CRIME
COVID-19: Ortom Imposes Curfew in Benue, Closes inter-State Boundaries
Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew with effect from Monday, March 30, 2020 across the state as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus.
Those on essential services will however, not be affected by the restriction order.
Ortom announced the measures during a live broadcast to people of the state Sunday evening.
He said all routes linking the Food Basket State with other states will be closed on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.Also, he said commercial vehicles coming in and those going out of the state, as well as those moving from one local government to another must produce manifest of their passengers for proper tracking of contacts in case of any incidence.
In addition to the curfew and closure of boundaries, the Governor reiterated the ban on markets with effect from Monday and public gatherings of all sorts, urging the people to cooperate in the interest of all.
Other measures as announced by the Governor include ban on all night clubs, bars and restaurants which would only render takeaway services, conveyance of limited number of people by town service buses and tricycles with the use of hand sanitizers by passengers at all times.
He announced other proactive steps towards preventing the spread of the disease to include social distancing, regular washing of hands with soap and running water, use of hand sanitizers, coughing or sneezing in a bent elbow and wearing of face masks as well as other preventive measures.
While charging people of the state to become information officers in sanitizing the public on preventive measures against the deadly Coronavirus, the Governor also urged those who had contact with the first index case to come out for testing as early detection and treatment could help in saving lives.
He announced emergency help lines to the response team to include the following telephone numbers: 07025031214, 09018602439, 07037449837 and 08033696511 through which the public could call to report suspected cases or seek help from relevant authorities.
Governor Ortom stated that government had already released N76 million naira to the State Action Committee on COVID- 19 and a Hilux vehicle to facilitate its operations, stressing that six ambulances had also been provided to attend to any suspected cases across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The Governor who acknowledged the fact that some of the drastic measures taken by his administration were painful, they were necessary sacrifices meant to prevent loss of lives due to the global pandemic.
He implored Benue people to also seek the face of God through fasting and prayers, saying God works in wonderful ways and would also salvage the situation.
CRIME
Enugu Police Arrest 25-Year-old Man over Alleged Kidnapping, Armed Robbery
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command attached to the New Haven Division and the Distress Response Squad (DRS), on 6th December 2025 at about 6 a.m., swiftly responded to a distress call and arrested one Orlu Chukwuemeka (male, 25).
Investigations revealed that the suspect and his accomplice, who is currently at large, disguised as commercial operators of an unregistered white mini bus and abducted their female passenger in a one-chance-styled operation at Fourth Dimension, along Chime Avenue, Enugu.
During the incident, the suspects stabbed the victim, pushed her out of the moving vehicle along the same Chime Avenue, and escaped, after robbing her of an Android phone and ATM card.
Police operatives immediately trailed and intercepted them within Independence Layout, Enugu, leading to the arrest of Orlu, while the other suspect fled.Ina press statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State Command, Daniel Ndukwe stated that the victim was promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention, where she regained stability and was able to positively identify the arrested suspect as part of the criminal gang.
The suspect has since been arraigned in court and remanded in custody, while intensive efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing accomplice and ensure every person involved is brought to justice.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, appreciates the timely support from public-spirited citizens that aided the swift arrest. He reiterates the Command’s unwavering resolve to combating violent crimes across Enugu State this festive season and beyond, urging residents to continue providing credible and timely security information.
CRIME
We Say No to killings of Christians in Nigeria – Group
By David Torough, Abuja
The Future Platform, a Nigeria-based organization headquartered in the United States, has expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks and killings of Christians in various parts of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr.
Austine Dafe, the group condemned the ongoing violence and called on the Nigerian government to take decisive steps to ensure the safety of all citizens.The organization cited recent incidents in Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Jigawa, Anambra, and Kaduna States, where Christian communities have come under repeated attacks, leading to loss of lives, destruction of properties, and displacement of families.
It described the situation as deeply troubling and urged authorities to act swiftly to bring perpetrators to justice.“The government must address the root causes of these violent attacks and prioritize the protection of human life,” the statement said. “Every Nigerian, irrespective of religion, deserves to live in peace and worship freely without fear.”
