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Probe begins as hoodlums kill former Osun NURTW boss

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The Osun State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the killing of a former unit chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Kazeem Oyewole, who was allegedly murdered by suspected hoodlums in Osogbo on Sunday.

The killing triggered tension across some motor parks in the Osogbo metropolis, as individuals believed to be associates of the deceased reportedly moved around major parks, allegedly searching for those suspected to be behind Oyewole’s death.

Oyewole, who served as part-time chairman of the NURTW Aregbe Unit between 2018 and 2022, was said to have been attacked in the afternoon around Elelede Junction. The exact circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear as of press time.

However, a resident who witnessed the incident from a distance and requested anonymity for security reasons told PUNCH Metro on Sunday that some hoodlums had stationed themselves at the Elelede Junction, allegedly extorting money from passersby under the guise of raising funds for a proposed carnival.

“While that was going on, a motorcycle carrying two people arrived at the scene, and those hoodlums forced the two passengers to disembark. They started fighting those passengers.

I heard gunshots. They later identified one of the two persons who were attacked as Kazeem.

“Later, they brought big stones and smashed the head of a man identified as Kazeem. He died on the spot. The other person, however, escaped from the scene of the attack with an open wound. After the incident, the hoodlums fled before police arrived,” the resident said.

A shop owner at the Elelede Junction, identified simply as Basira, said business activities in the area were abruptly disrupted by the violence.

She said, “The person who was killed was identified as Kazeem Oyewole by some NURTW people who came after the incident. He was said to be the former part-time chairman of an NURTW unit along Osogbo/Gbongan Road in the Aregbe area.”

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Our correspondent, who monitored the security situation at Old Garage and Aregbe motor parks on Sunday evening, observed that residents stayed away from the parks for fear of being caught up in possible reprisals, while the presence of hoodlums was also noticed around the areas.

Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command had begun a probe into the killing.

He said, “We are aware of the incident that happened at Orita Elelede (Osogbo), and we deployed our men to the place immediately after the information got to us, but unfortunately, one person was confirmed dead. He was identified as Kazeem. Other name unknown. Investigation has commenced.”

On whether security operatives had been deployed to motor parks to prevent escalation, Ojelabi added, “We are still monitoring the situation. We are going to monitor the parks for now.”

The killing is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving NURTW leaders in the state. On November 27, 2025, a prominent NURTW leader in Osun, Adeboye Ademoroti, was shot dead by unknown assailants in Ilesa.

Although the circumstances surrounding Ademoroti’s killing were unclear, security sources told PUNCH Metro that he and another person were attacked in the Olomilagbala area of Ilesa by gunmen.

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Crime

Police caution intending travellers against visa scams

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The Police Special Fraud Unit has cautioned intending travellers to strictly adhere to due process when applying for travel visas.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, the spokesperson of PSFU, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, cautioned intending travellers against scams.

Ewhubare urged members of the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters’ activities.

NAN reports that scammers in the country have increasingly targeted visa applicants by posing as embassy officials or agents, using fake websites and urgent messages to demand quick payments.

The fraudsters often promise guaranteed visa approvals or faster processing and request payments through personal bank accounts, gift cards, or other unofficial channels.

Recently, the Police Command in Lagos State apprehended a syndicate in the Ago-Okota area of the state, for allegedly defrauding members of the public of over N500 million.

The suspects, aged 23, 25, 27 and 36, were apprehended following credible intelligence and multiple complaints from victims.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects operated under the guise of an educational consultancy.

They allegedly defrauded more than 100 victims of over N500 million under the false pretense of facilitating Canadian and Australian work visas.

The DSP warned visa applicants to be wary of individuals or agents who claimed they could guarantee visas, promise unusually fast processing, or demand payments through unofficial channels.

“Genuine visa applications are processed only through recognised Embassies, High Commissions, or their authorised platforms.

“The public should be cautious of unsolicited messages, emails, or social media contacts offering visa assistance, particularly where there is pressure to act quickly or provide personal details,” he said.

See also  Gunmen attack Abia governor’s advance team, Imo command claims ignorance

According to him, requests for upfront fees without proper documentation or instructions to submit false information are strong indicators of visa-related scams.

Ewhubare encouraged intending travellers to verify all visa-related information directly from official embassy websites, or government-approved agents, and to promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.

