The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested Mallam Nura Suleiman, a 43-year-old Islamic teacher for allegedly molesting a three-year-old pupil, Isah Muaazu, in Suleja, Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

A statement signed by Public Relations Officer SC Nasir D. Abdullahi in Minna said the command’s personnel on routine surveillance, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended the suspect.

According to the statement, the teacher was arrested on Friday, 19th January 2024 in Tsangaya Makaranta Mallam Umar, located behind Niger Motel, Suleja, Niger State and the victims were rescued as well.

“The molested child, Isah Mu’azu, from Kawo, Kaduna State, was rushed to the General Hospital Suleja, for urgent medical attention following the degree of injuries observed on his body and was admitted based on the magnitude of the injuries sustained.

Four other rescued children, whom were in the care of Suleiman, were noticed with scars on their backs as another sign that the suspect had been molesting them.

The children include Khalipha Abdullahi, Salihu Suleiman, Mohammed Mu’azu and Ismaila Abdullahi, all from Kawo, Kaduna State.

The suspect and the victims have been handed over to the Niger State Child Rights Agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has impounded a truck carrying about 450 vandalised railway sleepers on Tuesday in Damaturu and arrested three suspects.

NSCDC commandant in Yobe, Mr Adamu Zakari, paraded the truck and the suspects before newsmen on Wednesday in Damaturu.

“The truck was loaded with 450 railway sleepers with an estimated street value of N5.9 million,’’ he said.

Zakari assured that the suspects would be arraigned upon the completion of investigation.

He urged members of the public to report any suspicious movement of persons or goods to the nearest security agency.

A Kano State High Court has reserved judgment in the case involving a Chinese national, Frank Geng Quangrong, accused of killing his 22-year-old Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani.

The defendant who lives in Railway Quarters Kano is charged with culpable homicide.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji, adjourned the matter until March 29, for judgment.

The adjournment follows adoption of the final written addresses by the prosecution and defence counsels Muhammad Dan’azumi and Aisha Mahmoud.

Recall that the prosecution closed its case against the defendant after presenting six witnesses on December 21, 2022.

The defendant also closed his case with two witnesses including a Urologist Dr Abdullahi Abubakar.

In his testimony the accused told the court that the late Ummukulsum attacked him with a knife.

“While I was defending myself Ummukulsum bit me on my arm and finger and also injured me on my genitals,” Mr Frank said.

The defendant was alleged to have stabbed the deceased with a knife in her house at Janbulo Quarters Kano on September 16, 2022.

The offence, the prosecution said, contravenes the provisions of Section 221(b) of the Penal Code law.

On Monday, the Adamawa government gave hoteliers a six-week ultimatum to install Close-Circuit Television cameras in their facilities for effective security surveillance and patron safety.

The state’s deputy governor, Kaleptapwa Farauta, issued the ultimatum at an emergency security meeting with hotel proprietors in Adamawa.

She warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract sanctions.

Responding, Samuel Adwata, the chairman of the Association of Hoteliers in Adamawa, assured that the directive would be complied with speedily.

The ultimatum followed Thursday’s beheading of a middle-aged divorcee in a hotel room in Yola by a suspected ritualist.

Police in Adamawa have already arrested some suspects in connection with the beheading of the lady.

Three hotel employees on duty at the time of the incident were also arrested.

The suspected ritualist allegedly took his victim to the hotel where he was lodged as a guest, beheaded her and left the scene with her decapitated head.

Confirming the arrests on Friday, the police spokesman in Adamawa, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, said the lady’s ex-husband, Auwal Garba, identified the remains of his estranged wife at a hospital on Friday.

Mr Garba, who confirmed the identity of the deceased to the police, said she was his ex-wife, whom he married about six years ago.

He said the union produced one child, but due to some irreconcilable differences, he divorced the lady in December 2023.

The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a man, Ademola Oladimeji, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his three children.

The children were aged five, seven and nine.

Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses was believable and truthful.

“The court holds that there was penetration as oral and documentary evidence before the court pointed to the fact that defendant messed around with the purity of his three children,” Ms Soladoye said.

