US law enforcement officials in Minnesota said the suspected killer of a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband was taken into custody without force on Sunday, after a two-day manhunt.

Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday following a two-day manhunt in the Midwestern state, law enforcement officials said.

“There was no use of force by any member of law enforcement that was out there, and the suspect was taken into custody without an use of force,” Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger told a press conference.

Recall Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi decried the incident as “horrific violence” and said the perpetrators would be prosecuted to “the fullest extent of the law.”

READ ALSO: US Lawmaker Shot Dead, Another Wounded In Targeted Attack

State representative Melissa Hortman — the former speaker — and her husband Mark were killed at their home near Minneapolis, Governor Tim Walz told a press conference.

State senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded, the governor said, his voice breaking with emotion. He said officials remained “cautiously optimistic” they would recover.

“This was an act of targeted political violence,” Walz told reporters.

“Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.”

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said Hoffman and his wife were shot first, and as police investigated, Hortman and her husband were shot about 90 minutes later.

The suspected gunman was able to escape during an exchange of gunfire with officers near Hortman’s residence, Evans told reporters.

An inspector of Police in Edo State, identified as Chris from the X-Squad, has been reportedly arrested and detained for allegedly forging an affidavit to remand 22-year-old Aibuedefe Igbinova Grace in correctional custody using the court.

An Area Court in Jos on Monday sentenced friends Michael Auta and Gabriel Sunday to 12 months imprisonment each for stealing clothes valued at N488,000.

The judge, Mrs Shawomi Bokkos, sentenced the convicts after they pleaded guilty to the offence.
The judge, however, gave the convicts an option of a fine of N50,000 each.

She also ordered that they both pay compensation of N200,000 each to the complainant or risk another 12 months in jail for default.

READ ALSO:Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals For Economic Sabotage, Orders Repatriation

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Insp Daniel Damulak, told the court that the case was reported at the B division police station on April 17 by the complainant, one Ms Gift Ernest.

Damulak said the complainant told the police that the accused persons trespassed into her shop and stole clothes valued at N488,000.

He said that during the police investigation, the accused persons confessed to having committed the offence.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code law of Northern Nigeria of 2017.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, has officially launched a ₦1 billion interest-free loan scheme, as part of the fulfilment of his campaign promises.

The governor at the launching also said it was a direct alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for national progress.

Okpebholo, addressing market women and men, described the initiative as a beacon of hope for over 5,000 farmers and small business owners across the state, adding that it would inject vitality into grassroots commerce.

He said “There is an adage: follow who knows the road. That is why we decided to follow the footsteps of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

READ ALSO: Okpebholo Prioritises Security, Workers Welfare, Says Idahosa

He added, “Today, what we are doing in Edo State is the implementation of the agenda of the President. We thank God for the kind of leadership He has given to Edo State and Nigeria. Now, it is time for the progress for our people.”

The Governor underscored the personal commitment behind the scheme, recalling his campaign promise to provide soft loans.

He emphasized that this N1 billion fund was the fulfillment of that pledge, but with a crucial safeguard.

“I just wanted to be sure that this money will not go into the wrong hands. That is the essence of this gathering. Because, with my past experience, whenever the Executive gives out loans, the money does not get to the grassroots,”  Okpebholo noted.

READ ALSO:Join Govt In Fight Against Hunger, Okpebholo Urges Nigerians

“If you do not get this, come back to me and report.” He also revealed that this initial rollout is a “pilot test,” with its success paving the way for future replications of the scheme.

In his statement, Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Ehidiamen Okoebor, said: “It is with great pride and a sense of responsibility that I stand before you today to welcome everybody to this occasion of the launching of the N1 billion interest-free loan to Edo people, our traders, our market women, our brothers and our fathers in the state,” he declared.

Okoebor said the scheme would “boost the economy of our rural areas and semi-urban areas, create jobs, and reduce poverty.”

He added, “Now, he has come to empower the people.” Crucially, he explained the zero-interest feature that sets this loan apart. “Before now, our mothers collected loans and paid 10% on N200,000. For this, there is no interest. You pay back what you borrowed.”

“Each of the 5,000 beneficiaries will receive N200,000, with a generous 12-month repayment period and a one-month moratorium, offering vital breathing room for businesses to stabilize.”