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Suspected Thugs From Kwara Attack, Destroy LG Secretariat In Ekiti

April 16, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Taking advantage of porous borders, some hoodlums from neighbouring Obbo Auyegunle in Kwara State attacked the Secretariat of Ilejemeje Local Government, Eda Oniyo in Ekiti State on Tuesday.

The early morning attack left some victims, mostly Council workers with injuries, while some residents’ houses were also attacked.

It was gathered that the invaders came on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically which resulted in the destruction of windows and doors of the Secretariat.

They also went as far as attacking some farmers on their farms, destroyed their crops and beat some of them mercilessly.

Eda Oniyo and Obbo Aiyegunle have been in contention over a parcel of land between them despite noticeable pillars demarcating the boundary.

The latest incident, according to report, was ignited by the decision of Ekiti State Government to lease out part of the land to private individuals for farming.

Caterpillars were rolled out last week to clear the leased area during which some cashew trees owned by the Obbo Ayegunle farmers were uprooted.

The Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba J.O. Awolola stated that with the development, there was need for security outfits to mobilize more officers to the community to prevent further attacks.

On his own, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mr Alaba Dada expressed shock over the incident adding that security agents had been mobilized to the town.

He said there is need for the Ekiti and Kwara Governments to meet to settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship.

“How Our Personal Killed His Pregnant Lover” – Nigerian Army, Denies He Was Boko Haram Member

The Source

April 16, 2024

By Charles Igbo

The Nigerian Army has admitted that one of its personnel gruesomely murdered his pregnant lover.

The Army personnel, identified as Private Adamu Muhammad, invited his girlfriend, Miss Hauwakulu Tabra from Biu to Enugu where he is serving. But on arrival, Muhammad, who is, also, from Biu, Borno State, slit his girlfriend’s throat in the night of April 12, and stabbed her on a number of places, including her stomach. Her body was allegedly discovered by the daughter of an officer behind the Officers’ Quarters at the 82 Division, Enugu.

On arrest and interrogation, Private Adamu, service No, 21NA/80/0365 said he killed her because the pregnancy was not his, and that he was not ready to be a father.

A couple of sources insist that Adamu, who was recruited into the Nigerian Army is a repentant Boko Haram member who has not been weaned of the violence and brutality associated with the terrorist group.

However, while the Army admits that its personnel killed his pregnant girlfriend, it strongly Denies that Adamu was Boko Haram, and insists there is no Boko Haram repentant in the Nigerian Army.

Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations who issued statement on Sunday on the killing soldier’s pregnant by the soldier said:

“The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters on 13 April 2024 tilted, “Repented Boko Haram Member Enlisted into Nigerian Army slits Woman’s throat in Enugu Barracks, Hides Corpse.”

“Much as it is highly regrettable that a young lady lost her life in the hands of a man with whom she was in an amorous relationship, the incident should not be latched on to insinuate a laughable claim that the dastardly act was committed by a repentant Boko Haram recruited into the Nigerian Army.

“It is pertinent, therefore, to clear the air on the allegation as insinuated by Sahara Reporters. The NA has at no point in time, either in the past or present enlisted repentant Boko Haram members to its strength.

“However, considerations were given to Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East distinguished themselves morally and patriotically. Such members of the CJTF must have also shown commitment, dedication and loyalty to the service and the nation.

“The sad incident of the gruesome murder of Miss Hauwakulu Tabra by Private Adamu Muhammad occurred on the night of Thursday 11 April 2024 and her corpse was discovered within the barracks on Friday 12 April 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that the late Hauwakulu Tabra was actually murdered by the said soldier, who is presently in detention for further investigation to unravel the motive behind his actions.

“The Nigerian Army extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased Miss Hauwakulu Tabra and also emphatically assert that at no time has the NA enlisted repentant Boko Haram members into its fold as mischievously insinuated.

“The general public should be rest assured that justice will be served, as the NA will not condone any unprofessional conduct or indiscipline within its ranks.”

Bakers Association Blame Russia/ Ukraine War For High Cost of Bread

Akinwale Kasali

April 16, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Bread, a common staple food is now out of reach of Nigerians as the price of the commodity continues to skyrocket. Consumers are at a loss on what to do, are now full of lamentations.

