Crime
Abducted Priest, Three Others Set Free In Ebonyi State
The Catholic priest named Joseph Azubike, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ebonyi State, South-east Nigeria on Monday, has been freed.
Alongside him, three other individuals who were also abducted have been released as well.
Recall that Father Joseph Azubike, serving as the parish priest of St. Charles Parish, Mgbaleze Isu, in Onicha Local Government Area, was taken captive near the church while returning from his pastoral duties.
Confirming the priest’s release, Mathew Opoke, the chancellor of the Abakaliki Diocese, issued a statement on Tuesday night.
He expressed gratitude that the priest was released without any conditions, despite the fact that the abductors had initially demanded an undisclosed ransom.
Opoke extended his appreciation to Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, the security agencies involved, and the local community’s youth for their collaborative efforts in ensuring the safe release of Father Azubike and the other abductees.
Mr Opoke said in the statement celebrating the release of the priest and others, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Psalm 46:7.
“It is a thing of joy that God answered our prayers and gazetted the unconditional release of His servant in a very remarkable way.
“We are grateful to God for effecting this release. We are grateful to all those who swung into action on hearing the ugly news of his abduction together with three other persons,” he added.
Crime
Court Orders Woman To Pay ₦150,000 For Failing To Visit Boyfriend After Collecting Transport Fare
An Ilesa Magistrate Court in Osun State has ruled against a woman, Rhoda Adu, ordering her to pay ₦150,000 to her boyfriend, Olapitan Sola, for breach of agreement and emotional distress.
The incident occurred after Rhoda collected ₦3,000 as transport fare from Sola but failed to visit him as promised.
According to reports, she switched off her phone after receiving the money, leaving Sola unable to reach her.
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Feeling cheated and emotionally distressed, Sola reported the matter to the Ayeso Police Station, prompting Rhoda’s arrest and subsequent trial.
During the court hearing, Sola presented evidence including the mobile money transfer receipt and WhatsApp messages exchanged between the pair.
In her judgment, Magistrate Akogun Oludare ordered Rhoda to refund the ₦3,000 and pay an additional ₦100,000 for breach of agreement, alongside ₦50,000 as special damages for emotional distress.
“This court seeks to uphold accountability and fairness in personal agreements. Let this serve as a warning to others,” Magistrate Oludare said in her ruling, stressing the need for such decisions to deter similar acts.
The case has sparked widespread discussions, with many debating the implications of the judgment and its impact on personal relationships.
Crime
Police Plotting Kangaroo Trial Against Me – Sowore
Human rights activist and vocal government critic, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of plotting to detain him following his criticism of the extension of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure.
Biztellers reports that Sowore arrived at the Force Intelligence Headquarters in Abuja on Monday at 9:58 a.m., responding to an invitation from the police.
The summons was issued after Sowore uploaded a viral video alleging extortion by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.
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The activist was questioned over multiple allegations, including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.
In a Facebook post, Sowore accused the police of relying on “rehashed information” sourced primarily from the internet.
He revealed that he refused to provide a written statement during the interrogation, citing the lack of a clearly defined crime.
“The police relied on a rehashed set of information sourced mostly from the internet. When I asked them to identify the location of the alleged ‘crime’ in Lagos, they provided a vague response, stating it was along the airport road,” Sowore said.
The activist further alleged that the police intended to detain him and transfer him to Lagos for what he described as a “kangaroo trial.”
“I chose not to provide a written statement, as we informed the Police team that, in the absence of a defined crime, the process to determine such was unnecessary,” he explained.
“They took a break and later informed me that they were awaiting instructions from their superiors. It seems their plan is to detain me and take me to Lagos for a kangaroo trial.”
Sowore maintained that his case stemmed from his criticism of IGP Egbetokun, whose tenure, he argued, was illegally extended.
“I made it clear to the team that the matter revolves around my publicly stated view that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who is due for retirement and clearly tired, had his tenure extended illegally. I maintain that we are entering a promising era, and our fight for justice will persist. #RevolutionNow,” Sowore added.
The police have yet to issue an official response to Sowore’s allegations or confirm the next steps in the case.
Crime
Five Kidnapped, Woman Injured As Bandits Strike Abuja Community
Chikakore, a community in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was rocked by a violent attack on Sunday night, when at least 20 armed bandits stormed the area, kidnapping five residents, including an entire family.
According to police sources, the assailants struck at around 11pm, targeting the Health Centre extension area of Chikakore.
The attackers barged into the homes of their victims, abducting Adesiyan Akinropo, a Southwesterner, his wife, son, and a visitor.
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They also kidnapped another neighbor, bringing the total number of people taken to five.
In the midst of the raid, a woman was struck on the head with the butt of a gun, causing severe bleeding. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment following the brutal assault.
“The bandits kidnapped the man (Akinropo), his wife, and his son, their visitor. The bandits then took away another neighbor to make five persons. They also injured a woman on the head with the butt of the gun. She bled profusely and had to be rushed to the hospital,” a police source said
While the police operatives from the Byzahin division responded to the incident, the assailants had already escaped by the time they arrived at the scene.
Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed response, revealing that the police took over an hour to reach the area.
“The bandits have resumed attacks in Chikakore. We need a police division here in this community. We have land and a five-bedroom apartment already built to accommodate the police, but there is no deployment yet,” a resident lamented.
This attack follows a similar one earlier in January, when bandits fleeing from Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina State detonated explosives in Kuchibuyi, a neighboring area.
The explosion, which targeted an Islamic school, claimed at least two lives, according to the police.
A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, where local leaders and police officials will discuss the ongoing security concerns in Chikakore.
Efforts to reach the FCT police command for comment were unsuccessful, as spokesperson Josephine Adeh did not respond to calls.