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Reps summon WAEC head over glitches in ongoing exams
Reps summon WAEC head over glitches in ongoing exams
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been issued a 24-hour ultimatum to appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies over concerns around the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The directive was given on Thursday by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, after WAEC failed to show up following an earlier invitation.
Oforji disclosed that WAEC has been summoned to explain widespread complaints and irregularities reported during the ongoing exams.
“The examinations have been riddled with serious irregularities. We’ve received reports of students writing exams as late as midnight in some centres across the country,” Oforji stated.
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“The House deemed it necessary to summon WAEC to explain these developments and the trauma candidates are currently facing.
“Ironically, WAEC responded this morning, saying they couldn’t appear due to their involvement in the exams. But that is precisely why we need them here.
“Our intention is not to witch-hunt WAEC but to seek answers that will calm public anxiety and ensure these challenges don’t recur.
“WAEC has conducted exams for decades, yet we have never experienced this level of disorganisation.
“Something is clearly wrong, and it must be addressed. WAEC must appear unfailingly on Friday, May 30, 2025, or face legislative sanctions as provided by the Constitution,” Oforji added.
Reps summon WAEC head over glitches in ongoing exams
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Police Launch Manhunt After Fresh Attacks, Kidnappings Rock Four Nigerian States
The Nigeria Police Force has launched search-and-rescue operations and intensified efforts to arrest suspected terrorists, kidnappers and armed attackers following fresh incidents of violence in Ogun, Borno, Zamfara and Bauchi states.
The incidents include the abduction of a Chinese national and his manager in Ogun State, the kidnapping of a driver in Borno, a fatal attack in Zamfara and the killing of a commercial motorcycle operator in Bauchi.
In an operational update released on Saturday, October 10, 2026, police spokesperson CSP Ani Iniedu said security teams were pursuing suspects linked to the attacks while investigations continued into several other cases involving alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.
In Ogun State, police launched a manhunt for the abductors of Chinese national Liyuan Xiao and his manager, identified as Sunday, who were reportedly kidnapped at a worksite in Erimobi, Saapade.
Officers who responded to the incident recovered spent AK-47 ammunition shells at the scene. Police tactical teams subsequently began searching surrounding bushes in an effort to rescue the two men safely and arrest those responsible.
The Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran is also investigating the abduction, according to the police update.
In Borno State, suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram insurgents reportedly abducted Yusuf Tahir, a 38-year-old driver attached to GISCOR, while he was travelling from Maiduguri to Damasak.
The incident occurred at Kareto in Mobbar Local Government Area. Police and military personnel have commenced coordinated search-and-rescue operations to locate the driver and apprehend the suspected attackers.
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The latest incident adds to security concerns along roads in parts of Borno, where armed groups have continued to pose risks to travellers and residents.
In Zamfara State, a suspected bandit attack on Bardoki village in Gummi Local Government Area left one person dead and two others injured.
The deceased was identified as Marka Muhammad. According to the police, military personnel attached to Operation Fansan Yamma were alerted to the incident, but the attackers had fled before their arrival.
Security personnel have since commenced tracking operations to locate the suspects and establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
In Bauchi State, armed assailants attacked two commercial motorcycle operators near Zidanga village, killing 25-year-old Gaddafi Ibrahim and injuring his colleague.
The attackers reportedly used sharp objects during the assault before escaping with two Boxer motorcycles valued at approximately ₦2 million.
Police said efforts were underway to arrest the suspects and recover the stolen motorcycles.
Despite the fresh attacks, the police reported several arrests and rescue operations across other states.
In Rivers State, four suspects were arrested over the alleged kidnapping of 24-year-old Gift Malekwe along Igwuruta–Etche Road. Investigators alleged that the suspects used dating websites to lure victims before abducting them.
The allegations are under investigation, and the suspects’ culpability has not been established by a court.
In Cross River State, police rescued an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly abducted and found tied up in a suspect’s room with injuries to his head.
A 29-year-old suspect, identified as Abashi John, was arrested. The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Calabar for further investigation.
In Anambra State, police arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Chidera Anthony, over an alleged armed robbery in Awka.
The victim reportedly lost a mobile phone, a point-of-sale machine and ₦40,000 in cash. Police said items recovered from the suspect’s hideout included the victim’s purse, an unregistered motorcycle and an axe. Efforts were continuing to apprehend an alleged accomplice who remained at large.
Meanwhile, in Benue State, 17 Cameroonian nationals were arrested over alleged clandestine activities and suspected entry into Nigeria without valid travel documents. Police said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their presence and activities.
The latest incidents come amid continuing security operations against kidnapping gangs, armed robbery suspects, bandits and other criminal networks across the country.
In a separate operational report covering September 26 to October 2, the police said they had rescued 42 kidnapped victims and arrested 96 suspects across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The police have urged members of the public to provide credible information that could help investigators identify suspects, locate abducted victims and prevent further attacks.
The latest developments highlight the continuing security challenges facing communities, road users and businesses in parts of Nigeria, despite ongoing operations by police and military personnel.
Police Launch Manhunt After Fresh Attacks, Kidnappings Rock Four Nigerian States
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Osun: Family Questions Police Suicide Claim After Man Dies in Cell
The family of a 40-year-old man, Taofeek Azeez, has demanded a thorough investigation into his death in police custody in Agbeye, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, questioning the police account that he died by suicide.
