At least 19 dead in New York City apartment fire

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At least 19 people have lost their lives while dozens sustained injuries after a fire tore through a high-rise apartment building in the New York borough of the Bronx, according to Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday.

US media reported that several children were among those who died.

“We know that we have 19 people who are confirmed dead, as well as several others in critical condition,” Adams, who has been mayor for barely over a week, told CNN. He added that there 63 people who had been injured.

“This is going to be one of the worst fires in our history,” he said.

The injured were taken to five hospitals; many suffered from cardiac and respiratory arrest, the New York Times reported.

The incident comes just four days after a fire in Philadelphia killed 12 people, eight children inclusive, in a three-story public housing building in what seemed to be one of the deadliest recent fires in the United States.

In New York, there were fears of a growing toll.

“The last time we had a loss of life that may be this horrific was a fire which was over 30 years ago, also here in the Bronx,” said Fire Marshal Dan Nigro, quoted by NBC News.

At least 200 firefighters responded to the blaze, which started mid-morning on the second and third floors of a 19-story building on East 181st Street, several blocks west of the Bronx Zoo.

Flames speedily engulfed much of the structure, and Nigro said the smoke was so dense as to be “unprecedented.”

Flames and thick black smoke could be seen in photographs and videos posted on social media. They were billowing out of a third-story window of the brick building as firefighters operated on a nearby ladder.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

Court remands 4 men for alleged unlawfulpossession of firearms

Police Intercept Two Buses Conveying 32 Under aged Children From Benue To Osun State (Photos)

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Two commercial buses have been intercepted by men of the Benue State Police Command’s anti-crime squad code-named Operation Zenda. The buses were allegedly conveying 32 children to Ede in Osun state

They were intercepted at Ameladu in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue state on Saturday, January 8.

The conveyor of the children, Mrs. Linda Akaasema claimed to own an orphanage in Osun state and described the children of being mostly teenagers made up of 13 boys and 19 girls.

Mrs Akaasema explained that the children were inmates of Akaasema Child Care Foundation which was registered in Benue state but operational in Osun state and only came home for the Yuletide festivities.

Mrs Akaasema further explained that the children are from Ukum local government towns of Zakibiam, Jootar and other towns sharing Boundaries with Taraba state.


She was however unable to provide any documentary evidence to prove she owned orphanage as well as prove that the children were actually in school and only visited home.

She could also not provide any documents to identify herself as she claimed to have forgotten all when leaving Osun state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the development said investigation into the matter was ongoing.

Teenager remanded for stealing $5,000 Bitcoin in Osun

Policeman arrested for selling missing police pistols to cultist

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A 38-year-old Police Traffic Officer, Haruna Yusuf, has been arrested by the Kwara State Police Command this weekend, for allegedly picking a police service pistol from a mosque and selling it to  members of a cult group in Kwara State.

Reports have it that the former Station Officer in charge of Omu-Aran division , Ehigimetor Ileso, had booked for it but was dismissed when he could not return it to the armoury. He died a year after his dismissal.

Sergeant Yusuf, however, met his waterloo when some suspected cultists were arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team.

The suspected cultists: Tajudeen Olalekan Hammed ,Chukwudi Eze ,Alebo Elijah ,Alebo Isreal , Abimbola Olaonipekun and Olarinde Abiodun , who left   Kwara State to unleash mayhem on members of rival confraternity in Osun State .
Among the weapons recovered from them was a police pistol.

When investigated, one of the suspects, Eze, a Disk Jogger, disclosed that he purchased the weapons from the policeman.

According to 33-year-old Eze who hails from Enugu State, ”  Aside being a DJ, I also  sell phone accessories at Traffic Junction .I bought a police pistol and a locally made gin   from the police officer for self – defence because of the nature of my work .  Later ,I discovered that I could not use the  police pistol ,I sold the two guns  to  “Rector”  ,who is a student of Kwara State Polytechnic “.

On his part, the policeman, Haruna, said, ” I joined the police as a Constable in 2008  .I am from Benue State but I have been serving in Kwara State ,since I was enlisted .I was first posted to Omu Aran Division and later transferred to other divisions in Kwara bit I am now back in Omu Aran.”

