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Ataga: I was forced to sign prepared police statement, says Chidinma

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Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of the Chief Executive Officer, Super TV, Usifo Ataga, on Thursday, told a Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, that she was slapped and forced to sign statements written by policemen in the state.

Chidinma, who testified in her trial-within-trial as defence witness one, told Justice Yetunde Adesanya that policemen including Assistant Superintendent of Police, Olusegun Bamidele, and Olufunke Madeyinlo, told her to sign statements against her will.

She said Bamidele told her to narrate the statement he wrote to the state Commissioner of Police after tearing the statement she wrote.

Chidinma is standing trial over the alleged murder of Ataga. She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

Addressing the court on Thursday, Chidinma, while being led in evidence in the trial-within-trial by her counsel, Onwunka Egwu, told the court that on June 23, 2021, she was in her room at home when her 10-year-old sister informed her that some men were asking after her.

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The witness said, “Immediately, my sister called my Dad (her foster father, Onoh Ojukwu), who came out and asked who the men were? They said they were policemen from (SCID), Panti, and that they came to arrest me and to search the house or that I should go in and bring the (Ataga’s) phone.

“I said I don’t know where the phone and car is and one of the policemen slapped me. My dad said you cannot slap my daughter in my house and the policemen tried to enter the room from the passage.”

Chidinma said when the policemen were taking her away, she told her foster dad to call the family lawyer, Egwu, adding that when they got to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, she was taken to the office of a policeman, Razak Oseni, who, alongside other policemen, questioned her.

She said, “We went back to my house and then returned to the DCP’s office and he started questioning me. I told him I don’t know anything about the death of Mr Ataga, and that was when they made the video that was played in court.

“The DCP said I should make my statement then the IPO, Bamidele, took me to the interrogating room with Mr Chris, and gave me a blank statement form and asked me to write what happened.

“I started writing, then he (Bamidele) took my left hand and handcuffed it to the chair. I wrote what I said at the DCP’s office. While writing the statement, Bamidele read through it and said it was not what happened.”

Chidinma said she told Bamidele that she was writing what happened, adding that before she started writing the statement, she informed him to help her confirm if her foster father had called the family lawyer.

She said, “He (Bamidele) said my (foster) dad cannot make a call as he was in custody. That was when I started writing the statement. When he said the statement I wrote was not what happened, and I told him it was what happened, I received two slaps from Mr Jemiyo.

“Jemiyo and Chris sat at the back and Bamidele was facing me. He said you are going to write the truth, tore the statement I wrote, and presented another blank statement form. I told him I was writing the truth and you tore it.

“He said if I did not comply, my family, my dad, 10-year-old sister and relative will be charged in the murder case. He (Bamidele) brought out his phone, played the video obtained from the scene of the apartment and showed me pictures of Mr Ataga’s body.

“He said now you are going to write and then I started writing. He said why I am slow and I received another slap on my back. I told him that I was not feeling well and needed to rest. He (Bamidele) said there was no time, he then collected the statement form from me and he started writing. Chris then handcuffed my hands to the chair.”

Chidinma said Bamidele initially asked her questions but later stopped, adding that after he was done writing, he read the statement to her and she said what he wrote was not what happened.

She said, “He said this is what you are going to say or else my family will be charged. He read the statement to me again and told me that I should rehearse it. He said that is what I should tell the CP.

“Bamidele and Chris returned in the morning and said I should sign the statement but as I was reluctant in signing it, Chris said I should because nobody is coming for me and that they will provide me with a good government lawyer.

“After signing the statement, I was brought out of the interrogation room, given water to wash my face, and then we entered a vehicle and drove to Ikeja. When we arrived at Bamidele took me to the CP and I said what Bamidele wrote.”

She said after her interrogation at the CP’s office, she was taken down stairs where she saw a lot of people (journalists) with cameras, adding that she was not feeling well as at then.

Chidinma said, “After I was taken to the press, then we drove back to Panti where Bamidele said we are going to do a video recording, and he said I should say everything he had written in the statement and they recorded the video which was played here in court.

