Gunmen have killed couple and five policemen at Okpala junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State on Friday. The couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu, hailed from Amankwo Okpala community, Ngor Okpala Local Government Areas of the State. The incident had thrown the junction and the entire community into a state of panic as commercial activities had abruptly came to end. A source who identified himself as Uche and a relative to the couple told our correspondent that the slain cops drove from neighbouring from Abo Mbaise police Division to eat at the junction. He said that while the policemen were eating some gunmen drove to the scene and opened fire on them. He said that while three police were shot dead at the scene, two others ran to a nearby shot but their attackers raced to the shop killed them and equally killed a couple who owned the shop they ran into. The eyewitness disclosed that after killing the policemen, the gunmen carted away their five riffles. The distraught source said ” it is a black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8am shot five policemen dead at Okpala junction. The policemen drove in a white coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise division to eat at the junction. “As they were eating gunmen drove to the place and opened fire on them. Two out of the five policemen ran to a nearby shop where a couple sell meat pie and sachet water. After killing the three policemen, they came two the shop where the two other officers were hiding, killed them. They also killed a husband and wife that owned the shop. “They took away their rifles and drove off. This is so unfortunate. Our community is bleeding. Everybody is confused. The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. They market is shut. People have ran away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.” Another source, Dominic Okpor told our correspondent that he saw the lifeless bodies of the cops on the road when he drove through the Owerri – Aba Road. Okpor said” this is horrible. The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. God have mercy. When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye confirmed the incident. Okoye said that police operatives have taken over the entire.community in order to arrest perpetuators of this dastardly act. The PPRO said normalcy will be restored in that area no time. Recall that last month, gunmen also killed five officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the same Ngor Okpala LGA.

  The immediate past governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has lost his mother, Dorothy Ihedioha. A statement issued by the ex governor on Friday disclosed that his mother died in Abuja on Thursday at the age of 90. The statement read “after a fruitful and eventful life of God’s abundant mercies and grace, our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Dame Dorothy Nsonma Ihedioha (Nee Okereke) gloriously transited to eternity on Thursday 20th April 2023 in Abuja, with her family by her side. “Mama celebrated her 90th birthday on 28th August 2022. While we thank friends and well wishers who identified with us, particularly during our mother’s last days, we enjoin you to remember the family in your prayers.Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.”

  Dr Fred Ekpe Ayokhai, the Senior Lecturer with the Federal University of Lafia, who has been standing trail at the High Court Obi in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has been convicted and sentenced to serve jail term of six months. Dr. Ayokahi was sentenced in a case No. NSD/LF233c/2022 between him and the State Commissioner of Police over criminal conspiracy, House breaking, abduction, voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation and assault against one Blessing Mathias, 20 years old, has been in detention since 22nd October, 2022 at the Nigeria Correctional services in Lafia. The suspect was first arraigned in court, alongside three others before the State Chief Jude, Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu, where the case was assigned to Justice Solomon W. Ayenajeh of the High Court Obi. Those arraigned with the Varsity Don are Emmanuella Ayokahi, Bob-Praise Ayokahi and Saint-Dan Ayokahi, as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, who are all his children, while one of the accomplices, Vera Ogbonnaya is still at large. After several processes filed, issues joined and witnesses taken on the case with exhibits, the Counsel to the 1st to 4th defendants, A. U. Idris Esq had approached the court of an offer for plea bargain, after his clients have pleaded guilty to the crime charged. It was gathered that, both the parties involved in the case of Dr. Ayokahi and Blessing Mathias have consented to the plea bargain agreement, where charges against the 1st and the 4th defendants are amended. The convict and the 2nd to 4th defendants were hitherto charged with two count charges of criminal conspiracy and physical assault with canes and sticks, contrary to sections 96 and 264 and punishable under section sections 97 and 265 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Northern Nigeria, 1963 respectively. Presiding over the matter today, April 20th, 2023, Justice S. W. Ayenajeh convicted the 1st defendant and sentenced him to jail for six months for criminal conspiracy and another six months for assault. The judge however said that, the sentence will run concurrently in consideration of his plea. Justice Ayenajeh said, the six months period, which Dr. Fred had been in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service will be reckon with. He added, consequent upon the plea bargain and taken into cognizance the ages of his children, the 2nd to 4th defendants were however let-off under a six months probation order for six months’ Justice Ayenajeh order that, within the six months period, they 2nd to 4th defendants will be tax with keep the premises of the Nasarawa State High Court of Justice clean and will also be of good conducts, while the third defendant was admonished to shave his dreg locks. Dr. Fred Ayokahi, when given the opportunity to talk, he thanked his Lordship and parties in the matter for the consideration and the leniency accorded him. The convict however drew the attention of the court that, as a father and teacher in the federal institution, he was not and has never been found wanting in the discharge of his duties, that he has taken further step to compensate the victim, Blessing Mathias as part of his consent for the plea bargain. The prosecuting counsel and the State Attorney-General, Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana said, the step taken by the government was to provide for the defendant the second chance in life, particularly the children who are still coming up with bright future.

