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Enzo Maresca: Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell out of Chelsea plan

Raheem Sterling

Coach of English Premier League side Chelsea, Enzo Maresca, said both Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are out of the club’s project.

Maresca, who made this disclosure in a chat with the media, said both players will find it hard to get minutes under him as a coach so they should find new clubs.

According to him, “I just try to be honest… I told Raheem he’s going to struggle to get minutes with us. Chilly, he’s going to struggle here too.

“I’ve been honest with Raheem Sterling, he will have no minutes here. I am not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer different kinds of wingers. It’s simple.

“I spoke with Raheem one-on-one the day before City. I have nothing new to tell him… as I was quite clear. If he wants a chat again I’ll tell him what I already told him”.

Chelsea believes Raheem Sterling will 100% leave as he’s started exploring all options.

While reacting to the move by Maresca in a statement, Sterling’s camp said that they have always had a positive dialogue with, and assurance from Chelsea FC about their client’s future at the club, and they look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.

The statement reads:“Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea for the next three years. He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

“He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, we expected that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

“As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC about Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.

“Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively”.

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Husband, 40, Allegedly Laces Drink, Meat With Poison For Wife In Order To Inherit Her Goats, Cows, Sheep

By Babatunde Solanke

The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of  a 40-year-old man, named Habu Ibrahim, over alleged plan to poison his wife in Danadama village, Sule Tankarkar Local Government of the state in order to inherit her livestock.

The State Police Commissioner, A T. Abdullahi, who made this disclosure in a statement issued to media houses, said the suspect was arrested for allegedly lacing a drink and meat with poison, targeting his 35-year-old wife, Zakiya Uzairu, with the intention of inheriting her wealth.

According to Abdullahi,he said upon receiving the report, detectives from the Sule Tankarkar Division swiftly acted, arresting the suspect at the scene.

The state police boss added said the suspect was brought to the Divisional Police office in Sule Tankarkar for questioning and was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Dutse for further investigation.

“During the interrogation, the suspect willingly confessed to the crime, confirming the accuracy of the information provided to the police.

“He admitted to intending to kill his wife to gain possession of her livestock, which included goats, sheep, and cows.

“He said the wife narrowly escaped after she perceived the poison and presumed his plan,” Abdullahi said.

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Ondo Court Sentences Pastor, Five Others To Death By Hanging For Robbery

By Alfred Ifemosu

Ondo State High Court in Akure, Ondo State capital, has sentenced a pastor and five others to death by hanging over their involvement in bank robberies which took place in Akure and Idanre in 2011.

The convicts include a pastor, Adewale Adelu, and five others – Ikechuckwu Maduagwu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho.

The court presided by Justice  Yemi Fasanmi on Wednesday found them guilty of robbing two commercial banks in Akure and Idanre on November 19 and December 8, 2011 in Akure and Idanre respectively.

They were arrested by the men of the state police command and were charged to court.

When the trial began, the convicts were arraigned before the court on four-count charge bothering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and were later remanded in Olokuta Correctional Centre.

The prosecuting counsel, F.K Salami, told the court that the convicts and others were “armed with AK 47 guns, dynamite, and other weapons at Oyemekun Road, Akure, conspired to attack and robbed a branch of Diamond Bank Plc, after which they went away with a sum of N30million and different brand of phones, including other valuable property.

“The convicts on December 8, 2011, at 2 pm, were also alleged to have robbed First Bank Plc at Yaba Road, Idanre, where they carted away another sum of N4million.”

According to the police prosecutor , “the offences contravene Sections 6b, 1 2a, and b of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

There were arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsel at various court proceedings on the matter while witnesses were also invited to the court to testify.

Justice Fasanmi held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, just as he also said the defendants were unanimous in their confessions and the role each of them played in the robberies.

Based on this, Justice Fasanmi “sentenced all the defendants to death by hanging in each of the counts.”

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Tragedy In Lagos: Man Stabs Friend To Death Over Who Should Pay For Plate Of food

By Akeem Oduyoye

The unthinkable  happened  in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State as a man identified simply as John was allegedly killed by his friend named Akinola Adeleye over an argument on who to pay for a plate of food.

The sad incident, it was gathered happened two weeks ago on Idiagbon Street adjacent to the local government headquarters.

