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PDP Makes U- turn, Lifts Suspension on Ortom, Fayose, Anyim, Shema, Others

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By Johnson Eyiangho, Gom Mirian (Abuja) & David Torough, Makurdi

Two days after the sack of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as its National Chairman, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday reversed the suspension of five members, former Governors – Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), Ibrahim Schema (Katsina State), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim (Ebonyi State), Prof.

Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr.
Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).

The PDP NWC also reversed the referral of Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue to the party’s national disciplinary committee.

In a statement issued yesterday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said the decision was taken after the NWC “extensively discussed recent developments” in the party.

 “The NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general,” the statement reads.

“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the constitution of the PDP.”

The PDP asked all members and leaders to be guided by the party’s constitution and the “new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our party at this critical time”.

Last week, the PDP NWC suspended Shema, Anyim, Ityavyar, and Aliyu over alleged anti-party activities.

However, the members protested their suspension, saying they were not given a fair hearing.

The decision of the PDP NWC to lift the suspension of the members comes days after Iyorchia Ayu was removed as the party’s national chairman and Iliya Damagum was appointed as the acting leader.

Ayu was suspended by his ward in Gboko LGA, Benue state.

A day after his suspension, a high granted an ex parte order restraining Ayu from parading himself as the party’s national chairman.

Benue PDP Suspends Ward Exco over Ayu’s Ordeal

The Benue State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the Kashi Philip-led Igyorov ward exco in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state over the crisis that led to the suspension of the party’s former National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

The acting Chairman of the PDP in Benue, Isaac Mffo at a press briefing in Makurdi on Thursday, said the Igyorov ward executive is suspended for one month to allow for peace to be restored.

He also said the state working committee will henceforth take charge of the political affairs of the party in Igyorov ward where Ayu hails from.

On Tuesday, the national body of the PDP appointed Umar Damagum as the acting National Chairman of the party to replace Ayu.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at an emergency meeting today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, acknowledge the Order of the Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023, with regards to the Chairmanship position of our great Party,” the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, had said in a statement on Tuesday.

After careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North) His Excellency, Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum assumes the National Chairmanship of our Party in an acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.”

Ayu was initially suspended by his ward in Benue for anti-party activities. The court thereafter restrained him from parading as the chairman of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned to April 17, 2023, for a hearing.

CCB Begins Atiku’s Investigation, Invites Keyamo

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) may have started investigation of the petition filed by the Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, requesting the probe of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was gathered that the Bureau invited the petitioner, Festus Keyamo to its office over the matter.

Keyamo had accused Atiku of diverting public funds through special purpose vehicles while he was Nigeria’s vice-president.

The minister of state for labour and employment had given the CCB a 72-hour ultimatum to “arrest, invite, interrogate and prosecute” Atiku for the alleged offences.

The CCB, in a letter dated March 28, invited Keyamo to the bureau’s office in Abuja to adopt his petition.

“This invitation is to enable you adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information that may be material to this investigation,” the letter reads.

“You are requested to come along with one Michael Achimugu, to assist with enquiries regarding the attachments to your petition.”

Keyamo has also instituted a suit against the former vice-president before an Abuja federal high court.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023, Keyamo is seeking to compel law enforcement agencies to prosecute Atiku over the same offences.

Keyamo is praying the court for an order compelling the PDP standard bearer “to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Conduct of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for thorough investigation”.

The minister’s suit is premised on an audio recording released by Achimugu, Atiku’s former aide.

CRIME

Police Arrest Three over 2024 Murder, Robbery in Abuja

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Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Azubuko Nwakama, a staff member of Liberty Radio, who was attacked and robbed at Panteka Market in Mpape on June 14, 2024.

The Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh disclosed in a statement that the arrests followed months of sustained investigation and surveillance by detectives attached to the Mpape Division.

“Following the incident in June 2024, detectives from Mpape Division immediately launched a comprehensive investigation,” she said.

The suspects reportedly robbed the victim of his mobile phone and other valuables before stabbing him.

However, efforts to trace the stolen phone proved difficult for months, as the device remained switched off.

According to the police, the breakthrough came on August 2, 2025, when the phone — a Redmi 13C — was switched on and tracked to one Mutari Lawal, 32, of Kano State.

“Upon arrest, Mutari confessed to the crime and revealed the identities of his accomplices: Dan’Asabe Ibrahim, 22, from Zamfara State, and Danjuma Ibrahim, 18, both with no fixed address in Mpape,” the statement noted.

Lawal reportedly admitted he took the phone to Kano, where he kept it powered off for over a year. He returned to Abuja and switched it on only after attempting to wipe its data and insert a new SIM card.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao Adewale, commended the officers for their professionalism and perseverance, stressing that justice has finally caught up with the suspects.

He also warned criminal elements in the territory to either “repent or relocate,” as the law will eventually catch up with them.

“The long arm of the law is patient, persistent, and resolute,” the CP declared.

The FCT Police Command reiterated its commitment to public safety and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities via its emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883.

…Nab Herder with Ammunition, Six Suspected Robbers in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a herder in possession of an AK-47 magazine loaded with six live rounds of ammunition, along with six individuals suspected of involvement in robbery and kidnapping across parts of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ramhan Nansel disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Lafia.

According to him, the arrests followed credible intelligence from a concerned citizen, leading operatives of the Doma Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, to raid a known criminal hideout in Yelwa Ediya, Doma Local Government Area.

