A magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti has remanded a 35-year-old man, Gboyega Ogunlola, at the correctional centre in the Ekiti capital on Wednesday over rape charges.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that Mr Ogunlola defiled a 14-year-old girl at Iworoko-Ekiti on December 18.

He said the victim was running an errand for her mother when Mr Ogunlola forced her into his house and had sexual intercourse with her.

Mr Oriyomi added that the victim consequently reported the abuse to her mother.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the Child Rights Law of Ekiti State (2012) and urged the court to remand Mr Ogunlola at the correctional centre pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.

The court did not take the defendant’s plea.

Presiding Chief Magistrate Bankole Oluwasanmi ordered Mr Ogunlola’s remand.

He adjourned the case until January 26, 2024, for mention.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Osun Command, on Tuesday said nine persons lost their lives in an accident that occurred on the Ikirun-Ilaodo highway.

The Sector Commander, Henry Benamaisia, said the accident occurred around Courage Petroleum Company premises in Inisa at about 6:35 p.m on Monday morning.

Mr Benamaisia said a Mitsubishi Canter Orange vehicle, with registration number, MNA 606 XB, drove in a dangerous manner that led to the death of the nine persons.

He said the vehicle, loaded with some goods coming from Makera in Niger State, was speeding and the driver lost control before the incident happened.

“A total of 15 persons were involved in the accident with five persons injured and one unhurt,” Benamaisia said.

According to him, the dead victims have been evacuated to Orotunde Hospital mortuary while the injured victims were being treated in the hospital.

He cautioned road users against speeding and disobedience of the road safety regulations.

Mr Benamaisia, however, commended the effort of other sister agencies in ensuring that normalcy returned to the route involved.

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested one Monday Ogbole for allegedly killing his neighbour, Murtala Jimoh, during a fight in the Itele Awori area of the state on Saturday.

Though the cause of the fight had yet to be ascertained, a police source told The PUNCH that the suspect killed the victim with a stick during a violent argument, adding that efforts by other neighbours to separate them before the killing failed.

Narrating further, the source explained that the suspect noticed that the diseased had the upper hand during the violent duel, hence he was said to have run into his compound.

The people trying to separate the fight thought they had seen the end of the duel, but they were shocked and ran for safety when they saw the suspect return with a heavy stick.

The suspect was said to have smashed the stick on the head of the victim who reportedly fell on his back with blood gushing out from the injured part of his head.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was however, said to have died midway to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where he was later said to have been referred.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH on Monday, saying that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department once the preliminary investigation was completed.

“There is going to be an autopsy. The corpse has already been deposited at the Ota General Hospital morgue. We assure the family that justice will be served,” Ms Odutola said.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber, Johnson Ogunsanya, with a locally fabricated firearm.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who made this known in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, said the suspect was arrested by patrol officers from Owode Onirin Division.

According to him, the officers, during a diligent patrol in the area, busted a suspected robbery gang attempting to begin operation.

He said upon an inquiry by the officers to ascertain the suspicious move of the suspects, they took to their heels but one was later apprehended.

The post reads, “Our diligent patrol officers from Owode Onirin Division noticed five young men surrounding a broken down truck.

“As the officers stopped to ascertain what was going on, the young men fled.

“One of them, Johnson Ogunsanya ‘m’ aged 31, was apprehended and found with a locally fabricated firearm. Ongoing investigation reveals it was a robbery in progress”.

Fire has razed down the house of the late chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Udo Ekpenyong, in Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.

The inferno which occurred on the eve of Christmas also claimed the lives of the late PDP chairman’s wife, Mrs Elizabeth Udo Ekpenyong and her sister, Ofonime Frank.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary of the Transition Committee of the local government, Udeme Idiong.

Though the statement did not state the cause of the inferno, it added that the Transition Community chairman of the council, Godwin Ekpe declared seven days of mourning by all indigenes of the local government.