The group further noted that the persistent killings have drawn international attention, with calls from the United States and Canada for urgent intervention to halt the violence.
The Future Platform appealed to Federal and State Governments, as well as religious and community leaders, to speak out against hate and intolerance while working together to promote peace, unity, and justice.
“This is a time for leadership and moral courage,” Mr. Dafe stated. “The killings must stop, and the lives of innocent Nigerians must be protected.”
CRIME
Police Arrest Seven Suspects Linked to Murder of IBBUL Student
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Following the killing of a 300 level Student of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Abdulwahab Jafar that led to a massive protest, the State Police Command has arrested seven persons linked to the crime.
The Niger State Police Command in a Statement on Tuesday by the police public Relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun said a total of 19 persons were initially arrested, but after screening 7 were detained.
He said the breakthrough is coming almost four months after the 23yrs old was killed from wounds he sustained while been stabbed at his lodge.
“It could be recalled that on June 23, 2025 at about 3am, there was a report of an unfortunate attack on a student of the IBBUL identified as Abdulwahab Jafar 23yrs of Paiko at his lodge in the school, among other attacks leading to loss of life of the said student”
He recalled that, the incident led to other crises in Lapai community and Police tactical teams were deployed to the town through which normalcy was restored.
“However, in a follow up investigative effort of the Command, jointly carried out by TST and FID STS, a total of 19 persons were arrested in Lapai and other locations in the State based on intelligence and other information at the disposal of the Police Command
“The investigation activities were narrowed down to seven suspects for criminal conspiracy, robbery, unlawful society, internet fraud, having in possession of dangerous weapons and suspected culpable homicide “
The Command named the seven suspects as ; Idris Hamza 27yrs of Maikunkele, Suleiman Damilare 27yrs of Maikunkele, Abdulsemiu Bashir 23yrs of Lapai,Bawa Aliyu 27yrs of Suleja and Yakubu Musa – Pypa 24yrs of Maikunkele .
Others are Samson Abbah, Small 28yrs Rafin /Yanshi, Solomon Musa – Cabella 28yrs of Maitumbi.
Acvording to SP Wasiu Abiodun, based on credible intelligence, Idris Hamza and Suleiman Damilare were arrested on June 27 at Fadikpe with cannabis, charms, and local black soaps with a Toyota Corolla vehicle at one Abdullahi Ahmed a.k.a catch-up residence.
The suspects confessed to members of Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) and further confessed to having carried out a series of cultist activities in IBBUL such as initiation of members’ e.g Jolijoli and other members.
“Their confessions led to the arrest of Abdulsemiu Basir, who is reasonably suspected to be a rival member of the group known as VIKINGS.”
He explained that, upon his arrest in Lapai at a motor park on June 29, a spot search was carried out on him, he was found in possession of 16 SIM cards, POS machine and sum of seventy-seven thousand naira.
“He claimed that he bought the SIM cards from one Audu, another member of VIKINGS presently at large, and the SIM cards were confirmed to be from stolen/robbed phones of victims”.
Bawa Aliyu, before his arrest, was said to have admitted that he was a butcher with axe in NBM Lapai while Yakubu Musa a.k.a PYPA (protect your peace) was arrested on August 14, also a member of NBM, they confirmed to have carried out several attacks and robberies in students lodges to finance their dues, with internet fraud.
Samson Abbah a.k.a Small of Rafin-Yanshi was a student of Federal Polytechnic Bida, graduated in 2017, but joined NBM in 2015, he was also mentioned as the group Admin officer of their WhatsApp platform for Minna zone.
The platform was named as “Men that matters” before he changed it to “Football News”, where they discussed their nefarious activities. Solomon Musa known as Cabella, a close friend of Bawa and Yakubu, the three of them with others attempted to attack another student in the school in August, but met his absence and destroyed the student’s apartment over an alleged rude attitude of the student to them as they claimed.
The Command said investigation is still ongoing and effort to identify either VIKINGS or NBM members responsible for the attack of the deceased is intensified, as it was established that the attack was cultists related.

