Police Dismiss Viral Katsina Video, Say Armed Men Are Vigilantes, Hunters

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has categorically dismissed claims circulating on social media that a viral video from Katsina State showed a police officer fraternising with armed bandits, insisting that the individuals featured are recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters supporting security operations in the state. The controversy erupted after a video showing a long convoy of motorcycle riders passing stationary vehicles while a police officer appeared to wave at them went viral on social media. Background voices captured in the footage further fuelled speculation, with one person referring to the riders as “barayin daji”, a Hausa term commonly used to describe bandits.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, categorically refuted the narrative accompanying the video, describing it as false, misleading, and malicious. The police explained that the footage captured a routine interaction between a police officer and community-based security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State. “For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State,” the statement read in part. The police stressed that any claim suggesting the officer was interacting with bandits is entirely false and intended to mislead the public. The Force condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the circulation of misinformation capable of causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and frustrating ongoing security operations.

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An independent review of the footage shows dozens of motorcycles travelling in a convoy along a rural road. A man wearing police camouflaged uniform is seen standing beside another security operative dressed in a black top and red cap as the convoy passes. The video does not clearly establish the identity of the riders. While some appear to be carrying long objects believed to be firearms, the footage is not clear enough to determine with certainty their specific type. Notably, there is no visible confrontation between the convoy and the security personnel, and the vehicles parked by the roadside, with passengers inside, were left untouched. Security experts noted that community-based security partnerships have increasingly become part of Nigeria’s counter-banditry strategy, particularly in North West states where local hunters, vigilante groups, and other volunteer forces provide intelligence and operational support to conventional security agencies.

The police urged members of the public to disregard the misleading claims attached to the video and rely only on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government sources. The Force warned individuals and groups engaged in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false information capable of prejudicing public peace and security to desist immediately, noting that appropriate legal action may be taken against violators. “The Force warns individuals and groups engaged in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false information capable of prejudicing public peace and security to desist immediately, as appropriate legal action may be taken against violators,” the statement added. Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue collaborating with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime across the country. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime across the country,” the statement concluded.

Police Dismiss Viral Katsina Video, Say Armed Men Are Vigilantes, Hunters

Mike Ozekhome Barred from Using SAN Title as LPPC Orders Suspension

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank of prominent constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him.

The decision was taken during the LPPC’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026, and communicated in a statement signed by the committee’s Secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Kabir Eniola Akanbi.

According to the committee, the suspension was approved pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings currently before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee.

The LPPC stated that the action was necessary to preserve the integrity, dignity and prestige associated with the SAN rank while the allegations and related proceedings are being reviewed.

“The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), at its 173rd General Meeting held on 23 June 2026, approved the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome from the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” the statement read.

The committee further directed Ozekhome to immediately cease presenting himself or holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria until the disciplinary process is concluded.

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“Accordingly, Chief Mike Ozekhome shall refrain from parading himself, presenting himself, or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings,” the LPPC added.

Although the committee did not disclose the specific allegations that prompted the suspension, the development comes amid ongoing legal controversies involving the senior lawyer. Reports indicate that Ozekhome is facing criminal proceedings linked to a disputed London property ownership case in which allegations of forgery, impersonation and the use of allegedly forged documents have been raised.

The senior advocate has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence regarding the allegations.

The case has attracted widespread attention within legal circles, particularly following reports that the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the prosecution of the matter. The dispute reportedly centers on ownership claims relating to a London property allegedly connected to the late former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni.

Legal analysts note that disciplinary action against holders of the SAN rank is relatively rare, making the LPPC’s decision one of the most significant professional sanctions involving a senior member of the legal profession in recent years.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title remains the highest professional distinction awarded to legal practitioners in Nigeria. The rank is reserved for lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to legal practice, advocacy, scholarship and the advancement of the rule of law.

Ozekhome, a professor of law and one of Nigeria’s most recognizable constitutional lawyers, has built a distinguished legal career spanning several decades. He is widely known for his involvement in high-profile constitutional, electoral and human rights cases, as well as his vocal advocacy for democracy, civil liberties and judicial independence.

The LPPC emphasized that the suspension should not be interpreted as a final determination of guilt. Rather, it described the action as an interim measure designed to protect public confidence in the SAN rank while disciplinary proceedings continue.

