Native doctor’s wife decries DSS DG, IGP for alleged son killing

Mrs Jennifer Johnson, the pregnant wife of a 33-year-old Native Doctor in Obolo area of Mbano, Imo State, Bright Johnson, has cried out over the alleged extra-judicial killing of her 5-year-old son by some men of the vigilante group led by the youth president of the community, Amaze Chibuke popularly called Jaguar.

Mrs Johnson, in her cry for justice addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also accused the youth president of the Obolo community of ordering the shooting of her husband’s brother, Okechukwu Johnson and arrest of her husband, Bright Johnson over undisclosed charges.

The embattled Mrs Johnson, while speaking with newsmen on the development on Sunday, claimed that the youth president of the community, who is having a land dispute with her husband, invaded their home in the company of unidentified youths with pump action guns and ordered the shooting of her husband and his junior brother for resisting arrest.

She said: “My husband was shot in the leg and taken away to an undisclosed location for the last four days. His junior brother was shot in the back and my 5-year-old son was shot dead.”

Mrs. Johnson, who is pregnant and in tears, told newsmen that after much pressure from family members and kinsmen of her husband, Amaze Chibuke aka Jaguar, claimed that her husband is detained at the DSS office located Irete along the Onitsha Road in Owerri, Imo State.

She said: “I am calling on the DG, DSS and the IG of Police to wade into these matters and save my husband from the killer squad of Amaze Chibuke alias Jaguar. The family has attempted severally to gain access to my husband but the DSS officials have refused. I want to know if my husband is still alive or not. He does not even know that his son has been shot dead.”

She recalled that trouble started when some unidentified men on November 9, 2024, accosted her close to the Amanaku market in Obolo on her way back from an errand and ordered her into a car alongside her 5-year-old son.

 “They ordered us into the vehicle as if they were conducting a police raid.

” When I entered, I noticed that there was a man already in the vehicle tied like a suspect. I was crying that am a married woman and innocent. They however started beating the man tied in the vehicle over his plea that they should let me and my son go.

“The three men in the vehicle were on masks and I feared that we had been kidnapped. But when they moved about 10 minutes, they stopped suddenly and asked us to go into the bush. They were being chased by eyewitnesses who observed how they pushed me into their vehicle. I was pleading that they should please allow me to go. One of the masked men now ordered that we (I, my son and the tied man) be shot but another countered the order and said they should let us go.

“I held onto my son and ran off to the right, while the man ran the other way. On my way back home, the community people stopped me and asked me to come and identify the man who escaped from our abductor’s vehicle. I identified him as the person who was pushed out of the vehicle with us. But it seems they refused to agree.

“When I got home, I told my husband what happened and he immediately went to the Police station to lodge a report. My husband asked the police to come with him to the scene to avoid the mob applying jungle justice to kill an innocent man. But the Police on duty expressed fear due to the lateness of the night.”

She said few days after the incident, some youths of the community came to our house and accused my husband of alleged involvement in my attempted kidnap and abduction of a Rev. Father in Owerri.

” I was shocked. They claimed the man who was pushed out from the vehicle by those who tried to abduct me fingered my husband. They said the man changed his story and indicted my husband. We later gathered that the man was tied up in a self-styled prison built by Jaguar and compelled to implicate my husband.”

“All attempts to get his lawyer to intervene failed as the lawyer, with office located along the Isiala-Mbano area was compromised and working for the accused youth President. The compromised lawyer collected a million from my husband and later demanded five million to “settle the matter”. We refused and reported the matter to the Imo State Police headquarters.

“Jagua later declared my husband wanted dead or alive over matters to be handled by the police. We later reported it to the police. The police invited Jaguar and detained him for declaring my husband wanted. But he got bail after some powerful individuals reached out.”

“At the police headquarters under the IPO identified as Umeh, both parties were invited on the 24th of December,2024. But Jagua failed to show up. But the IPO gave another date.