It also stated that the council chairman has sought the approval of the state government to withdraw all Ukanafun contingent in the ongoing Christmas Carol activity scheduled to hold on 28th December 2023.

The statement read in parts, “Sequel to the tragic fire incident that occurred at the residence of our Late State Party Chairman, Obong Udo Ekpenyong on 24th December 2023 which claimed the lives of his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Udo Ekpenyong and her sister, Ms Ofonime Frank, the Chairman, Transition Committee, Ukanafun Local Government Area, Hon. (Elder) Godwin Ekpe JP has declared a 7 days mourning period for all indigenes of Ukanafun Local Government from Tuesday 26th of December, 2023 to Monday 1st January, 2024.

“He has also in collaboration with the Stakeholders of the Local Government and approval of the State Government approved a withdrawal of Ukanafun’s contingent and performance in the ongoing Christmas unplugged activity earlier scheduled to hold on the 28th of December, 2023.

“While sympathizing with the family of the deceased, we pray for the repose of the departed souls”.

About 26 people were reportedly killed in Christmas Eve attacks by bandits on some communities in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.

It was gathered that 11 persons were killed in Bokkos LGA, while 15 others persons lost their lives in another attack on villages in Barkin Ladi LGA.

Several houses were also reportedly razed during the attack in Barkin Ladi.

It was gathered that both incidents started at about 11:00 pm Sunday night.

It was learnt that yet to be identified gunmen came into the communities and started shooting sporadically.

A clergyman and five members of the same family were among the 11 people killed in Bokkos LGA.

Spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, when contacted, said, “We are aware of incidents last night in some communities of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos LGAs.

“At the moment I cannot give you the casualty figure, because the DPOs in charge of those areas are working on it and will feed me with the necessary details when they are done, and I will get it across to journalists as soon as it is made available to me.

“At the moment the situation is calm. The Commander in charge of Pankshin and Bokkos is already there and the Commissioner of Police, Julius Alawari, has sent the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations there.

“I’m also told that the injured have been taken to the hospital and are receiving treatment.”

A clergyman and five members of the same family were among the 11 people killed in Bokkos LGA.

Spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, when contacted, said, “We are aware of incidents last night in some communities of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos LGAs.

“At the moment I cannot give you the casualty figure, because the DPOs in charge of those areas are working on it and will feed me with the necessary details when they are done, and I will get it across to journalists as soon as it is made available to me.

“At the moment the situation is calm. The Commander in charge of Pankshin and Bokkos is already there and the Commissioner of Police, Julius Alawari, has sent the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations there.

“I’m also told that the injured have been taken to the hospital and are receiving treatment.”

The Lagos State Government, on Sunday, sealed Quilox Club, Victoria Island, over environmental and safety infractions.

The state government also “strongly warned” Sol Beach, the Good Beach, Landmark Beach and other social centres across the state to ensure that adequate considerations were made towards the safety and well-being of their neighbours and citizens of the state during the Yuletide.

The Lagos State Safety Commission, in a statement on Sunday, said, “A joint enforcement operation between the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and the Lagos State Safety Commission sealed Quilox nightclub over environmental and safety infractions.”

The agencies had in a joint statement on Saturday warned social centres to ensure that their operations did not affect the safety and well-being of other citizens, threatening to sanction any facility that violated the rule.

The statement was signed by the Director General, Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, and General Manager, LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi.

The Lagos State Environment Update, in a tweet via its X handle on Sunday morning, had said, “This is Quilox Club as of today, the 24th of December, 2023. At 7.30 am. When the government takes a final decision on the traffic and environmental nuisances caused by this club, nobody should cry a witch-hunt.”

Attached to the tweet was a video of heavy traffic in front of Quilox club, believed to have been caused by the event at the club as shown in the video.

At least 14 people were killed by gunmen in Plateau State between Saturday and Sunday.