  The Federal High Court on Thursday granted bail to Chude Nnamdi, a social media influencer, after his arraignment on a charge of cyberstalking a business mogul, Emeka Offor. The judge, Gladys Olotu, granted him bail in the sum of N10 million. She also ordered Mr Nnamdi to produce one surety, who must be a level 14 civil servant or a resident of the FCT with verified landed property, as part of the bail conditions. The judge also directed that the surety must deposed to an affidavit of means This came after Mr Nnamdi was arraigned on a cyberstalking charge. He denied the charge. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector-General of Police charged Mr Nnamdi as the only defendant in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/130/2023. In the amended charge dated and filed on 17 April, the police alleged that Mr Nnamdi, on 13 March knowingly and intentionally sent a message through a tweet from his Twitter handle ‘Chude’ by means of computer system and network. “That you know to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to the person of Dr. Emeka Offor and thereby commit cyberstalking punishable under Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT, 2015.” Mr Offor, whom the defendant allegedly cyberstalked, wields a lot of influence within business and political circles. Hearing Earlier when the matter was called for arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Victor Okoye, informed that he had an amended charge. Mr Okoye, therefore, made an oral application to substitute the initial charge filed in March with the new charge. But Gabriel Chikwado-Eze, who appeared for Mr Ndamdi, opposed the request. Mr Chikwado-Eze argued that Mr Okoye could not arraign Nnamdi on the fresh charge, having not been served with it earlier. He added that since the existing charge had not been served on them, Mr Okoye could not validly amend it. Mr Okoye disagreed with Chikwado-Eze on the ground that Nnamdi had never been arraigned before. But the judge, Ms Olotu, granted the application by directing Mr Nnamdi to be arraigned on the fresh charge. The defendant pled not guilty, and the prosecutor applied that he be remanded in prison pending the conclusion of the trail. But Chikwado-Eze objected to the application on the grounds that the offence, which he was charge with, was a bailable offence under the law. He also argued that Mr Nnamdi had been on administrative bail for over a month and had not flouted the bail.conditions. The lawyer urged t court to grant him bail. The judge granted the request and adjourned the matter until 17 May. NAN reports that Mr Nnamdi was arrested in Anambra and transported to Abuja by officers attached to the police cybercrime unit. The police later said the matter was linked to a tweet by Mr Nnamdi that allegedly cast Mr Offor, a billionaire businessman, in an odious light. In the tweet, the defendant claimed that Mr Offor had been engaged by the president-elect to beg Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, to accept the result of the 25 February election. The tweet read: “So @officialBAT called Emeka Offor to beg Peter Obi to accept the rigged result. “If he is sure the people voted for APC and he won the election, why is he running around pleading with everyone to help beg Peter Obi to accept the result?”(NAN)

