How We Narrowly Escaped Being Kidnapped By Our Bus Driver—Lagos-Warri Passengers

Some passengers en-route from Lagos to Warri, Delta State have in a short video clip, shared their experience about how they escaped abduction by their bus driver.

They explained that they boarded a bus at Dominion Motors in Ojota on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, and receipts tagged 'Journey Mercy Transport' were issued to them

One of the passengers who is an elderly man explained that immediately after the bus took off at Ojota Garage in Lagos, all the passengers slept off except himself and another woman.

He further explained that they regained their consciousness after they got to Satguru Maharaj Ji Village area, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

"When the two of us realized that we were at Guru Maharaj Ji in Ibadan, we asked the driver why he changed our route and he immediately made a U-turn on the same lane. He got to the other side of the road where a man was waiting for him.

"He wanted to carry the man but we refused. We did not allow him to carry the man. Though others were still sleeping I struggled with him to gain control of the steering. He later stopped the bus.

"Immediately the bus stopped, a man in police uniform came out from nowhere and collected the key from me," the passenger said

Other passengers reportedly woke up immediately after the bus stopped and their suspicions were raised by the sudden appearance of the police officer suspected to be one of the driver's accomplices. 

This made the passengers call the attention of the operatives of the Amotekun outfit to the place. 

"We woke up when the bus stopped. That was when we realized what was going on. All of us except those two slept off throughout. After we came down from the bus, people started gathering around us," another passenger explained. 

The driver has been handed over to security operatives from the Amotekun outfit while an investigation is ongoing.

Yoruba Generalissimo, Gani Adams Condemns Attack On Sunday Igboho's House, Says 8 People Killed

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has condemned in strong terms the attack on the residence of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho early on Thursday. 

Adams described the attack as a ploy to silence Igboho or stop him from expressing his views on the state of the nation. 

He, however, charged the Nigerian Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Adams, in a statement on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, described the attack, which he said led to the death of eight persons, with wanton destruction of his property, as very unfortunate. 

The Yoruba generalissimo said the attack has exposed the Federal Government, especially on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria. 

He said the incident was a ploy to prevent Igboho from agitating for the Yoruba nation, which, according to Adams, is what many Yoruba people, both home and abroad, want at the moment. 

"The attack on Sunday Igboho's house is most unfortunate. It is a reflection of the fact that our lives as Nigerians are of no value to the government. And the truth is that nobody is safe in this country, 

"The recent attack was the second in six months. The first was in January when his Soka residence was razed by unknown arsonists. And up till date, nobody has been apprehended in respect of the ugly incident. 

"Those agitating for the Yoruba nation have been the targets of this administration and the two attempts at Igboho's houses within six months cannot be said to be ordinary. They were ploys to cow him and frustrate him. 

"We cannot continue to live in fear and trepidation. We cannot continue to live in a perpetual crisis where our lives and properties are not secure. 

"Igboho is being hunted because of his beliefs in the struggle for the liberation of Yoruba race and those behind these two attacks should be warned that any attack on Igboho is an attack on all of us that are in the struggle for the liberation of Yoruba race. It is sad that this government is intolerant of other people's views. 

"Let me say this for emphasis that it is in the interest of the Federal Government to learn how to manage those agitating. Yoruba people are seeking self-determination or devolution of power. These are the two key things we are asking from the Federal Government. So, of the two requests, the Federal Government should be ready to negotiate for one, rather than to be using force to subdue agitators. 

"For instance, the British government didn't at any time, subdue the agitations of Scotland or Ireland. Even in Canada, Quebec settled for a region after seeking self-determination from Canada. It is their legitimate right and such must be protected under the ambit of the law. 

"As a government, it is your duty and responsibility to change people's views through better policy implementation and programmes that are in the interest of the masses, not the other way round. 

"The video clip of the attack on Sunday Igboho's house was a show of death and destruction. About eight people were allegedly killed in the attack, with wanton destruction to his property. The information at my disposal also indicates that the attack was allegedly done by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with foreign terrorists. Imagine if Igboho was killed in the attack, it might lead to a raging war. Remember the case of Boko Haram leader, Muhammed Yusuff,who was killed in 2009. The death of Yusuff became Nigeria's nemesis and Boko Haram has created the most challenging problem in Nigeria till today. 

