One Feared Dead As Soldiers, Cultists Clash In Ogun

Published

3 years ago

May 24, 2022

Editor

There was pandemonium in the Ibafo axis of Ogun State on Tuesday as soldiers and suspected cultists clashed.

The PUNCH gathered that one soldier was shot during the clash.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH.

When The PUNCH correspondent visited the area around 7 pm, the ever-busy Ibafo market and bus stop were deserted.

As a result of panic created over the clash, commercial vehicles also failed to offload passengers at the Ibafo bus stop.

The PUNCH gathered that the fight started when internet fraudsters clashed in the area over a yet-to-be-ascertained issue.

While one of the fraudsters invited cultists to defend him, the other was said to have called soldiers.

“The cultists first came and later, the soldiers arrived in a private car. The cultists stoned the soldiers and in the process, someone was shot,” an eyewitness said.

Another trader confirmed that one of the soldiers shot his colleague while trying to disperse the cultists.

“We all ran away when the soldiers’ patrol vehicle came. We thought they came to attack us,” the trader added.

When contacted on the telephone, Oyeyemi explained that calm had returned to the area.

He denied reports that Hausa traders stabbed a soldier to death in the area, noting that the shot soldier was immediately rushed to the hospital.

However, Oyeyemi could not ascertain if the shot soldier survived.

He said, “There was a crisis between Yahoo Boys. One went to bring cultists and the other was said to invite soldiers to defend him. A soldier was shot and rushed to the hospital.

“No one reported the case at the police station. The soldiers were said to initially come in their private car before a patrol team came and left afterwards.

“Police have visited the area and everywhere is calm as we speak.”

This is coming four days after two persons were killed in a crisis that erupted in the Mowe-Ofada area of Ogun State.

The PUNCH gathered that the violence in Ogun State started late last Thursday and snowballed to Friday morning.

He said the violence was caused by a clash between two rival groups.

Oyeyemi had said, “It is a fight between two rival groups. One of the cultists was killed yesterday (Thursday) but the situation has been brought under control.

“We have arrested a suspect in relation to the violence.”

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that many traders were scared to open their shops.

One of them, Titi, said, “A dead corpse was found around the Mowe area on Friday morning. We are being careful. Many of us are yet to open our shops. Everywhere is scanty.”

Another trader at Mowe said, “The boys are fighting. Police came to send them away but we have not started selling. Everywhere is scanty.

“They started the fight yesterday evening and continued this morning. Two people were killed at Adesan and Onibode junction.”

Police Impound Vehicle With 387 Blocks Of Cannabis In Bauchi

Published

16 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi state Police Command says it has impounded a vehicle with nothing less than 387 blocks of suspected cannabis sativa after involving in an auto crash in the state.

Sani Omolori-Aliyu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi state Command.

According to him, the car and one other had a head-on collision in Wom village of Toro Local Government Area of the state on October 4, 2025 at about 11:30am.

“Initial reports from eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations indicate that the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was operated by one Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.

“He was transporting the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Suleiman, aged 65, along with his family members as they travelled from Bauchi Metropolis to Nabardo Village.

“The second vehicle, another white Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an individual yet to be identified, who was travelling from Jos, Plateau State, towards Bauchi.

“It was reported that this driver attempted to overtake other vehicles without exercising adequate caution, resulting in a head-on collision with the first vehicle,” he said.

The Commissioner further explained that the occupants of both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transported to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical care.

He said that the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment with other victims while some have been discharged.

Omolori-Aliyu also revealed that in the aftermath of the incident, during the search at the scene, the detectives recovered several items in the damaged vehicle which included the 387 blocks of suspected cannabis.

The Commissioner, who explained that the command was in pursuit of the unidentified driver to ensure accountability and prompt legal action, encouraged anyone with information regarding the driver’s identity to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“The police are committed to diligently pursuing leads to identify the principal suspect.

“The Bauchi State Police Command is dedicated to maintaining peace and order in our community and urges the public to remain calm and cooperative throughout this process.

“We invite anyone with information that could aid in this investigation to contact us and we assure citizens that we are resolutely focused on ensuring justice is achieved,” he said.

While receiving the exhibits, Hussaini Umar, Deputy Commandant, NDLEA, appreciated the police for the cooperation and synergy and promised to work hand in hand to ensure that the driver and the owner were found.

Metro

Fake Revenue Agents Apprehended In Aba While Defrauding Residents

Published

21 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Abia State Harmonized Taskforce has apprehended four individuals impersonating as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for acts of extortion, intimidation, and illegal enforcement along the Port Harcourt Road axis of Aba and its environs.

They were nabbed on Thursday at Flyover junction around Ugwunagbo area through an operation authorized by the Aba Area Coordinator of ASHTF, Mr. Uche Wogu.

A statement issued by Miracle Chukwunenye, spokesperson of the Harmonized Task Force said that the agency received multiple complaints from market women, tricycle (Keke) operators, and traders about the unlawful activities of a group led by one Mr. Ahuama.

‎”Upon arrival, the Taskforce, in joint effort with the police, arrested Mr. Ahuama and three accomplices who were caught extorting money from unsuspecting traders and tricycle operators under the false pretense of being NURTW officials.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects had already impounded about twenty (20) tricycles earlier that morning and collected money from the owners before being intercepted,” Chukwunenye said.

‎He added that during the operation, the suspects resisted arrest and attacked Taskforce operatives and police officers, but they were eventually subdued and are now in custody.

Chukwunenye sensitized traders and transporters that Abia State operates a strict No-Cash-at-Hand revenue system, and as such, no government-authorized personnel is permitted to collect cash from citizens.