It was learnt that the night attack occurred in the Lisham Kwahasnat community, situated between the Mangu and Bokkos local government areas of the state.

It was further gathered that following the killings, the villagers who were infuriated by the attacks went after the assailants, leading to the burning of several houses and the destruction of properties in different localities on Sunday.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alabo Alfred, said he would find out about the situation and get back to our correspondent when contacted on the incident on Sunday.

However, the spokesman for the military task force in charge of maintaining peace in the state, Capt. Oya James confirmed the killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday.

James, who condemned the renewed violence in the area, said more troops had been deployed to the troubled communities to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

James said, “We were on our to way Mangu to prepare for an event tomorrow (Monday) when we were told that there was a little unrest in Bokkos and we had to move to Bokkos and we have been there since morning till now.

“What happened was that some assailants went to a village between Mangu and Bokkos and killed 14 persons. The villagers were also attacking herders thinking possibly that they were the ones responsible for the killings. So, we have been here trying to stop them.

“While we were in a particular location, you would hear that they had started attacking another village and our troops would rush to the affected village.

“That is what we have been doing since morning till this Sunday afternoon but the situation has been brought under control because our troops are on the ground and more troops are on their way to ensure that no further breakdown of law and other happens.”

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, in his Christmas goodwill message on Sunday, urged the citizens to embrace peace and love for one another despite current challenges.

In a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor said, “This Christmas, let’s rekindle our love for humanity by dedicating our time and energy to enriching the lives of others. May we embody values of love, charity, and selflessness, contributing to a more united, peaceful, and prosperous Plateau.”

Several shops and goods were destroyed following a gas explosion that occurred at a market at the Council bus stop, Ikotun area of Lagos State, on Saturday.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that no casualties were recorded in the incident which she noted was caused by negligence during the refilling of a gas cylinder.

She said, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire call today at 14:10 hours, when a fire erupted in a market at the second junction, Governor’s Road council bus stop, Ikotun, Lagos.

“The incident was triggered by a gas cylinder leakage and subsequent explosion within one of the shops, rapidly spreading to neighboring shops numbering seven, necessitating an immediate emergency response.

“Multiple agencies swiftly responded to the emergency, including Ejigbo and Isolo fire stations of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, working in collaboration with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Police Force from Ikotun Division, all actively engaged in managing the situation.

“Preliminary investigations point to negligence during the refilling of a gas cylinder as the probable cause of the incident. Fortunately, there are no reported casualties.”

Video footage uploaded by the LSFRS Facebook page and sighted by our correspondent on Saturday evening showed that the fire had been extinguished leaving behind charred remains of razed shops and other destroyed materials in the market.

Some firefighters could also be seen spraying water on the burnt metals and iron roofing sheets to put out pockets of flame emanating from the burnt items.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) says it has re-arrested convicted Italian Floriana De-Stefani for failing to obey a court order upon her conviction by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. EFCC said the judge, on October 7, 2022, found Ms De-Stefani guilty of using false documents and counterfeit seals to confer on herself ownership of a property.

It said the property belonged to a company, Waterside Properties Limited, an offence contrary to Section 366 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

According to the EFCC, the judge, while delivering judgment, sentenced the convict to three years in prison and also ordered the release of the property on 14 A&B Warring Road (formerly Bayo Kuku Road), Ikoyi, Lagos, to Waterside Properties Limited within three weeks.

It said Ms De-Stefani was re-arrested on December 19, 2023, for refusing to vacate the property ordered for release to the company by the court.

“Following her arrest on Tuesday, she was also issued a notice by the commission to vacate the property within seven days or risk legal actions.

De-Stefani, alongside Stella Ndubusi Ogboju, was first arraigned on March 30, 2019, on a five-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing of a property belonging to a company, Waterside Properties Limited.

“The charges were later amended by the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima, to a six-count charge,” the EFCC statement said.

