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Police in Niger state arrest 21 for thuggery, robbery

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The Niger State Police Command says it has arrested 21 hoodlums over thuggery  and possession of dangerous weapons as well as one suspected armed robber.

Some of the miscreants were said to have been caught disturbing the public peace and being in possession of locally made pistols at a mining site.

In the case of the suspected notorious armed robbery suspect, 20-year-old Yusuf Musa  of Angwan-Kadara, Maitumbi in Minna, he was said to have been arrested with assorted items stolen from residents.

The Niger State state Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun who confirmed the arrests said there was a manhunt for one Danjuma to recover the stolen items.

Abiodun narrated the details, “On 1st September, 2026, at about 12.30am, Police operatives attached to Chanchaga Division stormed some identified blackspots around Angwan-Dakoko, Angwan-Kwakwa, Angwan-Gwari at midnight and 12 miscreants were arrested.

“During the raid, one Victor Solomon, 25 years a.k.a Tumbeleke bearing one sharp dagger, and Osama Saidu Baushe, 17 years was caught with one sharp sword. All suspects are in custody for further investigation and prosecution.

“On 5th September 2026 at about 2.50pm, Police operatives attached to Maitumbi Division also arrested a notorious armed robbery/house breaking suspect, known as Yusuf Musa, 20 years of age and of Angwan-Kadara, Maitumbi.

“During interrogation, he confessed that on 4th September, 2026, at about 01.20am, he conspired with one Danjuma 22 years of age, and of Dana area of Maitumbi, and broke into a house behind Dana where they carted away the following items: One smart TV, One orthopedic bed and 17pcs of new shirts.

“Others were: 11pcs of trousers, five pcs of caps, bed sheets, extension sockets, 3kva generator, shoes, pressing iron, iron rods, solar street lights and cameras,” Abiodun stated.

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The Police spokesman disclosed further that “On 24th August, 2026, at about 9.30pm, Police operatives attached to Kpakungu Division conducted a raid operation around Angwan-Kanawa, Kpakungu area and the following suspects were arrested: Sani Ibrahim, 18 years of age, and of Darus-salam;

Abdulkareem Hassan, 20 years of age, and of Barkin-Sale; Salmanu Ishaq, 18 years of age, also of Darus-salam; Nasiru Mukhtar, 18 years of age, of Angwan-Daji; Suleiman Yusuf, 18 years of age, of Darus-salam; and Abdulsalam Shuaibu, 18 years of age and of Darus-salam.

“The suspects were arrested with suspected cannabis, one cutlass, two scissors, a black bag containing several illicit items.

“Similarly on 25th August, 2026, at about 11pm, three other suspects were arrested at Marikichi area, and they are: Ibrahim Mohammed, 18 years; Mustapha Abdulkadir, 20 years; and Mustapha Mohammed, 19 years; all of Marikichi area.

“They were arrested during a fight among themselves where Mustapha Abdulkadir used a cutlass to inflict a serious injury on Ibrahim Mohammed’s right hand. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and all have been charged to court for prosecution.

“On the same date, at about 9.30am, an information was received from Gada village, Bosso LGA that a locally made pistol was sighted at a mining site at Dogon-Ruwa village. Police operatives moved to the location and the said pistol was recovered. The exhibit is under investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the pistol,” he stated.

Abiodun who also said efforts were ongoing to apprehend Danjuma in a bid to recover the stolen items, also disclosed that the case was under further investigation.

See also  Man caught with severed human hand in Lagos

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

NDLEA flags foreign drug traffickers after South Africans’ arrests

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has raised concerns over the increasing involvement of South African nationals in international drug trafficking.

The agency said three South Africans had been arrested in recent operations, with large quantities of heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud, recovered from them.

The Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Francis Okogun, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing in Abuja.

He said, “On the arrest of South African nationals in connection with drug trafficking, it is important to clarify that the issue has attracted attention because of the negative impression it could create about Nigeria internationally.

“Our findings indicate that some foreign nationals are increasingly becoming involved in facilitating the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria to other parts of the world.

“Some are also involved in bringing such substances into the country. For the period under review, three individuals were arrested.