“Three days ago, on the 26th of December, 2024, the youth president of the community came to the house with five men on mufti and armed with Pump action guns to arrest my husband over alleged involvement in my kidnapping and that of one Reverend Father in Owerri.

” I held onto Jaguar and cried that he should leave my husband alone. My husband’s junior brother was also arguing with them not to take his brother away. The next thing I heard was Jaguar ordering that they should open fire. They shot my husband in the leg, shot my husband’s brother in the back and my five-year-old son, got shot in the head and died.

” My father-in-law rushed out and demanded from Jagua why he ordered them to shoot, he said the death of my son is not his business. And that we should go to the DSS office to see my husband. We have been to DSS but no way. We don’t even know if he is alive.

” I am calling on the DSS DG and the Police IG to intervene and save my husband. Jaguar has killed my son and I don’t want to lose my husband too. They should let us know the whereabouts of my husband and investigate these incidents. My husband is innocent.”

Patoranking, Nyanya, others storm Bayelsa for Okpoama Beach Carnival

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

A former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, has applauded the yearly Okpoama International Beach Carnival at Brass Island’s emerging global status, saying it has contributed to the steady growth of the country’s entertainment industry.

Sylva particularly applauded the performances of Patoranking, Nyanya, Spiro, and other emerging musical and comic artistes who stormed Bayelsa and thrilled guests, tourists, and residents who attended the carnival.

The former Minister of State for Petroleum described the event as beautiful sights and sounds from this year’s Okpoama International Beach Carnival.

He said: “The best of our country’s musical talents performed and enjoyed the ambience of Brass Island.

“Indigenous musical prospects were given the chance to perform alongside Internationally recognised stars in a deliberate act of raising their stock.

“Ultimately, the dream of making Okpoama a proper globally recognised tourism destination is in sight.”

Okpoama International Beach Carnival has always paraded top musical and comic artistes yearly and attracted a multitude of tourists from within and outside the state.

In the past, Timaya, Davido, Wizkid, and Tiwa Savage were among the top artistes who identified with and thrilled visitors at previous events.

The event has always presented an indispensable opportunity for people outside the state to enjoy Bayelsa hospitality and savour local state delicacies.

The 2025 Okpoama International Beach Carnival, which MC Senibo coordinated as the Master of Ceremony is usually organized by Sylva’s team and political associates including Kojo Sam to highlight the potential of Okpoama and Brass Island as a destination of choice for tourists.

Army promotes four senior officers in 2 Brigade

The Nigerian Army has decorated four senior officers of the 2 Brigade, who were promoted to the rank of a colonel and Lieutenant colonel recently.

This is contained in a statement by the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Adebowale Adejimi, in Uyo on Saturday.

This is as the 2 Python Officers’ Mess marked a day of celebration and honour with a vibrant Tombola Night on Friday.

Adejimi said the dual events underscored the unit’s commitment to fostering unity and celebrating excellence within the ranks.

According to him, officers decorated to the rank of Colonel are the Brigade:  Acting Chief of Staff, Col. Kunle Atilola and the Assistant Chief of Staff Logistics, Col. Victorio Ashinze.

Those decorated with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel are Lt.- Col. Kabiru Abdul and Lt.-Col. Christopher Okwujiako.

He said the commander of 2 Brigade, Brig-Gen Jafaar Ibrahim, while decorating the officers congratulated them on their well-deserved promotions, emphasising the significance of their new roles in the Nigerian Army’s hierarchy.

“I urge you to continue demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment to the ideals of professionalism, discipline, and patriotism.”

Adejimi added that the event was graced by the presence of senior military/ paramilitary officials, Brigade Officers, and their families, making it a truly memorable occasion.

He said the tombola night featured an engaging line up of games, prizes, and entertainment, bringing together officers, families, and guests for an evening of fun and relaxation.

The highpoint of tombola night was the grand prize of one million naira award.