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Assault by female trader over N100 causes ex-police officer’s death

Published

1 year ago

May 24, 2025

Late Retired Assistant Superintendent of Police Joseph Ahaba and wife, Hajara

Assault by female trader over N100 causes ex-police officer’s death

Retired Assistant Superintendent of Police Joseph Ahaba appeared to have adopted a Christ-like philosophy in matters pertaining to children. He welcomed them warmly and often sought to fulfil their modest needs and desires.

Yet never in his most troubling dreams could he have foreseen that an interaction with a child would lead to his untimely demise.

It was just a few steps from his residence in Angwan Adamu, Ado, Nasarawa State, at the close of October 2024.

His wife, Mrs Hajara Joseph, revealed his deep affection for children, and recounted that the couple had been blessed with nine children, though they tragically lost one some years ago. The memory of that departed child continued to haunt her husband’s heart, she recalled.

She remarked: “My husband never quite recovered from that loss. Whenever his thoughts turned to the boy, he would sink into a deep melancholy for days.”

She further recalled instances illustrating his tenderness: “There was a day he nearly expelled me from the house for chastising one of the children. On another occasion, he harshly rebuked me when the children complained of hunger. To verify their claims, he feigned sleep in the parlour and observed me surreptitiously serving the children, who subsequently went outside to eat.

“Hours later, when I served him his meal, the children clustered around him. When he inquired whether they had eaten, they replied in the negative. My husband, without hesitation, offered them his portion and returned to the bedroom to apologise to me for having earlier spoken harshly.”

Such was the depth of Mr Ahaba’s affection for children that Mrs Joseph expressed disbelief at the notion that her husband could have physically assaulted a child, as was later alleged.

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Other neighbours around his residence also testified to how he related nicely with their children and expressed surprise that he was alleged to have beaten up someone’s child.

Genesis of tragedy

Following his retirement from the Nigeria Police Force a decade ago, Mr Ahaba had been receiving monthly pension payments from his Retirement Savings Account via African Alliance. However, these payments ceased over a year prior to the incident, significantly affecting his financial wellbeing.

Mrs Joseph recounted that on the fateful evening, her husband had departed their home around 7pm for his customary evening walk and made a purchase worth ₦400 from a local female trader named Obiageli, for which he paid in full.

“After he left, the woman’s six-year-old son ran after him, claiming that his mother said he still owed ₦100,” she said. “The child grabbed my husband’s shirt. My husband calmly explained that he had already paid ₦400 and instructed the boy to relay that to his mother, adding that should she remain insistent, he would return later to settle the difference.”

Shortly thereafter, the boy returned to his mother in tears, alleging that Mr Ahaba had assaulted him.

According to Mrs Joseph, her husband had by then made his way towards their home and paused at the invitation of a fellow Igala woman, one Dora, who suggested he rest from the sun on her veranda. She offered him sachet water, which he was quietly drinking when Obiageli stormed onto the scene.

“She seized his mobile phone and smashed it against the ground,” Mrs Joseph recounted. “She then grabbed his head and repeatedly bashed it against the wall until Dora rushed to intervene and managed to pry her off.”

Her husband, she said, uttered not a single word in retaliation. Upon returning home, he narrated the entire episode to her in quiet disbelief.

By the following morning, however, his face was severely swollen. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors determined that surgery on his head was required.

Legal proceedings and declining health

The matter was promptly reported to the New Nyanya Police Division. Obiageli was arrested and charged before a magistrate’s court for assault, and subsequently granted bail.

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Whilst the case was pending, Mr Ahaba’s health rapidly deteriorated. He lost his sight and, tragically, succumbed to his injuries seven days following the attack.

Mrs Joseph stated that they duly informed the police of his passing. Nevertheless, she expressed profound disappointment that throughout the seven months and eight days during which her husband’s body lay in the mortuary, the police never paid a courtesy visit to the family nor extended any formal condolences.

The late officer was eventually laid to rest at Abejukolo Town in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State on the 10th of May this year.

One of Mr Ahaba’s sons expressed his dismay that, even after formally notifying the police of their father’s death, the assault case continued unimpeded before the court.

“The numerous adjournments drained us emotionally,” he said. “Eventually, we informed the prosecutor that our family was no longer interested in pursuing the matter.”

Police response and institutional oversight

At the New Nyanya Police Station, an officer who requested anonymity confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and initially charged with assault. However, he declined to comment on whether the division had been formally informed of Mr Ahaba’s demise.

A senior officer at Force Headquarters queried why the charge had not been withdrawn following the victim’s death, pointing out that the suspect should have been re-arrested and the case file reclassified as culpable homicide. He asserted that the matter should have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia for thorough investigation.

“The prosecutor ought to have advised the Divisional Police Officer of New Nyanya Police Division accordingly,” he noted. He further advised the bereaved family to submit a formal petition to the Nasarawa State Police Commissioner to ensure justice.

