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Four feared killed as gunmen attack burial ceremony in Anambra

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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.

“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.

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Crime

Police detain officer for firing at moving car in Delta

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A police officer who was filmed shooting at the tyre of a moving vehicle in front of Toscana Hotel along Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State, has been identified and detained by the authorities.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, sparked outrage after the video surfaced on social media. The video showed the officer firing towards the car as it attempted to drive off.

The act has been widely condemned as reckless and a violation of the rules of engagement on firearm usage in public spaces.

Reacting to the incident in a post on X on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, described the officer’s conduct as “embarrassing, shameful, careless, unprofessional, and unjustified.”

Edafe wrote, “In all honesty, this is embarrassing, shameful, careless, so unprofessional and not justified at all. The Policeman has been identified, detained and will appear before the CP today.”

No casualty was reported as of the time of filing this report.

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Hit-and-run driver kills Lagos director days before retirement

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A director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from civil service and at her 60th birthday party.

That the woman was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver on Saturday.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened when Talabi was crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.

A source in the state civil service, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised, told our correspondent on Tuesday that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.

“She was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while trying to cross the expressway around the Redemption Camp. Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.

Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on Monday, October 13, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.

The source added that she had printed a card inviting her co-workers, relatives, and friends to the event, which also marked her birthday.

“She was supposed to retire on October 13, but because the General Manager was not around, she then shifted the date to October 22 so he could attend. Invitations had already been printed and sent to colleagues, friends, and family before the unfortunate incident.”

An invitation card sighted by PUNCH Metro indicated that the event was billed to hold at the NERDC Conference Centre, NERDC Road, Ikeja, adjacent to the Fela Shrine.

Meanwhile, The Eagle Online reports that Talabi’s burial arrangements have been announced by her family.

According to information gleaned from a WhatsApp group by the news platform, the wake will be held on October 23, 2025, with the burial service scheduled for October 24, 2025.

Both events will take place at 10, Ore-Ofe Street, Ara Hall Bus Stop, Ibafo, Ogun State.

The spokesperson for LASSRA, Basirat Lawal, did not respond to calls made to her telephone line on Tuesday. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

Similar efforts to reach the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, were futile as she did not pick up calls made to her telephone line. She had yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.

Talabi’s death adds to the growing list of pedestrians killed by hit-and-run drivers along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and other major highways linking Lagos and Ogun states.

PUNCH Metro reported in August that a motorcyclist and his passenger lost their lives along the Ago-Iwoye/Ilisan Expressway in the Ijebu area of Ogun State after a truck rammed into their motorcycle from behind and fled the scene.

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PHOTOS: Nigerian mom arrested for murd£r after 9-year-old daughter d!es in hot car in US

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A Nigerian mother has been charged with murd£r after her 9-year-old daughter d!ed in a hot car in Texas, US.

Gbemisola Akayinode, 36, was arrested on Friday for the murd£r of 9-year-old Oluwasikemi Akayinode after the girl’s de@th was ruled a homicide as a result of hyperthermia (heat stroke), according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Oluwasikemi died on July 1 after she was left in a car for over eight hours on a 99-degree day while her mother went to work at a manufacturing plant in Galena Park near Houston, according to court documents.

When Gbemisola Akayinode parked at work at about 5:45 a.m., she said she left her daughter with food, a rechargeable fan, ice cubes and water, and lowered the car’s back windows down halfway, court documents said. She gave her daughter melatonin and saw her start to fall asleep in the back seat, according to court documents.Nigerian fashion brands

Gbemisola Akayinode said she didn’t check on Oluwasikemi until her shift ended at 1:53 p.m., documents said. When Gbemisola Akayinode reached the car, she said her daughter was unresponsive and blue, and she screamed for help.

Gbemisola Akayinode said she had taken Oluwasikemi to work with her several times previously, including the day before, court documents said. She said she brought her daughter with her because she didn’t have money for day care until her next paycheck, but investigators determined the foreman at her job was paying for day care for her, court documents said.

Officials said in July that they were waiting for the 9-year-old’s autopsy results before deciding if any charges would be filed.

Gbemisola Akayinode is due in court next week.

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