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GUNMEN KILL CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER AND SON IN RIVERS STATE

A tragic incident occurred recently, in Igwuruta-Ali, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Richard Timothy, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, and his 23-year-old son, Silas, were brutally murdered by unknown gunmen. According to Timothy’s widow, Grace, about five gunmen dressed in black attire attacked her husband as they drove into their residence. Grace recounted the horrific event, saying, “Around 9 pm, we went to get some things. As we were coming and about entering the house, we called my son to open the gate. As he opened the gate, we were about to enter, we saw people in black, fully armed entering with us in their car.” She explained that the gunmen started shooting, killing her husband and son. The gunmen later took Grace into a nearby bush, requesting that she give them money. She said, “I was able to escape to the backyard. They came there, saw me, and took me out of the compound towards the bush, like 50 meters from the house. At that time, I knew there was no hope for me again.” Grace stated that her husband had received multiple threats from individuals opposed to his stance against the looting of properties at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that they received a distress call from Timothy’s daughter and immediately dispatched officers to the scene. The police recovered three expended AK-47 ammunition and rushed the victims to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead. The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, has directed the deployment of necessary intelligence to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice. Grace appealed to Nigerians, saying, “I don’t want my husband to die in vain because he fought for the truth.”

RIVERS STATE GAS EXPLOSION: 18 INJURED, POLICE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY

A devastating gas explosion occurred on Sunday evening at a gas refilling shop in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, leaving 18 people severely injured. According to SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, the explosion was caused by a welder repairing a refrigerator while simultaneously refilling gas into it. “The technician was using a gas cylinder to weld while trying to refill gas into the refrigerator, which led to the explosion,” Iringe-Koko explained. “No fewer than 18 persons, including the technician, sustained injuries, but fortunately, no lives were lost.” Eyewitness Tamuno described the explosion as devastating, noting that the victims included a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple. “The explosion triggered a chain reaction, causing other gas cylinders in the shop to explode,” he said. “Most of the victims were residents and passers-by who, unfortunately, happened to be near the shop at the time.” The injured victims suffered varying degrees of burns and were promptly taken to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment. The Rivers State Police Command has launched a full investigation into the incident and will share their findings with the public. This latest explosion is part of a worrying trend of gas and Improvised Explosive Device incidents recorded in Rivers State since 2024. Experts recommend several safety measures to reduce the risk of gas explosions, including regular inspection of gas cylinders and equipment, proper training for gas handlers, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and public awareness campaigns.