Police in Iran’s Qom province said Saturday that 22 people “linked to Israeli spy services” had been arrested since June 13, Fars news agency reported
22 people were identified and arrested on charges of being linked to the Zionist regime’s spy services, disturbing public opinion and supporting the criminal regime,” the agency said, citing the head of police intelligence in Iran’s Qom province.
It came after Iranian police announced the arrest on Thursday of 24 people accused of spying for Israel and of seeking to tarnish the country’s image, according to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.
A European national was also arrested for spying, Tasnim reported on Friday, without giving their nationality or the date of the arrest.
Iran regularly announces arrests of suspected spies. Several have been executed in recent weeks.
Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said at least 223 people have been arrested nationwide on charges related to collaboration with Israel, cautioning that the actual figure was likely higher.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has raised fresh concerns over the ongoing wave of violence and killings in parts of the state, alleging that some members of affected communities may be aiding the attacker
In an interview with Channels Television, Alia, who described the situation as “carnage,” said there is now a disturbing pattern pointing to internal collaboration.
He said, “What we are observing is a pattern, a simple but disturbing equation. A thief does not break into a community unless someone from within shows him the way,” he said.
He lamented the persistent bloodshed, noting that the crisis, which started years ago in Makurdi and Guma local governments, has since spread and intensified.
When we came into governance in 2023, 17 local governments were in the frontlines. We fought hard and brought it down to nine, then six. But the attacks have resurged,” he revealed.
According to him, the local governments currently worst affected include Gwer West, Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Apa, Agatu and Guma, many of which had previously seen relative peace.
Guma had peace for over a year. People returned home, farmed and had a good harvest. But this farming season, the attacks have resumed, with a new face,” Alia said.
He explained that while the violence was previously framed as a farmer-herder crisis, the nature of the attacks has since evolved
They no longer bring cattle. These are not regular herders. What we now see are armed men carrying AK-47s and AK-49s. They come to attack, to kill and soon after, others move in to occupy the land.
Benue shares borders with Cameroon, Taraba and Nasarawa. Some of these attacks are said to originate from the Cameroon axis. The attackers do not speak the Hausa or Fulani we know. Their language is unfamiliar.”
As part of the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, Nigerians irked by the economic hardship imposed by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration have stormed Lagos streets.
The protesters, who converged at the Ikeja Underbridge, are demanding the reversal of some policies of the present administration
Despite the presence of security operatives, the protesters were seen displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “Reverse Electricity Tariff Hike”, “No one deserves a death sentence for protesting against hunger”, among others.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the ongoing protest, said there was no cause for alarm.
He said, “Adequate security on ground for celebrants and protesters alike. No cause for alarm. Your safety and security remain our priority.”
Nigerian ‘tech queen’ Sapphire Egemasi is facing more than 20 years’ imprisonment in prison after the FBI arrested her for defrauding several U.S. government agencies of millions of dollars.
Ms Egemasi, a programmer who operates a Devpost account, was arrested around April 10, 2025, in Bronx, New York, alongside other co-conspirators, including Samuel Kwadwo Osei, who appeared to have led the syndicate.
The arrest of the suspected fraudsters followed a federal grand jury indictment on internet fraud and money laundering charges against them last year for the offences officials alleged to have occurred between September 2021 and February 2023
According to court documents sighted by Peoples Gazette, the Nigerian national and her co-defendants, who are Ghanaians, conspired to defraud the city of Kentucky millions of dollars, with Ms Egemasi’s role being to register and design spoof websites of U.S. government institutions to steal login credentials.
Officials noted that Ms Egemasi had lived in Cambridge, United Kingdom, until her arrest.
It is believed that she met her Ghanaian co-conspirators when she was living in the West African nation years ago and subsequently became the tech expert for the fraud syndicate that operated both in the United States and Nigeria.
She was also responsible for helping the gang redirect stolen funds to accounts controlled by the fraudsters through wire transfers.
Retrieved text messages confirmed that the group had once rerouted $965,000 in stolen funds from the city of Kentucky to a PNC Bank account in August 2022.
During the same period, the gang also diverted $330,000, another chunk of money stolen from the city, into an account at Bank of America.
To conceal the true source of her wealth, the defendant claimed to have held several positions, primarily internships, at multinational companies such as British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara.
Ms Egemasi is known among her social media followers, especially on LinkedIn, as a ‘tech queen’. She regularly flaunted her expensive lifestyle, which was apparently paid for by her ill-gotten gains online.
In recent years, she started posting pictures of her leisurely trips to different countries, including Greece, Portugal and other prime tourist destinations.
Meanwhile, she is currently in custody with her co-conspirators awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky, where they each face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, thousands of dollars in fines and potential deportation back to their respective countries upon completion of sentences. (Peoples Gazette)
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has described the Mokwa flooding incident as an unfortunate happening.
The former military leader, however, added that the tragic incident was ordained by God.
Naija News reports Babangida made the submission on Friday when he received a state government delegation led by the Niger State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba on a Salah homage at his residence in Minna.
