Nation
Police Nab Two Brothers Over Murder
Two brothers, Chinedu Nnaona and Maduabuchi Nnaona, aged 25 and 23 years respectively, from Onuakpaka, Ndiagu-Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State have been arrested by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly murdering a security guard and his 12 year old son in attempt to steal and sell their uncle’s car.
Making this known in a statement issued in Enugu, weekend, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said acting on credible information, Police Operatives serving in Uwani Police Division of Enugu State Police Command, on 13th March 2023, arrested the two suspects.
According to the police image maker, their arrest was sequel to an earlier report received at Nkanu West Police Division on March 12, 2023 about 11.30am, alleging the murder of one Christian Ngene, who is the security guard and caretaker of the hometown residence of the suspects’ uncle (name withheld) at the mentioned address, and his 12 years old son, Promise Ngene.
Ndukwe said upon receipt of the report, Police operatives of the Division swiftly moved to the scene, found and evacuated the lifeless bodies of the victims to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead by doctors on duty and their remains deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
He stated that two knives, two hand gloves and broken pieces of a concrete baluster, used by the suspects to perfect their wicked act, were recovered at the scene.
According to Ndukwe, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they conspired and left Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, where they reside with their parents, and went to the mentioned home address, with the sole aim of stealing and selling their uncle’s Mitsubishi Grandis car, parked in his hometown compound.
To perfect their plan, DSP Ndukwe went on, they procured the knives, proceeded to the building in the early morning hours of March 12, 2023, and scaled the fence to gain access into the compound.
The PPRO revealed that in order to gain further access into the main building to get the car’s key, they used the baluster to attack the security guard in order to get the building’s keys from him, adding that he resisted, but they overpowered and used the knives to severally stab him to death.
Unfortunately, he said, they went ahead to stab and murder his son, who was sleeping, to avoid their being exposed by him, and then gained access and ransacked the entire building in search of the car key, but were unsuccessful.
He also disclosed that upon daybreak, the suspects escaped to Maryland Enugu, from where they were arrested by the Police Operatives, while trying to treat injuries the deceased security guard inflicted on them, in an attempt to resist and defend himself.
Ndukwe disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Ammani, while describing the sad act as highly barbaric and heinous, has commiserated with the immediate and extended family members and friends of the deceased victims, vowing to ensure that they get the deserved justice in the case.
By: Canice Amadi, Enugu
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.