Akufo—A case of prolonged domestic violence ended in tragedy in Akufo, Ido Local Government Area, after a 49-year-old husband allegedly poured acid on his 44-year-old wife before ingesting the same substance himself. Both died, leaving their three surviving children, who suffer from sickle cell disorder, in urgent need of care. The victims, Mr. Lekan Adedeji and Mrs. Zainab Adedeji, had been married for over 25 years. Family members revealed that domestic violence was recurrent in the home, and the couple were unaware they were carriers of the sickle cell trait, which contributed to the deaths of three of their six children. Speaking to THENEWSCREDIT, Morufat Ashake, the younger sister of the deceased woman who has taken custody of the children, described the harrowing events. She explained that the fatal weekend began in December last year when the husband lured his wife under the pretext of providing funds for her daughter’s school fees. Upon arrival, he allegedly forced his daughter to take the youngest child outside before pouring acid on his wife and drinking it himself. Water purification systems Despite medical intervention, Mrs. Adedeji succumbed to her injuries after the family spent over N4 million on treatment. The couple’s aged mother, Titilayo Ayoola, 62, confirmed the marriage had been troubled for years and is now left caring for the surviving children, who require constant medical attention. The children, Rashida, Folawe, and Folahanmi, spoke of their grief, highlighting their urgent need for support to continue their education and manage their health conditions. Family members are appealing for public assistance to meet the children’s medical and educational needs. Contributions can be made to Access Bank Account Number 1658068176, in the name of Titilayo Iyabo Samukoro.

Some gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed an inspector of the Nigeria Police Force in Oyo State, THENEWSCREDIT learnt. The inspector was killed when a police patrol team was waylaid by the suspected bandits. The incident occured at Budo Masalasi border post around 1:30 pm on Saturday. Our correspondent gathered that a police officer whose identity has not been revealed died as a result of injuries he sustained in the ambush. Other persons also sustained various degrees of injury during the attack. Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident when contacted on Sunday. Ayanlade said the commissioner of police has ordered investigation into the incident, adding that the police are currently on the trail of the suspects. The Oyo police spokesman advised residents to report any suspicious movements in their communities to the nearest police station. He said, “Yes, there was an attack on police operatives during which an inspector, while courageously repelling the attack, paid the supreme price in the line of duty. “Residents are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and report any individuals with gunshot injuries, those seeking medical attention under suspicious circumstances, or persons exhibiting suspicious behavior to the nearest police station or security agency.”

A 27-year-old woman, identified as Esther Akwaji, has reportedly collapsed and died under mysterious circumstances. The deceased was reported to have died while eating at her boyfriend’s residence in Dei-Dei, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. According to SaharaReporters, the deceased’s boyfriend fled shortly after her death, while his identity has also not yet been established. Sources claimed that Esther, who was a resident of Nasarawa State, had travelled to the FCT to visit family members. On January 21, she reportedly left her family home, claiming she was heading to a bank in Dei-Dei, but never returned. Hours later, family members were said to have received a phone call from a man who identified himself as Esther’s boyfriend, using her mobile phone. According to the source, the man informed the family that Esther had visited him and that he had purchased food for them to eat. The boyfriend allegedly stated that while they were eating, Esther suddenly began vomiting. He claimed he rushed her to Kubwa General Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she was dead on arrival. However, the man reportedly fled the hospital shortly after the doctors pronounced her dead and has remained unreachable since the incident. Meanwhile, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, while confirming the incident told SaharaReporters that the Command had commenced a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Esther’s death. “The corpse has been deposited for autopsy to determine the actual cause of death, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect,” Adeh said.

A newlywed wife has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command over the alleged poisoning of her husband, who died after consuming a meal prepared by her. The incident occurred on January 23, 2026, at about 1700hrs at Gauza village in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Dutse, the state capital, on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the deceased reportedly took his lunch at home before he suddenly fell seriously ill. According to the police spokesperson, the man was rushed to the hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment. Following the incident, detectives from the Jahun Division swung into action and arrested the wife of the deceased as the principal suspect. SP Shi’isu Adam said that “during interrogation, the suspect confessed to poisoning her husband’s food with rat poison.” He added that the “suspect claimed she sent her cousin to purchase the rat poison used in committing the poison used in committing the act.” According to the PPRO, the suspect reportedly stated that she was forced into the marriage by her parents, a situation she claimed led to her actions. However, the police spokesperson said the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police has directed that the case be thoroughly investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse. He said upon the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect would be charged to court for prosecution. Meanwhile, the police command urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding and to seek lawful means of resolving family and marital disputes. The statement further “advised against taking laws into one’s hands, noting that such actions often result in irreversible consequences.” Accordingly, the police assured the public of the command’s commitment to justice and the protection of lives and property across the state. “The police will ensure that justice is served in this case,” the PPRO said, adding that “the suspect is currently in police custody, awaiting trial.”

