Mother raises alarm as 2-year-old daughter stolen from hotel in Aba

By: Zagazola Makama

A 20-year-old woman, Elizabeth Alaoma, has reported the disappearance of her two-year-old daughter, Precious Ahiwe, under suspicious circumstances while lodging at a hotel in Aba, Abia State.

The incident occurred on the night of July 22, after Alaoma checked into Hotel De California in the city with her daughter, following an invitation by a man identified as Promise and a woman he introduced as his sister.

According to Alaoma, Promise took her out under the guise of buying food around 10:00 p.m., but later abandoned her at the food vendor’s location. She rushed back to the hotel only to discover that her daughter, Promise, and the woman had all vanished, and the hotel room key had already been returned to the receptionist.

A search at the hotel led to the recovery of the child’s clothes. Two hotel staff the receptionist, Victor Uzoma (17), and the manager, Emmanuel Kalu (35) were taken into custody for questioning.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover the missing child as investigations continue.
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Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja

By: Zagazola Makama

A tragic incident has shocked residents of Lokoja, Kogi State, after a senior officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service allegedly killed a 26-year-old photography apprentice, concealed his body in a freezer, and later took his own life in a hotel.

Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred on Monday, July 22, and involved a Deputy Superintendent of Corrections (DSC), Adebayo Oluwapelumi, who until his death was attached to the Kogi State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

According to witness accounts, the case came to light after Ujah Goodness, a photographer with a studio located opposite the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, reported the matter.

Goodness stated that around 7:50 p.m. on the day of the incident, he was editing photographs with his apprentice, Ayo Ayipelumi, aged 26, when the Correctional officer, Adebayo, arrived at the studio and called the apprentice outside for a brief conversation.

Moments later, Goodness said he heard frantic screams from his apprentice calling for help. However, out of fear, he did not step outside to investigate but instead quickly contacted local vigilantes to intervene.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly attacked and killed Ayipelumi. He then reportedly placed the victim’s lifeless body inside a deep freezer, loaded it into a white unregistered Hilux van, and drove off to an undisclosed location.

Acting on the report, security personnel launched a search for the vehicle. It was later found abandoned around the Nataco Junction area of Lokoja. Although the corpse was no longer in the vehicle, investigators found blood stains inside the freezer and recovered a machete believed to have been used in the attack. Photographs of the scene were taken, and the vehicle along with the exhibit was moved to the station for forensic examination.

Efforts to trace the whereabouts of the suspect and recover the victim’s body were still ongoing when a new development emerged.

At about 12:10 p.m. the next day, the management of Abidan 115 Guest Inn in Lokoja contacted authorities after discovering a lifeless body in one of their rooms. The deceased was identified as the suspect, Adebayo Oluwapelumi.

Upon arrival at the hotel, investigators found the suspect naked and lying dead on the floor. A suicide note, a bottle of Sniper insecticide, and a plastic Coca-Cola bottle were recovered at the scene, suggesting that he ingested the toxic substance.

Photographs of the scene were taken, and the body was evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead. His corpse was deposited at the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.

The whereabouts of the victim’s body remains unknown as of the time of filing this report.

Investigation is ongoing to unravel the full motive behind the gruesome killing and to trace the missing remains of the apprentice.

Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja

Gunmen kill one, abduct seven in Taraba community attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed men suspected to be bandits on Wednesday invaded Ilela village in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing one person and abducting seven others, including women and a child.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the assailants stormed the village at about 10 a.m., shooting sporadically to scare residents before abducting their victims.

One of the villagers, Umaru Belangu, who reported the incident to security personnel, said the gunmen killed 35-year-old Abdu Dahiru during the attack.

Those kidnapped include Ladi Abdu (20), Salamatu Sani, Ramatu Sani, Marka Kabiru, Kabiru Sani, and a 10-year-old boy, Yau Alh. Lawan. All the victims are of Fulani origin and residents of Ilela village.

Following the report, a team of security personnel was immediately mobilised to the area, where they visited the scene and recovered two empty shells of ammunition.

Photographs were taken, and a search operation was launched in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante members to track the perpetrators and rescue the abductees.

Authorities say intensified monitoring and patrols are ongoing in the area to prevent further attacks and apprehend those responsible.

Gunmen kill one, abduct seven in Taraba community attack