She said the conduct of the defendant was despicable, morally corrupt, incestuous and against the order of nature.

The judge, who said the prosecution failed to establish the three-count bordering on defilement, thereafter changed it to sexual assault by penetration and convicted him on each of the counts.

She also convicted Mr Oladimeji of the fourth count charge of sexual assault by penetration and sentenced him to life imprisonment on each count.

The sentence, the judge held, would run concurrently.

Ms Soladoye said the convict’s name will be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

Ms Soladoye, however, said their evidence established the offence of sexual assault by penetration and not defilement.

According to her, the evidence of the three survivors was corroborated by the investigative police officer and their mother.

She said, “Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the children did not say their father inserted his p*nis into their ‘bum bum’; they only said he touched their ‘bum bum’.

“I observed the three of them. They did not lie against their father; they did not say he used his p*nis; he only used his fingers.

“The wife of the defendant, in her testimony, said the children complained of pain in their private, and she was informed at the Mirabel Medical Centre that the children had been sexually assaulted.”

The judge added that the defendant was desperate to distance himself from the allegation by denying the offences.

The state counsel, Olufunke Adegoke, called five witnesses to prove the case, while the convict testified as a sole witness.

The police command in Lagos says it has arrested a 54-year-old auto mechanic for allegedly stealing and selling off a Nissan Xterra SUV belonging to one of his customers.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Monday.

Mr Hundeyin said the matter was reported at Isheri Oshun Police Division on Sunday at about 6:30 p.m. by the owner of the stolen vehicle.

He said the owner reported that while he was in church at about 8:00 a.m. the same day, the suspect went to his house to collect the key to his car from his daughter.

The spokesman said the suspect drove the car to an unknown destination, adding that on receiving the report, the surveillance and anti-car theft teams of the station went to the scene.

“Through intelligence gathering, the said suspect was arrested and led the officers to the receiver of the car, simply identified as Charles, a 47-year-old.

“The receiver was also arrested, and the vehicle recovered, while the investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Mr Hundeyin advised the public to be cautious of non-family members with unhindered access to their homes and families.

He also urged family members to always cross-check with other members before executing outsiders’ requests, even if the person was a regular caller to the family.

The spokesman warned prospective car buyers to always crosscheck with the police before making payment, as such a car might have been stolen.

One of the princes of Ibadanland in Oyo State, Abioye Oloyede-Asanke, on Sunday donated relief materials to victims of Tuesday’s explosion which occurred at Bodija Estate in Ibadan.

Mr Oloyede-Asanke, while speaking during the presentation of the relief materials at the explosion’s Emergency Situation Hub, said the gesture was to identify with the victims at this critical period.

He added that the relief materials would also complement efforts by the state government to provide succour to victims of the incident and their relatives.

“I am here to sympathise with the victims of the unfortunate Bodija explosion and to also provide some relief materials and aid to the victims. It is so unfortunate that this kind of ugly incident could have been avoided. I am here on behalf of my foundation, Handalat Oloyede Foundation, to join hands with the government.

“I want to promise that we have a lot of assistance to render to the victims, and also assist the government in providing succour at this critical time. The foundation will reach out to as many as possible through the provision of relief materials, accommodation and through other means,” Mr Oloyede-Asanke said.

Also, the Incident Manager, Ibadan Explosion Site, Prof. Temitope Alonge, disclosed that the Oyo State government was already in collaboration with the Nigerian Society of Engineers on the explosion.

He said that they had started structural integrity test on the buildings affected by the explosion.

Mr Alonge noted that the Oyo State chapter of the NSE began the integrity assessment of affected structures on Wednesday and had so far covered about 50 metres radius.

He added that Governor Seyi Makinde also granted permission to the NSE to go up to 500 metres buffer to assess the level of damages and integrity of the structures.

“We don’t want people to come in and build. We do not want buildings to start collapsing on them,” Mr Alonge said.

The explosion which occurred on Tuesday killed five persons, injured 77 and rendered thousands homeless in the state.

The relief materials donated by Mr Oloyede-Asanke included milk, noodles, tea, toiletries, food items and other essential household materials.