A 24-year old resident of Delta State, Jessica Anthony, has revealed that she contacted suspected armed robbers to rob her boyfriend and extort about N7 million to offset her sister’s hospital bills. The young lady was arrested by operatives of the Delta State command after her plans failed to materialize. The spokesman of the Delta Command, SP Bright Edafe, who interviewed the suspect in a video he posted on his X account, said luck ran out on the suspect when she informed some bad boys of her evil intentions. According to Edafe, one of those the suspect sought to carry out the robbery, knows the boyfriend but played along until she was arrested. Asked why she wanted her boyfriend robbed, the suspect said, “because I needed money for my sister’s hospital bills of N7 million. I wanted them to steal his gold”.

Adedeji Adeleke, father of Nigerian music star Davido, has opened up on how the family coordinated several DNA tests to determine whether 12-year-old Anuoluwapo is the singer’s daughter. THENEWSCREDIT recalls that the paternity controversy involving Davido and the alleged daughter surfaced mid-January. In an Instagram post shared on January 15, Anuoluwapo alleged that she had been subjected to bullying and mockery over claims that Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, is her father. She said the situation had affected her mental health and subsequently demanded that the singer undergo a DNA test to confirm her paternity. Reacting, however, Adeleke told newsmen that before the matter reached them, social media personality Kemi Olunloyo had alleged that the child might be B-Red’s, Davido’s cousin. He said: “Because B-Red’s name is Adebayo, but his middle name is also David Adeleke, when the aunty of the little girl came, I said, ‘Look, this is what we are going to do.’ “You go and pick your own clinic of your choice, come to Lagos, I will make sure it is available, bring the little girl, and we will go to your clinic and do the test. “But I said before we do that, I am going to arrange for another clinic in Lekki apart from the one we went to before, so that David and the little girl will do two more tests, and then I will arrange two clinics for my nephew Bayo to do two tests. “So the day you come, we are going to have four different tests. That’s why you must have heard we’ve done five DNA tests.” According to Dr. Adeleke, three of the tests were conducted for Davido, while two were for B-Red. He recounted how the family first became aware of the child: “I received a document in my mail, sent to me from Ibadan in 2014 via DHL, and in the package there were pictures of a little girl, pictures of David with the little girl, and a picture of the mother of the girl. In that mail, there was also a birth certificate of the child, and what caught my attention was that the record of the birth certificate stated the full name of the father as Adeleke David and the full name of the mother as Adeleke Ayoomide. “How can she be Adeleke? That caught my attention. Also in that package was a letter from the grandmother of the girl, Anu, with her telephone number.” The letter read: “Dear Sir, I know you and your family are in good health. I know the Lord has been good to you, and I do not expect otherwise, Sir. I am a widow with two daughters; I lost my husband 13 years ago and have singlehandedly cared for both of them with the help of God, but was challenged. Early last year, my eldest daughter Ayotomide informed me that your son David Adeleke was responsible for her pregnancy. “Their meeting occurred when your son came to Ibadan for a show. I sat with her as a mother to ask her who the father of the child was. She has confided in me so many times that your son is indeed the father of her child. She put to bed on November 19 and gave birth to a baby girl.” Adeleke described how he contacted the grandmother and arranged for the DNA tests: “Immediately I saw this letter, even before I called David, I called this woman and said I had not spoken to my son yet, but I was going to speak to him. I suggested she give me her address in Ibadan; I would send my driver to come and see where she lived. I assured her that if this girl is my granddaughter, she would have no problem with me; I would welcome her into my family. She gave me her address, and I told her the hospital I use in Lekki is an Indian hospital, that’s where I do my check-ups and everything. I asked the hospital to arrange for a DNA test.” He added that the test was conducted via saliva samples and analyzed in South Africa: “When the day came, my driver brought the mother of the child, the baby, and the grandmother. We all met at the hospital. David, myself, and Lati went up first, and the doctor told us the procedure. It was not done by blood but from saliva collected and sealed, then sent to South Africa for analysis. “When the result was ready, the mother, the grandmother, and I signed that both of us would be the ones to receive the result. When the result was ready, I called her, and we opened the test result together.”

PORT HARCOURT— There was palpable tension in Omoku Town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, as a lawyer allegedly shot a youth leader, Emmanuel Nkemjika, dead during a masquerade display in the area Monday evening at Omoku. It was gathered that the lawyer had picked a gun from his car and opened fire after a masquerade allegedly flogged his vehicle with a cane. It was alleged that bullets hit eight persons, but that one person, Nkemjika, who is the immediate past Treasurer of the Omoku Youth Federation, died on the spot, while others with varying degrees of injury have been hospitalised. A source, said the deceased was an innocent bystander and not part of the masquerade, but that stray bullet hit him. The source said the situation later escalated as angry youths allegedly set fire to the lawyer’s family house near Santa Maria and his personal house in Obrikom. However, the Rivers State Police Command, said it was aware of the development, adding that some suspects linked to the incident have been arrested. The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said police have commenced investigation into the development. Iringe-Koko noted that the incident resulted in one death and multiple injuries, adding that nine members of the masquerade group sustained gunshot wounds in an altercation that ensued. She said: “At 0700hrs, a report was received at the Omoku Police Division through credible sources stating that about 0130hrs, while some youths were masquerading along Sambo Street, a confrontation occurred involving one Akpudi Ikechukwu and four personnel of the Nigeria Forest Guards Security Service, NFSS. During the incident, nine members of the masquerade group sustained gunshot injuries. “One of the victims, identified as Obulo, was confirmed dead at the hospital, Omoku, while eight others are currently receiving medical treatment at the same facility. “Following the incident, Akpudi Ikechukwu and two other suspects were promptly arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for detailed investigation. Preliminary investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and the level of culpability of all parties involved.” Iringe-Koko noted that a joint security team has been deployed in the area to avoid further breakdown of law and order in the area.

