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Bauchi Police Arrest Governor Bala’s Impersonator

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Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu
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From Mohammed Muktar Umar, Bauchi


The Bauchi state police command said it has arrested a suspected criminal who specializes in duping unsuspecting members of the public of millions of naira claiming to be the Governor of Bauchi state, senator Bala Mohammed.
The police Commissioner who stated this while briefing newsmen in his office on Monday, explained that the impersonator of the Governor had defrauded innocent members of the public of N37 million in the name of payment for hajj pilgrimage.


“One of the suspects by name Sukni Zakka acted as the personal assistant (PA) to the governor while the other, Iliyasu Ibrahim alias “Du” acted as the governor during phone conversation”, the CP informed.


Adding that, “the impostor PA usually lured his unsuspecting victims and defrauds them by putting a call to the impostor governor which in return answered the call and assured them a Hajj slot.”.
Habu Sani further revealed that more than 180 other suspects were also nabbed within the period under review in connection with various crimes in the state.


He said that the press briefing was to update members of the public on the command’s achievements in the ongoing fight against crime and criminality under the special operation code named “Operation Puff Adder”.
“So far, the Command’s tactical teams attached to Operation Puff Adder have between the months of August and September, 2019 arrested one hundred and eighty five (185) suspects in connection with armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling, Babeli activities, vandalism and theft of electric cable.” The CP said.
Other offences he said include; dealing with counterfeit currency, cultivation of weeds suspected to be cannabis/ Indian hemp, criminally changing IMEI numbers of stolen/robbed cell phones and other heinous crimes in Bauchi state.
CP Sani explained that out of the arrested suspects, 138 have been charged to court while others were in police custody undergoing investigation after which they will be charged to court. 
Some of the suspects in the police net according to the CP were two suspects responsible for many robbery cases including the recent attempted armed robbery at Shafa filling station along Bauchi- Jos road.


Out of 185 suspects arrested, 138 were charged to court, while 47 are still in the Command custody undergoing investigation.
Exhibits recovered by the police, the CP said include; four AK-47 rifles, one pistol, One locally made sub machine gun and seventeen other assorted firearms.
Other exhibits according to CP Sani are; Sixty five live ammunition, five cartridges, Six pellets, fourty two machetes, four motor vehicles, Eight motorcycles, One tricycle  (KEKE NAPEP), Forty five thousand 45,000 liters of petroleum products and Nine thousand meters of aluminum conductor valued at about three million and five hundred thousand naira.
He further said twenty six International Passports, application forms into Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, bunch of assorted charms, One hundred and fifty two pieces of 100 note counterfeits US Dollars and 43 pieces of 1000 & 500 note counterfeits Nigerian Naira, two hundred and eight 208 cows and 21 sheep, amongst other exhibits.
The Police Commissioner called on the members of the public to support and cooperate with the command in its on-going fight against crime and criminality in the State, assuring that the police would not relent in performing its statutory duties.

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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CRIME

Police Crush Two Major Human Trafficking Syndicates, Rescue Children, Others

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From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

In a bold and coordinated crackdown on organised human trafficking, the Nigeria Police Force have dismantled two major syndicates operating within the country, rescuing multiple victims, including children, pregnant women and foreign nationals, while arresting a total of 11 suspects across two states.

Recently, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Zone-13 Police Command executed a precision-led sting operation, targeting a deeply rooted child trafficking and baby factory network.

The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects from various locations, including Uzoamaka Ani (27), Joy Madu (52) and Victoria Onodu Akasike (56).

These individuals, during interrogation, confessed to active involvement in child theft, abduction, illegal adoption schemes, and the operation of unlicensed medical facilities functioning as baby factories. Their criminal activities were strategically spread across Enugu and Anambra States, targeting vulnerable women and children for exploitation and sale.

The victims rescued during the operation include a seven-month-old infant, a four-year-old child, and two heavily pregnant women, all held under captivity in a remote village. Both pregnant women, identified as indigenes of Ebonyi State, were reportedly lured and held for the purpose of forced births and subsequent sale of their newborns. The rescue was swift and executed without harm to the victims, who are now in safe custody and receiving necessary care.

Meanwhile, in a statement sent by the force public relations officer, force headquarters Abuja, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that efforts have intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate who managed to escape during the sting.

In a similar development, operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have successfully rescued a Ghanaian national, David Angerinya, who was trafficked into Nigeria under false pretenses. This operation was launched following a formal petition from the Interpol Liaison Office at Force Headquarters, Abuja, calling for immediate police intervention in a suspected case of transnational human trafficking.

Acting swiftly, the operatives initiated a targeted investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects: Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix. Investigations revealed that these suspects are part of a wider international trafficking syndicate that specialises in deceiving individuals, particularly from neighbouring West African countries, with fake promises of employment and travel visas to countries like Canada.

During the operation, an additional thirty-nine Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to the same group. Many of them lacked valid travel documentation, while those in possession of passports presented expired papers, further underscoring the depth of exploitation. The victims were found in distressing conditions and are currently undergoing medical treatment.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends the gallantry of all operatives involved in these successful operations, which further underscores the firm stance of the Nigeria Police Force against all forms of human trafficking, child exploitation, and transnational crimes.

Members of the public are encouraged to maintain vigilance and support ongoing efforts by reporting any suspicious individuals or movements to the nearest police station or command. The Force remains resolute in its duty to protect the vulnerable and bring perpetrators to justice, reinforcing the message that such crimes will not be tolerated under any guise.

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