Crime

Why Nigeria Police must rethink war on dissent

Published

5 months ago

October 28, 2025

Once again, the Nigeria Police have not shown that they fear the voice of the people more than the actions of real criminals.

On October 23, 2025, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was arrested in Abuja shortly after leaving the Federal High Court, where he had appeared earlier in the day.

He was not at any protest, yet the police swooped in and took him away — another act that exposes how those in power use law enforcement to intimidate voices of dissent.

There was no violence, no disruption, no crime — just the familiar pattern of silencing outspoken citizens. But the story didn’t end there.

On October 24, just one day later, after Sowore was granted bail by a magistrate’s court, the police re-arrested him immediately.

Eyewitnesses say he was manhandled and forced into a police vehicle without proper documentation or legal order. His lawyers later reported that his whereabouts were unclear for several hours — a worrying sign of how casually the rule of law is ignored. This is not policing; this is persecution.

Let’s be honest: this is no longer about Sowore alone. It is about what Nigeria is becoming — a country where truth is treated like rebellion and courage is punished like crime.

The Nigerian Constitution, under Sections 39 and 40, guarantees freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Yet, when those rights challenge the powerful, the same police who should defend the law become tools to suppress it.

Each unlawful arrest like this widens the gap between the police and the people.

Each abuse of power destroys what little trust remains.

If the police can arrest and re-arrest a public figure like Sowore without cause, imagine what can happen to ordinary Nigerians who have no platform or protection.

It is time the police remembered their true duty — to protect citizens, not politicians.

Until then, every siren they sound will remind us not of safety, but of fear.

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Crime

Suspected bandits nabbed near Akure airport

Published

7 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Panic gripped airport users, residents and farmers around the Akure Airport environment on Saturday when suspected bandits were apprehended in a joint security operation around the facility’s perimeter.

The incident occurred after local farmers raised an alarm on sighting strange men on motorcycles moving suspiciously behind the airport’s operational fence near the Eleyewo community in Akure, Ondo State.

Eyewitnesses hinted to The PUNCH that tension began when a woman and some young men were seen running from their farms behind the airport fence towards the edge of the runway, shouting for help after allegedly noticing armed men approaching on motorcycles.

According to airport sources familiar with the development, the farmers initially feared they were about to be attacked before security operatives suddenly swooped on the suspects in what turned out to be a planned security ambush.

The suspects, who were being tracked by a joint team of security operatives, were eventually surrounded and arrested after a brief pursuit around the airport environment.

Earlier, security agencies had reportedly received a distress call that some suspicious individuals were sighted moving behind the airport towards the Eleyewo axis, prompting a security response.

Security comprising officers of the Aviation Environment Command, personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies were quickly mobilised to the area to intercept the suspects.

The PUNCH gathered that during the operation, one of the suspects was first apprehended by the joint security operatives, while others were subsequently rounded up around the area.

It was further gathered that the arrested suspects were later handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command for further interrogation and investigation into their activities.

Confirming the development to journalists on Sunday, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, said the operation was carried out through a collaborative effort involving multiple security agencies.

She said, “We have alerted the CP, the Brig General of the army cantonment, the MAC, and their men are all involved in collaboration with AVSEC.

“The joint operation was successful as four suspects were apprehended, and they have been handed over to the police.”

Kuku noted that the incident further underscored the importance of strengthening security infrastructure around airports across the country.

While stressing that improved fencing and surveillance would help prevent unauthorised access to critical aviation facilities, she added, “This is the reason the President and the minister have accelerated establishing operational and perimeter fences at the airports.”

Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police command said some men suspected to be bandits were nabbed around the airport at Eleyowo community in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the development.

He also confirmed the arrest of two suspected collaborators linked to a kidnapping syndicate terrorising the Ilu-Abo community and the surrounding areas.

“In its ongoing efforts to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state, the command has arrested two suspected collaborators linked to a kidnapping syndicate terrorising Ilu-Abo community and surrounding areas.

“The suspects, identified as Alhassan Muhammad (20) and Faruq Muhammad Sanni (25), all residents of Sabon-Sango, Akure, were arrested on March 15, 2026, following credible intelligence provided by a concerned member of the Ilu-Abo community.

