The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Sunday Olawale, over allegedly spreading fake news of bandits’ attack on Are Ekiti in the Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday that the suspect, who confessed to the crime, had been unable to give a reason for the false information.

Abutu stated, “The Police Command wishes to reiterate that there was no bandit invasion in Are Ekiti or any part of the Ekiti State”.

The statement reads in part: “On 14th of June, 2026, the Command Rapid Response Squad trailed and arrested one Sunday Olawale at Ekute area of Ado Ekiti for cyberstalking and giving of false information intended to cause breakdown of law and order.

“It would be recalled that on the 12th of June 2026, a video was circulating on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Are Ekiti. The video was later confirmed to be false.

“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to having peddled the false information on social media and was unable to give any satisfactory reason for his action.

“The State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, while warning that the Command will not tolerate any act of fake news peddling or content capable of initiating panic among members of the public, advises members of the public to always verify information they believe or share on social media,” the PPRO stated.

The Federal Government on Monday commenced another phase of mass trials for hundreds of suspected terrorists facing terrorism-related charges in Abuja.

This is as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), declared that the administration would not treat terrorism with levity.

The prosecution is being led by Fagbemi, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.

The trials, taking place simultaneously in several courtrooms, are expected to last one week.

Some of the judges handling the cases include Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan.

At least 58 suspected terrorists were listed for trial before Justice Nwite on Monday.

Among them are Abba Bukar, Abba Manye, Gujja Mala Bukar, Brem Gonimi, Isa Mohammed, Lawali Dashiri Danke, Yau Tukur (Mai-Auduga), and Bello Liman, also known as Bell Doctor.

The latest proceedings come barely two months after about 500 suspected terrorists were tried between April 7 and April 10 in Abuja.

Speaking with journalists at the commencement of the trials, Fagbemi said the proceedings demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of Nigerians.

“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. And that is why you see ongoing trials,” he said.

According to him, the current exercise marked the fourth phase of terrorism trials under the administration.

“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated.

“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” the AGF said.

Fagbemi disclosed that more than 600 suspects would be tried during the current phase.

Providing a breakdown of the figures, he said, “For this phase, the ones we have today, we have about 490. Tomorrow we will have 84. But this 84 does not include the 102 we brought forward from the last phase.

“So in total, we have 600 plus to contend with for this phase, and we have been assured by the honourable judges that they will do their utmost to ensure that they clear this number for this phase.”

The mass trial forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute individuals accused of terrorism, insurgency and related offences as part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity across the country.

Meanwhile, two suspects were convicted and sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offences.

Justice Binta Nyako sentenced a 55-year-old farmer from Katara village in Borno State, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years imprisonment for concealing information about the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The judge convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Nyako, however, noted his claim that there were no government officials or security agencies in his remote community to whom he could have reported the activities.

She ordered that the 15-year jail term should take effect from 2013, when he was arrested and detained.

In a separate case, the judge sentenced Isa Isiaka, a father of 11 children and husband of two wives, to 20 years’ imprisonment for failing to disclose information about Boko Haram activities to the authorities.

Isiaka was convicted after admitting guilt to terrorism charges filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Justice Nyako rejected his plea for leniency and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

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A 43-year-old commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, has died after he was allegedly beaten by a group of officers of the Nigerian Air Force following a dispute over a minor traffic incident involving their vehicle.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday that the incident occurred on May 9 along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, where the officers allegedly assaulted the deceased.

Details of the incident were contained in an Affidavit of Facts filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the Maitama Judicial Division and made available to PUNCH Metro on Monday.

According to the affidavit, deposed to by the deceased’s brother, Innocent Okpe, Joseph was carrying out his duties as a commercial bus driver when he was accosted by Air Force personnel travelling in a Coaster bus with registration number GO 1–14AF.

The officers allegedly accused him of hitting their vehicle and demanded N100,000 as compensation for the damage.

When Okpe could not provide the money, the officers allegedly descended on him, repeatedly punching and battering his face and head until he nearly lost consciousness.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the assault only stopped after passersby and fellow commercial drivers intervened and pleaded with the officers.

According to the document, the bystanders also offered to raise N50,000 to compensate for the damage to the vehicle.

After the officers left the scene and continued their journey, Okpe was reportedly rushed to several hospitals but was allegedly denied treatment.

A source familiar with the incident, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Okpe was eventually taken to Charing Cross Clinic in Mushin, Lagos, where he was pronounced dead at about 5pm.

“The incident happened sometime after 3pm. He was taken to several hospitals, but they refused to admit him.

“They got to the last hospital around 5pm, and he was pronounced dead there. He died the same day.

“The incident was immediately reported at the Ilasa Police Division.

“The matter is currently being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, after it was transferred from the Ilasa division,” the source said.

A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death signed by Dr Okechukwu Ogboo of Charing Cross Clinic, Mushin, and dated May 13, 2026, which was obtained by PUNCH Metro on Monday, listed the primary cause of death as “severe head injury,” while the secondary cause was stated as “pulmonary failure until his death.”

PUNCH Metro reports that Okpe leaves behind three children and a wife.

When contacted on Monday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she would find out about the incident and provide an update on the matter.

However, she had yet to do so as of the time this report was filed.

PUNCH Metro reports that this is not the first time Air Force personnel have been accused of assaulting civilians, including journalists carrying out their lawful duties in Lagos.

In March 2025, armed personnel from the Air Force Base in Ikeja allegedly assaulted PUNCH correspondent Dare Olawin when they stormed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric, located opposite MITV in Ikeja.

Meanwhile, when contacted on Monday over the May 9 incident, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, neither answered calls nor responded to WhatsApp messages sent by our correspondent.

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