Tag: Nigeria

A family has announced the burial arrangement for a 30-year-old Nigerian woman, Maryann Oluchukwu Onwuchekwa, who was k!lled by kidnappers. 

 

 

According to reports sighted on Facebook, Maryann was reportedly abducted alongside her sick father and sister-in-law.

 

 

Her father was later left behind due to his health, while the sister-in-law was released after a ransom payment.

 

 

Unfortunately, Maryann’s lifeless body was discovered by the roadside with stab wounds on March 5, 2025. 

 

 

She will be laid to rest on April 30, 2025, in her hometown, Amansea, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

 

“The father, Mr Onwuchekwa, daughter Maryann and daughter in-law moved to buy the necessary drugs. Unfortunately, on their way coming back the were kidnapped. The man was weak because of the pains he was into. The left the old man, continue the journey with Late Maryann and her sister in-law,” the report reads.

 

“Ransom was demanded. The mother of the sister in-law volunteered to go and deliver the money because the kidnappers said the person must be a woman. The woman reached there, secure the release of her daughter, leaving Maryann there. When she reached home, they asked her where is the other lady. She didn’t say anything. She was arrested and every effort made to see her proved abortive. Unfortunately, her corpse was found on the road naked with knife bruises all over her body.”

 

 

 

 

 

Residents of several communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State are fleeing their homes in droves as a new terrorist group tightens its grip on the region, SaharaReporters can confirm.

The latest wave of panic follows the Nigerian Army’s sudden withdrawal from active operations in the area, leaving local vigilantes alone to confront the deadly group known as Mahmuda.

Community sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Monday lamented the deteriorating security situation and accused the Nigerian and Kwara State governments of ignoring the growing insecurity in the area.

“As I am talking to you, our community, Kemanji, is under the control of these people. They have not entered the main Kaiama town, and that was how it started in Sokoto, Kebbi and other states. Our community is about 10 kilometres from Kaiama,” one source said.

He explained that the current state of fear gripping the area has triggered a mass exodus, with both wealthy and underprivileged residents abandoning their homes.

“The problem now is that everyone is afraid. Both the rich and the poor have started abandoning their houses. They are moving to the main town of Kaiama and some who have relatives in Ilorin are moving there, and other neighbouring towns,” he added.

According to residents, the terrorists had long occupied the dense forests around the area without incident. However, a military raid during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan reportedly provoked the group, leading to the current spate of attacks on surrounding communities.

“These terrorists have been inside that thick forest for years, and they did not attack anyone. They started this attack in Ramadan when the Nigerian Army attacked them and killed some of their members. This is why they started attacking us. And the Army has left us, and they have not come back since that time,” another resident said.

SaharaReporters gathered that despite the presence of military formations in both Kaiama and Baruten, there has been no renewed deployment into the forests where the insurgents are believed to be based.

“We have army personnel in Kaiama and Baruteen, but they did not enter the forest again. They are not being deployed to fight these terrorists. The only people fighting are the local vigilantes. The government is not concerned, and this is why they are denying the existence of this group,” the source continued.

He expressed frustration at the silence of state and federal authorities, saying the burden of security had fallen entirely on under-equipped local defenders.

“It is only the vigilantes that are fighting them because they don’t want to lose their hometowns,” the source said.

SaharaReporters previously reported that an audio message from the terror group Mahmuda threatened attacks on Duruma village and other parts of Borgu Kingdom, vowing to kill anyone who resisted them.

Residents now fear that unless the government intervenes, Kwara State may soon suffer the same fate as other northern states overrun by non-state armed groups.

 

Mrs. Shimite Bello Love (née Nwakalo), Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Trade and Export, has died under circumstances that have sparked serious suspicion and controversy.

Popularly known as Madam Sabificate, Shimite allegedly died of poisoning on Easter Sunday. Family sources told SaharaReporters that her husband, Pastor David Favour Love, has been arrested by the police following allegations that he poisoned her. Witnesses claimed she was foaming at the mouth before her death.

The late adviser reportedly passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital, Asaba, where she was rushed for emergency treatment.

Shimite, who contested the Oshimili North constituency seat in the Delta State House of Assembly during the 2023 PDP primaries, had previously served as the Executive Secretary of the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency during Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.

She was also the Group President/CEO of the Quintessential Group—a conglomerate comprising NGOs, social enterprises, and companies operating in agriculture and solid minerals.

A family member, who requested anonymity, told SaharaReporters that Shimite was in good health just a day before her death.

“I spoke with her for over an hour on Saturday. She was vibrant and told me about a meeting she had earlier attended. Nothing was wrong with her,” the source said. “On Sunday, I sent her Easter messages, but she didn’t reply—which was unusual.”

According to the source, the family’s alarm was raised when Shimite’s maid called her elder brother, expressing concern that the husband had locked Shimite in the house all day.