While commiserating with the people and and government of Niger over the incident which destroyed many properties and left about 200 people dead, IBB urged the people to use the Eid-El- Kabir period to pray for the repose of lives of the deceased and protection of all those affected
He said, “What happened in Mokwa is unfortunate but it is ordained by Allah. It is beyond our powers, and this is why we should all continue to pray for the souls of the deceased.”
Speaking during the visit, the Niger State Deputy Governor said the delegation’s visit was to seek his blessings and fatherly advice.
He highlighted that the former military leader is obviously disturbed by the flooding, but added that the government under the leadership of Governor Umar Bago is working to bring hope and succour to all those affected.
We are aware that the General is disturbed by the recent incident in Mokwa and all we need from all and sundry is prayers and we will also appreciate your fatherly role at all times especially at this trying period.
The people of Niger State and Nigeria in general are appreciative of your diligent service to the country and we assure you that the State Government will not fail you as you remain a pillar of hope for the Nation,” the Deputy Governor said.
In a major breakthrough against arms smuggling, troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, working in collaboration with operatives of the 63 Brigade and the Department of State Services (DSS), have intercepted a truck carrying over 164,000 live cartridges in Anambra State.
The dramatic bust happened along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway on 29 May 2025, following credible intelligence reports. Security operatives swiftly moved in and apprehended the suspected gunrunner, Mr. Emeka Omenife, who was allegedly transporting the deadly cargo.
According to intelligence sources, Omenife was immediately handed over to the DSS for interrogation. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to being part of an international ammunition trafficking syndicate that moves weapons from Ghana to Nigeria.
Acting on the confession, troops launched a follow-up operation and arrested another suspect, Mr. Uchenna Obiora, at the Onitsha–Awka tollgate on 30 May 2025, as he awaited the delivery of the deadly consignment.
The operation successfully led to the interception of the truck carrying the massive cache of ammunition, which had been carefully concealed to avoid detection.
Authorities have vowed to continue cracking down on arms trafficking networks threatening the nation’s peace and security.
Nigerians have been left shocked by the identity of one of the accomplices arrested alongside an Enugu native doctor who engages in kidnapping and ritual k!llings.
Food tours On May 26, a 13-year-old girl was kidnapped by three men while walking to the farm with her father.
By May 27, the cries of the girl alerted locals to the compound of Obi Obieze, a popular native doctor also known by other names such as Obu Onyeka, “Ezeani” and “E-Dey-Play-E-Dey-Show”. There, the teen was discovered tied up to be used for ritual.
The bodies of other victims were discovered buried in a soakaway pit, including a heavily pregnant woman (read here).
Angry residents burnt the house and cars while the native doctor absconded. He has now been captured while trying to flee the country.
Meanwhile, the police released a statement that partly reads: “The operation also led to the arrest of three male suspects connected to the crime, namely: Uche Kingsley Agumba, aged 33; Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi, aged 36; and Ejike Odinwankpa, aged 38.”
Acquaintances said on Facebook that he regularly travels from Aba to Enugu to attend church programs, only for it to now be alleged that while in Enugu attending those church events, he also patronised the native doctor who engages in ritual k!llings.
He also had church stickers in his shop, cars, and house
Uche Kingsley was seen as a successful businessman who sells building materials in Ariaria, Aba, and furniture materials at Iloabuchi, Port Harcourt.
A look at his Facebook page shows him always advertising building materials or posting religious content.
What breaks my heart is the double life he was living. Reports say he was caught trying to abduct a little girl to renew his ritual charms. His arrest reportedly led to the discovery of a native doctor who was burying his victims in soakaway pits. I still can’t wrap my head around it.
I called a friend in Ariaria to confirm, and he told me it was true—Uche is the one. He also said Uche is still religious. The same church stickers are all over his shop, his car, and even his house. It’s like he never stopped pretending.
I’m not here to judge, but this has left me shaken. Someone we knew, someone we trained with, someone we thought stood for God—now exposed as a ritualist and kidnapper?
Nigerians have now gone to his Facebook account to leave comments expressing shock at his actions.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a national forest guard initiative aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs.
In a statement released on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare announced that the recruitment and deployment of forest guards will commence immediately, targeting all 1,129 forests across the country.
According to Dare, the forest guards will be well-trained, armed, and mandated to flush out criminal elements using the forests as hideouts for violent activities.
This is a joint security effort between the federal and state governments. The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation,” he stated.
Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be recruited into the outfit as part of a strategic initiative to create jobs while enhancing national security.
President Tinubu, in earlier remarks, had vowed that his administration would not cede “an inch” of Nigerian territory to criminal elements, declaring that “the country will take back its forests.”
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the introduction of the Fleet Registration option on its Central Motor Registry Information System (e-CMR) portal
The new “Fleet” option on the Central Motor Registry (CMR) platform enables individuals and organisations to register multiple vehicles in a single session to ease vehicle documentation for transport operators, logistics firms, and other fleet managers.
.The Force Public Relations Department disclosed this on its official X account.
