The Nation Newspaper

Tag: One dead

  • One dead, another injured in Abia accident

    A student of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, was reportedly killed by a hit-and-run driver and another battling to survive.

    The whereabouts of the driver was still unknown as at last night but sources said the Abayi Police Division had already begun investigation.

    The deceased and injured students were simply identified as Solomon and Alfred from Microbiology department.

    Reports at the private hospital said the facility was filed with students who came to show solidarity with their colleague.

    The Acting Rector, Prof. Ezionye Eboh, and spokesman Mrs. Chinyere Eze, could not be reached for comments.

     

     

  • One dead as suspected soldiers attack palace

    •Residents protest

    One person has been confirmed dead during the invasion of the palace of the paramount ruler of Okochiri kingdom in

    Rivers State, Ateke Michael Tom, by suspected soldiers.

    The Chief of Staff of the Palace, Chief Tamuno Akalokpo, who spoke during a peaceful protest at the community in respect of the attack, expressed sadness over the “unprovoked attack”.

    He identified the victim as John Ogbu.

    Akalokpo said a security dog at the king’s guest house where Ogbu worked was also killed by the attackers, while several persons were arrested, and are being held at the 6 Division headquarters, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt.

    He said: “The incident occurred between 3pm and 4pm. Soldiers and policemen invaded our palace. They destroyed many things and carried away some items. They killed John Ogbu and the security dog and arrested some builders at the new palace.”

    Akalokpo urged the Federal Government to intervene by calling for a dialogue.

    He described Tom as a world peace ambassador recognised locally and internationally.

    “Ateke Tom loves peace just like his subjects.”

    Akalokpo said the mastermind of the raid should be brought to book, “otherwise, we will not accept this.”

    The Chairman, Okochiri Council of Chiefs, Jackson Adoki, also called for a dialogue, stressing that “if the Federal Government does not intervene, the community will have nothing to do with the soldiers and police again.”

    He, however, advised the residents to be peaceful.

    The Women Leader, Mrs. Bether Godwin, decried the attack on their monarch, saying the stool he occupied deserved respect.

    Over 5, 000 residents clad in black clothes protested what they termed “unprovocative insult meted out to our king, his kingdom and by extension the community by soldiers.”

    Chiefs, men, women and youths carried placards, chanting solidarity songs to express their grievances.

    Some of the placards read: “Give us ballots, not bullets”, “Stop unleashing terror on Okochiri kingdom”, “Respect our king please”, “Our king is an ambassador of peace, not a politician”, among others.

     

  • One dead, two injured in street fight

    One person has died and two injured in a street fight in a community in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

    The Nation learnt yesterday that the incident occurred at Jambutu in Yola North Local Government on Tuesday night during a clash among youths returning home from a party.

    Police spokesman Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, named the deceased as John Jada.

    “Youths returning from a night outing engaged one another in a fight at Rumde Baru in Jambutu. One John Jada was injured and he later died,” Abubakar said.

     

     

  • One dead in Aba building collapse

    One person died yesterday when a three-storey building collapsed on Old Express, off Sameck junction, by Faulks road in Aba, Abia State.

    Another three-storey building on Park road by East also collapsed after a rainfall.

    While the incident at Park road was attributed to use of inferior materials, it was gathered that the building on Old Express collapsed because of persistent flooding which had weakened the foundation. The buildings were locked when The Nation visited.

    As at last night, efforts were still on to rescue a trapped tenant at Old Express.

    Workers at Park road were said to have sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.

    Eyewitnesses said the buildings collapsed after a heavy rain. An eyewitness at Old Express, who identified himself as Chima, said the deceased, a father of three, had escaped from the building but part of its fence collapsed on him.

    He said: “The owner of the building is dead. The occupants are his two wives and other tenants. We learnt that one of the wives noticed that the house was cracking, and she told the tenants to leave.

    “The deceased, we learnt, was held back by his wife, but he eventually found his way into the building saying he wanted to get money for something urgent. He made it alive, but while running out, the fence fell on him and before help could come, other blocks fell on him and he died.

    “The other person trapped inside is a motorcycle operator. I learnt he was resting. We started this rescue operation when he called one of his relatives that he was trapped in the rubbles. So we are trying to rescue him.

    “You need to see the flood here whenever it rains, and this has been happening over the years. We were happy when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu started construction work on this Old Express. But our joy went down when we discovered that the work stopped just by Sameck. We are appealing to him to come to our rescue. We fear that many houses may go this way.”

    Some of the tenants thanked God for sparing their lives, but lamented their loss. They also called on the government and private individuals to come to their aid as they lost a lot of property and valuables.

