Terrorists bomb Abuja-Kaduna rail track, attack 970 passengers

A passenger train conveying over 970 passengers was reportedly attacked by suspected terrorists between Rijana and Katari in Kaduna State, yesterday.

It was gathered that the bandits after the attack tried to force themselves into the cabins of the train, but they did not succeed.

A passenger on board the train, Anas Iro Dan Musa, sent messages out to his followers on facebook, saying all passengers were lying on the floor as the terrorists were shooting at the train sporadically.

Dan-Musa  wrote , “ please, this an emergency.  we are inside the train at the moment. Kidnappers  planted explosives on the train tracks and the train engines have been ruined , we are helpless. 

“Gun shots still being fired around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help. 

He later added: “Since 8pm we have been here between Katari and Rijiana. I am a living witness. Please share the news we need help 

“There is bad network where we are at the moment. It is just luck am able to type this, they are actually forcing themselves in." 

At press time, family members and friends of the passengers were making calls as they still expect the train  at Rigasa rail station in Kaduna. 

NRC confirms attack

Confirming the incident, Managing Director of Nigerian Railways Corporation, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, said: “We cannot give you much information now. Most of the passengers have gone into hiding and they cannot be giving information, but there are reports of gun shots as the train stopped.”

Kaduna attack: Bandits kill over 15 persons

FIFTEEN persons were reportedly killed  by bandits, Sunday, in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to a local, “the 15 people killed by the bandits that invaded Hayin Kanwa village, Yakawada ward in Giwa Local Government Area were buried yesterday.

Killings and kidnapping in Giwa are getting out of hand, as people are being killed and kidnapped daily.”

How man killed girlfriend

*I didn’t kill her, she fell and died — Suspect 

*Our daughter was killed for ritual —Family

ONE Morrison Okomor has been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Tega Okpako.

Morrison Okomor reportedly killed his girlfriend last Thursday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Confirming the arrest, yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Bright Edafe, said: “A suspect has been arrested over the matter but I cannot say he was the one that killed her until the result of the autopsy is released.”

Meanwhile, the suspect, who was arrested at Police ‘A’ Division in Asaba, according to a reliable source, denied killing the deceased, claiming that there was an argument between him and the deceased, who fell as a result of drunkenness and died.

The suspect, according to the source, said the deceased family raised eyebrows when they saw their daughter’s corpse at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba, where it was deposited.

But, a family source insisted that their daughter was killed by the suspect for ritual purposes, saying: “We were surprised when we saw her corpse at FMC with a very deep hole in her forehead connoting an attack because such a hole cannot be as a result of a fall.

“Tega is not known to be violent and how can she get herself drunk then suddenly fell and gave up the ghost just like that. We are not going to allow the matter to lie low because you can’t just take somebody’s life in the name of love. The police are on top of it now as the boy is claiming innocence because Tega is dead now and the dead can’t talk.”

Corps member slumps, dies watching football

The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, Major-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has condoled with the family of a corps member who slumped and died while watching a football match at the Kebbi orientation camp.

The corps member, Musa Tunde, who was a graduate of Public Administration from the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, was reported to be watching an inter-platoon football match when he slumped, and thereafter gave up the ghost Friday.

In a condolence letter presented by Ahmed Tijjani, the NYSC DG described Tunde as a young patriotic Nigerian who died while serving his country.

He urged his family to accept his death as a divine act, adding that death was unavoidable and could occur at any time.

According to Shuaibu, the deceased died as a dignified young man, who was ready and willing to offer his quota to national development, and he would be remembered as a selfless and patriotic Nigerian.

The deceased’s elder brother, Mr Yahaya Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the family, said the family was comforted by the fact that Tunde lived a decent life and died in active service to the nation.

He was subsequently laid to rest at Kebbi State cemetery according to Islamic rite.

Meanwhile, six kidnapped corps members, travelling to Kaduna State for the NYSC Scheme, have been rescued by the men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun in Kogi State.

Two leaders of the kidnap gang were also arrested by the personnel of the security outfit after the payment of N1 million out of the N2 million demanded as ransom for their release of the corps members.

