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75-year-old sister of Kogi monarch, two others set ablaze

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Suspected arsonists have burnt a 75-year-old woman, Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani, sister to Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa at Oketekwe town in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.

 

She was set ablaze alongside her daughter and her granddaughter.

 

The late Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani was bestowed with the title of Akwuma Attah Igala in 2023 by Attah Igala.

 

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at her Oketekwe residence in Idah Local Government Area of the State.

 

According to a family source who preferred not to be named because he was not authorised to speak, “A group of people came to the house with petrol while our grandmother was sleeping alongside her daughter and granddaughter. They poured the petrol on the house and ignited a fire.

 

“The five-year-old granddaughter, Mama, died immediately after suffering severe burns, while Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani, along with her own daughter, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital. Mallama later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, while her own daughter was still fighting for her life.”

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The remains of the late Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani and the five-year-old girl have been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.

 

When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, stated that the Police have yet to receive any information about the incident. He promised to revert to our correspondent as soon as information was made available to the command regarding the incident.

 

Meanwhile, the Hon. Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has extended his heartfelt condolences to the paramount ruler of Igala kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa over the death of his sister, Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa-Sani and her granddaughter.

 

Prince Audu in his condolence message made available by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji on Friday in Abuja described the deaths of the late Mallama Opaluwa-Sani and her five-year-old granddaughter as tragic and sacrilegious.

 

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The Minister of Steel Development said that the death of Mallama Opaluwa-sani, Akwuma Attah Igala was a loss to the entire Igala Kingdom, urging everyone to remain strong.

 

Prince Audu also called on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring to book the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

 

“It is with a heavy heart that I condole with our father, HRM, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa and the royal family over the deaths of his sister and her granddaughter, whose lives were taken most painfully.

 

“I also commiserate with the entire people of Igala Kingdom at this time because this is a loss to every one of us.

 

“I call on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetrators of this act to book so that it would serve as a deterrent to others. Such acts of sacrilege must be discouraged in our land.

 

“I pray that Almighty Allah grant the souls of the late Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa, and her granddaughter, Onechojo Aljanah Firdaus. I also pray Almighty Allah grants the family the heart to bear the loss,” Audu stated.

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Late Mallama Opaluwa-sani, Akwuma Attah Igala, died on Thursday, January 4, at the age of 75, alongside her five-year-old granddaughter, Onechojo, when her home in Idah, Kogi State, was allegedly set ablaze by some assailants.

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Mother, son escape death as Lexus SUV somersaults in Lagos road crash

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A mother and her son narrowly escaped death early Wednesday morning after a Lexus sport utility vehicle they were traveling in overturned multiple times at the NYSC Bus Stop along the LASU–Isheri Expressway, in Lagos.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), preliminary findings indicate that the Lexus with registration number KJA 39 JT, travelling from Isheri towards Igando, lost stability and somersaulted three times before coming to rest amid heavy peak-hour traffic on the busy corridor.

LASTMA operatives stationed in the area swiftly mobilised to the scene and carried out a coordinated rescue operation. The occupants—a woman and her son—were safely extricated from the badly damaged vehicle with minor bruises and signs of mild shock, averting what could have been a fatal incident.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Igando Division, provided security support, effectively controlling the crowd and securing the scene throughout the rescue and evacuation process.

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Family members later arrived and transported the victims to a medical facility for further evaluation and treatment.

To prevent secondary crashes and ease congestion along the heavily trafficked route serving the Lagos State University axis, LASTMA coordinated the prompt removal of the wrecked vehicle, assisted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The vehicle was subsequently handed over to the police for investigation and necessary administrative procedures.

Commenting on the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed relief that no life was lost.

He wished the victims a speedy recovery and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to rapid emergency response, effective traffic control, and sustained road safety enforcement.

Bakare-Oki also urged motorists to strictly adhere to speed limits and to conduct routine vehicle checks, particularly of critical components such as the braking system, before embarking on any journey.