A bride, her parents and some friends who were abducted by bandits in Chacho village, Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State have regained their freedom after spending seven weeks in captivity. The development was contained in a post shared on X by security analyst, Bakatsine. According to the post sent out on Wednesday, the victims were released on Tuesday after ransom was paid to their abductors. Bakatsine added that the victims are currently receiving medical attention at Isa Hospital in Sokoto State. “A bride, her parents and friends abducted by bandits in Chacho village, Wurno LGA of Sokoto State, have regained freedom after seven weeks in captivity. They were released yesterday following ransom payments. They are currently receiving medical care at Isa Hospital. “How many more abductions, ransom payments, and traumatized families will it take before lasting security reaches these communities?,” Bakatsine asked. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

The father of late Afrobeat singer, Afeez Adeshina, popularly known as Destiny Boy, has appealed to the public for help following the disappearance of his son’s SUV, days after the artiste’s death. In a now-trending video on Tuesday, the grieving father expressed concern over the whereabouts of the vehicle, revealing that it was allegedly returned to the dealership shortly after Destiny Boy’s passing, but has not been seen since. He explained that the SUV was purchased from Lycon Autos and that he accompanied his son to complete the transaction. According to him, the dealership provided a driver to convey the vehicle to their residence on the day of purchase. The father said Destiny Boy later retained the same driver for personal use, but trouble arose when the driver claimed the singer was owing him and subsequently returned the SUV to the dealership without informing the family. “Nigerians, please help me. My son has a car, and the car is with Lycon Autos. Although the car is not new, it is an SUV jeep. We went together to buy it. Lycon Autos assigned a driver for him that day to bring the car home. “Later, Destiny started using the driver personally. The driver said Destiny was owing him, so he took the car back to where we bought it from. I don’t even have the driver’s number. If the car were here, I would have gone to pick it up,” he said. THENEWSCREDIT reports that Destiny Boy died on Sunday at the age of 22. His mother had disclosed in an interview on Monday that the singer had been ill before his death. She also revealed that the late singer had been suffering from a long-term mysterious illness described as “Ogu oru” that constantly led to seizures. “Destiny went to rest. When he gave birth to his child, about four days after the naming, we went to Oba Edu Ifayomi, who initiated him traditionally. The man likes him as his son, so that’s why he told us to come collect ram for the baby’s naming ceremony. It was then that the sickness caught up with him, causing him to fall. “It was there that we took him to the hospital. Oba Edu said we should ensure he’s properly treated and that he will take care of himself. And he kept sending us money even when he was transferred to about two other hospitals. When we saw the trend of the sickness, we told him that we should go traditional, and he said we should bring him to his place. I was the one he even gave the soap to bathe him. “We returned, and he was fine. The sickness he battled with was “Ogu oru,” causing him to have seizures. The sickness had almost run him mad. We are the ones who always ensure that he doesn’t run out in the process of calming him,” she said. Saida dismissed the rumour that the late musician did a money ritual while cursing the people who were peddling misinformation so as to trend with the death of his son. She further stressed the family’s attempts to make sure that he’s completely cured of the strange illness.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested Inspector Victor Okus over the killing of his colleague, Inspector Ibrahim Sani ‘m’, while on duty at Next Cash and Carry Supermart, Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt. In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command said the incident happened on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Inspector Sani died from gunshot injuries, while another officer, Inspector Daniel Dauda ‘m’, was seriously injured. According to the statement, DSP Turaki Hassan, Unit Commander of 14 PMF, explained that, “The tragic incident occurred at about 1320hrs at Next Cash and Carry Supermart, Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt, where Inspector Ibrahim Sani ‘m’ and Inspector Daniel Dauda ‘m’, all attached to 14 PMF, Yola, were on joint guard duty with military personnel.” The police said Inspector Okus, who is attached to 17 PMF but was on special duty at Intels, Onne, allegedly shot the two officers in the head and neck regions. Both injured officers were rushed to Nopsam Hospital for treatment. The statement added that Inspector Sani’s body has been deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary in Port Harcourt for preservation and autopsy. The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has ordered a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident. The suspect will first face an Orderly Room Trial and will later be charged to court. The Commissioner assured that justice would be served and warned officers to be careful with firearms while on duty, saying: “Handling of firearms while on duty is a serious responsibility and not a routine task, but it is crucial to prioritize your safety and the safety of others so as to prevent potential tragedies.” The Rivers State Police Command also expressed its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Inspector Ibrahim Sani.