The suspects arrested include Dardau Shehu, Yunusa Malami Hashimu, Musa Abubakar, Ibrahim Musa, and Mohammed Musa, all residents of Yelwa Ediya Village.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the abduction of a local councillor (name withheld) on May 26, during which two mobile phones, an Infinix Note 30 (valued at N250,000) and a Tecno phone (valued at N20,000) were taken.

They also allegedly admitted to staging a roadblock along the Doma–Yelwa road on July 19, 2025, around 9:00 a.m., during which they dispossessed one Ibrahim Haruna of a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N970,000. The motorcycle was later sold, with one of the suspects reportedly involved in arranging the sale.

“Officers recovered N100,000, identified as proceeds from the sale, which had been concealed in the bush. A Bajaj motorcycle was also recovered during the operation,” the PPRO stated.

In a separate incident, officers from the Keana Division arrested a herder accused of discharging a firearm during a dispute with local farmers at Gidan Zaki Hassan, Kuduku, in Keana LGA.

The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Suleman Mohammadu, was arrested with support from community members. An AK-47 magazine containing six live rounds was recovered from him.

The Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro Mohammed, has directed that all suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

CP Mohammed reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring public safety across the state and called on residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with law enforcement by providing timely and credible information.

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CRIME

Police Arrest Five Kidnappers, Recover N5m Ransom in Delta

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From Francis Sadhere, Delta

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in the state, with the arrest of five suspected kidnappers and recovery of N5 million ransom from the criminal gang.

In a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, stated that the arrests were made during a series of coordinated operations carried out by the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad and the CP’s Special Assignment Team.

According to the statement, on July 12, 2025, at about 6:30 am, operatives led by Godwin Osadolor tracked and apprehended one Sanusi Abdulahi at a hideout in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Oshimili North Local Government Area.

Abdulahi was reportedly found in possession of ₦5 million, believed to be part of a ransom paid by a recent kidnapping victim.

Preliminary investigations linked the gang to multiple kidnapping incidents in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Obulu-Okiti, Isele-Uku, and Isele-Asagba. The gang was also fingered in the abduction of a young woman in Ogwashi-Ukwu on July 9, 2025. Based on intelligence provided by Abdulahi, police raided hideouts in Second Deputy and Oko, both in Asaba, leading to the arrest of four other members of the gang.

Meanwhile, in a separate sting operation on July 9, 2025, along the Patani-Ughelli Expressway near the Unenurhie axis, operatives of the CP’s Special Assignment Team stormed the hideout of a notorious gang led by one Solomon Danisco, alias “Picolo.”

Other gang members include Nelson Jacob, Oruma Saturday, Olise Jude, Precious Urhobowin, and Whisky Rufus, also known as “Asawana,” a native of Ewu community.

The suspects reportedly engaged the police in a fierce gun duel. Six of them sustained severe gunshot wounds and were later confirmed dead at the hospital, while two others are receiving treatment under police custody.

Items recovered from the scene include four locally-made guns and 19 rounds of live cartridges.

Edafe reaffirmed the Command’s commitment under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda to rid Delta State of criminal elements and ensure the safety of residents.

He also called on the public to continue supporting the police by providing credible information that could lead to the arrest of criminals.

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CRIME

Plateau Killings: Night Raid Assault Claims 20, Injure Many

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From Jude Dangwam, Jos

No fewer than 20 people were killed on Monday night in an attack by gunmen in the Bindi village, Ta-Hoss District of the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The assault, which also left many injured, is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued the state’s rural communities.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the village while residents were asleep, launching a coordinated house-to-house onslaught.

Women, children and the elderly were among the victims, as many were unable to flee the violence in time. Survivors described the assailants as heavily armed.

Senator Pam Dachungyang, representing Plateau North, condemned the killings and expressed concern over what he described as a “War situation.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Eric Dung, the Senator said the recurring attacks, including previous ones in Jol and Rim villages, point to a deliberate effort to terrorize and displace farming communities.

“This cycle of daily, unprovoked attacks is an indictment on all of us. The situation in Bindi (Jebu) last night is beyond tragic and stands to be condemned by all. These are people whose primary occupation is farming, and the continued violence is not only destroying lives but also threatening food security and livelihoods,” Dachungyang said.

The Senator further disclosed that he had reached out to the leadership of the National Assembly to push for a more practical and coordinated military response aimed at dislodging the armed elements behind the attacks.

He also called for an urgent review and strengthening of the state’s security architecture, especially the Special Task Force (STF) responsible for peacekeeping in the area.

Also reacting, the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), Riyom Chapter, issued a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Gideon Manjal and Publicity Secretary, Gadu Dong, condemning the attack and calling it part of a broader campaign to displace indigenous people and seize ancestral lands.

“This assault occurred despite the visible presence of security forces in and around the area, including armored military assets. The identities and hideouts of these attackers are known to authorities, yet no meaningful action has been taken to dismantle them,” the group stated.

COPDEM accused both the state and federal authorities of negligence, stressing that repeated attacks on communities like Ta-Hoss, Jol, Rim and Bachi have occurred without adequate protection or justice.

The group called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Caleb Mutfwang to authorise a full-scale military operation to flush out terrorist elements from Plateau’s regions.

It also urged the government to provide urgent humanitarian aid, trauma counselling and reconstruction support for the affected communities.

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