Author: Aeesha Zannah

Seven Kidnap Suspects Arrested In Gombe

The Gombe State Police Command says it has arrested seven suspected members of a kidnap syndicate, neutralised two others and recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) during coordinated security operations across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Buhari Abdullahi, said in a statement on Friday that the operations were conducted in collaboration with the Gombe State Professional Hunters Association as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal groups involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling.
According to him, the breakthrough followed credible intelligence received on Nov. 23 at about 4:00 a.m., implicating one Abdullahi Ibrahim, 40, of Tilde Village in Funakaye Local Government Area, in harbouring criminals suspected to be involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling.
He said the suspect was immediately arrested and, during interrogation, confessed to participating in cattle rustling and several kidnapping operations within the state.
Abdullahi added that the suspect also revealed the identities of accomplices believed to be part of a wider kidnap network operating across Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe and Adamawa states.
He said the police, acting on the intelligence gathered, launched an operation on Nov. 28 with support from professional hunters, storming multiple criminal hideouts.
Six additional suspects were arrested during the operation.
They include Usman Mohammed, 30; Hussain Idris, 37; Adamu Tukur, 37; Yau Abdullahi, 25; Ali Umar, 18; Hassan Usman, 40; and the earlier-arrested Ibrahim, 40.
“All the suspects confessed during preliminary investigations to being involved in several kidnapping operations and receiving about N150 million in ransom from victims,” he said.
Further intelligence, he explained, led operatives to the Gadam bush area, where the gang had allegedly concealed firearms used for kidnapping.
“As the operatives approached the location, they were attacked by unidentified armed men. A brief exchange of gunfire ensued, leading to the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of one GPMG and eight rounds of live ammunition,” he said.
Abdullahi said the bodies of the neutralised suspects had been deposited at the Specialist Hospital Mortuary in Gombe.
He also linked the suspects to a Jan. 15 kidnapping at Barderi Village in Akko LGA, during which a victim was held for two weeks before a ransom of N15 million was paid.
“The victim later identified suspects one, two and five as the individuals responsible for his abduction,” he said, adding that other victims had also identified members of the syndicate.
He said all suspects remained in custody while investigations continued.
“The recovered exhibits are undergoing discreet investigation and profiling, and the suspects will be prosecuted accordingly,” Abdullahi added.
He assured the public of the Command’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state and urged residents to provide timely and credible information to aid policing efforts.

December 6, 2025
DSS Nabs Doctor For Allegedly Supplying Drugs To Kidnappers

A medical doctor has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services for allegedly transporting medical supplies from Sokoto State to suspected kidnapping gangs operating in Kwara State.
The Kwara State Government disclosed the arrest in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Friday.
The suspect was reportedly intercepted in Jebba, Moro Local Government Area, following intelligence linking him to a syndicate responsible for delivering medical items to armed groups across the region.
The statement read, “The Department of State Service has taken into custody a medical doctor who was ferrying drugs from Sokoto to kidnappers in parts of Kwara State.
“The doctor was intercepted in the Jebba area following intelligence reports about the activities of the kidnappers and their couriers. The secret service says the criminal gangs appear desperate for medical care following gunshot wounds sustained in encounters with security forces.”
One of the sources said kidnapping gangs have recently increased efforts to secure medical treatment—particularly for gunshot wounds sustained during clashes with security operatives—forcing security agencies to heighten surveillance around the movement of medical supplies.
Kwara, previously seen as one of the calmer states in the North-Central region, has witnessed a rise in insecurity in recent months, with incidents recorded in Kaiama, Baruten, Ekiti and parts of Moro LGAs.
Border communities have been particularly vulnerable due to their closeness to expansive forests serving as hideouts for criminal gangs.

