Connect with us


The traditional ruler of Ogbozine Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Stephen Nwatu, has been murdered, Vanguard newspaper is reporting.

Police sources told the newspaper that the traditional ruler was allegedly killed by unknown persons while returning from a court sitting at Nkanu, the local government headquarters, on Monday afternoon.

The traditional ruler, who was accompanied by four policemen, was said to have arrived the court premises when the court had closed and left the premises with the policemen.

Police sources said Nwatu was trailing one of his subjects who had some issues with him when they were waylaid by a group of people and beaten to stupor.

His attackers reportedly disarmed his police orderlies before descending on them.
The Divisional Police Officer for Nkanu West Police Station, who got wind of the attack, was said to have rushed the monarch to Orient Hospital in the area, where Nwatu was given some first aid treatment before he was transferred to the Parklane Hospital in Enugu metropolis, where he died at 9pm on Tuesday night.

However, other sources said some members of the community were going to the Government House, where they had been invited by the Chief of Staff, to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over their matter with Nwatu, when they were blocked somewhere at Amodu, Awkunanaw by the Igwe and some members of the police anti-robbery squad and molested before the fracas, which led to the killing of the Igwe started.

The members of the SARS were said to have abandoned the Igwe when he reportedly ordered his driver to kill anybody on his way to enable him escape.

The driver was said to have overrun one person from Ogbozine, shattering his two legs, before his enraged subjects pounced on him and beat him to stupor, leading to his death.

The late Nwatu was said to have been having series of problems with his subjects who had always accused him of high-handedness, as well as complained of imposition of arbitrary and illegal levies on them.

Meanwhile, the police at Nkanu have recovered one of the riffles snatched from one of the policemen guarding the late Igwe Nwatu.

Policemen and family members of late Igwe Nwatu confirmed that the late traditional ruler died from the injuries he sustained during the attack at Park Lane Hospital on Tuesday.

About 15 houses were said to have so far been burnt in a reprisal attack against alleged opponents of the late Igwe.

It was said that some members of the local vigilante group, Neighborhood Watch, who were loyal to Nwatu, attacked those perceived to be enemies of the late monarch and set their houses ablaze.

Henry Nnamani said two of his houses were burnt while his brother, Moses, lost over 30 drums of palm oil, which he stored in his house, waiting for the period of scarcity to sell them, while Chijioke Okenwa also said that he “lost all that he had laboured for, following the burning” of his house.

Enugu State police Spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the killing of Igwe Stephen Nwatu in a text message to Vanguard.

Amaraizu said: “The (police) command through the operatives of the state criminal intelligence and investigations department have commenced a full scale investigation into the incident with a view to finding out the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as those involved among other things.”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Super Eagles Qualify For 2025 Africa Cup Of Nations

Published

on

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have officially qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with two games remaining in the qualification series.

With 10 points, the Super Eagles have secured a top-two finish in their group, especially after Libya’s unexpected 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

The team will next face Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in Abidjan on Thursday, before concluding their campaign against Rwanda at home.

Neither Rwanda (5 points) nor Libya (4 points) can surpass Nigeria in the standings, ensuring their qualification.

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, reached the final in the last edition hosted in Côte d’Ivoire.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Music Band Boy Commits Suicide After Boss Tortured Him For Stealing “Sprayed Money” [VIDEO]

Published

on

A Lagos young guitarist identified as Lekan, has allegedly committed suicide after being tortured for stealing money from the leader of a music band group in Ogun State.

Lekan, who was pronounced dead by medical experts at a private hospital in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, was found lying lifeless inside his room after drinking an insecticide liquid, “sniper,” to get away from the trauma that trailed the allegations from his boss who was identified as Sam Omo-Oba.

It was learnt that the deceased was tortured and recorded alongside Ayo, another member of the band, for stealing the money realized from their performance at a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) anniversary celebration where they entertained guests and worshippers.

The development has thrown the entire Oke-Aro community in Ifo Local Government into mourning, considering the circumstances surrounding the demise of the 26-year-old guitarist who lived in their community but operated often in Lagos.

On Wednesday, a close member of the family told our correspondent that Lekan was pronounced dead by medical experts on Monday, less than 24 hours after they left the church show on Sunday. The source, who identified himself as Kola, narrated that the family, even after seeing him lifeless still rushed him to hospital with a commercial motorcycle popularly called “Okada.”

“He was rushed to a private hospital to save him but the medical facility rejected the family request which prompted the move to another healthcare facility where the doctors pronounced him dead”.

Kola explained that the theft allegation, which was linked to the young artist’s demise, started after Sam Omo-Oba asked that members of his band who could not go home spend the night in his house.

“But they could not spend the night in his house because he was not allowed into the estate, so they decided to lodge at a hotel close to the community.

“While in the hotel, we heard that Sam and the band members drank and slept in the same room. In the morning, the band boss raised an alarm that Lekan and Ayo had stolen money inside his pocket, demanding they return it immediately”.

It was gathered that the deceased guitarist maintained the innocence of the crime he was being linked to during the torture. In the video making rounds online, Lekan was seen being allegedly tortured over the theft despite denying any link to the alleged crime perpetrated.

In the less than one-minute video, Lekan and Ayo were seen being questioned about who took the money and their responses attracted torture after the answers failed to meet expectations of the band leader.

In another video, a voice, suspected to be that of Sam Omo-Oba, was heard announcing that some notes had been discovered where the deceased and Ayo allegedly hid them.

Analyzing the videos, a resident of Oke-Aro who identified himself as Micheal told The Guild that the deceased was wrongly accused of theft, saying, “I know Lekan, rather than steal would prefer to work to earn his pay daily. And since our paths crossed, I have not earned that he stole from people”.

He added, “The torture and recording may have affected him psychologically that he considered suicide as the next option. I say this because, on his body, there were bruises on him which indicated that the torture was too much for him.

“I know him since he started playing drum under Kehinde Carlos and I have no record of theft linked to him. You can see it that the video showed the deceased insisting that he never took the money from his boss even when he was beaten to accept the allegations.

“The entire issue is sad and I can’t believe that Lekan is gone. I wish that this whole scenario could be reversed to avoid this tragedy. This is a young man with aspirations in the music industry. I know how he aspired to handle musical instruments for the big artists in the country. But now, all the dreams have been shattered”.

Efforts to get the Ogun Police Command spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, to confirm the sad development proved abortive.

 

Credit: The Guild

 

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Doctor, Three Nurses Die In Same Hospital Within 72 Hours In Saki, Oyo State

Published

on

A doctor and three nurses have been reported dead in a hospital in Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State within 72 hours.

According to Vanguard News, this has created panic among residents of the ancient town, particularly around the hospital.

The hospital has been identified as Almusharaf Hospital, Oke Sunah.

A resident of the area, Adekunle Lawal, told Vanguard News: “Three days ago, one nurse died and on Monday another nurse died and yesterday, the doctor and another nurse died.

“We are afraid because we don’t know what caused their deaths.

“The doctor is a quack doctor.

“Maybe all of them treated a patient who has a contagious disease, which, I think, was not well handled.

“It’s a very big hospital.

“They carry out minor surgery on patients and at times they invite doctors from elsewhere to join them.

“If it’s a contagious disease, how come that no patient died but the staff?

“People are also speculating that it could be food poisoning.

“Maybe one of them ate food and gave it to the others to eat.

“We don’t know.

“All these are mere assumptions until those responsible for monitoring these hospitals carry out an autopsy on the deceased.

“None of the patients died.

“It’s only the staff of the hospital.

“All of them have been buried.

“You know they are Muslims.

“Please, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies should step in.”

Continue Reading

Most Popular