According The Punch online report, the two men had a misunderstanding over who should pay for the plate of meal Akinola had eaten and in the course of the argument that degenerated into a fight, Akinola stabbed John to death with a knife.

 The report said that the victim had been squatting in the house of the suspect when they had the fallout over who would pay for a plate of food.

A resident in the area, Ugochukwu, narrated how the incident happened on Wednesday, to the medium

 “It happened that Akinola went and ate a plate of food in their usual buka and after eating instead of paying he asked them to add his bill to the account of his friend who wasn’t there with him at that time.

“So, when the victim went to eat at the local restaurant, they informed him that he owed them for the food his friend ate. He was surprised and angry that his friend would ask them to bill him without even telling him about it.

“So, he quickly finished his meal and went home to confront his friend about the debt that was passed down to him. That was how they started quarrelling. As they were fighting over the matter, Akinola, out of anger asked John to pack out of his house immediately but John refused and the fight intensified.

“Before anyone knew what was happening, Akinola left the scene of the fight, rushed back with a knife and stabbed John. We had assumed the fight was over when Akinola left, only for us to see him rush at John with the knife.

“Before we could do anything, John was on the ground and blood was gushing out from his body. Everywhere became scattered in confusion,” the report quoted Ugochukwu to have said

The resident, according to the medium, also added that John defecated on himself before he died on the spot, a development that threw the whole area into more confusion and mourning.

According to Ugochukwu, it was in the midst of the confusion that Akinola wanted to escape the scene but was caught by some young men in the area.

Another resident in the area, who identified himself simply as Dada, told the medium that he saw the corpse of the dead man being wheeled past his shop to the junction of the street on the day the incident happened.

He said according to what he learnt from the neighbours, the body was wheeled out when the policemen who were contacted said they wouldn’t enter the street because of the volatile nature of the area.

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Revealed: Story Of How 16-Month-Old Baby Body Found In School Suck Away With Vital Organs Organs Missing

By Akeem Oduyoye

Tragedy happened in Green Heritage College of Education in Games Village in Bauchi State last Sunday as the body of a 16-month-old child, Muhammad Abidin, was found in the school in the school suck away with his eyes, nose, and mouth missing.

Abidin went missing after his mother was receiving lecture at the school.

The bereaved mother, Saudatu Abdullahi, made this disclosure while speaking during  an interview with Labari Daga Bauchi, a local media outlet in the state.

According to her, after eight days of search, his lifeless body was found in a suck-away located within the premises of the educational institution.

 Abidin mother narrated the whole story of the sad incident to media outlet.

“I attend NCE classes at Games Village here in Bauchi. I used to go with Abidin, on Saturday, August 19th, got missed while I was in the middle of taking a test.

“During the test, he usually leave the classroom to play and then return. The first time he left, I brought him back, but later he left again without my knowledge.

“As I finished the test, I immediately went out to search for him. I checked all the places he usually played, but I couldn’t find him. I noticed his shoes hanging on a window in another classroom.

“I headed straight to that classroom, hoping he would be inside, but unfortunately, he was not there. I searched every classroom in the school, but I couldn’t locate him.

“Returning to our classroom, I informed our lecturer about the situation. My classmates and I searched the entire school premises and nearby areas, including culverts, but we were unable to find him.

“I reported the incident to the Dean of Student Affairs, who then contacted the police station. Since that day, we had not seen him until last Sunday when we discovered his lifeless body.

“The news of Abeedin’s death took me by surprise. I never expected that he would not return alive. Unfortunately, I was called to see Abeedin’s deceased body, which had already begun decomposing and some body parts were removed.”

The bereaved father also narrated how the remains of his son was found in the school’s premises.

“At approximately 2:30 pm, I received a call informing me that my son was missing. Promptly after receiving this distressing news, I reported the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) located in Bauchi.

“During the eight-day search for my son, Abidin, I held onto hope that he would be found alive. However, on Sunday at around 2 pm, I received an urgent call from the school.

“When I arrived at the school, I was confronted with the lifeless body of my dear son. Tragically, his eyes, nose, and mouth had been forcefully removed, rendering his face unidentifiable.

“My biggest hurt is, I don’t know whether my son was injected with an anesthetic prior to the removal of these body parts,” Al-kasim said.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has ordered the immediate closure of the School.

