The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • NCoS foils attempt to smuggle drugs into Kuje Custodial Centre

    NCoS foils attempt to smuggle drugs into Kuje Custodial Centre

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said yesterday that it foiled an attempt by a man to smuggle substances suspected to be psychoactive drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Samson Duza, made this known in a statement.

    Duza said a man identified as Njimogu Ikedi attempted to visit an inmate on Saturday while concealing items suspected to be cannabis sativa and other psychoactive substances in his clothes.

    He said the contraband was uncovered during a search by the personnel on duty.

    Duza said the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Mr Christopher Jen, ordered the suspect’s apprehension.

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    According to him, Controller Jen also directed the handover of the suspect to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for investigation and prosecution.

    He, however, warned visitors with ulterior motives to desist from such acts, assuring that the Service’s vigilant personnel would continue to uncover their machinations.

    The controller also urged the public and well-meaning Nigerians to support the NCoS to reform and rehabilitate offenders to foster public safety.

  • Southwest car dealers protest alleged extortion, harassment, illegal fees at Customs’ Ondo office

    Southwest car dealers protest alleged extortion, harassment, illegal fees at Customs’ Ondo office

    Scores of car dealers from the Southwest states yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Akure, Ondo State capital, against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over alleged incessant extortion, harassment, and illegal duty fees.

    The dealers, under the umbrella of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), stormed the Alagbaka office of the NCS where they submitted a petition to President Bola Tinubu, demanding urgent intervention over what they described as the unwholesome activities of Customs officers at checkpoints.

    Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “We pay duty, stop the harassment,” “Customs – Uphold the Law, Not Extortion,” and “Our demands are legitimate, do not destroy our business,” the protesters blocked the entrance of the customs office, chanting solidarity songs.

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    The dealers alleged that despite paying official duties in Lagos, their vehicles were often intercepted on highways, subjected to fresh checks, and slammed with arbitrary, inflated fees.

    They accused Customs officers of demanding illegal payments ranging from N200,000 to N1 million, while sometimes impounding vehicles cleared at Apapa Port under the excuse of “watch-lists” or other internal designations.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesting car dealers, the National Vice President of AMDON, Alhaji Ibrahim Bankole Adeniyi, lamented over what he described as the continued embarrassment and extortion of members by customs officials.

  • Osun Amotekun nab security man, others for robbery

    Osun Amotekun nab security man, others for robbery

    The Osun State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, has arrested a 30-year-old Ibadan-based security man named Tobi Omoranti and his 45-year-old friend, who is a motorcyclist, Hamzat Mukaila, for allegedly burgling shop in Osogbo capital of Osun State.

    It was confirmed that the duo were arrested with a gun and cutlass used during the operation at Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo around 12:25 am yesterday.

    In a statement, the spokesman of the outfit, Yusuf Idowu, stated: “Mukaila a motorcyclist and Omoranti, a security guard from Ibadan, were arrested in the Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo around 12:25 am while attempting to burgle a shop. They were found in possession of a gun and cutlass. Amotekun was timely alerted by residents and they were subsequently arrested.”

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    He highlighted that the outfit also arrested suspects who committed various offences across the state warning that criminals to steer clear from the state.

    He said: “One Monsuru Moshood was caught in the act of stealing electrical wire from an uncompleted building, Nurudeen Olawale, from Ibadan, was apprehended while attempting to steal money from a mosque located in the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo, a 21-year-old suspect, Oladare Yusuf was arrested after stealing cocoa from a farm and Olamide Olowo was arrested after defrauding 10 people.

     “The Corps Commander of Osun Amotekun, Dr. Isaac Omoyele, lauded the swift response of the Corps’ operatives and commended the residents for their continued support of the outfit.

  • Benue: Three policemen among eight bodies recovered

    Benue: Three policemen among eight bodies recovered

    • Police intensify search for missing operatives

    Three policemen were among the eight bodies that were recovered from the attack scene in Katsina Ala, Benue State.

    Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, Jonathan Modi and his counterpart in Katsina Ala, Justine Shaku, confirmed the figures.

    Last Friday, bandits and herdsmen operating on the Benue-Taraba border attacked Police Tactical Teams made up of other security agencies on patrol, and killed several personnel.

    The bandits also set ablaze two police patrol vans, and some motorcycles.

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    The Inspector-General Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed more officers to fish out the attackers.

    At the time of press, the bodies were being conveyed to Makurdi and troops were still in search of the missing officers.

    Katsina Ala and Ukum Local areas are located on Sankera geo-political bloc, where the late Terwase Akwaya (aka, Gana), operated with impunity.

    In these areas, bandits and local militia are the authorities,where they imposed taxes on markets, roads and farm produce.

    There is, however, a twist in the killings as reports said the “Benue State Government sought the help of Nigeria Air Force,Tactical Air Command (TAC), when it was obvious the bandits overwhelmed the Police Tactical Teams, but the Air Force turned the government down, claiming the weather was not good.