“Her brother rushed over and found her inside the house with foam already coming out of her mouth. He took her to the hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival. The police were immediately called and arrested her husband.”

Family members allege that Shimite’s husband had isolated her from loved ones and tightly controlled her movements.

“Since he came into her life, he cut everyone off. Her brother couldn’t even visit. He wouldn’t let her go to the office. He was always trailing her. Even the name on all her properties in Abuja and elsewhere was changed to his name. We believe she was manipulated—hypnotised even,” a family source said.

“If she were not hypnotised, which woman with her right senses would do such? What kind of love is that your husband would follow you everywhere you went, and you wouldn’t see anything wrong with that? Your husband would lock you in and not allow you to go to the office?

“Anytime you tell Shimite about certain things, she would tell you, ‘Don’t worry, my husband is a pastor. He’s my spiritual father. He sees everything.’ It’s very unfortunate Shimite had to learn the hard way. How could a special adviser to a governor just die like that?”

Sources close to the family described Pastor David as “overprotective” and “jealous,” and suggested he was intimidated by Shimite’s prominence and beauty.

“The man had nothing before meeting her. He only came to drain her. It’s heartbreaking.”

Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful, as his mobile line was unreachable at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Shimite’s body has been deposited in the mortuary as police investigations into her death continue.

 

President Bola Tinubu is set to return to Nigeria today, marking the end of a nearly two-week overseas trip. 

 

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this via his X handle on Monday.

 

In a brief post shared via his X account, Onanuga wrote;

 “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today.”

 

 

There have been calls by many for the President to return to the country following the increased spate of insecurity in the country and the wanton killings, particularly in Benue and Plateau states.

 

The President departed Nigeria for Paris on April 2, 2025, for what the Presidency described as a working visit aimed at reviewing his administration’s mid-term performance and evaluating key milestones.

 

However, his extended absence has drawn criticism from opposition figures amid a spike in insecurity across several regions, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, through his media aide Paul Ibe, criticised the president’s continued stay abroad, calling it “irresponsible” amid widespread violence.

 

“Tinubu is away while Nigeria burns—daily killings, attacks, and loss of territories. This is deeply troubling,” Atiku stated. “Nigerians are yearning for real leadership—someone who’s present and actively engaged.”

 

Labour Party’s former presidential candidate Peter Obi echoed similar concerns, urging the president to return immediately.

 

“In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity,” Obi said, citing incidents in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue. I urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues.”Obi said

 

A newly identified terrorist group calling itself “Mahmuda” has issued a threat to communities in Kwara State, warning of an impending violent attack on residents of Duruma village and the entire Borgu Kingdom, SaharaReporters can exclusively report.

This latest warning was sent in an audio message to residents of Duruma village by the group’s leader. The message, recorded in Hausa, was obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday morning through frightened locals who said they received it via mobile communication channels.

In the chilling recording, the group’s leader condemned the formation of local vigilante units and accused the Emir of Duruma and his people of instigating the crisis.

“This is a message; a warning to the people of Duruma village, the Emir of Duruma, and the illiterate vigilantes who are causing the chaos. Their actions pose a significant danger to their lives, and this crisis serves as a forewarning of what may happen in the future,” the voice stated.

He added that since their arrival in the Borgu kingdom five years ago, they had lived peacefully and avoided confrontation. However, he claimed that recent developments had forced them to prepare for violent retaliation.

“Since our arrival in the Borgu kingdom five years ago, we have met people behaving like animals with little regard for each other’s lives.

“Since our arrival in Duruma over five years ago, we have not hurt anyone or carried arms against anybody.

“What are you people benefiting from the government? Those who are funding you, what have you benefited from them?

“However, since you people now prefer crisis to peace, we promise you people that you will get the crisis,” he declared.

In a direct threat to residents, he warned them to evacuate the community or face death.

“And whoever knows they are not ready for the battle should immediately pack their properties and leave the community.

“We heard that the people of Duruma are now recruiting local vigilantes. Whoever allowed their child to join the vigilantes or contributed money for buying bullets has shown that they are fighting us and they should prepare for us as well.

“Whoever doesn’t want to fight us should pack their properties and leave. Stop going to the market, and in fact, relocate from the entire kingdom; otherwise, we will kill everyone we see.”

The speaker also sternly warned smugglers operating in the region, accusing them of aiding security efforts.

“And for the smugglers, you people should look for alternative roads. If not, we will kill everyone we see on the road. And if you think we are lying when preparing to pass, come prepared with your white burial garment,” the voice said.

This comes barely two days after SaharaReporters reported that the terrorist group launched an attack on Duruma village (Karonji) in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The incident occurred on Friday evening, multiple sources told SaharaReporters.

It was learnt that on arrival at the village on motorcycles, members of the group started shooting indiscriminately.

The terrorists also burnt a vehicle and some motorcycles belonging to a local vigilante group in the community.