He warned that excessive speed, when combined with mechanical faults, remains a major cause of severe road accidents on expressways.

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Man electrocuted while vandalising electricity transformer in Anambra

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A yet-to-be-identified cable thief has met his Waterloo after he was electrocuted while vandalising electricity equipment belonging to FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited at Ogechukwu Street, Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The cable thief was reportedly operating at a transformer substation in the area and had finished cutting the cable when a heavy explosion occurred, electrocuting him.

According to reports, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when the lifeless body was discovered on the floor of the substation, while personnel of the electricity distribution company assessed the situation.

A press statement issued by the Head of Communications of FirstPower, Izunna Okafor, confirmed the incident and appealed to residents and community leaders to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around electricity installations to FirstPower.

He said the Anambra State Police Command had been contacted, evacuated the body, and commenced further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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The statement read in part, “FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited confirms an unfortunate incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Ogechukwu Street, Awka, involving the electrocution of a suspected vandal.

“Preliminary reports indicate that a heavy explosion occurred at a transformer substation within the area. Upon further assessment, it was discovered that the explosion resulted from unlawful tampering with FirstPower’s electricity network infrastructure by a suspected vandal dressed in security uniform.

“The yet-to-be-identified individual was immediately electrocuted in the process.

“The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have been contacted, evacuated the corpse from the scene, and commenced further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

In his reaction, the Managing Director of FirstPower, Okechukwu Okafor, condemned acts of vandalism and energy theft, which continue to undermine efforts to provide stable and reliable electricity in Anambra State.

*”Beyond the significant financial losses and service disruptions caused by such criminal activities, they also endanger the lives of perpetrators and innocent members of the public.

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“FPEDL also appeals to residents and community leaders to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around electricity installations via 08161652465 (WhatsApp or SMS), or to the nearest security agency.

“Protecting power infrastructure is a collective responsibility, and community cooperation remains vital in safeguarding assets meant to serve the public good.

“FirstPower remains committed to delivering safe, efficient, and improved electricity services to our customers. We will continue to work closely with security agencies and stakeholders to curb vandalism and ensure adequate protection of our network facilities,” Okafor added.

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US-based Nigerian fashion designer shot dead by drunk man in New York nightclub

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One Sheriff Shittu, a 30-year-old Nigerian fashion designer based in the United States, has been shot dead following an altercation with a drunk patron at a nightclub in Brooklyn, New York.

Shittu was fatally shot during a birthday celebration at the Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in the East Flatbush area in the early hours of February 14, according to local media reports.

Authorities said the incident occurred at about 4:25 a.m. when a suspected gunman, who was being escorted out of the club by security personnel, allegedly opened fire.

Accounts of the incident indicated that the shooting followed a confrontation involving the intoxicated patron, who was said to have caused a disturbance inside the lounge.

According to reports, the suspect had been behaving disorderly and allegedly inappropriately touched some female guests, including Shittu’s girlfriend, leading to a heated exchange.

Shittu had attended the event alongside his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu, to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

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Speaking with local media, Fawaz recounted the moment his brother was shot.

“I was screaming his name. I was trying to wake him up,” he said.

He explained that the disagreement began after the patron engaged in unruly behaviour inside the club, before the situation escalated.

News 12 Brooklyn reported on Friday that members of Shittu’s family have called for justice, raising concerns about security procedures at the venue.

“We don’t know how the security did not do the job and search properly before somebody could bring a gun into the club,” Salem Shittu, the deceased’s brother, was quoted as saying.

“He was being kicked out, and he was being escorted out when he did it,” he added.

Police authorities said the suspect fled the scene after the shooting and remains at large.

Shittu was reportedly taken to One Brooklyn Health–Brookdale University Hospital Medical Centre, where he was later pronounced dead.

Family members described him as an aspiring fashion designer who was working to establish himself in the United States before the tragic incident.

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Investigations into the shooting are ongoing, while authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

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