EXPERTMATTER

Armed bandits on Sunday attacked a church service in Ejiba, a community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State , abducting several worshippers. The attack reportedly occurred at a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church, according to a community-based news outlet. Church members dispersed in fear as the assailants advanced, but the church leader, popularly known as Orlando, his wife and several others were taken away during the assault. The incident triggered widespread panic as worshippers fled the church, adding to growing security concerns across parts of Kogi State. Only a day earlier, reports said another group of armed men attacked the Isanlu Makutu–Idofin route in Yagba East Local Government Area, forcing residents and travellers to flee to safety. Witnesses said the Saturday afternoon attack created panic throughout the area.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted large consignments of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, skunk, and opioids in multiple operations across Nigeria, including at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and in several northern states. In a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the Agency said two returnees from Brazil excreted a total of 116 wraps of heroin and cocaine after days in observatory custody, while other suspects were caught concealing drugs in unusual ways, including in underwear, food items, and phone chargers. According to the Agency, 46-year-old Ofoma Sunday was arrested on Tuesday, September 16, at Terminal 2 of MMIA on arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs. He later excreted 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.452 kg in eight batches. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 55-year-old Nweke Jude Chuckwudi at a ho...

One person was reportedly killed while scores are missing in a violent attack by armed bandits in Shagbe village near Igbaja town of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attack occurred at about 21:15hours on Saturday, throwing the community into panic. A security agent disclosed to DAILY POST that “one person was killed during the violent invasion and eight others declared missing.” The source said said due to the volatile situation, an on-the-spot assessment is currently not feasible. Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, informed DAILY POST that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Oke-Ode, is already in the area for on the spot assessment of the situation.

At least one person has been killed and several others threatened following the invasion of displaced hippopotamuses in the Guyuk and Shelleng local government areas of Adamawa, local authorities have said. Mr Shalom Kassa, chairman of Guyuk Local Government, said on Monday in Banjiram community that a young man was reportedly killed by one of the animals during the attack. Kassa said the hippopotamuses, displaced by flooding around the Kiri Dam in Shelleng, were now within communities, farmlands and riverbanks, causing fear among residents. “This is a serious threat to human lives and means of livelihoods; the animals are destroying farmlands, invading flooded homes, and endangering residents and livestock,” he said. In response, Kassa, alongside the Chairman of Shelleng Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Abba, and traditional rulers, including Kwandi Nunguraya of Guyuk, Kuruhaye, had visited the seat of government in Yola to seek help.

A 20-year-old electrician, Mathew Yaba, was on Wednesday sentenced to nine months imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin presided by Justice Abimbola Awogboro having been found guilty of cybercrime. A statement by the head of Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday said Yaba and 10 others were among those whose conviction were secured by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency for offences bordering on Internet fraud and cybercrime. Yaba, according to the statement, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment without option of fine on offences bordering on personation and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin. The judge found Yaba guilty of retaining control of the gross sum of N7,384,750.00 and also impersonation of one Raleigh Jredd. The offence is contrary and punishable under section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Co...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Kano. Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Oyewale said that the suspects were arrested on Monday opposite Bayero University Kano (BUK) New Site, Kano. According to him, their arrest was sequel to actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in cybercrime activities. ”All suspects apprehended are confirmed to be undergraduate students of BUK. ”Items recovered during the operation include, mobile phones, laptops, internet routers and one Honda Accord car,” he said. He said that the arrest was possible following weeks of surveillance linked to their alleged involvement in internet fraud, identity theft, and financial scam. ”The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” he said.

Armed bandits on Sunday morning invaded Kwaren Gamba community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing one person and abducting several others, including men and women. The attackers stormed the community around 9am, shooting sporadically and targeting households in a broad daylight assault that has left residents in shock. According to a post on Sunday by security analyst Bakatsine via X: “This morning around 9am, bandits invaded Kwaren Gamba in Sabon Birni LGA, Sokoto State. They killed one person and abducted several people, both male and female, during the invasion,” the post read.