  The prices of items used in preparing jollof rice increased by 9.7 percent between September 2022 and March 2023. In its latest report, titled ‘The SBM Jollof Index: Remaining Within a Vicious Cycle’, SB Morgen (SBM) analysed factors responsible for surging prices of food items. The index covers major food items used in making a jollof rice; such as rice, curry, thyme, seasoning, groundnut/vegetable oil, turkey/chicken, beef, pepper, tomatoes, salt and onions. According to the report, poor climate conditions, insecurity, and poor policies are some of the reasons for the increase in prices of foodstuffs in Nigeria. “Nigeria is facing a persistent food insecurity crisis that is continually aggravated by insecurity, poor policies, adverse weather conditions, and international events such as the recent Russia-Ukraine war,” the report reads. “This alarming situation stems from various factors, including unstable food-producing regions, inadequate storage infrastructure, and a lack of agricultural commercialisation. “Policies ostensibly aimed at reducing food imports over the past years still have a lingering effect, and increased energy tariffs have further exacerbated the problem. An ill-fated currency exchange attempt worsened what was already a bad situation.” The SBM report showed the national average cost of making a pot of jollof rice across the 13 markets in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. According to the data, during the period in view, the cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice rose from N9,917 to N10,882, representing a 9.73 percent spike. “From September 2022 to March 2023, the cost of making a pot of jollof rice increased in every market. Port Harcourt experienced the highest percentage increase at 22.7 percent, followed by Calabar Municipal at 14.7 percent, Bayside Mbakpa at 13.7 percent, and Kano at 13.3 percent,” SBM said. On the month-to-month examination, the research firm explained that the costs of foodstuffs generally increased from September to January. “The most substantial spike occurred in November, with a 6.6 percent increase. Between September and October, the index saw a more modest growth of 1.81 percent, while January experienced a 0.88 percent increase,” the agency added. “This upward trend shows that the prices of essential ingredients for jollof rice have increased. The period between September and November saw long petrol queues across the country, which led to supply chain disruptions and inadequate supplies of food ingredients. “As the fuel scarcity failed to ease, the prices of items like rice and chicken increased in November as preparations for the end-of-year festivities began, which are often.” ‘NIGERIAN JOLLOF MORE EXPENSIVE THAN GHANIAN JOLLOF IN Q1 2023’ This year, SBM expanded its report to include two cities — Accra and Kumasi — in Ghana, West Africa’s second-largest economy, as part of a broader regional edition. The organisation said the jollof index now aims to provide a clearer understanding of “food inflation across West Africa and provide a basis of comparison that ordinary people and sophisticated observers alike can quickly intuitively use across multiple countries”. “From the data, it can be observed that the price of Nigerian jollof has been increasing over time, with fluctuations. The price started at $13.42 in July 2016 and increased to $24.23 in March 2023,” the report said. “In the only three months for which Ghanaian jollof data is available (January to March 2023), the price started at $23.94 and increased to $24.14. “When comparing the Nigerian and Ghanaian jollof prices in these three months, Nigerian jollof is slightly more expensive than Ghanaian jollof, but using the official Nigerian exchange rate, a country-by-country price list of a popular fast-food chain, Chicken Republic, with branches in both Ghana and Nigeria shows that the price of Ghanaian jollof is higher.” SBM urged the federal government and stakeholders to address the issues of price fluctuations and ensure food security for Nigerians. The research organisation said there is a need to focus on improving agricultural productivity, addressing supply chain inefficiencies, and implementing measures to curb inflation.

  The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested two gunmen in Kano state. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, said in a statement that the gunmen were arrested on Thursday. Afunanya said the operatives seized two AK-47 assault rifles; two empty AK-47 magazines; a red boxer motorcycle; and a sack of yams in which the guns were concealed. He said the suspects were in transit to deliver the arms for a planned attack in one of the states in northern Nigeria. He said the development underscores the need for citizens to be extra vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious movements, persons, or acts to security agencies nearest to them. “Operators and patrons of fun, hospitality, and tourism centres are enjoined to be cautious during the festive periods,” Afunanya said. “They should scale up measures to ensure the safety of their facilities. “However, the service wishes the Muslim faithful, peaceful and joyous Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. “It pledges to work with sister agencies and other stakeholders to emplace adequate security during and after the events.”

