Three suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Ovwian Police Division in Delta State in connection with the recent killing and beheading of a farm guard in the Udu Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that the deceased, simply identified as Omadide Uruemu Peter, a poultry farm guard, was reportedly beheaded a few days ago and his headless body dumped at the Erhiephihor community by unknown assailants.

TheNigerian Metro gathered that the deceased farm guard, a father of one in his 30s, was allegedly killed “for praying too much at midnight.”

It was however gathered on Tuesday that some fishermen on a fishing expedition recovered the severed head of the beheaded poultry farm guard from the Erhiephihor community river in Udu LGA.

This is just as the police have arrested three persons in connection with the alleged killing and beheading of the victim.

One of our sources said, “Before he relocated from Otu-Jeremi to Ovwodokpokpor, his (deceased’s) neighbours complained that they were being disturbed by his prayers and they were tired of his midnight prayers.

He recently relocated from Otu-Jeremi to his current place of abode, Ovwodokpokpor, before his unfortunate death.

A conflicting source who did not want to be mentioned for security reasons revealed that “The beheaded Mr Omadide Uruemu Peter was staying at the neighbouring Erhiephihor community in Udu LGA Delta State.”

The Secretary General of the Erhiephihor community, Mr. Daniel Omohovwighren, when contacted, told our correspondent that “the incident did not occur at Erhiephihor but in Ovwodokpokpor.

“And after he was killed, the corpse was dumped in our community (Erhiephihor),” he stated.

Omohovwighren spoke further, “After the incident, both communities went into action. Thank God, they invited the police and the vigilante, they arrested some people, about three of them.

“The police took the corpse to the mortuary and those arrested were detained at the Ovwian Police Station. But as of Thursday, the President Generals of both communities and the police transferred the suspects to Asaba.

“Also, the deceased’s head was not recovered from the Erhiephihor community river but from Ovwodokpokpor river and those arrested are from Ovwodokpokpor as one of them is called Mathew.

“Three suspects have been arrested through the efforts of the PG Erhiephihor and Ovwodokpokpor communities – one Ovwodokpokpor boy, one Ijaw and one Yoruba.”

When contacted on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, who had earlier claimed ignorance of the matter, later told our correspondent that the incident was “confirmed.”

A heartwarming moment has captured the internet’s attention, as a video of Cameroonian football legend and President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, recognising a former teammate working as a security guard goes viral.

The encounter reportedly took place after an Ecobank Group seminar in Douala, Cameroon, according to a report shared on X by a news platform, ED HUB.

In the video, Eto’o, surrounded by fans and attendees, was leaving the venue when someone offscreen called out his name.

At first, he glanced back briefly before walking on, but then he stopped, turned again, and realised it was an old friend.

 

The man, dressed in a security uniform, walked into the frame, and Eto’o’s face lit up in recognition.

The former Barcelona star warmly shook hands with his old teammate, embraced him briefly, and exchanged pleasantries in Bassa’a, a Cameroonian dialect.

Eto’o was visibly moved, repeatedly patting his friend’s arm as they reminisced.

Turning to the crowd gathered around them, Eto’o introduced the man, saying, “He was my colleague. I played with him.”

The touching moment has drawn widespread admiration on social media, with many users praising Eto’o for his humility.

This heartfelt moment has however earned him praise among netizens.

Hendrïxx, tweeting as @Mr_humble87, wrote, “When life favors you, don’t ever think others are lazy. Bravo to Eto’o on acknowledging his old teammate.”

Another user,  @MrsLucyEssel, wrote, “Much respect to Etoo. Even if he doesn’t meet him again this man would forever remember this day.”

Dark Cookies, tweeting as @ayo30bg, speculated on how Eto’o recognised him, saying, “I think he called him a name his old friends or close family calls him and caught his attention very fast.”

Some users even translated parts of their conversation spoken in Bassa’a.

Keke, tweeting as @corenti67008438, explained, “He Said: we need to meetup, we can’t speak right now because I have meetings in 10 minutes but tell Christian (assistant of Eto’o and friends of both) to do everything we meetup we gonna speak my friend. I’m happy to see you.”

Many netizens reflected on the unexpected twists and turns of life.

Twiddle™, tweeting as @Boison__, wrote, “Life be someway o. May all the boys we roll with succeed and may we all meet at the top!”

Another user, @Phemmydeji, added, “Life is deep. Sometimes you really can’t understand the mystery.”

The Ogun State Police Command on Thursday said its operatives have arrested a 44-year-old private security guard, Damilola Otegba, for attempting to allegedly defile a six-year-old inside a building in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

The spokesperson for the state command, CSP Omolola Odutola, said in a statement on Thursday that Otegba committed the offence on Wednesday.

Odutola disclosed that one Sherifat Bakare, a food vendor residing around Araromi Ajebo Road, FMC, Abeokuta reported the incident to the police on Wednesday.

Bakare reportedly said one Seyi Bakare whom she had left in charge of her shop at FUNAAB alongside her daughter told her of how Otegba had allegedly attempted to rape the minor.

Her six-year-old girl was said to have explained how the private security guard took her upstairs, undressed himself and forced his manhood into her.

