CRIME
Niger Vigilante Group Threatens to Suspend Operations

From Dan Amasingha, Minna
The community vigilante corps recruited by Niger state government to compliment security agencies to combat arms banditry have threatened to withdraw their services due to neglect by the state and local governments authorities.
The protest by the vigilante group in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger state is coming on the heels of the killing of six members by arms bandit in the area.
“We can’t be risking our lives for a government that does not appreciate our sacrifice but is lukewarm and non -challant towards our plight,”the group said.
The Vigilante members were protesting the killing of six of their members including the grand Commander, Dan Asabe Mariga and several others by bandits in an exchange of fire at Rafi Local Government Area.
The deputy Chairman of the group Tanko Maiyaki announced their position to newsmen at the resident of their deceased Commander in Mariga.
The deputy chairman appreciated all the people that have been trooping to the house to condole them over the loss of the fighter.
Malam Tanko Maiyaki lamented that his members were using local weapons and dane guns, which most a times got hooked during battle with bandits, thereby exposing their lives to serious danger and risk.
According to him unless and until government rose to the challenge of providing them with modern and sophisticated weapons, which would match that of bandits they will no longer exposure themselves to danger such as the one that led to loss of their members.
Earlier one of the sons of the deceased Commander and who was also part of the encounter Sunusi Aliyu attributed his father’s death in the hands of bandits to negligence.
“Government is not fully concerned with welfare of vigilante members and their families despite sacrificing their lives to save humanity”.
Ideally, he said education of children of the deceased ought to have been taken care of by the state alongside Mariga and Rafi Local government where they got a distress call of bandits attack only to go there and unfortunately met their untimely death.
District head of Mariga, Alhaji Ilyasu Ibrahim described the death of vigilante members as painful and sad stressing that during their life time, they contributed immensely towards protecting lives and properties of people of Mariga and some neighbouring Local Government Areas from Bandits and kidnappers terrorising the area.
CRIME
Travel Agent Jailed 4 Years Over N6.2m Visa Fraud

A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old travel agent, Adebayo Oyeronke, to four years imprisonment over a N6.2 million visa fraud.
Oyeronke had pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and theft.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, held that Oyeronke was guilty of defrauding Rita Francis and four others of the sum of N6.
2 million.Emmanuel who did not give the convict an option of fine, ordered him to pay N2 million each as compensation to the victims.
The magistrate also ordered him to undertake an affidavit of good conduct, pledging never to engage in any criminal or corrupt activities again.
Earlier, the prosecution Insp.
Chidi Leo told the court that the convict committed the offences between December 2024 and April 2025 at Barnawa Kaduna.Leo said that the defendant collected N6.2 million from the complainants; Rita Francis, Mohammed Sadiq, Christian Baba, Williams Abiodun and Nathan Victor, with a promise to get them Polish visa.
He said after the convict collected the money, he absconded to an unknown destination until he was arrested on May 15.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)
CRIME
Woman, 31, Docked Over Alleged Theft of iPhone Worth N500,000

A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.
30 p. m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.30 p.m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.
According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
CRIME
Prostitute Docked for Allegedly Stabbing Her Colleague

A 40 – year old prostitute, Adeosun Adepeju was on Tuesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stabbing her colleague in the stomach during work period.
Adepeju of undisclosed address was standing trial on a count charge bordering on assault.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Cpl.
Helen Ojo told the court that Adepeju on May 21, at about 12:30 a.m., at Ring road area, Ibadan, stabbed her colleague, Stella Mago with scissors in her stomach.Ojo said that the stabbing caused the complainant bodily harm.
She added that the offence contravened Section 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. M. Olagbenro admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbenro adjourned the matter until May 30, for hearing. (NAN)