Metro

Army Kills 10 Bandits, Rescues Nine Kidnapped Victims

Published

1 year ago

January 4, 2024

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, have neutralised 10 terrorists and rescued nine kidnapped victims between Zamfara and Katsina States.

They also recovered arms and ammunition including operational motorcycles and communication gadgets.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Information Officer, Cpt. Ibrahim Yahaya.

Yahaya said that the feat was recorded in recent dry season clearance operations commanded by the General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Godwin Mutkut.

Yahaya said that on January 3, 2024, the combined troops of the OPHD conducted an offensive operation in identified terrorist enclaves at Batsari and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State, neutralising 10 of the terrorists while others fled with gunshot wounds.

He maintained that the troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, ammunition, seven Dane guns, three locally fabricated guns, and other dangerous weapons as well as communication gadgets.

Mobile phones, military uniforms, and four motorcycles were recovered and destroyed by the military.

“Similarly, on the same day, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, operating in Zamfara State, conducted a search and rescue operation at Dansadau and Dandalla villages in Maru LG of Zamfara State.

“During the operation, nine kidnapped victims were rescued including five women and four babies,” he said.

Yahaya added that the victims were abandoned by the terrorists who fled after a gun duel with the resilient troops.

“The rescued victims were immediately reunited with their families at Magami in Zamfara State,” Said Yahaya.

The Commander, Maj-Gen Godwin Mutkut, commended the efforts of the troops and urged them to maintain the tempo.

The PUNCH reports that troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army deployed at Birnin Yero in Igabi LG, Kaduna State, rescued 11 civilians kidnapped at Anguwan Maharba and Dandami villages by bandits.

However, two of the abducted victims were killed by the bandits before the arrival of the troops.

Also, men of Operation Hadarin Jadi destroyed terrorists’ enclaves, neutralised scores of them and recovered arms and ammunition in Zamfara and Sokoto States.

Metro

CBEX Fraud: EFCC Declares Two More Wanted

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday declared two more individuals wanted in connection with an alleged fraud case linked to a digital trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange, popularly known as CBEX.

The suspects, identified as Folashade Odelana and Bamidele Ayodele Abiodun, were accused of orchestrating fraudulent activities that reportedly led to significant financial losses for unsuspecting investors.

12 persons had been declared wanted by the commission in connection with the same scheme.

In a notice published across its official social media platforms, the anti-graft agency asked members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward.

The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that the persons whose photographs appear below are wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX). FOLASHADE ODELANA. Odelana is 31 years old and her last known address is at No. 17, Oremeta Street, Allen, Ikeja, Lagos State.

“BAMIDELE AYODELE ABIODUN. Abiodun is 32 years old. His last known address is at No.17, Oremeta Street, Allen, Ikeja, Lagos State.

“Anybody with useful information as to their whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices, or through these numbers 09-9044751-3, 08093322644, 08183322644, 07026350721-3, 0706350724-5; its e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

No fewer than 600,000 Nigerians reportedly invested in the scheme and lost N1.3tn after it collapsed in April 2025.

Metro

Protest In Osun Over Alleged Amotekun’s Arrest, Detention Of Community Chiefs

Published

1 day ago

June 4, 2025

Editor

Residents of the Itaapa community in Atakumosa-East Local Government Area of Osun State on Wednesday stormed the Amotekun command headquarters protesting alleged indiscriminate arrest and detention of leaders of the town.

The protesters bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Embarrassment, Amotekun De-robed our chiefs”, “Osun Amotekun has become a political tool”, Amotekun supporting criminals”, among, urged the Inspector General of Police to look into the situation.

Addressing newsmen at the protest scene, the leader of the protesters, Chief Olusegun Owoeye said the community has been deserted following the indiscriminate arrest and detention of residents by Amotekun operatives.

It is unfortunate that Amotekun subjected itself to the whims and caprices of criminals terrorising our community over time. It is on record that some criminals already arrested by the police and others on wanted list for terrorising the community have now turn around using the community through PDP leaders to hunt innocent residents of Itaapa.

After the terror acts of the said criminals, including Bode Itaapa in police custody, the community was advised to form a vigilante group by the police to watch over itself.

Those under the said vigilante, having prevented criminals from extorting and harassing residents are now being arrested by the police. Ten community leaders are also in their custody for over five days now.

“We demand their release and called on the Inspector General of Police to order proper investigation into the present situation in the community”, he said.

Reacting, Osun Amotekun Corps Commandant Adekunle Omoyele, said those arrested by Amotekun were being investigated for criminal activities, adding that the corps has laid down procedure for arrest and investigation which it followed to the letter in the case at hand.

We arrested suspects with pump action riple, who claimed to be members of vigilante in the State. The people they mentioned during investigation were also arrested and being investigated. There is no need to drag politics into a pure criminal issues. We will conduct thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that Justice is dispensed in the case”, he said.
(VANGUARD)

Metro

Man Falls From 26-storey Cocoa House In Oyo

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2025

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified man has reportedly fallen from one of the top floors of the 26-storey Cocoa House building in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident, which threw the entire business community into panic, occurred in the early hours of Monday.

One of the eyewitnesses said, “When the incident happened, I initially thought it was a large bird falling from the sky.

“It was only when the person landed that I realised it was a human being.

“I had my phone with me but I couldn’t even record anything because I was completely shocked.”

Another eyewitness said, “The victim first hit a roof beside the security post of the building before landing on the ground. It was a terrifying sight.”

As of press time, the circumstances behind the unfortunate incident were still sketchy as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, a statement released by Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the firm managing Cocoa House, on Tuesday, in Ibadan, the state capital, confirmed the incident.

The Head of Branding and Communication of the company, Victor Ayetoro, who authorised the statement, said, “The individual involved was swiftly attended to by the emergency response team and taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for urgent medical attention.

“The company expressed deep concerns over the development and assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the fall,” he added.