Metro
Fuel Scarcity Hits Port Harcourt
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Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and its environs are currently experiencing fuel scarcity as long queues have returned to filling stations.
Our correspondent observed that the scarcity started around 3pm on Monday when fuel dealers decided to close majority of the filling stations in the state capital.
It was gathered that the fuel dealers closed shop due to speculations that the main depot in Port Harcourt was no longer distributing fuel.
The sudden closure of the filling stations caused a long queue at the popular Mobil filling station at Waterlines, along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway as motorists had a tough time before they could purchase Premium Motor Spirit.
Though the filling station was selling at the normal price of N145 per litre, some motorists had to wait for over an hour before they could purchase fuel.
One of them, who identified himself simply as Chinonyerem, said he could not find fuel at other filling stations inside town, adding that he had to join the queue when he noticed that the Mobil filling station was selling the commodity.
“I don’t know what the cause of the scarcity is, but it is good to notice that they did not increase the fuel price here (Mobil filling station). I have been here for over one hour. I know I will get fuel before I leave here,” Chinonyerem said.
As of 10am on Tuesday morning, most of the filling stations were still locked up as the owners refused to sell, hoping that the scarcity would force an increase in the pump price of petrol.
At the Karibi filling station on Iwofe Road in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, fuel was sold at the normal price as the queue continued to build up.
A commercial tricycle rider, who identified himself simply as James, told our correspondent that the scarcity was as a result of the rumour that the depot in Port Harcourt was no longer distributing fuel.
“Immediately the rumour got to these fuel dealers, they began to close their filling stations. The few ones that opened did not believe the rumour. That is what is causing this scarcity,” James stated.
When contacted, the Media Officer, Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company, Ikenna Okpani, said he was not aware of any fuel scarcity, adding that there was no reason for dealers to close their fuel stations.
“I am not aware that there is any fuel scarcity. There is no reason for such because from our end here, we are producing,” Okpani said.
The Punch
Metro
Toba Ijaya: Lagos CP Warns NURTW, RTEAN Against Taking Laws into Own Hands, Assures of Peace
As anxiety spread across Lagos State following the killing of the General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), popularly known as Toba Ijaya, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Fatai Tijani, has moved to contain tensions, reassure residents, and reinforce confidence that the rule of law, not reprisals will determine the outcome of the ongoing investigation, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) can report.
In a decisive peace meeting, CP Tijani brought together leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), urging restraint while assuring Lagosians that security agencies remain firmly in control of the situation.
National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP reliably gathered that the Police Commissioner disclosed that the Command had already commenced a comprehensive investigation into the killing and assured all stakeholders that no stone would be left unturned in identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
“The Command has commenced a thorough investigation into this unfortunate incident, and I assure you that the outcome will be made public when the investigation is concluded,” CP Tijani said.
Appealing for calm, he warned against any attempt to exploit the incident to foment violence across the state. “I appeal to the leadership of both NURTW and RTEAN to continue restraining your members. No individual or group should take the law into their own hands. We will not tolerate any act capable of disrupting public peace, and anyone found breaching the peace will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he stated.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the Police were closely monitoring developments across Lagos and urged members of the public to support investigators with credible information. “Allow the Police to carry out a professional, diligent and unbiased investigation. If you have useful information, share it with us. We are committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are identified, arrested and brought to justice,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the NURTW, its Lagos State Chairman, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle Adio (Sego), thanked the Commissioner of Police for the prompt intervention and assured the Command that the union had maintained peace since the incident. “We appreciate the Commissioner of Police for bringing us together at this critical time. Since the unfortunate incident, we have held several meetings with our members and consistently preached peace. Calm has prevailed, and we will continue to ensure that it remains so,” he said.
Sego also pledged the union’s full cooperation with law enforcement, stressing that “any member who attempts to cause trouble or violates our directive to remain peaceful will be handed over to the Police.”
