Rivers State Police Command has arrested and paraded one Favour Nweke, who bathed her husband, Ekelediri Nwokekoro, with hot groundnut oil over a squabble.
DAILY POST earlier reported how the housewife committed the crime on Tuesday in Okehi, Etche Local Government Area of the State.
While being paraded at the command’s headquarters along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt on Friday, the suspect confessed to have committed the heinous crime.
She told journalists that her husband recently started behaving strangely, which according to her, was linked to a crime he committed with his friends.
The housewife explained that the squabble began when she confronted her husband over his behaviour and alleged involvement in a crime.
She said, “He will go out at about 2 o’clock in the night and will come back early in the morning. Sometimes he would go, and stay two or three days before coming back, then I asked him where are you even going?
“So his friend called me and asked if I had heard what was on the ground, I said ‘What is that?’ He said my husband and some people were involved in one illegal act. He said they called somebody from Abuja that the person should come and work in Etche, and that they have a contract to give to the person and when the person came they duped the person of N20 million.
“I said he didn’t tell me; that I was hearing this for the first time. I said ‘no wonder this guy has been acting strange, planning on how to travel and go to one African country.’ So this is the reason.
“So when he came back, I grabbed him and said this is what I heard and I confronted him but he refused and we quarrelled. We ended it that day. I then asked him what he did with his own share of the money. I heard some people bought land with their own, so what did you use your own to do?
“As we were dragging that issue that morning, he hit me, I ran into the kitchen with that oil and I poured it on him. That was how it happened.”
She, however, denied the allegations that she was involved in extramarital affairs prior to the incident.
She pleaded for forgiveness, saying she did not know her actions would result in this.
“I feel bad. Had I known that this thing would turn out like this I would not have done it to him. I will just go to my place and stay. I am begging for Nigerians, you people should forgive me”, she added.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi assured citizens that the suspect would be prosecuted and made to face the consequences of her action.
“I can assure you that the law will catch up with her and anybody who tries to take the laws into their hands, will be made to face the necessary sanctions,” Nwonyi said.
Many people were feared dead on Saturday when an electric transformer exploded in Gada Biu community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was learnt that the incident which occurred around 3: a.m. on Saturday also destroyed some residential buildings and shops in the area.
Residents said the transformer had exploded and set fire to the surrounding buildings and shops leading to the death of the victims.
A resident of the community, John Silas confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos on Saturday.
Silas said, “The people of Kabong village in the Gada Biu community woke up this morning around 3 a.m. to mourn the death of four persons. They were electrocuted due to an electric transformer explosion in the area. I understand that more others were trapped in the fire and we don’t know their fate now.”
The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, when contacted, said they were aware of the fire incident and that an investigation had commenced to unravel what happened.
He said, “Yes, we are aware. Some people also sustained injuries and had been taken to the hospital. So, we have deployed our officers and men to the area to investigate the incident.”
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says police personnel who trot guns at Nigerians in order to extort them are not different from armed robbers.
A crypto trader and influencer on X, had dragged the police after his house was allegedly broken into and he was arrested forcefully.
The man claimed the police broke into his estate wearing normal clothes without any search warrant, taking all the men who lived there to the station, questioning them and claiming they were internet fraudsters.
He provided debit alerts where they took some money from him, while stating that they collected a total of five hundred thousand from all the men who live in his estate.
“So Policemen came to my estate yesterday evening around 7PM and packed all the men in the Estate. We all slept in the cell last night for no just reason. When we were called for ‘Questioning’ which was more or less a dictation. They said ‘You Dey do Yahoo’ I denied it because I don’t even know how yahoo works.
“Next thing was to write a statement saying I’m either a Cultist or An Armed robber. We all refused writing statements without lawyers present, so we were forced to sleep in the cell. This morning, over 500k was extorted from us in general,” the post read partly.
Reacting, a user tagged the Force PRO saying, “As PRO of Nigeria Police Force do something to this dirty stuff you mate always do everyday. Police are your friend indeed.
Responding, Adejobi said: “I think we need to get some things clear here. He insisted on seeing a lawyer, and he slept in the cell. Did the lawyer come? Was the money paid in the presence of his lawyer? If the lawyer didn’t come, why didn’t you call someone. Or was your phone taken away from you? He needs to clarify certain things here. Whether police are your friend or your enemy, what was the role your lawyer played.”
In his reaction, another X user shared screenshots of an old comment by the Force PRO, where he condemned extortion by the police.
“You know why I like you, you dey quick forget something. Ire o,” the user captioned the post.
Replying, Adejobi made further clarification on the issue.
He said: “Yes, this still stands. Any armed policeman or security operative who forcefully extorts an innocent Nigerian is as good as an armed robber. Extortion is never part of any agencies mandate, either armed or not. We condemn such, and even the IGP has made it clear.
“The IGP has warned officers not to drop his name to extort or dupe Nigerians and not to take any gift to him. We made an official statement to this effect. You need to read and comprehend comments before you pass any judgement or make condemnation here.