Following this development, the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria, PBAN, has disclosed why the cost is on the rise.

Emmanuel Onuorah, President of PBAN said the volatility of the exchange rate has affected the prices of bread in Nigeria, adding that most of the ingredients are imported.

Onuorah lamented that the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has impacted negatively on the production of bread, as both warring European neighbours are wheat suppliers to Nigeria.

PBAN President made this known on Arise News’ Global Business Report on Tuesday, and stressed that “Bread is a staple. Bread is supposed to be a pick-and-grab food at any location. It’s on the table for the children.

“Bread is a spiritual product, outside of being physical because it does so much for humanity. As bakers, for us in Nigeria, it’s been tough for us.

“Some of the basic materials we use in producing our bread are imported into Nigeria, that is about almost 98 per cent and that’s the truth.”

“ In a country, where you almost don’t have a strong productive base, and at that, everything is dependent on the dollar. When there is volatility in dollar-naira exchange, when (there is) FX issue where naira begins to go down against the dollar, we are in a problem.

“The kind of bread we eat in Nigeria, there is a way Nigerians want their bread, the structure of the bread.

“You know we are the highest consumers of white bread globally. When you go to other places, they take croissants, they take baguettes, and other forms of bread.

“ But, our bread (in Nigeria) comes in certain shapes. It must be sweet, it must be soft, and succulent. If you don’t produce it that way, you’re out of business.

“And this whole thing, 60 to 65 per cent of the whole thing comes from wheat, and most of our wheat comes from Ukraine, Russia, and other parts of the world,” he added.

Budget 2024: Obi Unearths More Insensitive Allocations, Says N15b for NASS Hospital Five Times More Than NationalHospital’s, Others

The Source

April 16, 2024

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, Peter Obi, has continued to uncover some undeserving budget allocations in the 2024 federal budget which says is concerning.

Obi who had in his previous remarks on the budget called for a total review of the budget, has remained consistent that there were various misplacement of priorities and that they all tilted against the poor in our midst.

Obi could not understand how the National Assembly Hospital was getting N15b for one year, five times more than that of the National Hospital and six other premier Teaching Hospitals in the country.

Writing on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State Governor said, ‘I will remain persistent in my expressions of deep concern about the 2024 budget because of its critical importance to the lives of the citizens especially the poor in our midst. I will continue to do so until the end of the year as a matter of patriotic engagement. This is because the many negatives of the budget have far-reaching implications for the development of our dear nation and the well-being of our citizens.

“It is evident that there are items in the budget that do not align with our current circumstances, and it is imperative to call for a review and appropriate virement. Allocating our scarce resources to high-priority areas of need is essential for the well-being of the nation.

“For instance, allocating N15 billion solely for the National Assembly hospital is unacceptable, especially when it exceeds five times the budgetary allocation to The National Hospital or the combined capital vote of our six major teaching hospitals across the nation, namely; University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife; Jos University Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. This disparity reflects a low level of care for the rest of society.

“Similarly, justifying a budgetary allocation of N15.3 billion for the National Assembly library project and procurement of books, including the e-Library, in a country without a National Library is very disappointing. The National Library has been under construction for the past 20 years, and its budgetary allocation for 2024 is less than 1B Naira, which makes the National Assembly Library budget 15 times more.

“Again the National Assembly Library budget is more than the combined budget of the top national universities’ libraries that desperately need the Libraries for research, teaching and learning purposes.

“Furthermore, allocating N10 billion for the Senate’s and House of Representatives car parks and the National Assembly Recreation Centre, while allocating less to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, is concerning. In an era where science, technology and innovation are crucial for the nation’s future, such allocations demonstrate a lack of foresight and basic awareness of global trends and urgent national priorities.

“This level of insensitivity to the present situation and challenges faced by the people should not be tolerated by any development-minded nation.

“Every scarce resource must be directed towards productive sectors of the economy. It is time for our nation to reassess its priorities, revisit the budget, eliminate frivolous expenditures and channel our resources properly for the benefit of the people.

“No great nation is built on a foundation of waste and frivolity.

