Metro

How Drunk Policeman Killed My Son, Widow Cries Out

Published

3 months ago

March 21, 2025

Editor

A widow of 11 years with nine children, Aisha Hassan, has accused operatives of the Niger State Police command of killing his 27-year-old son, Sani Khalid, in cold blood.

It was gathered that the incident happened in the Angwa-Kaje area of Maitumbi, Minna, Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, where she lived with her children before Khalid was allegedly killed by a police bullet.

Aisha, 45, The PUNCH that she and her children were sleeping in their apartment around 3am when Khalid stood up and went outside to get some fresh air due to the hot weather conditions.

She said before she knew what was happening, she heard an approaching police patrol vehicle and also heard a gunshot. When she heard the second gunshot, Instinctively, she told the children who were with her that somebody had been shot.

Aisha immediately ran outside to look for Khalid, and to her shock, she found Khalid lying on a bench in the nearby shop of a Mai Shai or tea vendor.

According to the widow, she cautiously went to where Khalid was lying down and shook him to get up and come inside the house, but Khalid did not react. When she repeated the act, Khalid fell down from the bench lifeless.

Aisha said she began to scream that the police had killed her son. Neighbours who were getting ready for the day’s Muslim fasting session soon gathered around to console her while some quickly took the body of Khalid to a nearby hospital where the doctors confirmed that he had been shot dead.

Narrating her ordeal, she told The PUNCH during an exclusive interview: “My name is Aisha Hassan. I lost my husband 11 years ago. We had nine children, but one died.

“On the night that he died, he was actually killed just like that. We were all in the house around 3am. When Sani got up and said he was going to take some fresh air.

“Shortly after, I heard the sound of a police patrol vehicle, and it was later followed by a gunshot. When I heard the second gunshot, I instinctively told my children that somebody had been shot. I left the room to look for Sani. I found him lying on a bench at a mai shai’s shop. I went to wake him to tell him to come inside the house.

“I shook him, but he was lifeless. I tried to shake him again, and he rolled down to the floor. I began to scream that the police had shot my son. People came over there and said we should take him to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, the doctors confirmed him dead.

“Sani, my son, was like the family’s breadwinner after my husband died. He was a footballer and used to do some trading in the market, but now that the police have killed him, they should bring back my son.”

Some neighbours in the Angwa Kaje area told The PUNCH that the policeman who shot Khalid was obviously drunk when he shot the gun, as he also attempted to shoot the mai hai but the mai shai narrowly escaped.

According to one of the neighbours, he said Khalid was unarmed and lying on the mai shai’s bench when the bullet hit him. They pointed out that the place was quiet as it was still very early in the morning.

“The policeman was drunk when he came down from the patrol van. He just shot at Khalid in the stomach while he was on the bench. He also tried to shoot the mai shai, but he escaped from the shop. We were getting ready for our fasting, and there was no disturbance. We were just wondering what the police came to do when we heard the sound of their patrol van,” one of the neighbours who gave his name as Ibrahim told our correspondent.

When The PUNCH visited Aisha at her Angwa Kaje home, she was still in a mourning mood with over 50 Muslim women who came to comfort and condole her. They all sat on the floor on the premises, speaking in hushed tones.

Aisha, who could not speak the English language, responded to questions through an interpreter who accompanied The PUNCH.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Police command spokesman Wasiu Abiodun confirmed Khalid’s killing, saying it was a stray bullet that hit Kalid.

He also said the youths in the area were causing unrest during the incident.

However, he was silent on the allegation that the policeman who shot the bullet that killed Khalid was under the influence of alcohol.

Abiodun simply stated, “On 10/3/2025 at about 3am, a Police patrol team attached to Maitumbi received a distress call that some youths were causing unrest at the Angwan-Kaje area of Maitumbi

“The team mobilised to the area, and unfortunately, the team was attacked by the youths with stones. In a bid to disperse the boys, one of the patrol team members fired gunshots, and stray bullets allegedly hit one Sani Khalid of the same address on the stomach

“The Police Command received the complaint of the alleged shooting, and DPO Maitumbi has been directed to investigate and identify the personnel who allegedly committed such an act for further necessary action.

“Further development and action taken will be made known to the public in due course,” Abiodun concluded.

