A suspected bandit kingpin has openly admitted that members of his group lack formal education but are skilled in handling weapons, particularly AK-47 rifles. This was contained in a post shared on Monday by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X, where he posted a video showing the armed leader addressing a gathering in Dutsenma Local Government Area of Katsina State. In the video, the bandit leader, who was seen holding a rifle and surrounded by his followers, spoke confidently as the crowd cheered him on. “We did not go to school and we are not educated, but even without schooling, we know how to operate an AK-47,” he said. He went further to compare his group with educated people; “While you gather books on your shelves, we have gathered AK-47 rifles and the weapons are our education,” as he raised his weapon before the crowd, which responded with loud cheers. The kingpin also accused authorities of not keeping to agreements reached during previous dialogue efforts. “If we make promises to you, we try to fulfil them. We expect you to do the same. This is one of our major concerns,” he said. He claimed that many of his members are currently in detention across different states, including Katsina, Kano and Abuja, and alleged that they were not released despite negotiations. “There is no state without our people in detention. Many of our men and women have been detained, but when we ask for their release, nothing happens,” he added. The bandit leader further alleged that government representatives often meet with them for dialogue but fail to act on agreed terms. “Your leaders come to meet us and we agree on certain issues, but once they leave, they go back and sit comfortably in air conditions without fulfilling those promises,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd. He warned that his group might withdraw from dialogue if such actions continue. “All the people you see here may disappear into the forest for months if we are not invited again for discussions. You may only find small children left behind,” he stated. Despite the warning, the kingpin said they are open to future talks, but only if previous agreements are respected. “If you release our people, even if you call us to Katsina, we will come. We are not afraid to go anywhere, but we fear unfulfilled promises,” he said.

A lecturer at the College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ondo State High Court for armed robbery. The defendant, Shittu Isiaka, was found guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery by the presiding judge, Justice O. M. Adejumo. On the third count, the court acquitted and discharged Isiaka for allegedly endangering the life or health of the victim. The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant was first arraigned before the court on November 26, 2018, on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and endangering life. According to the prosecution, the defendant and other suspects still at large, in 2017, robbed a commercial driver, Olatunji Olowoyeye, of his Nissan Cabstar truck with registration number XJ 214 KTU at gunpoint along Ibuji on the Akure–Ilesha Motorway. While informing the court that the victim was brought into Ogbara Oke by highway patrol officers of the Nigeria Police, it said a police witness, Inspector Kehinde Omotosho, reported that the victim wrote a statement implicating the defendant. During the trial, the defendant denied all the allegations, insisting that he had no involvement in the robbery. In his ruling, Justice Adejumo held that the prosecution failed to establish the offence of endangering life as required under Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act.

Nigerian economic reports Aviation policy consulting Scores of residents on Tuesday staged a protest that disrupted vehicular and human movement at the Jobele end of the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State over rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities. The protesters blocked the busy highway, causing traffic gridlock and drawing attention to the growing insecurity in the area. THENEWSCREDIT investigation revealed that the protest was triggered by the recent invasion of one of the communities by suspected kidnappers. The protesters alleged that the attackers attempted to abduct a woman on Monday, but she narrowly escaped by scaling a fence. “Yesterday (Monday), suspected kidnappers invaded one of our communities in an attempt to abduct a lady. She managed to escape by scaling the fence, but she sustained a deep machete cut on one of her hands,” one of the protesters said. He added that the incident was not the first in the area and warned that residents would not leave the road until their safety was guaranteed by security agencies. “We are not going to leave the road until the safety of residents is assured by the relevant security agencies,” the protesters insisted. Meanwhile, Dolapo Awotunde, a representative of Ward 8, said Afijio Local Government Area had recorded at least seven kidnapping incidents in recent times. In a statement, Awotunde said the latest attack occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning, leaving one victim severely injured. “It is no longer news that kidnapping has become rampant in Afijio Local Government Area, particularly in Jobele. The community has recorded