“What makes these arrests particularly significant is the large quantities of drugs recovered, including heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis popularly known as Loud. These individuals are suspected of working on behalf of international drug cartels.”

Okogun said the suspects were suspected of working for international drug cartels, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish the destinations of the drugs and identify those behind the shipments.

As you know, drug traffickers rarely volunteer information about their sponsors or the final destinations of their consignments.

“These individuals are suspected of working on behalf of international drug cartels.

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“As you know, drug traffickers rarely volunteer information about their sponsors or the final destinations of their consignments.

“We are therefore conducting painstaking investigations to establish the actual destinations of the drugs and identify the cartels responsible for the shipments,” he said.

The agency’s disclosure comes amid the arrest of South African nationals in separate drug trafficking cases at Nigerian airports.

In October 2026, the NDLEA arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Thai Loud.

Earlier, on July 6, 2026, operatives of the agency arrested another South African, 38-year-old Will Jessica Ann, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after allegedly discovering 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in 14 blocks inside her luggage.

The suspect was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa, on Thursday declared war against drug abuse and trafficking in Edo State.

Marwa spoke at an interactive stakeholder engagement in Benin, where he also urged religious bodies in the state to join in the fight.

At the event were representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Air Force, members of the National Youth Service Corps, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, community leaders, among others.

Speaking to the stakeholders at the event with the theme: ‘Addressing the Drug Problem in Edo State,’ the NDLEA boss said the fight against illicit drugs must involve the whole society, noting that all stakeholders “must join hands, flex muscles, work together, collaborate and defeat this criminality.”

See also  Newborn baby abandoned in Niger State

Marwa, who urged parents and guardians to set good examples and monitor their children, said it was better to take an early approach to drug abuse, adding that every criminal act could be traced to the use of illicit drugs.

“I am here personally to declare war against drug abuse and trafficking in Edo State. Though the NDLEA is the lead agency in the country for the enforcement of drug laws, we cannot do it alone.

“We must, as parents, engage early and seek help for our children. There is no shame in it. This is very important for our children and for the future of our country.

“Each of us must play our part. When each contributes his part or her part, in the end, we know that this monster will be conquered.

“Of course, I will be meeting CAN executives and the Islamic council here in Benin. I am going to talk to them as an important segment in our society to use their platforms to preach against drug abuse and support communities,” he added.

The NDLEA boss urged schools in the country to establish drug-free and counselling clubs, as he encouraged students to report to their teachers and headmasters when they were offered drugs.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the state commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the fight against drug abuse and trafficking could not be won in isolation, urging synergy among sister security agencies.

Ofoyeju thanked security agencies and others, adding that the arrests and seizures made in the past years would not have been possible without their support from sister security agencies.

See also  Mother and son remanded over alleged N3.8m supermarket theft in Ondo

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

Coup Case Update: Court rejects suspects’ torture claims, admits statements

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday admitted statements and video recordings made by six alleged coup plotters during military interrogation as evidence against them, dismissing their claims that the materials were obtained through torture, inducement and coercion.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling on a trial-within-trial, held that the Federal Government had established that the defendants voluntarily made the statements and participated in the recorded interrogations.

The judge described their allegations of duress as an afterthought, adding that there was no evidence to substantiate claims that the military subjected them to torture or used force to obtain the statements.

The defendants are retired Maj Gen Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Capt Erasmus Victor, Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, arraigned them on April 22 on a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

The charge is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.

Justice Abdulmalik had ordered the trial-within-trial on May 11 after defence lawyers challenged the admissibility of the statements and video recordings tendered by the prosecution, insisting that they were not voluntarily obtained.

The objection followed the testimony of four prosecution witnesses, including an Army officer identified by the codename AAA, who tendered video recordings of the defendants’ interrogations.

Following the dismissal of the objections and admission of the materials as exhibits, the judge adjourned the case until December 7 and 10 for continuation of the trial.