December 6, 2025
Police Arrest Suspected Terrorist Financiers In Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested suspected financiers of bandits as well as members of a motorcycle theft syndicate in two separate operations conducted on Wednesday in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara States.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmed Rufai, said in a statement on Friday that three suspects were apprehended in Tangaza Local Government Area for allegedly sponsoring a notorious bandit group by facilitating the sale of rustled cattle.
He said one of the suspects, identified as Ruwa Ginyo, the Fulani head of Gidan-Madi, was arrested alongside two accomplices.
Rufai added that four rustled cows were recovered during the operation.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Musa, described the suspects as part of the “financial engine room’’ that sustains bandit activities in the area.
Musa was quoted as saying that disrupting the funding channels of criminal groups represented a major operational breakthrough for the command.
He said a follow-up operation carried out by the Command’s Strike Force in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, led to the arrest of several persons linked to a motorcycle theft and resale syndicate.
Two motorcycles earlier reported stolen in Sokoto were also recovered, he added.
Musa said the arrests demonstrated the Command’s extended operational capacity across state borders.
He warned criminals operating within and outside the state that the command would continue to track and arrest offenders regardless of their location.
The Commissioner urged residents, especially livestock and motorcycle dealers, to verify ownership documents before completing transactions and to promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.

December 6, 2025
Shettima Reaffirms FG’s Commitment To Protecting Traditional Institutions

Vice President Kashim Shettima says the Federal Government remains committed to preserving and protecting Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
Shettima stated this on Friday at the 45th anniversary celebration of the Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmed Sani II, and the commissioning of the Gumel Central Mosque in Gumel Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
His remarks were contained in a post on his official X handle.
The vice president described traditional rulers as custodians of culture and societal values whose influence extends directly to the grassroots.
He noted that while elected political office holders serve a maximum tenure of eight years, traditional institutions remain permanent pillars of society.
“Therefore, we must respect them, we must take care of them, and we must preserve as well as protect the institution,” he said.
Shettima congratulated the Emir on his 45th anniversary and prayed for more years of service, including the grace to celebrate his golden jubilee and centenary on the throne.

December 6, 2025
Police Inspector Allegedly Kills Nephew Over ₦60,000 In Jalingo

A police inspector has been accused of killing his nephew over an alleged theft of ₦60,000 in the Nyabukaka area of Jalingo, Taraba State.
Local sources identified the officer as “Inspector Baban Destiny,” and said he allegedly buried the victim in a shallow grave along a riverbank after the incident.
Preliminary reports indicated that the inspector accused the boy of stealing the money before allegedly taking his life. The body was later exhumed on Friday by security operatives following information from community members.
Residents of the area, who expressed shock over the incident, called for a thorough investigation to ensure that justice is served.
Police authorities in the state have yet to issue an official statement as at the time of filing this report.
The case has heightened public concern over rising incidents of extra-judicial actions involving security personnel across the country.

December 5, 2025
Police Rescue Two Kidnapped Boys In Jere Lga

The Borno State Police Command has rescued two boys, aged four and five, who were kidnapped in Jere Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, stated on Friday in Maiduguri that the feat followed a coordinated operation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid.
Daso said the police received a report on Dec. 4 that three children had been abducted in the Jan Block area of Jere.
He said one of the abducted children was later released by the kidnappers and dropped at the entrance of his family house, along with a note demanding N10 million ransom for the release of the other two.
According to him, operatives from the Jere Division laid an ambush at the designated ransom collection point in the early hours of Dec. 5.
“At about 0300 hours, the suspects, sensing police presence, abandoned the two boys and the decoy ransom and fled,” he said.
Daso said the victims were rescued unhurt and reunited with their family, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
He quoted the commissioner as directing a discreet investigation to track down the culprits, as well as intensified patrols and high-visibility policing across the state to curb recent criminal activities.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The command also provided emergency contact numbers: 0806 807 5581 and 0802 347 3293.

December 5, 2025
Bomb explosion kills four teenagers in Borno

Four teenagers have died and another sustained serious injuries following the detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred on Friday behind the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward, where the victims were said to have been playing with the device reportedly picked from the bush.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Nahum Daso, confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the device exploded at about 12:40 p.m.
He said the police received a distress report from a resident, Babagana Mohammed, after which the Divisional Police Officer, Banki Division, and a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians cordoned off the area.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that the deceased teenagers had taken the object to a makeshift room behind the motor park before it exploded.
The victims were identified as Awana Mustapha, 15; Malum Modu, 14; Lawan Ibrahim, 12; and Modu Abacha, 12.
Daso added that a 12-year-old survivor, Mustapha Tijja, sustained multiple injuries and was receiving treatment at an FHI-360 clinic in Banki.
He said normalcy had been restored, while investigations were ongoing to ascertain the source of the device.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, commiserated with the affected families and urged residents, particularly children, to avoid handling unfamiliar objects and report suspicious items to security agencies promptly.
Several communities in Borno continue to face risks from unexploded ordnance linked to years of insurgency in the region.

