The Harbingerngr News

Two persons have reportedly died from cholera in two local government areas of Adamawa State. Eleven cases of the disease have been confirmed in Shelleng and Guyuk council areas and some adjourning towns and communities in four other local government areas. A statement by Dr Celine Laori, Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health stated that the ministry received a report of suspected cases of cholera in Shelleng and Gyuku local government areas. Laori added that the ministry swung into action and collected samples of about 98 persons in over 20,000 populated communities for testing, 11 persons were confirmed positive while two persons died from the disease. Laori, while calling on all partners to give technical support to complement government efforts geared towards containing the out brake advised the general public to maintain base hygiene and sanitation as well as ensure food and water are kept in safe places. She said: “Government has already dispatched a quick response

The suspects. TWO men, Emmanuel Thompson and Joshua Godwin, have been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for gang-rapping an 18-year-old girl (name withheld). According to a statement in Abeokuta, by the command’s spokesman, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspects were arrested following a complaint lodged at Ogijo Divisional headquarters by the victim. According to Oyeyemi, the victim reported that she boarded a commercial motorcycle at about 8 am on Tuesday, from the MRI Company area to Ogijo bus stop, but on their way, the rider who carried another male passenger with her suddenly diverted to another route, while the other male passenger threatened to kill her if she didn’t cooperate with them. Oyeyemi said: “She complained further that they forcefully took her to a room in a house in the area, where two other men were waiting for them. “On getting there, the two men they met in the room and the accompanied male passenger took turns to have sex with her forcefully. “Upon the

The suspect. ..as court remands him in prison A 23-year-old man, Vincent Awonugba, has been remanded at the Olokuta prison for allegedly killing his 68-year-old grandmother, Florence Olaoye, over food. The accused was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder at a magistrate’s court, sitting in Akure, Ondo State. Vincent was arrested by the police for allegedly killing the deceased with a knife on August 6, 2022, at her home in Labata Orimolade, Ondo town. Vincent, whose plea was not taken, also appeared in court without any legal representation. Police prosecutor, Abdulateef Suliaman, told the court that the defendant stabbed the victim on her neck during an argument about the rate of food consumption and his suspicious movement. The offence, according to the police prosecutor, Suliaman , contravenes Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. Suliaman prayed the court to remand the defendant to a correctional centre pending legal ad

The suspects. *Police arrest man over alleged theft of mother’s car An attempt by 21-year-old Temple Samuel to sell his boss’ car and phones has been foiled following his arrest by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command. The suspect with his three accomplices were arrested in the Ogba area of Lagos at the point of selling the stolen car. Samuel, who worked for his boss at a car wash stand in the Egbeda area of Lagos, slept over as usual in his boss’ house last Saturday, only to drive the Lexus ES 330 car away, at about midnight, when his boss was fast asleep. In the car were his boss’ two mobile phones: iPhone X and iPhone 13, from which he withdrew N75,000. Luck ran against him by 8 am, the next day, as a team of RRS operatives swooped on him and his accomplices while the car was being evaluated by a buyer. During interrogation, Samuel said he intended to sell the car and use the proceeds to process his travelling abroad. He said: “My boss has b

From left: Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa; Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Fredrick Oladeinde, and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr, Gbenga Omotosho, during a news conference on the update on commercial motorcycles (okada) ban, in Lagos. ...as Lagos commences enforcement LAGOS State Government , has insisted that there is no going back on the ban of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, that commenced from September 1, 2022,adding that  riders and passengers risk three years jail term for violation. The state government had banned Okada operations in four additional Local Government Areas, LGA, and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs. The four additional councils and six LCDAs affected include Kosofe LGA, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Isolo LCDA, Ejigbo, Shomolu LGA, Bariga LCDA and Mushin LGA, Odi-Olowo LCDA. Speaking at an inter-ministerial media briefing on preparedness for commencemen

