The Yobe State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old suspected burglar, Shettima Adamu, alongside five alleged accomplices over cases of criminal conspiracy, trespass, theft, and receiving stolen property in the state.

The suspects were arrested following complaints from shop owners in the Bayan Tasha and Nayi Nawa areas of the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, over repeated incidents of burglary and theft involving goods valued at about ₦530,000.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said operatives of the A Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Adamu at about 4 a.m. on February 2, 2026.

“On February 2, 2026, at about 0400 hours, operatives of the A Divisional Police Headquarters arrested one Shettima Adamu, aged 18, of the Nayi Nawa area, following multiple complaints from shop owners over recurring incidents of burglary and theft,” the statement partly read.

Abdulkarim said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime and led police operatives to the arrest of five accomplices allegedly involved in buying and selling stolen property.

The accomplices were identified as Abdullahi Abubakar, Mohd Suleman, Hassan Adamu, Mohd Hayatu, all aged 20, and Mohd Nura, 19. All the suspects are residents of the same area.

“The suspects confessed to the crime, while some of the stolen items were recovered and duly marked as exhibits,” he said.

In a related development, the command also confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man, Abdulrazaq Abdul’Azeez, in connection with the robbery of a tricycle, popularly known as Keke Napep, in Potiskum Local Government Area.

According to the police, the Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress report at about 3:30 p.m. on February 2, 2026, that a tricycle operator was robbed and rendered unconscious after a harmful substance was allegedly used.

“Following sustained intelligence-led investigation and collaboration with the Keke Napep Union, the stolen tricycle was intercepted at a police checkpoint in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State,” Abdulkarim stated.

He added that the suspect, a resident of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, had been brought back to Yobe for further investigation, while two other suspects were still at large.

“The recovered tricycle is in police custody as an exhibit,” he said.

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ado, said, “The Yobe State Police Command remains committed to fighting crime across the state.

“Crime is not a business, and it never pays. There is no safe haven for criminals in Yobe State, and youths are advised to embrace legitimate means of livelihood.”

Destiny Peresousdei, the younger brother of 24-year-old Patrick Peresousdei, has accused policemen from the Bayelsa State Police Command of torturing his bother and causing his death.

Patrick died last week barely six days after he was release from the Bayelsa State Police Command cell belonging to a police squad, Operation Puff Alder.

While the police have denied the allegation, the issue has already sparked pockets of protests in Yenagoa, the state capital as youths are demanding for investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the death of the young man.

Destiny said he and his brother were initially assaulted and abused by one Bodmas Kemepadei, alongside the personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on the allegation of threat to life before they were handed over to the police.

He added that after a prolonged torture by the policemen, his brother became critically ill.

Speaking when the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, visited the deceased family on Tuesday, Destiny disputed police claims that Patrick was already injured before his detention.

He said, “My name is Destiny Peresousdei. On January 15, 2026, around 5.45am, someone knocked on our gate. We later realized that it was Bodmas’ vehicle. My brother and I went downstairs to open the gate, and immediately Bodmas started slapping my brother.

“Four NSCDC officers, who were with Bodmas later joined and assaulted the two of us and we were forced into their vehicle and driven out to Bodmas’ residence.

“At Bodmas’ house, some boys lifted us from the car and threw us on the floor, tied our hands and legs, and beat us. The finally took us to the office of the Operation Puff Alder of the Nigeria Police.”

According to Destiny, the brothers were detained without a formal statement or petition, beaten and held for several days. He said Patrick and him were briefly separated on January 20, adding that when he returned later he met his brother in more critical condition.

“They just threw my brother to me. He couldn’t talk, he couldn’t raise his arms; that was when my uncle rushed him to hospital.

“Patrick was taken to several public hospitals in Bayelsa State and later referred to a facilities in Port Harcourt. Our family struggled to raise funds for treatment, but Patrick died on January 28 after developing breathing difficulties.

“The police never took my brother to a clinic, everything we did was on our own.” He said.

Civil society groups in Bayelsa State have since called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Patrick’s arrest, detention and death.

However, the police command claimed that Patrick was brought to police station wounded.

Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Muhammad, in a statement said the late young man was accused of threat to life by Bodmas Kemepadei.