The Ogun State Police Command says it has launched an investigation to unravel the mystery behind the death of a yet to be identified National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member in the state.

The body of the deceased NYSC member was discovered in the Kadesh area of Ogijo.

The police said the body of the corps member was discovered on Sunday after residents reported the case at Ogijo Division of the Command.

In a statement released on Sunday by its spokesperson, Omotola Odutola, the Command said it is yet to ascertain the cause of the NYSC member’s death.

“The eyewitnesses that raised a loud shout became curious to find a “keke” plying a route not meant for tricycles. Before the eyewitnesses could properly investigate their suspicion, a lifeless body was discovered.

“The culprits defeating the villagers, were a step ahead and disappeared without trace despite the efforts of the concerned citizens to catch up with the culprits,” Odutola said in the statement.

Odutola explained that detectives from the Ogijo Division were dispatched to the scene, where they discovered the body of the young male adult, estimated to be around 24 years old.

According to the police spokesperson, the corpse was found in an isolated bush, and the area was immediately cordoned off.

The body has been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Sagamu.

“No one has reported a missing person fitting the description, and no family member has come forward to file a complaint of a missing person.

“In the meantime, the police have launched an active investigation to identify the culprits behind this heinous act.”

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested one Nnandi Agu for faking his own kidnap in an attempt to defraud his brother, who lives in River Park Estate.

Confirming the arrest in a statement on Saturday on the command’s official X handle, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, described the report of his abduction as fake news.

The statement read, “The FCT police Command is aware of the news making rounds about an alleged kidnapping incident at River Park estate in the early hours of today (yesterday) and wishes to state that contrary to reports, nobody was kidnapped in River Park Estate.

“One Nnandi Agu ‘m’ of Games Village only faked his own kidnap in an attempt to defraud his brother who lives within the said Estate.

“The suspect is currently in police custody undergoing interrogation.

“While investigation is still ongoing, further development would be communicated to the public,” it added.

The police command in Lagos State says its operatives have arrested three suspected cultists in the Ishashi area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, told journalists on Sunday.The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, had promised to rid the state of criminals.

Mr Hundeyin said that the three suspects were arrested on Saturday at about 6:30 a.m. by the police.

“The police got information that some boys were seen in military uniform disturbing the peace of Oke-Odan community in Ishashi,” he said.

He explained that operatives from the Ishashi division were “quickly drafted” to the community and arrested the suspects who were between the ages of 24 and 39.

Mr Hundeyin said that an investigation had begun and the suspects would soon be charged in court.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted drugs concealed in a Milo tin that were about to be transported to Europe.

Disclosing this in a statement on his official X handle on Sunday, the NDLEA director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi, warned against receiving parcels with unknown content.

Accompanying the statement with a video, the NDLEA spokesperson said the suspect attempted to transport the illicit substance through two of his friends.

He also revealed that the worker nabbed at the Lagos Airport, as seen in a viral video last week, along with the mastermind who resides in Ghana, have also landed in NDLEA custody.

Sharing a video of the consignment, he wrote, “Reason why we advise you shouldn’t take any parcel you don’t know its content from anyone?

“A man attempted to send drugs concealed in Milo tins through two of his friends to Europe. Another one tried the same with a passenger at the airport, all in a matter of days.

“But for their vigilance… Well, the mastermind of the Lagos airport saga hibernating in Ghana and his agent in the viral airport video are now in #ndlea_nigeria custody + Updates on huge cocaine and tramadol seizures in Tincan port and Kano coming in our statement at noon,” he noted.

A 34-year-old man, Matthew Edward, was on Thursday arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly buying a stolen iPhone 12 Pro Max valued at N510,000.

Mr Edward, who resides in Malali area of Kaduna, was charged on two-counts of conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

The Prosecution, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that the offence was committed on January 12 at Ungwan Sarki area of Kaduna.

“Some group of boys robbed the complainant, David John, of his iPhone 12 Pro Max worth N510,000 at gunpoint,” he told the court.