“I was returned to the cell; in the evening on the same June 24, Oseni brought me out of the cell, took me to an office, where Madeyinlo and another female officer Bola were. When Oseni left, I was given a blank statement form and I was told to write another statement.

“Jemiyo also walked in and I said I had already written a statement. I said I am tired and have not eaten. I was just sitting when Jemiyo came beside me and hit my head on a wooden table. This was when officer Bola had left.

“Madeyinlo said I should start writing. I picked the pen, wrote the date, my name, then she (Madeyinlo) started dictating to me and said that I should write what she said. I started writing and at the end of writing the statement, she asked me to sign.”

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Soldier, police officer killed as army rescues nine abductees in Zamfara

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One Nigerian Army officer and a police officer were killed when troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA repelled a terrorist attack on a Forward Operating Base in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The troops also rescued nine abducted civilians during a pursuit of the fleeing attackers.

The Army disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba.

According to the statement, the terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base at Kasuwan Daji at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday but were repelled by troops.

“Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kasuwan Daji, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by terrorists.

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“The successful defense of the base resulted in heavy casualties for the attackers, forcing them to retreat in disarray, and led to the rescue of nine abducted civilians,” the statement read.

The Army said troops detected the terrorists’ movement and responded with coordinated firepower, forcing the attackers to abandon their mission.

“The incident occurred at approximately 0140 hours (1:40 a.m.) on 2 August 2026, when terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the military facility.

“Alerted troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated, overwhelming firepower. The fierce resistance compelled the terrorists to abandon their mission and withdraw in confusion,” Osoba said.

The statement added that reinforcements were deployed after the initial gun battle, with troops pursuing the fleeing terrorists and rescuing nine civilians who had been abducted from nearby communities.

“Following the initial engagement, reinforcements arrived and troops launched a hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists, who had abducted an unspecified number of residents from the surrounding community during the attack. The relentless pursuit by the troops led to the rescue of nine abducted locals, who were safely recovered,” it stated.

The Army, however, confirmed that one Army officer and one police officer were killed during the exchange of fire, while two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds.”Regrettably, one Army officer and one Police officer paid the supreme price during the heavy firefight. Additionally, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care; both personnel remain in stable condition.

“Troops have since secured and dominated the area and are currently conducting exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses and ensure the safety of the community,” the statement added.

The Army described the failed attack as another operational setback for the terrorists amid ongoing military operations across the North-West.

It also dismissed reports circulating online that six security personnel were killed during the incident.

“Contrary to rumours circulating online that six personnel died, it is worthy to mention that only one Army officer and a policeman paid the supreme price,” Osoba said.

He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining operations against terrorist groups in the region.

“Operation FANSAN YAMMA remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities, and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North West,” the statement added.

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‘Nigeria is bleeding,’ says Yoruba Union, asks Nigerians to vote Tinubu out in 2027

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Tinubu scraps Ministries of Niger Delta, Sports
President Bola Tinubu
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The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá (Yoruba Union), has called on Nigerians to vote President Bola Ahmed Tinubu out of office in the 2027 general elections, accusing his administration of worsening insecurity, deepening economic hardship, and refusing to acknowledge the suffering of ordinary citizens.

The call was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and made available through its Home Director, Princess Balogun.

The organisation said Nigeria was “bleeding” under the current administration, alleging that despite the country’s mounting security and economic challenges, the President had continued to dismiss the concerns of suffering Nigerians.

“Our people have become beggars under Tinubu’s watch while hundreds of innocent citizens remain in the hands of Fulani terrorists waiting for ransom payments. The cost of living has become unbearable, yet the President does not want to listen to Nigerians,” the group said.

The Yoruba Union maintained that the Tinubu administration had failed to provide meaningful solutions to the nation’s most pressing problems, insisting that Nigerians should reject the President’s re-election bid in 2027.

