An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a pastor, Apostle Williams Okon Bassey, to 49 years imprisonment for r@ping and impregnating his teenage daughter.

Hon. Justice Bassey delivered the judgment on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

Bassey, of Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church, Uyo, was arrested at his residence on Ibanga Street on November 7, 2019.

Police paraded him alongside four other men, Nsikan Udo, Iniobong Moses, Saviour Ukpong and Festus Etuk, who were also arrested for r@pe and incest. (See photos of the men and victims attached)

The victim revealed that her father started having s3xual intercourse with her at age 13.

The continuous s3xual assault led her to become pregnant on three different occasions and the pregnancies were aborted by her mother.

She added that her father always demanded s3x from her before paying her school fees or meeting her needs.

Bassey confessed to the crime but claimed the assault started when his daughter was 16.

“I called my daughter to come and scratch my back, as she was scratching my back, I became tipsy, my daughter climbed on top of me and I f3cked her. That was my first time of sleeping with my daughter and she was about 16 years old then,” the pastor confessed.

“I took her to her mother’s place in Eket, after telling her that our daughter was pregnant, I handed her over to the mother who promised to get rid of the pregnancy.

“After the pregnancy was terminated, I continued having s3x with her each time I have misunderstanding with my wife.

“She became pregnant the second time. I still returned her to the mother who still took her to abort the pregnancy.

“When she returned the second time, I continued the act of s3xing her which resulted in the third pregnancy and the mother still took her for abortion.”

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A cleric of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Ikamatis-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga, has d!ed in bandits’ den.

The Islamic cleric was kidnapped alongside his friend, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/ Besse local government area of the state.

A video allegedly released by their abductors showed the late cleric in deteriorating health condition before he was later confirmed d3ad.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed his d3ath to journalists on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

“We are aware of reports concerning the victim’s deteriorating condition and d3ath in captivity,” he said.

A family friend to the late cleric, Usman Aliyu, said efforts were on to secure his release from his abductors, when he d!ed due to his deteriorating health conditions.

The family were making efforts to meet the demands of his abductors.

“They are still looking for money demanded by the bandits so that he could be released to them, but we are devastated by the news of his d3ath in the hands of those that kidnapped him,” Aliyu said.

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The Nigerian Army says troops of 82 Division Garrison, operating under Sector 1, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, Enugu State Command, have achieved a significant operational success in the ongoing Operation Eastern Sanity II.

According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayani,

Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, the operation was in an effort to consolidate the peace building process in the South East.

According to the statement, acting on credible intelligence derived from previously arrested suspects affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, security forces conducted a precision follow-up operation in Gariki, Enugu South Local Government Area.

“Troops uncovered a clandestine arms hideout concealed within a zinc structure disguised as a piggery. A thorough exploitation of the site led to the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition.

“These include General Purpose Machine Guns, RPG-7 launcher tube, AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, tear gas gun with cartridges, AK-47 magazines, 270 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and 478 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

“All recovered items and arrested suspects have been handed over to the DSS Enugu State Command for further investigation and appropriate legal action,” the statement said.

It said that the intelligence-driven operation underscores the effective interagency collaboration in the region, resulting in proactive measures to counter threats to national unity and public safety.

“It also reflects the Operation UDO KA’s unwavering commitment to sustaining offensive actions against criminal and terrorist networks that undermine peace in the region,” it said.

The statement added that Operation UDO KA reaffirmed its dedication to protecting citizens and preserving national sovereignty.

It encouraged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security forces, thereby enhancing collective efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the South East.

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