Obasempire reports that a 13-year-old boy, Umar Hassan, along with three other suspects—Lawai Umar, 70, Ibrahim Lawai, 22, and Abdulganiyu Isah, 22—were apprehended by the Katsina State Police Command for supplying information to terrorists.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadiq, stated at a briefing at the command headquarters on Friday that the informants’ actions resulted in multiple assaults on villages and unsuspecting residents, including cattle theft and abductions, throughout the state.
Sadiq said, “On July 3, 2024, at about 08:00 hours, the command, in collaboration with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps attached to Dansoda village, Dandume LGA, Katsina State, succeeded in arresting one Umar Hassan, m., age 13, residing at Sheikh Abdullahi quarters of Dandume town, Dandume LGA, in connection with a suspected case of aiding and abetting armed banditry.
“The suspect was arrested following the receipt of intelligence on his nefarious activities, where he specialises in providing information on villages and potential targets to suspected armed bandits.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and further mentioned one Abba, now at large, as his accomplice. He further confessed to being part of the gang that attacked Unguwar Bawa village several times, where they kidnapped and rustled animals. The investigation is still ongoing.”
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that based on credible intelligence on their activities, the trio who hailed from Babbar Ruga village, Batagarawa Local Government Area of the state, were arrested for providing sensitive information to a suspected notorious terrorist leader, Mustafa Gambo, now at large.
During the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and an investigation is ongoing according to Sadiq.
Obasempire reports that the Lagos State Police Command has initiated a search for a middle-aged man known only as Olumide, who is accused of fatally assaulting his apprentice, Adeyemi, in the Alagbado area of the state.
Olumide reportedly struck the 19-year-old victim on the head with a shovel while disciplining him for an infraction.
Adeyemi later succumbed to the injuries from the shovel blow.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, verified the incident on Thursday.
Hundeyin stated that the Alagbado Police Division was informed of the alleged crime on Tuesday.
He said, “At about 12.00 p.m. on July 5, one Olumide gave his son, Adeyemi, a deep cut under moderate correction, at his right hand side with a shovel over an undisclosed offence.”
“The young man was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment. But when the injury became serious, he was taken to the General Hospital Ikeja, where he gave up the ghost as a result of tetanus infection, as confirmed by the doctor on duty.”
He said detectives of the division visited the scene.
“However, the father of the victim is currently at large and the case is under investigation,” he added.
Obasempire reports that the Bayelsa State Police Command is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of Francis Palowei, a final-year Political Science student at Niger Delta University, Amassoma.
Initial reports suggest Palowei, from Obrigbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area, was fatally attacked by a group of youths demanding a N500 fee at Sand Dump, a popular hangout in Amassoma.
The investigation revealed that due to its popularity among students for socializing, Sand Dump has become a favored relaxation spot.
However, some local youths have instituted a mandatory N150 fee for students frequenting the area.
Sources revealed that Palowei was said to have visited the Sand Dump, Monday evening, when the boys in charge of the levy demanded N500, instead of the normal N150 they were charging. An infuriated Palowei was said to have vehemently vowed not to pay the N500, which led to a shouting match.
The situation was said to have become tense when some students backed the deceased, while the levy collectors called for reinforcement, which included some suspected cultists.
Palowei was said to have been attacked by some of the suspected cultists and he was killed, while some of the other students sustained injuries.
Palowei’s death heightened tension in Amassoma and sparked a protest from NDU students as they demanded the arrest of the suspected killers.
Many of the community boys were also said to be preparing to resist any form of reprisal from the students.
The Commissioner of Police, Aloyenu Francis Idu, immediately deployed a contingent of policemen as reinforcements to ensure no breakdown of law and order.
The Public Relations Officer in the Niger Delta University, Mr Ndoni Igezi, who confirmed the incident, yesterday, described it as unfortunate, stating that police were already on top of the situation to curtail any escalation.
He explained that though the owner of the sand dump, located at the end of the community, does not charge any fee from those who want to relax there, some youths in the community have an unwritten law of N150 levy to allow people to climb to the top to catch funs.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Musa Muhammed, who also confirmed the incident said the commissioner of police has already deployed additional security personnel to restore calm and orderliness in the area.
He said the police had begun investigations and launched a manhunt for the fleeing killers.
Obasempire reports that a Nigerian DJ, known as The Turnup Maestro and identified as #_djtrendy on X, has shared his harrowing experience of being taken to the Kirikiri Custodial Centre in Lagos State.
