NEWS
Breaking: Police arrest suspended Anambra council chair, Iloka, over wife’s death
By Nwafor Sunday
The suspended Nnewi North local government chairman, Mbazulike Iloka, has been arrested. He was arrested on Wednesday, following the alleged link to his wife’s death.
Anambra Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu, who confirmed the development, opined that the Command, through the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), is currently conducting further investigations to know what actually transpired.
Vanguard had reported how Mbazulike had denied killing his wife, late Chidiebere Iloka.
According to him: “On Sunday, 7th of August 2022, my family members and I woke up and after our family prayer rites, we went about our affairs for that day. I was out of the house for most of the morning as mine involved physically attending to various social and cultural events alongside visiting friends. Details of the groups and individuals involved have been provided to law enforcement agencies.
“My dear late wife was involved in coordinating aspects of home affairs and processing some transactions related to my business to the tune of nearly N1,000,000 and others involving my local committee of friends. Evidence of these abound via SMS and WhatsApp conversations between us as well as bank transfer receipts she sent me as evidence of success of the transactions. All these happened on Sunday; at a time the fifth columnists insist She was involved in a fight with me; when in fact, we were not in the same location.
“ As we proceeded with our affairs in our respective locations, I had cause to interact with my dear late wife over telephone in the course of which I mentioned to Her that She wasn’t sounding as one in perfect health. She admitted but assured me she had taken painkillers and will be fine. Evidence of this conversation is available and can be extracted using my call logs.
“I returned home after some hours and together with my friend, Ikemefuna Edokwe sat at a round table a few steps away from the gate which is about 50 metered from the house my family lived in then called my dear wife to serve us some food. Ikemefuna Edokwe had earlier in the day visited my house and conveyed me in His motorcycle to attend the events I referred to above after engaging my dear late wife in a friendly chat.
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“My wife happily obliged and proceeded to do same. On dishing the food, she started walking towards the gate where I sat with Ikemefuna Edokwe from the main building which is about 50 meters apart to serve us the food when she suddenly screamed and slumped; landing first with her face on the concrete wall as she struggled to gain balance and eventually with Her forehead on the iron and concrete slab which was casted a very long time ago by builders as part of the foundation for our main house.
“This happened in broad daylight; not indoors as suggested by stories planted in the media; right before me, my friend; Ikemefuna Edokwe and her domestic aide, Daniel (who was serving the food with Her); all of whom are still alive and are the first individuals who rushed to administer first aid on my late wife and then joined me in rushing Her to the hospital where She was pronounced dead after medical examination.
“My brothers and sister, I have lived an open life since my adulthood; spanning over 35 years. The house I live in with my late wife is an open place; accessible to all and sundry; and it is known to even my worst enemy that my wife was a supreme figure in my life after God Almighty.
“We did everything together and went everywhere together. She was my pulse and perfectly held brief for me; even in my presence.”
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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