He said the the Commissioner of Police, Mr Iyamah Daniel Edebor, has ordered an investigation to unravel the cause of Patrick’s death.

He said, “Preliminary investigation reveal that on 15th January, 2026, at about 1800 hours, one Bodmas Prince Kemepade of ICHC Centre, Tenacious Street, Edepie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, allegedly arrested and brought  one Peresuodei Ondutimi Abbah ‘M’, aged 24 years and Peresuodei Destiny ‘’M”, aged 22 years, both of Amassoma Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The suspects were brought in company of the personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over an alleged threat to life post on his Facebook.

“Upon their arrival at the station, bruises were seen on the bodies of the suspects by the police. However, due to the seriousness of the allegation, investigation commenced immediately. Statements were obtained from the suspects, but Peresuodei Ondutimi Abbah, now deceased was observed not to be coherent in his statement and was taken to the police clinic for medical examination and treatment. At the hospital, the attending doctor advised that the suspect be released to his relatives for proper medical attention.

“Subsequently, the suspects were released to a family member, one Charles Edure.

“However, about two weeks after their release, reports surfaced on social media alleging that Peresuodei Ondutimi Abbah, who was released earlier, died on 30th January, 2026. The command should not be dragged into this allegation of murder on social media platforms. But the police has since launched a manhunt for Bodmas and his cohorts.

“The Bayelsa State Police Command appeals to members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of hindering investigations or inflaming public tension,” DSP Muhammad said.

But the Bayelsa State Government has vowed to ensure that necessary legal steps are taken to ensure that anyone found culpable in the death of Patrick is held accountable through due process and brought to justice.

The Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, in a statement, said the state government is working closely with the police and  other relevant security agencies to ensure a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the deceased.

He said, “While investigations are at an advanced stage (including successfully obtaining critical information and statements of potential witnesses), we assure you that the Government of Bayelsa State will leave no stone unturned in effectively investigating to unearth the truth in this matter.

“Going forward, His Excellency, the Governor, has directed that the Office of the Honorable Attorney General of the State should take over the matter upon the conclusion of investigation, for onward prosecution of same.

“The Office of the Honorable Attorney-General urges members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from spreading unverified information that could prejudice investigations or escalate tensions.”

A commercial motorcyclist has been allegedly stabbed to death by a member of a transport union tax collection group, popularly known as agberos, following an argument over a N100 ticket in the Ijoko area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the incident occurred on Tuesday night after a disagreement between the deceased and some levy collectors escalated into a violent confrontation.

Although it was unclear at press time if the suspect had been arrested, the killing sparked protests by commercial motorcyclists across Lambe, Agbado and Akute communities on Wednesday.

Some riders were seen confronting levy collectors in parts of the affected areas, disrupting transport activities and forcing many commuters to trek to their destinations.

A motorcyclist, who identified himself simply as Rasheed, told PUNCH Metro that two persons were stabbed during the altercation, but only one survived.

“They were fighting over a N100 ticket. It started as a small argument before it escalated on Tuesday night. The person who was killed is one of the motorcyclists from Nasarawa,” he said.

“His colleagues are the ones now confronting agberos in Lambe, Ijoko and parts of Akute.”

Another rider in Akute, Ganiyu, confirmed the incident, saying tensions had remained high since the killing.

“The man was stabbed to death by one of the agberos during an argument over the ticket. The agbero suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed him,” he said.

“Some riders have refused to work since then, which is why there are fewer commercial motorcyclists around today. The police are aware and arrested some people during another confrontation.”

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment officially, confirmed the incident on Thursday but clarified that it occurred in Ijoko, within the Agbado-Sango axis, and not in Akute.

“After the incident, the deceased’s colleagues in Lambe and Akute staged protests to express their anger,” the officer said.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, had yet to respond to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.

Violent clashes between commercial motorcyclists and levy collectors are not new in the state. In recent years, riders have repeatedly protested what they describe as extortion and harassment.

In 2023, a similar confrontation at Akute Bus Stop and Alagbole in Ifo Local Government Area over increased ticket fees led to the destruction of property, closure of shops and residents fleeing for safety.

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