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News_Naija

Suspected Cultists Shoot YABATECH Student Dead

The police have arrested seven suspects after a yet-to-be-identified student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, was shot dead in a suspected cult-related attack. PUNCH Metro learnt the incident occurred on Tuesday shortly after students concluded their examinations for the day. Our correspondent gathered that the deceased was heading towards the back gate of the institution when some armed men accosted him, pulled out a gun and shot him at close range. A student privy to the incident told PUNCH Metro that the incident threw the campus into panic as students, who witnessed the shooting, scampered for safety. The student who did not want his name in print due to the sensitive nature of the incident said, “The student had just finished writing his exams and was heading towards the back gate when some boys approached him and shot him twice on the spot. The whole scenario happened very fast.” Another student, who craved anonymity, said the assailants recovered a firearm from the deceased. “The incident looked more like a cult attack because the victim seemed to have been armed before he was killed. We learnt immediately the boys shot him, they searched his bag and recovered a gun and a bullet. They also made sure he was dead before they left.” Our correspondent gathered that a similar incident occurred on the school premises the previous week. A source in the school linked the attack to an ongoing rivalry between cult groups on campus. The source said, “The killing was in retaliation for a shooting that occurred last week. One suspected cult member was shot but he survived. So this looks more like a payback,” the source claimed. When contacted, the spokesperson of the Yabatech, Adekunle Adams, said the incident did not occur on the premises of the institution. He said, “The incident occurred but not in the college. It happened at a lounge close to the college. There is no cult-related incident in the college, nothing of such.” The Lagos State Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the deceased was shot by rival cult members. He added that seven suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime, while the investigation was in progress. He said, “On Tuesday at about 3 pm, a distress call was received at Sabo Division that a suspected cultist was allegedly shot dead by a group of suspected rival cult members in the Yaba area. “Upon receiving the report, a patrol team was swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the deceased was found lying in a pool of his blood. “On close observation, visible marks of violence suspected to be bullet wounds were seen on the body while four rounds of live ammunition and some charms were recovered from the deceased’s pocket at the scene. The corpse has been evacuated and deposited in the morgue for autopsy.” The incident occurred barely 24 hours after a 16-year-old boy, identified simply as Mustapha, was killed by a stray bullet during a suspected cult clash at Oyingbo in the Ebute Metta area of the state. PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred during a peace walk organised by some youths in a bid to address rising cult-related violence in the community. It was gathered that the walk had just concluded when an argument broke out among them resulting in a shootout that led to some casualties. Similarly, residents discovered the bodies of two men on Sunday, one of whom had been beheaded in a cult-related attack in the Idimu area of the state. PUNCH Metro learnt that the killings occurred late Saturday night, but the corpses were only discovered on Sunday morning along Oladun Road.

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News_Naija

Ogun Arraigns Monarch For Land Grabbing, Assault

The Ogun State Government has arraigned the Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Owolabi before Justice Sunday Adeniyi of the state High Court, Abeokuta for land grabbing. Oba Owolabi, a member of the Egba Traditional Council, is currently on suspension over the same allegation. In a statement on Wednesday by the Ministry of Justice, the royal father was said to have been arraigned on Tuesday “for conspiracy to sell property without authority, sale of property without authority, unlawful use of agents, forceful takeover of land, assault of a police officer, and obtaining by false pretence.” According to the statement, which affirmed the monarch’s presumption of innocence, Oba Owolabi was accused of laying an unlawful claim to 500 acres of land within Obafemi Owode town and deceiving a developer, one Dr Michael Adeyemi, into paying him N75m for the land. The government alleged that Owolabi never remitted the sum to the landholding families and also placed thugs on the land who macheted one individual, while he attacked an officer from the state task force against land grabbing. The statement added that the government took several steps to call Oba Owolabi to order, saying that he ignored a July 2024 summons by the State House of Assembly, choosing instead to file two suits in court, which the Ministry of Justice defended. The statement continued: “Oba Owolabi withdrew those cases subsequently but never submitted to the House’s investigations. The House Committee would eventually recommend that Oba Owolabi should be prosecuted for land grabbing. “Under the leadership of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, the Egba Traditional Council summoned Oba Owolabi several times, but Oba Owolabi defied those invitations. “The Ethical Committee of the Egba Traditional Council also engaged Oba Owolabi to no avail. Thus, on 13 December 2024, the Egba Traditional Council suspended Oba Owolabi from his office as Olu Obafemi for conducting himself in a manner entirely unexpected of a traditional ruler. That suspension is still in effect.” The statement indicated that although Oba Owolabi perfected his bail conditions, his trial remains ongoing, while the Ogun State Government remains committed to seeing justice done. “We would like to assure all members of the public to keep faith with our efforts to restore sanity to land administration in Ogun State and to draw confidence from our resolve to prosecute Oba Owolabi. “As long as it is in our power to do so, we will resist all land grabbers, no matter how highly placed they appear to be,” the statement held.

