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PHOTOS: Navy hands three suspected stowaways to Immigration after dangerous voyage

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The Nigerian Navy intercepted three boat drivers who hid inside the cramped propeller compartment of a merchant vessel in a desperate attempt to leave Nigeria for Germany.

The three suspects, Isaiah Oyetayo, 30; Goddey Ajinde Samson, 26; and Popoola Felix, 28, were arrested on Monday, September 14, 2026, after allegedly sneaking aboard the MV Maersk Calabar at Apapa Port and hiding inside its propeller compartment.

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft yesterday, September 16, handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation.

The suspects reportedly used a canoe to gain access to the vessel while it was at the port before concealing themselves in the propeller compartment. Their presence was discovered after the ship got underway, prompting the intervention of NNS Beecroft.

According to the Navy, the suspects were intercepted following a tip-off from the Western Regional Control Centre. The ship’s Quick Reaction Team stationed at Tarkwa Bay moved in, intercepted the vessel and safely extracted the men from the compartment.

They were subsequently taken to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation and profiling before being handed over to the NIS.

For Popoola, a boat driver and father of four, the decision to risk his life aboard a moving merchant vessel was driven by what he described as the struggle to survive in Nigeria.

He said he was heading to Germany in search of better economic opportunities, explaining that the rising cost of living had made it increasingly difficult to provide for his family.

According to him, his desperation pushed him to consider unconventional means of leaving the country, including using a paddle boat to gain access to the merchant vessel.

See also  Lagos pastor bags life jail for raping church member’s daughter

Goddey, also a boat driver and married, said he took the risk because he hoped to secure a better future for himself and his family.

He said the desire for improved living conditions persuaded him to embark on the dangerous journey, despite the risks involved in hiding aboard a vessel at sea.

Oyetayo, another boat driver, said his decision was driven by the search for a better life and greater economic opportunities abroad.

The Navy said the incident underscored the dangers associated with unauthorised access to seagoing vessels, warning that such acts could endanger not only those attempting illegal migration but also vessels, crews and other maritime users.

The handover, carried out on behalf of the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, by the Executive Officer, Captain Olanrewaju Olubunmi, also highlighted continued collaboration among security agencies in tackling illegal migration and strengthening maritime security.

The Navy urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage youths from undertaking dangerous journeys by sea and to sensitise them to the potentially fatal consequences.

It warned that the risks posed by such activities could extend beyond individual migrants to maritime safety and security across the West African sub-region.

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Crime

Rape, manslaughter trial: Five witnesses testify against Odogwu Asaba

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The prosecution on Wednesday presented five witnesses and video evidence at the trial of content creator Ifeanyi Ogbonna, popularly known as Odogwu Asaba, over alleged rape and manslaughter in connection with the death of 20-year-old Favour Agbro.

The witnesses included Agbro’s twin sister, brother and father, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination, and an investigating police officer. The case is being heard by the Delta State High Court in Asaba.

However, the defence counsel requested more time to study the statements of the prosecution witnesses and the additional evidence served on the defence.

Speaking after the proceedings, the prosecution said it was prepared to proceed with the case but acknowledged the need to allow the defence adequate time to examine the materials.

The prosecution team was led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tejiri Anuhwin, and other state counsel.

Ogbonna had pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 21, 2026, before Justice Michael Nduka Obi. The allegations relate to Agbro’s death in June 2026.

The court adjourned the case until November 19, 2026, for the continuation of the trial, when the prosecution is expected to proceed with its witnesses and evidence.

Recall that the court had remanded the content creator at the Ogwashi-Uku Maximum Correctional Centre after he was arrested and arraigned following allegations of raping Agbro, who later died after ingesting a toxic substance.

Source: punchng.com

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See also  Lagos pastor bags life jail for raping church member’s daughter
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Crime

Police arrest fake lawyer after 11 years of practice in Ebonyi

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The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, for allegedly impersonating a lawyer and practising for more than 11 years.

The state Police Public Relations Officerzz, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the arrest followed an investigation into a petition alleging obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly collected ₦650,000 from one Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street naming in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

The petitioner alleged that Enyinnaya presented himself as a lawyer with years of legal experience.

The police said investigations following his arrest revealed that he had been parading himself as a legal practitioner despite not being a lawyer.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he was not a lawyer, according to the statement.

“A search of his apartment led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal; a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia; purported Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree certificates for the suspect bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology; a barrister’s robe and wig; judgements allegedly procured from the court and various legal documents allegedly prepared by him, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance,” the statement said.

The police said the suspect had been charged to court.

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Okafor, commended the operatives for uncovering the alleged impersonation and urged members of the public to verify the credentials of people offering legal services.

See also  Port Harcourt refinery ex-MD gets N150m bail over N1.3bn fraud

She also advised residents to report suspicious activities to the police.

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

Lagos driver fleeing police arrest kills okada rider, injures two

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A  yet-to-be-identified motorcycle operator has been killed, and two others injured, after a speeding driver, allegedly fleeing police officers, knocked down three motorcycle riders on Liasu Road in the Idimu area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred on Saturday night during a police chase involving a vehicle suspected to belong to Internet fraudsters.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to escape from the pursuing officers and knocked down the three motorcycle riders in the process.

One of the riders was said to have died on the spot, while the two others sustained injuries.

It was gathered that the driver and other occupants of the vehicle abandoned it and fled after realising what had happened.

An eyewitness who gave his name simply as Wahab said the vehicle was being chased from the Ile-Iwe end of the road towards the Council bus stop.

He said, “They were coming from the Ile-Iwe side when police officers in a minibus tried to stop them. It was in the process that they increased their speed and drove recklessly.

“It was when the driver lost control that he ran into the okada riders. The one directly hit died on the spot, and the driver and other male adults in the vehicle ran out of the vehicle and fled.”

The vehicle was subsequently towed to the nearest police station, while the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital.

The incident, however, sparked a protest by commercial motorcycle riders operating along Powerline and Liasu roads, as they stopped conveying passengers to demand justice for their colleagues.

See also  Police arrest four suspected telecom infrastructure vandals in Oyo, recover ₦8m solar equipment

According to another resident, Titi Jayeoba, the protest left several residents stranded as they struggled to find alternative means of transportation.

“We were stranded on Sunday after the okada riders refused to operate. People who depend on motorcycles to get to church and other places were stranded. The tricycles available could not carry everybody, so many people found it difficult to get to their destinations.

“And some were not even interested in tricycles because they would not take them into their streets,” Jayeoba stated.

It was gathered that normalcy had since returned to the area after the motorcycle operators resumed operations later in the evening.

The deceased victim was also said to have been buried according to Islamic rites.

When contacted on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she was not aware of the incident. She, however, promised to revert.

Source: punchng.com

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