The remains of a 78-year-old man in Ekoli community, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Chief Johnson Okoro Obasi, murdered by suspected political thugs, have been committed to Mother Earth.
Obasi was said to have been attacked by the political thugs in the community on 1st June this year during the crisis between two rival groups in the area which led to the death of some members of the community with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
Autopsy conducted on his body indicated that the man died as a result of internal bleeding and bruises he sustained when he was attacked.
At the weekend, he was buried inside his house in the community amidst tears and tributes.
In his own tribute, his nephew, Dr Eni Uduma Chima, lamented his killing and urged him to avenge it.
Chima, a former House of Assembly member and former Chairman of the local government, said the deceased would have lived longer than his age if his killers did not send him to the untimely grave.
He disclosed that longevity runs in the family which accounted why some members of the family lived more than 100 years and wondered why his life was cut short.
“Your years on earth were brutally cut short by agents of darkness, even though you belonged to a stock in which longevity is taken for granted—the ‘Ibe Eze Nta Aja’ family.
“I shall not dwell on the sorrow of your forced exit, because I know that you are on your way back.
“You delivered the right message to ‘Ali Manu’. While you were still in a parley in the spirit world, assassination attempts were made on your beloved ones.
“Perhaps through your intercession, the presence there that your absence here availed your loved ones prevailed.
“We mourn you in vigilance because your killers and their sponsors are still roaming free, showing neither sobriety nor remorse, fearing neither the laws of God nor the laws of men.
“Now, take up your sword in the spirit world and go after your killers and their sponsors,” he said.
He described his uncle as a man blessed in many aspects—good looks, strength and vigour, sound health, procreation, family life, sound mind, and great vision.
Traditional rulers of the community lamented his killing by those they described as politicians and evil men.
One of them, Etta Egor Akanu, alleged that those arrested for killing some members of the community have been freed, thereby causing disquiet in the area.
“Politicians sent their thugs to beat up Okoro Obasi and he died as a result of the attack. These politicians are evil men who don’t want the community to be in peace, they are the ones who killed Okoro Obasi.
“He was killed by catcham boys who have been terrorising our community and they know themselves.
“I am very happy that Okoro Obasi’s body was taken for autopsy and results showed that he died as a result of the attack by these thugs.
“I would have been angry with Eni Uduma Chima if he didn’t agree to take Okoro Obasi’s body for the autopsy. But since he agreed and the body was taken for autopsy and results showed that he died as a result of the attack, I am very happy and I am not angry with Eni Uduma Chima.
“Government should stop releasing all these people causing trouble in our community. Some persons were arrested for killing another member of the community, Nnachi Uzor, and they were released from prison custody a month after being remanded by the court.
“These people are back terrorising our community, there is disquiet in our community and all the things that were recommended during a peaceful meeting of stakeholders of our community and Governor Francis Nwifuru for lasting peace in our community, none of them have been done.
“What we are rather seeing is increase in the harassment, intimidation and fear in our community by these thugs,” he said.
Another traditional ruler, Thomas Ama, who also expressed sadness over the killing of Thomas Okoro Obasi, recommended immediate implementation of all the recommendations made during the community stakeholders meeting with Governor Francis Nwifuru to return normalcy to the troubled community.
He alleged that a particular group is still parading arms with which they use to terrorise members of the community against the Governor’s directive that every group must lay down arms.
The Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has arrested a woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, for her son, Dare Sowunmi, who is said to be on death row at the facility.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Odukoya said Sowunmi was arrested at about 1:33 pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a routine screening at the facility’s main entrance.
He said the substance, suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug, was concealed in a sachet of a popular beverage powder and was allegedly intended for the inmate.
He explained, “At approximately 1:33 PM on Friday, August 28, 2026, routine screening procedures at the facility’s main entry point led to the detection of suspicious substances, believed to be the psychoactive synthetic drug commonly known as ‘Colos,’ concealed within a sachet of a popular beverage powder.