 ” I didn’t steal the pistol. .I don’t know what came over  me .when I saw  it  at the mosque “

” I can only say that I am sorry .Out of the two arms that I sold to him ,one belonged to  the Omu Aran Divisional Police Station ,while the other one was locally-made .That  one that belonged to the division, was what I found outside  the mosque behind the police station.”

 ” I didn’t know that it belonged to the SO It was about three years ago . I sold it to the DJ for N47,000 while I sold the locally made to him for N25,000.

“When I picked the gun ,it didn’t occur to me to take it to the station .

” Before God and man,I have never been involved in any case of stealing  before  The SO is late .now .When  I heard that the division was looking for the gun .I was afraid to recover it from the DJ and hand it over to the armourer and I was not at the division when the Station Officer was being tried for the missing pistol”.

The Osun State Commissioner of Police,  ,Wale Olokode, who  confirmed the arrest of the police Sergeant and suspected cult members , revealed that exhibits recovered from the gang included” one  police Beretta  pistol ,one  locally made revolver pistol, two  locally fabricated pistol, one local cut- to -size short gun , 11 live cartridges ,five knives ,three battle axes and one  cutlass “.

Court remands 4 men for alleged unlawfulpossession of firearms

Unilag student accuses Davido of owing him N1 million since 2020

Unilag student accuses Davido of owing him N1 million since 2020
| anaben

A Unilag student, Mastermind, has called out Nigerian singer, Davido, to pay him the sum of N1 million which he owes him after purchasing items and not paying since 2020

The young man disclosed on social media that Davido’s camp members had been threatening him for requesting his money.

Mastermind also posted photos and video proof of his items and how his efforts to collect his payment had been frustrated

The young entrepreneur accused the singer of purchasing stuffed dummies from him in December 2020 and refusing to pay him since then.

Mastermind revealed that he had followed up on the payment for a year but his efforts had been frustrated.

He wrote:

“Please someone should tell @davido to pay for the items he bought since 24th December 2020 I have been hold this inside in silence for a long time, I did all the necessary things to do did all the follow up for a whole year before now, please note this is not clout chasing you pushed me to post all this, I’m literally frustrated and emotionally down because of this.”
Pay the 1m debt that’s all
Mastermind further said that he had continually reached out to Davido’s manager, Asa Asika and the person who introduced the singer to him, Deekay_DMW but they had both warned him to stop calling their phones.

In his words:

“I’m tired of calling your manager @asaasika and the guy that introduced you to me @deekay_dmw because they told me not to call them again they no longer pick my calls except you want me to die of depression, “I’m a student of university of lagos (UniLag) I need my money i have bills in school to pay and house rent to pay, I lost my dad 2019 ending ever since then have been the one taking care of my mom, I’m not begging you to dash me money, pay the 1m debt that’s all.”

Mastermind accompanied his long plea for his money with photos of the product that was purchased from him as well as videos of the phone call recordings when he reached out to the singer’s manager, Asa Asika.

Below are some reactions from fans:

“This is not right at all, David you need to pay this debt haba now! It’s uncalled for, buying something from someone who’s hustling to earn in other to take care of their needs without paying now, with all the luxury life style I’m so feeling sad right now.”
Girlmite:

“You Dey owe person and you go don giveaway for orphanage this country sef I don tire.”
Shez_gifted_:

“All lies David will never go wrong in my eyes never .”
Being_ngodoo:

“1 million naira for baby rubber? Hmm.”
_Ogbuefienterprise1:

“I’m a fan of David but this is not nice fr ! .”
Everythingstitches_:

“Pay the poor boy please.”
Stanley_nweze:

“Common 1m…. He should pay the poor boy na… na wa oh.. OBO is bigger than this kinda thing.”
Justproton:

“It is very gullible how people will always support the rich even when it is obvious that they are wrong. Most of you here will drag your so called faves if they don’t keep to their promise of giving you money but this dude worked for it. Because you love David doesn’t make it right that he is owing the poor dude and shouldn’t pay him. Later we will all say we don’t deserve Buhari. .”