From left, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, All Progressives Congress Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, Plateau State Governor and Director-General of Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organization, Simon Lalong and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State when Tinubu led APC chieftains on a courtesy visit to the former president in Abuja. THERE are indications that despite the insistence of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to continue its lingering strike, the Federal Government is set to reopen shut universities. According to sources in the Federal Ministry of Education, the academic staff are not the only set of workers in the university system and since non-academic staff are ready to go back to work, the universities should no longer be shut. According to the source, “Moreov

The suspect. A 39-year-old man has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping his friend’s wife on her matrimonial bed in Surulere area of Lagos. It was gathered that the incident took place last week Monday at about 2:00 a.m when the suspect allegedly burgled the apartment of the victim and unlawfully had sexual intercourse with her. The victim said that she was sleeping with her husband on the same bed in their apartment when she felt she was being made love to. She said: “I was sleeping with my husband on the bed around 2:00 a:m when I felt somebody was making love to me. Initially I thought it was my husband, until when I unintentionally stretched my hand and touched my husband who was deeply asleep beside me. “I immediately woke up my husband, who switched on the lights and he saw his friend having sex with me. It still baffled us how he broke into our apartment without us noticing.” The woman said the man blamed his action on drunkenness. “He claimed that he missed his way

A middle aged man has been arrested by operatives of Kogi State Police Command for killing his friend, Kehinde Ajayi, and burying the deceased body in his (suspect) house in the Felele area in Lokoja, the state capital. The suspect (name withheld) was said to have killed Ajayi on July 24, 2022, who just bought a Toyota Sienna car with number plate LSD 228 HJ. Police said the arrested killer, who is an air conditioner repairer, tricked the late Kehinde at about 10 am of that day to go along with him to celebrate the new car he (Kehinde) just bought. It was gathered that the late Kehinde, the suspect and some other persons went to an unknown place for the celebration (proposed by the suspect) but was never seen again. Police said: “When the family of the late Kehinde reported their missing brother to the Police, one of his friends (culprit) was arrested last week and he made useful information about what happened to the late Kehinde. After killing him, the suspect went away with his car.

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar (2nd left), joining the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu (2nd right), to raise the hands of former Governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, representing Kano Central (middle), during Shekarau’s return to the PDP in Kano. Applauding are Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP and governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Chairman, PDP's Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin (right). Former Kano State governor and incumbent Senator representing Kano Central senatorial district, Ibrahim Shekarau, has explained that his decision to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is the final outcome of the Shura Committee, formed by his supporters.  Shekarau explained that he was not after any position or office, but working to protect his integrity, dignity and freedom, as a citizen.  This came as PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said t

*Obi/Datti media office tackles Alake  *Says no basis to compare Obi with Tinubu *I’ll name my preferred presidential candidate soon — Rivers gov  *Says I know who can rescue Nigeria  *As Tinubu meets Osinbajo, Amaechi, others Loyalists of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, yesterday, expressed displeasure over the presence of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the London meeting Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies had with presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, despite being reportedly committed to their cause. In a related development, the Obi-Datti Media Office, yesterday, dismissed as jaundiced, remarks made by Mr. Dele Alake, a spokesman of the APC presidential candidate, to the effect that Peter Obi had nothing to show for his eight years as governor of Anambra State. This came on a day Governor Wike said he will disclose his preferred presidential candidate, ahead of the 2023 elections soon. It

TWO widows, Mrs Martina Osom and Mrs Rose Akon were Saturday tortured to death by youths in Ebbaken community, Boje, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State over witchcraft allegation. An eye witness, a son-in-law to one of the widows, told Vanguard that both women were returning from early morning prayers when the youths accosted them, accusing them of initiating a member of the community into witchcraft. “They met my mother-in-law within the church environment, as it was her tradition to weed and clean up the church vicinity every Saturday immediately after the morning mass. “The youths accused her of initiating a member of the community into witchcraft and she denied the allegation but they went ahead beating her and asking her to confess that she is a witch but her passionate appeal that she was innocent fell on deaf ears.” He said another woman, Mrs Rose Akom, was also tortured alongside his mother-in-law over the same allegation. “They were both tied with strong ropes and