In response, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Ramhan Nansel, stated that he was previously unaware of the case. He asked whether the family had officially updated the police regarding the victim’s death.

The spokesperson said he would present the matter to the state police commissioner, so that legal advice could be sought in order to do what the law says in such a case.

Assault by female trader over N100 causes ex-police officer’s death

Related Topics:death Ex-police female trader

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NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity

Published

14 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Trends Admin

NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity

Organised labour has threatened a nationwide industrial action over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, warning that workers may be forced to shut down economic activities if the government fails to curb the growing wave of terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the country.

The warning was issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) during engagements at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The labour centres said the persistent insecurity facing many parts of the country has become a direct threat to the safety, livelihoods and productivity of Nigerian workers, stressing that no nation can achieve sustainable economic growth while citizens live in fear.

According to the unions, thousands of workers now face daily risks while travelling to work, conducting business or carrying out official duties, as incidents of kidnapping, armed attacks and violent crimes continue to rise in several states.

The labour leaders noted that insecurity is no longer limited to isolated communities but has spread to schools, hospitals, farms, highways and workplaces, disrupting economic activities and deepening hardship for ordinary Nigerians.

They expressed concern over recent abductions involving teachers, schoolchildren and other citizens, arguing that the situation has exposed workers and their families to unprecedented dangers.

The threat of a broader labour action comes amid growing support from organised labour for the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in some affected areas over the abduction of teachers and pupils.

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President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, recently backed the teachers’ action, describing it as a necessary response to the country’s worsening security situation.

Ajaero said workers should not be expected to perform their duties under constant threats to their lives, warning that organised labour may be compelled to mobilise nationwide solidarity actions if governments fail to take stronger steps to protect citizens.

He maintained that the safety of workers must remain a priority, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and local government services, where employees often operate in vulnerable environments.

The labour unions further argued that the security crisis in Nigeria has become both a humanitarian and economic challenge, discouraging investment, reducing productivity and worsening the cost of doing business.

While calling on federal and state governments to take decisive action against criminal groups, the unions urged authorities to move beyond public assurances and implement practical measures capable of tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

They also called for intensified efforts to secure the release of victims currently being held by kidnappers and other armed groups across the country.

Meanwhile, the labour centres dismissed reports suggesting that negotiations were progressing on a proposed ₦100,000 minimum wage, describing claims by some state governors as misleading.

According to labour officials, no agreement has been reached on such a figure, insisting that discussions on workers’ welfare and remuneration remain ongoing.

The unions warned that continued failure to address workers’ concerns over security and welfare could trigger stronger actions from organised labour in the coming weeks.

The latest warning highlights growing frustration among labour leaders over the country’s security challenges, which have increasingly dominated national discourse amid recurring attacks on communities, schools and public institutions.

NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity

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Oyo Demolishes Kidnappers’ Hideout Used to Hold Adelabu’s Sister, Twin Sons

Published

29 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Oyo Demolishes Kidnappers’ Hideout Used to Hold Adelabu’s Sister, Twin Sons

IBADAN – The Oyo State Government has demolished a three-bedroom bungalow in the Lako Community along the Aiyegun–Anaye Road axis of Ibadan, after security forces identified the property as the hideout where suspected kidnappers held the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her 12-year-old twin sons captive. The demolition, carried out on Monday, June 8, 2026, by officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Public Works and Transportation accompanied by Nigeria Police Force operatives, forms part of the government’s broader crackdown on kidnapping and criminal activities across the state.

The victims – Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons, Peter and Paul – were abducted on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m. while Mrs. John-Paul was driving her children to school in the Elewura area of Challenge, Ibadan. Mrs. John-Paul is the youngest of five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu, making her the sister of Chief Bayo Adelabu, a prominent Nigerian politician and former Minister of Power.

The victims regained their freedom following a coordinated rescue operation by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026. According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DSP Anthony Placid, the rescue was achieved through sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tactical operations. During the confrontation between security operatives and the kidnap syndicate, two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded, two rifles were recovered from the suspects, and the victims were rescued unharmed and placed in safe custody. Four suspects were arrested and paraded on Sunday at the State Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan. In a dramatic turn, one kidnapper reportedly fell from the roof of the building where the victims were being held. Preliminary intelligence suggests some suspects escaped with gunshot injuries, and security operatives have intensified efforts to apprehend fleeing members of the syndicate.

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The demolished three-bedroom bungalow in the Lako Community along the Aiyegun–Anaye Road was identified during investigations as the operational base and hideout used by the kidnap syndicate to hold victims. A high-powered security assessment of the site was led by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Oluwagbemiga Abimbola, on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Following that assessment, the state government authorized the immediate demolition of the property. According to the Oyo State Government, the action sends a strong message to criminal elements and reflects the government’s commitment to combating insecurity across the state, dismantling criminal networks, and denying kidnappers safe operational bases within Oyo State. The government reiterated its resolve to ensure that persons found culpable of criminal activities, as well as properties used in the commission of crimes where permitted by law, are dealt with through appropriate legal processes.

