DEFENCE
Police Neutralise Armed Robbery Suspect, Arrest 3 Others in Ibadan
The Police Command in Oyo State has neutralised the leader of a suspected armed robbery gang that recently killed a police officer in Ibadan and arrested three others.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, made this known while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan on Friday.
Report says that the suspects were said to have killed ASP Ogunleye Daniel during the invasion of his residence at Ori-Agogo, Odo-Ona Kekere area of Ibadan on April 29.
Report continues that other suspects paraded by the command included: six highway robbers, who specialised in motorcyle snatching and removing cars from wherever they might be parked.
Osifeso said that the leader of the armed robbery gang was neutralised during an encounter with the police during their trail.
He said that the suspected armed robbers, numbering five, invaded Ori-Agogo area of Odo-Ona Kekere in Ibadan on April 29 at about 1.00 a.m. and robbed several residents of their belongings.
Osifeso said that the suspects, during the robbery operation, killed Daniel, serving at the State CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan and who was a resident of the community, after having robbed him and other members of his family.
“Consequently, detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department’s Anti- Robbery section immediately swung into action and tracked the suspects, using a mobile phone found at the scene of the crime.
“Three suspects, including their spiritual healer, were arrested, while their gang leader, popularly known as Ogun, who allegedly shot and killed the deceased officer, was neutralised at an encounter with police operatives during their trail,” he said.
Osifeso said that the suspects, during their voluntarily confession to the crimes, revealed their criminal receiver, popularly known as Iya Alaye.
He said that the person, who used to receive jewelry proceeds from them, was tracked and arrested at Oranyan area of Ibadan.
Osifeso listed the items found with the suspects to include: two Samsung phones, a 1999 model Hyundai Elantra vehicle and a cut-to-size locally-made barrel, two wristwatches, two wedding bands, herbal concoction as well as gold and criminal charms.
One of the suspects, in an interview, said he had just returned from prison but had to go back into robbery because there was no job and support from family members, having lost his parents.
He said that their gang leader, who had been neutralised by the police, introduced him into robbery and that he had only participated in three robbery operations with his gang members.
He pleaded for leniency.
Report says that items recovered from the other suspects paraded included: 10 master keys and four Bajaj motorcycles, among others.
The police spokesman, however, called on citizens of the state to always take care of their health, saying that the command was concerned about the spike in the suicide cases recorded in the state in April.
He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adebowale Williams, appreciated the consistent partnership and goodwill extended to the command by other sister agencies and stakeholders in the battle against crime and its corresponding offshoots.
Osifeso also used the occasion to announce the change in date of the 2023/2024 entrance/admission examinations into Police Children’s Secondary Schools in the state from June 3 to June 10.
“The Oyo State Police Command, on behalf of the Force Education Officer, wishes to announce the change in date of its 2023/2024 Entrance/Admission Exams into Police Children Secondary Schools in Oyo State from June 3 to June 10, 2023,” he said. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Troops Rescue Three Kidnap Victims in Kebbi
Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued three kidnapped victims following an operation in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi.
The Media Coordinator of the operation, Osoba Olaniyi, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi.
Olaniyi stated that the rescue took place on Oct.
24 adding that two victims were rescued at Makuku Village, while one was rescued at Dankolo village.“The rescued victims include A’isha Aminu, 46, Sumayya Aminu, 27, and Nana Abbas, 15,” the media coordinator said.
He disclosed that the victims were subsequently handed over to the District Head of Dirindaji, Alhaji Usman Muhammad, through the Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area.
Olaniyi noted that the operation was concluded successfully without any incident, stressing that the troops remained committed to the protection of lives and property.
DEFENCE
Troops Neutralise Six Terrorists, Arrest 11 Suspected Collaborators in Borno
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised six terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and received the surrender of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) member in Borno.
This was contained in an operational report on Sunday in Abuja.
The report said the operations, conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted terrorist fighters and suspected support networks in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas.
It said troops of 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, supported by Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga at about 12:37 a.
m. on Oct. 25.According to the report, six terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
“Other recovered items included two Android phones, three button phones and charms.
“In a related development, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh, Kaga, at about 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 24.
“The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five earlier arrests.
“Items listed as recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms,” it said.
The report said the suspects were undergoing investigation to establish their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and identify possible links to other members of the network.
It added that troops of 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel at Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwoza, received a JAS member who surrendered at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday.
According to the report, preliminary investigation indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Gwoza and decided to abandon terrorism.
“The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” it added.
The report said the defector was in custody undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.
It said the operations underscore OPHK’s continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities, dismantle support networks and encourage defections through sustained, intelligence-led operations.
The military urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to restore peace and enable displaced communities to return safely. (NAN)
DEFENCE
UK, Nigeria to Deepen Defence, Security Cooperation
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, reiterated the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen.
Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.This was contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Vowles reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to sustaining existing security initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration to address evolving regional and global security challenges.
He described defence and security cooperation as critical pillars of the longstanding bilateral relationship between both countries.
The high commissioner also stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership that would promote regional stability and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle contemporary security threats.
In his response, Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that both countries had sustained productive defence relations over several decades.
He said the two countries had continued to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns.
The CDS emphasised the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.
According to him, ongoing defence agreements and training programmes have contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Oluyede emphasised that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained vital to strengthening the military’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats.
He added that such partnerships would also promote greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency within the Armed Forces.
Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating existing achievements and exploring further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.