Shatta Wale Is Angry Because Davido Refused To Kiss Him – Uche Maduagwu

I won’t bury my son even if it takes 30 years to get justice – Sylvester’s dad

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Sylvester Oromoni, the father of the late 12-year-old pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, has emphasised the family’s determination to get justice, as he would not bury his son even if it takes 30 years to get justice.

He also countered the report of the autopsy carried out at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, alleging that there was foul play.

Recall that Sylvester was alleged to have been killed by some senior students of his school, after his refusal to join a cult group, a claim which the school denied.

The state government ordered the indefinite closure of the school while awaiting the outcome of an investigation into the matter.

Five students and five employees who were arrested were cleared following a legal advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Adetutu Oshinusi.

The autopsy carried out by a consultant pathologist at the Central Hospital Warri, Clement Vhriterhire, showed that Sylvester died of “acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication in a background of blunt force trauma.”

But the interim and final autopsy report by LASUTH said he died of “Septicaemia, lobar pneumonia with acute pyelonephritis and pyomyositis of the right ankle.”

However, the outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, on Friday said the toxicology report of the first autopsy carried out in Warri was released on December 30, 2021, signed by Vhriterhire, attributing cause of death to “acute bacteria pneumonia due to severe sepsis.”

Sylvester Snr and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had countered the DPP’s advice with the latter describing the report as “escapist and hasty.”

Falana had said, “The report has not laid to rest the allegations surrounding the gruesome murder of Sylvester Oromoni. The report is escapist and hasty as the authorities are aware of the fact that the Chief Coroner of Lagos State has ordered that an inquest be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of Sylvester Oromoni. The inquest, which commenced before the coroner on December 16, 2021, has been adjourned till January 15, 2022 for further hearing.”

The deceased’s father insisted that the case wasn’t anywhere near an end, as his son would not laid to rest until “justice is served” even if it took as long as 30 years.

He said, “The family does not have power. We only rely on God. If they insist that the school will reopen, there is no problem. If God keeps me for 20 or 30 years, I will follow up this case. Government will come, the government will go. I am not bothered. The soul of that boy is crying round. God is alive; He cannot be bribed.

“My son will never be buried. If it takes me 30 years to get justice, he would remain there (in the mortuary). He is my son; I won’t bury him. Nigerians should look beyond what they are saying.”

When asked if he had any doubt over the autopsy released by the state government, he retorted “Do they have any autopsy report? They don’t have any. The doctor that did the autopsy in Delta State was recommended by the Area Commander. He is not the family doctor. We don’t know him. Our lawyer applied to the Area Command to get a copy of the autopsy.”

But Odumosu, at a press briefing held at the police headquarters in Ikeja on Friday and tagged ‘Sylvester Oromoni Jnr: Update on Investigation,’ dismissed any foul play.

He explained that eight persons–five pupils and three house masters – were arrested following a petition to the police on the matter, adding that on December 9, 2021, he interviewed the late pupil’s family, the school management, and witnesses at the command’s headquarters.

He said, “During the open interview, it was unanimously agreed that another autopsy should be carried out where pathologists from all parties would be present. Investigation was extended to Delta State and Abuja. I will like to state here that investigation revealed that the same case was reported at the Area Command Warri, Delta State, on December 1, 2021.

“It has also been established that a post mortem examination was initially carried out on December 2, 2021 by a Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Clement Vhriterhire of the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State. The result of the first autopsy dated December 10, 2021 attributed the cause of death to ‘acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication in a background of blunt force trauma.’

“However, toxicology screening was recommended and also carried out. While waiting for the result of the toxicology, another autopsy was ordered by the Coroner Magistrate in Lagos because of the status of jurisdiction. The corpse was, therefore, moved with armed police escorts from Delta State to Lagos State by TOS Funeral and the autopsy conducted at the expense of the Lagos State Government. The second autopsy was carried out at the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital on December 14, 2021 in the presence of representatives of all the parties involved in the case.”