“That you, Floriana De-Stefani, sometime in 2015, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable court, dishonestly converted for your own use a property known and situated at No.14A/B Warring Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, a property of Waterside Properties Limited,” said one of the anti-corruption agency’s charges against the Italian.

The Abia State Police Command has arrested two men, Onyebuchi Ukandu, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state for allegedly torturing a man to death.

According to the statement on Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, during the parade of the suspects, the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, who was in charge of a building site in Osisioma, was arrested by the vigilante men for having in his possession some pipe rods.

City Round gathered that the suspects chained the victim and demanded a sum of money to be paid before he was released but he died in their custody.

The statement by the PRO said, “At about 10 am on December 1, a complainant reported at Osisioma Division that on November 30 at about 9 am, he was informed on the phone that his elder brother, Alex Ukaegbu, who resides in the Tonimas area of Osisioma, who was also in charge of a building site same area was arrested by members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante Unit Osisioma on December 29 at about 5 pm with some pieces of iron rods.

“The vigilante allegedly chained him in their office and were negotiating his release for the sum of N50,000. Unfortunately, Alex Ukaegbu died while in their custody.”

Following this report, police operatives were dispatched to the scene for investigations and the lifeless body of Alex Ukaegbu was deposited at Alanwemadu Mortuary Osisioma for preservation.

The vigilante commander, Ukandu Onyebuchi, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi have been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The Police Command in Kano State has arrested a 24-year-old housewife, Hafsat Surajo, for allegedly stabbing her domestic staff, Nafi’u Hafiz, to death.

According to the Police, the incident occurred at Unguwa Uku of Taurani Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

This was made known on Friday by the Commissioner of Police, CP Hussaini Gumel.

Gumel, who addressed newsmen, stated that a report was received on December 21 from one Hafizu Salisu that he got a phone call from Daiyanu Abdullahi of Unguwa Uku, Kano, that his brother, Nafi’u Hafiz, is dead.

He added that when the brother arrived the residence at Unguwa Uku, he found several injuries, suspected to be knife stabs, on different parts of the deceased’s body.

The commissioner of police said investigation led to the arrest of the key suspect, Hafsat Surajo, a housewife in the residence where the deceased lived.

According to him, the suspect confessed to singlehandedly stabbing the deceased on several parts of his body.

“Her husband, one Dayyabu Abdullahi of the same address, and their gateman, Malam Adamu, were arrested for aiding, packaging and concealing the dead body to give cover up for the culpable homicide,” the CP stated.

Gumel said investigation led to the recovery of a knife with bloodstains used in committing the crime.

He added that the suspect would be charged to court after investigations.

The Lagos State Government, on Thursday, announced that the sections of the Third Mainland Bridge recently closed for repair works would be reopened to traffic at 6 pm on Thursday (yesterday).

The PUNCH reports that sections of the Oworonshoki-Adekunle and Lagos Island (Adeniji Adele)- Adekunle ramps of the Third Mainland Bridge were closed in November for repair and maintenance works.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said in a statement on Thursday that “parts of the Third Mainland Bridge which were closed last month will reopen today 21st December, 2023 by 6pm.

“Following essential maintenance, the entire bridge is now fully accessible to the public, ensuring smoother connectivity and safe commuting.”

Meanwhile, in a separate statement on Thursday, Osiyemi announced a three-night traffic diversion from 12 am (midnight) to 5 am from Thursday December 21, to Saturday, December 23 at Fadeyi inward long bridge, Alaka inward Stadium flyover, and Dorman Long Bridge inward Fadeyi.

The commissioner said the diversion was for the installation of truck barriers on the bridges.

“Consequently, motorists are advised to use the following routes during the nighttime installation of the barriers: During the installation at Alaka inward Stadium axis, motorists from Eko Bridge/Constain/Iponri inbound Ojuelegba/Alhaji Masha Road will be diverted to the service lane from Alaka via National Stadium gate to link Barracks or Alhaji Masha Road to continue their journeys.