not fewer than seven kidnapping-related incidents recently,” the statement read. “During the latest attack, a victim was brutally wounded by the perpetrators. He was rushed to the General Hospital and later referred to Ogbomoso for advanced treatment. Unfortunately, one of his hands had to be amputated due to the severity of the injuries.” According to him, following the incident, residents organised a vigilante watch on Sunday night into Monday morning to protect the community. He said at about 1 a.m. on Monday, residents apprehended a suspicious individual allegedly found in possession of a gun, a cutlass and other dangerous weapons. “In good faith and as law-abiding citizens, the suspect was handed over to the police at the Jobele Police Station for proper investigation and prosecution,” he said. Interview skills workshops However, Awotunde alleged that residents later discovered the suspect had been released without explanation. “When community members visited the police station this morning to inquire about the suspect, they were shocked to learn that he had already been released without any explanation and without involving those who apprehended him,” the statement added. He said the development sparked outrage among residents and students, prompting them to block the Old Oyo–Ibadan Road and the Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomoso Highway while demanding answers from the authorities. Awotunde called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Government to urgently investigate the matter and address the worsening insecurity in Afijio Local Government Area. When contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the Commissioner of Police had deployed senior officers to the area. “The Commissioner of Police has sent the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer to the scene to restore normalcy on the road,” Ayanlade said.

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Tuesday sentenced a quack nurse, Olatide Emmanuel, to death by hanging over the killing of a woman. The 48-year-old was arraigned in 2025 on a two-count charge bordering on murder and impersonation. The charge reads, “That the defendant, on 24th June, 2019 at Odo Ikole compound, Erinmope Ekiti, did murder one Bosede Falade, and also on June 9, 2019 at Ajebamidele Street, Otun Ekiti did falsely represent himself to be a medical doctor.” Prosecutor Kunle-Shina Adeyemo said, “The offences are contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.” An eyewitness, Rev. Omotade, told police that the deceased’s husband had called him to report that his wife had died during childbirth. Omotade said: “On getting to the hospital, I saw the corpse on the stretcher while the self-acclaimed doctor stood beside the stretcher. When I critically examined the body of the deceased, I discovered that the operation was carried out unprofessionally. I later called the police at Otun Ekiti to take over the matter and carry out a full investigation,” he said. The defendant told the court he had set up a clinic in Erinmope Ekiti in 2019 after completing a nursing apprenticeship in Lagos State. He claimed,”The deceased was not my patient but came to inform me that she was due for childbirth. After some examination, I informed her and her husband that she would be delivered of the baby through a Caesarean section, and they agreed. “The operation was successful with both mother and child alive, but the mother developed complications thereafter and later died,” he said. The prosecutor called seven witnesses and tendered statements, medical reports, and photographs of the deceased as exhibits. The defendant, through his counsel Adeyinka Opaleke, did not call any witnesses. In his judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana said, “The confession of the defendant under cross-examination that he did not qualify as medical personnel, yet proceeded to open up a human being, knowing he had no training or certification to do so, portrayed the defendant as inherently callous. I find the defendant wickedly reckless in his actions on the now deceased Bosede Falade. “The prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the reckless action of the defendant caused the woman’s death on 24th June, 2019. The defendant is accordingly found guilty as charged.” The judge concluded,”The judgment of this court is that you, Olatide Emmanuel, be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a 26-year-old woman, identified as Precious Mogaji, in Ibadan, the state capital. A statement issued on Monday by the command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said investigations have begun to determine the circumstances surrounding her death. According to Ayanlade, the incident was reported by a good Samaritan who found the victim lying lifeless at the entrance of her boyfriend’s room. The boyfriend, Quadri Mohammed, aged 29, is currently at large. The Police Public Relations Officer clarified that the killing occurred in the Oguntula area of Ojoo, Ibadan, and not in Akobo as initially reported in some media outlets. “The Oyo State Police command has commenced investigation into the alleged murder of a victim, one Precious Mogaji ‘F’, aged 26 years. “Preliminary investigation in this regard reveals that at about 0005hrs, the incident was brought to the attention of the Police by a