It was gathered that the victims, who were travelling from Ondo town to Kaduna State for the service, were abducted by gunmen on their way.

The victims include three males, three females.

One of the victims, identified as Blessing Sunday, who is from Ondo town reportedly contacted her relations, who informed the personnel of the security outfit in Ondo of their abduction.

The personnel of the security outfit acting on an intelligence report discovered that the victims were driven to Kogi State by the kidnappers.

The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye in an interview said: “We got a call from a family member of a passenger who is an indigene of Ondo State, from Ondo town that one of their family members, who was on her way to orientation camp in Kaduna State had been kidnapped.

“ As at that time, it was late in the night. Hours after the incident, we succeeded in getting the number with which the kidnappers used in contacting the family of the victim, demanding N10 million ransom and we did the tracking immediately.

“We got their location which showed that they were somewhere around Ijara in Kogi State, not too far from Kabba.

“We deployed our men from Ondo to the nearest local government to the location in Kogi State, who worked alongside the security agency over there for a successful operation.

“We were there for almost two days, mounting pressure on them. We did lots of tracking to get to their location.

“They wanted N10 million, but we were able to reduce it to two million naira. We stylishly agreed and asked them to send an account number to which the money would be sent. 

“We sent N1million into the account and tracked the owner of the account. We realized it was a First Bank account in Kogi State.

“We went after the Kidnappers and with the support of the DPO of the affected area, we succeeded. Adeleye said that “eventually, two suspects were arrested, including the one who owns the account in which the money was paid into in Kogi State.

The commander pointed out that the two suspects have been handed over to the Kogi State Police Command, while the six victims were rescued unhurt.

He added that “We were able to discover three locations and we realised that the victims are right in the middle of the kidnappers and we ensured that they were rescued unhurt".

Nollywood stars mourn gospel singer, Prince Chinedu Nwadike

Yul Edochie, Uche Ogbodo, Rita Edochie among others have expressed sadness over the death of popular gospel singer and actor, Prince Chiendu Nwadike, who was best known for his single, “God of Vengeance.” 

The 39-year old singer died Sunday from blood cancer after he underwent a successful kidney transplant in Abuja. 

He was expected to be transferred to India for treatment of blood cancer before his sudden demise. 

The sad news was broken by his friend and President of Darlington Ibekwe Organisation, Darlington Chidera Ibekwe, on his Facebook page.

Also, taking to his Instagram page to mourn the singer, Yul Edochie said God knows the best, adding: “I’m glad I did the best I could.” 

Nwadike, he said, gave up before all the money raised could be used for his treatment, and they cannot question God.

He wrote: “Rest well my bro, Prince Chiendu Nwadike. God knows the best, I’m glad I did the best I could. Sadly, you gave up even before the money raised could be put to use. We cannot question God. He gives and He takes. May God grant your family the strength to bear the loss.” 

Actress Rita Edochie wrote, “Chiendu Nwadike is gone" on her Instagram page while actress Uche Ogbodo described the singer’s demise as a "sad one.” 

The late singer was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and was admitted at the Zenith Medical Centre in Abuja. 

Before his death, Nigerian celebrities rallied around the singer after a video of him soliciting financial assistance from prominent Nigerians to pay his medical bills surfaced online.

Nwadike, who was popularly known as ‘God of Vengeance’ and ‘Oku Gbajea Aka Ji Ngozim’ was a dancer with the face and stepping of a woman. His last album was “The Breeze of Heaven.” 

The late singer also featured in some Nollywood movies, acting alongside actors and actresses like Ebele Okaro Onyiuke, Rita Edochie, Zulu Adigwe, Okechi Diamond, Bamidele Udemmadu, Zubby Michaels among others. 

Nwadike claimed that before he started singing, he relied on dancing for other musicians to make ends meet. Some of his hit songs include ‘God of Vengeance’, ‘Afo Ngozi’m’, ‘Marry Me, ‘I do.’

He was also a special assistant to former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha on mobilisation and a former member of Imo State pilgrim board. He was married to Dorah Nwadike and they had three children.

Culled from Vanguard