    However, attempts to speak with the Pro- NAF-TAC headquarters in Makurdi failed as he neither answered nor replied to text messages sent into his phone.

  • How Army’s swift action shielded 10,000 families from ISWAP attack in Borno, Yobe

    How Army’s swift action shielded 10,000 families from ISWAP attack in Borno, Yobe

    • Loses one soldier

    Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have protected 10,000 households from an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacks in Banki, Borno State, and Bula, Yobe State.

    The farming communities host over 10,000 families who had recently returned to their ancestral home after years of displacement by Boko Haram insurgency.

    This year, ISWAP and other Boko Haram splinter groups in Borno and Yobe have intensified attacks on civilians and security forces.

    On September 18, ISWAP terrorists attacked Banki and Bula communities, aiming to disrupt the hard-earned peace and plunge innocent citizens into fear and displacement.

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    However, a source said the troops’ display of gallantry and resilience saved the situation. 

    The source explained that ground troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), mounted a robust defence, crushing the terrorists and inflicting heavy losses in both manpower and equipment, forcing them to flee in disarray.

    According to the source, when the terrorists struck, the troops located at Banki “reinforced by additional formations, stood firm to protect the surrounding towns, shielding women, children and elderly citizens”, who would have been the prime victims of the terror attack.

    He said one soldier paid the supreme price during the counter-offensive.

    The source explained: “In Bula Yobe, soldiers displayed remarkable tactical discipline and courage, foiling repeated enemy attempts to breach the security of the areas including troops’ positions.

    “The troops’ resilience protected farmers who only recently returned to their lands to rebuild livelihoods. Their heroic actions ensured that not a single community was overrun and that families remained safe under the protection and cover of their military.”

    Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division/Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Brig.-Gen Ugochukwu Unachukwu, during his visit to Banki at the weekend commended the troops for their “extraordinary sacrifice.”

    Gen Unachukwu confirmed that the terrorists had been dealt “a decisive blow” in the joint air and ground counter offensive operation.

  • Katsina, UNICEF target 4.8m children for vaccination against Measles-Rubella

    Katsina, UNICEF target 4.8m children for vaccination against Measles-Rubella

    Katsina State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) say they aim to vaccinate about 4.8 million children against Measles-Rubella (MR) beginning from October.

    Mr Rahama Fara, the Chief, UNICEF Kano Field Office, disclosed this at a media dialogue and mobilisation in Katsina on Tuesday.

    He said that Katsina had been provided with 3,698,500 doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (NOPV2) for 2.3 million children under five years of age, who would be vaccinated through Directly Observed Oral Polio Vaccination (DOOPV).

    “The integrated campaign in Nigeria planned to implement a Measles MR campaign integrated with Polio in all 36 states of the country, in two phases, starting from Oct. 6 to Feb. 13, 2026.

    “Katsina State will implement the Polio Campaign integrated with MR from Oct. 6-13,” according to the UNICEF Chief.

    According to Fara, in this campaign, a total of 2,253 teams will be deployed to administer the vaccine using fixed and temporary post strategies fromOct. 4-13.

    “To support Katsina in implementing a successful campaign, a total of 5,584 teams will provide Routine Immunization services and other antigens from Oct. 6-10..

    “These teams will include 3,761 teams moving from house-to-house, 993 team in transit/special points, and 830 in fixed posts.

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    “UNICEF has supported the training of 3,300 health workers on improved people skills and the training of 600 Non-Compliance Resolution Teams (NCRTs),” he said.

    The Chief noted that 200 NCRTs, each comprising a community leader, traditional leader, and a vaccinator, will be deployed to resolve non-compliance cases in advance and during the intra-campaign phase on a real-time basis.

    He pointed out that the state, with UNICEF’s support, had deployed six state facilitators, 21 LGA facilitators, 462 Voluntary Ward Supervisors (VWSs), and 4,647 Voluntary Community Mobilizers (VCMs) to support the campaign.

    Besides, he said that 34 LGA chairmen and 70 District Heads had been engaged on polio, and they have also signed a declaration in support of the immunisation exercise.

    According to him, “While we acknowledge the progress made so far, our goal of halting the circulation of the polio virus in Katsina State is yet to be attained.

    “Katsina has reported 2 cases of variant of polio virus from one LGA (Danmusa) in 2025 whereas 17 cases were reported in 8 LGAs in 2024, including 8 from Batsari LGA.”

    Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr Shamsuddeen Yahaya, said the meeting was important looking at the devastating effect of measles on children.

    Yahaya added that, “We’ve also found evidence that Katsina has a lot of cases of rubella, although it’s been underreported, and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to ensure that we protect our children.

    “We’re also going to use that period to do our normal polio campaign targeting children from zero to 59 months.

    ”We all know that we’re at the verge of eliminating the circulating variant polio virus, and this campaign is also very crucial.” (NAN)

  • CSOs urge DAPPMAN to drop threats against Dangote Refinery

    CSOs urge DAPPMAN to drop threats against Dangote Refinery

    A coalition of civil society organisations on Monday called on the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) to withdraw what they described as “threats” against the Dangote Refinery.