He said the case was reported to the police and the stolen iPhone was tracked, leading to the arrest of the defendant.

The prosecutor added that during police investigation the defendant confessed to buying the phone at the sum of N150,000 from one Samson Victor, now at large.

The offence, Leo said, contravened the provisions of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

Mr Emmanuel ordered that the surety must deposit a recent passport photograph with the court.

He adjourned the case until February 12, for hearing.

The Amotekun Security Corps in Osun State said it has arrested five suspected armed robbers and killed three others in Osogbo.

The state Commander of the Corps, Brig.-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi (retd) said this in a statement he signed in Osogbo on Tuesday.

“We had achieved this feat in a joint operation with the Nigerian Police and hunters,” Mr Adewinmbi said.

He said the corps, at about 3:00 a.m. on Monday, foiled an armed robbery attack on “Dangote Integrated Steel Rolling Mills” in the metropolis and arrested five suspects.

“The Amotekun Anti-Cultism Squad received a distress call from the chief security officer of the company at 3:00 a.m., that a group of armed robbers had invaded the company.

“Our operatives quickly moved to the scene of the incident together with the police anti-cultism squad and arrested the culprits. When the robbers cited our operatives, they opened fire on them but our team was able to capture them.

“The team returned fire and during the gun duel, five of the suspected armed robbers were arrested with bullet wounds, while three of them were neutralised,” he said.

Mr Adewinmbi said those arrested are Adepoju Abdulateef, 18; Rasheed Hammed, 20; Liadi Afeez, 20; Wasiu Sodiq, 21; and Rabiu Lekan, 29.He said all the suspects hail from Oke-Baale, Osogbo and that the exhibits recovered from them included one single barrel gun with four expended shells, knives, electric cable cutters and one Itel phone.

He said the corpses of the three suspected armed robbers had been deposited at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo.

“The five others arrested with gunshot injuries are presently receiving treatment at the hospital,” he said.

He said the arrested suspects would be transferred to the police for investigation and prosecution.

The police command in Kano State has arrested five persons for allegedly prompting violence and constituting nuisance while celebrating the Supreme Court judgment on the state governorship election.

The state Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Gumel, said this in a telephone interview with journalists in Kano on Wednesday.

Mr Gumel said some supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party clashed with those of the All Progressives Congress in the Gaya Local Government Area of the state while celebrating the apex court victory of their party.

We have since arrested five suspects and we also have two victims on admission at General Hospital Gaya,” he said.He said that the suspects would be charged in court after investigation.

Mr Gumel cautioned political actors in the state against violence or acts that could prompt violence. He said that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, had increased security at all the identified locations in the state to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

“At this moment, security has been beefed up in strategic locations to maintain peace. I hereby call on leaders of all political parties to prevail on their supporters to shun unguarded utterances that may trigger violence. We are therefore advising them to celebrate moderately without infringing on the fundamental rights of other members of the public.

“Anyone or groups that try to disrupt the peace and cause a breakdown of law and order will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Mr Gumel assured of the commitment of the police to provide adequate security for citizens and encouraged them to go about their legitimate business.

The management of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, the city’s biggest health facility, late Tuesday called on its off-duty workers to return to the hospital.

The move was as a result of the high number of those injured during Tuesday’s explosion brought to the hospital.

Explosion rocked the city on Tuesday, shattering houses and injuring some residents, thus prompting the state government to issue a statement advising residents to remain calm as it was on top of the situation.

A health worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the worker was not allowed to speak to the press, said the UCH authorities directed them to report at the hospital to attend to the victims.

“They said more hands were needed to attend to those being brought in, and they were not sure of the number that can still come in later during the evening or early in the morning of Wednesday,” the worker said.

Another UCH employee also said the hospital authorities were particularly worried about those who might come in for admission as a result of the explosion’s “after effects.”

“I am sure it is not about those from the “immediate effects.” There are those who are likely to suffer from shocks, given that the first reports about the incident indicated that there was an earth tremor. These include those with high blood pressure and are hypertensive.