Kano APC To Drag Those Behind Ganduje’s Suspension To Court For Impersonation

The Source

April 16, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The All Progressive Congress APC Kano State has said that having identified those involved in the unfortunate incident of the purported suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, it is set to drag them to court for alleged impersonation.

At a joint press conference in Kano on Monday, April 15, 2024, by Ganduje Ward and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committees of the APC, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Koko said those who carried out the suspension exercise, from the records of the party are not card- carrying members of the APC.

Alhaji Koko ,who is the Ganduje Ward Chairman also noted that the masterminds of the suspension exercise ,were sponsored by the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP led kano state Government,adding that all party members should disregard the purported suspension order .

“The purported suspension is null and void and would have no effects on the National Chairman. The Ward and Local Government Executives having identified the persons involved in this unfortunate incident ,have already prepared to charge them to court for impersonation and calculated attempt to embarrass and dent the image of the National chairman’ Koko stated

The APC Kano Chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas had earlier, while declaring the said suspension of the National Chairman null and void, affirmed the suspension order slammed on those behind the incident by the Ward and Local Council Executives.

He had also fingered the Kano state Government as being behind the purported suspension exercise.

The Source reports that earlier in the day, some party elders from the Ganduje Ward led by the Legal Adviser Haladu Gwanzo, had slammed an indefinite suspension on the APC National Chairman, citing allegations of bribery and corruption leveled against him as reason.

They insisted that the suspension order would subsist until such a time ,Dr Ganduje successfully exonerated himself from the charges.

Ibadan Invasion: MKO Abiola’s Wife On The Run After DSS, NIA Launch Manhunt

James Orji

April 16, 2024

Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, the woman behind the Yoruba nation activists who attacked the Oyo state government House last week is on the run.

The magazine learnt that Dupe, a widow of late business mogul, Moshood Abiola had a dialogue with her legs after security agencies in the country launched a manhunt for her.

Recall that MKO Abiola died on July 1998 after he failed to realised his presidential mandate which had earlier been annulled by former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida.

The magazine reports that the secessionist group under her leadership attacked the state Secretariat and the House of Assembly with dangerous weapons, hoisted their flag after removing the Nigerian flag before they were eventually overpowered by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

Following the attack on the Government House, Onitiri-Abiola had made a broadcast claiming responsibility. She also declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Yoruba, DRY.

“We are Indigenous people, we’re sovereign people, we’re ethnic nationalists. We’ve decided to secede from Nigeria on November 20, 2022. And today, April 12, 2024, we decided to finally leave Nigeria.

“I, Modupe Onitiri Abiola, proclaimed the sovereignty of the democratic republic of Yoruba today, Friday, April 14, 2024. From today henceforth, Yorubaland has commenced its own republic. By that virtue, it’s now become the newest nation in the world,” she stated on a broadcast shared on many social media platforms.

The incident had elicited wide condemnation across the country, particularly after Prof. Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, the mainstream leaders of Yoruba nation agitators said they were not part of the invasion of the Oyo state government.

Not a few Nigerians have blamed the attack on the failure of intelligence on the part of security agencies for the attack, wondering how a rag-tag secessionist group was able to infiltrate the state without their knowledge.

They wonder could have happened if the mainstream group under the leadership of Prof. Akintoye and Igboho had decided to be part of the attack.

“Governor Seyi Makinde should carry out a thorough investigation to ascertain the motive of the invasion, and the people behind it should be arrested and prosecuted,” Igboho said in a statement after the invasion.

In his reaction Akintoye said “the struggle for Yoruba Nation started in 2019 when the group of Yoruba people gathered in Ibadan and asked me to come and be their leader. It took me over a month before I accepted after I did a research over their demand and I see that it tandem with what Yoruba needs.

“And we all agreed that anything that we would do will be devoid of violence but peaceful process and legally outlined. So, this group that carried out today are not their members”.

The magazine learnt on Tuesday that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given security agencies a marching order to arrest those involved in the attack.

In compliance with the order, the Department of State Services, DSS, Nigerian Intelligence Agecny, NIA, and others have stepped up security across the south west in the quest to arrest Abiola-Onitiri and others who masterminded the invasion, The Source learned from close security sources in the country.

