Metro

Tension As Vigilante Arrests Suspected Herdsman In Delta Forest

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2023

Tension, Saturday, enveloped Agbor-Nta, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State, following the arrest of a suspected Fulani herdsman by members of the community vigilante group in the forest.

The suspect whose name was given as Abu Alli, was said to be lurking in the community’s forest where he was apprehended with charms and cut-to-size cutlasses.

The vigilante group led by its chairman, Mr Francis Ofuonyeafuzor, raided the forest after it was tipped off by a female farmer in the community, alleging that the young Fulani boy was an informant to herdsmen who have been reported attacking residents and travellers in the area.

Military refutes allegation of compromise in Southern Kaduna
A community source who pleaded anonymity alleged that the suspect had on several occasions stolen yams, pepper and other crops to feed himself in the bush.

Saying that the suspect was taken to the community head who directed a team of the community youths, hunters and the vigilante to comb the forest with a view to apprehending his gang members, the source said the suspect confessed that he has been living in the bush for some time now.

The source who said the suspect claimed that he was producing herb, said the suspect also confessed to have lived in the bush of other communities in Agbor but was chased out by indigenes.

Chairman of the vigilante group, Mr. Francis Ofuonyeafuzor who spoke to newsmen, narrated how the boy was arrested in the bush, disclosing that his makeshift hut was brought down.

He said; “raiding of the forest will serve as a signal to his gang members (herdsmen) that Agbor-Nta farms and forest is not a safe place for criminal act.”

While saying that Agbor people are hospitable, he held that it was a crime for a complete stranger to live in the bush, adding that the suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation.

Effort made to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the State, DSP Edafe Bright to speak on the matter, proved abortive as press time.

Metro

JUST IN: Many Killed As Soldiers, Bandits Exchange Gunfire In Kaduna

Published

5 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Scores of bandits and some military personnel have been killed following a gun battle in Niger and Kaduna States.

Nigerian Army Headquarters made the disclosure in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday.

The statement said the operations were carried out in Kwanar Dutse Mairiga and Boka, Niger State, and Aungwan Turai, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

The daredevil terrorists had launched an unprovoked attack on the aforementioned areas.

REAS ALSO:Police Neutralise Bandit, Rescue 5 Kidnapped Victims In Katsina

According to the statement, in response to the attacks, “land and air component troops launched several counter-attacks that eliminated scores of bandits in the encounters.

“Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles, while four wounded in-action troops are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds. Additional updates later.”

Metro

Police Detain 3 Nsukka Masqueraders For Allegedly Assaulting Residents

Published

17 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

The police command in Enugu State has detained three masqueraders in the Nsukka area of the state for allegedly assaulting law-abiding citizens.

The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday that police operatives, with the assistance of members of the community, led to the arrest of the suspects on June 23 at 3:30 p.m.

He said that the arrest of the suspects was in connection with the alleged physical assault of citizens by the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade group on June 22 as seen in a viral video.

“The suspects, along with others still at large, took advantage of the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade celebration to assault several innocent members of the public, inflicting bodily injuries on them.

“One of the victims was hospitalised for treatment due to injuries sustained during the attack.

“The masqueraders initially resisted police arrest and fled the scene.

“However, with the assistance of law-abiding community members, the three suspects were later identified and apprehended,” he said.

The spokesman said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had ordered a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that justice was served.

Ndukwe quoted the commissioner as saying that masquerade celebration was a sacred and symbolic aspect of the nation’s culture.

He said that the state police chief, however, decried the actions of those who exploited the occasion to commit criminal acts.

Ndukwe said that the commissioner warned against the use of cultural festivities as a cover for fomenting trouble and committing crimes against fellow citizens, as perpetrated by the ‘Oriokpa’ masqueraders.

“The command is assuring the public that all those involved in the assault of law-abiding citizens will be brought to justice,” he added.

(NAN)

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Four Suspected Cultists

Published

21 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Edo Police Command said it has arrested four suspected cultists allegedly responsible for cult violence in Auchi and its environs of the state.

In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu said, the suspects, who were arrested during a joint operation, belong to different cultist groups.

The statement reads partly, “On 22/06/2025, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit in a joint operation with Jattu and Auchi Divisions embarked on a house-to-house arrest of cultists.

“These four (4) suspects were arrested in various locations in Auchi; Musa Murphy 25yrs of No 35 Ogeneni area Jattu, Auchi a member of Arobaga Confraternity, Gabriel Moses 25yrs of ECocota-Community, Auchi a member of Aye Confraternity, Michael Ayo 23yrs of No1 Emeke Uzuire, Auchi member of Eiye Confraternity and Philip Sunday 24yrs of Ebira camp, Auchi a member of Vikings Confraternity.”

Yamu expressed the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika’s assurance to the “general public of the Command’s resolve to rid the State of cultism while the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”