The General Overseer of Prayer Tabernacle Ministry at Kamurum Bajju in Kaduna State, Mr Enoch Sule, who allegedly raped and impregnated two sisters, has been remanded in prison by a magistrate's court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State. An NGO, Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre, reported the matter to officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the local government area. A local official said: “The sisters are pregnant while the accused who is the General Overseer of Prayer Tabernacle Ministry, Kamurum Bajju, was charged by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for raping two sisters contrary to section 258 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law. “When the case came up for mention, the prosecutor, Marcus Audu, told the court that the atrocities committed by the pastor were reported to the NSCDC by the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Kafanchan on August 8, 2022. “Mr Audu told the court that the pastor initially deceived the older sister, who is 19

Scene of the explosion. There was anxiety along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday, as a truck laden with gas went up in flame beside the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Camp. It was gathered that the incident occurred at a gas station where many gas trucks were parked as a spark was noticed from one of the trucks’ batteries, which resulted in an explosion, which made many people scampered for safety as the fire raged and affected some other trucks parked at the scene. Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who was among the first responders at the scene, said: “The agency responded to distress calls and upon arrival discovered an explosion, which had subsequently affected adjoining trucks in the compound. No loss of life or injury was sustained." Culled from Vanguard

Flood covered Biu-Damaturu road. THE  flood that ravaged parts of Borno State, Sunday, reportedly claimed the life of a pregnant woman, while passengers of three Volkswagen saloon cars are still missing. It was gathered that the incident occurred after a  downpour, which destroyed a small uncompleted bridge between Buratai and Miringa communities situated along the 120km Biu-Damaturu road. An eyewitness said many passengers and motorists were stranded as others made a u-turn and passed the night in bushes of Buniyadi town of Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. It would be recalled that the Biu-Damaturu road is the only route that remained safe and accessible to people, travellers and farmers living in Maiduguri while travelling to Biu, Hawul, Shani, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo local government areas of the Borno State, as the Maiduguri-Damboa Biu road has remained a nightmare due to activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP in the past six years. One of the survivors, John Audu, who advised the d

The suspects *Say morgue operator not licensed, building not certified  *As state govt gives morgue operators Sept 9 ultimatum to register THE operator of the morgue where about 23 mummified bodies were discovered recently along the Ekenwan Road axis of Benin City, the Edo State capital Gabriel Chukwu Otu is not a certified mortician. Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of investigations, Olawore Oluwole, who disclosed this, yesterday, said 10 suspects have so far been arrested and interrogated. Oluwole said the 23 mummified bodies and one dismembered body without a skull suggest an unlawful possession. He noted that during the investigation, the police interfaced with medical personnel, lawyers, members of the public, representatives of Benin Traditional Council (BTC), families of those who deposited corpses and pathologists. The DCP said the situation was a case of alleged ritual act practice, adding: “The prime suspect, Gabriel Chukwu Otu, is with the police and has made a state

Matthew Kukah. By Owei Lakemfa The year 2018 was one of self-examination for Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari who flew in on the wings of change had been in power for three years and the situation had simply become far worse. The inflation rate when he came in was 9.01 per cent, shooting up to 15.68 per cent the following year, and 16.52 in 2017. Virtually all the over 165 integrated special schools for the Almajiri out-of-school children established by his predecessor had been closed. The government had deliberately exacerbated the ethno-religious challenges in the country by appointing almost all the security chiefs from one part of the country and from a particular religion, thereby violating the Constitution and sharpening divides in the country.  Buhari had in September 2015 vowed to end the Boko Haram terrorist insurgency within three months. However, three years on, he was virtually the only human who believed the thriving Boko Haram had been ‘technically defeated’ as far bac