good Samaritan who reported that the victim was found lying lifeless at the entrance of the room of her boyfriend, Quadri Mohammed ‘M’, aged 29 years. “Contrary to the false narrative circulating in some sections of the media alleging that the incident occurred at Akobo and involved a husband attempting to place the corpse of his wife in the trunk of a car, preliminary findings indicate that the incident actually occurred at the Oguntula area of Ojoo, Ibadan, and not Akobo as widely reported. “Consequently, the command considers it necessary to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to set the record straight. Acting promptly on the information received, the Patrol Team and Incident Duty Officer of Ojoo Division were swiftly dispatched to the scene. “Upon arrival, the lifeless body of the victim was discovered on the floor at the doorway of the suspect’s room. The body was forensically examined and findings duly documented in line with established investigative procedures and laid down rules. “Following the preliminary examination, the scene was properly documented and photographs were taken. Thereafter, the corpse was evacuated by the Police to a hospital where it has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. “In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the said boyfriend, Quadri Mohammed, is currently at large. Investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are being intensified to apprehend the suspect.” The command urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact the nearest Police station or the state Police command. It also assured the public that further updates will be provided and asked them to disregard misleading reports circulating on social media.

A 15-year-old boy, Gobri Yusuf, has been apprehended by the Kwara State Police command for allegedly killing his guardian known as Akanbi that adopted and raised him in Ilorin, the state capital. The suspect allegedly attacked his guardian after his initial poison plot failed. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekimi Ojo, explained on Friday during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin that the suspect was apprehended following a distress report received by the police over the discovery of Akanbi in a pool of blood at her residence. The Commissioner of Police said, “Preliminary findings from the investigation revealed that the suspect who lived with the deceased, allegedly carried out the attack while the victim was bathing.” He added that findings revealed that the suspect, who was residing with the deceased, allegedly concealed himself behind a door and attacked her while she was bathing using household items. Items recovered from the suspect, according to the Ojo included a frying pan, a weighing scale, a kitchen turning stick (spatula), and kitchen knives. The suspect, he explained confessed to the crime during interrogation, saying that the act was allegedly driven by resentment towards the deceased. After allegedly committing the crime, the Commissioner stated that the suspect changed his clothes and left the residence under the pretext of running an errand. He also explained that the boy later contacted the deceased’s husband, who subsequently discovered her lifeless body. The commissioner explained that investigation is ongoing while the suspect remains in police custody.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man accused of selling his sister’s one-month-old baby for N2 million. It was gathered that the suspect, who resides in Igbogbo in the Ikorodu area of the state, allegedly claimed he sold the infant to raise funds for their mother’s burial. The baby’s mother later reported the incident to the police, prompting the suspect’s arrest. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olohundare Jimoh, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, for further investigation. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Friday, the suspect, who admitted to the act, attributed his actions to financial hardship. He explained that he came in contact with the woman who purchased the baby through Facebook. “Poverty pushed me into doing it. My sister initially agreed to the arrangement,” he said. According to him, the woman seeking a child asked him to bring the baby to Mile 2 after their discussions. “I went there with my sister. A man sent by the buyer collected the baby, and the woman transferred N2 million into my bank account,” he said. The suspect added that he gave his sister N500,000 from the proceeds, while the remaining amount was used to organise their mother’s burial. He further claimed that after the burial, his sister began demanding that the baby be returned, alleging that he had used charms to influence her to agree to the sale. “My sister later claimed she was unaware that the baby had been sold and reported the matter to the police, which led to my arrest,” he said. The suspect said he did not know the buyer personally and had no details about her residence, adding that attempts to reach her through the phone number used during the transaction had been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Dayo Akinbisehin, confirmed that investigations into the matter are ongoing. He noted that the suspect would be arraigned in court once the investigation is concluded.