Word Master Media Blog

Four policemen were feared killed yesterday evening when gunmen attacked the convoy of a former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim.

A source said the former governor, who was in the company of two of his children, had appeared to be the target of a possible abduction or assassination.

Ohakim’s driver, however, managed to escape, following which the attackers reportedly attacked the vehicle conveying the policemen with explosives, resulting in the death of four of them.

Narrating what happened, in an interview with TheNiche, Ohakim said: “We were driving between Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano. These people blocked us at a place called Umualumaku.

“They attacked us from behind and were firing at our vehicles consistently. I thought I was a dead man and I was with two of my children – my son and daughter.

“What saved me was the bulletproof vehicle. That I am alive today is by the special grace of God and the bulletproof vehicle.

“But unfortunately for me they killed four of our boys, including the driver. Yes, we lost four of the boys and I am devastated. How can that be? What crime did they commit?”

Ohakim said even when his own driver managed to escape from the scene, the assailants pursued his vehicle.

“They pursued us and continued firing at our tyres. Luckily, the vehicle has what is called run-flat tyres on which you can continue driving even after a puncture. So, even when they shot at the tyres hoping to immobilise us, the vehicle continued moving. If they were ordinary tyres and the vehicle had stopped, they would cornered and finished us.

“But the tyres held on until we got back home. We drove for about 20 minutes before we got home. That was the saving grace.

“The driver who manifested tremendous level of driving skill kept manoeuvring until he lost them at a junction when he went right and not knowing where we had gone, they headed the other direction on the road to Umuahia."

Ohakim, who said he saw the assailants, said they were not amateurs.

“This goes beyond the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), I must say. These are professionals, well-trained. They are not ordinary people.”

If you don't have money nobody will respect you-Timaya.

Absolutely.

A hearse carrying the coffin of Brazilian football legend Pele arrives at Vila Belmiro stadium as fans mourn his death in Santos on January 2, 2023. – A 24-hour wake for Pele will be held at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos starting January 2, following by what is expected to be a massive funeral procession through the city before his burial at Santos’s Necropole Memorial Cemetery in a private ceremony on January 3. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP
Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos.

The oceanside home of the team nicknamed “Peixe” — “fish” in Portuguese — is expecting a huge influx of fans looking to honor the “King” of football, who died aged 82 on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

Stadium doors will open at 10:00 am local time (1300 GMT). The coffin bearing the remains of the only player to have won three World Cups will be displayed in the center of the field.

Known as Vila Belmiro after the neighborhood where it is located, the black-and-white stadium has a capacity of 16,000 people.

In the stands, three giant flags could be seen Sunday, one with an image of Pele displaying the famous number 10 on his jersey.

Another bore the message “Long live the king”; the third said simply, “Pele 82 years.”

Entry to the stadium will be allowed until 10:00 am Tuesday, officials said.

After that, a procession will be held through the streets of Santos, a port city about 75 kilometers (47 miles) from the state capital Sao Paulo.

The parade will pass the house of Pele’s mother, 100-year-old Celeste Arantes, who is unaware that her world-famous son has died.