Governor Mohammed gave the order when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the slain boy, expressing shock over the gruesome murder.

“While we appreciate the establishment of private schools, we will not tolerate the loss of life in their name. I have immediately ordered the Ministry of Education and the police to close the school until the matter is investigated.

“We will not tolerate such behaviour. We understand that this will affect the students, but this measure is necessary. Parents should also be extra vigilant. With your cooperation and prayers, we will eliminate these bad eggs from our society.”

“It is disheartening that someone would just pick up this young boy and remove parts of his body. We will not tolerate this,” he said.

 The number citizen in the state was accompanied by the State Commissioner of Police, Awal Musa Mohamed, and other top government officials.

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Jungle Justice: Mob Beats Robbery Suspect With Toy Gun To Death

By Babatunde Solanke

Jungle justice has been carried out by a mob on a yet-to-be-identified suspected armed robber as he was been beaten to death while attempting to rob a resident identified simply as Victor at Olugboso in the Agege area of Lagos State, The Punch online reports.

The medium said it gathered on Sunday that the incident happened on August 20 after the suspect broke into Victor’s apartment at midnight and attempted to rob him of his valuables with a toy gun.

While sensing that the gun was not real, Victor challenged him and engaged him in a fight. In the process, the armed hoodlum reached for a pair of scissors in his pocket and stabbed Victor.

It was learnt that the sound of the struggle attracted the attention of some co-tenants who rushed to the scene.

 A resident who spoke with the medium said the co-tenants intervened, overpowered the hoodlum and rescued Victor who was already inflicted with severe bodily injuries.

The resident who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the incident said, “The incident happened around 1.30 am. The occupants in the building heard the sound of people struggling

“They traced the sound to Victor’s room and tried to rescue him. By then, he was already stabbed in the neck, including his chest and some parts of his face. They had to quickly rush him to a nearby hospital.”

Source: The Punch online

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Bolt Driver Graduate Of American University Confesses To Police On How He Declined Orders From Men To Rob Female Passengers; Makes 700,000 From Act

By Akeem Oduyoye

An e-hailing driver in Lagos State, Jeremiah Adeniran, arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, has revealed how he used to decline ride orders from men so he could rob his female passengers.

Adenira said the hardship caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy pushed him into robbing his passengers of their valuables in the state.

The suspect, who claimed to be a graduate of Accounting from the North American University, said on Friday that he usually connived with two yet-to-be-identified friends to perpetrate the crime.

Speaking during a parade of suspects at the police command headquarters in Ikeja on Friday, 4 August 2023 he said he had made a total of N700,000 from the act. He said he was arrested in Ikotun after his last operation, noting that he and his accomplices usually targeted female passengers.

Adeniran said, “When I get a man, I will decline the ride. I started last month and my first operation was on July 28, but I did two other operations this month and I was caught last Friday at Ikotun after I picked a lady along Ijegun Road a few minutes after 1am.

“She was going to the New Afrika Shrine. Immediately I picked her, I already told my two friends to stay by the road since I know where she is going. So, I picked both of them and they started the operation with the lady.”

Narrating how he was arrested, he said the phone seized from the lady led to his arrest.

He stated, “How I was arrested was that the phone we collected was with one of my friends and immediately I entered a shop in Ikotun, I saw the lady I picked on Friday night and instantly she recognised me and I was arrested and taken to Ikotun Police Station.”

Adeniran, who said he and his accomplices had robbed no fewer than four victims, urged youths in the country to be patient and earn money through legitimate means.

He added, “This is not a good place for a responsible child to be. It was not the government. Before, I was doing my normal e-hailing ride and then I could do 15 trips every day and would make good money, but because of fuel subsidy and all, the work was not just going well any longer.

“From the outset, it wasn’t my plan to do this, but I did not have a choice as of then. During the fuel subsidy removal, I have been complaining and really wanted to stop this and I was already compiling my CV. I am married with a child.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, while parading Adeniran alongside other suspects on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, said efforts were on to arrest the fleeing accomplices.

He also noted that Adeniran was arrested while attempting to sell the items he stole during the robbery at the BRT Market in Ikotun. He added that his operational Toyota Camry Saloon car and a knife were recovered from him.