Odutola said a female student of the university who saw the security guard and the minor queried the guard but was unable to say anything reasonable.

The Chief Security Officer of FUNAAB was said to have been informed of the incident while the suspect is currently in police custody.

The statement partly reads “A private security guard left his security post and tried to engage in unlawful activity with a six-year-old girl at night inside a university building.

“Fortunately, for the timely intervention of another female, the suspect was apprehended.

“On January 15, 2025, at about 2210PM, Sherifat Bakare, a food vendor residing on Araromi Ajebo Road via FMC Abeokuta, reported to the police station that while she was away at the market, she received a call from her younger brother, one Seyi Bakare, whom she had left in charge of her shop on the FUNAAB campus along with her daughter.

“Seyi informed her that while searching for the six-year-old, the girl ran into the shop, visibly frightened. When he asked her what had happened, she revealed that one Damilola Otegba, a 44-year-old private security guard assigned to a building on campus, had taken her upstairs to his workplace.”

According to the statement, he allegedly undressed by exposing himself and forced his manhood into her to perform inappropriate acts, then took her to a corner and laid behind her.

“The victim emphasised that despite her resistance to his advances, an unknown female student at FUNAAB, who was unaware of the danger, entered the area and questioned the man about his actions with the girl. This led to the chief security officer of FUNAAB being informed.

“The victim was subsequently taken to the school clinic for medical evaluation. Doctors have been contacted, and FUNAAB Harmony Divisional Police Officer is awaiting their findings. The suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody.

“He will be transferred to the SCID for further investigation following the preliminary inquiry conducted by the crime section of FUNAAB Harmony Divisional headquarters,” the statement added.

Officers from the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 44-year-old alleged paedophile, Damilola Otegba.

Otegba, a security guard at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, left his post at night to engage in unlawful activities with a six-year-old girl inside a university building.

In an X post on Thursday, the command shared a news report, highlighting that the suspect, who attempted a sexual assault on the girl, would have succeeded had it not been for the timely intervention of a female student before he was apprehended.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the arrest and provided further details in a statement issued on Thursday.

“On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at about 10:10pm, Sherifat Bakare, a food vendor residing on Araromi Ajebo Road, via Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, reported to the police station that while she was away at the market, she received a call from her younger brother, one Seyi Bakare, whom she had left in charge of her shop on the FUNAAB campus along with her daughter.

“Seyi informed her that while searching for the six-year-old, the girl ran into the shop, visibly frightened. When he asked her what had happened, she revealed that one Damilola Otegba, a 44-year-old private security guard assigned to a building on the campus, had taken her upstairs to his workplace.

“He allegedly undressed by exposing himself, forced his manhood into her to perform inappropriate acts, and then took her to a corner and laid behind her.

“The victim emphasised that as she resisted his advances, an unknown FUNAAB female student, who was unaware of what was going on, entered the area.

“On seeing the untoward situation, she questioned the man about his actions with the girl. This led to the chief security officer of FUNAAB being informed,” it read.

The PPRO disclosed that the girl was promptly taken to the school clinic for medical evaluation, and the FUNAAB Harmony Divisional Police Officer is awaiting the doctor’s report on the examination.

She further revealed that the suspect remains in police custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, for a more detailed investigation.

An operative of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps (name withheld) mistakenly shot and killed himself shortly after participating in the joint operation that rescued 66 kidnap victims in the state.

The operation being led by the army was conducted on Monday at Tidibali forest in the eastern part of the state on Monday.

Confirming the incident while speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), said the operative died as a result of accidental discharge.

“The incident happened shortly after they had returned to their base from the operation.

“He was with his gun when it mistakenly fired and shot him. He died shortly afterwards,” he said

The SA said a lot of successes were recorded in the ongoing operation which he said was being sponsored by the state government in a bid to crush bandits in the state.

“So far, 66 kidnap victims have been rescued and several bandits killed during the operation.

“The operation is a continuous one because we want to rid the state of criminal elements, particularly bandits,” he said.

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A Sokoto State Community Guard Corps operative has reportedly lost his life due to an accidental discharge shortly after participating in a joint operation that rescued 66 kidnap victims in the state.

The operation, led by the Nigerian Army, was conducted on Monday in Tidibali Forest, located in the eastern part of Sokoto State.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Colonel Ahmed Usman (retd.), told The TheNigerian that the tragedy occurred when the operative’s gun was accidentally fired.

Usman said,  “The incident happened shortly after they returned to their base from the operation.

“He was handling his gun when it accidentally discharged and shot him. Unfortunately, he died shortly afterwards.”

Colonel Usman commended the progress of the ongoing operation, which is part of the state government’s efforts to combat banditry and other criminal activities.

“So far, 66 kidnap victims have been rescued, and several bandits have been neutralized during the operation,” he said.

He added that the state government remains committed to eradicating banditry in Sokoto, emphasizing that the operation will continue until the region is free of criminal elements.

The Sokoto State Community Guard Corps has been actively involved in supporting security agencies in tackling insecurity in the state, particularly in remote areas affected by banditry and kidnapping.