See also  Mother and son remanded over alleged N3.8m supermarket theft in Ondo

The alleged coup plot came to light in September 2025, when the military announced the arrest of several serving and retired officers over suspected plans to overthrow the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The arrests followed an investigation into an alleged conspiracy involving military personnel and civilians, with the military subsequently handing over the suspects to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

Source: punchng.com

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Business

NUPRC reveals Nigeria lost 3.3m barrels to oil thieves in 2025, read details

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Nigeria lost 3.33 million barrels of crude oil to theft in 2025, with nearly two-thirds of the reported losses occurring in the final three months, as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s revenue collection declined by N2.14tn, The PUNCH reports.

The commission’s 2025 annual report, released on Thursday, showed that crude oil and gas revenue collections fell from N12.56tn in 2024 to N10.42tn in 2025, representing a 17.03 per cent decline, despite increases in receipts from gas flare penalties, signature bonuses and concession rentals.

Data from the commission’s 2025 report showed that crude theft rose sharply in the fourth quarter, when 2.19 million barrels were recorded. This represented 65.8 per cent of the total volume reported for the year and was almost five times the 440,434 barrels recorded in the third quarter.

The commission recorded 896,471 barrels of crude theft in the first quarter, while its second-quarter report showed a negative figure of 200,400 barrels, which it attributed to excess volumes identified during reconciliation.

The combined quarterly figures brought reported losses for the year to approximately 3.33 million barrels.

The report read, “Nigeria recorded 896,471 barrels of crude oil theft in the first quarter.

The second quarter recorded a negative 200,400 barrels, which the commission described as an excess volume in its reconciliation. Reported theft stood at 440,434 barrels in the third quarter. The fourth quarter recorded 2.19 million barrels, the highest quarterly volume of the year.”

The losses came despite the huge financial burden of securing the country’s petroleum assets. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited reported energy security costs of N8.67tn in 2025, compared with about N3.1tn in 2024.

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The expenditure reflects the cost of interventions to protect oil and gas infrastructure and support national energy security, although the entire amount cannot be attributed solely to combating crude theft.

The persistence of theft alongside the rising security costs raises questions about the effectiveness of measures to protect production facilities and crude evacuation infrastructure.

The losses also represent crude that could otherwise have contributed to government revenue, export earnings and the supply of feedstock to domestic refineries.

Despite the reported theft, Nigeria produced 541.08 million barrels of crude oil and blended condensate in 2025. Quarterly production stood at 132.70 million barrels in the first quarter, 137.69 million in the second, 137.45 million in the third and 133.23 million in the fourth quarter. The country also produced 48.52 million barrels of unblended condensate during the year.

On revenue, oil and gas royalties, including Project Gazelle and NNPC receivables, remained the largest contributor, generating N8.97tn in 2025, compared with N11.08tn in 2024. The decline of N2.11tn represented a 19.03 per cent reduction.

“The total approved budget for 2025 was N645,462,335,500.80, with total income of  N342,814,462,174.97 and total expenditure was N304,533,385,103. Total revenue generated was N10,424,478,448,682.40, which is 63 per cent of projected revenue of N16,538,206,608,738.00.

“357 oil spill incidents were reported. 49.5 per cent of the spills were a result of sabotage. There was an increase of 64.74 per cent in revenue in 2024 over 2023 and a decrease of 20.53 per cent in 2025 over 2024 revenues,” the report added.

However, receipts from gas flare penalties increased from N391.26bn to N611.42bn, representing a 56.27 per cent rise.

See also  Man caught with severed human hand in Lagos

Signature bonuses also increased by 44.2 per cent, from N369.58bn in 2024 to N532.94bn in 2025, while concession rentals rose by 61.1 per cent, from N23.71bn to N38.19bn.

Miscellaneous revenue increased from N35.20bn to N46.44bn. Conversely, royalty by price declined from N313.72bn to N213.41bn, while lease renewal receipts fell sharply from N230.73bn to N8.23bn.

The commission’s total income from cost of revenue collection and internally generated revenue, however, increased by 21.85 per cent to N342.81bn in 2025, compared with N281.34bn in 2024.

The report showed that cost of revenue collection contributed N335.45bn, while internally generated revenue accounted for N7.36bn.

The commission generated N10.42tn against a projected revenue target of N16.54tn, representing 63 per cent performance.

Beyond crude theft, the report documented 357 oil spill incidents during the year, with sabotage accounting for 49.5 per cent of the reported cases.

Source: punchng.com

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