Police

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two men, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, over an alleged plot to exhume a recently buried corpse and steal its casket for financial gain.

The suspects were identified as Nsikak Effiong and Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Nsit-Ibom Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Thursday.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday after a vigilant operative noticed two men moving a casket on an unregistered motorcycle within the cemetery.

The operative reportedly confronted the men, prompting one of them, identified as Effiong Asuquo, to flee. His accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and handed over to the police.

The police said questioning of Effiong led to the discovery that the suspects had allegedly dug up a recently buried corpse, removed the body from its casket and taken away the casket for sale.

The police subsequently recovered the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle allegedly used to transport it.

“During interrogation, Nsikak Effiong confessed that he and his accomplice had unlawfully exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the corpse from the casket, and stolen the casket with the intention of selling it for financial gain.

“The police recovered the empty casket as well as the unregistered motorcycle used in conveying the stolen property, while investigations were immediately expanded to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the crime and identify all persons connected to the act.

“Further investigation yielded another breakthrough on August 5, 2026, at about 5:00 p.m., with the arrest of one Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to conspiring with the grave diggers in the commission of the offence and stated that it was his first involvement in such criminal activity,” the statement said.

The police said Edet was arrested on Wednesday after investigators expanded their inquiry into the alleged offence.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, condemned the incident and described it as barbaric, sacrilegious and morally reprehensible.

He also directed the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify everyone linked to the alleged crime and ensure that suspects face prosecution in line with the law.

Azare commended the operative whose vigilance led to the interception of the suspects and recovery of the casket.

The command urged residents to remain alert and provide the police with credible information that could assist in preventing crime.

The police said investigations were still ongoing, while efforts were underway to arrest the fleeing suspect.

By Uzair Adam

The Sokoto State Police Command has thwarted an attempted bandit attack on Tauma Village in Bodinga Local Government Area, recovering five magazines loaded with 40 rounds of live ammunition after a gun battle with the attackers.

The incident occurred on the night of July 25 following a distress call reporting that a large number of armed bandits had invaded the community.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) promptly deployed tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), to confront the attackers.

According to the statement, security operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest with suspected gunshot injuries.

A subsequent search of the surrounding area led to the recovery of five magazines containing 40 rounds of live ammunition.

The command said no casualties were recorded among security personnel or members of the community during the operation.

It added that confidence-building patrols had been intensified in and around Tauma Village to reassure residents and strengthen security against further attacks.

The police also disclosed that neighbouring divisions had been placed on alert and directed to monitor for injured suspects who might seek medical treatment or attempt to evade arrest within their jurisdictions.

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious individuals, particularly those with visible gunshot wounds, to the nearest police station or other security agencies.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Gombe State Police Command has returned Toyota Highlander SUV to its rightful owner after recovering the vehicle almost five years after it was stolen in Rivers State.

The command handed the vehicle to Mrs Cecilia Duru of Port Harcourt on Friday after operatives of the State Intelligence Department concluded investigations that confirmed her ownership.

Police said the SUV was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a joint operation by the State Intelligence Department and the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Vehicle Licensing Office.

According to the command, officials intercepted the vehicle during a routine verification of vehicle records while it was undergoing re-registration.

Investigators established that the Toyota Highlander was stolen from Mrs Duru in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on September 17, 2021.

“The investigation established that the vehicle belongs to Mrs. Cecilia A. Duru of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Further findings revealed that after it was stolen, the vehicle was taken to the Republic of Niger in 2023.

“It later re-entered Nigeria through Illela, Sokoto State, in October 2025, before it was sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was intercepted,” the police stated.

The command said efforts to determine those responsible for the theft and the movement of the vehicle across several locations are still in progress.

“While efforts continue to unravel those behind the theft and illegal movement of the vehicle, the command is pleased to hand over the recovered Toyota Highlander to its rightful owner today, July 24, 2026,” the police said.

The police also reaffirmed their resolve to tackle vehicle theft and other forms of organised crime through intelligence-led operations and collaboration with relevant security agencies.

The command advised members of the public to verify the authenticity of vehicle documents before buying used vehicles. It also urged residents to report suspicious vehicle transactions to security agencies promptly.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Benue State Police Command says it has arrested additional suspects in connection with the killing of Prof. Gabriel Nyityo and his younger brother, Iorngee John Nyityo, describing the incident as an assassination rather than a robbery.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Makurdi on Friday.

He said the two brothers were killed on July 8 in Adaka community. Police officers attached to the D Division responded to a distress call at about 2 a.m. and recovered their bodies.

Nwadiogbu said security agencies immediately activated checkpoints across the area. The effort led to the arrest of the prime suspect, 23-year-old Abdullahi Usman from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

According to the commissioner, the suspect was intercepted about four hours after the attack while trying to pass through a National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) checkpoint in Lafia.

“He felt the NDLEA checkpoint was not manned by policemen and decided to walk across. Unknown to him, the officers had already received information about the incident,” he said.



“They searched him, recovered a phone and from the phone we established that he was one of the suspects.”



Nwadiogbu said security agencies in Nasarawa, including the Department of State Services (DSS), expanded the investigation, which resulted in more arrests.