  President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension from office of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), of Adamawa State, pending the completion of investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the conduct/actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State.   This directive was contained in a statement by Willie Bassey, Director of Information for the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. According to the brief communique, the President also directed the immediate investigation and prosecution, if found liable, of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, by the Inspector General of Police. Similarly, the President has directed investigation by the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), of the role of their officers in aiding and abetting the conduct/actions of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari and if found culpable, appropriate disciplinary actions, to be meted out to them.

  A Family Court in Iyaganku, Oyo State on Thursday ordered that a 14-year-old boy who allegedly defiled a 22-month-old baby to be remanded in the Agodi correctional facility. The police charged the boy, a minor with defilement. The chief magistrate, P. O. Adetuyibi, did not take the plea of the minor for want in jurisdiction. She ordered the police to send the case to the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the matter till July 20, for mention. Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Oluwakemi Arowosaye, told the court that the suspect resided with his parents in Ibadan. She alleged that the boy defiled the baby between March 31, and April 3. She said that the baby, an orphan, was left in the care of her sister. The offence, she said, contravenes Section 34 of the Child’s Right Law of 2006. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the baby has been taken by the Oyo State Child Welfare Department of the Ministry for Women Affairs. (NAN)

  Friday 21 April 2023 No secret meeting between INEC staff, Adamawa officials – Commission NBS to release new unemployment figures May Gov poll: Kogi East, West protest as Bello anoints kinsman Eid-el-Fitr: Buhari, Tinubu, Obi, NLC, others felicitate Muslims, call for unity Marwa, Kyari, Onanuga others make Tinubu’s 14-man inauguration committee Zelensky congratulates Tinubu, invites him to Ukraine Sallah: IGP orders tight security nationwide Don’t allow our leader Nnamdi Kanu die in detention, IPOB member tells Buhari Adamawa Guber: Buhari Approves Immediate Suspension Of REC Hudu Yunusa Ari Troops Kill 63 Terrorists, Free 150 Kidnap Victims – Report Twitter Removes Obi, Tinubu, Atiku, Others’ Verification Badges Abure challenges court’s jurisdiction to hear suit seeking his removal ‘Buhari has failed woefully’ — Ortom replies presidency over comment on Benue killings Report: How insecurity, naira scarcity caused spike in food prices between Sept and March DSS arrests gunmen ‘heading to deliver arms for attack’ in northern state Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  A robbery suspect has been killed in a gun battle with police operatives in Nekede, Owerri Imo State. According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson in the State, Henry Okoye said a follow up to a distress call received on Tuesday evening, from the Command’s Emergency control room that robbery was on going at Sokotext Lodge, along Amaeze Road, by Federal Polytechnic Nekede back-gate, Operatives of Nekede Police Divisional Headquarters swiftly mobilized to the scene. Okoye said, “The hoodlums opened fire on sighting the operatives, but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the police who engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel that led to one member of the armed robbery syndicate being neutralized and others escaping to the adjourning bush with various degrees of gunshot injuries. “On searching the surroundings, the following items were recovered; one (1) Locally Made Pistol, one (1) machete, one mask, criminal charms, four (4) laptops, three (3) power banks, one IPhone, three (3) pairs of canvass, two (2) bags, clothes and beverages and a pair of palm slippers. The corpse was recovered and deposited at Federal Medical Center Owerri. “Meanwhile, discreet investigation is ongoing and concerted effort is intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and bring them to face the full wrath of the law. “The Commissioner of Police CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde PSC (+) while commending the operative for their courageous display of gallantry, assertively stated that the command will not relent in flushing out all criminally minded elements from the state. “He then charged the Command’s Operatives to sustain the tempo in stemming down the tide of arm robbery in the State and beckons on the well-meaning residents of the State in particular Hospitals, Clinics and other first aid outlets to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injury in their vicinity to the nearest Police Station or via the Command’s emergency lines 0803773600 or 08098880197.”