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Easter Tragedy: Gombe Donates N2m Each To Bereaved Families

Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, on Wednesday, announced a donation of N2m each to the families of the five persons who lost their lives during an Easter procession on Monday. The fatal incident claimed the lives of five persons leaving 21 others hospitalised. Yahaya announced during a condolence visit to Billiri Local Government Area. Speaking at the palace of the Mai Tangle Danladi Maiyamba, the governor expressed heartfelt sympathy, describing the incident as deeply saddening. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and speedy recovery for the injured. Yahaya said, “No right-thinking individual would ever wish such a tragedy upon others. “This is one of those moments that reminds us of the fragility of life and the ultimate will of the Almighty God, which no man can question.” He also pledged to cover the medical bills of those currently receiving treatment in hospitals across the state. Yahaya lamented that this incident marked the third of such tragedies in recent times, following accidents during both Christian and Muslim celebrations. He consequently called on security agencies and community leaders to draw lessons and implement better strategies to prevent future occurrences. He cautioned against any acts of lawlessness in the wake of such tragedies, emphasising the need to uphold peace and lawful conduct. “While we grieve, we must remain law-abiding. Resorting to self-help or taking the law into one’s hands will only worsen the situation, and security agencies will not stand by and allow such actions to go unchecked,” the governor cautioned. In response to an appeal by the Chairman of the Gombe State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Shinga, for the release of those arrested in the aftermath of the incident, the governor instructed the Commissioner of Police to fast-track the review process and ensure their prompt release. The governor affirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace in the state. He assured of the safety of all residents, regardless of religious or ethnic background. Speaking further, he also urged organisers of public/ religious processions to always liaise with relevant authorities and adhere to laid-down procedures to ensure the safety of participants. In his remarks, Rev. Shinga thanked the Governor for his swift intervention and generosity, while also reiterating the Christian community’s commitment to peace. Also speaking, the Mai Tangle, Dr Danladi Sanusi Maiyamba, said the Easter accident shook the entire Tangale Chiefdom but was quick to acknowledge the proactive steps taken by the state government which, he said, helped to prevent further escalation of tensions in the area. One of the grieving family representatives, Bakari Bawasa, expressed deep appreciation to the governor for the financial support and care shown during their difficult time. Earlier, the Chairperson of Billiri LGA, Hon. Eglah Idris, praised the governor’s empathetic leadership and swift response, describing it as a “balm of comfort” to the grieving community. “Your Excellency, your visit and timely intervention reflect your compassionate leadership, deep empathy, and commitment to peace and justice in Gombe State. We are truly grateful for your constant support, especially in our times of need,” she said. Meanwhile, the Tangale Community Development Association has urged the state government to probe the death of the five persons including three females and two males. TCDA in a press statement signed by the Chairman Comrade Danladi Bako, blamed the security agencies for not providing adequate security to the procession. “The Christian Association of Nigeria had written to get approval for the procession but the security agencies were only watching while the tragic event occurred. If they provided security they should be at the front and behind the procession,” he said. Bako faulted police claim that the crash was a result of brake failure. He added, “As for the laughable statement from the police, we have the following observations. Considering video evidence that contradicts the police statement, we hereby submit that their bias against the victims is clear. “First, the statement insinuated that the truck veered off the road due to a brake failure. This lie was the crux of the press release by the Gombe State Police Command, via the PRO. “On the contrary, video evidence shows otherwise. The vehicle drove straight into the unsuspecting celebrants from behind them. The driver was inside the truck, the driver did not tap on his horn to draw attention, and the vehicle came to a complete stop on the main road after mauling the victims. “Secondly, the statement by the police states that “The vehicle tragically ran into the crowd, including some Muslim residents who were observing from the roadside,” is a blatant lie aimed at creating acrimony between Christians and Muslims. No Muslim was affected in this incident. The vehicle ran into the people in procession. Some pictures and videos shows what happened. “Thirdly, questions regarding the culpability of the police must be addressed. The Easter Monday Procession is an annual event in Billiri town; despite that fact, each year the police division in Billiri is notified about the event – this year was no different. So, we ask, where were the police officers on traffic watch? Why did the police at the state and zonal levels repeat the same statement about mechanical/brake failure before conducting any investigation? How did the police know it had anything to do with brakes? If the police want to explore, we will provide video evidence that counters their position (some videos have already gone viral on social media). Please, stop treating us as fools.”

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News_Naija

Kwara Seeks Identification Of Lifeless Body Recovered From Asa River

The Kwara State Ministry of Environment is seeking formal identification of the lifeless body of a man found floating on the Asa River in Ilorin, the state capital. Men of the State Fire Service on Tuesday night, recovered the corpse of the man, said to be about 45 years old. The discovery was in following up on a report of the incident by officials of the state Ministry of Environment. The ministry officials had alerted the Fire Service to the discovery of the body floating on the Asa River. The spokesperson for the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, in a statement on Wednesday, said, upon receiving the report, a team of firefighters deployed to the scene, successfully retrieved the body from the river. “The incident was reported by officials from the Kwara state Ministry of Environment, who arrived at our operational centre in a vehicle with registration number 17B-D4KW. They discovered the body floating on the river and immediately alerted the Fire Service. “Upon receiving the report, a team of firefighters was swiftly deployed to the scene to prevent potential environmental hazards. The crew successfully retrieved the body from the river. “The recovered body was subsequently handed over to the Ministry of Environment, which is now awaiting formal identification and claims from the deceased’s family,” the statement read. The statement quoted the director of Kwara State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, as urging the people of the state to prioritise safety and be more careful in their day-to-day activities. He particularly warned parents to desist from sending underage children to fetch water in domestic wells.”