“They have made more arrests of those who came with him, and they have assured us they will hand them over,” he said.


“We are also determined to identify and arrest those who assisted them within Benue because there must have been local collaborators.”


He added that preliminary findings indicate that some criminal gangs responsible for attacks in Makurdi operate from neighbouring Nasarawa State before returning after carrying out their operations.

The police commissioner did not reveal the number of suspects in custody because investigations are still in progress.

He also dismissed reports that armed bandits had established roadblocks on the Makurdi-Lafia highway.

“That information was false. It was the handiwork of enemies who wanted to divert our attention and create panic. We patrolled the road from one end to the other. Nothing happened. People travelled freely throughout,” he said.


Nwadiogbu also clarified that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, had not directed the removal of legitimate police checkpoints across the country.

“We are only removing illegal roadblocks mounted by individuals or groups who have no authority to stop road users. Security agencies will continue to perform their lawful duties on our highways,” he said.


The commissioner further disclosed that the command arrested 10 suspects between June and July over the killing of two Fulani leaders after a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area. He said swift police action prevented the incident from developing into a wider communal conflict involving Benue and Cross River states.

He added that police also neutralised suspected armed robbers and kidnappers in separate operations across Makurdi, Katsina-Ala and Logo local government areas. Officers recovered four AK-47 rifles, six locally made pistols, 23 rounds of live ammunition, two motorcycles, mobile phones and charms.

Nwadiogbu said operatives recovered a stolen commercial motorcycle from a robbery suspect in Guma Local Government Area. He added that raids on criminal hideouts in Katsina-Ala led to the arrest of 15 suspects and the recovery of three bags of substances suspected to be cannabis.

He also disclosed that five suspected herders were arrested in Guma for allegedly grazing cattle on cultivated farmlands, while seven suspects were apprehended in Naka over the killing of a man during the burial of a youth leader.

According to the commissioner, police arrested a woman in Ukum Local Government Area for allegedly setting a house on fire, an incident that claimed the lives of two children.

On cult-related crimes, he said one suspect was arrested after rival cult groups clashed in Makurdi, while 12 suspected cult members were apprehended in Gboko during what investigators described as an annual cult meeting.

Nwadiogbu also revealed that police arrested a suspect linked to the attack on the Otukpo-Nobi community and obtained information about individuals suspected of aiding the attackers.

He further said seven Pakistani nationals intercepted during a security operation at a hotel in Otukpo were found with valid travel documents. According to him, they told investigators they were in Nigeria to conduct a market survey before establishing an electronics business. He added that the foreigners remain under profiling by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Ms. Zainab Sadiq has been released from detention following sustained public pressure and high-level legal interventions, her supporters confirmed Saturday.

The journalist’s freedom came after weeks of advocacy by Nigerian civil society organizations, legal practitioners, and international human rights groups. Key figures in the campaign included prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN; Musikilu Mojeed of the International Press Institute (IPI); Barrister Marshal D. F. Abubakar; and rights activist Adeyanju Deji.

Amnesty International Nigeria, the Takeitback Movement, and coalitions of journalists and civil society organizations also played pivotal roles in securing her release.

“This victory demonstrates the power of collective action,” said a statement from the coalition that campaigned for her freedom. “When people of conscience unite against repression, justice prevails.”

Supporters have hailed the development as a significant moment for press freedom in Nigeria. Sadiq’s case had drawn international attention to concerns over media intimidation and arbitrary detention in the country.

Further details about the terms of her release were not immediately available.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A joint security operation in Delta State has led to the arrest of a suspected notorious bandit, Abubakar Usman, after a woman who was kidnapped by his gang was rescued safely.

The operation involved the SafeCity Security Service and officers of the Delta State Police Command. Authorities said the arrest followed the abduction of Mrs Blessing Chiedu, an indigene of Umunede Kingdom, who was kidnapped on July 2, 2026, along the Ani-Ifekide Farm Road in Ubulu-Uku. Her abductors reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million from her family.

The spokesperson for the SafeCity Security Service, Harrison Gwamnishu, disclosed the development in a post on X on Wednesday. He said the case was immediately reported to the Delta State Police Command, whose Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Asaba, under the leadership of CSP Osakpolor, began an operation to locate the victim and her captors.

Gwamnishu explained that security operatives relied on the Hydra Tech Surveillance System during the rescue mission. The operation led to the successful rescue of Mrs Chiedu along the Ubulu-Unor/Ashama Road. Officials confirmed that she was found alive and without injuries.

Security operatives later tracked the fleeing suspects to their hideout in the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest during the early hours of Wednesday. The team confronted the gang after locating them through surveillance.

“A gun battle ensued, during which our combined team overpowered the criminals. One of the most wanted suspects, Abubakar Usman, was successfully captured, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with their firearms.

“Investigations reveal that Abubakar Usman and his gang have been responsible for several kidnapping operations across Igbodo, Umunede, and surrounding communities, where they have extorted millions of naira in ransom from innocent families,” he said.

Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing members of the gang and bring them to justice.

