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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 12:22 am Kudirat Kekere-Ekun File Copy: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
Deborah Musa and Nathaniel Shaibu, Abuja The Department of Road Traffic Services, also known as Vehicle Inspection Officers, has said it will “certainly” appeal a judgment barring it from imposing fines or impounding vehicles of offending motorists. The Acting Director of the DRTS, Deborah Osho, in an exclusive phone interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, lamented the growing “lawlessness” in the Federal Capital Territory since the High Court ruling. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, affirmed the lower court judgment barring the DRTS and VIO from stopping motorists, confiscating vehicles, or imposing fines on road users. In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court held that there was no basis to overturn the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which prohibited VIO officials from harassing motorists. The appeal filed by the VIO challenging the lower court judgment was dismissed for lacking merit, in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi. Reacting to the judgment, Osho said, “We will certainly appeal. As a correspondent, do you see what is happening in the city right now? Don’t you see how dirty the city is? “I don’t know why we Nigerians don’t like to be corrected. Just look at Airport Road—they have turned that place practically into a one-way. You cannot enforce, you cannot impound, but if you give them a ticket, they won’t come to pay. What do you want us to do? The thing is not funny.” Osho further disclosed that despite alternative enforcement methods, such as issuing tickets, offenders owed more than N409m, adding that traffic could not be well coordinated without strict enforcement. “We don’t even impound like that. What we do is, if you commit an offence, whether you take it or go away, you are already captured, and your bill will be sent to you. “If I give you my laptop now, we have almost 409 million not paid, because they won’t come to pay, and because we cannot enforce our arrest or do anything. “Have you ever seen anywhere in the world where traffic is well coordinated without enforcement, and you think it will go well?” the VIO chief questioned. Recall that Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court had earlier ruled that no law empowered VIO officials to stop, impound, confiscate, seize, or impose fines on motorists. The ruling followed a fundamental rights suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, filed by public interest lawyer Abubakar Marshal. Marshal told the court that VIO operatives forcefully stopped him at Jabi District on December 12, 2023, and confiscated his vehicle without lawful justification. He asked the court to declare their actions wrongful, oppressive, unlawful, and a gross violation of his fundamental rights. In granting the reliefs sought, Justice Maha restrained the DRTS, its agents, and assigns from impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on motorists, describing such actions as oppressive and unlawful. The court also issued a perpetual injunction preventing further violations of Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and the right to own property. The judge held that only a court of competent jurisdiction could impose sanctions or fines on motorists. She further ruled that the respondents had violated the applicant’s constitutional right to own property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The court held that the respondents lacked statutory powers to impound vehicles or impose fines, stressing that doing so breached motorists’ rights to fair hearing, freedom of movement, and presumption of innocence under Sections 6
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday affirmed a judgment of a Federal High Court which restrained the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), also known as Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping, impounding or confiscating vehicles and from imposing fines on motorists. Delivering the unanimous judgment, Justice Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi held that the appeal filed by the VIO lacked merit. “I find no iota of merit in this appeal. The decision of the lower court is hereby affirmed,” she said, adding that a cost of N1 million was awarded against the appellant. Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court had in a judgment delivered last year in a fundamental rights enforcement suit, issued an order restraining the VIO from impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on drivers. The judge held that the respondents lacked the legal authority to stop, impound or confiscate vehicles, or impose fines on motorists. The suit was filed by a rights activist and public interest lawyer, Mr Abubakar Marshal. Those listed as respondents included the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander, Jabi; the Team Leader, Jabi; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Justice Maha held that the first to fourth respondents, who operate under the control of the fifth respondent (the FCT Minister), were not empowered by any existing law to stop or impound vehicles or impose fines. She also granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents or assigns from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the DRTS approached the Court of Appeal, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal.
BREAKTHROUGH: BORNO POLICE CRACK SQUAD, ARREST FIVE SUSPECTS OVER KIDNAPPING OF 8 YEAR OLD GIRL
The Borno State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid psc, has recorded another significant breakthrough with the arrest of five (5) suspects in connection with the kidnapping of an 8yr old girl in Maiduguri. On 4th November, 2025 at about 1500hrs, a report was received at the Bulumkutu Police Division regarding the abduction of an 8yr old girl of Gomari Area, Maiduguri, who was kidnapped while returning home from school. The abductors subsequently contacted the victim’s family and demanded a ransom of Three Million Naira (₦3,000,000), which was paid through cryptocurrency. Following the payment, the victim was released on 7th November, 2025. Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Command’s Crack Squad to carry out a discreet and intelligence-driven investigation into the matter. Following intensive tracking, surveillance and digital tracing, the police crack team successfully apprehended five suspects between 29th November – 4th December, 2025, who were found to have conspired in committing the crime. The suspects are: 1. Mustapha Mohammed ‘M’ 20yrs 2. Ismail Shuaibu ‘M’ 25yrs 3. Abdul Mohammed Bulama ‘M’ 23yrs 4. Amina Ibrahim ‘F’ 19yrs 5. Lawan Yusuf Hassan ‘M’ 25yrs Preliminary police investigation revealed that Mustapha Mohammed, M’ of Gomari and an uncle to the victim, was the mastermind of the crime. He conspired with Ismail Shuaibu and Abdul Mohammed Bulama to execute the abduction. The suspects reportedly picked the child on her way back from school, lured her into different tricycles (Keke Napep) and moved through several locations to disorient the victim and prevent identification of the route. The suspects later took the child to a tailor where she was changed into a new plain dress, after which her school uniform was disposed of. The suspects then proceeded to a hotel along Pompomari Bypass Area of Maiduguri with the assistance of one Amina Ibrahim F’, who falsely presented Ismail Shuaibu and herself as a married couple and parents of the child. The investigation further revealed that the child was drugged and kept in captivity in the hotel for three days until the ransom was paid via cryptocurrency, after which the victim was released. Further digital tracing led the police to one Lawan Yusuf Hassan, m’ of Bulumkutu GSM Village, who claimed to be an IT technician and was found to have facilitated and received the ransom payment through his account. The case remains under active investigation, as efforts are ongoing to recover the ransom and identify other possible accomplices. The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, has commended the swift professionalism of the crack squad and reiterated the Command’s zero tolerance for kidnapping and all forms of violent crimes. He further warned criminal elements to desist from such acts or face the full weight of the law. Further developments will be communicated to the public as investigation progresses. ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, ANIPR, FCAI Police Public Relations Officer Borno State Command
4th December, 2025
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