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has confirmed that four police officers have been dismissed from the force over their alleged involvement in the killing of seven traders in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos State. Speaking with journalists at the Ikeja Police Officers’ Mess, the police chief disclosed that investigations into the tragic incident are still ongoing. According to him, the officers who were dismissed had been brought into the state from Nasarawa State by the prime suspect identified as Ariori, and were allegedly involved in the unlawful killings. Jimoh assured members of the public that the command remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims, adding that key evidence, including ballistic and autopsy reports, will support the prosecution of those responsible. “This matter has not been swept under the carpet, and we want the public and the families of the victims to know that nothing will stop the police from ensuring that justice is served. “We will leave no stone unturned and will not be intimidated by anyone. All suspects will face prosecution, and the courts are open to hear every case,” he said. The commissioner stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remains dedicated to its constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order, noting that no individual or group would be allowed to obstruct the process of justice. He added that about 98 per cent of the investigation has been completed, assuring residents that the police will continue to take decisive steps to safeguard lives and property across the state. Jimoh also urged residents and traders to remain vigilant while cooperating with law enforcement authorities, reiterating the command’s commitment to public safety. THENEWSCREDIT recalls that the incident occurred in August 2025 following a violent confrontation between suspected land grabbers and traders in the Owode-Onirin area of Lagos.

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 27-year-old man, Kazeem Awe, for allegedly killing a nursing mother in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Council Area of the state. Awe, son of the landlord of the victim, allegedly attacked the deceased, Motunrayo Adeleye, with a cutlass following a dispute over unpaid rent at their residence in the Alaba axis of the community. The suspect, during the violent dispute, also injured the husband of the deceased, Mathew Adeleye, as well as their daughter. The incident reportedly occurred around 5:00 a.m. in the Ore Alaba area, beside a popular school, throwing the usually peaceful neighbourhood into confusion as frightened residents scampered for safety. According to sources, the violence was triggered by a lingering disagreement over house rent between the suspect and the deceased’s husband, a tenant in a building owned by the suspect’s father While speaking on his hospital bed, the husband of the deceased stated that the issue began when tenants residing in the building were served quit notices, despite their rents not yet being due. “I had informed friends to help us search for another apartment, and we eventually secured one. We were preparing to move out that same Thursday the incident occurred,” he stated. While confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the victims were rushed to the General Hospital, Ore, where the deceased was confirmed dead by medical personnel. The spokesperson disclosed that the other two victims are currently receiving treatment while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

A 43-year-old man has been arrested in Sepeteri, Oyo State, for allegedly beating his elder brother to death with a heavy rock because he claimed the deceased shot him in a dream. Lateef Suleiman, of Alegunlode Compound, Sepeteri, reportedly woke up convinced that his 52-year-old brother, Mustapha Amidu, had attacked him in his sleep while in a dream. According to a statement on Tuesday by Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, rather than shake it off, Suleiman allegedly picked up a heavy rock and struck his brother on the head before fleeing. The statement read, “One Badmus Yunisa ‘m’ of Alegunlode Compound, Sepeteri, reported that Lateef Suleiman ‘m’, aged 43 years, attacked his elder brother, Mustapha Amidu ‘m’, aged 52 years, following an accusation that the deceased had shot him in a dream while he was asleep the previous night. “Acting on this claim, the suspect allegedly approached the deceased where he was seated, picked up a heavy rock, struck him on the head, and fled the scene immediately.” Mustapha was rushed to Ileri Oluwa Hospital, Sepeteri but did not make it. The command said he was “confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty.” Police operatives from the Ago-Amodu Divisional Headquarters moved quickly, visiting both the scene and the hospital. The command described these as “preliminary investigative procedures.” Suleiman was subsequently tracked down and arrested. He has since confessed, the command said, adding that he “is currently cooperating with investigators.” Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, ordered the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. The command said it would be a “discreet and comprehensive investigation.” It assured the public, saying “justice will be pursued diligently and in accordance with the law.