The Rivers State Police Command has paraded two pastors, Prophet Bassey Umoren (60) and Prophet Elijah Anietie (50), who were caught with fetish items, including caskets, monkey skulls, carved skeletons, and other spiritual materials, in their respective churches.

The duo, who were apprehended by youths of Rumunduru community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, are the founders of God’s Deliverance Apostolic Church and Power House of Glory International Gospel Church, both located along Eneka Road in Rumunduru.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this on Thursday while parading the suspects at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt.Iringe-Koko saying, “This case, which has been trending on social media, involves two pastors reported by youths of Rumunduru community, led by their youth leader, Henry Worlu, on January 20, 2025, at about 9 am.

“The youths brought the suspects, Prophet Umoren Bassey and Prophet Elijah Anietie, both of Akwa Ibom State origin and handed them over to the police for discreet investigation.”

She listed the items recovered from their churches including several photographs—some of which were of children—small caskets, spiritual books, carved images, wooden skulls, crosses, and other ritual items.

The police spokesperson noted that investigations into the matter were ongoing to ascertain the full extent of their activities and possible victims.

Gunmen have shot dead a well-known lawyer from Imo State, Chinedu Nwowu, in Mgbidi, located in the Oru West Local Government Area.

According to a local source who wished to remain anonymous, the lawyer was ambushed and killed on Wednesday evening in his hometown.

The source revealed that armed men forcibly blocked his vehicle before shooting him.

This incident has sparked widespread panic in the state, as no motive for the murder has been made public.

In response to this tragic event, the Orlu Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, to which the deceased belonged, has declared a suspension of court sessions today in the Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma areas.

The branch convened an emergency meeting for its members following the lawyer’s death.

A memo issued by Chukwuemeka Okoro on behalf of the branch announced that the emergency meeting will commence at 10 am at the High Court in Mgbidi.

The statement read: “In light of the brutal murder of our colleague, CHINEDU NWOWU, last night in his hometown of Mgbidi, all lawyers from the Oru/Oguta Forum are hereby notified of a crucial emergency meeting this morning at 10 am at the High Court, Mgbidi.

“No court sessions will take place today in the Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma High Courts. Please be punctual.”

Ben Amukamara, the NBA chairman of the Orlu Branch, told our correspondent that members will gather at the Mgbidi High Court this morning in response to the lawyer’s killing.

He confirmed that no courts in the Oguta, Mgbidi, and Omumma areas will be in session today.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Thursday and assured the public that the police had begun an investigation into the killing.

“The police are pained by this incident.

“But I can assure you that we will apprehend the hoodlums behind this dastardly act. We have already commenced an investigation and will stop at nothing to catch the gang,” Okoye stated.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the country’s challenges, emphasising that these obstacles are surmountable.

Speaking in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the weekend during the commissioning of the Soybean Plant and Refinery of the CSS Group and the birthday celebration of Prof. John Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Jonathan weighed in on the importance of collective effort in nation-building.

The event was attended by dignitaries including former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma; Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri; former Cross River State Governor Prof. Ben Ayade; former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen; and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy.

Jonathan cautioned against the increasing trend of migration, popularly referred to as “Japa,” urging Nigerians to contribute to the development of their homeland.

“You don’t need to Japa. Those countries you are running to were built by people. We must build this country together, and invest in it so that the youths can get jobs. We must not run away from our responsibilities. This country belongs to all of us, and we must not abandon it,” he said as quoted by DAILY TRUST.

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri echoed Jonathan’s sentiments, stating, “There is hope in Nigeria. So those who want to Japa, please, don’t Japa. Nigeria is a blessed country. If we all key into what the private sector is doing, no one will Japa.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), addressed the nation’s food security issues, calling for urgent action to tackle hunger caused by high food price inflation.

“The level of hunger in Nigeria is too high due to very high food price inflation,” he said, emphasizing the need for accelerated efforts to expand food production, lower food costs, reduce import dependency, and support local farmers.

Adesina recounted, “There is no doubt that Nigerian farmers can feed Nigeria. They did when I was Minister of Agriculture under President Jonathan. The price of rice at the time was N8,000 per bag; today it is over N100,000 per bag.”

He called for bold programmes and policy support for farmers and agribusinesses to develop agricultural value chains.

He also revealed that the African Development Bank, in partnership with the federal government and other stakeholders, is implementing a $538 million programme to develop special agro-industrial processing zones in eight states: Cross River, Imo, Oyo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, and the FCT.

He added, “The second phase of the special agro-industrial processing zones will cover all remaining 28 states in Nigeria. The SAPZ-Phase II is planned with a financing target of $1 billion, from the African Development Bank, the Arab Bank for African Economic Development, and the private sector.”

Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma expressed optimism about Nigeria’s role in Africa’s progress, stating, “If positive things happen in Nigeria, we are happy because Africa can only get it right when Nigeria gets it right.”