Metro

Mother Knocks Niger Police For Detaining 10-year-old Son

Published

2 years ago

December 15, 2023

The mother of a 10-year-old, Rakia Aliu, has slammed the Niger State Police Command for keeping her son in custody over alleged theft of some crops of maize in the Kontagora area of the state.

It was learnt that the minor, Ibrahim Sani, allegedly stole about nine “mudu” of maize from a grinding shop and sold it to another person before he was apprehended and handed over to the local vigilante men.

Rakia, while speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, said the boy was detained on account that the man who bought the maize had to appear for questioning.

According to her, the police officer showed up during the investigation, arrested her son and detained him on Wednesday. Rakia said, “He went to the police station around 6pm on Wednesday, they took him away and locked him in the cell till the following morning.”

The PUNCH learnt that the man who bought the maize from the boy had already settled the matter with the “vigilante group” after paying for 15 mudus of the maize as he wasn’t staying in the area.

It was also gathered that he often came into town to buy goods and leave. When contacted, it was revealed that the police said the boy would not be released from custody until the man shows up.

Rakia said, “Now, they want to see the man in the police station that bought the corns from the boy. The boy is still being detained until they see the man. The man is not living here in Kontagura and the boy has been detained since Wednesday.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Niger State, Wasiu Alabi, acknowledged the incident while also affirming that investigation was ongoing to apprehend the receiver. He said the boy was only assisting with investigations.

“It’s not everything that is detention. There’s what we call protective custody, what if the boy is being kept with the police on protective base? It’s not like they will go and keep the boy in the same cell with criminals. It’s not everybody in the police station who is under arrest or detention that is kept with criminals.

“He’s assisting the police to get the receiver. There’s what we call a juvenile offender, it doesn’t mean the boy has not committed an offence.”

He noted that the police Area Command was investigating the suspected theft, and that effort was ongoing to arrest the receiver, as the boy confessed to the crime.

“He is assisting the police to get the receiver, as a juvenile offender,” Alabi concluded.

Metro

Fire Guts Section Of Rivers Secretariat

Published

3 hours ago

October 6, 2025

Editor

A section of the Rivers State Secretariat was on Monday evening gutted by fire, leaving parts of the complex damaged before it was brought under control.

The fire, which reportedly started a few minutes past 5 p.m., was contained through the swift response of the Rivers State Fire Service.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly before firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish it, preventing further damage to nearby offices.

Although the cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the incident.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, also attributed the outbreak to an electrical fault, urging workers to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off before leaving the office.

An unconfirmed source indicated that the fire may have affected the state Pension Commission, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the full impact of the incident as investigations continue.

Metro

18-year-old Hangs Self, Police Launch Investigation

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of an 18-year-old identified as Tersoo Veregh, who allegedly took his own life in Makurdi, the state capital.

According to Zagazola Makama, the deceased’s father, Mr. Veregh Nathaniel, of Iorkyaako Street, High Level area of Makurdi, made the tragic discovery around 2:00 a.m. on October 4, when he stepped out of his room to ease himself and found his son hanging from the ceiling.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of ‘B’ Division, Makurdi, led a team of detectives to the scene. The body was photographed and later taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Police authorities said an investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Metro

Police Intercept Illicit Drugs, Recover Pistols In Delta

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has intercepted a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected illicit drugs.

The truck, with registration number 3BGT 18LG, driven by one Dennis Uruma, a 52-year-old man from Igalamela Local Government Area of Kogi State, was intercepted by a patrol team of the Eagle Net Special Squad, Asaba, led by Commander SP Danyaya Yunusa.

The operation was conducted in synergy with the Office of the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Illicit Drugs and Human Trafficking.

The driver was arrested after the search, while the counting and measurement of the exhibits are ongoing.

In another development, on October 3, 2025, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, led by Commander CSP Nosa Alex, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a targeted raid on a suspected criminal hideout around the Basket Market area of Asaba.

During the operation, three suspects, Rabbi Godwin, 25, Lucky Nanakumo, 20, and David Igwe, 19, were arrested.

A search of the location yielded one fabricated Beretta pistol, which was recovered and secured as evidence.

Again, on October 1, 2025, the DPO ‘B’ Division, Asaba, CSP Edewor Akponegware, led his surveillance team in a swift response to a distress report about a robbery incident around the BONSAAC axis of Asaba, where a female victim was dispossessed of her phone and other valuables at gunpoint by two male suspects.

Working with local vigilantes, the team established a discreet cordon and began a methodical sweep of adjoining streets.

The coordinated push paid off when officers intercepted one suspect, Amara Nwako, 21, a male indigene of Oko, while his accomplice fled into an uncompleted building.

A locally made pistol was recovered during a search of the immediate vicinity. Preliminary findings revealed a possible cult affiliation linking the suspect to a certain Arobaga secret cult.

According to Bright Edafe, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, all the suspects remain in custody, while a manhunt is underway for the fleeing accomplice.

(DAILY POST)