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Four feared killed as gunmen attack burial ceremony in Anambra

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5 months ago

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Gunmen suspected to be cultists on Thursday night attacked a burial ceremony in Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing four persons and injuring about 15 others.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants, believed to be from a rival cult group, stormed the venue on motorcycles while family members were performing the burial rites.

They opened fire on mourners, sending others scampering for safety before fleeing the scene.

“The assailants suddenly invaded the scene of the burial on Thursday and opened fire at the gathering, targeting some people who were present.

“The family members of the deceased and other mourners were performing the burial rites in the compound, when they arrived at the scene and shot at the mourners, while others scampered to safety.

“They came in some motorcycles and after carrying out their deadly mission, immediately left the scene,” an indigene who was near the scene, who did not want his name in print, told PUNCH Online.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, quickly responded, restored normalcy, and evacuated the victims to hospitals.

Ikenga said the Command has commenced a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, adding that preliminary findings suggested that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups.

He said, “Following a distress call in the late hours of September 11, 2025, that armed men suspected to be cultists invaded a burial ceremony at Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, and opened fire on the attendees, resulting in the death of four persons while 15 others sustained serious injuries.

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“Police operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilised to the scene, restored normalcy, and immediately evacuated the victims to hospitals for medical attention. In the course of the operation, 16 expended cartridges were recovered as exhibits.

“The Command has since launched a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, as preliminary findings suggest that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, has strongly condemned the incident and assured residents of the command’s resolve to rid the state of cult-related violence and other criminal activities.

“The Command urges members of the public to remain calm, security-conscious, and to continue to provide useful information by reporting suspicious movements or persons to the nearest Police formation.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” the statement added.

This latest incident comes months after PUNCH Online reported that seven people, including five police officers, were killed in January when gunmen invaded a compound in Ihiala LGA during preparations for another burial.

It was gathered that the family members in the compound were making preparations for a burial ceremony scheduled to be held on January 2, 2025, when suddenly, the hoodlums invaded the place and started shooting sporadically, leading to the death of the victims.

The assailants were said to have opened fire at the gathering, targeting security operatives stationed near the local government headquarters as they fled the scene.

The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who visited the scene to condole with the families of the victims, announced a N10m bounty each for information leading to the capture of each of the gunmen responsible for the killing.

See also  Court Declares Lawmaker Wanted Over Alleged ₦73.6 Million Fraud

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Crime

Pastor Arrested For Hiring Cultists to Kill A Rival Pastor In Bayelsa Over Church Membership

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39 minutes ago

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February 1, 2026

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Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a Delta State–based pastor, Elijah Oro, alongside a suspected cult member, over an alleged plot to assassinate a rival prophet in the state.

Police sources revealed that the pastor allegedly recruited a 21-year-old suspect, Samuel Daniel, said to be a member of the dreaded Greenlanders cult, to carry out the attack. The alleged conspiracy is believed to have stemmed from a lingering dispute over church membership and property.

Confirming the arrests in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said the operation was based on actionable intelligence. He disclosed that both suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation in connection with the alleged attempt on the life of the unnamed prophet.

According to Mohammed, “On January 28, 2026, at about 10:35 a.m., operatives of the SWAT Unit arrested Samuel Daniel, 21, from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community, and Pastor Elijah Oro, 59, of Ozoro Community in Delta State, in connection with an alleged plot to kill a prophet.”

He added that preliminary findings showed that Daniel was apprehended at the residence of the targeted prophet, where he reportedly confessed to being a member of the Greenlanders cult and admitted that he was allegedly contracted by Pastor Oro to execute the plan.

The police spokesperson said investigations are ongoing to fully unravel the circumstances and motive behind the alleged plot, assuring that all those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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NAPTIP rescues 10 minors after intercepting suspected child traffickers in Taraba

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1 hour ago

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February 1, 2026

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The Taraba State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has intercepted a suspected human trafficker and rescued 10 minors in Jalingo.

The State Commandant, Mr Bako Amos, disclosed this in a statement issued to Journalists this weekend.

He disclosed that the arrest followed actionable intelligence received by the agency.

According to Amos, the interception was carried out at about 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Kurmi Park in Jalingo, in collaboration with the Special Adviser to the governor of Taraba State on Human Trafficking, Mrs Sarah Ishaya.

“The suspect was apprehended while making preparations to traffic the 10 children to an unknown destination,” he said.

Amos added that both the victims and the suspect are currently in NAPTIP’s custody, while investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the trafficking attempt.

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EFCC Arraigns Alleged Serial Fraudster, Titilayo Eboh, Two Others For Alleged N247.5m Fraud

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17 hours ago

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January 31, 2026

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday, January 30, 2026, arraigned an alleged serial fraudster, Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, for an alleged N247,500,000( Two Hundred and Forty-seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) before Justice Justice Ramon Oshodi of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos.

Eboh, alongside Uchenna Ejindu and Salami Eneojo Stephen, was arraigned on an amended four-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence, conspiracy , money laundering and stealing.

The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud one Jude Nyemike Atoh of the sum of ₦247,500,000 (Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Investigation revealed that the defendants received the sum of money in cash under the pretence that they would provide the dollar equivalent to the petitioner, a representation they knew to be false.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Uchenna Ejindu, Musa Abdulhamid, Salami Eneojo Stephen, and Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, sometime in July 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to defraud Mr. Jude Nyemike Atoh of the sum of ₦247,500,000 on the pretence that you would give him the dollar equivalent, which pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.”

Another count reads: ” Musa Abdlhanmid (trading under the name and style of Rizqan Dayyiban Global Concept), Salami Eneojo Stephen and Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, sometime, in July, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, collaborated to conceal the sum of $160,300 (One Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred Dollars), property of one Jude Nyemike, with the aim of concealing the ilegal origin of the said sum by giving and receiving same in cash.”

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The first, second and third defendants pleaded “not guilty” to counts one, two, and three, while the second and third defendants also pleaded “not guilty” to count four.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, T. J. Banjo informed the court that the matter had already been fixed for trial on February 27, 2026, and prayed the court to maintain the date.

Responding, counsel to the first defendant, Victor Okpara, SAN, told the court that his client had been on bail since May 15, 2025, and had diligently attended all court proceedings.

He also urged the court to allow him to continue to enjoy the existing bail conditions.

Counsel to the second defendant, Dehinde Dipeolu, aligned with the submission of Okpara.

Counsel to the third defendant, Mike Umonnan, informed the court that he had filed a bail application and also prayed for an earlier date to move the application in view of the health condition of his client.

The prosecution counsel, however, vehemently opposed the bail application of the third defendant and also urged the court to remand her in a correctional centre, citing difficulties previously encountered by the Commission in arresting her.

Justice Oshodi, consequently, adjourned the matter till February 12, 2026, for the hearing of the third defendant’s bail application and also ordered that she be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

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