Sharing his story via his X handle on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the DJ recounted that his troubles began on Sunday, July 7, 2024, when officers from the Lagos State Police Command stationed at the Olosan Police Station showed up at the nightclub where he works.
He explained that upon their arrival, the security personnel cleared out the patrons from the nightclub and confiscated his laptop.
According to him, two days later, the club’s manager and the wife of the club’s proprietor (names unspecified) visited the police station to reclaim the laptop. The manager then contacted him, informing that his presence was required at the station for the laptop’s release.
“Immediately I got to the station, the DPO called one of his officers to take me in and take my statement. That’s how I got to the IPO’s office, then he started telling me that I’m a cultist, that I was playing for cultists, and that when they came to the said lounge, they saw people smoking and all.
“He then proceeded to give me a sheet of paper to write everything I knew.
“Well, I wrote how everything happened. A few minutes later, my lounge manager came in too, that’s how they said I’m done with mine and they told the manager to write his own too. I was behind the counter at this point helpless,” the tweets added.
The disc jockey stated that he and the manager “were detained” and put in a cell at the station on Tuesday as they remained incommunicado.
The following day, Wednesday, July 10, they were released and ordered to remain behind the counter.
However, in a turn of events, they were later put in handcuffs and taken to a Magistrate Court in the Ogba area of the state.
The tweets read further, “They put us in a cell that Tuesday. We couldn’t reach out to anyone, we were not even allowed to make contact with the lounge owner’s wife. Fast forward to the second day, July 10, we were released and the IPO told us to sit at the back of the counter.
“A few minutes later, he called us into his office and handcuffed us, then told us to go into the minivan parked in the police compound. They started driving and we were continuously asking where he was taking us. He didn’t answer. That’s how we got to the Magistrate Court at Ogba.
“Handcuffed, we were able to whisper our lounge owner’s number to one of the lawyers that was around us. We were helpless. We only went to the police station to collect the laptop but instead, they peddled us like criminals. So the lawyer was able to call our lounge owner and he came in with the lawyer just a few minutes before our case was called.”
The DJ claimed that the policemen had “written false allegations” against them but the presiding judge (name unknown) granted them bail.
Afterwards, they were taken to the Kirikiri Correctional Facility before their release two days later.
He wrote, “They had already written false allegations against us. All of the allegations they wrote were completely false. So the judge made her judgment. We were placed on bail but our lounge owner couldn’t perfect the bail that day.
“That’s how were were taken to the Kirikiri Prison on that day, July 10, 2024. We spent two days at Kirikiri correctional facility and we were released on Friday, July 12 after he perfected the bail. My laptop is still at the Olosan Police Station.
“I have always lived my life fight-free, crime-free. I have never broken a law before. The police that was supposed to protect me lied against me. I am very traumatised.”
In another follow-up tweet, the disc jockey wrote, “I have been crying for days. No one deserves to be going through something like this. I didn’t do anything wrong. I am a law-abiding citizen. I don’t deserve this pain they caused me.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, did not respond to phone calls nor text messages sent to his mobile number when filing this report.
Obasempire reports that an unidentified Keke driver has taken his own life after unsuccessful efforts to recover his confiscated tricycle from government officials.
The incident took place in the Ikorodu region of Lagos State.
Reports indicate that the tricycle operator was stopped by agents who confiscated his vehicle and took it to their office near Jubilee Estate.
Despite his ongoing pleas and attempts to reclaim his tricycle, all efforts were in vain.
Frustrated, the man ended his own life on a tree in front of the compound housing the offices of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO).
An eyewitness, Prince Excel of Aiyekooto Reporters, who captured the incident on video, described it as unfortunate, noting that the suicide occurred on Thursday morning.
A note accompanying Excel’s video indicated that the tricyclist took his life due to the authorities’ refusal to return his seized tricycle, despite his pleas.
The spokesperson for LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, however, denied any involvement of their officers in the seizure, stating that no tricycle was impounded within their premises in the area.
“We don’t know anything about the incident. LASTMA is not involved in anything of such, and we don’t know anything about the hanging of the dead body,” he said.
Obasempire reports that the Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a couple, Uchenna Eziekwe, 28, and Chineye Eziekwe, 22, for allegedly trying to sell their 2-year-old child.
The couple attributed their actions to the current economic difficulties in the country and claimed they intended to use the proceeds to obtain travel documents for Canada.
They reportedly expressed their desire to sell their son at Isolo General Hospital in the Isolo area of the state.