Azeez reportedly died hours after being detained over an allegation of stealing cocoa seeds. His death has raised concerns about the circumstances of his arrest, his treatment before being handed over to the police and the events inside the detention cell.
According to reports, local vigilantes apprehended Azeez over the alleged theft and took him to the palace of the Alagbeye of Agbeye before he was handed over to the police at the community’s police outpost.
A video reportedly seen by the newspaper showed Azeez being subjected to corporal punishment and paraded half-naked while being taken to the palace.
His brother, Fatai Alimi, expressed disbelief over reports that Azeez had taken his own life in detention, describing the circumstances of his death as suspicious and calling on the Osun State Commissioner of Police and the state government to intervene.
Alimi alleged that Azeez had been beaten and stripped before he was handed over to the police. He also questioned the circumstances in which his brother was reportedly found hanging in the cell.
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“It was surprising to hear that he had killed himself inside the cell; his death looks suspicious,” Alimi said, urging the authorities to establish what happened and ensure justice for the family.
Azeez was a father of six children, had three wives and left behind an aged mother, according to his brother.
Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Command said Azeez had been arrested by community members over the alleged theft of cocoa seeds and subsequently handed over to the police.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the suspect was questioned and detained at the Agbeye police outpost. An officer later discovered him dead while checking the cell.
Ojelabi said preliminary findings indicated that Azeez had died by suicide while in custody. He added that the officer in charge of the outpost would be questioned as part of the investigation.
The police spokesperson also said the command was unaware of reports that Azeez had been humiliated or paraded around the community before his transfer to the police.
The family’s account and the police explanation have left questions about the events preceding Azeez’s death, including the alleged treatment he received before detention and the supervision of the cell. These matters require independent verification through a thorough investigation.
No arrest had been announced in connection with the death in the earlier police account, although the officer in charge was to be questioned. The police said the family had been contacted to discuss arrangements concerning the deceased.
The case has renewed calls for accountability when suspects die in custody. Azeez had been accused of stealing cocoa seeds, but the allegation had not been established in court before his death.
The family is seeking answers about how he died and wants the authorities to determine whether any person or officer should be held responsible. The outcome of the investigation will be crucial in establishing the circumstances of his death.
Osun: Family Questions Police Suicide Claim After Man Dies in Cell
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Oyo: Police Officer’s Son Held Over Alleged Rape of Five-Year-Old Girl
Oyo: Police Officer’s Son Held Over Alleged Rape of Five-Year-Old Girl
A 19-year-old man identified as Bayo has been arrested over the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in Oyo town, Oyo State, while a human rights organisation has called for an independent investigation amid allegations of possible interference in the case.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday in the Durbar area of Oyo town, when the child was sent by her mother to buy a recharge card. The suspect is said to be the son of a serving police officer in Ibadan.
The victim’s father, Afeez Tiamiyu, told Saturday PUNCH that he was at work when his wife called to inform him of the incident. He said he rushed home and, after speaking with his daughter, accompanied the family in identifying the alleged suspect.
According to Tiamiyu, the family took the child to the scene, where she reportedly identified the young man. Bayo was subsequently arrested and taken to the Police Area Command in Durbar, Oyo.
Tiamiyu alleged that the family became concerned after arriving at the police station and discovering that the suspect’s father was a serving police officer. He claimed that some officers on duty attempted to persuade the family to drop the complaint.
The father said the family refused to abandon the case and sought the assistance of human rights advocates. His allegations about the conduct of officers have not been independently established.
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A medical examination was reportedly conducted on the child at the State Hospital in Oyo. According to a medical report dated October 5, 2026, and signed by a doctor identified as Dr Adeniyi, the child sustained injuries to her vulva and labia minora, accompanied by severe pain. The report was described by Saturday PUNCH as indicating injuries consistent with sexual assault.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the incident had been reported and that an investigation was underway. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The transfer places the case under the state-level investigative unit as the authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegation and determine the appropriate next steps.
Meanwhile, the Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, demanding an independent and transparent investigation.
In a petition dated October 6, 2026, and signed by its Director-General, Sulaimon Tadese, the organisation raised concerns about alleged attempts to resolve the matter privately because of the suspect’s reported family connection to a police officer.
The group argued that allegations of sexual abuse involving a five-year-old child should not be treated as a private family dispute. It called for the protection of the child and her family, the preservation of medical and forensic evidence, and the prosecution of the suspect if investigators establish sufficient evidence.
THURIST also urged the Police Service Commission to investigate any officer found to have attempted to suppress the complaint, intimidate the family or interfere with the investigation.
The allegations of police interference have not been independently verified, and no finding of misconduct against any officer has been established in the information publicly available. The authorities’ investigation will be critical in determining whether the complaint was handled appropriately.
The case has renewed concerns about child protection, access to justice and the need for allegations involving minors to be handled without intimidation or undue influence. The child’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy.
Bayo remains a suspect, and the allegation against him has not been determined by a court. The investigation is expected to establish the facts and whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution.
Oyo: Police Officer’s Son Held Over Alleged Rape of Five-Year-Old Girl
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