Police

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old man over the alleged killing of his friend and former classmate following a disagreement linked to internet fraud proceeds.

The arrest was disclosed in a video statement by the police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, a superintendent of police. In the clip, the suspect identified himself as Oghenegare and admitted involvement in online fraud, popularly called “Yahoo Yahoo”.

According to the police spokesperson, the victim, identified as Courage, aged 25, lost his life after a dispute broke out between him and the suspect during their fraudulent online activities.

“The suspect murdered his friend and former classmate,” Mr Edafe said.

He explained that both men were engaged in internet fraud when a transaction disagreement escalated into violence.

“They went into the business of internet fraud, and somehow, they had a transaction conflict resulting in a fight where he used something that looks like a small shovel or a battle axe on the head of the deceased,” Mr Edafe stated.

Speaking in the video, the suspect openly acknowledged his role in internet fraud. When asked about his occupation, he said, “I am an internet fraudster, Yahoo boy.”

He told investigators that the victim introduced a “job” expected to generate close to $1,000. He alleged that the victim later refused to share the WhatsApp login details connected to the deal, which prevented him from accessing the transaction.

According to a report filed by Premium Times, the suspect said the disagreement led to a physical confrontation. He explained that he used a broken “sharp shovel” kept in his home for security to attack the victim.

“I kept it (the shovel) at home in case a thief visits,” he said.

He further told the police that he cut the victim’s head with the tool and later disposed of the weapon while attempting to evade arrest.

Mr Edafe said the police are still searching for the murder weapon.

The suspect also claimed that both he and the deceased belonged to a cult group known as Black Axe. He said the victim was known within the group by the alias “Vikings”.

When questioned about any benefit from cult involvement, he responded, “Nothing.”

The incident comes amid continued concern over the spread of internet fraud in Nigeria. Law enforcement agencies have sustained efforts to curb the crime across the country.

In September last year, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters in Ilorin. The operation led to the recovery of luxury vehicles and electronic devices linked to the illegal activities.

Previous reports have shown that internet fraud remains deeply rooted in parts of Nigerian society, with many young people attracted by promises of quick wealth and an affluent lifestyle.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Ididiong James, over an alleged assault on his mother and the possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The command said the suspect was arrested after operatives attached to the Panshekara Division responded to a distress call on January 25 concerning his actions.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said officers who arrived at the residence discovered that the suspect was “mercilessly beating his mother at their residence in Panshekara Quarters, Kano.”

According to the statement, the suspect escaped when the police officers got to the scene. His mother later handed over an English Beretta pistol and eight rounds of ammunition to the officers. She told the police that she found the items inside her son’s bag and refused to return them to him, which allegedly triggered the attack.

“She also expressed concern over her son’s changed behaviour since his return from a New Year celebration,” the statement added.

The police spokesperson said the suspect was later apprehended and is now in custody, while investigations continue.

“The suspect was subsequently arrested and is currently in police custody. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, commends the mother for her courage and urges parents to be vigilant,” the statement said.

The police assured members of the public of their commitment to maintaining peace and safety across the state.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kano State Police Command has finally identified and exposed individuals from the local community who failed to assist Fatima Abubakar and her six children while they were alive, but later took to social media to spread fabricated stories after the family was tragically murdered.

The police spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, revealed this development in a short video posted on his official Facebook page.

The video featured the implicated individuals, alongside a stark caption that translates to: “It’s easy to be brave after the deed! You refused to help the woman and her children, only to come and weave lies.”

This statement directly contradicts earlier sensational claims made by these residents, who had given conflicting accounts to the police before presenting a different narrative on social media.

The police action aims to set the record straight and condemn the exploitation of the tragedy for attention.

The case of Fatima Abubakar and her six children, who were all killed, has shocked the state.

The police have reiterated their commitment to the investigation and warned against the circulation of unverified information that can hinder justice and cause further pain to the bereaved.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The father of Umar Auwalu, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of a housewife and her six children in Kano State, has urged authorities to hasten the prosecution of the case and carry out the death sentence on his son if found guilty.

Mallam Auwalu made the appeal on Monday while speaking during a programme on a local radio station in Kano. He openly condemned the alleged actions of his son and distanced himself from the crime.

“The likes of Umar, my son, should not be allowed to live in society. They should be eliminated to allow for a sane environment,” he said in Hausa.

He also claimed that he had earlier suspected Umar’s involvement in the killing of the junior sister of the same family in Dorayi Hausa last month. According to him, the suspect may have taken part in several crimes before his arrest.

“I am quite sure that Umar has been committing many crimes which we are not aware of. Now that he has been arrested, he should be punished accordingly,” he added.

Mallam Auwalu warned against any delay in the legal process, expressing concern that interference could lead to the suspect regaining freedom.

“I don’t want the government or security agencies to delay his trial. If he stays in prison even for one day, some politicians may come and forgive him, and that will not go well for our society,” he said.

The victims, identified as Fatima Abubakar and her six children, were killed after assailants invaded their residence in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters of Kano metropolis on Saturday.

The Kano State Police Command disclosed that it received a distress call at about 12:10pm concerning an attack on the home of Haruna Bashir. Police said the victims were assaulted with dangerous weapons, which resulted in fatal injuries.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, ordered the immediate deployment of a team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Lawal Isah Mani, to the scene.