Similarly, the Lagos State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Comrade Shamsudeen Adepeju Ajala (Kaosar), commended the Police Command for its proactive response and reaffirmed his association’s commitment to peace. “We will cooperate fully with the Police to ensure that those behind this incident are identified and brought to justice. Our members have been directed to remain law-abiding, and we will not allow anyone to create unrest in Lagos,” he assured.
The meeting also resolved that both transport unions would intensify internal sensitisation among their members, encouraging restraint while discouraging the spread of misinformation capable of escalating tensions.
In his closing remarks, CP Tijani again urged the leadership of both unions to sustain dialogue with their members and continue working closely with security agencies. “Peace and cooperation are indispensable to a successful investigation. We must not allow criminal elements to exploit this unfortunate incident to destabilise Lagos. Together, we will ensure justice is served while preserving the peace that Lagosians deserve,” he said.
With the Police Command maintaining heightened surveillance and the leadership of both transport unions publicly committing themselves to peace, Lagosians have been reassured that security agencies remain firmly on top of the situation. The message from all stakeholders was unmistakable. Justice will follow due process, and there must be no room for retaliation, violence or actions capable of undermining the peace, calm, safety, and stability of Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.
Metro
Gunmen Attack Kogi School, Abduct Principal, NECO Staff, Students Writing Exams
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Tuesday reportedly invaded a school in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, kidnapping the school principal, four students, and an ad hoc National Examinations Council (NECO) staff member.
The development was disclosed recently by a counter-insurgency and security analyst covering the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama.
According to him, the incident occurred at a school identified as Government Secondary School (GSS) while students were sitting the ongoing NECO examination.
The armed assailants allegedly stormed the school premises at around 5.25 pm while candidates were in the examination hall.
Makama said: “They abducted four students alongside the principal of the school and an ad hoc NECO official before fleeing to an unknown destination.”
He went on to report that a combined security team immediately launched bush-combing operations, intelligence gathering, and surveillance across the area to locate the kidnappers’ hideout and rescue those still in captivity.
Makama further noted that security sources had confirmed one of the abducted students had been rescued, while efforts had been intensified to secure the release of the remaining victims.
He concluded that investigations into the incident were ongoing as security agencies tried to restore normality to the area.
Metro
Islamic Teacher Faces Life Jail for Alleged Rape of Four Siblings
A local Islamic teacher in Kano State, Kamal Abdulmumini, risks being sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty of the alleged rape of four siblings.
Abdulmumini, a tutor at Alhadid Nursery and Primary School, Ungogo Local Government Area is accused of raping twin sisters and two other females, all siblings in the area.
When brought before Justice Suleiman Baba Na Mallam on Tuesday, the prosecutor Barrister Abdullahi Mohammad alleged that the defendant had sexual interactions with the four sisters on different occasions in his office.
The prosecution counsel, who doubles as Director Public Prosecution (DPP) in Kano State Ministry of Justice, told the court that he has five witnesses who are ready to testify on the alleged criminal act.
However, the arraignment eventually stalled when defense counsel, Barrister Nasir Abdurrahman, requested access to facilities and other relevant documents to enable him to prepare his defense.
The defense counsel insisted that until he was granted access to those vital records and evidence, it may be difficult for justice to be served, just as he sought the court to grant his request.
Although, the prosecution counsel did not object the request of the defense, Justice Na Mallam ordered the prosecution to provide the defendant with the necessary materials related to the case.
The court thereby adjourned the matter to October 13 and 14, 2026, for the arraignment and subsequent hearing of Kamal Abdulmumini.
Section 126 of Kano state Penal Code clearly spells out the conditions that can be considered for finding someone guilty of rape. Subsequently, section 127 of the same provisions clearly identified penalties for any one find guilt of rape to include minimum of 14 years imprisonment and maximum of my life in jail without fine.
However, the same offence under the Shari’a Penal Code of Kano State, if found guilty attracts death penalty by stoning.






