Tag: Police

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits and recovered assorted firearms and live ammunition in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.

The Command said the arrests followed credible intelligence received on January 28 at about 5:45pm, indicating that a group of suspects were in possession of prohibited firearms.

Acting on the information, detectives from the Anti–Car Theft Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) swung into action and arrested five suspects identified as Yusuf Aliyu Yusuf, Ahmed Umar, Abdullahi Muhammad, Ahmad Jazuli and Muktar Bashir.

Items recovered from the suspects include one English AK-47 rifle with two fully loaded magazines, two English Beretta pistols with a loaded magazine, and one fabricated Beretta pistol containing seven rounds of live ammunition.

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The police said the suspects are currently in custody while investigations are ongoing to uncover other criminal networks linked to them.

In a related development, the Command said that on January 29, 2025, operatives of the Zaria City Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, carried out a stop-and-search operation based on intelligence about the movement of armed bandits.

The operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Adamu Lawal and Abdulhadi Lawal, both from Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, who were found in possession of a fabricated firearm and are assisting police investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the officers for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for banditry and criminality, warning that Kaduna State would remain hostile to criminals and their collaborators.

• …family disrupt Jumu’ah prayer

The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Chief Imam of Ummu Hanni Adigun Memorial Central Mosque in the Ogo-Oluwa area of Osogbo, alongside three other individuals, following the death of a car painter, Najeem Hammed, after an incident involving worshippers.

The situation triggered tension on Friday, as family members of the deceased disrupted Jumu’ah prayers at the mosque in protest over the incident.

Najeem, whose workshop is located in the Jaye area of Osogbo, reportedly went to the mosque around 6 a.m. for early morning prayers when an altercation occurred.

A source in the vicinity of the mosque, who requested anonymity, told The Nation that a disagreement arose after the prayer session while the Imam was delivering a sermon, leading to a confrontation between Najeem and members of the congregation.

The source said the situation escalated, resulting in Najeem being taken outside the mosque premises, where he sustained injuries. 

Police officers from the Ataoja Divisional Police Station were alerted and reportedly conveyed him from the scene, but he was later confirmed dead.

When The Nation visited the mosque around 1 p.m., relatives of the deceased were seen protesting at the entrance, insisting that prayers should not hold following the incident. 

The protest disrupted activities at the mosque, prompting police operatives to intervene and take the Chief Imam into custody for questioning.

Subsequently, some protesters occupied the mosque entrance, preventing worshippers from gaining access and warning against any attempt to resume prayer activities.

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A family member of the deceased, identified as Nurudeen, said Najeem had planned to travel to Ibadan but decided to observe Subuhi prayers at the mosque, where the confrontation later occurred.

Police authorities are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“When we called to ask about his journey a policeman picked up the call and told us that he had altercation with some people and was held at Ataoja police station. When we got there that was when we realised that he was dead.” 

Bloodstains were sighted at the fence of the mosques and the plank of wood in front of the mosque. 

When contacted the Osun State Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the incident. 

He clarified that the victim was not attacked inside the Mosque but around it. We have arrested the Imam and three others connected to the incident. Further investigation has been launched to unravel the actual cause of the incident.

According to him, The incident happened this morning around after 6AM. No suspect has been arrested but information is on top gear to get those that perpetrated this evil act arrested. The DPO and other Tactical Team have been deployed to maintain law and order. The corpse has been deposited at Osun State Teaching Hospital.”

Ojelabi insisted that the deceased was mobbed around the Mosque and not actually inside the Mosque. 

Police have apprehended two suspects for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition in the Ogoja local government area of Cross River state.

Police Spokesman in the state, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, disclosed that the suspects were arrested at Ogbege Abakpa area of Ogoja, during a routine stop-and-search operation conducted by a patrol team from Ogoja Division.

The suspects, who were riding on a motorcycle, were observed parading the area suspiciously at about 09:00 hours, Police confirms.

Upon sighting the Police patrol team, the suspects refused to stop when flagged down and attempted to escape, leading to a hot chase before they were eventually overpowered and apprehended.

A search conducted on one of the suspects, Thomas Anthony (male), aged 26 years, led to the recovery of one English-made Beretta pistol loaded with nine (9) rounds of live ammunition.

Read Also: Police arrest seven suspected bandits, recover firearms in Kaduna

The suspects were subsequently arrested and are currently in Police custody for further investigation.

During interrogation, the principal suspect, Thomas Anthony, confessed that he unlawfully inherited the firearm from his late elder brother.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid B. Afegbua, has commended the patrol team for their vigilance and professionalism and urged them to continue discharging their duties diligently in order to keep the State safe.

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the death of a suspected kidnapping kingpin, Liberty Kunu, following a fierce gun battle with police operatives during a recovery operation that also led to the seizure of an AK-47 rifle and other firearms.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Aina Adesola, revealed this during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Asaba on Friday.

The CP said sequel to a series of complaints bordering on kidnapping, abduction, and other violent crimes linked to one Liberty Kunu, popularly known as Commander Liberty or Double Agent, and his gang, he directed the Divisional Police Officer, Sapele, to deploy all available operatives to unravel the group’s activities.