  • One dead, 50 injured in attack on APC rally

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has said one of its members died in Sunday’s attack on its rally at Ode Alfa Nla in Ilorin.

    APC alleged about 30 vehicles of members were destroyed by thugs.

    Its governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was said to have been hurriedly whisked away from the venue.

    At a news conference yesterday, Kwara Central senatorial candidate Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe said the injured were receiving treatment at different hospitals.

    The conference was attended by Abdulrazaq and party stalwarts.

    AbdulRazaq reiterated that no threat of violence could suppress the people’s resolve to change the status quo.

    According to him, Sunday’s attack was the fourth targeted at him since his convoy was attacked in November by gunmen in Kwara South.

    He said: “You can’t impose your will on the people. What you have are a people clutching at straws. They are drowning men and they are on their way out. They have no answers to the agitation going on in the state.

    “Ilorin has changed; Kwara has changed; people are tired. There were major defections to our party just yesterday in Kaiama. People want a breath of fresh air and their response to that is violence. We won’t join them to encourage violence. We will keep on reporting them to the appropriate authorities because this is our town and we won’t destroy it. We know they are not from here and they don’t care whatever happens to our community.”

    Oloriegbe, who identified the deceased as AbdulRasheed Oloduowo, said: “Even our House of Assembly candidate, Ayinla Ayilara, had his Mercedes Benz and his branded vehicle smashed, as well as other cars belonging to our party members and supporters. The ugly incident perpetrated by well-known marauders and alleged agents of Senator Bukola Saraki happened about noon while our members gathered for the rally.

    “The incident happened in the presence of law enforcement agents but they became helpless when about 50  armed thugs invaded the venue of the rally at Ode Alfa Nda, Pakata road, and unleashed terror on innocent APC members and supporters. The governorship and House of Assembly candidates escaped unhurt because of the tight security around them. In short, the hoodlums had their way as they succeeded in disrupting the programme.

    “We implore our members and supporters not to be dissuaded by the unfortunate incident. We shall not allow Saraki and his cohorts to intimidate us. Let it be known that our preference for APC is a legitimate and democratic expression of our rights to vote for a party, choose our leaders, associate with whosoever we like and ventilate our views to say no to deceit, injustice, inequality and wanton disregard to rule of law.”

    He urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book to prevent a recurrence.

    In another counter-claim on Sunday, PDP alleged political thugs loyal to APC attacked the Agbaji Ilorin family home of Senator Saraki.

    The party said the thugs opened fire on residents, injuring 11 persons.

    It added that the thugs also destroyed about 50 cars at various locations within Agbaji Quarters.

  • One dead, two injured as tricycle rams into truck

    A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard that a passenger died, while two others were injured when a tricycle rammed into a stationary truck at Ajah near Lekki, Lagos last December.

    The police told Magistrate A.M. Olumide-Fusika that the truck driver, Mr. Sesan Koiki, did not warn road users of the broken down vehicle.

    Koiki, 29, was arraigned on a two-count charge of driving on the highway without a valid driver’s licence and failure to display reflective caution signs.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ben Ekundayo alleged that Koiki committed the offence at  Pump and Sell, Ajah Road, in Eti-Osa Local Government around 10pm.

    The court heard that the defendant, who drove a Mack truck with number plate AAA 148 XD caused the death of John Aboti because he failed to place a reflective caution sign to alert people of his broken down vehicle.

    Ekundayo said: “The driver left the truck which broke down in the middle of the road at night without placing any warning sign on the road to alert other road users.

    “The tricycle which the late Aboti boarded rammed into the truck because the tricycle operator did not see the truck in the middle of the road in time. The deceased sat in the front.

    “He died on the spot, while the tricycle operator and one other passenger at the back sustained injuries.”

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 7, 20 and 42 of the Road Traffic Act of Lagos State, 2012.

    Koiki pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Olumide-Fusika granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case resumes tomorrow.

  • One dead, four kidnapped as gunmen attack community

    Suspected gunmen have attacked Sabon Gida town, in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing one person and kidnapping four others.

    The gunmen were believed to be on a revenge mission at the town for exposing their hideout to security personnel last month.

    Findings by The Nation showed that the gunmen, who acquired land and built a house in the community within two weeks, were dislodged by policemen, who acted on a tip-off last month.

    Our correspondent gathered that a vigilance group in the community reported the clandestine movements of the suspects to their chief, who reported same to the police.

    Read also: Troops deployed in Southern Kaduna as gunmen kill 12 in fresh attack

    A resident told our reporter that when the police arrived the village to trail the criminals, there was an exchange of gunshots and the hoodlums surrendered to the superior fire power of the police and ran away.

