Metro

Police Arrest 20-year Old Suspected Kidnapper, Recover N8.4m

Published

3 years ago

October 18, 2022

Editor

Our Correspondent, Bauchi

The Police Command in Bauchi State says it has arrested a 20-year old kidnap/armed robbery suspect and recovered the sum of N8.4 million cash from him.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Sanda, said this while briefing News men on activities of the command in Bauchi on Tuesday.

He said the command arrested the suspect aged 20 yesrs of Tashan Daudu Soro, Ganjuwa LGA, on Sept. 9, for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and being in possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

He said the following exhibits were recovered in his possession: N8.466,000.00 cash, one SubMachine Gun (SMG) rifle with 92 live ammunition, one empty magazine, SMG rifle and one 7.62mm caliber of live ammunition.

The Commissioner stated that other exhibits recovered from the suspect included: eight different models of mobile phones, one MP3, one Honda motorcycle and one cutlass.

He said the suspect claimed innocence, and that he was not aware of the exhibits.

He said everything belonged to his boss whom he simply identified as Ibrahim, adding that the boss was taking him out on his motorcycle to work as a pastoralist before the police arrested him.

He recounted how his boss, on sighting the police, pushed him and the motorcycle then took to his heels, saying if he was an accomplice, he would have also fled.

The Police Commissioner also said on Sept. 7, around 4.00 p.m., a patrol team attached to Maina-Maji Divisional Police Headquarters in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state, killed two kidnap suspects who opened fire on the team while raiding their den.

He said the raid was done in collaboration with a vigilance group, while acting on credible intelligence.

“On arrival, the kidnappers opened fire on the police operatives and while returning fire, two of the kidnappers were neutralised at the spot and one was arrested,” he said.

He also said the suspects were from Gobiya, and Mundu villages of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Dangi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle and 29 live ammunition.

Sanda reiterated that the police would not relent and would continue to deliver on its mandate to protect lives and property of the people of Bauchi State by ensuring a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.

Metro

Army Officer Dies After Wife Allegedly Sets Him Ablaze In Akwa Ibom

Published

8 minutes ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Samson Haruna, has died after sustaining severe burns when his wife allegedly set him on fire during a domestic dispute in Akwa Ibom State.

The incident reportedly occurred on September 22, 2025, at the Wellington Bassey Barracks in Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of the state.

According to a report shared on X by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on Tuesday, the late officer, who served as a Regimental Medical Officer with the Army’s 6 Battalion, had a heated altercation with his wife, identified as Mrs. Samson Haruna, which escalated violently.

Sources cited by Makama alleged that during the argument, the woman doused her husband with petrol and set him ablaze.

Lt. Haruna was first treated at the military medical unit within the barracks before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where he later died from his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save him.

Military sources confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Metro

Stop Using Edo Money For Federal Roads, Residents Tell Okpebholo

Published

5 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

Residents of Benin, the Edo State capital have urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to stop using money accruing to the state on federal government projects.

The residents, who frowned at the governor’s unrelenting efforts in fixing federal roads, lamented that most state-owned roads are in the state of disrepair.

According to the residents, roads in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) have failed and are not motorable, adding that several other state-owned roads have failed and are in need of urgent repairs.

An Activist and head of Talakawas Parliament, in Edo State, Kola Edokpaiyi, said it was ‘busy body’ that made Okpebholo to abandon state-owned roads that are crying for attention in favour of federal roads.

He said, “There are so many deplorable state roads in Edo State that are not motorable. We expect the Governor of Edo State to quickly give attention to them all before considering Federal Roads if the state is too rich.

“The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi has visited federal roads in Edo State about two times to ascertain how deplorable the roads are. He has already given the brief to Mr. President. We expect the Minister to swing into action based on the huge finance allocated by Federal Government to get the work done.

“I want to appeal to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo to address the so many state roads that are bad.”

Also, a commercial driver, who plies between Ring Road and Ebvuotubu, Joseph Ikpigho, said he spent more money to fix his car due to bad roads.

Recall that Okpebholo has embarked on reconstruction of 23 kilometres of the Sapele Road axis of the East-West road.

He is also assisting the Federal Government to fix failed portions of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi highway.

Metro

Fire Guts Section Of Rivers Secretariat

Published

23 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.