Following the attack on Sunday Igboho Ibadan home in July 2021 by the DSS, and his escape to Benin Republic, the activities of Yoruba Nation agitators have somehow minimised until the attack on Ibadan last week.

My Story: “How I ‘Killed’ Pomo Seller”

James Orji

April 16, 2024

A young man from Imo state accused of killing a cowhide aka Pomo seller, Tope Owoade in Ogun state recently has given his own side of what led to the death of the trader.

The state police command had arrested one Micheal who was accused of killing her neighbour when an altercation ensued between the two of them.

Owoade husband, Isiaka Owoade had alleged that the accused inflicted an injury on his wife during the quarrel which later led to her death.

The husband alleged that the beating led to serious bleeding to her womb, which caused her to be rushed to the hospital, and her death the day after she was rejected by the doctors at the health centre.

Narrating his own side of the story, Micheal said he did not kill the woman, explaining that they only had a confrontation the day before the trader died.

According to him, he and the late Owoade had exchanged words over the table that the deceased used for selling Pomo, stressing that he never touched the woman and was even pleading with her when she was angry that he sat on the table she was using to sell Pomo.

The suspect told the Tribune during an interview that he had left Imo state last year to join his father who sells used children clothes in Ogijo, a surburb of the state last year.

He explained that he joined his father in the business in other to gather money to further his education.

Before the unfortunate incident happened, he said the deceased usually warned her neigbours not to sit on the table she used for selling Pomo.

On that fateful day, he explained, the deceased had got angry after she met him sitting on the same table, saying in her anger she tried to beat him, but suddenly collapsed.

He did not touch her, Micheal stated.

Micheal’s story: “The deceased used to warn us not sit on the table she was using to sell ponmo, saying that if it’s broken, the person responsible for it would repair it. On March 28, I left my father at the market and came home at about 8 p.m. I went to sit on the woman’s wares table to await my father’s return.

“As I sat, a securityman came to join me and sat beside me on the table. The woman had entered her her room in the house we were living. I removed my shirt and singlet to enjoy the breeze while the securityman and I were discussing.

“Suddenly, I got a stinging slap on my back. I didn’t know that the woman was coming from behind. I turned to her and asked why she slapped me, and she replied that she already told us not to sit on the table again.

“The security man and I started begging her but she remained very angry. As she launched at me, aiming to beat me the more, I deftly moved aside to avoid her and she fell.

“At that time, my father got home from market, and when he saw what was happening, he dropped the load he was carrying. The woman got up from where she fell, took a stick and wanted to hit me with it, but it landed on the head of my father who was trying to appease her.

“She started cursing us, saying that if she wanted to cause trouble for me, she would just remain where she fell. The night went on like that until we all went to our apartments.

“I was surprised when I came back on Friday night, on March 29, and the landlord came to me, saying that the woman was bleeding. He told me that the woman called a nurse and had bought medications recommended to her.

“My father was late in coming back from the market that day, and when he came, I explained to him what I was told by the landlord. Later, we learnt that the woman fainted. She was taken to hospital where she was rejected. She was said to have died when efforts were being made to take her to another place. My father and I did not run away. We were later arrested by police.”

Michael was arrested by detectives form the state police command after the deceased husband reported the case at the Ogijo Divisional police station.

The accused is likely to be charged to court soon.

Petrol, Diesel Price To Crash As FG Agrees To Sell Crude Oil To Dangote, Others In Naira

James Orji

April 16, 2024

The federal government has disclosed that indigenous refineries in the country such as Dangote Refineries can now buy crude from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL in naira.

The government made this known on Monday in Abuja the nation’s capital through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.

The commission stated that this is in line with the provisions of Section 109(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, as it relates to the activities for Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation.

This development appears to be a good news to Nigerians who insist that local refineries should be allowed to purchase crude oil from the NNPLC in the local currency. If this is done, they argue, the price of petrol and diesel would significantly reduce.

According to the chief executive officer of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, the stakeholders in the sector which include Dangote, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, representatives of Crude Oil/Condensate Producers, Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria, have agreed that the payment template for crude oil could either be in dollar or naira.