Metro

Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals For Economic Sabotage, Orders Repatriation

Published

2 hours ago

June 8, 2025

Editor

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced nine Chinese nationals, including two women, to one year’s imprisonment each for offences bordering on economic sabotage and financial terrorism.

Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the judgment on Wednesday, following the defendants’ guilty plea under a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts — Zhao Xiang Hui, Liu Hai Rong, Liu Gang, Du Ji Geng, Li Dong, Huang Bo, Xhiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, and Deng Wei Qiang — were each fined N1 million in addition to their custodial sentences.

The court further ordered their repatriation to China upon completion of their prison terms.

The EFCC had arrested the convicts on December 10, 2024, during a massive raid on a building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Lagos.

Over 700 suspects were apprehended during the operation, which targeted a suspected cybercrime and economic sabotage syndicate.

During proceedings, counsel for the EFCC, Nnemeka Omewa, informed the court that the defendants had opted for a plea bargain, which the commission found acceptable.

Counsel for the defence, Folarin Damela, also confirmed the arrangement and urged the court to adopt it.

Justice Osiagor thereafter read the amended one-count charge to the defendants, to which they all pleaded guilty

The charge accused them of accessing computer systems in December 2024 with the intent to destabilise Nigeria’s economic and social structure.

It further stated that they employed Nigerian youths to commit identity theft and impersonation for financial gain.

The court ruled that their prison terms should commence from December 10, 2024, the day of their arrest.

Additionally, the judge ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convicts — including furniture, laptops, and other computer gadgets — to the Federal Government.

Justice Osiagor also mandated the Nigerian Immigration Service to deport the convicts after they serve their sentences.

Metro

Man On Hard Drugs Dies After Jumping Into Well

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2025

Editor

The Kwara State Fire Service on Saturday recovered the lifeless body of a 43-year-old man who jumped into a well in the Edun area of Ilorin West Local Government Area, following Sallah celebrations.

The deceased, identified simply as Kareem, was said to be under the influence of a hard drug, Synthetic Cannabinoids locally known as ‘Colorado’.

Kareem jumped into the well at Ile Alapo, Edun, shortly after returning from the Eid-el-Kabir prayers on Friday.

In a statement issued on Saturday, by Head of Media and Publicity for the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the recovery of the body.

According to the statement, “The distress call was received by the Fire Service control room at about 10:29 hours, reporting that a man had fallen into a well,” adding that firefighters were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they successfully retrieved the body.

“The victim, identified as Kazeem, reportedly jumped into the well under the influence of a hard substance known as Colo (Colorado) shortly after returning from Eid prayers.

“The body was handed over to Inspector Babatunde Amos of the C Division Police Station, Ilorin.

“The Ministry awaits formal identification and claim of the body by the victim’s family.”

Efforts to contact the spokesperson of Kwara Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi was proved abortive unsuccessful, as she did not respond to calls or messages sent to her WhatsApp number as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sadness over the tragic incident.

He seized the moment to urge residents of the state to steer clear of drug abuse, warning that such habits often lead to devastating consequences.

Metro

NAF Airstrikes Kill Terrorists, Destroy Hideouts In Borno

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force said it has carried out precision airstrikes on key Boko Haram strongholds in Borno State, neutralising several terrorists.

The service also said the airstrikes crippled terrorists logistics infrastructure ahead of the Eid celebrations.

According to a statement on Saturday, by the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the airstrikes were conducted under Operation HADIN KAI on June 5 and 6, targeting terrorist enclaves in Tumbumma Baba and Chiralia, located in the Southern Tumbuns region of the state.

The strikes, which he said followed credible intelligence reports, were aimed at structures used by the insurgents for storage and operational coordination.

He noted that Battle Damage Assessments confirmed the neutralisation of several terrorists and the destruction of key logistics structures.

Ejodame said, “In a series of precision airstrikes conducted on 5 and 6 June 2025, the Nigerian Air Force, under Operation HADIN KAI, decimated key Boko Haram hideouts at Tumbumma Baba and Chiralia in the Southern Tumbuns, Borno State.

“Acting on credible intelligence, NAF aircraft targeted terrorist structures reportedly used for storage and coordination, delivering direct hits and crippling planned attacks aimed at disrupting Eid celebrations.

“Battle Damage Assessments confirmed the neutralisation of several terrorists and the destruction of key logistics structures. This pre-emptive action underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to safeguarding civilian lives and supporting national security objectives.”