    It was learnt that the criminals left a message that they would return and attack the community for exposing their acts to the police.

    They fulfilled their promise by attacking the community on Sunday night, shooting sporadically and killing one person in the process. Four persons were abducted.

  • One dead, 28 persons rescued as seven-storey building collapses in Rivers

    NO fewer than 28 persons have reportedly been rescued from the Port Harcourt seven storey building collapse. The building, which was under construction collapsed at the Government Reserved Area(GRA), of the state around 7pm yesterday. Many persons suspected to be workers at the project were trapped in the rubble.

    The state government said the cause of collapse was yet to be ascertained. Efforts are still on to ensure that no one was left in the wreckage till this morning, the statement said. The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Emma Okah, in a statement said: “So far, 28 persons have been rescued, although one is feared dead. The Rivers State government-organised emergency response team is still on the ground and will so be till the last person is rescued.

    Read also: No confidence in election agency, says Wike

    “His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who is on official duty abroad, has directed that no effort or cost should be spared to save all the trapped persons.” Okah noted that the cause of collapse was still speculative, “but Rivers State government has since activated all emergency services to rescue those trapped in the debris. I will keep you updated on developments.”

    Also confirming the incident, the state police command said the officers and other security agencies have taken over the place to forestall break down of law and order. The spokesman of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Suprindentent of Police(DSP), said, “It is true that a seven story building under construction collapsed at the GRA area of Port Harcourt. “As we speak, several persons have been rescued. Efforts are still on to rescue others. Payloaders from the state government, Nigerian Stop Oil Company and that of SHELL have been deployed to the place to ensure those trapped in the building are successfully rescued as soon as possible.”

  • One dead as hoodlums attack passenger bus in Akwa Ibom

    One person has been confirmed dead while three others were injured in an attack on a passenger bus by suspected militants in Akwa Ibom State.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred yesterday at Ikot Mkporikpo portion of the Abak-Iwukem Road in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.

    Some communities in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun have been under siege for over a year.

    Scores of people have report6edly died and property estimated at millions of naira destroyed.

    Police spokesman Odiko Macdon Ogbeche, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police were making efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Etim Ekpo, Chairman Dore, said: “The militants shot sporadically at the bus when the driver refused to stop after it was flagged down by the hoodlums.”

    Another bus, which ran into the scene, reportedly veered off the road, crashed into a building and caught fire.

    Dore said occupants of the bus, said to belong to the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC), bled profusely “because the driver refused to stop and drop the affected passengers at a nearby health centre for treatment”.

    He added: “One of the injured died on the way because the driver was afraid and refused to stop after the shooting. He insisted on reaching safety in Aba before discharging the injured for treatment. But along the road, one died before reaching the hospital in Aba.”

     

  • One dead as security agents storm Delta community

    The police last night confirmed the death of one person in Saturday’s joint security operation in the oil-rich Ugborodo community, Warri South-West council area of Delta State. But community sources said two persons were killed.

    Some properties were destroyed, including that of the Olaja-Orori (Spiritual Head) of the community, Benson Dube Omadeli, and the youth chairman, Ofe Nene, who had been declared wanted by security agents over a previous crisis in the community, which claimed a life.

    Crisis in Ugborodo has become interminable, all resulting from who controls the leadership offices and financial resources of the host community to most of the oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) multi-billion dollars facility as well as the ‘suspended’ multi-billion dollars Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP), in Ogidigben.

    However, last Saturday’s military operation, which was jointly carried out by men of the Nigerian Army, the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), was reportedly targeted at some elements within the community, who had been running rings of oil theft, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

    A statement by the Delta police command’s spokesman, Andrew Aniamaka (DSP), said the operation was in the interest of the community, saying it was raised “to rid the areas of hoodlums, who use them as bases for various nefarious activities, which include militancy, illegal oil bunkering and oil pipeline vandalism”.

    The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, denied having a hand in the military action.

    He said: “The people that are alleging are in Ugborodo, is Ugborodo not our community? Is it meant for bunkerers or kidnappers? Call anybody in Ugborodo, everybody is happy now in Ugborodo now, the police are here. Those were people exchanging gunshots with the police. Am I a soldier, how could I have joined them (security forces)?

    “I am not a soldier that someone will be telling you that I led the army into Ugborodo. I’m the Ologbotsere, if something is happening in my domain, I have the duty to come and see what is actually happening and I am here and found out that the police are keeping peace, returning everybody that had been driven out of the community, which is they are to protect lives and property”, Emami said.

    The Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apoche, said his men were there to ensure law and order while the police moved in.

    “The Police went in there. We only provided security for law and order. I am also not aware there was fracas,” he said.