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News_Naija

NSCDC Detains Officers Accused Of N5.2m Extortion

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has announced the detention of officers accused of extorting N5.2m from a traveller. A statement by the NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale, on Wednesday, held that the suspects have been ordered to be moved to Abuja for a thorough probe. The development follows the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordering an immediate investigation into the alleged extortion. The NSCDC officers were seen in a viral video extorting some men travelling from Ado-Ekiti to Akure. The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, was quoted as describing the officers’ actions as “unprofessional” and a “flagrant breach of the Corps’ Code of Ethics and Standard Operating Procedure.” The statement further read, “Following the directive of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for an immediate investigation into allegations of extortion involving officers of the Corps, the Commandant General has ordered the immediate detention of the alleged officers. “He further directed that the culprits be whisked down to the Corps national headquarters, Abuja, for detention, to pave the way for the disciplinary committee set up to carry out a full-scale investigation into the alleged extortion report.” The Commandant General said the management of the NSCDC awaited the outcome of the investigation, promising to deal decisively with the officers if they are found guilty of the alleged offence. Audi urged the public to continue working with the Corps by sharing relevant information, assuring that Nigerians had no reason to fear being subjected to intimidation or extortion. He assured of accountability and transparency, asserting that the NSCDC would not protect any officer found guilty of corruption. It would be recalled that the corps dismissed at least 15 officers over what it described as “disgraceful conduct.” Similarly, 16 others were sanctioned for various offences related to “gross misconduct” in 2022 alone, following approval by the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Board.

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40-year-old Woman To Face Trial For Raping Bauchi Boy

The Bauchi State Police Command has said it would arraign in court a 40-year-old woman, Fatimah Ibrahim found raping a 12-year-old boy. Following a tip-off by a resident, the police arrested Fatimah of Tashan Jama’are, Katagum Local Government Area of the state for raping Abubakar Yakubu (not his real name). The boy, engaged by the woman to assist in her business, was subjected to “inappropriate conduct” for over two months. The Bauchi Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil said the victim narrated that given a lemon juice mixture before sexual acts. “On March 1, 2025, at about 14:00 hours, a concerned citizen from Katagum Local Government Area reported a serious incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Azare. “During an interview, the victim described how the defendant, who he trusted as a maternal figure, engaged him in acts of a sexual nature, especially when her other visitors were not present. “He recounted being given a mixture involving lemon juice, which he believes may have been tampered with before these incidents occurred. “The victim indicated that he had been subjected to such behaviour on multiple occasions,” Wakil said. Wakil added that the victim, an Arabic pupil, was reportedly housed at the defendant’s residence, where he faced sexual bouts. The police spokesperson stated that, upon interrogation, the defendant admitted to her actions. “Once the investigation is completed, the suspect will undergo profiling and be charged to court for the established offence,” Wakil added.

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Nursing Students Mourn Classmate Found Dead In Cross River Drainage

Staff and students of the Federal College of Nursing Sciences, Calabar, have expressed shock, and grief following the discovery of the lifeless body of 23-year-old Elizabeth Ukah in a drainage channel. The body of Ukah, a student of the college, was found along Musaha Umoh Okon Street in the Ekpo Abasi area of Calabar South Local Government Area, Cross River State, on Saturday. However, her identity was not immediately known, prompting residents to alert the police. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, upon arrival at the scene, turned the body which was faced down and launched investigations to discover the deceased identity. Journalist Agba Jalingo, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, revealed that the deceased was suspected to have been swept away by flood while returning home. According to Jalingo, Ukah had attended the Good Friday Mass and participated in the Stations of the Cross at Holy Family Catholic Church, Big Qua Town, near Marian Market, Calabar. “A dead body of 23-year-old Ukah, a female student of the Federal Nursing Science College Calabar, was found in a drainage five days after Good Friday,” Jalingo wrote. “The deceased was suspected to have been swept away by flood while returning home from attending Good Friday Catholic Mass and taking part in the Stations of the Cross at Holy Family Catholic Church, Big Qua Town.” Ukah hailed from the Ohong community in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. Images obtained by our correspondent show the body of the young woman lying motionless and partially covered in debris near the mouth of the drainage. A video lasting over three minutes also surfaced online, showing her grieving classmates performing a final farewell ceremony in her honour. “We believe that we will also be here one day,” one student said during the ceremony. “On this special day, I believe that we are set to bid our final farewell. We are praying that the soul of our late Nurse Elizabeth Ukah rests in perfect peace.” A heartbroken teacher also expressed sorrow over the loss, saying, “It came to me like a shock just this morning. It is saddening that I could lose a student who was one of the most peaceful in the class. I will not question God. “He knows why He took her away. I pray that God gives her perfect peace in the name of Jesus.” Hundreds of students, male and female, joined the mourning procession, singing dirges and paying their final respects to Ukah. When contacted on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, Irene Ugbo, told PUNCH Metro that the incident had not yet been reported to the police. “We are not aware at all. Nobody has reported it to us,” she said. “I also read it online that it happened during the rain. It would be so pathetic if the incident truly happened. I will dig into it to see what happened,” she added.

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Mother Seeks N22m For Daughter Suffering Chronic Kidney Disease

Mrs Rhoda Nwachukwu, mother of 16-year-old Colette, diagnosed with advanced chronic kidney disease, has appealed for N22m for a kidney transplant for her daughter. In a statement made available to PUNCH Metro, Nwachukwu explained that the resort to public appeal became expedient as the family had exhausted its available resources on Collete who is on twice-weekly dialysis session each costing N150,000. So far, she said Colette has undergone 19 dialysis sessions, running into several millions of naira, apart from regular nephrology consultations.  “We’ve sold everything we have. I’ve done all I can as a single mother. We are barely surviving now. Even if I saved my salary for 20 years, I wouldn’t be able to afford N22m. “We are relying on God and the goodwill of people. My daughter deserves a chance to live,” Nwachukwu pleaded. She recounted that Colette was initially admitted to the Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos for a persistent fever until she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. “The diagnosis came as a devastating shock to the family. She has always dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. She’s brilliant and determined. She used to top her class and always talked about saving lives. Now, we’re just trying to save hers,” she said. The family appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, organisations, and government agencies for financial assistance to enable Colette to undergo a life-saving kidney transplant. It provided the account number for donations thus: “FCMB, 1028191249, Nwachukwu Colette Oghenekome.”