Similarly, Hundeyin paraded three suspects, Igboro Rasheed, 39, Rasak Adeleke, 30, and Moses Victor, 23, in connection with the killing of an Inspector, Sunday Apochi, attached to the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos State.

“The fact of the case is that on July 23, 2023, around 8.30pm, the suspects being members of the Aiye Confraternity, led by one Sulaimon Abbas during a fight, shot the deceased with a locally-made rifle and thereafter used a battle axe on him before he died,” he said.

Hundeyin, who noted that Owohunwa launched Operation Flush to tackle crime resurfacing in some parts of the state, said on August 2, 2023 at around 9.30pm, a joint operation was carried out by operatives of the Isheri Division and Area H Command to raid drug joints at Isheri North.

He said five suspects were arrested and several wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit drugs such as codeine, Colorado, and loud were recovered, adding that the suspects would be charged to court for onward prosecution.

Other suspects including Zarhanu Garba, 39; Maikusa Mohammed, 42; George Ebukeebuna, 56; Abass Oluwatosin, Babatunde Daniel, Fagboun Idris, Fabian Ndubuisi, 32; Samson Isaac, 37; Wisdom Iwoha, 27; Ebuka Duru, 26; Gbenga Olamide, 38; Olufemi Olanrewaju, 40; Christain Oramuru, 31; Philip Samson, 40; and Adeniyi Adeleke, 29, among others.

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Revealed: The Untold Story of 50 Year –Old Father Of Nine Who Offers His Last Child For Money Rituals

By Murphy Akanji

A 50-year-old Beninese farmer, Poni Bada, has been arrested by a team of  policemen from the Zone 2 Command, Onikan Lagos for leaving his country to Nigeria with the intention of offering his nine-year –old son for money rituals.

Bada told police operatives that he decided to offer his son for money ritual so as to train his nine other children from three wives.

Bada and his three accomplices Ige Koselu, Benjamin Balovi and Segun Shile were arrested at herbalist’s home in Owode area of Ogun State, where the money ritual was to be carried out.

The trio contributed N100,000 needed to start the ritual process, with an agreement to have their share of the loot when the ritual is successful and money start to roll in.

The nine-year-old boy, Agbe, was brought from Benin Republic in May, 2023, to work in a farmland where he was paid N5,000.

A month after, his father was said to have called his contact in Nigeria, Benjamin Balobi, complaining that the money paid to his son was too small compared to the farm work.

In his confessional statement to the police, Bada gave reason for wanting to offer his son for ritual

“I have 10 children from three wives. The situation of things kept going from bad to worse. I could not feed my children. I then decided to use my last child, Agbe, for a money ritual, so that I could train the other children and have better living conditions.

“In May 2023, I left my home town in Jakotome, Benin Republic for Nigeria, to visit my brother, Benjamin Balobi, at Ilaro, Ogun State, who earlier told me he was doing well as a farmer and that the owner of a farmland was looking for labourers.

“That was how I brought Agbe to Nigeria to work.

“But the thought of using him for a money ritual came up when I realized that the money paid as salary to my son was very poor.

“I told Balobi to help me get a herbalist that would help me with the money rituals; he said he knew no one but promised to help me find a herbalist who might have information on it.

“He informed Ige Koshelu (one of the suspects) who found someone that promised to take us to the herbalist’s place in Sango. But we were taken to another herbalist’s place in Owode, where we were arrested.”

Also in his own confession to the police, one of his accomplices, Segun Shile, a commercial motorcyclist, said four herbalists earlier contacted declined engaging in money rituals sacrifice.

“If I had known, I would have withdrawn. We were warned by the herbalist I took them to at Owode, Ogun State, not to use the boy.

“When I called the herbalist on the phone, he said there was nothing like money rituals. Few days later, he invited me to bring the person that would be used for the rituals.

“Immediately he sighted the boy, he stated categorically that the child’s head was too strong to be used for rituals,” Shile said, just as he expressed regrets for his action in the matter.

Continiuing, Shile said: “He, however, demanded N100,000 to take to another herbalist who would perform the rituals.

“Three of us: Balobi, Koshelu and myself, who accompanied the father of the boy there, then went outside to discuss how to raise the money.

“Balobi brought N50,000, and Koshelu and I added N25,000 each. We told the boy’s father not to pay since he was donating his son for the ritual.

