CRIME
Insecurity: Gov Ortom Proposes Ownership of AK47

From Vincent Nyinongu, Makurdi.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has urged the Federal Government to grant licences to responsible citizens to carry sophisticated weapons such as AK47 to deter criminals from attacking innocent and helpless Nigerians.
He said the policy should be backed by a strict legal framework to prevent illegal possession of arms by the citizenry without exception.
These were some of the submissions contained in the paper Governor Ortom presented Wednesday during the virtual meeting convened by Centre for Values in Leadership, CVL, in collaboration with Nigeria Governors’ Forum(NGF).
In the paper titled ‘Insecurity and Governance Challenges in the New Normal’, the Governor said governments at all levels must come to terms with the fact that insecurity was a real threat to development of the country and be willing to sincerely tackle the menace.
He also recommended adequate funding of security agencies and continuous training of their personnel to enable them be abreast of global dynamics in the fight against insecurity.
The Governor urged the Federal Government to embrace ranching as it was the global best practice of animal husbandry and enact a law to end open grazing, which often comes with attacks on farming communities by armed herdsmen militia.
Ortom also advocated improved educational standards and enhanced public enlightenment campaigns to give the people, particularly youths the needed orientation to shun negative acts and become more patriotic.
He called for the repositioning of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency through training, funding and logistics to successfully confront drug barons and peddlers; a move he said would stop illegal drugs from entering and circulating in the country.
Ortom also recommended that the embargo on employment be lifted and more job opportunities created to take Nigerian youths from the streets.
He tasked the federal, state and local governments to show greater commitment to developing the agricultural value chain to generate more jobs for Nigerians.
Governor Ortom concluded his presentation by stating that Benue State has made significant contributions to national development and as the food basket of the nation, if the state was threatened by insecurity, the negative impact would be on the entire country.
He, therefore, solicited the support of all stakeholders in tackling security challenges and pledged the resolve of his administration to ensuring the safety of lives and property.
CRIME
Troops Nab Foreign National, Terrorists Logistics Suppliers, Others

By David Torough, Abuja
The Defense Headquarters has disclosed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a Chinese national and several suspected logistics suppliers as well as their collaborators of terrorist groups during coordinated operations in Borno and Yobe States.
This was revealed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye on Friday in Abuja during the military’s weekly press briefing.
He said the arrests were made between June 5 and 7 in Kukawa and Ngala Local Government Areas of Borno State and Geidam LGA of Yobe State.
“ Between 6 – 10 June 2025, troops, in conjunction with security agencies and hybrid forces, conducted offensive operations in Gwoza, Ngala and Marte LGAs of Borno State as well as Bade and GujbaLGAs of Yobe State.
During the operations, some terrorists were eliminated while one drug peddler was arrested. Also, 3 kidnapped victims were rescued.“The troops also recovered arms and ammunition as well as IEDs/IED making materials, motorcycles, and vehicles amongst others. Terrorists’ camp and equipment were burnt insitu.
“Troops arrested 5 terrorists logistics suppliers, collaborators and a Chinese nationale claiming to be a miner during well-coordinated operations conducted in Kukawa and Ngala LGAs of Borno State as well as Geidam LGA of Yobe State between 5 – 7June 2025. Amongst the items recovered were vehicle, motorcycle, mobile phones, Chinese International passport, while the sum of N10,000.00 was also recovered from them.
“Troops responded to information about terrorists’ activities in Gwoza and Abadam LGAs of Borno State as well as Nangere LGA of Yobe State from 6 – 9 June 2025. During the encounters, troops killed some terrorists and rescued 3 kidnapped victims. Some weapons and ammunition were recovered from them.
The military spokesman reassured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of all through ongoing strategic operations across the country.
Kangye emphasized that the military’s primary objective is to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians, while promoting a just and secure society.
He added that proactive measures, such as enhanced surveillance and intelligence gathering, are being implemented to respond swiftly to evolving security challenges, neutralize threats and maintain national peace.
Providing updates on recent military operations, Kangye reported that in the South-South region, troops under Operation Delta Safe have intensified efforts against crude oil theft and illegal refining, leading to the dismantling of illicit sites and the seizure of materials used in these activities.
In the Northwest, he highlighted the achievements of Operation Fasan Yama, where operations in Zamfara and Sokoto States led to the neutralization of threats, rescue of hostages, and recovery of equipment.
He appealed for continued public support and cooperation, stressing that national security could only be engendered through collective effort.
CRIME
3 Docked for Allegedly Breaking into Bank, Stealing Laptops

Three men, Olufemi Faleti, 59, Ayoade Adewale 41 and Idowu Yusuf, 41, on Friday, were brought before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court Ibadan charged with breaking into a bank and stealing laptops.
The defendants,whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy, house breaking and stealing, to which they pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on March 24, at 7:30 p.
m, at First Bank, Asogo, Oyo.He alleged that the defendants broke into the bank and stole two laptops worth N800, 000.
Tellang said the offences contravened Sections 516, 413 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Moyosore Atanda granted each defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 and with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case until Sept. 8, for hearing. (NAN)
CRIME
Ex-convict Bags 2 years Imprisonment for Stealing Speaker, Mobile Phone

An Ota Magistrate’s Court in Ogun, on Friday, sentenced a 21-year-old ex-convict, Habeeb Jimoh, to two years imprisonment for stealing a Zealot speaker, Infinix mobile phone and other goods worth N595,000.
In her judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs O.
O.
Fadairo, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.Fadairo said that the prosecution counsel had proven beyond reasonable doubt that he was guilty of the charge preferred against him.
The convict, of no fixed address, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. E. O. Adaraloye, told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 28, at about 3.
00 a.m. at Singer area, Ewupe in Sango-Ota.Adaraloye said that the security guard identified him after stealing a Zealot speaker, an Infinix phone and other items, worth N595,000, after which he fled.
According to him, the offence contravenes Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)