Metro
Five suspected ritualists nabbed for allegedly killing sex worker in Kwara
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested five suspected ritualists for the murder of a commercial sex worker in Patigi Local Government Area of the state.
Okasanmi Ajayi, the police state command spokesperson who confirmed this in a statement on Friday, identified the suspects as Samuel Peter Tsado, Mohammed Gbara, Abubakar Mohammed, Mohammed Ahmadu Nma and Bala Karin.
Ajayi explained that the victim identified as Abigail, was lured from the hotel where she worked, taken to the home of one of the suspects before she was beheaded for money ritual purposes.
He explained further, “On June 29, 2021, at about 23:08hrs, an unknown young person, later identified as Samuel Peter Tsado ‘m’ of Patigi town in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, went to one Victory Hotel Patigi and requested for the service of a commercial sex worker by name Abigail ‘f’ (other names unknown).
“After the monetary negotiation of N5,000, both Peter and Abigail left the hotel premises to an unknown place, ever since then both of them were not seen again. On the receipt of the report of a missing person, the commissioner of police, who suspected foul play directed the case be taken over by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a discreet investigation”, Ajayi added.
The police spokesman said investigations led to the arrest of one Samuel Peter Tsado, who confessed that he actually contracted the deceased for sex.
Tsado was said to have planned with another suspect, Mohammed Agbara and agreed on how to do money rituals in furtherance of their desires, the police stressed.
After plotting how to source the human head that would be needed for the money rituals, one of the suspects left his house at Patigi for Victory Hotel with his motorcycle where he approached the victim.
It was also learnt that the victim, late Abigail there after agreed to follow Tsado to his house after agreeing on N5,000 for the night.
“At Samuel Peters home where Mohammed Gbara ‘m’ an accomplice was already waiting, Abigail was strangulated by the duo of Samuel Peter Tsado and Mohammed Gbara, the head of late Abigail was severed with a knife, the headless body of the deceased was conveyed by the suspects on Samuel Peter Tsado’s motorcycle and dumped in the bush along Patigi/Rifun road.
“Both Samuel and Mohammed went away separately, to reassemble in Bida on 30/6/2021. While in Bida, the deceased head was kept in Mohammed Abubakar ‘m’ a.k.a. Mallam Baba Pati’s home awaiting the arrival of the ritualist from Maiduguri in Borno State for the money ritual exercise,” the police spokesman said.
Police detectives went to Bida and Minna in Niger State where three other suspects were arrested.
Upon arrest, the suspects “confessed to the offence and also confessed to have been involved in an earlier ritual attempt using a hand of one victim yet to be identified.
“The suspects took detectives to the bush where the carcass of the deceased was recovered. Efforts to recover the head of the deceased were still in progress as the custodian of the head is still at large, but he will certainly be arrested and brought to justice.”
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo warned criminals to stay clear of Kwara as the state would be too hot for them to dwell in.
The Police chief, however assured Kwara residents of their safety, just as he asked for more collaboration in tackling crimes.
Customers of Zenith Bank have taken to social media to voice their frustration over difficulties encountered during online banking transactions.
Reports emerged on Tuesday of challenges related to payments and various features, leading to widespread discontent among users on social media platforms like X.
In a statement shared on X on Saturday, Zenith Bank announced that routine maintenance would commence on September 29 and conclude on October 1, running from 12:01 AM to 5:00 AM. The notice, titled ‘Notice of Routine Maintenance,’ stated, “Please be informed that we are currently undertaking routine maintenance of our Information Technology Infrastructure to enable us to significantly improve the quality of service rendered to you.”
However, customers reported that the maintenance did not begin as scheduled, causing considerable inconvenience.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the bank’s Mobile Banking App, USSD Service, Internet Banking, and Corporate Internet Banking platforms remained unavailable for an extended period, specifically between 12:01 AM and 2:30 PM WAT.
One dissatisfied customer, Adetunji Akeem, expressed his frustration, sharing that he was unable to withdraw money for food and transportation to work, which forced him to borrow from colleagues.
“It is frustrating. I haven’t eaten all day because I wasn’t able to withdraw money today. Zenith said they would be undergoing maintenance on Saturday through a pop-up message on the bank app, but they didn’t start until this morning,” he lamented.
Another customer, Adeleye A. P., known on X as #deji4ever, criticised the bank for not scheduling maintenance during the night, especially at the end of the month when many employees are expecting their salaries.
He tweeted, “The worst bank award should be given to Zenith. Why deny customers transfer privileges to other banks on the last day of the month? It’s a bad business strategy to ensure money doesn’t leave its coffers.”
Dave Oriss, tweeting under the handle #orissonline, echoed similar sentiments, adding, “#ZenithBank, you should keep frustrating your customers. Some have emergencies, and you are busy shifting the time for maintenance.”
Iran fired 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, at Israel in a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, state television reported on Wednesday.
The barrage, which Iran claims targeted military bases near Tel Aviv, came as retaliation for the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces.
This picture shows a projectile flying above the Jordanian capital Amman towards Israel, on October 1, 2024. – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a missile attack under way against Israel on October 1 was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader. (Photo by Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP)
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the missile launches, stating that “90 percent” of the projectiles hit their intended targets, which included three military bases.
The footage of the missile strikes was broadcast on Iranian media, showing a significant show of force by Tehran.
This picture taken from the West Bank city of Hebron shows projectiles above the Israeli city of Ashdod on October 1, 2024. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
The Israeli military countered that 180 missiles had been fired into their territory, with most being intercepted by Israel’s advanced defense systems.
Despite the intercepts, the attack marks the first reported use of hypersonic missiles by Iran against Israel.
This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel above Jerusalem on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Menahem Kahana / AFP)
Hypersonic missiles, capable of traveling at speeds of up to 15 times the speed of sound, pose a unique threat due to their low-altitude flight path and ability to evade conventional missile defenses.
Iran unveiled this advanced missile technology in June 2023, with then-president Ebrahim Raisi proclaiming it as a cornerstone of Iran’s deterrence capabilities, designed to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded swiftly to the attack, warning that Tehran had made a “big mistake.” He vowed to make Iran “pay” for the strikes, further raising tensions in an already volatile situation.
Fire erupts between Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and the city of Modiin following an Iranian missile attack, on October 1, 2024. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a missile attack under way against Israel on October 1 was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)
In Washington, the United States indicated that it was discussing a joint response with Israel.
Meanwhile, Iran’s chief of staff issued a stern warning that Tehran would strike key Israeli infrastructure if Iran’s territory were attacked in retaliation. The region now braces for potential further escalation amid growing fears of a broader conflict.
No fewer than 60 bodies have been recovered following a tragic boat accident in Niger State, officials confirmed.
According to a statement released by Abubakar Dakani, Press Secretary to the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, the boat was carrying over 300 passengers when it capsised at the notorious Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area yesterday evening.
Dakani disclosed that the ill-fated boat was en route from Mundi to Gbajibo for the Annual Maulud celebration when the disaster occurred.
The Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Abdullahi Muregi, acknowledged the recovery of about 60 bodies and confirmed that 10 survivors have been found so far. Rescue operations, involving the State Emergency Management Agency and local volunteers, are ongoing in a bid to recover the missing passengers.
This incident brings painful memories of a similar boat tragedy in September 2023, when a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized, killing 24 people who were traveling to their farms for harvest.
Authorities have expressed concerns about the recurring boat accidents in the region, calling for urgent measures to improve safety on the waterways.
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