CP Adesola said on January 17, 2026, the Command received a report on the abduction of three persons (names withheld) at Boyo Road Junction, Sapele.

He said that while being taken to a bush location, one of the victims escaped and reported at a nearby police station, noting that the remaining two victims were dispossessed of valuables worth ₦9 million.

The CP said preliminary investigation revealed that the crime was carried out by a syndicate led by Liberty Kunu, who operated under the guise of a security volunteer group (SOS).

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He said: “Acting swiftly on this intelligence, operatives of the CP–Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), in collaboration with officers of Sapele Division, arrested Liberty Kunu and members of his gang, including Twale Golly (33), Michael Kunu (25), Israel Ugwu (30), Ogaga Power (43), and Mercy Kunu (28).

“During the operation, five pump-action guns, one Beretta pistol, and other criminal accoutrements were recovered.

“Further investigation revealed that Liberty Kunu was a member of the Aye Confraternity and was also in possession of an AK-47 rifle. Upon confrontation, he confessed and, at about 2335 hours on 28 January 2026, led CP-SAT operatives to his hideout in the Ibada-Elume community. At the location, one AK-47 rifle and one locally fabricated revolver were recovered from the forest.”

However, CP Adesola said while the team was retreating and had reached the Ibada-Elume Express Road, they were ambushed by armed hoodlums suspected to be members of the gang, who attempted to rescue the suspect.

He said a fierce gun battle ensued for over ten (10) minutes, and the attackers were overpowered and fled with bullet wounds, while the police operational vehicle was riddled with bullets.

He further said: “During the exchange, Liberty Kunu and some police operatives sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to the hospital. Liberty Kunu was confirmed dead on arrival, and his remains were deposited at the General Hospital, Sapele.

“Other arrested members of the gang remain in custody as investigations continue.”

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits and recovered assorted firearms and live ammunition in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.

The Command said the arrests followed credible intelligence received on January 28 at about 5:45 pm, indicating that a group of suspects had prohibited firearms.

Acting on the information, detectives from the anti–car theft section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) swung into action and arrested five suspects identified as Yusuf Aliyu Yusuf, Ahmed Umar, Abdullahi Muhammad, Ahmad Jazuli, and Muktar Bashir.

Items recovered from the suspects include one English AK-47 rifle with two fully loaded magazines, two English Beretta pistols with a loaded magazine, and one fabricated Beretta pistol containing seven rounds of live ammunition.

The police said the suspects are currently in custody while investigations are ongoing to uncover other criminal networks linked to them.

In a related development, the Command said that on January 29, 2025, operatives of the Zaria City Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, carried out a stop-and-search operation based on intelligence about the movement of armed bandits.

The operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Adamu Lawal and Abdulhadi Lawal, both from Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, who were found in possession of a fabricated firearm and are assisting police investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the officers for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for banditry and criminality, warning that Kaduna State would remain hostile to criminals and their collaborators.

• …frowns at jungle justice

• …urge residents to promptly report suspicious incidents

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued two male suspects, identified as Kefas Akaye and Uya Ugwowere, from a mob attack.

Preliminary investigations, the police said, revealed that the rescued suspects are members of a four-man gang involved in “one chance” robbery operations within the FCT.

Further investigations revealed that they come into the FCT from Uke, Nasarawa State, to perpetrate their criminal activities.

Two other members of the gang, identified simply as Mary and Aisha (surnames yet to be confirmed), the police said, had escaped the scene during the commotion.

A statement issued on Friday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said, “On 29th January 2026, at approximately 11:00 AM, Utako Police Division received a distress call reporting that an irate mob had apprehended and was assaulting two suspected criminals.

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“Acting swiftly on the report, police operatives from Utako Division immediately dispatched to the scene, where two male suspects identified as Kefas Akaye and Uya Ugwowere were rescued from the crowd.

“While investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members, the FCT Police Command strongly condemns all acts of jungle justice and mob violence. The Command emphasizes that the assault or lynching of suspects not only endangers innocent lives but also compromises investigations by destroying critical evidence and hindering the identification and arrest of accomplices. Such unlawful actions ultimately undermine the justice process and deny victims and society the benefits of lawful prosecution and possible restitution of stolen property.

“Members of the public are enjoined to exercise restraint and promptly report suspected criminal activities to the nearest police formation or contact the FCT Police Command through the following emergency lines: 08032003913 and 08028940883”.

 The Police Command in Benue on Friday confirmed the killing of four armed bandits by operatives of the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF).

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed  the development  in a statement in Makurdi.
Udeme said the bandits were neutralised in a gun duel with the Police at a checkpoint in Orakam, Ogbadibo Local Area of the state.

She said the officers while on duty on Thursday stopped a black Golf  vehicle but occupants of the vehicle tried to stop them from performing their job.

“In a desperate attempt to evade arrest, two of the suspects removed AK-47 rifles and opened fire on the personnel.
“As a result of the engagement, four armed bandits were neutralised, while one armed suspect fled into a nearby bush,” she said.

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Udeme also said they recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine containing 15 rounds of live ammunition, the vehicle and assorted charms.

She said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing armed suspect.

She said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, has commended the bravery and operational efficiency of the officers and reassured the public of the Command’s commitment to safeguard lives and property across the state.

(NAN)