A man, Nicholas Metson, 28, who dismembered his wife’s body into over 200 pieces and then enlisted a friend to help dispose of her remains in a river, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years. Metson fatally stabbed Holly Bramley, 26, at least four times in March 2023 before dismembering her and storing her body parts for a week in the kitchen larder at their shared flat in Shuttleworth House, Stamp End, Lincoln. According to foreign news platform Independent.co on Monday, Metson admitted to the murder and was sentenced to a minimum term of 19 years and 316 days at Lincoln Crown Court. His friend, Joshua Hancock, who aided in disposing of Bramley’s remains, received a three-year and three-month prison sentence, along with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. Sentencing Metson, His Honour Judge Simon Hirst of Shuttleworth House, Lincoln, said, “The cause of death cannot be established given how you treated Holly’s body after you killed her.” Bramley’s remains were found by an individual who, initially mistook them for animal remains, before discovering human hand in the river on the evening of March 25th more than a week after Ms. Bramley was last seen entering her flat on March 17th. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that some of Holly Bramley’s remains, including parts of her heart, were never recovered. Initially, Nicholas Metson denied the charges of murder. However, he later changed his plea to guilty before the trial commenced.   Before Bramley’s remains were discovered and during her period of absence, Lincolnshire Police visited the flat she shared with Metson. At that time, Metson informed the authorities that his wife had departed their residence on March 19th in the company of two individuals from a local mental health crisis team. Upon entering the flat, officers detected a “strong smell of bleach and ammonia” They also spotted a saw resting on a towel, bloodstained sheets within the bathroom, and a large bloodstain on the bedroom floor. Following the revelation that Metson’s account regarding his wife’s disappearance was deceitful, law enforcement arrested Metson and charged him with murder and perverting the course of justice. A thorough examination of Metson’s mobile phone revealed Google searches, including inquiries such as “How to get rid of a dead body”, “What benefits can I get if my wife dies” and “Does God forgive murder”. Metson had also sent a message to Hancock, residing at Walnut Close in Waddington, during the early hours of March 25th, offering him £50 in exchange for Hancock’s assistance with an unspecified “job.”

  No fewer than three persons have been reportedly killed in a resurgence of cult clashes between rival cult groups in Awka, Anambra state capital. In one of the deadly attacks, traders and passersby at Eke Awka market were shocked as the cult groups unleashed mayhem on each other, resulting in the death of one person while others escaped with serious injuries. “They were pursuing themselves. Around Eke Awka market, the tricycle at the front got stuck in the traffic, and one boy inside it alighted and started running” “Two boys in the tricycle behind also jumped down and pursued him. He ran towards Parkers’ area along Ziks Avenue, and diverted into a road by the right, into a mechanic workshop” “The boys pursued him into the place, dragged him out and shot him to death. The incident caused pandemonium, and people were just running in all directions”. a source said. Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga however said the command had not received any information of cult clash as at the time of this report.

  Benue State has recorded an increase in the mortality rate of Lassa fever, as no fewer than 63 people have lost their lives. In a similar vein, the state is ranked the highest in tuberculosis within the North Central Zone and sixth across the country. The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, disclosed this during a press conference held in Makurdi on Monday to commemorate the 2024 World Health Day The Commissioner disclosed that over 50,000 members of the most vulnerable population have been enrolled into the State Health Insurance Scheme under the basic health care fund programme across the state. He further said that 5,500 Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) have also been enrolled in the Health Insurance Scheme, thereby optimising healthcare delivery to the most vulnerable of the vulnerable. The Commissioner stressed the need to establish a state-of-the-art Molecular Laboratory to enhance state disease surveillance and response capabilities. He said, “Our fight against tuberculosis and TB is ongoing, with the State ranking 6th in the country and 1st in the North Central zone. “We call upon all stakeholders across sectors of the Government, international partners, the private sector and civil society to join hands with us in consolidating our efforts to strengthen our health system to cope with the ever-increasing needs of our large population. On Lassa Fever, the commissioner said that 820 cases were received, 63 confirmed, with 16 deaths, while two persons were on admission and in very stable condition. The Commissioner added, “We are responding to the largest Fever outbreak in the history of our State”, adding that their capacities are stretched, particularly as the state lacks a functional public health Molecular Laboratory Also speaking, the Regional Director of the World Health Organisation for Africa (WHO), Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who was represented by Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim, WHO State Coordinator, stated that consideration of vulnerable groups must be assessed. He maintained that their needs ought to be purposefully integrated into health programmes at all levels to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Care (UHC). “We know that many in our region still need help with access to quality essential health services due largely to unfulfilled rights. This is further compounded by protracted and ongoing crises such as conflicts, climate change, food security, disease outbreaks, and epidemics. “The number of people aged 15 and over living with HIV is still high, at an estimated 24.3 million in 2021 (3.4% of the total population), compared to 15.6 million in 2005. This reflects the continued transmission of HIV despite reductions in the incidence of newly infected people and the benefits of significantly expanded access to anti-retroviral,” the WHO Director decried.