“The agreement was for him to give us out of what would come out of the process. When we handed the money to the herbalist, he picked up his phone and called someone. To our surprise, the next thing we saw was policemen.”

Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Command, AIG Muhammed Ali who confirmed the arrest of the suspects and rescue of boy, said the latter would be taken to a juvenile home at the end of investigation.

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My Ordeal In Hands Of Abductors –Released Anambra Native Doctor

By Murphy Akanji

Famous Anambra State-born native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, who was kidnapped last Sunday and released early on the morning of Saturday, 29 July, 2023, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors.

Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki, narrating his experience to friends and well-wishers, said: “Let me tell you all what happened. While I was in the kidnappers’ den, I listened to the radio and saw how people were speaking all kinds of rubbish, so I decided to set the record straight.

“What really happened was that I was there (at home) that day, at around 11:30, when someone named Okey Japan called me and said they were at my hotel, and that they were spending money, and had spent close to N300,000, and that they would have wanted me to be around.

“I obliged them and drove to the hotel all by myself, in my new car. No one came with me. I was there, and not up to 30 minutes, gunshot rented the air. People started running helter-skelter. I now went out to see what happening, and the people started shooting at me.

“They killed two of my security men. I don’t want to reveal much now, but I know that only two things can only save a man. If your charms do not save you, your money will save you.

“Anyone who has charms should have money. So the people took me into their car. If I wanted to run away, I would have run away, but I have seen those that were shot and I said if I leave, they will kill many people. A lot of people were lying down, and if I wanted to leave, they would have killed many.

“The story too would have been that the whole thing started when I came in, meaning that I was the one who brought in kidnappers. I decided to follow them to show that my hands were clean. What I did was to save many souls. If you think they took me because I ate people’s money, let me tell you I did not. If I eat your money, come to me I will give you money because I have money.

“People may be rejoicing that it happened to me but let me tell you, if the death that killed the rich, encounters the poor, it will crush him.

“This whole thing is related to this sit-at-home people, and they mentioned names of more people they will take, but it’s not something I can say now. They killed many in front of me. They killed up to 20 people before me. I did not take anyone’s money, they just came to kidnap and their target is people who have money. They wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from my hotel that day, but I rather followed them,” the witch doctor said.

Many had alleged that his kidnap had to do with many of his patrons who were disappointed that his money-making ritual did not work for them, thereby seeking a way to get at him and get back their money.

Recall that the Anambra State Police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed his release on Saturday, 29 July, 2023

Ikenga said that the popular native doctor was released by his abductors in the early hours of Saturday.

Tiwaraki was kidnapped around 11:30pm on Sunday, July 23 at his Triple P Hotel in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

Ikenga, who did not disclose the amount his abductors collected said the abductors reached out to the native doctor’s colleagues and some money was paid to them before he was freed.

 “I have the information that his abductors have contacted friends and relatives and demanded some millions.

“I also have information that his abductors are demanding some specific amount which I have not gotten the accurate figure, the state police image maker said.

“According to speculation, they said it’s between N200 million and N300million. We are making efforts to get in touch with him and also get accurate information surrounding his abduction.

“Yes, he has been released this morning. We are waiting to debrief him, with a view to getting his experience and clue of who the abductors are, so that we can go after them,” he added.

It was also gathered that friends and well-wishers are currently gathering in his palatial mansion to welcome him.

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Commotion In Ogun Community As Mad Man Beheads 84-Year-Old Man

By Akeem Oduyoye

A man suspected to be mentally challenged on Friday, 28 July, 2023 beheaded an 84-year-old man, Elder Alfred Opadipe, in Ipara community, Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that the lunatic, identified as David Shodola, 32, reportedly beheaded his victim yesterday morning, throwing the town into confusion.

He also ended up dead as he violently resisted arrest and attacked police officers with a machete.

The State Police Spokesperson, Omotola Odutola, who confirmed the sad incident, said a distress call from an unnamed informant prompted Divisional Police Officer (DPO) CSP Bankole Isara Eluyeru to lead some officers to the scene.

According to her, the suspect fiercely resisted arrest as he used “the machete on the DPO and his men.” The team succeeded “in neutralising the suspect and recovering a weapon from him,” she affirmed.

The police spokesperson, however, asserted that there was “no recount of the suspect being a madman from the intelligence the police gathered.”