The spokesperson said that following due process remained the most effective way to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

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Crime

Terrorists now live in cannabis-growing communities – Marwa

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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Maj.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Monday, said terrorists and kidnappers now live in cannabis-growing communities.

Marwa made the statement in Akure during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State ahead of the Alternative Development Project campaign targeted at engaging illicit drug growers in the state.

He said the agency created the Alternative Development Project unit to discourage peasant farmers from growing illicit drugs, especially cannabis sativa.

According to him, the programme, which will not stop the enforcement role of the agency, is another way to combat terrorists and other criminals who now stay close to where illicit drugs are produced.

Marwa said drug use prevalence in Nigeria was unacceptably high, with about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 using drugs, based on the 2018 United Nations drug use survey.

He said the figure meant that one in seven Nigerians within the age bracket use drugs, adding that the Alternative Development Project campaign would commence in Ondo State.

The NDLEA chairman said the agency had convicted 128 drug barons in the last five years and disclosed that of the 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances seized within the same period, over 75 per cent was cannabis sativa.

According to him, between 70 and 75 per cent of drug users in Nigeria consume cannabis sativa.

“The Boko Haram, the terrorists, the kidnappers — in fact, the kidnappers now, through our intelligence sources, have been shown to live among the cannabis-cultivating communities in the deep forests.

“And that makes sense to them. Why not establish a base where the drugs are readily available?

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“In Ondo State, the drug use prevalence is 17 per cent, which is approximately 400,000.

“In 2025, the NDLEA in Ondo State made 336 arrests, with seizures of 22,316 kilogrammes of illicit substances, convicted 62 offenders, seized and destroyed 207,000 kilogrammes of cannabis from plantations and farms.

“We have a counselling and rehabilitation centre here; we have treated 243 people. But more significantly, Your Excellency, Ondo State is the highest producer of cannabis in Nigeria for several reasons, including the climate and the nature of the soil. It encourages this type of trade,” he said.

Marwa, who appreciated the governor for his efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, said the agency was carefully reviewing its law-enforcement strategy and had decided to adopt alternative approaches instead of constant raids and arrests.

In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa applauded Marwa for leading the initiative under his office.

Aiyedatiwa praised the NDLEA boss for his efforts and commitment toward ensuring that society is rid of illicit drugs.

“We, as government, will support you in any way that we can to ensure that we achieve the needed success. We will look into the direction of having our own alternative development programme like yours,” he said. (NAN)

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Crime

Police bust teen drug suspect, kidnap gang

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The Niger State Police Command have arrested a 16-year-old suspect and three other persons over alleged drug-related offences, kidnapping and armed robbery in different parts of the state.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Niger Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun.

According to the statement, the teenage suspect was arrested on January 8, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m. in the Kantoma area of Suleja following reports that suspected hoodlums were operating in the area.

“Information received indicated that some hoodlums were sighted around Kantoma area of Suleja, smoking suspected cannabis,” the statement read.

Abiodun said operatives attached to ‘B’ Division, Suleja, were mobilised to the scene, adding that the suspects attempted to flee on sighting the police.

“On sighting the Police team, the hoodlums took to their heels but one Usman Aliyu, 16 years, was arrested within the area with four cutlasses, one jackknife and six sachets of illicit tablets,” the statement said.

On the suspect’s admission, the police spokesperson stated,“ The suspect confessed to having been selling the drugs to different persons in the area.”

He added that the suspect was arraigned in court for prosecution after investigation.

The statement also disclosed the arrest of three other suspects over alleged kidnapping and armed robbery activities.

“On 16th January, 2026, based on a tip-off, Police operatives of the FID STS arrested three suspects; Mamman Bello, 18 years; Ibrahim Adamu, 20 years; and Umar Abubakar, 25 years,” the statement said.

According to the police, Bello and Adamu were arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, following intelligence that suspected kidnappers had relocated from Niger State to a forest in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

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“During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim joined the group from Beji while Bello also joined from Ogbomosho, and both confessed to different kidnapping activities within the State,” the statement read.

The police added that the suspects were planning to abduct another victim before their arrest and are currently undergoing further investigation.

On Umar Abubakar, the statement said he was arrested in Garatu for his involvement in an armed robbery incident in Beji.

“He confessed to the crime and mentioned others as Wode, Black, Moh’d and one other,” the statement said.

The command  further disclosed that, “they sold the motorcycle at the rate of six hundred thousand naira at Tunga-Mallam and shared the proceeds,” adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.

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