“Motorists from Eko Bridge via Costain and those from Apapa Road going through Iponri will make use of Iponri Estate Road to link Bode Thomas via Adeniran Ogunsanya to Shitta Roundabout for their desired destinations.

“During the installation at Dorman Long Bridge inward and outbound Fadeyi, motorists from Western Avenue inbound Ikorodu Road will be diverted to Empire Road/Jibowu to continue their journeys.

Motorists from Western Avenue can alternately use Agege Motor Road to link Mushin and proceed to their desired destinations,” Osiyemi stated.

The Nigeria Police has charged a 23-year-old man, Saidi Musa, to a Kwara State Magistrates Court sitting in Ilorin over an alleged killing of his father, Chief Musa, the Elemosho of Shareland in Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State.

Saidi will stand trial for culpable homicide before the court for allegedly macheting his father to death.

Saidi was alleged to have attacked his father who was the traditional chief in Share, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Council in the state, over alleged ‘cause’ being rained on him by the deceased father without any cause.

“Police First Information Report (FIR) revealed Saidi’s claim that his father was causing him without any reason while sitting in the sitting room.

“Saidi, reportedly got annoyed as a result of his father’s unpleasant words and attacked him with cutlass on the head, hitting him severally till he died and later escaped to a mountain in Share”, the FIR stated.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Abdullah Sanni, informed the court that the matter is not ordinarily bailable considering the fact that it’s culpable homicide urging the court to consider the motion exparte attached to the FIR and order that the defendant should be remanded in the Correctional facility centre.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Alhaji Mohammed Dasuki, in his short ruling, ordered Saidi’s remand while the matter is adjourned to 9th January, 2024 for mention.

“This Court lacks jurisdiction on this matter which is Culpable homicide punishable with death. In view of the exparte motion attached to the charge paper, I hereby order that the defendant be put in the Federal Correctional Service facility in Ilorin till the next adjourned date. The case is adjourned till 24th of January, 2024 for mention”, he said.

The Police Recruitment Board has approved the commencement of screening for successful applicants for recruitment into the constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force for January 8, 2024.

The board met on Thursday at the Corporate Headquarters of the Police Service Commission in Jabi, Abuja where it took several decisions in respect of the next stages of the recruitment exercise.

The spokesperson for the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday.

He revealed that at the close of the recruitment portal in December, 416,270 Nigerian youths were found to have satisfied the initial requirements for the next stage of the exercise, adding that the successful applicants were made up of 315,065 for general duty and 101,205 for specialist cadre.

He noted that after the closure of the recruitment portal, Kaduna State, with 31,117 successful applicants, tops the list, followed by Adamawa with 29,848 successful applicants.

Ani said, “Anambra State with 1,141 has the least successful applicants nationwide, followed by Ebonyi, 1,537; Lagos, 1,775 and Abia, 2,110.

“The board demands that candidates must conduct themselves in a manner required of Nigerian youths desirous of a career in the Nigeria Police Force, an institution guided by strict laws and regulations and which holds discipline as a bedrock for its existence.”

He said the successful candidates were expected to receive their letters of invitation on or before December 23, 2023, for the next stage of the exercise, which would include both physical and credentials screening to be conducted in the applicant’s state of origin.

The Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, in Katsina, has recaptured two awaiting trial inmates who had previously escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Katsina on October 17, 2023.

Following their escape, a joint effort involving various security agencies was swiftly launched to track down the fugitives.

A statement released on Wednesday by ASC Najibullah Idris, the Public Relations Officer of the Katsina Command, disclosed that the first escapee, Ibrahim Muhammad Lawal, also known as Abba Kala, had been arrested earlier through the collaborative efforts of the search party.

He noted that NCoS took decisive measures, utilising both technological means like the e-tracking mechanism and a combination of overt and covert intelligence gathering to locate the second escapee, Musa Isah.

Fortunately, the efforts culminated in the successful recapture of Isah in the Kaduna metropolis on December 19, 2023.