    In a joint statement, Olayinka Dada of the Food Not Bombs Movement, Olamide Odumosu of the Patriotic Youth Movement of Nigeria, and Olajide Wolimoh of the Synergy Centre for Aspiring Leaders and Entrepreneurs, warned that such disputes could destabilize the downstream oil and gas sector.

    The groups alleged that DAPPMAN was pushing for a subsidy framework that could amount to ₦1.5 trillion annually, which they argued would place additional financial pressure on Nigerians. They further claimed the proposal would translate to an extra ₦75 per litre in costs tied to transporting products from the refinery to depots.

    Read Also: CSOs laud Dangote refinery for lowering price of petrol

    According to them, such a move would “preserve a model built on fuel imports and outdated structures,” potentially undermining ongoing reforms in the oil and gas industry.

    The CSOs also alleged that between June and September 2025, while Dangote Refinery exported over 3.2 million metric tonnes of refined products, marketers represented by DAPPMAN imported about 3.6 million metric tonnes over the same period — a development they described as harmful to energy independence.

    They praised the Dangote Refinery for what they said were contributions to price stability, foreign exchange earnings, and job creation, noting reductions in pump prices for diesel and petrol since the refinery began operations.

    “We call on DAPPMAN to withdraw its demands and threats, and align with reforms that prioritise Nigerians’ welfare,” the statement read in part.

    The coalition urged the management of the Dangote Refinery to “stand firm” and continue operating transparently in the interest of consumers.

  • Gunmen kill monarch, abduct another in Plateau

    Gunmen kill monarch, abduct another in Plateau

    The District Head of Birbyang in Birbyang Ward of Kantana Area of Plateau State Alhaji Zubairu Usman Garba has been forcefully abducted by gunmen. 

    The abduction took place a week after the village Head of Shuwaka in Kyaram District, Garga Area was killed by kidnappers after the payment of millions as ransom.

    Confirming the incidences in a statement in Jos yesterday, a Community leader Tarus Salim Dugub said the people of Jhar Chiefdom are under siege.

    According to him: “What began as isolated attacks has now transformed into a coordinated onslaught by bloodthirsty bandits. Just last night, these criminals invaded Birbyang Ward of Kantana Area, kidnapping the District Head of Birbyang. 

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    “This tragic incident marks another dark day for our people, and it is becoming clearer that the bandits are steadily shifting their operations from Garga Area to Kantana Area.

    “It is heartbreaking that within the span of one week, we lost one respected traditional ruler, the Village Head of Shuwaka in Kyaram District, Garga Area, who was abducted and later killed despite millions of naira being paid as ransom.”

  • Police recover floating body of woman from Jabi lake in FCT

    Police recover floating body of woman from Jabi lake in FCT

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recovered the body of an unidentified woman from Jabi Lake in Abuja.

    Sources said the incident was reported to Jabi Division at about 10:37 am on Saturday, following a distress call from Jabi Lake Recreation.

    According to the sources, detectives dispatched to the scene discovered the lifeless body of a woman, estimated to be about 60 years old, floating on the lake.

    Findings also revealed that no marks of violence were found on the body, while a pair of green slippers was recovered on the bank of the lake.

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    The sources explained that due to the decomposed state of the body, the Environmental Health Department was contacted for evacuation to prevent health hazards.

    According to a highly placed police source, investigation is ongoing to establish the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding her death.

    All calls and text messages to the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh on the incident were not responded to. 

  • Man kills friend over N20,000, hides body inside drum in Ondo community

    Man kills friend over N20,000, hides body inside drum in Ondo community

    The Akure Division of the Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State has ordered the remand of a suspected drug dealer, Eze Elechi Amadi, at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre for allegedly killing his friend and housemate, Otu Ifeanyi, following a quarrel over N20,000.

    According to police investigations, the two friends lived together before the dispute, which broke out after Amadi, 40, allegedly demanded repayment of money he had withdrawn on Ifeanyi’s behalf.

    The argument reportedly turned violent, with Amadi beating the 21-year-old with a horsewhip and fists, leaving him dead on the spot.

    Police further alleged that Amadi stuffed the body into a sack, placed it in a blue drum, and attempted to dump it in the bush by tying the drum to his motorcycle.

    However, the drum fell off on the roadside, forcing him to abandon the body and his bike.

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    An eyewitness, returning from a vigil, discovered the body and alerted the police.

    Residents later confirmed that the deceased had been living with the suspect.

    Police prosecutor Austine Omhenimhen informed the court that the offence occurred on August 24, this year, about 1:50 p.m. at Kajola, within the Ondo Magisterial District.

    He noted that the offence contravened Sections 324 and 316 and is punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo state.

    The court did not take Amadi’s plea. The prosecutor requested his remand pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Defence counsel, Aki Amuluku, sought an adjournment to file a counter-affidavit.

    However, Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi ordered Amadi’s remand and adjourned the case until October 13, 2025, for further hearing.