences in the Pretoria High Court.

In addition, Ijegulu was sentenced to two life terms for two counts of rape and an additional two years for being in the country illegally.

This was according to South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.

 

SABC news on Saturday reported that the court ordered that his name be added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders.

National Prosecuting Authority’s Gauteng spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana says they welcome the sentences.

He said, “From November 2016 to September 2017 the two ran a brothel in Centurion where they kept two women. The man raped the two women, supplied them with drugs as well as physically and sexually assaulting them.

 

The couple would also instruct the two victims to render sexual services to clients. The Judge found that the two violated the Human Trafficking Act. The man enslaved the two victims and fed them drugs.”

Says N40,000 in 2015 now equivalent to N500,000

 

A former member of the National Assembly, Dr Farah Dagogo, has lamented the value of the Nigerian currency saying, “the value of ₦40, 000 in 2015 is equivalent to over ₦500, 000 in today’s Nigeria.”

He also charged the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to come up with workable economic policies that will ameliorate the sufferings and hardships the majority of Nigerians are experiencing.

Dagogo described the current living standards and situations in the country as ‘grim’, raising concerns that all indicators point to ‘ further pains for the citizenry’

Dagogo who represented Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives while in office.

 

In a special Eid-ul-Adha message to Muslims faithful across the country, the former Federal Lawmaker wondered why the people would continue to languish and wallow in so much misery amid the country’s abundant natural resources.

He said this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning by his media aide, Ibrahim Lawal, and sent to newsmen.

The statement reads, “Today, yesterday and especially in the past year, the people’s purchasing powers have reduced drastically. Never has this country witnessed this level of hyperinflation in its history, not even during our civil war. It is a grim reality.

 

“The value of ₦40, 000 in 2015 is equivalent to over ₦500, 000 in today’s Nigeria in 2024. Crisss-cross the costs of goods and services during this period and vis-a-vis the reality of today and we all will come to that sad realisation. That was why labour was justifiably demanding for a living wage.

“The inconsolable unavoidable truth is that the value of the money most people are getting or earning in 2024 is not too different from that of 2015, but the purchasing powers have practically gone out the window.”

He added, “Anti-people and inhuman economic policies have helped put the people in a terrible state. Money that could comfortably procure over 10 50kg bags of rice in 2015 can only buy one now, yet no improvement in the real money in the hands of the people.

“Something has to give way, this cannot continue. These sufferings and hardships have to be remedied. Unfortunately, optics point to further pains for the citizenry.”

While taking a cue from the central message of Eid-ul-Adha, which also means festival of sacrifice, Dr Dagogo salutes Nigerians for their sacrifices and resilience over these difficult periods, especially in the past one year.

The ex-federal legislator, however, challenged the government to be above board and “walk the talk of renewing the citizenry’s hope.

“The government promises, pledges and policies, as of now, are mere cosmetics without any corresponding positivities on the majority of Nigerians. 

“It behooves this government to walk the talk of renewing the citizenry’s hope. The much-touted renewed hope should reflect its literary meaning and not renew hardships and suffering as being experienced all across the country, ” Dagogo added.

Renowned Nigerian pastor and philanthropist, Pastor Ademola Amusan, known as Agbala Gabriel, has finally broken his silence to address the swirling reports that the family of the recently deceased actor, Sule Suebebe, refused to accept his corpse from him.

Recall that on Wednesday that Sule Suebebe died in the early hours of June 12th at an undisclosed hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The announcement of his death came from Ibadan-based cleric who had been tending to the actor during his prolonged illness.

 

Just hours after the tragic news broke, a social media user stirred up a storm by claiming that the actor’s family had refused to accept his corpse from the clergyman.

“Breaking news: We hear that Baba Suebebe’s family refused to take his corpse from Agbala Gabriel; they rejected his corpse. So what is going to happen now?”.

SEE POST BELOW 

 

This shocking revelation set the internet abuzz, leading to a flurry of heated debates and rampant speculation about the circumstances surrounding the family’s decision.

In response to these allegations, Pastor Agbala firmly denied that any such event took place, asserting that the rumors of the late actor’s family rejecting his corpse are unfounded and malicious attempts to damage his reputation.

He explained that after Sule Suebebe’s death, he immediately notified the actor’s family, who then arrived without delay.

Pastor Agbala further disclosed that, upon conversing with the family, he discovered that their lack of contact during Suebebe’s illness was due to the actor’s explicit request for them to stay away while he was alive.

The cleric expressed his happiness that the late actor repented and drew closer to God during his final days. He conveyed his confidence that Sule Suebebe is now resting in the bosom of the Lord.

