A 0-year-old man, identified as Pascal Ogbogu, has been arrested by men of the Anambra state police command for the m#rder of his 56-year-old father in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area of the State.

Preliminary information by the police reveals that, on the evening of August 25, the suspect allegedly att@cked his father and fled the scene.

He said that following a distress report, police operatives from the Eziowelle Police Division, with the assistance of family members and members of the Abatete Vigilante, promptly mobilised to the scene, where they found the lifeless body of the deceased in a pool of blood, with a deep machete wound to the throat.

The body was subsequently evacuated to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The suspect, who reportedly fled the scene after the incident, was apprehended in the early hours of August 26 through the coordinated efforts of the Police and members of the Abatete Vigilante.

His arrest was further facilitated by timely information and cooperation from community members, who assisted security operatives in tracking and locating him.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, particularly commended the family members, community members, Police operatives and Vigilante personnel for their prompt response and cooperation. He noted that effective community participation, timely information sharing and strong partnership between the Police and local communities remain important to successful policing and the protection of lives and property.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the CP directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and comprehensive review, with a view to establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that all relevant facts are properly established.

The Commissioner assured the family and members of the public that the investigation will be conducted professionally, thoroughly and diligently, in accordance with the law, and that the suspect will be made to face due process upon conclusion of the investigation.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, also accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of recycling old allegations to divert attention from questions over the use of revenues saved from petrol subsidy removal.

Atiku, in a statement released on Wednesday issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the resurfacing of allegations surrounding power-sector projects, privatisation and public assets was an attempt to shift public attention from the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

The former vice president also challenged the government to account for the resources it had gained since the removal of the petrol subsidy, asking, “Where is the people’s money?”

Atiku said the allegations against him had been repeatedly raised over the years without resulting in any prosecution, despite successive governments having access to the investigative machinery of the state.

“The National Assembly investigated the power projects. I was never invited to answer any allegation of wrongdoing.

“Yes, I chaired the National Council on Privatisation as vice president. But on the power project, I disagreed with its concept and did not preside over its implementation. The responsible minister did. The same applies to the Aluminium Smelter matter.

“I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in power. If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no government produced it before a court?

“It is still not too late. Investigate me. Invite me. Produce the evidence. Prosecute me if you have a case. But propaganda cannot substitute for evidence,” the statement read in part.

The ADC chieftain’s latest challenge comes amid an intensifying political confrontation between the opposition and the Federal Government over the state of the economy and the impact of the government’s reforms.

Atiku has made the economic consequences of subsidy removal a central part of his criticism of the administration, arguing that Nigerians have endured substantial increases in the cost of petrol, transportation, food and other basic necessities without seeing commensurate benefits from the additional government revenues.

He noted that the controversy over the power projects was being revived because his demand for greater transparency over the proceeds of subsidy removal had become politically uncomfortable for the administration.

“They removed subsidy from the poor and promised that the sacrifice would free resources for development. Nigerians accepted extraordinary pain on that promise.

“Today, petrol is more expensive, transportation is more expensive, food is more expensive and the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker has been devastated,” he added.

He further questioned the government’s fiscal priorities, alleging that while ordinary Nigerians were being asked to endure the consequences of subsidy removal, powerful economic interests continued to benefit from fiscal incentives, waivers and concessions.

“Meanwhile, government revenues have increased, while fiscal incentives, waivers, tax credits and concessions continue to be available to powerful economic interests.

“So our question remains brutally simple: where is the people’s money?” he asked.

Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy shortly after his inauguration in May 2023, ending a long-standing system under which the Federal Government subsidised the cost of the product.

The government defended the decision as necessary to reduce pressure on public finances and redirect resources towards infrastructure and social programmes.

The policy, however, triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation and living costs, making subsidy removal one of the most politically contentious issues of the Tinubu presidency.

The government has subsequently introduced various measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the reforms while maintaining that the previous subsidy regime was financially unsustainable.

Atiku has proposed alternative economic measures and has increasingly positioned accountability, cost-of-living pressures and the management of public resources at the centre of his campaign.

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have dismantled an alleged baby factory in the Mowe area of the state, rescuing two pregnant women and four children.

The command also said it arrested six suspects in connection with the incident.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Babaseyi said the operation was carried out at about 8am on Monday, August 24, 2026, at Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, Mowe, following sustained intelligence on alleged human trafficking and illegal adoption activities at the facility.

He stated that the two rescued pregnant women were Ilesanmi Foluke, 23, who was seven months pregnant, and Ejekwa Melody, 20, who was eight months pregnant.

He added that four children, comprising two boys and two girls, were also rescued during the operation.

According to Babaseyi, the suspects arrested were Florence Glory Ogbona, 58; Magdalene Julius, 63; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; Stephen Ogbona, 39; and an attending nurse, Oseni Kusamotu Idaya.

The PPRO noted that further intelligence-led operations took police operatives to a hospital within the Mowe axis, where another alleged victim, Blessing Bright Effiong, 26, had reportedly given birth to a baby boy on August 20.

Babaseyi said the woman was found receiving medical treatment at the hospital, but the whereabouts of her newborn could not be established.