"As far as I am concerned, I don't support anything that negates the law or anybody that disobeys the law, however, the Federal Government should be able to tolerate other people's views by taking into consideration the rights of every citizen as it is in the constitution. This is what makes democracy thrives," Adams said.

UPDATE: Nigerian Soldiers, Secret Police 'Arrested' Cat They Believed Sunday Igboho Turned To During Invasion Of His House—Eyewitnesses

Some of those working with Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, have narrated how gunmen in military uniform allegedly attacked the residence of the Yoruba rights activist.

SaharaReporters had reported how Ighoho’s house in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo state was attacked around 1am on Thursday.

Sunday Igboho

At least 10 vehicles belonging to the self-styled activist, including his G-wagon, Prado SUVs, and valuable properties, furniture, and windows were destroyed.

Bullet holes were also found on the buildings in the compound while bloodstains were seen on the premises by our correspondent.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, an aide to the Ighoho who said he witnessed the incident said the attackers took away jewellery and a huge amount of cash belonging to the Yoruba activist and his family.

“Around 1am, we started hearing gunshots, there was pandemonium everywhere. Then we saw soldiers, they were dressed as if they were going for a battle. Before we knew what was happening, they started targeting places where people sleep in the house. 

“It was God that saved me and others, they came prepared. Only God knows how they identified Igboho’s room, they went there, took his money and jewellery. Same as that of his wife and other family members.

“They even took away his cat when they didn’t see him. They claimed it might be Ighoho that turned to the cat, so they took it away.

“They shot at the cars and riddled the glasses and doors with bullets.”

SaharaReporters gathered that the operatives also killed some of the small cats found in the house while the big one was taken away. 

Another person who spoke on condition of anonymity said, "They came around 1:30 am and started shooting. They scaled the fence and started shooting at everybody and everything they saw. 

"Chief was around but the way he escaped surprised everybody. An insider must have given them information about the house and its occupants. 

"They were asking for each person by name and they killed five and took away their corpses. They also whisked a lady away and wives of Igboho's aides who live in the house. 

"Those who came are soldiers and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives. 

"They even killed some small cats and 'arrested' a bigger cat, believing Igboho might have turned to the cat."

How Kidnappers Disguised As Bishop, Military Man Stormed Dunamis To Trick Me—Pastor Enenche

The Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Church, Abuja, Dr Paul Enenche, has narrated that two kidnappers, who disguised as a bishop from The Gambia and a naval officer stormed the church’s headquarters, Glory Dome, at the Airport Road Abuja to defraud him.

Enenche stated this during a sermon last Wednesday that they were, however, exposed by the Spirit of God.

Paul Enenche

He stated that the suspected criminals were exposed during a chat with a little girl who they had kidnapped from Anambra State.

He revealed that the assailants were handed over to law enforcement agents after which they confessed to be criminals.

Enenche said, “On Monday I received a text message from a bishop who claimed he came from the country of Gambia and that he wanted to see me because he had an encounter where he was directed to meet with me so that I can pray and impact him so he can return to Gambia.

“He said he got someone’s number who would give him my contact, so after contacting the person, he (man in Nigeria) urged him to come to him so they would both meet me.

“The bishop told me that the man who promised to bring him to me demanded N1 million which according to him, he gave but said the person was no longer answering his calls.

“We called our pastor in the local government (area) where the man said he was, and when our pastor met the man, he told us that the story sounded real.

“There was also a naval officer who also heard about him and helped to rescue the ‘bishop’ who according to him revealed my contact which they used to call me.

“Our pastor in the state arranged for them to meet us here in Abuja. When I saw them, I excitedly received them and he narrated all the stories, how he had surgery with some terrible scars on his body. He said during the surgery, he was dead for four hours going to hell when he saw me and that I interrupted his death and asked him to come back to the world and come to Nigeria to meet me.

“So we decided to get them a place to stay over here both him and the ‘Naval officer’ and his ‘daughter’ who I had not seen that time.

