Author: The Nation

Fear has gripped the people of Abor community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State following the mysterious deaths of four family members in the community.

It was gathered that Peter Okolongwu, his wife, Petronilla, their nephew and niece, who were living with them, all died days apart in a strange and mysterious way in January 19, 2023.

The situation forced community members to embark on a search to unravel the mysterious deaths without success.

The deceased who have been slated for burial on Friday, April 14, were said to have died following minor complaints of blurred eyesight.

Peter, whose wife was said to have taken to the hospital, died just two hours after getting to the hospital, The Nation learnt. 

It was further gathered that while Peter died a day after he was hit by a strange illness at the hospital on January 18, 2023, his wife died a day after from similar circumstances at a different hospital, followed by their niece and nephew.

Jolted by the development, the community endorsed autopsies for Peter, Petronilla and Favour, while they buried Boy and reported the matter to the police.

President General of the community, Ozo Bonaventure, told reporters that the matter has also been escalated to the Ministry of Health and the State ‘s Disease Control Agency.

He said: “The entire community was devastated by this tragedy. One thing that was clear to all is that the deaths were strange, as they weren’t sick, but died hours apart.

“To ascertain the root cause of these mysterious deaths and prevent future occurrence, the matter was reported to the police by some family members and a coroner inquest ordered. Some government health authorities were also alerted

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“Officials at the state’s Disease Control Agency came to the community and asked questions; the police also obtained their information. Later the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) officials came from Abuja to the community and took samples from everyone that had connection with the deceased. They thought it could be an epidemic.

“It is more than two months. As I speak to you, none of these efforts have yielded anything. We have not been able to unravel the course of the mysterious deaths. 

“The Disease Control office, Abuja informed us that it was not an epidemic.”

The autopsies, we paid for at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, in the last two months have not produced any results. The hospitals where they died could not give a medical report about the cause of their deaths. We are worried and still seeking answers and solutions.

“I am a Christian, but as I speak to you, some traditional members of the community have gone to make inquiries and came back without answers. We are praying to God to help us because we have not seen this kind of a thing before.

“We are still shocked by the development. When the incident occured in January this year, most members of the community abandoned their homes in fear that it was an epidemic. They returned following assurances from the NCDC officials that it was not an epidemic.”

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of the many challenges facing the nation but remain hopeful for a better future for all Nigerians.

Obi, in his Easter message,called everyone to continue to remember the nation in prayers that God may intervene in the situation of the nation.

The statement reads: “On the occasion of Easter, the celebration of the risen Christ, l wish all Christians a happy celebration and pray that the message and blessings of the resurrection will remain with us. 

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“To our Muslim brothers and sisters who are well into the Ramadan fasting period, which will culminate in the Eid El Fitr, my special greetings and prayers are with you as we look forward to a joyous celebration. 

“Given that we are all united as brothers and sisters, and in our trust in the mercies and infinite benevolence of God Almighty, I urge all Nigerians, particularly the youths not to despair in the face of many challenges and tribulations that we are facing as a country. 

“We continue to thank God for all His blessings on Nigeria and pray for a better and New Nigeria, where equity, fairness, peace, unity,  accountable leadership and prosperity shall reign.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has consoled with the family of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN, who has passed on at 89.

Buhari’s condolence message to the Ajibola family, the government and people of Ogun State, was contained in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

While commiserating with the legal community in Nigeria and worldwide, Buhari noted that the outstanding lawyer and eminent jurist used his God-given knowledge, intellect and talent to advocate for justice, fairness and equity in all his undertakings within and outside Nigeria.

The legendary arbitrator was at different times the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (1984-1985), President, The World Association of Judges, Chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and President, World Bank Administrative Tribunal among other notable accomplishments.

Buhari averred that the late Ajibola, having risen to the pinnacle of his career, took his brilliance in law practice to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, where he served meritoriously between 1991 and 1994. He was also the Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, 1999 to 2002.

“His contributions to the development of our legal system cannot be overstated, serving as the Attorney General and Minister for Justice at a critical period in the nation’s history. His patriotic inclinations, integrity and passion for service and advancement of humanity will continue to resonate after him,” the President said.

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Buhari also sympathised with the government and people of Ogun State as they mourn their illustrious citizen for the educational and social development he brought to his community and environs.

He prayed that the Almighty will grant him Aljannah.

A 34-year-old South American man from Suriname, Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state for bringing 117 parcels of cocaine concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside bottles of 100ml body spray into Nigeria.

Director, Media and Advocacy , NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, the suspect claimed he departed Suriname, located in the North Eastern coast of South America on 2nd April for Sao Paulo, Brazil and from Sao Paulo to Nigeria on Friday 7th April, 2023 on board Qatar Airways flight in search of his long-lost Nigerian father whom he called “Omini.”

Babafemi said NDLEA officers at Tincan seaport in Lagos have also intercepted 110 parcels of Colorado, a strain of cannabis, weighing 55kg hidden in a container marked MSCU 4972769 from Toronto via Montreal, Canada. 

He said the illicit consignment was discovered in the container bearing five units of used vehicles, during a joint examination of the cargo by NDLEA and other port stakeholders. 

The statement reads: “The seizure was part of a total of 1,559.3 kilograms (1.5 tons) of the psychoactive substance seized during interdiction operations in five states in the past week.

While two suspects: Nura Ibrahim, 40, and Habibu Sadiq, 38, were arrested with 120 blocks of cannabis weighing 148.7kg along Zaria-Kano road, Kano on Sunday 2^nd April, not less than

418.5kg of the same substance and a sienna space bus used in conveying it were recovered on Thursday 6^th April at a notorious drug hub, Patey, Lagos Island. A suspect, Azi Solomon was arrested same day at Ojota garage while attempting to move 23kg cannabis to another state. Similarly, two suspects: Abubakar Abdulahi and Stanley Tobias were arrested on Friday 7^thApril with 108,000 tablets of tramadol at Oyingbo motor park in Lagos mainland.

“In Imo, NDLEA operatives on routine patrol along Owerri – Onitsha expressway intercepted a commercial bus from which a total of 37, 210 pills of opioids and 30 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered and three suspects arrested in follow up operations. A total of 40.9kg cannabis was sized from two suspects: Haruna Adamu, 32, and Salisu Ibrahim, 30, in parts of Taraba, just as 502, 840 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect, Imrana Aliyu in Wukari on Thursday 6^th April while 205.6kg was recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect in Gida Dubu area of Bauchi metropolis. The Sokoto state command of the Agency also received 667.6kg cannabis seized by men of the Customs Service along Illela-Niger Republic border.

“While commending the officers and men of PHIA, Tincan, Kano, Lagos, Imo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Sokoto Commands of the Agency for their vigilance and professionalism, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their peers across the country to maintain the current momentum in their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts and even strive to exceed set targets.”