“The information indicated that one of the suspects, who operates as a commercial motorcyclist, had been assisting kidnappers in the area by procuring and delivering food items and other supplies to their hideouts.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad immediately mobilised to the location and carried out a targeted operation. The operation led to the successful arrest of the two suspects, while other members of the criminal syndicate fled upon sighting the approaching police operatives.”

He added that the suspects were in custody and had made useful statements in assisting the police with further investigation.

Eleyowo and some communities in the Akure North Local Government have been experiencing a series of attacks by the bandits, as many have been kidnapped since the beginning of the year.

Three people, including a pregnant woman, were kidnapped in Eleyowo, Ilu Abo and Ayede communities in the council area.

They were, however, released after payment of ransom, some days after they were kidnapped.

The bandits struck again in Ilu Abo community in Akure North LGA, abducting three persons on a farm near the Akure Airport last Monday.

One of the victims is Joseph Aladesuyi, who is the Secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area in Akoko North-West of Ondo State.

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Crime

NSCDC Busts Baby Factory in Imo, Rescues Five Pregnant Women and Five Newborns

Published

22 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Imo State Command has uncovered an illegal baby factory operating under the cover of a registered orphanage in the World Bank area of Owerri, Owerri West Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two suspects and the rescue of five pregnant women and five newborn babies.

The Imo NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Basil Igwebueze, disclosed the development to journalists in Owerri on Saturday, March 14, 2026, revealing that the operation was triggered by a chance observation by one of his officers, who spotted a pregnant teenager fleeing from the orphanage premises.

“This prompted my officers to move into action at the orphanage, arrest the owner and rescue the pregnant women and newborn babies,” Igwebueze said.

The arrested suspects were identified as Tochukwu Ogaranya, 52, the owner of the orphanage, and her alleged accomplice, Godwin Nnamdi, 47. The five pregnant women rescued were aged between 25 and 33.

One of the victims, Chiamaka, a native of Ikeduru Local Government Area, told investigators that she had been introduced to the facility by an acquaintance she could barely identify, with the understanding that she would deliver her baby there and hand it over for sale. She said she eventually scaled the orphanage fence and fled when she could no longer endure conditions at the facility. She was subsequently intercepted by local vigilantes.

Ogaranya, however, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that her orphanage was certified and not involved in child trafficking. She claimed that Chiamaka had arrived at the facility pregnant, saying she was fleeing a man in Abia State who had impregnated her. Ogaranya added that she had contacted the police about the matter and was shocked when she learned that Chiamaka had escaped by scaling the fence.

Commandant Igwebueze condemned child trafficking as a heinous crime and commended residents for providing intelligence that made the operation possible. He urged Imo residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to security agencies.

“If the residents of the state had not assisted us with the necessary information, the command would not have uncovered such a criminal act,” he said.

Both suspects are to be arraigned and prosecuted, the commandant confirmed.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Troops Arrest Suspected Terrorist Informant During Operation in Yobe Border Community

Published

22 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 159 Battalion, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, have apprehended a suspected informant believed to be linked to insurgent groups in the North-East.

Security sources disclosed that the suspect, identified as Malam Fantami, a native of Dikwa in Borno State, was arrested during a military operation in Kanamma, Yobe State.

The arrest reportedly followed credible intelligence suggesting that the man may have been supplying information to terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

During the operation, troops intercepted the suspect and recovered several items from him, including a mobile phone, a smartwatch, prayer beads, a motorcycle key and the sum of N7,000 in cash.

Preliminary checks carried out by security personnel on the suspect’s phone reportedly uncovered suspicious content. The materials allegedly included photographs showing motorcycles, large bundles of cash, AK-47 rifles and other items believed to be associated with terrorist operations.

Military sources said the findings have heightened suspicions that the suspect may have been acting as a logistics informant or intelligence operative for insurgent groups active in the region.

Fantami is currently being held in military custody, where he is undergoing interrogation as authorities seek to determine the level of his involvement and uncover any possible collaborators.

The military high command noted that the arrest forms part of sustained counter-terrorism operations in the North-East aimed at disrupting the intelligence and supply networks that aid insurgent activities.

Kanamma, situated in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State close to the Niger Republic border, has long been regarded as a strategic route often exploited by insurgents for movement and logistical support.