  Anambra State Government has adopted the United Nations (UN) stipulations for schools to end daily academic activities by 2.30 p.m. The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, made this known in a statement on Monday in Awka. Chuma-Udeh said that the adoption was to enable schoolchildren to have adequate rest and interactions with their parents daily.   “The adoption is in line with Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s desire for school children to have adequate rest and interaction with their parents before commencement of the next day’s activities. “All school heads in the state are to adhere to this directive and ensure closure of all daily academic activities at 2.30 p.m.,” she said. According to the official, the new closing time will enable schoolschildren to be at home by 3.00 p.m.

  Pope Francis has denounced abortions and the carrying of children by surrogate mothers as grave offences against human dignity. In a declaration of principles published by the Vatican on Monday, the head of the Catholic Church also described gender reassignment and “gender theory’’. Pope said gender theory is an offence against what he said was the God-given dignity of human beings. A human being whether unborn or not is always something sacred and inviolable, according to the document. The termination of a pregnancy means nothing other than denying human dignity to the “most defenceless’’ beings. The Vatican’s latest declaration draws a parallel between abortion and surrogacy when a woman carries a child on behalf of someone else and then gives it to them after the birth. In this way, the declaration says, a child becomes a “mere object’’ and the dignity of the woman is violated for reasons of profit. The Vatican as an institution has taken a clear stance against gender reassignment. The declaration, called Dignitas infinita (Infinite dignity) was published after years of preparation by the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith under the leadership of Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández. Francis had previously approved it. The topics addressed in it also include war, poverty, migration, human trafficking and violence against women.

  Gunmen dressed in military uniform on Monday morning whisked away the Rivers State governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement in the 2023 general election, Sobomabo Jackrich, at his residence in Usokun in Degema Local Government Area of the state. Also, it was gathered that two of his loyalists found when his residence was raided around 3am on Monday were shot dead by the assailants, and their remains were taken away along with Jackreech. Jackrich, popularly known as ‘Egberipapa’ was a former militant leader who embraced amnesty during the tenure of late President, Umar Yar’Adua. When contacted, Jackrich’s media aide, Soibibo Sokari, confirmed the killing and the kidnapping of his principal to our correspondent. Sokari stated, “Yes it is true he was abducted this morning. Two persons were killed, and their bodies were carted away along with him. We are still following up on the incident to get more details. “We don’t know exactly who is behind it. But as the details unfold, we will let the public know about it.” Meanwhile, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that it was the military that whisked away the ex-militant leader, saying, “His residence was condoned.” Efforts to reach the acting Deputy Director, Division, Army Public Relations, Lt Col. Jonah Danjuma, proved abortive as he did not pick up calls put across to him as of the time of filing this report. However, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed to our reporter that it was not a case of kidnap but that Jackrich is with security personnel. She stated, “It is not a kidnapping. He is with some security personnel. That is all I can say for now.” Details later…

  Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the house of representatives have asked Umar Damagum, acting chairman of the party, to tender his resignation. The lawmakers made the demand during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. They accused Damagum of anti-party activities. More to follow…