December 5, 2025
Wike Reacts as Rivers Speaker, 16 Lawmakers Defect to APC

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are free to leave the party.
Sixteen lawmakers, including the Speaker, had earlier announced their defection to the APC, citing divisions within the PDP. The Speaker, Mr Martin Amaewhule, said he would work with President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as having good intentions for the country.
Speaking to journalists after inspecting the ongoing construction of an interchange bridge linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi and Gwarimpa districts in Abuja, Wike described the development as “unfortunate.”
He said the internal crisis within the PDP contributed to the lawmakers’ decision, but noted that his camp would continue to work with the remaining members who stayed loyal to the party.
“Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, members are allowed to leave,” he said.
“You can see that not everybody has left. About 16 or 17 have left out of 27. We still have about 10 who remain, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right.”
Wike reaffirmed his membership of the PDP and urged the party leadership to resolve its internal issues.
“I’m still in the PDP. Those who have remained, we will continue to work together. And I have told the party to put its house in order. If the party does not address its internal problems, it will continue to lose out,” he added.
He maintained that while those who defected acted within their rights, the remaining lawmakers must work together to ensure the party remains a relevant opposition in the state.

December 5, 2025
Peace Care Clinic Holds Free Health Day As It Opens New Facility In Idu
Abuja, Dec. 6, 2025

Peace Care Clinic on Saturday held a Free Health Day to commemorate the opening of its new facility located at Plot 179B Road 2, Larix Homes (Ochacho Estate), Idu, Abuja.
The event, which ran from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., featured free health checks, health talks, a guided tour of the new facility, as well as games and gift presentations.
According to the organisers, the programme was designed to give residents of Idu and neighbouring communities access to basic health services while familiarising them with the clinic’s upgraded environment and improved service offerings.
The management said the outreach was part of its commitment to promoting community health and strengthening preventive healthcare practices.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the services provided and commended the clinic for extending free medical support to the public.
Peace Care Clinic encouraged residents to follow its platforms or contact its telephone lines for further information on healthcare services.
Contact no:08057066924/08102941851

December 5, 2025
FG Sets Dec. 20 Deadline to Clear Outstanding Payments to Contractors —Mr David Umahi

The Federal Government has assured road contractors that all verified outstanding payments will be settled on or before Dec. 20, 2025.
The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, gave the assurance on Thursday during the reopening of the repaired Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State.
Umahi said President Bola Tinubu had acknowledged the backlog of debts owed contractors and approved the setting up of a special committee to review and verify all outstanding claims.
Contractors handling federal road projects had in recent days protested at the Federal Ministry of Finance over alleged non-payment for completed and ongoing works.
The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria had claimed the government owed about N4 trillion, while specifically demanding the release of N760 billion earlier pledged for payment in September.
The contractors also displayed a symbolic coffin at the entrance of the ministry, alleging hardship and deaths among their members due to the unpaid funds.
Responding, Umahi urged the contractors to halt further protests, saying the President had directed that all verified debts be cleared within days.
He noted that some contractors working on the Maraba–Keffi corridor, including the China Harbour Engineering Company, were yet to receive payment but would be captured in the new disbursement process.
“Mr President recognised that contractors are being owed and has set up a committee to review all the debts. Before Dec. 20, you will be paid,” he said.
Umahi also disclosed that the ministry had invited the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to audit all ongoing and completed federal road projects across the 36 states and the FCT.
He said the move was aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring that payments correspond with actual work done.
According to him, the ministry is introducing a digital monitoring platform to enable real-time tracking of project progress and promote public accountability.
Speaking on the Keffi Flyover, which collapsed on July 4 after a truck damaged its structural components, Umahi said the President approved emergency funds within 24 hours of the incident.
Technical officials from the ministry confirmed that the flyover had been fully repaired, with new safety systems installed to prevent future truck collisions.
The minister also addressed criticisms regarding the pace of work on the Abuja–Kano Road, saying design flaws in the original contract had required modifications. He said more than 44 kilometres had been completed under current funding, with concrete pavement and solar-lit sections nearing completion around Kano.
Umahi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to quality assurance, saying all contractors would be subjected to strict monitoring and a 2.5 per cent retention regime until full compliance was confirmed.

December 5, 2025