The Katsina State Command of NCoS emphasised that both escapees are now securely back in custody.

Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa expressed appreciation for the relentless efforts of the search team and affirmed the commitment of the correctional service to ensure the security of all custodial centres.

Gunmen suspected to be notorious bandits have killed a man in Kwalfada village of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State for refusing to marry his daughter to their colleague.

According to a resident of the community, Usman Magaji, one of the bandits proposed marriage to one of the girls in the village but the girl’s father outrightly rejected the proposal.

Magaji explained that the girl’s father decided to marry her to another villager, ignoring the bandit’s proposal.

“Immediately after the marriage was contracted, the bandits stormed the village and killed the father of the girl.

“The terrorists also demanded that the newly married husband should immediately divorce his wife so that their colleague could marry her.

“They threatened to kill the husband if he did not comply with the directive.

“The husband immediately divorced the wife and she was remarried to the bandit who took her to the forest,” he said.

Magaji recalled that the bandits have been terrorizing the community for a long period of time due to no provision of security for the community members.

According to him, the bandits have been imposing levies on the community members, pointing out that, a few weeks ago the villagers paid N4 million.

“We had to sell our food items and other valuables before we could raise the amount,” he said.

The State police command’s spokesman, Yazid Abdulahi, had yet to make any comment on the issue as at the time of filing the report.

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 58-year-old Nurudeen Ibrahim to five years imprisonment with hard labour over conspiracy and false pretence with intent to defraud and indecent assault.

Ibrahim appeared before the court on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, false pretence with intent to defraud and indecent assault.

The charge read, “That the defendant and others now at large in the month of September 2019 in Aramoko Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State did conspire to commit felony, to wit; felony, also did under false pretence and with intent to defraud obtain N10.4m from one Yinka and as well indecently assault the complainant.”

The police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, said the offences were punishable under sections 516, 419, and 353 of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

Adejare called seven witnesses and tendered statements of the victim and that of the defendant, statements of account of the victim, photographs of the victim on the sick bed, fetish materials, and a Toyota Camry car among others as exhibits.

The defendant, who spoke in his defence through his counsel, Busuyi Ayorinde, denied some of the allegations but admitted to having obtained N8 million from the victim.

Delivering his judgment, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola said, “I found the defendant not guilty for the offence of conspiracy, he is discharged and acquitted.

Shehu Nadada assumed duty as the 28th police commissioner in Nasarawa on Tuesday.

The command’s spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel, a deputy superintendent of police, said in a statement in Lafia that Mr Nadada took over from Mohammed Maiyaki, who recently retired from service.

He said Mr Nadada, until his deployment to Nasarawa command, was the commissioner in charge of the Katsina command and had also served as a deputy commissioner of police in Nasarawa.

Mr Nadada, who hails from Kano, was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, and had served in various capacities within the last 31 years.

He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Biology from Bayero University, Kano, and a masters in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Mr Nadada, while taking over the reign of leadership, solicited the support and collaboration of the public to tackle criminals.

He also appealed to the public to provide the police with useful information to help tackle the spate of crimes in Nasarawa.

Gunmen, in the early hours of Tuesday, kidnapped a second-class chief and 20 residents in the Pupule area of Yorro LGA in Taraba.

The gunmen, according to locals in the area, invaded the community around 2:00 a.m. and took away 21 members of the community.

Reports from the locals also suggested that the chief, Umaru Abubakar, his son and his pregnant daughter, as well as his police orderly, were kidnapped during the attack.

“Twenty-one members of our community here in Pupule were kidnapped this morning. The gunmen invaded our community around 2:00 a.m. and carried out the attack.

“They kidnapped a second-class chief of our area, Alhaji Umaru Abubakar Nyala, his son and pregnant daughter, as well as his police orderly,” the source who pleaded anonymity narrated.

Police spokesman in Taraba, Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the attack.