Villagers of Kwatarkwashi district in Bungudu Local Government area of Zamfara State had on Friday killed a suspected bandit along the Gusau -Zaria highway.

According to a villager who pleaded anonymity, community members recognized the suspected bandit as one of the suspects terrorizing the area, chased him and killed him.

According to him, after killing the bandit, the villagers recovered two sophisticated guns in his possession.

“The body of the murdered bandit was abandoned along Gusau-Zaria highway even as residents went about their legitimate business”, he added.

Recall that a few days ago, two suspected informers were also intercepted along the Kura area, a few metres from the scene of the incident.

The Chairman of Aguiyi Ironsi International Spare Parts Association at Ladipo Market in Lagos, Chief Chukwuma Onyebinanma, a.k.a Ikukuoma, has landed in trouble after purportedly destroying the good will he had with the traders duo to poor leadership and allegedly using violence by force of arms to retain power in the market.

The Inspector General of Police has ordered for an investigation over allegations of using arms to cause violence, harassment and intimidation of traders, who he perceived as opponents in the market.

Thus, Chief Onyebinanma was arrested following the order of the IGP by the IRT team led by Mr. Sanusi in Lagos and subsequently moved to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

Unknown to Ikukuoma, the Police intelligence from IRT Abuja had monitored him for several days and confirmed the allegations of his executives empowering his task force team with arms such as knives and cutlasses and consequently arrested and detained him at the Lagos State Police Command.

While the Police team was about to fly him to Abuja, he became shivery, developed serious health challenges and he was allowed to go home for treatment before he went to Abuja over the allegations by some traders.

According to some of the traders, Ikukuoma destroyed his good will when he took over and became unpopular in the market. He wanted to contest for second tenure and have realized that he may likely lose in the coming election.

He was alleged to have resorted to intimidating and harassing known opponents and introduced the use of fresh ID, which he used to disenfranchise his opponents.

The Kebbi State Police Command has reported that its operatives killed a suspected bandit terrorising a local community and arrested two others.

The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Abubakar, in a statement issued on Friday, disclosed that three AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered during the operation.

The statement read, “In its sustained crackdown on banditry and other serious crimes in the state, on June 21, 2024, at approximately 13:30hrs, armed bandits in large numbers on motorcycles invaded Kurgeye village, Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, and kidnapped Malami Danladi and his son, Bello Danladi.

“Upon receiving the report, a team of 36 PMF personnel on special duty, in collaboration with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, responded swiftly, engaging the bandits in a pursuit, which led to an exchange of gunfire.

“During the confrontation, one bandit was shot dead, and one AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine, as well as a Bajaj motorcycle, were recovered.”

The statement further revealed that on 3rd September 2024, security operatives, in a joint patrol with VGN members along the Ribah-Kanya Road, “intercepted and arrested two individuals: Isiya Alhaji Usman and Yunusa Yusuf, both from Auda village in Danko/Wasagu LGA, suspected to be part of the bandits terrorising the area.

“Upon searching them, a K2 rifle, a fabricated AK-47 rifle with three magazines, and 66 rounds of live ammunition were recovered.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, praised the gallant efforts of his officers, urging them to not only maintain but enhance their performance.

The CP also called on all security agencies operating in the region to strengthen their cooperation in order to decisively tackle banditry and other criminal activities, ensuring the socio-economic stability of the state.

As a result, the CP ordered the transfer of the arrested suspects and recovered items to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation and prosecution.

At least 20 persons have been confirmed dead in the last two weeks in Gashua, Bade local government area of Yobe State amid the collapse of houses due to heavy rainfall.

While confirming the incident, the Executive Chairman of the local government area, Babagana Ibrahim, said many residents are now taking refuge in three designated camps.

Ibrahim said that the government was providing the immediate needs of the displaced persons such as food items, medical care, hygiene kits, clean drinking water, and food to protect them from any disease outbreaks.