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The Nigerian Navy has been accused of illegally detaining a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Kevin Okorie, for supporting a bill to create a Nigerian Coast Guard.

Okorie’s wife, Esther, who raised the alarm said her husband was arrested on September 10, 2024, by naval personnel from the Iwofe Aker Base, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Narrating the development to FIJ, she said her husband had been in detention since September alongside two others identified as Jeffrey Agogoh and Udo.

Okorie and some people were said to have lent their voices in support of the bill which had already passed its second reading and public hearing stages at the National Assembly.

Esther said she received a call from Okorie that he was being invited by the navy, adding that he was on his way to their base.

She however alleged that he had since then been detained in their facility.

She said, “He was invited to a meeting on September 10 and he didn’t return home that day. The next day, he called me that he was coming back home with some naval officers, but he failed to show up at home. He was also unreachable on the phone. I went to the base on September 13 and they said he was not with them. They then said that I should go and report to the police that he was missing. I insisted that he was in their custody because he informed me of his movement. They angrily sent me away from their office.

“Luckily, my husband called me with an officer’s phone to inform me that he was being detained at the naval base. I then prepared food and took it to him, but they did not grant me access to him. He only spoke with me from another room. I have not seen my husband since then. His location in Abuja remains unknown. The last time I spoke with him, he said he did not know why they were detaining him and that he had been asking them what his offence was.”

She said some lawyers went to the naval base two weeks after her husband’s disappearance but the naval officers denied detaining him in their facility.

She also claimed that despite returning to the naval base to protest the arrest of her husband, the officers insisted there was no record of him with them.

Okorie’s wife who claimed to have further protested said, “I asked them, who was the person I spoke with and brought food for twice in this same place? Who ate the food?” That was when one Officer Eko with phone number 08035362486 said that my husband had been moved to Abuja with no known crime.

“Officer Eko asked me to call him later so that he would tell me where they moved my husband to in Abuja. When I called the officer, he refused to provide specific information as he promised. He repeated what they told me at their office that he had been moved to Abuja and that was all they knew.”

While noting that members of the community had petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association for support, she lamented that her children had been crying, refusing to eat and asking to see their dad.

Esther however alleged that her husband, Okorie, and two others, Jeffrey Agogoh and Udo, were detained by the Nigerian Navy for advocating the establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard.

She added that they had written letters to the Federal Government and the Navy, pushing for the creation of the agency.

When contacted on Sunday by TheNigerian Metro, the Nigerian Navy spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, denied the allegations.

In reply to our SMS to his telephone number by our correspondent, the spokesperson wrote tersely, “No such person in Naval custody.”

The Community Auxiliary Development for Effective Transformation Network, popularly known as CADETN, on Monday, said holding a guard of honour was part of the organisation’s standard protocol to welcome dignitaries to its events.

A viral video of the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, inspecting a Guard of Honour has drawn criticism from some sections of the public.

On Sunday, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, called for an investigation into the reported military honours given to the President’s son.

He described the gesture as an “anomaly” and a “serious breach of military tradition.”

Reacting in a statement by the Corps Commander, CADETN, Josh Fatoye explained that the gesture was not exclusive to the son of the President, Seyi Tinubu.

Fatoye stated that the guard of honour, which took place at the CityBoy Youth Empowerment Program in Ogun State, was also extended to other dignitaries at the event.

He said the dignitaries included the Personal Assistant to the President on Special Duties, the Minister of Youth Development, the Minister of Digital Economy, and the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Citizenship & Leadership, as well as Digital Communications and New Media.

He said, “As a youth uniformed volunteer organization, we want to set the record straight and clear misconceptions about the Guard of Honour. It is of note that the guard of Honour was used to welcome dignitaries to the event as it is a youth empowerment programme and the organisation is a youth organisation.

“The guard also honoured other dignitaries like the PA to the President on Special Duties as the program played host to many dignitaries like the Minister of Youth Development, Minister of Digital Economy, SSA to the President on Citizenship & Leadership, SSA to the President on Digital Comm & New Media, CoS to Ogun State Governor and so many other dignitaries that graced the occasion This was not exclusive to Seyi Tinubu.”

Fatoye further stated that the CADETN operates as a youth-focused uniformed voluntary organisation, similar to Man O’ War and Peace Corps, and is neither a military outfit nor affiliated with the Armed Forces.

He added, “The CADETN is a youth uniformed organization and not a military outfit and also not in any way affiliated to the military or Armed Forces as been claimed by some mischief makers. The organization is a voluntary organisation that operates like the likes of Man O War, Peace Corps, Royal Ambassador, Man of Order, WAI Brigade and other relevant uniformed voluntary organisations. “

The Corps Commander also dismissed claims of using military paraphernalia or live ammunition as “false and misleading.”

He said, “We would like to state categorically that no ammunition was used and no military paraphernalia was used during the guard of Honour as peddled by critics. The guard of Honour was mounted using wooden crafted dummy rifles as it is practised among other uniform organizations. Any weapon seen in the video is that of the security details of the dignitaries and not that of the organisation.”