Local News

Explosion Razes House, Mosque, School In Bauchi Community

An explosion has destroyed a house, mosque and school in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Aminu Alhassan,state Commissioner of Police, revealed this on Monday at the Palace of Emir of Katagum Alhaji Umar Faruk II and the Palace of Galadiman Katagum Alhaji Usman Mahmood Abdullahi, when he accompanied Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, to commiserate with the victims.

He said it was accidental expulsion and no life was lost, but three buildings were damaged.

Alhassan revealed that the explosion occurred when some people cleared the grasses and garbage in the area and burnt them.

“We suspected may be the explosives device like dynamite was buried in the area for more than three decades, because the road construction company once lived in that place, and sometimes back when Boko Haram attacked Azare Police Station, they followed through the same route where the device exploded, we are still investigating,” he said.

The CP said the anti-bomb disposal unit had cordoned off the place for investigation, adding that two explosives were discovered in the area.

Governor Mohammed pledged to compensate the affected victims and expressed gratitude to Allah that no life was lost as a result of the incident.

He told the victims to take the incident as an act of God, and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure safety and wellbeing of the citizens.

The governor asked the residents in the area to cooperate with the security agencies, even if it means to relocate them from the area in order to clear all the suspected explosives in the area, assuring them of government support.

Governor Mohammed expressed appreciation to the Emir of Katagum for his exemplary leadership style, saying “Hhe is the Emir who leaves his palace in the night and goes round his domain to encourage security operatives in their effort to protect lives and properties of citizens.”

The Emir, Alhaji Umar Faruk II, thanked the governor for the visit and assured him of cooperation in his effort to provide security to the lives and property of his subjects.

He commended the governor for his concern and commitment to providing adequate security to the people of the state.

The owner of the house affected by the blast, Alhaji Muhammadu Baa, said the explosion occurred at Katagum local government garage.

“We were shocked when we heard the loud sound. No life was lost, but it damaged so many things in my house,” he said.

Local News

Police arrest three notorious criminals terrorising Imo community

The Imo State Police Command has arrested three notorious criminals terrorizing the Nekede community.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Okoye Henry, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, August 15, 2024, said the suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, cultism, and motorcycle snatching

“In furtherance of the Imo State Police Command’s unalloyed determination to bring crime to its barest minimum in the State, operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters through intelligence-led operations and painstaking investigation apprehended three notorious criminal suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, cultism, and motorcycle snatching respectively,” the statement read.

“One of the suspects, John Chukwudi, ‘m’, 27yrs, a native Ntu in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State was arrested on 14/08/2024 while on intelligence-led patrol with the local vigilantes, along Human Race Hospital Road, Nekede. Recovered from him include, one locally made pistol and five rounds of live cartridges.

“On interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the black axe confraternity cult group and stated that the gun was given to him by a member of his syndicate, Ugochukwu Ndubuisi aka Dimzi Gate, who is at large.

“In a different development, Elijah Chigemezu, ‘m’, 23yrs of Ezzamgbo in Ebonyi State was apprehended on 11/08/2024, along Cluster Road, Naze, in the very act of dispossessing a young man his phone and personal belongings at gunpoint.

“His arrest was following a swift response to a distress call by police operatives in synergy with the military. One locally made shotgun was recovered from the suspect. On interrogation, he confessed to the crime

“While, Chibieze Tasie ‘m’ 32yrs was apprehended at No 1 Naze, following a thorough investigation into a reported case of motorcycle snatching in Nekede.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to having conspired with one Ndubuisi, ‘m’ at large to snatch motorcycles from unsuspecting motorcyclists in Nekede.

“Revealing that he stops a motorcycle rider, and lures him to a lonely location where his syndicate will dispose the rider of his motorcycle. One hundred and seventy thousand Naira was recovered from the suspect as part of the proceeds of his alleged criminal business.

“The suspects have all been transferred to the State Criminals Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri, for consolidation of the ongoing investigation. Efforts are on top gear to apprehend and prosecute the manufacturers of the locally-made pistol. The suspects will certainly have their day in court.”

While commending the operatives for their professionalism in achieving the operational feats, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, urged them to sustain the tempo in the onslaught against crime and criminality in the state.

He admonished the good people of Imo State to continue to support the Police and other security agencies with timely and actionable information on any suspicious person or activity observed within their vicinity

Local News

Police arrest notorious bandits, Maude nabbed in Kaduna with N347,000

A 38-year-old notorious bandit identified as Abdulkarim Maude has been arrested at Upara Warsapiti in Lere Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State with a bag containing ransom of ₦347,000.

The spokesperson for the Kaduna Police Command ASP Mansir Hassan confirmed the arrest of the bandit in a statement issued on Tuesday

Maude, according to the statement confessed to being involved in kidnapping for ransom along with one Alhaji Yakubu and two others from Binchim Village, Bassa LGA, Plateau.

Hassan said , “On May 22, at about 10:00hrs, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Saminaka Division, acting on credible intelligence, successfully arrested a suspect identified as Abdulkarim Maude, aged 33, from Tudun Wada Mariri.”

He said the arrest took place in Upara Warsapiti, Lere Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a bag containing the sum of ₦347,000, a machete, and some criminal charms,”Hassan said.

According to him, during interrogation, Maude confessed to being involved in kidnapping for ransom along with one Alhaji Yakubu and two others from Binchim Village, Bassa LGA, Plateau.

He said the recovered money was identified as his share of the ransom collected from the kidnapping of two tractor operators, Yau Balele 45 years old and Lukman Abubakar 40 years of age who were abducted on May 17, 2024, while working on the farm of Alhaji Gambo.

“The victims were taken to Binchim Hills, Bassa LGA, Plateau and were released on May 20, 2024.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accomplices, “Hassan said.

He added that the suspect, along with the recovered exhibits, have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

Hassan said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Dabigi , has assured the public that the command remained committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

He also appreciated the continued support and cooperation from the public and urged everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police.(NAN)

Local News

EFCC arrests seven suspected internet fraudsters in Makurdi

The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday February 29, 2024, arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters.

They were arrested in their hideout in Aliade in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Items recovered from them include eight phones, three iPad, two internet routers and one international passport.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.