News
Man Poisons Two-Year-Old Son Over Prophecy
To avoid a presumed deadly prophecy, a 32-year-old man, Mr. John Effiong, has allegedly poisoned his two year-old son.
The son, Comfort, was allegedly fed by his parents with a plate of rice laced with poison.
It was gathered that the father, in collaboration with his wife, decided to kill their son in reaction to a prophecy that the child was a wizard, who was attempting to harm his pregnant mother.
Nemesis, however, caught up with them when policemen at a checkpoint on Benin-Abraka road arrested the father and two others carrying the corpse of the child in a “Ghana must-go” bag.
The two others, John Okoh, 43, and Pastor Aniekan Achiobong were arrested for complicity in the murder.
Prophet Ini Monday, who gave the couple the prophecy at his church in Upper Sakponba Road, Benin, has been declared wanted by the police.
The spokesman for Edo State Police Command, ASP Peter Ogboi, advised the public to be mindful of prophecies.
According to him, the police would soon arrest the fleeing prophet, while the victim’s father and two others now in police net would be charged with murder.
But it was gathered that the dead son had been sick for some time, prompting the parents to seek for spiritual solution at the church.
Effiong, however, denied giving his son poison.
He said: “How would I poison my son? When I was caught by the police, I told them that it was my baby I was carrying in the bag. When they brought it out, the baby was shaking his leg. I told them that my son was dead and I was going to bury him.
“They told me in a church in my village that if I was not careful the baby would kill me and that he would still die. The pastor told me the child would not last with me and that he would die.”
A co-pastor in the church, Pastor Aniekan Achiobong, said he was in the church when the parents brought the baby; but that he did not hear when the pastor gave them the prophecy.
He said he was a security man and that he was called by God when he was young.
Okoh said he was not aware that the father poisoned the baby and that when the police arrested them on their way to bury him, the baby was still sneezing slowly.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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