Rex Okechukwu, a 70-year-old traditional chief from Ochuche, Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, has shared the painful details of his son’s tragic death at the hands of private security guards.

His 27-year-old son, Okechukwu Noel Chinedu, a final-year student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, was shot dead by security personnel on August 17, 2024.

The incident occurred when Okechukwu, who had been home during the university’s vacation period, went to Stella Odua’s Estate to purchase fresh fish from a local pond.

Around 8:30 am, after bidding his father goodbye, Okechukwu left for the estate, but just 20 minutes later, a motorcyclist arrived at Okechukwu’s home with devastating news.

The motorcyclist informed the family that an altercation had broken out between Okechukwu and two security guards at the estate, during which one of the guards shot him.

Okechukwu died from the gunshot wound shortly afterward.

Shocked and devastated, Okechukwu’s family initially struggled to come to terms with the news. Rex Okechukwu later visited the police station at Atani on August 22 to file a report, only to be met with an accusation that his son was an armed robber.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), I. Andrew, allegedly told Okechukwu that the security guards claimed they had caught his son and his supposed accomplices trying to rob in the area, which led them to open fire.

Okechukwu vehemently denied these claims, asserting that his son had never been involved in any criminal activity.

Okechukwu challenged the DPO to provide evidence, such as a weapon or any stolen items, to support the guards’ allegations.

He also questioned the DPO about the lack of a crime report or CCTV footage from the estate that could substantiate the robbery claim.

The DPO, however, failed to provide any such evidence. Okechukwu suspects that the police officer may be complicit in covering up the security guards’ actions.

Despite his son’s body being rejected by a mortuary in Atani because of the gunshot wound, Okechukwu has not been allowed to view the body. The DPO allegedly told him that his son was an armed robber and refused him access to the corpse.

Okechukwu later learned from witnesses that the guards had taken his son’s body to a mortuary but had to provide a police report to do so. It remains unclear where the body is now, and the DPO has not disclosed further information.

Okechukwu also expressed concern that the estate’s management has not reached out or offered any assistance regarding the incident.

He fears for his safety and has refrained from visiting the estate, as he believes he could be harmed.

His son, who was on track to graduate soon, was a dedicated student with a promising future.

His death has had a profound impact on Okechukwu and his family. The traditional chief lamented the loss of his son, who had been expected to help arrange his funeral in the future, but now he is forced to bury his own child.

The Okechukwu family is demanding that the police authorities conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident.

Okechukwu believes that the DPO’s handling of the case has been unprofessional, accusing him of siding with the security guards.

The family is also questioning why the guards, who were privately employed to monitor the estate, were carrying firearms, and whether they were justified in using deadly force against an unarmed man.

As the investigation continues, Okechukwu hopes that justice will be served for his son’s untimely death.

He calls for transparency and accountability from both the police and the estate management in resolving this heartbreaking case.

The Celestial Church of Christ, Acts of Apostle Parish, located in Ketu, Alapere, Lagos, is in turmoil following a N5 million donation from the church authority for renovations.

The disruption occurred during a Sunday service last week when Muyiwa Oluponna, a self-identified son of the church’s founder, stormed the service, causing chaos as he attempted to install himself as the church’s shepherd.

According to reports, Oluponna grabbed the microphone from the acting shepherd, Adetayo Adetola, and declared that he had the right to preach on the second Sunday of each month.

The altercation was captured in a viral video, showing Oluponna and church members arguing passionately.

The disturbance led to the church authorities taking swift action, with a task force led by Akinbode Adjovi enforcing a 40-day closure of the church to restore order.

Adetola, who was in charge during the service, recounted the incident, explaining that Oluponna demanded the N5 million donation be handed over to the Oluponna family rather than used for church renovations.

“He argued that the money was meant for the family, not the church, and insisted that the church belonged to them. He also claimed that he should be made the shepherd and allowed to preach every second Sunday.”

Adetola added that after the initial interruption, Oluponna returned and tried to take the microphone again from the choristers to continue his sermon, which led to resistance from the congregation.

Emmanuel Iperepolu, the church’s official shepherd, confirmed Oluponna’s history of disruptive behavior, claiming that Oluponna had been threatening him and other church members.

Iperepolu noted that while Oluponna had previously caused tension in the church, the situation escalated after the N5 million donation was announced.

“We had to report the situation to both the church authorities and the police. He had been coming to the church to threaten us, but the situation worsened once he heard about the donation.”

Kayode Ajala, the Head of Media and Publicity for Celestial Church of Christ, confirmed the church’s temporary closure, emphasizing that it was necessary to prevent further unrest.

He stated, “The church cannot tolerate threats to people’s lives. We are investigating the matter and speaking to everyone involved to resolve the issue. The church will reopen once the situation is settled.”

When asked about the role of the N5 million donation in the dispute, Oluponna declined to comment, stating that the matter was between the family and the church.

Rt. Rev. Jonas Benson, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, has appealed to the Finnish government to continue detaining Simon Ekpa, a key figure in the Biafra separatist movement.

Bishop Benson referred to Ekpa as a “rascal” and strongly criticized his actions, which he believes have been detrimental to the Igbo community and its well-being.

The bishop made these remarks during the funeral of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, highlighting concerns over the negative impact of Ekpa’s activities on the region.

He also expressed support for Governor Charles Soludo, who has faced mounting pressure to maintain security in Anambra State.

Benson further urged the Senate President and other members of the Nigerian Senate to back the governor’s efforts to secure the state.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced the removal of the names of companies that have failed to file their annual returns for the past 10 years.

Among the companies delisted are Dunlop, Mitsubishi, and several others identified as dormant.

In a statement, the CAC emphasized that the companies in question had not updated their annual reports for a decade, prompting the commission to strike them off the register.

This action follows a warning issued by the CAC more than three months ago to these companies about the potential consequences of non-compliance.

The commission’s notice outlined that companies which did not file their annual returns within the stipulated 90-day period would be struck off.

Companies that complied with the directive were removed from the list, while those failing to update their records were officially delisted.

According to the CAC, the deletion of these companies was carried out under the authority of Section 692 (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 3 of 2020.

The full list of delisted companies is available on the CAC website at www.cac.gov.ng.

The commission further clarified that companies removed from the register are considered dissolved from the date of the publication, and any business dealings with such companies are now illegal.

Reports indicate that out of the approximately 100,000 companies initially listed, 80,429 companies, including both inactive and non-compliant ones, have now been struck off the register.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yobe State Chapter, has dismissed a circulating social media notice calling for a statewide strike by Yobe State civil servants, labelling it as completely false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Muktar Tarbutu, the state chairman of the NLC, clarified that the joint committee composed of government representatives and NLC officials had successfully concluded negotiations concerning the new minimum wage.

The finalized report has already been submitted to Governor Mai Mala Buni for review and approval.

The statement emphasized that the NLC Yobe Chapter had no knowledge of the alleged strike notice and urged all civil servants to disregard the information.

The NLC further advised workers and the general public to be cautious about fake news and to verify such claims through credible sources before sharing.

Tarbutu reaffirmed that the NLC is fully committed to protecting the rights and welfare of Yobe State workers, adding that the union had instructed all civil servants to continue with their regular duties without disruption.

He reiterated the NLC’s ongoing dedication to advancing the interests of workers in the state.

The public was also reminded to remain vigilant and ensure that information being shared is authentic, emphasizing the importance of relying on trusted sources.