At least 20 people were killed on Monday night in an attack by gunmen in the Bindi village, Ta-Hoss District of the Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State . The assault, which also left many injured, is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued the state’s rural communities. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the village while residents were asleep, launching a coordinated house-to-house onslaught. Women, children and the elderly were among the victims, as many were unable to flee the violence in time. Survivors described the assailants as heavily armed. Senator Pam Dachungyang, representing Plateau North, condemned the killings and expressed concern over what he described as a “war situation.” In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Eric Dung, the Senator said the recurring attacks, including previous ones in Jol and Rim villages, point to a deliberate effort to terrorise and displace farming communities. “This cycle of daily, unpro...

Taraba State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued 17 passengers travelling along the Wukari highway. A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, James Lashan Saminu on Sunday said the incident occurred at about 11:45 pm on July 12 when suspected armed kidnappers intercepted a white Toyota bus belonging to People’s Choice Company, bearing plate number 26G-17TR. The bus, which was conveying passengers from Enugu to Yola, Adamawa State, was said to have been attacked near the Federal University Wukari. “On receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Wukari Division, Anthony Jerry, swiftly mobilised a team of police officers and collaborated with nearby military personnel. “The security operatives advanced to the scene, causing the kidnappers to flee into the surrounding bushes. “Although one passenger, identified as Sadiq Usman, 22, of Chamba ethnicity, was initially unaccounted for, he was later rescued unhurt after a search operation. Al...

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have stopped a bandit attack on Mai-Kwanugga village in Jangebe district, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The attempted attack happened around 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, when a group of armed bandits tried to invade the village. But soldiers and other security personnel on ground quickly responded and chased the attackers away into the forest. This was revealed in a post by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X on Sunday. Sadly, two farmers who were working on their farms at the outskirts of the village got caught in the crossfire. “One of them, Muhammadu Bello, was shot and died from his injuries. The second farmer, Abubakar Sani, also sustained gunshot wounds and is currently being treated at a nearby hospital. “The body of the deceased was taken to the General Hospital in Jangebe for further examination,” Makama wrote.

The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Joseph Eribo , has directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man identified as Deji Ojo, who was stabbed during a violent altercation in the Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti, the state capital. Ojo reportedly sustained stab wounds during a clash on Saturday evening and was later pronounced dead at a hospital where he had been rushed for medical treatment. CP Eribo, while addressing the incident, assured the public that the command will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to bring those responsible to justice. He called for calm as investigations unfold. In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ekiti State Command, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. According to the statement, “Preliminary findings show that at approximately 6:45 pm on the said date, an unidentified man arrived at Atikankan to distribute alms...

A Magistrate Court in Kano has sentenced five individuals to one month in prison for allowing their goats to graze freely and destroy ornamental plants maintained by the state government along Lodge Road and Race Course Road. The defendants, led by Usman Abdullahi, were prosecuted by the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for violating Section 7(e) of the Kano State Public Health Law, 2019. The section prohibits any act that causes environmental nuisance or degrades public infrastructure. According to the prosecution led by Barrister Bahijjah H. Aliyu, a total of 17 goats belonging to the five individuals were found grazing on government-owned greenery.   These plants were specifically cultivated to enhance the city’s aesthetics and mitigate the impact of climate change. “These plants are not just for beautification, they are part of the state’s efforts to combat climate change and improve the quality of life for residents,” Barrister Aliyu told the court. The c...

A protest has erupted in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following the reported killing of Emmanuella Ahenjir , a 23-year-old final-year student of the Federal University, Wukari, by police personnel. Emmanuella was allegedly shot dead last Friday morning by unidentified police officers at the Wurukum roundabout while riding in a vehicle coming from the Gyado Villa area of the town. The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, has drawn protesters, mostly youths to the streets, led by prominent gender rights activist, Ukan Kurugh. The demonstrators gathered in large numbers at the Wurukum roundabout, wielding placards with inscriptions such as “End Police Brutality” and “Justice for Emmanuella.” The protesters are demanding a thorough investigation and immediate action from the authorities.

Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps have rescued five persons abducted in different parts of the State. They were rescued after spending days in the forest and endured severe beating from their captors. Four of the victims were kidnapped along Ore-Lagos highway while the other victim was abducted at his Upemen residence along Owo-Ikare road. Their abductors had demanded N150m ransom before they were rescued. Commander of Ondo Amotekun, Akogun Adeleye Adetunji, while presenting the rescued victims to the public, said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa-has directed security agencies to flush out kidnappers and stopped payment of ransom. Adeleye said his men were mobilised to the forest few minutes after the victims were abducted. According to him: “I want to tell you today that by the grace of God, Amotekun corps have been able to recover them present here today without payment of ransom and no loss of lives. “In the same vain, one Emmanuel Adeladun th...