He said: “The commission in conjunction with relevant stakeholders from NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, representatives of Crude Oil/Condensate Producers, Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria, and Dangote Petroleum Refinery came up with the template for the buy-in of all.

“This is in a bid to foster a seamless implementation of the DCSO and ensure consistent supply of crude oil to domestic refineries,” the Chief Executive, NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, told journalists in Abuja.

“The PIA intends to make the implementation (of crude oil obligation) very easy for the parties, both for the producers and refineries. So the answer simply is that the currency for the transaction would either be in naira or dollar. That is the simple answer.

“But we all know that if the transaction is carried out in naira, that itself will free the pressure on the exchange rate. That will help the exchange rate. So that is the intent and besides, the overall intent of the Petroleum Industry Act is to develop our midstream, which is a very laudable provision of the PIA.”

The announcement comes on the heel of the remark of Aliko Dangote that the Dangote Refinery has reduced the price of diesel to petroleum marketers to N1200 from N1800 per litre.

The Africa’s richest man had told reporters after paying the Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos last week, that the prices of diesel and petrol could be reduced further depending on the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar.

What Dangote Said

“In our refinery, we started selling diesel at about ₦1,200 for ₦1,650 and I’m sure as we go along…this can help to bring inflation down immediately,” Dangote told journalists after he paid Eid-el-Fitr homage to President Bola Tinubu at his residence.

“I believe that we are on the right track. I believe Nigerians have been patient and I also believe that a lot of goodies will now come through. There’s quite a lot of improvement because if you look at it, one of the major issues that we’ve had was the naira devaluation that has gone very aggressively up to about ₦1,900.

“But right now, we’re back to almost ₦1,250, ₦1,300, which is a good reprieve. Quite a lot of commodities went up. When you go to the market, for example, something that we produce locally like flour, people will charge you more. Why? Because they’re paying very high diesel prices.

“Now, in our refinery, we started selling diesel at about ₦1,200 instead of ₦1,650 and I’m sure as we go along, things will continue to improve quite a lot.

“If you look at it now, when you are buying ₦1,650 or ₦1,700 for a litre of diesel, and that one has been cut off by almost two-thirds, you are now paying ₦1,200 for diesel.

“Maybe, going forward, even though the crude prices are going up, I believe people will not get it much higher than what it is today, ₦1,200. It might be even a little bit lower, but that can help quite a lot because if you are transporting locally-produced goods and you were paying ₦1,650, now you are paying two-thirds of that amount, ₦1,200. It’s a lot of difference. People don’t know.

“This can help to bring inflation down immediately. And I’m sure when the inflation figures are out for the next month, you’ll see that there’s quite a lot of improvement in the inflation rate. So step at a time. And I’m sure the government is working around the clock to make sure that things get much better.”

But, stakeholders in the sector have now opined that the price of the products should witness a downward trend since crude oil will be sold to Dangote and other domestic refineries in naira.

“What this mean is that the variation in the exchange rate would no longer be a determinant factor for the price of petrol and diesel and other petroleum products. Apart from this, other costs such as freight, insurance, shipping that usually push up the pump price of these product have also been removed, so long that the crude is purchased from the NNPCL,” Alade Samson, an energy expert said.

Ekiti Pays N546.9 Million WAEC Fees

Ayodele Oni

April 16, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

In a bid to prioritize education and ease financial strain on parents, the Ekiti State Government has paid a total of N546,901,000.00 to cover the West African Examination Council/Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC/SSCE) fees for the year 2024.

The amount also covers administrative expenses of all the 16,269 SS3 students in public secondary schools in the State registered for the examination.

Commissioner for Education, Dr. Bimpe Aderiye, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, stressed that no public secondary school is therefore authorized to collect any WAEC registration fees in the State.

Despite the directive, some secondary schools in the state are still demanding for payment of N15,000 by each candidate as administrative charges.

But, Dr Aderiye warned that it would be an act of sabotage for officials of any of the public schools in the State to demand for any fee in respect of the examination.

She also cautioned parents and guardians against paying unauthorized fees, noting that such acts undermine Government’s policy and impair efforts to boost the socioeconomic status of the people.