The local government boss appealed for more support from the federal government and donour agencies.

“The number of the displaced persons has risen to about 3,000. We need the federal government and donour agencies to support states and local government areas affected by flood in providing relief materials to them.

“It’s been raining these days and many houses are collapsing, especially mud houses. This morning alone, four people have been confirmed dead in Gashua.

“Already, the two federal roads leading to Gashua have been cut off in the last ten days, making it difficult for the humanitarian workers to respond to the needs of the displaced persons,” he said.

He has directed those living in mud houses to vacate to forestall further casualties from the flood.

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a senior nursing officer at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo, Ikenne Local government area in Ogun State, Elizabeth Uruakpa by suspected kidnappers.

The police public relations officer Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident during a chat with Channels Television correspondent in Abeokuta the state capital.

” A distress call was received from Ilishan near the new market at about 1710hrs that one Elizabeth Uruakpa was abducted by young armed men who blocked her Honda CRV with their unregistered Red Toyota Camry, and zoomed off with her,” she said.

She said efforts are being intensified by the anti-kidnapping unit of the command to ensure she is released unhurt.

“We have mobilised into the bush and the Officer in Charge of Anti Kidnapping has been contacted for possible clue and movement”

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 11 suspected kidnappers and recovered a cache of arms and a large sum of money during operations across the state.

In a statement on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mansir Hassan, said the arrests were linked to the kidnapping of a district head on 14 August 2024, who was released two days later.

Hassan added that police operatives, working in collaboration with local hunters, raided three villages in the Lere Local Government Area, resulting in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of a fabricated single-barrel gun, a vehicle, a motorcycle, and several mobile phones.

In a separate operation, six additional suspects were arrested at a motor park, leading to the recovery of four fabricated AK-47 rifles, two English pistols, two pump-action guns, and a significant sum of money.

The police also apprehended a suspected bandit at a hotel in the Tafa area of Kagarko Local Government. The suspect confessed to involvement in cattle rustling and kidnapping.

The state Commissioner of Police, Audu Dabigi, commended the operatives for their bravery and urged the public to continue cooperating with the police to rid the state of criminals.

Hassan described the arrests and recoveries as a major milestone in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and banditry, which have plagued Kaduna State in recent times.

The statement read: “In connection with the kidnapping of a district head on 14 August 2024, who was released on 16 August 2024, police operatives in Saminaka, in collaboration with local hunters, raided three villages in Lere Local Government Area, namely Maraban Wasa, Gurzan Hakimi Mariri, and Abugan Kurama.

“Five suspects were arrested: Abdulhamid Abubakar (alias Bala, 30), Danjuma Luka (alias Uba, 25), Ayuba Simon (50), and Idi Saleh (57). Exhibits recovered included a fabricated single-barrel gun, a green Golf car, a Bajaj motorcycle, and eight mobile phones.

“On 2 September 2024, at about 9:00 PM, police operatives acting on credible intelligence laid an ambush at a motor park, leading to the recovery of four fabricated AK-47 rifles hidden within a consignment.

“Six suspects were arrested the following morning at about 5:10 AM: Lawal Murtala, Isa Kabiru, Auwal Surajo, Kamala Lawal, Umar Adamu, and Kabiru Liman. Recovered items included four fabricated AK-47 rifles, two English pistols, two pump-action guns, 24 cartridges, 29 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, assorted charms, a walkie-talkie, an axe, and ₦908,600 in cash.

“On 3 September 2024, at about 10:00 PM, police received credible information about a suspected bandit staying at a hotel in the Tafa area of Kagarko Local Government. A patrol team arrested Yahaya Yusuf, a 41-year-old male from Kabo Village, Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State. He confessed to involvement in cattle rustling and kidnapping in Niger and Kaduna states. A Tecno mobile phone was recovered from him.”

The Commissioner of Police called on the public to continue cooperating with the police and assured that efforts to combat criminal activities in the state would be intensified.