The victims’ bodies were later moved to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed them dead.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Zamfara State Police Command has successfully thwarted an attempted invasion of Maru metropolis by armed bandits who reportedly planned a mass abduction in the early hours of Sunday.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“Acting on timely intelligence, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Community Protection Guards, and Vigilante Groups swiftly engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat with suspected gunshot injuries. No casualties or abductions were recorded,” the statement read.

It added, “However, Security has since been reinforced in Maru and the surrounding areas.”

The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Maikaba, commended the professionalism of the operatives and assured residents of the Command’s dedication to protecting lives and property.

He also called for continued public cooperation to enhance security.

By Ibrahim Yunusa

The Kano State Police Command has reiterated the restriction on tricycle operations from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm within the Kano metropolis and reaffirmed the ban on commercial motorcycle passenger transport.

The Kano State Police Command made this known through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, yesterday.

According to the PRO, the enforcement led by the police in collaboration with other security agencies is aimed at enhancing public safety and curbing the spread of unverified and potentially inflammatory information capable of inciting fear and unrest among residents.

The enforcement will specifically cover the following local government areas: Fagge, Municipal, Tarauni, Nassarawa, Gwale, Dala, Kumbotso, Ungoggo, and parts of Dawakin Kudu.

In support of the enforcement, the Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) will work alongside the security agencies to ensure compliance with the directive, which is intended to safeguard the lives and property of Kano residents.

The renewed directive follows recent reports of raids and abductions in some villages within Kano’s border communities with Katsina State, as well as an unverified incident involving the arrest of passengers allegedly found with arms and ammunition at the Kofar Ruwa motor park.

By Ibrahim Yunusa

The Nigeria Police Force has debunk the viral document of withdrawing of police officers from VIPs duties circulating in social media.This in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.

The statement said, “The Force wishes to categorically state that this document, allegedly signed by one CSP Suleiman Abdullahi, described as the Admin Officer of the squadron, is fake and should be disregarded by the public.

There is no officer by the name CSP Suleiman Abdullahi serving in 50 PMF Squadron, nor is the position of Admin Officer in any PMF squadron held by an officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

This fabrication appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.”

The Nigeria Police Force confirms that the implementation of the Presidential Directive on the withdrawal of police officers from VIP duties has indeed commenced.

And the process is being carried out in a structured, phased, and professional manner to ensure that no security vacuum is created that could be exploited by criminal elements.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency and authorised the immediate recruitment of thousands of new personnel into the military and police force.

In a major address from the Statehouse on Tuesday, the President announced that the Nigeria Police Force is to recruit an additional 20,000 officers, a move that will bring the total number of new recruits to 50,000.

To accommodate the surge in trainees, the President has authorised the police to use various National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training depots. He also directed that officers recently withdrawn from VIP guard duties undergo “crash training” before being redeployed to areas with high security challenges.

The announcement comes amid a wave of attacks and kidnappings across several states.

President Tinubu commended the security agencies for the recent release of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi and worshippers in Kwara, but pledged to sustain efforts to rescue the remaining students of a Catholic school in Niger State and other hostages.

Outlining a multi-pronged strategy, the President also ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to “flush out terrorists and bandits lurking in our forests.”

He declared, “There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.”

In a significant political move, President Tinubu called on the National Assembly to review the nation’s laws to allow states to establish their own police forces.

He also advised state governments to reconsider the establishment of boarding schools in remote, insecure areas.

Addressing the farmer-herder crisis, the President urged herders to end open grazing, surrender illegal weapons, and embrace ranching, which he described as “the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony.”

He paid tribute to fallen soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba, and issued a stern warning to adversaries: “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness.”

The President concluded by urging citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and to cooperate with security agencies, stating, “We are in this fight together, and together we shall win.”

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, have been rescued and have regained their freedom.

The students were taken from their school in a recent attack that sparked widespread condemnation and concern.

Authorities have confirmed the successful rescue operation, though specific details regarding the operation or the current condition of the girls have not yet been fully disclosed.

This news brings a wave of relief to the families and the local community, who had been anxiously awaiting their return.

Further details are expected as the situation develops.

By Anwar Usman

The Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has instructed all officers attached to VIPs and beats nationwide to return to their bases.

This was as a result of a directive issued on November 23 by President Bola Tinubu, who ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIP security across the country.

In a memo signed by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica, and shared on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, on X, all affected officers were instructed to report back before the close of business on November 24.

The memo reads, “Sequel to the directive of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs, the Commanding Officer directs, with immediate effect, the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to base.

“You are all warned to report back before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025, and all to attend the lecture parade tomorrow. Attendance shall be taken from the nominal roll. This is for your information and strict compliance.”

Under the new setting, the president said VIPs in need of security protection will now need to request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than relying on police officers.

The Presidency explained that the move aims to boost police presence in communities, especially in remote areas where police stations are often understaffed and citizens remain vulnerable to attacks.

The statement further revealed that, “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” adding that the president wants police officers “to concentrate on their core police duties.”

To make the initiative an everlasting one, the president has approved the recruitment of 30,000 police officers nationwide, with plans underway to upgrade training facilities in collaboration with state governments.