“Then I came into the church auditorium to pray for some people and then I met him standing somewhere here waiting for when someone would take him to the lodge and then the little girl who he claimed is his daughter was standing here too.

“The Holy Ghost came on me on a spot so I asked the girl, is that your father? She said yes. Where do you stay? She said 'I stay in Lagos.’ Have you travelled out of the country before? And she said no. So where are you from? She mentioned the state. What about the man? She told me the man is from Cross River State and lives in that place he claimed they kept him.

“Now when he came and I was talking to him, I already signalled one of our men who would arrange for me those that will show them the way. So I asked the girl to repeat what she told me and after that, I asked the man, this is your daughter right? He became silent.

“The little girl said, sir, I want you to free me from their hands; that they kidnapped her from Anambra State. According to the little girl, the man went to their church claiming to be a pastor and duped the people then ran away the next day with the little girl.

“When they arranged them to the law enforcement agency, the ‘bishop’ wanted to run through the window, after they arrested him back, he was made to talk the truth, he gave them the details. The naval officer was not a naval officer, he had never been in any force.

“They found police uniform in his bag. They now told him 'how are we sure it is not a police you killed to get his uniform?' They have sent for the family of the girl to come and pick her. The pastor of the church he duped is also on his way coming.”

How IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu Was Blindfolded, Handcuffed, Sneaked Into Abuja Court

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has been arrested in the United Kingdom and brought to the Federal High Court, Abuja  by heavy security operatives.

Kanu was blindfolded and sneaked into the courtroom by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in handcuffs while his legs were also chained.

Nnamdi Kanu in court

He was hurriedly taken to Court 2 where the presiding judge told the prosecution lawyer, Shuaib Labaran to inform the defence counsel of the new date for the continuation of the trial. 

Journalists were prevented from filming Kanu as he was shielded and taken through the back door.

The prosecution applied that Kanu jumped bail and wanted him to be remanded at DSS custody. 

The court granted the application. 

Justice Muritala Nyanko has adjourned the matter to July 26, 2021. 

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday announced that Kanu was intercepted by operatives of Nigeria's security intelligence. 

Kanu was on October 14, 2015, arraigned by the Nigerian Government over allegations of terrorism, money laundering, treason, etc.

On March 28, 2019, his bail condition was revoked by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court.

Culled from Sahara Reporters.

Synagogue Church Releases Funeral Plan For Late TB Joshua

The founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as Prophet TB Joshua's funeral details have been released. 

The arrangement is said to start from July 5th with candle light procession, while tribute service and service of songs/all night praise is scheduled to hold from 6th to 7th of July. 

However, Lying-In-State is slated for July 8th, Laying-To-Rest service and interment will be on the 9th of July.

The organiser said 11th of July will be for the Thanksgiving service, noting that some of the programmes of the burial will be private while some will be made open to the public.

SaharaReporters had reported that the traditional ruler of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, pleaded that the cleric should be buried in his hometown, Arigidi Akoko, in Ondo State.

The monarch explained that other clerics including Prophet Moses Orimolade were buried in his Ikare hometown. He stressed that Prophet TB Joshua is treasured in his hometown and that he ought to be buried in Arigidi Akoko.

"My greatest regret is that TB Joshua could not complete the university project in Arigidi," the king said.

“He would bring rice to the people whenever we requested. He hated to see people go hungry. He was instrumental to the electrification of many communities in Akoko land after years of darkness,” he added. 

BREAKING: Court Orders Detention Of IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu Till July 26

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu till July 26, 2021 for continuation of his trial.

Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.

He was granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons but skipped bail after flouting some of the conditions given to him by the court.

In a broadcast via Radio Biafra, Kanu boasted that the Nigerian court lacks the capacity to try him, describing the court as a Kangaroo court. 

He said the judge who asked his sureties to produce him should have asked the army why they invaded his residence. 

“Nigerian court is a Kangaroo court. I did not jump bail, I left because the court failed to protect me,” he said.

The Nigerian government on Tuesday announced his arrest and extradition to Nigeria to continue facing trial.

He was subsequently arraigned while being masked before Binta Nyako, a Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

SaharaReporters gathered that Nyako ordered the IPOB leader detained until July 26, 2021 for continuation of trial.

