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Owo church attackers have ties to Al-Shabab – DSS

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11 months ago

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The Department of State Services has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to deny bail to five men standing trial over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which left about 40 worshippers dead and over 100 injured.

The DSS, in a counter-affidavit to the defendants’ bail application, warned that the men had alleged ties to foreign terrorist fighters linked to the Al-Shabab group and could abscond if released.

The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).

They were arraigned on August 11 on nine counts, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, bordering on terrorism.

The DSS argued that granting bail would endanger the safety of witnesses and compromise the trial.

It said: “There is a very high likelihood of defendants evading trial in view of their connection to foreign fighters linked to Al-Shabab terrorist group. The defendants’ accomplices are still at large and have been making frantic efforts to monitor their trial, intimidate witnesses and free the defendants from lawful custody.”

The DSS disclosed that it was “currently investigating the leads with a view to apprehending those individuals, planning to intimidate witnesses and compromise the trial in the interest of the applicants.

“The prosecution witnesses have expressed fears of attacks by defendants’ cohorts and have stated that they will not attend court sessions except their fears are allayed.

“This necessitated the filing of an ex parte application for witness protection.

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“The prosecution has demonstrated readiness for a speedy trial of the substantive charge.

The defendants have not presented any evidence to show that they have credible sureties.

“It will not be in the interest of justice and security of prosecution witnesses to grant the application for bail,” the DSS said.

Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, had, while moving the bail application on Tuesday, noted that his client’s had been in custody since they were arrested in 2022.

Mohammad said his clients were ready to present credible and reliable sureties to demonstrate their willingness to stand trial.

Prosecuting lawyer, Dr. Calistus Eze, however, urged the court to reject the bail application for being unmeritorious.

Eze stated that there are ongoing threats to would-be witnesses of the prosecution, which the defence lawyer was aware of.

After taking arguments from both lawyers, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned till September 10 for ruling on the bail application.

Earlier at the commencement of proceedings, Eze told the court that although the case was scheduled for Tuesday for the prosecution to open its case, it would not be able to proceed because the DSS had handed the case to a senior lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), to lead the prosecuting team.

Eze prayed the court for an adjornment to a later date before which the DSS would have processed the necessary fiat from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to enable Adedipe to fully take over the handling of the case.

Mohammad did not object to Eze’s request for an adjornment. He also did not object to another application by Eze, seeking the protection of the identity and other personal particulars of the prosecution’s witnesses.

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In the application, the prosecution prayed the court to issue an order to protect the identity and other personal particulars of the prosecution witnesses and an order allowing the prosecution witnesses to testify while hooded and veiled off from the view of all other individuals except the counsel on both sides.

The prosecution also urged the court to issue an order to prevent the mentioning of the real names of prosecution’s witnesses in its orders, judgments or records which are accesibie to the public, and an order allowing witnesses should be identified with a combination of some alphabets.

In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite granted the application.

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Crime

Troops arrest soldier declared wanted for supplying military uniforms to terrorists

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2 days ago

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July 26, 2026

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Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a soldier declared wanted by the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in supplying military uniforms to terrorist groups operating in the North-East.

Security expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a statement posted on X.

Makama said that the suspect, identified as 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility, NAOTF, Lagos, was apprehended at about 6:30 pm on July 25, 2026 by troops of 7 Provost Group led by the Acting Commander.

He added that preliminary investigations revealed that before he was declared wanted, the soldier absconded from his unit and travelled to Maiduguri on July 7, 2026, where he allegedly went into hiding.

Investigators further established that the soldier was sheltered at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by 25NA/89/12687 Private Baba Kamal Sale of the Corps of Intelligence, Dikwa.

The security expert further noted that acting on credible intelligence, troops of the 7 Provost Group placed the suspect under 24-hour surveillance before intercepting and arresting him at Jidari Bus Stop while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Cameroon.

“The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where he is undergoing further investigation into the alleged supply of military accoutrements to terrorist elements and the possible involvement of other collaborators.

“The arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle insider networks aiding terrorist groups, adding that investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any accomplices,” Makama added.

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Crime

PHOTOS: N10 billion Cocaine, Loud, opioids intercepted at Lagos ports as NDLEA arrests kingpins

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2 days ago

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July 26, 2026

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A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.

According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”

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NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Suspected cable thief nabbed in Bayelsa community

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2 days ago

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July 26, 2026

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A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.

​According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.

They expressed relief following his apprehension.

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