Those with injuries from the buildings can be determined, but you cannot tell about those who got hurt after hearing news of the explosion or seeing its effect,” the health worker said.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the boarding school belonging to All Souls School at Bodija area of the city suffered casualties.

Some of the affected victims were being moved to the UCH for urgent medical attention as of Tuesday night.

However, the Director of Public Relations, University of Ibadan, Joke Akinpelu, denied that some buildings in the institution collapsed due to the explosion.

“There was nothing of such in the University of Ibadan. No building collapse has been recorded here,” Mrs Akinpelu said.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said on Wednesday that preliminary investigation by security forces showed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in the Bodija area of Ibadan stored explosive devices that caused Tuesday’s explosion in the state.

The city was thrown into confusion on Tuesday when an explosion shattered houses, injured 77 residents and left two dead.

The governor in a statement on Wednesday said, “Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book.

“We visited the scene of the explosion which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024 in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected property. We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.’’

Mr Makinde noted that earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident.

“The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.

“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and two fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,’’ he stated.

The governor stated that he directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government, promising to provide temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they were supported to rebuild their lives.

Besides, he urged residents to call 615 for any emergencies they might be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow the carrying out of rescue operations without interference.

He further stated, “We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured. Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations.’’

On Tuesday, a security guard, Kenneth Ifeasinachi, was arraigned before the Dei-Dei Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving a phone call in a filling station.

The police charged the defendant with joint act, negligent conduct and mischief.

The prosecution counsel, Babajide Olanipekun, said while the complainant, Kelechi Osueke, was at Rain Oil filling station, Gwarinpa, to buy fuel in his vehicle, the defendant received a phone call.

Mr Olanipekun said the defendant took the phone to a fuel attendant, Nkechi Ezenma, while she was dispensing fuel in a customer’s motorcycle.

He said the defendant did the same, knowing that his action could cause harm and destruction of valuable property in the environment.

The offences, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 79, 196 and 336 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defence counsel, Ogele Ngozi, applied for the defendant’s bail, pursuant to section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), saying the bail was at the court’s discretion.

Ms Ngozi urged the court to admit her client to bail in the most liberal terms, adding that he had a reliable surety and that if granted bail, he would not jump it.

The prosecution counsel objected to the bail application on the grounds that he might jump bail, as he had been released on police bail on another matter and jumped it.

The judge, Saminu Suleiman, admitted the defendant to N2.5 million bail, with one surety who must be a public servant on Grade Level 17 and resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

Mr Sulieman adjourned the matter until February 6 for a hearing.

On Tuesday, four security guards appeared before the Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for stealing a bus with 400 solar panels.

The defendants are Daniel Edom, 22; Jonah Babatunde, 39; Moses Okoo, 43; and Emmanuel Anyanger, 27. They were charged with conspiracy and stealing.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on October 29, 2023, at SKY Ville Company located at No. 9, Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos.

Mr Akeem said the defendants, who worked as security men at the company, conspired and stole the bus valued at N8.5 million and 400 solar panels valued at N2,624,000.

He said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Chief magistrate Bola Osunsanmi granted each defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Ms Osunsanmi adjourned the case until January 24 for mention.

At least three persons lost their lives in an accident involving a commercial bus traveling from Awka to Ekwulobia in Anambra State on Sunday evening.

Three persons, the driver of the vehicle and two passengers, were burnt beyond recognition after the vehicle veered off the road, summersaulted and bust into flames.

The incident happened along the Ezinano-Nkwo Agulu section of the Agulu road.An eyewitness said the victims comprised of the driver and two passengers (a male and a female).

A survivor, Mr. Chinonso, recounted the harrowing incident, stating that, “Our 14-seater Mitsubishi bus, loaded at Amawbia to transport us to Ekwulọbịa.

“Although I was headed to Ufuma. After departing Amawbia, a passenger cautioned the driver about the speed. Then, he attempted to avoid a pothole.

“Unfortunately, the vehicle veered off the road, somersaulted, and caught fire. I, along with other passengers, managed to escape, but our attempts to aid the three victims were thwarted by the intense flames.”

As of the time of filing this report, police authorities in Anambra were yet to issue any press release on the incident.