Police

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects, including a private home lesson teacher and a father, over separate allegations of child defilement across the state.

The arrests were disclosed during a press briefing by Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, who also unveiled a major shift in the command’s operational strategy aimed at curbing crime and protecting vulnerable citizens.

“Let me state clearly from the outset that the security and safety of Edo people remain the central priority of this Command,” CP Daaor said. “We are also strengthening our operational posture by turning Edo State into a highly Mobile Command. The objective is simple: to ensure that criminals do not find Edo State a comfortable operating environment.”

In one of the cases, 52-year-old Daniel Erumudonmoh Okhuilegbe, a home lesson teacher, was apprehended on August 5, 2026, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old pupil entrusted to his care.

“The complainant alleged that the suspect was engaged as a home lesson teacher but allegedly abused the trust placed in him and sexually assaulted the child,” Daaor stated.

Following the conclusion of investigation, the suspect was charged before the Benin High Court on August 14, 2026, and subsequently remanded at Oko Correctional Centre, Benin.

In a separate incident reported on August 6, 2026, a 42-year-old father was apprehended in Iyahmo over the alleged defilement of his 15-year-old daughter. Following a discrete investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the suspect was charged to court on August 14, 2026, and remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre.

The command also arrested 29-year-old Samson Amachie following an August 10 report transferred from the Okhoro Police Station to the Gender and Family Support Unit. Amachie allegedly lured an 11-year-old girl into an uncompleted building behind his shop. He has since been arraigned before the Benin High Court and remanded at the Oko Correctional Centre.

In another case reported on August 12 in Okpella, police arrested 26-year-old Otaru Jonathan for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl on a motorcycle to an uncompleted building in Afokpella, where he assaulted her and gave her ₦2,000.

“The survivor was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and attention,” CP Daaor noted, adding that the suspect remains in custody pending arraignment.

Alongside the gender-based violence arrests, police operatives recorded success in tracking down stolen property following a late-night home invasion.

According to the commissioner, on August 14, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m., six armed hoodlums invaded a residential compound on Jesus Christ Street, Iduowinna Community, dispossessing residents of mobile phones, laptops, wristwatches, perfumes, human hair, and a Lexus 350 saloon car bearing registration number BWR 988 DH.

“The scene was immediately visited, all divisions were alerted for possible recovery of the vehicle, and patrols were intensified within the community,” Daaor explained. “In a major breakthrough, at about 0900hrs the same day, the stolen Lexus 350 was recovered at Oba Market.”

The police chief assured residents that investigations remain active to track down the fleeing members of the robbery gang and recover the remaining stolen items.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two men suspected of having links to cattle theft and an alleged attempt to compromise an investigation in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

The suspects were identified as 26-year-old Abdullahi Adamu and 20-year-old Muktashir Idris, both residents of Jarmai Village in Dangi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The command’s spokesperson disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday.

The statement said the development followed a report by two residents of Yalo Village, Alkaleri LGA, over the theft of 103 cattle by unidentified gunmen in July 2026.

According to the police, the complainants formally reported the matter at the Alkaleri Divisional Headquarters on August 6, 2026.

Police operatives later moved to Mararaban Liman Katagum, where the complainants reportedly identified three of the missing cattle.

The police said a traditional leader in the area helped the operatives to arrest the two suspects, who were taken to the police division on August 7.

During questioning, Idris allegedly told investigators that his master, identified as Alaba, sent him to sell the stolen cattle.

The command said efforts were in progress to apprehend Alaba.

The investigation also uncovered an alleged attempt to influence the case with N400,000.

The police said a brother of one of the complainants told investigators that Alaba had given him the money to compromise the case. The cash was subsequently recovered and kept as an exhibit.

According to the command, the man had earlier indicated that he would help the police secure Alaba’s arrest but did not fulfil the promise.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.

The police said the suspects would be charged to court after the investigation is concluded.

By Anas Abbas

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended four suspects believed to be part of a criminal syndicate accused of carrying out killings, armed robbery and cult-related activities within the Ajah area of the state.

Items recovered from the suspects include three locally fabricated pistols, one round of live ammunition, two battle axes and a Point-of-Sale terminal.

This was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, SP Abimbola Adebesi, released on Wednesday.

The statement explained that the arrests came about through continued investigative work tied to a robbery case previously reported to the command.

Those apprehended have been named as Kareem Abiodun, 26; Tansiru Emmanuel, 29; Lateef Usman, 28; and Alashe Azeez, 32.
Police said early findings tie the suspects to a string of robbery incidents recorded around Ajah, Sangotedo and Ibeju-Lekki in recent times.

According to the command, the four have since confessed to their roles in cases bordering on armed robbery, murder and cult activities.
Officials disclosed that the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, noting that a manhunt is underway for other gang members still at large, alongside efforts to recover additional items linked to the crimes.

Once investigations are concluded, the suspects will be arraigned in court, the police said.
The Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, praised the operatives involved for their diligence, urging them to keep up the momentum in tracking down the remaining members of the syndicate.

He further warned criminal elements operating within the state that the command would continue relying on intelligence-driven operations to hunt them down and ensure they face justice.

Residents have been encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the police through its emergency contact lines for swift response.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Ghanaian authorities have arrested two religious figures in connection with inflammatory statements made about Prophet Muhammad, the police service announced Wednesday.

Imam Masud Abdullah, 35, was taken into custody after a video surfaced showing him delivering a sermon at a mosque in Ntensere, located in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of Ghana’s Ashanti Region. In the footage, Abdullah is seen advocating violence against anyone who insults or speaks ill of the Prophet Muhammad.

The arrest was conducted jointly by the Ghana Police Service and the National Signals Bureau (NSB) following an investigation into the content of the sermon.

“Anyone who insults the Prophet Muhammad… he is trying to provoke us… Therefore, wallahi, if you kill him, you haven’t done anything wrong,” Abdullah was heard saying in the video. He further claimed that such an act would be rewarded with entry to paradise.

In a separate operation, police arrested Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei, also known as Apostle Daniel JY Adjei, who was captured in a video making derogatory and offensive comments about Prophet Muhammad.

The Ghana Police Service issued a stern warning to religious leaders, preachers, community figures, and social media commentators against using freedom of religion or expression as justification for inciting violence.

“Freedom of religion and freedom of expression must never be used as justification for inciting violence or encouraging members of the public to harm others,” the police statement read.

Authorities confirmed that investigations into both cases are ongoing, and the suspects will face the full legal process.

“Such inciteful utterances constitute infractions and perpetrators will be arrested to face the full rigours of the law,” the statement added.

The arrests come amid growing concerns about the use of religious platforms and social media to spread messages that could provoke violence or encourage attacks on others.

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.