The Commissioner advised all stakeholders to report any demand for the 2024 unauthorized fees to her office or those of the Permanent Secretaries of Education or Teaching Service Commission.

Reiterating the commitment of the State Government to improving the education sector, Aderiye assured that no stone would be left unturned towards achieving the desired goal.

Umuahia: Outrage Continues To Trail Murder of Hotel Manager By Soldiers

The Source

April 15, 2024

Achimugu James Etubi-Hotel Manager in Abia

By Charles Igbo

The order by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja for a thorough investigation into the gruesome murder in a Hotel in Umuahia Abia, State, has not calmed down the anger of Nigerians who are calling for the dismissal from the Military and trial of all those allegedly involved.

The manager, Mr Achimugu James Etubi, a native of Kogi State, in charge of the food and beverage department of the hotel, was allegedly tortured to death by soldiers.

Trouble started when three Cadets went to the Swimming pool of the Hotel Royal Damgrete, Umuahia, Abia State to swim. But, one of them, an Air Force cadet, identified as CDT Chidiebere, reportedly drowned in the pool.

After Police investigation, the Army invited over four workers of the hotel, including the late Etubi. Sadly, Etubi who had nothing to do with the drowning of the Cadet, just like the three others, died after a harrowing torture meted on him by soldiers, Friday morning, at the at the military barracks.

The NAF Tarmac Four cadet reportedly died on Tuesday in the swimming pool.

According to reports which quoted a source who pleaded anonymity, “Following, his death the Nigerian Army led by one Major Inuwa who was reportedly investigating the unfortunate incident ordered soldiers including one of the Cadet officers who came with late Chidiebere to the hotel swimming pool to beat four hotel staff that were invited for interrogation to stupor.

“The Nigerian Air Force Tarmac Four cadet was identified as Cadet Chidiebere. The death of the cadet officer drew the attention of the state police and it made them begin investigation.

“In the process of investigating the death of the cadet officer, four persons were taken by the Nigeria Police Force for investigations, Mr. James Etubi inclusive. They were detained for a night and were released on bail. But a few days later, the military officers led by one Maj. Inuwa particularly, was said to have invited four persons including Mr James Etubi for further investigations, and threatened the owner of the hotel Mr. Steve Ihendigbo, to release the workers to the army or have his hotel damaged.

“The owner of the hotel now went against the police’s instructions to release them to the military just to save his hotel from attack.

“When Mr. Steve was contacted after the killing of the manager he was scared to give full details for fear of the Nigerian military.

“The family, wife, and kids of the deceased are calling on Nigerians and relevant agencies to join voice and forces for justice in this inhuman treatment that led to the loss of life of Mr. Etubi.”

The hotel owner, Mr Steve said “The Cadet officer came with two others. Two were cadet officers and a navy trainer. They came and parked their vehicle. We don’t know what happened because the deceased Cadet officer didn’t swim in the swimming pool. The next thing the other cadet officer started shouting that their college had drowned. We invited the police and fire service to pump out the water in the swimming pool but they didn’t do anything.

“To our greatest surprise, for about four hours he was reportedly inside the water, his stomach did not swell, and water didn’t come out from his mouth or nose.

“So, the policemen took the body took the body to the morgue and took four of my staff to their station. They didn’t come back till the following morning being Wednesday when they released. The police instead of interrogating the two military personnel that came with the deceased officer, were shading them.

“So, when my staff returned some soldiers led by a lady military police came demanding that they (four staff) should come to their office. In the morning Friday, the four staff went there before even 8 am.

“According to my staff, when they got to the barracks, the lady military police officer ordered soldiers to torture them. One of the cadet officers that was with the late Chidiebere whom we suspect knows what killed his colleague carried a stick with other soldiers and beat brutally. James could not withstand it he collapsed. Seeing what they had done the lady military police officer got a tricycle and told him to take his body back to the hotel.

“Other staff who had already been badly assaulted were telling them that the man was dying. They chased them out with the tricycle operator they had already paid. Instead of coming to the hotel, they begged the tricycle operator to take him to the hospital. When they got to the federal medical center Umuahia, he was pronounced dead”

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