According to the Police, those who have previously registered do not need to create a new profile for fleet submissions. Instead, they can simply log in and add more vehicles
.“If you already have a profile from an existing registration, there’s no need to create a new one. Just log in, go to the Request page, and select ‘Fleet’ under CMR Request to add your new vehicles,” they not
The evolution of CMR
For more than six decades, Nigeria’s Central Motor Registry relied on a manual process that frequently led to inefficiencies, backlogs, and gaps in tracking vehicle-related crimes.
In a bid to modernize vehicle documentation and respond to the increasing complexity of auto-related offences, the Nigeria Police launched the electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) in April 2023
With the e-CMR system, motor vehicle owners across Nigeria can now register their vehicles, upload ownership data, and receive digitally verifiable certificates all remotely using any internet-enabled device.
A Step-by-step guide to fleet Registration
Visit the e-CMR portalGo to: https: //cmris.npf.gov.ng Click “Get Started”This begins your vehicle registration process.Create or log into your profileIf you already have a profile, there’s no need to create a new one. Simply log in.Choose CMR Request > FleetOn the Request page, select “Fleet” under CMR Request.Enter vehicle detailsInput vehicle category, plate number type, and other details. Click “Add” to register more vehicles.
Proceed to paymentOnce all vehicle entries are complete, click “Proceed” to view your invoice and make payment.Download your certificateLog back into your profile after 24 to 72 hours to download your CMR certificates.Proceed to paymentOnce all vehicle entries are complete, click “Proceed” to view your invoice and make payment.Download your certificateLog back into your profile after 24 to 72 hours to download your CMR certificates.
The CMR registration plays a crucial role in digital policing, making it easier to track vehicles in cases of theft, fraud, or verification.
Obasempire reports that Nigerians have condemned the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, for urging citizens to acknowledge the Force’s efforts.
In a statement on X on Thursday, Adeh noted that although the Force risks their lives to safeguard the welfare and property of Nigerians, they continue to face criticism.
“I’ve come to realise that police work is often a thankless job. Despite all we do, including risking our lives, we still face criticism from the public. Our officers are out there day and night, ensuring the safety of citizens, yet their efforts often go unnoticed,” her statement reads.
Her statement has, however, attracted severe criticism from Nigerians, with many alleging that the Force does not deserve commendation because of the prevalent corruption in the Force.
Chronicle NG highlights some of the reactions of Nigerians to Nigerians to the police PRO’s statement.
Tobi Akinbo J, “Madam, it is God that protects Nigerians, not police. You protect politicians; it’s understandable. You can’t reap thank you where you didn’t sow.”
Sayeen Mainamdu: “Madam police are only protecting politicians, while citizens are paying police to protect them, so nothing comes for free.”
Tonye Barcanista, “Maybe you will be appreciated when you focus on your real job instead of desperately seeking social media fame and validation.”
Prince Somorin Osifeso, “Madam, you knew the job before you applied for it. If you are after a cushy, safe job, then go apply to be a librarian. Only have to worry about paper cuts.
“I want selfless warriors in the police department, not people that want the public to kneel down and lick their boots.”
Maetrix Ogbu, “If it’s written in your job description on your employment letter that service users ‘must’ show police personnel’s appreciation after police services are rendered, then you may have a case.
“If it isn’t written on your job description, I am afraid to inform you that you deserve to be given a query for demanding appreciation of any kind from service users in order to carry out your fully paid jobs. Remember, you willingly accepted your job offer.”
Ifedolapo, “Well, I understand how you feel about not being acknowledged for your efforts, but you can only speak for a few good police officers, as the majority of bandwagons are the ones bringing down the efforts of the few good ones. Something has to be done to change the narrative.”
Henry Nwokedi, “Most of the officers on the road don’t know their jobs; they are only out there to make money from motorists. I don’t trust the Nigerian police, and to the best of my knowledge, they are not working or risking their lives for me; rather, they are busy risking their lives for the politicians.”
Joy Arewa queen, “The rogue policemen overwhelm the few good ones. The Nigerian police has to do a lot of PR to clean up its image.”
Nsuhoreidem Nyongidem, “I understand that receiving a salary at the end of the month is a way of recognising your hard work and dedication. It can be frustrating when someone receives a salary without fulfilling their responsibilities.”
Myke Peters, “The police force is ideally a noble profession and should be respected; however, the police force in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. You guys should work on yourselves first, please.”
E. Okaraka, “I’m very surprised this is coming from a learned person like you. If you’re doing well and discharging your duty well without exploitation and corruption, Nigerians that I know are very appreciative, but you rather work for our common enemies (politicians)”
Yusuf Lateef Onisona, “The responsibility of law enforcement goes beyond ensuring safety; it also involves maintaining trust with the community. Go by public poll or opinion, Nigerian police lack integrity and general acceptance.”
Mazi Joe Abuchi: “In Nigeria, the police is useless compared to other countries. In European countries, the police are respected like no tomorrow because of the law and order, unlike the Nigerian police out there collecting bribes here and there. So no regards to you people.”
Imiegha_moses, “But they get paid extra through extortions and illegal raids, which results in forced bail bonds. Don’t pretend you don’t know these things occur on a daily basis. The Nigerian citizens will not hesitate to cast their ‘no’ votes in a police referendum if it ever happens.”