“The whereabouts of the newborn child could not be accounted for, prompting the arrest of the attending nurse in locating the infant,” the statement said.

The command said the case was being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The spokesperson said investigators would work to establish the full extent of the alleged syndicate’s activities, locate the missing newborn and ensure the prosecution of any suspect found culpable.

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling human trafficking, child trading and other forms of violent crime.

“The CP further urges residents to remain vigilant and continue to support the Police by providing timely and credible information, assuring them that the Command will sustain intelligence-led policing to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens,” Babaseyi added.

PUNCH Online reported on April 17 that operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, had busted a baby factory in Okuju, Ilado, Badagry area of Lagos State.

In the operation, operatives rescued 18 pregnant women and 10 children and arrested the operators of the facility, Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu.

The victims were said to have subscribed to the facility through an offer on a Facebook platform.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dino Melaye, has urged President Bola Tinubu and members of his family to start packing their belongings from the Presidential Villa.

He declared that the ADC will defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.

Melaye said the outcome of the election would reflect Nigerians’ growing dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration, which he accused of failing to address hunger, insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.

The former senator and lawyer spoke in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.

He expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances, saying the party’s winning strategy was straightforward because Nigerians were ready for a change of government.

“The winning strategy for the ADC is very simple. The people are with us. The people are tired of maladministration.

“They are tired of lies. They are tired of borrowing. They are tired of three budgets in three successions not being implemented,” Melaye said.

He alleged that despite the government borrowing money to fund its budgets, several contracts awarded by the government remained unpaid.

“For example, you say you borrowed money to run the budget. You have borrowed the money. You have collected the money. But the budget has not been run.

“The budget has not been funded. Contracts awarded in 2024 have not been paid for. You are still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026,” he said.

Melaye said the hardship, insecurity, killings and alleged corruption in the country had created a disconnect between Nigerians and the government.

He maintained that Nigerians were watching the developments in the country and would express their dissatisfaction through the ballot.

“So I am telling you that this enchantment, the hunger in the land, the insecurity in the land, the killings in the land, the stealing, overstealing that is going on in the land already have shown and demonstrated that there is a complete disconnect between the people and government,” he said.

The ADC chieftain also criticised the Tinubu administration, saying Nigerians were now afraid of government rather than the government being mindful of the reactions of the people.

“But under Tinubu administration, people are afraid of government because they are so brazen, they are so wicked, they are so nonchalant, they don’t give a damn,” he said.

Melaye further accused the President of making comments suggesting that election rigging, violence and ballot snatching were acceptable in politics.

He said such statements were inappropriate for a President who should serve as a role model to young Nigerians.

“You have a president that have come out on air to tell the whole world that all is fair in politics. Rigging is fair in politics. Violence is fair in politics. Ballot snatching is fair in politics,” he said.

Melaye predicted that the result of the 2027 election would lead to a change of government, urging the President and his family to prepare to leave the Villa.

“And I’m telling you that the results will tell in January. The president and his family members should begin to pack their luggage and things from the villa, including those in the boys’ quarters of the villa, because there will be a change of government,” he said.

Melaye resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in July 2025 and joined the ADC, after previously serving as spokesperson for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

He has since become one of the ADC’s most vocal figures, pursuing legal challenges on the party’s behalf and clashing publicly with the Independent National Electoral Commission

Umahi disclosed this during the flag-off ceremony for the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, according to a video shared on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze.

The minister said he would meet with independent engineers, the concessionaire handling the project and the state government to find a solution to the worsening situation.

“Tomorrow, we are off to Benin-Asaba. I want Nigerians to be assured that when we get there, we’ll solve that problem,” Umahi said.

He explained that the poor state of the road was linked to the Federal Government’s attempt to involve the private sector in road development through concession arrangements.

“It’s not caused by Ministry of Works; it’s caused by, you know, our attempt to involve private sector in road development, as it’s done in other places,” he said.

Umahi alleged that the concessionaire had removed more than 30 kilometres of asphalt from the road without completing the expected rehabilitation.

“But this concessionaire came and removed over 30 km of the asphalt and threw it away and threw it in the yard and left. And today, people are suffering,” he said.

The minister said he would engage the independent engineers, the concessionaire and the ministry’s lawyers, while also holding discussions with the Edo State Government.

“So, there’s going to be a robust engagement, even with the governor of Edo State,” he added.

The planned visit comes amid mounting complaints over the Benin-Agbor section of the highway, where residents, motorists and transport workers have staged protests over prolonged gridlock and the poor condition of the road.

The deteriorating road has reportedly left motorists and travellers stranded for days, with videos circulating online showing motorists stuck in traffic and some travellers spending nights in their vehicles.

Umahi also disclosed that his Minister of State would visit the Ifaki-Ado-Ekiti road, where a section of the federal highway has also reportedly collapsed, causing severe traffic congestion and leaving articulated vehicles stranded.

He said President Bola Tinubu had directed the ministry in 2024 to take over the project after inspecting its condition, adding that the road had since been redesigned.

“We have redesigned it, and when he goes, he’s going to bring up a report, which we will submit to Mr. President,” Umahi said.