Connect with us

News

200 Cross River Families, Village Head Displaced As Soldiers Raid Community

Published

on

The village head of Odonget community in Obubra LGA in Cross River State, His Highness Chief Richard Ahim Ayan, and other community stakeholders who escaped into bushes and neighbouring communities are lamenting over their wives, children, and other loved ones who are said to be missing or have been killed.

Last Thursday at about 1:00 a.m., soldiers from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army invaded the community following reports that the locals requested illegal miners to pay N1,000 each before passing with their minerals. The soldiers reportedly burnt down more than fifty houses, including that of the village head, killed several villagers, arrested some, while more than 200 women, elderly persons, and children fled their homes and village for safety.

The soldiers have imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew.

Precious minerals, including a very lucrative one locally called ‘Cusa’, used for gunpowder, have been mined illegally in communities in nearby Etung LGA over the last three years by men from northern parts of Nigeria in alleged connivance with powerful individuals.

“More than 500 armed soldiers are still occupying our village, making it very unsafe for our return. The whole village is a ghost town except for the soldiers sauntering about,” said a youth leader, Amos Agim, who is now hiding in Iyamoyom community.

Agim explained that since everyone fled from Odonget to Ochon, Itabang, and other communities, several family members have been reported missing while many have been killed.

In an interview, Agim lamented, “I don’t know where my wife and children are. Since early Thursday morning, everyone ran in different directions. My house has been burnt.

“The family of our village head is also scattered; some were killed. His house and many other houses were burnt down.”

Agim recalled the genesis of the problem, saying it began when the northern men mining the precious stones in nearby communities refused to pay N1,000 each before being allowed to evacuate the minerals through Odonget.

“One kilo of the precious stone is N35,000. They make so much money, yet they refused to pay at the checkpoint manned by the community vigilante.

“Trouble ensued. The miners then invited the soldiers, who arrived with arms and, instead of settling the problem, descended on our community, setting it ablaze and killing our people. As we speak, corpses still litter our community.”

Another displaced victim, Madam Charity Bissong, sobbing, said her aged husband and two grandchildren who could not escape were killed.

Reacting in a statement on March 12, 2026, Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Headquarters of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, denied the killings but disclosed that during their engagement with the community, only four people were killed while they lost one soldier.

He said the soldiers acted swiftly to prevent a total breakdown of law and order.

He added that they had to call for reinforcement from the 245 Battalion when armed local youths allegedly ambushed them.

Advertisement

News

Delta NMA Declares Blessing CEO’s Cancer Report Fraudulent

Published

on

By

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta State branch, has officially debunked the cancer claims made by relationship influencer Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO.

In a statement on Tuesday, the association revealed that the document is an altered version of an original medical report belonging to a different patient diagnosed with breast cancer.

The statement, jointly signed by NMA Delta State Chairman, Dr. Israel Adaigho, and Secretary, Dr. Usamah Hannah, was sighted by The Nation on Tuesday.

According to the NMA, the viral report was purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics and signed by consultant pathologist Dr. O.A. Odigwe.

However, Dr. Odigwe, who is the proprietor of the diagnostic centre, clarified that his facility never issued any report to Blessing Okoro.

The association explained that Xinus Medical Diagnostics is located in Asaba, Delta State not Enugu State as claimed in the circulating document.

The centre was contacted in May 2025 by a doctor from a private hospital in Asaba to conduct a confirmatory histology test for a patient identified as Mbara Deborah, who had a suspected case of breast cancer.

The test confirmed breast cancer, and the original result was issued to the referring doctor on May 9, 2025.

The NMA stated that the document currently being paraded online by the law firm Allen Juris Law is the original report bearing the name Mbara Deborah.

The version linked to Blessing CEO appears to be a doctored copy of this same report.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to an online histology report purportedly issued to one Blessing Okoro, aka Blessing CEO, by Xinus Medical Diagnostics allegedly located in Enugu State. The said histology report was also alleged to have been signed by Dr. O.A. Odigwe, a consultant pathologist.

“The proprietor of Xinus Medical Diagnostics, Dr. O.A. Odigwe, who is also a member of the Nigerian Medical Association, Delta State chapter, has reached us and offered the following clarification: that Xinus Medical Diagnostics is located in Asaba, Delta State and did not at any time issue any report to Blessing Okoro.

“The centre was contacted in May 2025 by a doctor from a private hospital in Asaba to do a confirmatory test on a possible case of breast cancer for a patient, Mbara Deborah. The test was done and the result issued to the referring doctor as a case of breast cancer on May 9, 2025.

“A copy of that result is the one currently being circulated online by the law firm, Allen Juris Law, with the name Mbara Deborah as the patient. That result from the law firm is the original version issued to the patient through her hospital.”

The NMA said the clarification became necessary because of the way the altered report was allegedly being used to solicit public sympathy and financial assistance.

It urged the public to be cautious and warned against actions that could tarnish the integrity of medical professionals.

The association also called on relevant security agencies to take appropriate steps to protect unsuspecting members of the public.

“The integrity of our association and its members is very paramount and should not therefore be taken for granted.

“We call on the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order to do the needful and save unsuspecting members of the public from being unduly taken advantage of,” it added.

Recall that Blessing CEO recently solicited financial help from the public for the treatment of what she claimed was stage four cancer.

Following widespread backlash and allegations that her medical report had been edited, she made a U-turn, stating in an interview: “I don’t have stage 4 cancer. That was a miscommunication.”

Continue Reading

News

Abuja Court Jails Boko Haram Food Supplier, Hamatu Modu For 40 Years

Published

on

By

Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Hamatu Modu, a major food supplier for Boko Haram terrorists, to 40 years imprisonment for his involvement in terrorism activities.

Modu, who confessed in the open court to supplying food items and information to terrorists, was put on trial by the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

He was slammed with 4- count charges and instantly pleaded guilty to them.

The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led the prosecution.

In his judgment, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 10 years on each of the count but due to the plea of the defense counsel, the judge ordered that the 40 years imprisonment should run concurrently, giving the convict opportunity to spend only 10 years.

In another development, Isah Ali, another food supplier also in Borno, was jailed 10 years by Justice Nyako.

His jail term will, however, start three years ago when he was arrested and clamped into detention.

The convict confessed to committing the offence as charged.

Justice Nyako ordered that the convicts be made to undergo rehabilitation and radicalization at the end of their service of the jail terms.

The Federal Ministry of Interior was ordered to determine where the two men will serve their jail terms.

Continue Reading

News

Just In: Kebbi Assembly Speaker Muhammad Ankwai Passes Away

Published

on

By

The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Ankwai has passed away in the late hours of Monday, 6 April 2026.

Ankwai, who represented Zuru Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was elected Speaker at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 8, 2023.

Details surrounding the circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report.

His death has, however, triggered an outpouring of condolences from fellow lawmakers, political associates, and residents across Kebbi State, many of whom have described him as a dedicated public servant who contributed to legislative development in the state.

Further announcements regarding burial arrangements are expected to be made by his family soon.

 

Continue Reading

Trending