“The suspect was attempting to deliver the package to an inmate, Dare Sowunmi, who is currently on death row. Following the interception, officers immediately detained Mrs Sowunmi. In accordance with inter-agency operational protocols, she has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for comprehensive investigation and prosecution.”
Reacting to the incident, the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the security personnel for their vigilance and adherence to security protocols.
Adesina said, “Our custodial facilities exist to ensure public safety, reformation, and rehabilitation. We maintain an absolute zero-tolerance policy for drug trafficking or any illegal acts designed to compromise security.
“Attempts to introduce contraband into our facilities will be met with swift legal action.”
The command urged members of the public to respect the integrity of custodial institutions, warning that anyone seeking to undermine security would face the full weight of the law.
A Nigerian woman has been arrested in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, with 57.18 grammes of cocaine valued at more than Rs29 lakh (approximately N40.9m).
According to a report by News18 Hindi on Monday, the woman, identified as Emmanuel Joy, a Lagos resident, was arrested by Chandan Nagar police after she was allegedly found with the drug near IT Park, Sinhasa.
She was reportedly travelling from Mumbai to Indore to supply cocaine.
The report said the arrest occurred during heightened police checks ahead of Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami celebrations, when officers patrolling the IT Park Sinhasa area noticed Joy carrying a black bag.
“A foreign woman carrying a black bag appeared suspicious,” the report quoted the police as saying.
Police reportedly stopped and questioned her, but “her answers were unsatisfactory,” prompting a search in the presence of female police officers.
The search allegedly led to the recovery of 57.18 grammes of cocaine concealed in a transparent bag.
The seized substance was valued at “over 29 lakh rupees,” according to the report.
News18 Hindi reported that “Joy arrived in India from Nigeria on August 14 on a seven-month business visa and was living in Bandra East, Mumbai, where she worked at a hair salon with her sister.”
During interrogation, Joy allegedly told police that she purchased cocaine at a low price and intended to sell it at a higher price in Indore.
However, investigators are independently verifying her account.
A case has been registered against her under Sections 8 and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Police have also examined her passport, visa and immigration records.
Following her arrest, Joy was produced before a court and remanded in custody as investigations continued.
Police have expanded the investigation to examine her mobile phone and other digital data in an effort to identify other people linked to the alleged drug network.
According to the report, investigators are trying to establish “who purchased the cocaine, who in Indore it was intended to supply, and who else is involved in this network.”
The investigation is expected to determine the extent of the alleged supply chain between Mumbai and Indore and whether other suspects were involved.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have foiled an attempt to vandalise railway track materials at the siding serving the Dangote Steel Rolling Mills in Osogbo, Osun State, recovering nine oxygen gas cylinders allegedly brought to the site for the operation.
In a statement signed on Sunday by its Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the NRC said its Principal Track Officer in Osogbo received a report on Friday, August 28, about the ongoing vandalisation of railway track materials and immediately proceeded to the site with security personnel.
The statement said, “On sighting the security operatives, the suspected vandals fled the scene.”
It added, “A search of the area led to the recovery of nine oxygen gas cylinders reportedly brought to the site for the illegal operation.”
The corporation said security personnel, including officers of the NSCDC Railway Command, had since secured the affected railway materials and the vicinity.
Reacting to the incident, the NRC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, described the intervention as “another significant success in the sustained efforts to protect railway infrastructure from vandals and other economic saboteurs.”
Opeifa commended the security personnel for their vigilance and timely response, while urging security formations across the railway network to intensify surveillance and enforcement against the vandalisation and theft of railway assets.
He stressed that “railway infrastructure constitutes critical national assets whose protection is essential to the safety of rail operations, sustainability of services and the economic development of the country.”
The NRC boss also called on members of the public, particularly communities located along railway corridors, to support the campaign against vandalism by promptly reporting suspicious activities around railway tracks, stations and other railway facilities.
He further directed security operatives to intensify efforts towards identifying, apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for the attempted vandalisation at the Dangote Steel Rolling Mills siding.
Opeifa assured that the corporation would continue to support security agencies in efforts to curb vandalism and other acts capable of undermining railway operations across the country.