It was learned that the hospital management subsequently alerted the police at Isolo Division after pretending to agree to the couple’s request.
In their confession to the police, the couple admitted to attempting to sell their son for an undisclosed amount.
They, however, blamed the current hardship in the country for their actions and begged for forgiveness.
“It was a difficult decision but we had no choice but to sell our baby. We felt it would be better to sell him to someone who can take care of him than to allow him die of hunger.
“The idea was mine. I convinced my wife, though it wasn’t easy” Unchenna confessed when he was paraded yesterday at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja area of the state.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, who paraded the couple said they were arrested on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, while attempting to sell the boy.
Fayoade who was represented by the Command Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said on Tuesday, around 2.45pm,the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Isolo Police Station received an information that a couple went to Isolo General hospital and declared their intention to sell their baby boy.
“Upon receipt of the information, operatives from the Station moved swiftly to the hospital where one Uchenna Eziekwe, 28, and Chineye Eziekwe, 22, were about to sell their child.
“The boy, 2, was rescued. Upon interrogation, the couple stated that they decided to sell the baby to enable the man travel to Canada for a greener pasture to Canada. However, investigation is ongoing” he said.
Obasempire reports that the Nigeria Police Force has freed skit creator Zion Ubani, known as Zfancy.
In a statement on Wednesday, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that Zfancy was granted bail to representatives from the Practitioners of Content Creation, Skit-Making, and Influencers Guild of Nigeria (PCCSIGN).
He noted that the delegation, led by Tokoni Peter Igoin, Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, visited the police headquarters.
Earlier, Zfancy had been detained by the NPF-National Cybercrime Centre following prank videos that accused him of serious offenses, including rape.
Adejobi had confirmed the arrest on Thursday, July 4th.
“The videos were later found to be scripted.
“He has been warned to avoid pranks that could cause public unrest.
“While encouraging positive creativity amongst the youthful populace, the NPF urges content creators to responsibly use social media and avoid spreading misinformation that may incite public disorder,” Adejobi said.
Obasempire reports that the Lagos Police Command on Friday, has verified that its officers thwarted a kidnapping scheme and eliminated nine suspects who had intended to abduct affluent individuals in the Ladipo vicinity of Mushin.
The command’s spokesperson, Mr. Benjanin Hundeyin, affirmed that operatives acted based on reliable information and set up an ambush for the kidnappers, leading to a deadly exchange of gunfire on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Hundeyin mentioned that the operation, overseen by Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade, commenced a fortnight ago upon receiving intelligence indicating an imminent threat.
He added that police tactical units closely surveilled the gang and prepared to intercept them on the expected day of the assault.
According to him, during the confrontation, nine kidnappers were neutralized, while two others escaped with gunshot wounds. The police recovered a cache of weapons, including four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK-47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, a POS machine, and a loudspeaker, and the gang’s operational vehicles (a black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350) were seized.
Hundeyin stated that operatives have been railing the gang for eight months, attributing numerous kidnappings in the Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo, and Ladipo areas to their activities.
Hundeyin said the operation has effectively ended the gang’s reign of terror
He expatiated further that the success of the operation is among several recent achievements in combating kidnapping and armed robbery in Lagos, noting that many of these operations have not been publicised to protect informants’ identities.
” We are urging the public, particularly medical practitioners, to report any individuals with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station or emergency numbers, and the residents should also provide information on suspicious activities, promising to prioritize public safety and security”.
Obasempire reports that operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have successfully intervened to prevent a 19-year-old woman from taking her own life today.
According to SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer, officers responded swiftly to reports of a young woman attempting to ingest insecticide at approximately 2:00 pm.
The prompt intervention took place in response to a tip-off received by authorities.
“Promptly responding to the tip-off, officers were dispatched to the scene where the girl was located and prevented from causing herself harm,” Hundeyin stated.
The rescued woman, whose identity has been kept confidential, disclosed that she had been grappling with severe emotional distress stemming from an unexpected pregnancy and financial fraud.
She recounted how the father of her unborn child had refused to take responsibility, exacerbating her emotional turmoil.
Furthermore, she had fallen victim to a fraudster who swindled her earnings from her Point of Sale (POS) business.
The Police statement confirmed that the young woman is currently receiving psychological support to address her emotional challenges.
An investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible for exploiting her vulnerable situation.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin reiterated the importance of mental health awareness and urged individuals facing similar difficulties to seek timely assistance.
The Lagos State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public welfare, extending beyond traditional crime prevention measures.
