Akwa Ibom State Police Command has raided a criminal hideout suspected to be a shrine in Abak Local Government Area of the state and arrested five alleged to have been involved in armed robbery, cultism, and rape in the area.

The operatives recovered items including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Akwa Ibom, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a press statement issued in Uyo on Tuesday.

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John explained that the raid followed a formal complaint lodged on June 26, 2025, by a man (name withheld) that a group of armed individuals broke into his room at a guest house (name withheld) in Abak, robbing him of his belongings and raping his female guest.

John said the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, therefore ordered operatives of the Command to initiate an investigation and arrest the perpetrators. She added that on July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:10 PM, detectives, following discreet investigations and intelligence, raided the criminals’ hideout, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

She mentioned the suspects to include: Richard Edet Udo, Hope Unibong Anitie, Joseph Ibongidi, Christian Joseph Johnny, and Joseph Joseph.

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She said the Command is continuing its investigation to arrest other members of the gang.

The statement reads in part: “Acting on a firm directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, operatives of the Command initiated an investigation. On July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:10 PM, detectives raided the criminals’ hideout. Operatives recovered disturbing items from what appeared to be a shrine, including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.”

At least 22 people have been confirmed dead and 20 others injured in a lone accident involving a trailer along the Lapai–Lambata road in Niger State.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday at about 3:00 a.m.

According to Sahara Reporters, the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Niger State, Aishat Saadu, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, saying the trailer was conveying both passengers and cattle from Kano to Lagos.

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“The crash occurred around 0300hrs along the Lapai–Lambata route,” Saadu said. “It was a lone crash involving a truck. Forty-two people were involved. Twenty-two died, while twenty sustained various degrees of injuries as at the time of rescue.”

Eyewitnesses said most of the passengers on board were from Zamfara State and were reportedly travelling for commercial purposes.

The injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Lambata, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital in Suleja.

A man, identified only as Gregory, has died after collapsing inside a lodge at the Niger State Government House in Minna.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m., according to a report from the Chief Security Officer at the Government House.

The Niger State Police Command said Gregory went to visit Sammy Adigun, the chairman of the Niger Food Security Systems and Logistics Company, on the night of Friday, August 2.

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However, he was informed that his host was not available, and shortly after, he became ill and collapsed.

Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said officers from the GRA Division were called and quickly moved Gregory to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna.

“The guest was rushed to IBB Specialist Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead,” the police statement said.

Gregory’s body has been taken to the hospital mortuary, and an autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death.