News
Tragedy Strikes in Ebonyi: 18 Passengers Burnt Beyond Recognition in Fatal Bus Accident
“Conversion to CNG May Have Contributed to Deadly Inferno”
A devastating road accident occurred on [date] at G-Hostel Junction, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, leaving multiple lives lost. An 18-seater bus caught fire, resulting in the tragic loss of passengers.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus driver had recently converted the vehicle’s fuel system from petrol to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). While the exact cause of the accident is still unknown, concerns are being raised about potential safety risks associated with the CNG conversion.
The accident resulted in the deaths of all passengers on board, with bodies burnt beyond recognition. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many offering condolences to the families of the victims.
Authorities have commenced an investigation into the accident to determine its cause and whether the CNG conversion played a role in the tragedy. The public is urged to remain vigilant and cautious when traveling.
Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time. May their souls rest in peace.
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has said it’s operatives were still investigating the alleged murder of Miss Priscilla Ocheme by her boyfriend, Ekosuehi Elvis, also known as Richard at his residence in Lugbe.
The command made the disclosure, while reacting to publications circulating on social media concerning the alleged murder incident and claims that justice may be swept under the carpet.
The Police said: “The suspect was invited for questioning by operatives of the FCT Police on September 24, 2024.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, Ekisuehi Elvis, a 30-year-old man from Oredo, Benin in Edo State, met the now deceased Priscilla at Madonna University.
“He lost contact with her when he left the university until 2019 when he came to the FCT for his youth service.
“He was a well-known family friend who frequently visited the deceased at her family home, just as she visited his.
“On September 22, 2024, she had a minor misunderstanding with her mother, which led her to leave her family home in the Karu area and go to Ekosuehi’s residence to cool off.”
“She eventually left his residence later that evening and was on her way home when she was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident at the Amala Moore junction in Pyakasa.
“They rushed her to Pyakasa Health Centre for medical attention, after which she was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, accompanied by two police detectives.
“Upon arrival at the medical centre, she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.”
The price of a bag (50 kg) local rice rose year-on-year, YoY, by 152.9 percent to N95,738 in September 2024 from N37,853 in September 2023.
According to vanguard news, data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, ‘Selected Food Price Watch’ for September 2024 showed that the price of 1 kilogram (Kg) of local rice stood at N1,914.77 during the period.
The report also showed that the price of beans recorded higher growth rate at over 200 percent, YoY.
The NBS report stated: “The average price of 1kg Local rice sold loose went up by 152.92 percent on a year-on-year basis from N757.06 in September 2023 to N1,914.77 in September 2024, while there was an increase of 4.57 percent on a month-on-month basis.
“Also, the average price of 1kg of beef boneless increased by 99.99 percent on a year-on-year basis from N2,816.91 in September 2023 to N5,633.60 in September 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.44 percent from N5,553.80 in August 2024. The average price of 1kg beans brown (sold loose) stood at N2,738.59. This indicates a rise of 281.97% in price on a year-on-year basis from N716.97 recorded in September 2023 and a 6.37 percent rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,574.63 in August 2024.
“Agric eggs medium size (12 piece) experienced significant price increases year on year by N137.43 percent from N1,047.47 in September of last year (2023) to N2,487.04 in September 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item rose by 8.64 prices from N 2,289.19 in August 2024. There was also a notable price increase of bread (sliced) by 115.74 percent on a year-on-year basis from N708.36 in September 2023 to N1,528.19 in September 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 4.68 percent from N 1,459.85 in August 2024. The state profile analysis in September 2024 revealed that the highest average price of 1kg of Bean Brown (sold loose) was recorded in Bauchi at N3,450.04 while the lowest was in Adamawa state at N1,800.”
Giving the breakdown of prices across the states, NBS added: “The highest average price of Agric eggs medium size (12 piece) was recorded in Niger State at N3,000.84 while the lowest was in Borno State at N2,075.58.
A 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, by a Federal High Court in Lagos for importing 74 parcels of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of synthetic cannabis, weighing 35.20 kilograms into Nigeria.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Munju’s conviction followed her arraignment on a two-count charge before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu. She was arrested by the NDLEA at Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers on a KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the airport.
In her post-arrest statement, Munju confessed that she was recruited to traffic the illicit consignment through an online platform for a payment of 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos. She accepted the offer due to financial pressures, as she needed the funds to pay for her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada.
Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Munju after she pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her by the NDLEA. Prosecuting counsel, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that Munju’s actions violated sections 20(1)(a) and 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and are punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.
After her guilty plea, the prosecutor called Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Angela Mba as a witness. Mba recounted the arrest and presented exhibits, including two suitcases used to conceal the drugs, Munju’s Canadian passport, her confessional statements, laboratory test reports, and samples of the illicit drugs. These exhibits were accepted by the court as evidence.
Following the review of the facts and evidence, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years imprisonment on the first count and five years on the second count. The judge, however, gave the option of a fine: N50 million on each count, amounting to a total fine of N100 million.
The charges against Munju read:
“That you, Adrienne Munju, Adult, Female, a Canadian, on or about the 3rd of October, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers on a KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority, imported 35.20 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as ‘Canadian Loud,’ thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 20(1)(a) and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the NDLEA officers involved in the case and the judiciary for the swift adjudication. He remarked that the conviction serves as a strong warning to foreigners and others contemplating smuggling illicit drugs into Nigeria.
