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Ekweremadu recounts how he was held hostage by 200 security operatives, war

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Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has recounted his ordeal on Tuesday, when he was held hostage inside his house, by about 200 security operatives.

Ekweremadu woke up to a siege on his residence.

A similar siege was carried out on the home of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

In a statement on Wednesday, Uche Anichukwu, media aide to Ekeweramdu, quoted the deputy senate president as calling on Nigerians to condemn the incident.

He said for over six hours, a combined team of policemen, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies prevented him from leaving his house.

“On Tuesday morning, some people laid siege to my house. They left at about 12:20pm after spending about six and half hours,” the statement read.

“We anticipated that a number of our colleagues in All Progressives Congress (APC) would defect and join People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In anticipation of that, the APC leadership had tried to stop them. When that didn’t happen, the first thing they did was invite President of the Senate to come to the Police. They believed that once the President of the Senate goes to the Police, I would be the one to preside and probably give effect to the letter of defection.

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“In anticipation of that, the Police, EFCC, and other security agencies came together, about 200 of them, to stop me from going to the national assembly. They said I should come to the EFCC to give explanation over the things I was accused of. I agreed to follow them even though there was no prior invitation, but they were not eager to let me go to answer the invitation.

“The plan was to stop me and the president of the senate from going to the national assembly today. Unfortunately for them, the president of the senate was already at the senate to preside over the plenary session.

“This is not good for democracy. We must respect the law, respect institutions because that is the only way we can make progress as a nation. This is total embarrassment to our nation. I hope this will not happen again.

“I am very worried. This is a decline in our democracy. I want to call on the media and Nigerians to stand up for Nigeria and ensure we save our democracy.

“This is a dangerous development. The whole world expects Nigeria to lead in democracy in Africa. We need to make progress and show the world that Nigerians are indeed leaders in every aspect of life.

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“When you invade the national assembly, you are invading the temple of democracy. That is exactly what has happened today. This is a major assault on democracy.

“Those advising the president should advise him correctly. As a result of this occurrence, senate had to go on recess when there are outstanding issues to attend to. Nigerians are loosing. Whoever is behind this is not a good friend of Nigeria.”

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Metro

Texas Storm Claims Seven Lives

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Shattered windows are seen on buildings in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024, one day after the city was hit by severe storms. Credit: Cécile Clocheret / AFP

The death toll from severe weather that lashed the Texas city of Houston has risen to seven, authorities said Friday.

The three additional deaths came after Houston, the fourth-largest US city, was hit Thursday by heavy rain and winds up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, leaving downtown streets covered in glass from blown-out windows.

Downed trees and power lines littered residential areas and the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in the suburb of Cypress.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the new victims included an 85-year-old woman who died after her mobile home was struck by lightning and caught fire.

A 60-year-old man was found unresponsive and pronounced dead after going to his truck to try and power his oxygen tank, after electricity was cut across wide swaths of the storm-hit area.

And a 57-year-old man collapsed and died after trying to move a downed power pole.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Thursday after the storm that four people died, though specifics were not immediately available.

Schools in Houston, home to 2.3 million people with an economy centered around oil and petrochemicals, were closed on Friday and non-essential workers urged to stay home.

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Metro

Israel-Palestine Conflict Claims 35,173 Lives

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An Israeli army battle tank moves in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 2, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP)

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday that at least 35,173 people have been killed in the territory during more than seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

The toll includes at least 82 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 79,061 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

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Metro

Photos: Tragic Accident Claims Two Lives in Ogbomoso

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In a devastating turn of events today, tragedy struck the streets of Oke- Owode in Ogbomoso as a fatal collision between a bus laden with mango fruits and a car occupied by suspected yahoo boys claimed the lives of two individuals, including the bus driver.

Eyewitness accounts at the scene painted a grim picture, alleging that the occupants of the car, believed to be involved in cybercrime activities, were driving recklessly, possibly impaired by alcohol.

Their vehicle collided with the mango-laden bus, resulting in the loss of lives.

Promptly responding to the distress call, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene to assess the situation.

Their efforts focused on clearing the obstruction caused by the bus and attending to the victims. The bodies of the deceased were carefully removed and transported for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the car driven by the suspected yahoo boys was impounded and taken to the Police Area Command for thorough examination.

Authorities are committed to unraveling the circumstances leading to the accident and holding those responsible accountable.

The incident has caused significant disruption to traffic in the Oke Owode area, prompting authorities to work tirelessly to restore normalcy.

Expressing shock and grief, local residents and community members emphasised the importance of adherence to traffic regulations and called for caution among drivers to avert such tragedies in the future.

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As investigations unfold, the police remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, determined to establish the facts surrounding the accident and ensure that justice is served.

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