“The LPPC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity and discipline within the legal profession and to ensuring that the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria continues to command public confidence and respect,” the statement added.

The outcome of the disciplinary proceedings is expected to determine whether Ozekhome’s SAN privileges will be restored or whether further sanctions may be imposed.

Mike Ozekhome Barred from Using SAN Title as LPPC Orders Suspension

Kano Court Jails Man for 20 Years for Raping 40 Women, Including an 85-Year-Old Woman

A Kano State High Court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a 32-year-old man who gained notoriety for breaking into homes at night while naked to sexually assault women and young girls across Kiru Local Government Area. The convict, Muhammad Zulfalalu, popularly known as “Mai Siket,” was found guilty on a nine-count charge bordering on rape and housebreaking after he pleaded guilty to violating an 85-year-old grandmother in her own home. Justice Aisha Mahmoud, who presided over the case, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, delivering a verdict that has been hailed by the Kano State government as a landmark moment in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in the region.

According to the prosecution counsel, Aisha Yakubu-Adamu, the defendant committed the offence between August 2019 and June 2020 in Gidan Kwano, Kwanar Dangora, a community within Kiru Local Government Area. Ms. Yakubu-Adamu told the court that Zulfalalu unlawfully entered the victim’s residence at night and raped the elderly woman, who was 85 years old at the time of the attack. But the case against “Mai Siket” did not stop at a single incident. The prosecutor painted a chilling picture of a serial predator who had terrorised the community for months. She informed the court that the defendant had developed a disturbing pattern: he would strip completely naked, scale the fences of unsuspecting families in the dead of night, and target victims ranging from minors and teenagers to housewives and elderly women.

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Court documents and earlier police reports revealed that Zulfalalu—also known at the time of his arrest as Mohammed Zulfara’u—was linked to over 40 rape cases in the Kwanar Dangora area before he was finally apprehended. In a confessional statement made to the police following his arrest in June 2020, the defendant admitted to his crimes, detailing how he would scout neighborhoods, identify vulnerable households, and strike under the cover of darkness. His arrest came after a vigilant mother caught him inside her children’s room at night. Her screams alerted neighbours, who mobbed and restrained him until law enforcement officers arrived. That arrest ultimately led to his prosecution and the conviction that has now sent him to prison for two decades.

Delivering judgment, Justice Aisha Mahmoud sentenced Zulfalalu to 20 years imprisonment for the charge of rape and 6 years imprisonment for housebreaking. The judge ordered that both sentences run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve a total of 20 years behind bars. In addition to the prison term, the court awarded N500,000 in compensation to the 85-year-old victim, a move the judge described as restitution for the physical and psychological trauma she endured. The offences were prosecuted under Sections 283 and 356 of the Penal Code, which criminalise rape and unlawful entry, respectively.

Reacting to the judgment, the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude (SAN), described the conviction as a turning point in the state’s judicial approach to sexual offences. In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abubakar Tijjani-Ibrahim, the Attorney-General said that this conviction is a significant step towards strengthening public confidence in the justice system and protecting vulnerable persons from abuse and exploitation. Mr. Kabiru-Maude commended the Principal State Counsel, Ms. Aisha Yakubu-Adamu, for her meticulous handling of the prosecution, which ensured that justice was served swiftly and decisively. He further reiterated that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf remains unwavering in its commitment to building a justice system that promotes accountability, safeguards human dignity, and ensures the timely prosecution of criminal offences. He warned that sexual and gender-based violence constitute serious threats to society, adding that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

The Attorney-General also used the opportunity to praise the dedication and professionalism of state counsel in the Ministry of Justice, urging them to maintain the momentum in delivering effective justice. He reaffirmed the ministry’s resolve to uphold the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights, and support the government’s broader vision of a secure, just, and inclusive society. The case has sent shockwaves through Kano State and beyond, serving as a stark reminder that sexual violence against vulnerable populations—especially the elderly—will not be tolerated by the courts. For the residents of Gidan Kwano and surrounding communities, the conviction of “Mai Siket” brings a measure of closure after years of living in fear of a nocturnal predator who once roamed their streets with impunity.

Kano Court Jails Man for 20 Years for Raping 40 Women, Including an 85-Year-Old Woman