Morning recap: Horror in NSCDC cell of death, mother, four children die in Rivers fire, other top stories

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Top headlines Saturday morning include the harrowing account of at least 37 suspected illegal miners who died after being crammed into a poorly ventilated cell at the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps office in Minna, Niger State.

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This is as a mother and her four children were burnt to death in a fire outbreak in Rivers State, while a 30-year-old student took his own life after police detention over an alleged N8,000 debt in Oyo State.

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Christian filmmaker Damilola Mike-Bamiloye speaks on the remake of the classic Agbara Nla.

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In sport, Trabzonspor appoint a former teammate of Jay-Jay Okocha as their new coach.

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The recap in full:

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Horror in NSCDC cell of death

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Survivors of the mass deaths of suspected illegal miners in an NSCDC cell in Minna have described three days of overcrowding, desperate struggles for air, and ignored pleas for help.

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At least 37 of the roughly 65–67 detainees died.

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The NSCDC blamed a disease outbreak, while survivors alleged suffocation and dehydration; preliminary forensic findings raised the possibility of poisoning.

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President Bola Tinubu ordered a full probe, the Niger State commandant and 21 officers were detained, and the state imposed a curfew after protests turned violent.

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A mother and her four children were burnt to death on Friday morning in a fire at their residence in Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

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A source linked the blaze to an attempt to discharge petrol (suspected to be adulterated) into a jerrycan.

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‘They ruined my reputation’: Student commits suicide after Oyo police detention over N8,000 debt

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Al-Amin Mohammed, a 30-year-old aluminium fixer and polytechnic student, died after ingesting rat poison three days after his release from Agodi Custodial Centre.

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He had been detained and remanded over a dispute that began with an alleged N8,000 unpaid balance and a struggle over a phone.

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Dad rejected our plan to remake ‘Agbara Nla’ — Damilola Mike-Bamiloye

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Christian actor and filmmaker Damilola Mike-Bamiloye revealed that he and his brother Joshua first proposed remaking the 1993 Mount Zion classic Agbara Nlaabout four years ago, but their father, Mike Bamiloye, said the time was not right.

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Approval came later, leading to the modernised cinema version Agbara Nla: The Return, which retains the original story of spiritual warfare while updating it for a new generation.

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Okocha’s ex-teammate emerges new Onuachu, Salah coach

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Trabzonspor have appointed German coach Thomas Reis, a former teammate of Super Eagles legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha at Eintracht Frankfurt, as their new head coach.

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Reis takes charge of Nigerian players Paul Onuachu and Chibuike Nwaiwu, as well as Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, replacing Fatih Tekke who resigned earlier this month.

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Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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