The CP further said the second autopsy was carried out by the Consultant Pathologist and Chief Examiner, Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, LASUTH, Dr. S.S Soyemi, witnessed by representatives of all the parties, including Vhriterhire, as well as police officers, among other principal officials.

Odumosu said the final results of the post mortem and toxicology examination conducted at Delta and Lagos states showed that the deceased died a natural death.

He stated, “Before the expiration of the 21 days remand order, the families of the students applied for their bail at the Magistrates’ Court 1 Yaba. The application was approved hence the students who were earlier remanded at Boys Home, Oregun, we’re granted bail. The house masters were also granted bail after the expiration of the 21 days remand order.

“The result of the second autopsy carried out in Lagos was released on December 21, 2021. The result attributed the cause of death to ‘Septicaemia, lobar pneumonia with acute pyelonephritis and pyomyositis of the right ankle.’ On December 30, 2021, the toxicology screening results of the first autopsy carried out in Warri was released. The result issued and signed by Dr Clement Vhriterhire, the same doctor who carried out the initial autopsy, attributed the cause of death to ‘acute bacteria pneumonia due to severe sepsis.’

“At the end of diligent investigation carried out so far, there is no evidence to establish a case of torture, bullying and forceful application of poisonous substance against the suspects. All the suspects denied the allegations of torture, bullying and administering of poisonous substance to the deceased. Allegation that the deceased was being forced to join a cult group was also not established as other students interviewed denied this.”

Sylvester Oromoni: Autopsy report shows he was not murdered

“Money Ritual Doesn’t Work, Spirit World Has No Bank To Print Money” – Ifa priest says

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An Ifa Priest, Oluwo Jogbodo Orunmila has disclosed that there is nothing like money ritual as it is fictitious and impossible because the spirit world does not have banks that print or produce money.

The native doctor made this known on his Twitter page while addressing a growing campaign against money ritual – an occultic activity that sometimes involves the killing and mutilations of humans.
The priest said money rituals only happened in Nollywood movies. He appealed to people to stop killing people for rituals as they’re chasing a wild goose in the real world.

Mr. Jogbodo tweeted, “For the 100000000times, there is nothing like money rituals. We live in real world not nollywood movies.

“The spirit worlds doesn’t have banks that print money and banks here didn’t complain of spirit stealing their money. Stop killing people.”

Some social media users have sided with the herbalist, alleging that body parts harvested are only sold in organ trafficking black markets.

Note that few days ago, a 14-year-old girl was rescued from two teenage boys who were allegedly trying to use her for money ritual purposes in Bayelsa State.

Ifa Priest says Queen Naomi Can’t Remarry Until She Is Purified

Imo lawmaker throws away kola nut after constituents reject him

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A former Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Mr Chiji Collins representing Isiala Mbano State Constituency has, in anger, thrown away a plate of kola nut after one of his constituent members challenged him (Chiji) on his alleged lack of performance.

The Speaker’s reaction was captured in a video which has gone viral on social media.

It started when a member of the constituent present at the occasion with the speaker, courageously began pinpointing the alleged failures of the lawmaker. He further asked the former speaker to state reasons why he wanted support again when the one given to him for the past years yielded no political dividends.

That statement caused an uproar in the gathering as the speaker stood up and demanded the young man to sit down.

The young man however ignored the order and continued with his interrogation, until the speaker tumbled the table that had the plate of kola nut and other items for refreshment.

It was gathered that the Speaker’s action brought the gathering to a close as the chaos scared people in the vicinity and some persons took cover to avoid an ugly story.

Having been elected in 2019 under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chiji became Speaker of the State Assembly after he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the administration of former governor Emeka Ihedioha.

In 2020, he defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, when Hope Uzodimma, was pronounced winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election by the Supreme Court. He continued as the Speaker, but was later impeached.

Reacting, Vanguard gathered from one of the loyalists to Chiji, who said his name was Acha, they said the video was edited to blackmail the former speaker and that the young man in the video was unleashing abusive words on the lawmaker and not talking about anything performance.