By Nwachukwu Nwachukwu Sweeping hardship has turned Nigeria into a desperate and dangerous space. With frustration, anger and emotion boiling over, it takes only a little to grow a mob and nearly nothing to whip the people into a threatening frenzy. Scapegoating is pervasive. Victims are lynched before their fault is ascertained. Perhaps, it is an escape from the harshness of everyday reality , which provides a sort of catharsis from chilly horizontal corruption, insecurity, among other vicious indices that kept the nation on its knees. The recent Senate Public Accounts Committee red herring on the N17 billion which went missing from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, between 2012 and 2013 was one such opportunity for a public release. A decoy in itself, the Senate played on the collective short memory of Nigerians to elicit national uproar . How it was able to regurgitate and garnish anew, a decade-old financial infractions, serially investigated and punished, is an exerc

Scene of the accident. One person died while three others sustained injuries in an accident, yesterday, at Osoro junction in Ore, Ore- Benin expressway, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. It was gathered that the accident involved a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with number plate, Lagos FKJ 535 HP and a DAF truck with number plate, Lagos KRD 422 XB. Mr Sikiru Alonge, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Unit Commander in Ore, who confirmed the accident, said the driver of the Land Cruiser SUV lost control because of overspeeding and rammed into the stationary truck on the roadside. He said one female adult died in the Land Cruiser, with three occupants while two others sustained injuries, including the truck driver. Alonge said the corpse had been deposited at the morgue of Opeyemi Hospital in Ore, while those injured were also taken to the same hospital. Culled from Vanguard

Operatives of  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested Ohiagu Sunday, a cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos,  who leads a drug syndicate at the international wing of the airport. NDLEA in a statement by Femi Babafemi said: “Ohiagu was nabbed on August 23 following the arrest of an intending passenger on Air Peace flight to Dubai, UAE, Obinna Jacob Osita, with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of cannabis Sativa weighing 4.25kg concealed in cassava product, gari and crayfish. “One other person at the airport, who works with Ohiagu, has also been arrested while operatives are after another suspect. “Investigations revealed that a Dubai-based drug dealer recruited Obinna, a 42-year-old native of Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, to traffic the drugs and equally contracted Ohiagu, a 34-year-old airport cleaner from Orlu West Local Government Area of Imo State to create access for the unhindered passage of the tr

Late Samaila Awudu. A 28-year-old National Youth Service member, NYSC, Samaila Awudu, was reportedly killed by gunmen that invaded their Yolde Pate corpers’ lodge in Yola South Local Government Area, Adamawa State, weekend. It was gathered that after he was inflicted with life-threatening wounds by the assailants, he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yola where he gave up the ghost. A corps member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the killers were more than five in number. He noted that when the assailants came, they locked up all the doors of the other corps members before going to Samaila’s room. “They used an axe to cut him and thought he was already dead. Since all the other corps members were locked up in their rooms, there was no way for anyone to come to Samaila’s aide. Maybe they were hired killers we don’t know. Right now, we are all living in fears,” the corps member said. Confirming the incident, Adamawa State NYSC Director, Mr Jingi Dennis, said invest

Onaopemipo Lawal (Atiku). Suspected cultists, has killed a man identified as Oluomo loyalist, in Lagos ambushed a member of Musiliu Akinsanya, MC Oluomo’s led Parks Management Committee, in Owode area of Mile 12, Lagos, and hacked him to death.  The deceased, identified as Onaopemipo Lawal, popularly known as Ariku, was on a motorbike when three suspected cultists stopped the bike and attacked him. From the video of the attack, the assailants were seen hitting him with dangerous weapons such as scissors, sticks and knives until he was motionless. Report had it that  they also shot him and abandoned him in the pool of his blood to die. An eye witnesses  said that while the attack on Ariku was ongoing, two other members of the gang were on the look out to wade off any intruder. When news of the attack reached Ariku’s members at Mile 12, they stormed the scene and rushed him to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead. His death sparked protest as his aggrieved friends took to the street