How I Spent 7 Hours In Same Room With Cobra Without Being Hurt, Says Bishop David Oyedepo

The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church International (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, says he spent seven hours in his office with a cobra but came out unhurt.

According to a video posted on the church’s YouTube, the Pastor said the reason why the cobra did not attack him was because of his love for God.

He said, “You may read all the books I have written but until you discover my heartbeat for God, you don’t know my secret. God knows I love him, all the devils know I love God and God proves perpetually and unending that I truly love him. So He manifests himself concerning me at His own time. He does it naturally in all the realms.

“I was in my office and a cobra was found in my wardrobe, the third floor of the building and I worked in that floor seven hours in the previous night and the morning when they were cleaning, there was a cobra and it stood up. It was there all night and I was there. 

“Let me tell you this, when you become a lover of God, the enemy will leave you alone, because every attempt on your life will bounce back on him. 

“Everybody desires supernatural intervention in their finances but there is nothing you earn as wages that will be equal to wealth, it is the blessing of God that makes you rich and he adds no sorrow to it. So, to bring the hand of God to bear on your finances, whatever God says to you to do regarding your finances, do it.”

ABSU undergraduate jumps from three-storey building, dies

A 400-level optometry student of Abia State University, Uturu, has been confirmed dead after jumping down from a three-storey building.

He was reported to be on drugs when he jumped from his lodge called Favour Lodge located off the campus on Saturday evening.

Reports by students revealed that the deceased, identified as Francis Chibuike, in the video recorded after he took a hard drug known as Colorado, was unable to contain its effect.

According to some students, his friends reportedly locked him in the room and went in search of cassava flakes known as garri to restore him back to consciousness, but the deceased went through the balcony and jumped down from the building with blood gushing out from his head before they returned.

A student from the school, Paul Udo, in his Facebook post, said the deceased jumped from the stairs with head shattered beyond medical help.

Another student, Nnadi Thyword, while commenting on the incident, said: “Come to think of it; he is a medical student and ought not to be told the dangers of these drugs. It is doubtful to say that those who take these drugs don’t know the negative effects. This is simply an addiction.”

In the video made available to The Guardian yesterday, the student recording the video, who appeared to own the apartment, where Francis had taken the substance, was heard saying: “I told you not to take it, but you did. I told you I don’t like it. ”

According to a news publication, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the institution, Navy Commander ThankGod Evulobi (retired), confirmed the incident, describing it as one of the consequences of hard drugs.

According to him, the deceased, who is from Imo State, drugged himself and told his friends that he was going out only for him to jump out from the window.

Man beats wife to death over N2,000

A 45-year-old man identified as Christopher, on Saturday night, beat his wife to death over N2,000.

The incident happened at No. 1, Agbontaen Street, beside Ebvareke Secondary School, off Agboniro Street, Uselu, Benin City.

The man was said to have pounced on his wife, Mrs. Isoken Christopher, following her failure to give him the N2,000 loan he requested from her.

The eldest child of the deceased, Augustine Christopher, said his mother was hale and hearty before the sad incident.

The 13-year old boy explained that his father, who is a menial worker with a waste manager in Benin, always beats his mother at the slightest provocation.

According to him, the event that led to his mother’s death started with a phone call from his father to his mother when he requested N2,000.

“Following the call, my father came home at about 9:00p.m. and started beating and accused her of always embarrassing him each time he requested money.

“After the beating, I was trying to give my mother a paracetamol tablet and a glass of water she asked for when my father forcefully collected the water and drug from me and threw them away.

“It was after that she went out to pour water on her body and later lie down outside.

“My father locked us (children) inside the room and went out to pounce on my mother where she was lying down outside, already weak from the beating.

“That was when neighbours came and rushed her to two different hospitals where she was pronounced dead on arrival,” he explained.

The young boy said his father smokes and was always drunk.

A neighbour to the deceased, Mrs. Florence Obahiagbon, said it was the noise from the beating that attracted their attention.

“On getting outside, we met the man beating his wife and we tried to revive her by pouring water on her because she was too weak.

“We rushed her to two hospitals within the neighbourhood where they both said she was dead on arrival.”