Metro

Air Force Pilot Whose Plane Was Shot Down Narrates Miraculous Escape

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2021

NewTimes

Air Force Pilot Whose Plane Was Shot Down Narrates Miraculous Escape

The Nigerian Air Force Pilot Fl. Lt A. Dairo who ejected and escaped from bandits after his jet was shot down has narrated how he escaped from bandits in Zamfara.

In his account which was made viral on social media platforms, the combat pilot who indicated that he had a premonition of the encounter days before the Nigerian military assigned him on the mission, said that the bandits were as ruthless as the dreaded Boko Haram and wondered why they should still be referred to as ‘bandits’.

He said as follows: “Thank you so much, everybody. I’m indebted to Bro. Ekele and Bro. Olagbende, and everyone on this platform.

“Before Sunday I had been having dreams where I saw myself fighting and evading enemies like real-time war, day in day out, like nightmares, so when my jet got shot with the explosives and my flight controls were destroyed and I had no choice but to eject, I just said ‘God, finally, here we go’…

“As I was flanked by the bandits, I kept praying and I kept telling God to answer your prayers because I know you were all praying for me. I love you all. And I thank God for bestowing his love on me and saving me from death several times within that period…

“I will still share my testimonies but truly, God ordered my steps, the bandits (meanwhile, they are ruthless like Boko Haram, I dunno why we still call them bandits) were more interested in capturing me than shooting me at (even at point-blank range), eventually they got neither…

“He gave me the strength to run and walk covering almost 30kms even with one strained leg. Having not had any food or water all day, I prayed for strength because I needed it, and he gave me.

“I can spend hours talking of how I lost and regained hope multiple times throughout my adventure, but God is faithful.

“It’s now I’m feeling all the pains I suffered from the ejection (including a fracture in my neck and painful back and chest), but God didn’t allow those pains to slow me down for the bandits to capture me.

“NAF platforms overhead also helped me to deter them a lot by making some of them to pin down while I kept running, and when they got close to me, I was still able to evade them by camouflaging (I was wearing green fg suits – in the green forest) and concealing myself.

“I ran into plenty spiders and I laid down several times out of weakness not knowing if anything poisonous would sting or bite me. All glory is to God, all glory. I have not been your most righteous brother, but I felt God’s hands in everything, even in every decision I took immediately I was shot. All the decisions worked together to save my life.

Eg, removing my phone from my lap and putting it in my G-suit before pulling the ejection handle (I had to use the compass of the phone and AirNav Pro application to navigate), and making the decision to turn hard 90 degrees immediately the bandits lost sight of me on a sandy cliff where they couldn’t trace my footpath again (the CAS told me they got information that in turn, the bandits kept going straight in the direction I was initially going and they destroyed several villages and camps, killing plenty people, thinking those people harboured me).

“So much more… The village I eventually entered at night, I told God that the first person I see and call should favour me and that happened.

“He gave me clothes, pain-relieving drugs, food and water and even malt, and he organized for a bike to carry me to DanSadau early next morning (throughout the night I couldn’t sleep, I was praying that the bandits don’t attack the village because my right leg was already swollen and very painful so I couldn’t jump fences or run again. Plus I didn’t want to bring death upon innocent people, and it may force the guy to give me out to the bandits…).

“They dropped me with their Emir who with pride and joy called the Army guys to come and meet me (they all had sleepless nights).

“NAF helicopters came to pick me up from there. There is so much to say. All thanks to God, thank you so much love.”

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Metro

Police Parade Suspected Killers Of US-based Hotelier, Student

Published

3 months ago

December 22, 2022

NewTimes

Police Parade Suspected Killers Of US-based Hotelier, Student

The police on Thursday paraded suspected killers of Ogbomoso-born hotelier based in the United States, Gbenga Owolabi, and Rachael Opadele, a student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

Owolabi and Opadele were later killed by the abductors after a ransom was paid

READ ALSO: Global Attention On Rwanda At Trial Of Paul Rusesabagina, Kagame’s Critic

The suspects were paraded at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Parading the suspects alongside others, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, said they were arrested based on credible information provided by one of their victims.

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Metro

Man Flogs Three-year-old Child To Death

Published

4 months ago

December 1, 2022

NewTimes

A three-year-old girl has been flogged to death by her 25-year-old father Godsgift Uweghwerhen in Aladja Community, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was learnt that the suspect fled the scene on Wednesday after the tragedy.

He was, however, arrested by Aladja Community Vigilantes at Ubogo Community and was handed over to the Police in Ovwian/Aladja Division.

READ ALSO: A Spirit Made Me Slaughter My 11-month-old Child – Mother

It was learnt that the man allegedly killed his child because she entered his neighbour’s apartment.

He flogged her with a cane and inflicted bodily injuries on the baby who was said to have been sick for sometime.

When contacted for comments, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, in a text message on Thursday morning, said, “confirmed” without providing much details from the side of the police.

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Metro

A Spirit Made Me Slaughter My 11-month-old Child – Mother

Published

4 months ago

November 30, 2022

NewTimes

A Spirit Made Me Slaughter My 11-month-old Child - Mother

A woman identified as Mrs Blessing Eno in Yonen community , Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River has killed her 11- month-old baby because a spirit asked her to do so.

The tragic incident which occured on Tuesday has left many in the community bewildered as the circumstances leading to the dastardly act were strange.

The mother of two who may be suffering from Schizophrenia (mental disorder) took out a matchet and cut off the head of the baby, claiming that the child was disturbing her and a spirit instructed her to slaughter the boy.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity disclosed that it was her eight-year-old son who stumbled on the gory sight of his headless brother and a blood drenched mother who raised the alarm that attracted neighbours to the scene of the crime.

However, the timely intervention of the police, who immidiately took the lady into protective custody, before ferrying her out of Ugep averted an angry mob from extra- judicially killing her at the station.

Meanwhile, the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr LGA, HRM. Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, has expressed shock over the tragic incident while calling for calm.

The monarch also, assured the people that he was certain that the police would handle the matter professionally to a logical conclusion.

He said: ”I had to immediately convene a meeting with my subjects because even though what happened has desecrated the land, I had to ensure that further bloodshed was averted.

“We appealed directly to young people in Ugep, to toe the path of peace and rational thought in the face of this heinous crime and they positively responded.

“We are in shock but we are calm and have left this matter in the hands of the police, I can assure you that there will be no reprisal action because we must remain law-abiding,” he said.

READ ALSO: Child Witch Persecution And Superstitious Beliefs In Rivers State

When contacted , the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo confirmed the incident, adding that it was a homicide case and the matter was being transferred to State CID , Homicide department for an onward investigation.

“I learned about the matter yesterday ( Tuesday) , you know it’s a homicide case, it will be transferred from Ugep to state CID, Homicide department for further investigation.

” it is quite unfortunate and devastating, already she is in protective custody , but the matter will surely be brought to Calabar,” Ugbo said.

On his part , a child rights activist and Principal Counsel Basic rights Council Initiative BCRI, James Ibor Esq said there was no doubt the lady in question was mentally unstable.

He said when properly examined, her true state of mind would be ascertained.

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