Crime

Stray bullet kills Osun graduate after NYSC call-up

Published

10 months ago

October 3, 2025

A fresh graduate of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, simply identified as Taoreed, has been confirmed dead after he was struck by a stray bullet during a clash between rival cult groups in the community.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 23, shortly after he had collected his National Youth Service Corps call-up letter from the institution.

It was gathered that pandemonium first broke out around the school premises on Monday, September 22, when gunshots rang out while some final-year students were holding their signing-out celebrations.

A student of the school, who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday but preferred not to be mentioned, said a final-year student was killed in the process by suspected cultists.

He said, “We were signing out after our exams in the afternoon when we suddenly started hearing gunshots outside the school premises. Everyone ran for cover. It was later that we discovered that a final-year student had been killed by cultists. It was a terrible situation.”

In a video sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, students could be seen scampering for safety at the school gate.

The student recalled that a similar incident happened early last year, adding that gunshots were heard around the school premises during one of their sign-out celebrations.

A police source, however, disclosed that Taoreed’s death occurred the following day, during a reprisal along the Ilesa–Esa-Oke Road.

According to the source, Taoreed had visited the school on Tuesday to collect his NYSC call-up letter and was waiting at the roadside to board a bus home when gunmen suddenly opened fire.

“What happened was a reprisal after the final-year student was killed on Monday. The cultists had targeted their rivals in the area where Taoreed was trying to board a bus. They started shooting, and one of the stray bullets hit him. When he heard the gunshots, he ran for safety without realising he had been hit. He was later found in a nearby bush, where he crawled to but was unresponsive.”

It was further gathered that his call-up letter was found inside a black cross bag he was carrying at the time of the incident.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident.

He described the incident as a cult clash while noting that two people were killed.

“It was a cult clash. Two students were killed. One died on the spot, and the other died in the hospital. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators,” he disclosed.

Over the years, rivalry between confraternities has left several students dead, especially in communities where tertiary institutions are situated. The killings are often linked to supremacy battles, reprisals, or attempts to recruit undergraduates into their groups.

PUNCH Metro reported in June that a yet-to-be-identified male adult was feared dead in a violent clash involving some people believed to be members of rival cult groups in Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

Multiple reliable sources among students of the polytechnic, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the clash involved members of Eiye and Aye confraternities.

They also said four other people were injured in the clash that occurred just outside the main gate of the institution.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Two Nigerians sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for armed robbery in Kuwait

Published

1 hour ago

July 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Two Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery in Kuwait.

The Kuwait General Department of Criminal Investigation in Ahmadi Governorate arrested the two individuals over alleged involvement in an armed robbery and theft of a currency exchange shop in Mahboula, in January 2025.

The Court of Appeal on Monday, July 20, 2026 upheld the imprisonment of the defendants for seven years and six months in connection with the robbery and theft.

The Second Circuit of the Court of Appeal, headed by Counselor Nasr Salem Al-Haid and comprising Counselors Mutaib Al-Aradhi and Saud Al-Sane, upheld the ruling against members of a Nigerian gang involved in the robbery and theft of the money exchange shop.

The Public Prosecution had charged the first four defendants with stealing money from the exchange shop, with the second defendant using a fake gun and enabling the third and fourth defendants to steal the money with the assistance of the first defendant.

The fifth defendant was charged with participating with the defendants, agreeing to commit the crime, helping them conceal the stolen goods, and supplying them with the money obtained from the robbery and theft.

The Criminal Court had sentenced the first and fifth defendants in person, while the remaining defendants were sentenced in absentia.

The court had initially sentenced the first four defendants to seven years’ imprisonment and the fifth defendant to six months’ imprisonment after amending the description and charges.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the ruling, according to a report published by Al Rai newspaper.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Cross River police arrest alleged fake doctor for operating illegal mobile clinic

Published

1 hour ago

July 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested one Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, “m”aged 39, over allegations of impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence, and the unlawful use of medical equipment.

The suspect was arrested by Police officers attached to Uwanse Division ,Calabar South following a complaint lodged by Mrs. Edemawan Samuel, 45, who alleged that the suspect falsely presented himself as a medical doctor and fraudulently obtained the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) from her under the false promise of securing employment for her children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly used the false representation to deceive the complainant into parting with the money. Relevant exhibits believed to be connected to the case were recovered during the investigation, and the suspect is currently in police custody.

Confirming his arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of the command, ASP Eitokpah Akata, said state Commissioner of Police, has directed that a thorough investigation be carried out to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case and determine whether there are other victims. Akata added that upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect will be charged to court if sufficient evidence is established.

He mentioned that the command is actively conducting a discreet investigation into the matter to uncover the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any other possible victims or accomplices. Members of the public are assured that further updates will be provided as investigations progress.

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Crime

PHOTOS: NSCDC uncovers alleged fake university, rescues 106 youths in Badagry

Published

2 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Badagry Area Command, has uncovered an alleged fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, of Lagos State, and rescued 106 youths allegedly lured into the scheme. AkwaIbom News

The Corps also arrested the alleged proprietor of the institution, which reportedly recruited young people from different parts of Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with promises of admission into a foreign university.

The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday after days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance, exposed what security officials described as an alleged fraudulent academic and recruitment scheme.

The youths, mostly aged between 19 and 24, were taken into protective custody by the NSCDC for profiling and further investigation.

Confirming their arrest to newsmen, the Badagry Area Commander of the NSCDC, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the operation followed credible intelligence received by the command on activities at the apartment.

“We got reliable intelligence about the activities going on there. Our officers monitored the place for days before moving in. We have arrested the proprietor, who is assisting with our investigation, while the students have been taken into our protective custody.”

Preliminary investigations indicated that unsuspecting young people were allegedly persuaded to pay admission and processing fees after being promised admission into a foreign tertiary institution.

The victims reportedly paid between N200,000 and N1.5 million, while some foreign nationals and other participants allegedly paid between $400 and $500.

However, the alleged admission scheme reportedly came with a recruitment condition, with participants encouraged to bring in more people in return for commissions.

The arrangement allegedly operated like a chain marketing or Ponzi scheme, with participants promised increasing financial rewards based on the number of new students they recruited.