“My comment was clear enough. Must we continue to pay these erring policemen? Are we going to continue this way? In fact, when i read in his tweet that he resisted, i was happy, but he could have resisted till d end. He was with them in the station premises.
“He was not on the road. No one supported the extortion, but he shouldn’t have paid them after his initial moves and resistance. I think my assertion is clearer to you now. Thanks.”
Edo Catholic priest dies of hypertension 22 months after regaining freedom from kidnappers
A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Peter Ebhota Udo, has reportedly died of hypertension 22 months after he regained freedom from kidnappers in Edo State, Reports.
Recall that Rev. Udo, the parish priest of St. Patrick's Catholic Church Uromi in Esan North East Local Government Area of the state was kidnapped alongside Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph retreat centre, Ugboha, in July 2022.
The Priests were rescued unhurt by security operatives on July 6, 2022.
A Catholic Priest, Fr. Kay, who confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post on Friday, October 13, 2023, said Rev Udo survived two kidnappings.
“Dear Rev Fr Peter Udo, the Priest of Impossible Cases, I can't believe you're no more. Life is a mystery. Just yesterday, you wished me happy birthday as I sat typing my morning reflection,” he wrote.
"I had previously wondered why you couldn't make it to my birthday celebration. Unknown to us, you were already struggling with pains. But it is well. You were a man of peace. A joy giver, a light in the dark, and a priest who poured out his entire life for others. An Iroko tree has fallen! But God knows best. You survived two kidnappings, only to be felled by blood pressure? You'll be sorely missed. We love you, but God loves you more. Keep resting in the Bosom of the Lord, till we meet to part no more! Earth's loss is heaven's gain. Udoooooo! Pray for us who are still here. At your Requiem Mass yesterday, men and women of the CONCLAVE WEPT. In fact, Jesus wept too! May God grant your family, friends, and loved ones, the fortitude to bear this great loss. Amen. Requiescat in Pace! Please say a prayer for the peaceful repose of Rev. Fr. Udo Peter,"
Ekas Anastasia, wrote: “You suffered from the hands of kidnappers for days and month and survived, now blood pressure took you away from us. I will forever miss you Fr. peter udo. you were a friend and father to many, you were so compassionate about souls for God, you were a padre with a kind heart, you care about others more than yourself, may God accept your soul and give you rest . Amen, good night padre, good night servant of the most high, till we meet again in the lord,”
“This is very hard to believe ...You were strong this morning and now the sudden news of your demise,who would believe this. You were a great teacher. Earth has lost but Heaven has gained a Treasure...We are comforted by the life you lived while here on Earth. Rest in power great man, Rev. Fr. Peter Udo Ebhota," another parishioner wrote.
An explosion from two tankers loaded with petroleum products rocked the Sari Iganmu area of Lagos, Thursday night, destroying nine vehicles in the resultant inferno. The raging fire sent fear into residents of Moshood Abiola Way, opposite Fashola estate and Ijora, over possible escalation due to spillage of the combustive content.
However, no casualty was recorded according to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, contrary to rumour that several persons were burnt to death. There were however different versions as to how the incident happened. An account said one of the trucks was stationed without a caution to alert oncoming vehicles. Driver of another truck collided with the parked truck and the impact of the collision ignited balls of fire.
Another account said a truck loaded with combustive substance was rolling back when an oncoming one loaded with detergent and sardines collided with it.
The Director Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margret, in a statement issued at 11.20pm on Thursday,disclosed that, “Eleven vehicles were destroyed. They include: two tankers, one tipper truck, three trailers, three cars and two micro-mini buses popularly known as korope.
“While an earlier incident on the Lagos- Ibadan expressway was successfully completed having evacuated the tanker and bus without resulting to fire, same cannot be said with the Iganmu fire outbreak..
“But there was no life lost and no injury recorded, as occupants in the vehicles escaped unhurt. “The raging fire has been curtailed, the dampening of pockets of fire still continues, to allow for investigation that will reveal the cause and the evacuation of the carcass to bring about normalcy”.
Investigations according to her “revealed that a fully laden 45,000 liters tanker experienced a mechanical fault while ascending the quadrapont bridge. This led to its roll back, causing it to hit another tanker and a faulty containerized trailer, resulting in an instant explosion and fire. It is important to reiterate that lives were not lost and no injuries were recorded in this unfortunate accident”, she stressed.
South West Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said 12 high tension poles were also destroyed by the inferno.
Farinloye earlier warned residents of Moshood Abiola Way through Sifax, down to Ijora Under bridge and Apapa to suspend use of naked fire, as it could spark up another fire due to spillage of the product into drainage in their communities. He also advised against the use of streams and tributary of any rivers for washing or bathing .
Hours later, he declared that, “the environment is quite safe now. People can start their normal life by cooking and other activities they wish to do”.
LASG officials visit scene.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Lagos State Governor, Babajjide Sanwo-Olu, visited the scene yesterday to assess the extent of the disaster. Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margret, who received the delegation, led them on a tour of the scene. The ongoing evacuation operation according to Margret, “would lead to the reopening of the Moshood Abiola Way, which connects the dual-quadrapont bridge in Iganmu, Lagos, soon”.