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The group also aligned itself with concerns recently raised by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and other Catholic bishops, who reportedly told President Tinubu during a meeting that millions of Nigerians were grappling with severe economic hardship and worsening insecurity.

According to the organisation, rather than acknowledge those concerns and outline practical measures to address them, the President insisted that his administration’s policies were yielding positive results.

“The country is truly bleeding, but Tinubu neither wants to see the realities nor listen to the cries of Nigerians,” the statement added.

The group further cited the security situation in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, alleging that nearly 176 women and children abducted since February were still being held captive, while about 200 people had been killed, despite government assurances that security was improving.

It argued that deteriorating economic conditions had pushed many Nigerians into criminal activities as they struggled to survive.

“Many people have resorted to different forms of criminality because of the economic situation in the country, yet Tinubu insists that the economy is doing fine,” the organisation stated.

The Yoruba Union also accused the President and his family of being insulated from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians because of the privileges associated with public office.

“Since Tinubu and his family enjoy taxpayers’ money, travel abroad, eat well and have access to every luxury they desire, they will never believe that millions of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty.

“They will never understand that hunger is killing people daily or that many Nigerians have died simply because they could not afford to buy medicines needed to treat themselves.”

The group equally blamed the administration for what it described as the growing insecurity across the country.

“Tinubu has institutionalised insecurity. Military generals are being killed and kidnapped, students are abducted and murdered, yet the government behaves as though nothing has happened,” it alleged.

It argued that the nation’s security challenges alone should be enough reason for Nigerians to reject the President at the next general election.

“The realities facing this country today are enough reasons for Nigerians to vote Tinubu out in 2027,” the statement said.

The organisation also expressed concern over the plight of Nigerians in the diaspora who returned home to invest after government appeals, alleging that many had instead been subjected to intimidation, multiple taxation and destruction of their businesses.

“Many Nigerians who were encouraged to return home and invest are now regretting their decisions. Some obtained loans abroad to finance businesses in Nigeria, but instead of encouraging them, the government has continued to torment them, destroy their properties and burden them with numerous taxes,” it stated.

The Yoruba Union further accused security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, of abandoning their constitutional responsibilities and becoming instruments of political oppression.

“The country is truly bleeding, and security agencies like the DSS and the police, which ought to stand with the people, are now being used by the Tinubu government to oppress citizens.

“They are being used to arrest, detain and jail innocent Nigerians whose only offence is demanding good governance and accountability.”

Describing Nigeria as a “banana republic” under the current administration, the group called on Nigerians to unite behind credible leaders capable of restoring accountability, rebuilding public confidence and returning the country to the path of national progress.

“It is time for Nigerians to wake up from their slumber, unite and support credible leaders who can hold corrupt politicians accountable, recover Nigeria’s lost glory and restore the country’s dignity both in Africa and on the global stage,” the statement added.

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Police rescue kidnap victim, kill suspect after gun duel in Enugu forest

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The Enugu State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped woman and neutralised a suspected kidnapper during an intelligence-led operation in Okpuje, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.

The operation, which took place on Friday, July 31, 2026, was launched after police received a distress call at about 10:10 a.m. reporting that armed kidnappers had emerged from a nearby forest and abducted a woman along Anuka Road, Okpuje.

According to a statement issued on Saturday, August 1, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, operatives of the Okpuje Police Division immediately mobilised alongside Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch to trail the kidnappers.
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The security team tracked the suspects into the Anuka forest near the Enugu-Kogi State boundary, where they engaged the gang in a gun battle.Time & Calendars

During the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds.

The police said the abducted woman was rescued unhurt, while her two children and motorcycle, which the kidnappers abandoned at the scene, were also recovered.

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“The victim and her children have since been reunited with their family, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects,” the statement said.

Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the police operatives, Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch members for their swift response and effective collaboration.

He reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

The police commissioner also urged residents to remain security conscious and continue supporting law enforcement agencies with credible and timely information.

CP Giwa said the command remains committed to protecting lives and property through proactive policing and strengthened collaboration with local security stakeholders.

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