They said: “The young man in that video was trying to blame Chiji for not speaking out during the time of insecurity in the state the young man is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was smuggled inside the town hall meeting to cause confusion. They want chiji to get involved in the battle of insecurity in Imo. All they want to confuse is destroy the image of Chiji. So that their own man can become the next Isiala Mbano lawmaker.”

Imo government sent security operatives to humiliate me — Nwosu alleges

Lagos nurses to commence 3-day warning strike from Monday

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Nurses, on the platform of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Lagos State chapter, have declared a three-day warning strike which would commence from Monday, January 10, to press home demands for better working conditions from the Lagos State government.

Making the declaration at an emergency Congress in Lagos on Friday, Chairman of the State chapter, Julius Awojide, lamented at what he described as “government’s insensitivity to the plight of nurses in the State”.

Awojide said the strike was to let the government know that nurses would no longer be overworked, undervalued and underpaid without consequence.

The NANNM chairman said the State Executive Council meeting held on December 29, 2021, took recognizance of numerous challenges of nurses and all the unresolved issues before the government.

He said the issues continue to cause suffering of their members, and inevitably the public.

“The Council decided to embark on the warning strike after careful consideration to call attention of government to the severity of the situation and to get them to address the issues promptly.

“We engaged government on several occasions on the issues without the desired pace of outcome.

“In our estimation, the Lagos government is yet to fully come to terms with how incredibly challenging the situation in the health sector has been for our members, especially in the last two years,” he noted.

Plateau varsity ASUU goes on indefinite strike

Police torture Nigerian business man to death in South Africa

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Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), on Thursday, expressed shock over the murder of a Nigerian, Kingsley Ezeh, whose death was allegedly caused by the South African police.

According to the President General of NICASA, Benjamin Okoli, Mr Ezeh’s death on Tuesday was circumstantial in the hands of members of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).

According to him, members of the JMPD had invaded Mr Ezeh’s tyre shop in the late evening of January 4, where they allegedly manhandled while trying to extract information from him.

He also accused the police officers of choking the deceased, leading him to his death.
Mr Ezeh was said to be going about his normal business activity when metro police officers with an unmarked black-BMW vehicle arrived conveying his brother that they arrested earlier at a different location.

The NICASA boss said, “What led to the death of Ezeh on January 4, remains a mystery which will be unravelled by police investigation.

“The shop is fitted with a CCTV camera, which we believe will be instrumental and helpful in unravelling the case.

“From indication and the brother’s account, they choked the deceased for several minutes, at the same time asking him to vomit what they assumed he had swallowed; the choking caused asphyxiation.

“Two other Nigerians in the area had allegedly accused same group of Metro Police officers of attacking them only few months ago using plastic bags to cover their heads and they almost died.

“Both Nigerians maintained that nothing was found on them at the time of the attack against them; the police stopped them while driving, after searching their cars and found nothing, insisted on extorting them certain amount.”

According to him, because they didn’t pay the bribe, they were attacked and nearly killed with the plastic used to suffocate them by the said Metro officers.
They also accused the Metro officers of stealing their phones and money.

“We are currently discussing with these two Nigerians, to see how we can add their case to this death as evidence of a pattern of attack by these group of Metro Police against Nigerians.

“The Metro Police had claimed that the late Ezeh ingested substance they suspected is narcotic when they came into his shop and they claimed he had suffocated by the substance he ingested.

“Paramedics were called to the shop where he was confirmed dead on the scene; the leadership of NICASA monitored the situation and ensured that protocols are followed to secure evidence,” he added.

He described Mr Ezeh’s death as an unnecessary and systemic xenophobic way of killing Nigerian nationals by the members of the South African police.

He went on to say that the police could have arrested and prosecuted the deceased, if he was a criminal. He said the deceased’s death was just one out of many other similar cases where Nigerians are killed without justification.
Hence he urged the Nigerian community to stay calm until the association received the result of the post mortem, while following up the casevyo reach a logical conclusion.

Mr Ezeh, a native of Oduma, Aninri Local Government of Enugu State, is survived by his wife and children.

Prepare for likely spread of Omicron—– WHO to countries