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted a fuel tanker with a modified compartment used in concealing and transporting illicit drugs across the country. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a post on X on Sunday, with a video of the seized tanker, said the discovery was made by eagle-eyed operatives during a targeted stop-and-search operation. He stated that the officers uncovered a hidden compartment expertly crafted in the belly of the tanker covertly designed solely for the drugs consignment. “Narco-trend: Fuel tanker on top but drug tanker beneath! Please watch how @ndlea_nigeria officers discovered a large storage created in the belly of this oil tanker for the sole purpose of moving drugs across the country,” the NDLEA spokesman wrote.

  The  Kaduna State Police Command  has successfully uncovered an illegal factory producing adulterated soya bean oil in the Maraban Jos area of the state. The raid was carried out by operatives from the State Intelligence Department (SID) on May 5, following a tip-off from a concerned source. In a statement released on Wednesday, police spokesman Mansir Hassan revealed that the factory was located on a fenced plot of land along Mamadi Road in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He said that three suspects were arrested at the scene: Zailani Shuaibu (33), the owner of the illegal factory; Nasiru Usman (24); and Salisu Usman (49). During the raid, several items were seized as evidence, including two drums containing suspected raw materials, fifteen 25-litre jerry cans filled with unfinished products, and two 25-litre jerry cans of finished adulterated soya bean oil. These exhibits will be used in the ongoing investigation and in court proceedings. “The operati...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that its operatives have busted a Ponzi Scheme academy operating in Abuja. The anti-graft agency which made this known in a statement issued on Monday said that the operatives arrested 133 suspects linked to the fraudulent enterprise.   The Commission stated that the operation was carried out on Monday at Compensation Layout in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following actionable intelligence on the illicit activities of the academy. According to the statement, the institution, identified as Q University (also known as Q-Net), was allegedly engaged in recruiting young Nigerians into a financial scam disguised as a wealth-building programme.    The academy reportedly lured individuals with the promise of unrealistic profit returns, training recruits to further enlist more unsuspecting victims into the scheme.

Four persons have been confirmed dead, and three others sustained various degrees of injury in a motor accident in Katsina State. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when a Volkswagen Golf car veered off the road, resulting in the death of the driver and three passengers. The victims were returning from Musawa, where they had gone to visit a sick person when the accident happened along the Musawa-Dan-Ali road around 11 am. A resident of Dan-Ali, Alhaji Tukur Dan-Ali, confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Sama’ila Abdulmudallabi, Rabilu Ahmed, Hashiya Saminu, and Nana Aliyu. He noted that all the deceased were family persons and residents of Dan-Ali village. The injured, Hajara Abdulmudallabi, Jamila Abdulmudallabi, and Maikudi Salisu, are currently receiving treatment at the Katsina Federal Teaching Hospital.

The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a 22-year-old member of an armed robbery syndicate specialising in car theft. The command’s spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin , confirmed the arrest and detention in a statement to journalists on Saturday in Lagos. Hundeyin said that the suspect was apprehended in the Ikotun area of the state through intelligence gathering. “The syndicate targets vehicles in the Eastern part of Nigeria and transports their victims’ cars to Lagos and sell them. “During interrogation, he confessed to receiving three Lexus 330 and one Lexus 350 2017 model from an accomplice, a woman, who is still at large,” Hundeyin said. The police image maker said that the suspect led a team of operatives to where he sold the cars. “One Lexus 350 silver in color and a Lexus 330 black in color were recovered,” he said. According to him, efforts are in top gear to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and possible recovery of all the stolen vehicles. The spokesperso...

Bandits attacked Dutsin-Ma town in Katsina State on Tuesday night, abducting two students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma in the Bayan Gidan Radio area. The incident was disclosed by a security analyst, Bakatsine, in a post on his official X handle on Wednesday. According to Bakatsine, the armed assailants stormed the area late in the night, causing panic among residents before abducting the students. “Yesterday night, bandits attacked Dutsin-Ma town, Katsina State, abducting two students of Federal University Dutsin-Ma in the Bayan Gidan Radio area.” Efforts to reach the state police command for an official statement were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.