The Adelabu family expressed deep gratitude following the successful rescue. In a statement released by Comrade Femi Awogboro, the family’s Media Aide, they thanked Almighty God and all Nigerians whose prayers, support, and encouragement contributed to the operation. The statement read: “The family of Chief Adebayo Adelabu wishes to express its deepest gratitude and appreciation to Almighty God and to all Nigerians whose prayers, support, encouragement, and concerted efforts culminated in the successful rescue of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons, Peter and Paul.”

The demolition comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping and violent crimes in Oyo State and across Nigeria. In a separate incident, over 40 pupils and teachers from three schools in Ogbomosho, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, reportedly remain in captivity after being abducted on May 15, 2026. Authorities have yet to disclose additional details regarding ownership of the demolished building or whether further demolitions linked to the investigation will follow.

Oyo Demolishes Kidnappers’ Hideout Used to Hold Adelabu’s Sister, Twin Sons

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MURIC Rejects Alleged Shari’ah Demand by Oyo Kidnappers, Labels It ‘Lie from Pit of Jahannam’

Published

7 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Rejects Alleged Shari’ah Demand by Oyo Kidnappers, Labels It ‘Lie from Pit of Jahannam’

Accuses Christian Leaders, Hot Gospellers of Plot to Tarnish Islam’s Image

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has vehemently rejected reports that kidnappers of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State demanded the implementation of Shari’ah as part of conditions for releasing their victims, describing the alleged demand as “a lie from the pit of Jahannam.”

In a strongly worded press release issued on Monday, the Islamic human rights organisation accused “enemies of Islam” within the negotiation team of fabricating the demand to tarnish the image of the Muslim faith.

The kidnappers had reportedly demanded the implementation of Shari’ah in the South-West alongside other conditions for the release of the abducted victims. But MURIC, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, dismissed the claim as a smokescreen.

“We reject this report. It is a smokescreen. That so-called demand for Shari’ah was inserted by Muslim-haters among the negotiators and the so-called demand was calculated to tarnish the image of Islam,” the statement read in part.

Professor Akintola went further to allege the involvement of Governor Seyi Makinde and his agents in what he described as “this devilish attempt to robe Shari’ah in criminal apparels.” He recalled that the governor had once sworn that Shari’ah would never find a place in Oyo State, adding that it was “not impossible, therefore, that the demand was fabricated in Agodi Government House.”

“It is a satanic blackmail designed to silence Yoruba Muslims who have been demanding Shari’ah,” the group added.

While vehemently disowning the alleged kidnappers’ demand, MURIC nonetheless seized the opportunity to restate its long-standing position that the struggle for the establishment of Shari’ah Courts in the South-West is “a legitimate, constitutional, and peaceful demand of Muslims in the region.”

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The organisation argued that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right of Muslims to seek access to Shari’ah Courts, just as adherents of other faiths enjoy institutions that cater to their religious needs.

“The refusal to allow Yoruba Muslims to practice Shari’ah is a denial of religious freedom, a deprivation of access to the judicial system and the creation of a barrier to justice,” the statement said.

However, MURIC unequivocally condemned the kidnapping of innocent schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, describing the act as “barbaric, criminal, and totally inconsistent with the teachings of Islam.”

The group insisted that those responsible for the heinous crime “cannot and will never be the mouthpiece of Yoruba Muslims,” adding that they are “bloodthirsty criminals who have no locus standi to demand Shari’ah on behalf of patriotic and law-abiding Yoruba Muslims.”

Professor Akintola further argued that bandits and kidnappers do not practice Islam, citing testimonies of former captives and discoveries by security operatives. He noted that a Nigerian who spent eleven days in captivity reported that the kidnappers did not observe the Muslim prayer (Salat) even once.

“Security agents who raided bandits’ and kidnappers’ camps have also confirmed that what they found in their camps belie the claim that they represent Muslims or the religion of Islam. Condoms were scattered all over the floor. They found abandoned bottles of alcohol and various types of hot drinks,” the statement added.

“How can such a group demand Shari’ah?” the group queried, insisting that the demand was a smokescreen concocted by those determined to permanently bury the agitation for Shari’ah.

MURIC concluded by warning Nigerians not to be deceived, describing the alleged demand as a “satanic plot” that has failed woefully.

“Stop selling dummies to Nigerians,” the group declared.

As of press time, the Oyo State Government had not officially responded to MURIC’s allegations of involvement in fabricating the Shari’ah demand. Efforts to reach the state’s Commissioner for Information were unsuccessful.

The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State occurred on May 15, 2026. The victims include over 40 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle; and L.A. Primary School. During the attacks, gunmen reportedly killed one teacher and later beheaded another teacher while in captivity.

Governor Seyi Makinde has repeatedly assured residents that the government is working “round the clock” to secure the release of the victims, revealing that federal security personnel have been actively involved in the rescue mission for weeks.