By Uzair Adam

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed four senior police officers and sanctioned 31 others over various cases of misconduct.

The commission said the dismissed officers were found guilty of gross misconduct, unprofessional conduct, and acts unbecoming of public officers.

PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Argungu, disclosed the decisions on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Abuja after the commission’s plenary meeting.

Argungu said the disciplinary measures included the demotion of 10 senior officers. Three Superintendents of Police were reduced to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, while two Deputy Superintendents of Police were demoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Five Assistant Superintendents of Police were also reduced to the rank of Inspector.

He added that two officers were compulsorily retired in the public interest, stressing that the commission would continue to take firm action against personnel who violate the rules of the Nigeria Police Force.

Other sanctions approved by the commission included severe reprimands for 10 officers, reprimands for five officers, warning letters for three officers, and a letter of advice issued to one officer.

Argungu also revealed that seven officers were exonerated after investigations cleared them of any wrongdoing.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to discipline within the police force, saying the current board would not tolerate misconduct by any officer.

“The current Board of the PSC under my watch will not condone any form of misconduct by police officers,” he said.

According to him, the commission will continue to uphold discipline by ensuring that every act of misconduct attracts appropriate sanctions while rewarding officers who demonstrate professionalism and dedication through its established reward system.

By Uzair Adam

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 150 suspected criminals during a coordinated operation targeting notorious criminal hideouts in the Igando-Idimu area of the state.

The raid, conducted in the early hours of Sunday under the Command’s ongoing Operation KO S’AYE, followed credible intelligence on the activities of suspected hoodlums operating within the Area M axis.

Police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said officers drawn from various formations stormed identified criminal hideouts at Boolar, Okofilling Bus Stop, Igando, and other black spots to dislodge criminal elements and improve public safety.

She said the operation led to the recovery of one double-barrel gun, two single-barrel guns, one locally fabricated double-barrel short gun, 100 unregistered motorcycles, 54 mobile phones, two military camouflage uniforms, six generators suspected to have been stolen, assorted charms, and substances believed to be Indian hemp and other illicit drugs.

According to Adebisi, all 150 suspects are currently in police custody while investigations continue to determine their level of involvement in various criminal activities. She added that those found culpable would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining Operation KO S’AYE to dismantle criminal networks and deny offenders safe haven across the state.

He also urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information to strengthen efforts aimed at combating crime and improving security in Lagos.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old suspect, Samson Onilewaji, after he was allegedly found with a suspected human hand, firearms, and other items during a stop-and-search operation along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed the development in a statement posted on the command’s official X account on Friday.

According to the statement, officers intercepted an unregistered commercial shuttle bus carrying six passengers during a routine security operation. A search of the vehicle and its occupants reportedly led to the recovery of several items from the suspect.

The statement read, “During a search of the vehicle and its occupants, the suspect, identified as Samson Onilewaji, male, aged 21 years, was found in possession of a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, one POS terminal machine, and five ATM cards.

“The suspect confessed to have recently robbed three individuals of their personal belongings, including the recovered POS terminal machine and ATM cards. Efforts are ongoing to identify and contact the victims for the return of their recovered property.

“Investigation is also ongoing to ascertain the identity of the owner of the recovered suspected human hand, the circumstances surrounding its possession, and its intended use. Further efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend other criminal associates connected with the suspect. The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.”

The police said investigations are continuing to determine the source of the severed hand and uncover possible links to other criminal activities.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, called on residents to remain alert and continue providing useful information to security agencies to support crime prevention efforts across the state.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 4 suspects linked to the violent farmers-herders clash in Gulma town, located in Argungu Local Government Area of the state.

The command said the suspects would soon face prosecution over the incident, which claimed the lives of 8 people.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bashir Usman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

The clash reportedly started after a farmer was allegedly stabbed to death by a Fulani herder while working on his farmland. The incident later sparked a reprisal attack from members of the farming community, who allegedly invaded nearby Fulani settlements. Several casualties were recorded during the violence.

Usman identified the arrested suspects as Musa Makera, Saidu Adamu, Shafi’u Hamza and Adamu Madugu.

According to the police spokesman, investigations into the incident are still ongoing, while security operatives continue efforts to arrest other suspects connected to the violence.

He stated: “Further to the violent farmers-herders clash in Gulma Town, Argungu Local Government Area, the Kebbi State Police Command wishes to inform the public that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, which resulted in the death of eight persons.

“The suspects, Adamu Madugu (male, Gulma), Musa Makera (male, Sauwa), Saidu Adamu (male, Sauwa), and Shafi’u Hamza (male, Gulma), are scheduled to be arraigned before a competent court on charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and culpable homicide.”

Usman added that the command had intensified efforts to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

“The command has intensified efforts to identify, arrest, and bring to justice all other persons linked to the incident who are currently at large.

“The Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, assures the families of the victims and the general public that the command will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and ensure that all persons found culpable face the full weight of the law. He further urges residents to remain calm and law-abiding and to desist from taking the law into their own hands.

“The command remains committed to maintaining peace, protecting lives and property, and ensuring justice for all affected persons. Further updates will be provided as the investigation continues,” Usman concluded.