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, on Saturday, said he is not worried about the possibility of another governor removing him.

Naija News recalls that the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, dethroned Sanusi in 2020.

While Sanusi was reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir, is contesting his dethronement in the court.

In an interview with Saturday Sun, Sanusi said only God knows how long he will stay on the throne.

He said: “For me, even now that I am here, only God knows how long I will be here. I can die tomorrow. Another governor can come tomorrow and say that he has removed me, it doesn’t matter.

“But I am happy if he does not touch the emirate. I am happy that I will not leave a history that it was during my time that these 1000 years of history was destroyed.

“So, I am grateful to this government, grateful to this Assembly that they have corrected that, that we have the emirate restored to what it was and Insha’Allah that when I die or when I leave, the person who inherits will inherit what we had. It’s about the system, not about me or about any individual.”

Regarding the lessons you learned while away from the throne in the last four years, the Emir said: “Life is always a continuous process of learning and relearning. And for me, I had always believed, as they say, that we should not waste a crisis. So, anytime I have a crisis, it’s an opportunity to do something else.

“In the last four years I’ve not been idle. In fact, I had just completed writing a PhD Thesis in the University of London, a week before I returned to Kano. I will be going back next month to conclude some things, because I will be graduating in September.”

Super Eagles and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has fired back at former Super Eagles manager, Finidi George, and individuals doubting his commitment to the Super Eagles.

 

Osimhen was ruled out of the Super Eagles games against South Africa and Benin Republic.

 

However, in a live Instagram video on Saturday, Osimhen reacted angrily to some comments attributed to Finidi, stating that he wanted to stay with the players in camp.

He said, “I knew things like these would happen and that’s why I have the videos and screenshots of when I called Finidi while I was with the doctor in Germany.

“I got injured in our (Napoli’s) last game against Lecce and I went to the MRI scan. And I called Finidi there for him to listen to the doctor too.

“I asked Finidi George to allow me stay with the players in the camp, but Finidi asked me not to bother that I should stay with my family.

“I’m not addressing anything, everybody knows I play my heart out whenever I’m playing for the club or national team. I’ll share the screenshot and videos of my conversation with Finidi for the sake of those believing what Finidi said.

“I’ve lost respect for that man because before I disrespect anybody, I always respect them.

 

“Now after two bad games, everybody is now blaming me.

“I know how many injuries I’ve played with for Nigeria and I played my heart out but after two bad games, everybody is attacking me.”

Media

Kidnappers have abducted the Managing Director of Fouani Company, which represents LG and Hisense, along with three Lebanese while travelling by boat in Lagos.

The names of the kidnapped victims have not been ascertained.


Vanguard gathered that the victims were abducted around Falomo Bridge while traveling from Apapa to Victoria Island.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed the development.

“Yes, it is true. We got the report and we are looking into it. Please, I’m not obliged to state more than that,” Hundeyin told journalists.

The Police PRO could not disclose the identities of the abducted persons.

When asked further, Hundeyin said, “I’m not obliged to state the names, when, where and how it happened for now but we are looking into it.”

Ex-Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has died aged 54, his former clubs Arsenal and Everton announced on Saturday.

Campbell, who died after a short illness, holds the record for most Premier League goals, 83, by a player never to win an international cap.

 

“Everyone at Arsenal Football is devastated to hear of the death of our much-loved former player Kevin Campbell,” said Arsenal.

 

Campbell joined the Gunners as a schoolboy in 1985, making his first-team debut in 1988. He went on to play 228 times for Arsenal scoring 59 goals and winning a league title, an FA Cup, a European Cup Winners Cup and a League Cup.

“To actually play for the team I supported was a dream come true,” he said.

In 164 games for Everton he scored 51 goals, including nine in five games which saved them from relegation in 1999.

“Everyone at Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the Club’s most popular and much-loved former strikers, Kevin Campbell,” they said on their website.

Campbell, who also played for Leicester, Leyton Orient, Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff, said one of his favourite memories in football was scoring the winner in the 2000 Merseyside derby, Everton’s last victory at Anfield for 22 years

“It was at the Kop End and my view, which will live with me until the day I die, is the Blues in the Kop going crazy,” he said.

In January 2001, manager Walter Smith made Campbell Everton’s first black captain.

 

“He made me the first black captain of Everton, which is something that I’m so proud of,” Campbell said.

Campbell moved to West Brom in January 2005 and was part of their “great escape”, as they became the first club bottom of the Premier League at Christmas to survive.

His son, Tyrese Campbell, is a striker who has just been released by Championship side Stoke City after seven seasons at the club.