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Police allegedly kill two students in Ilorin over cultists’ rumpus

Published

5 years ago

January 29, 2022

Two students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, have been allegedly killed by stray bullets of Police detectives from the Special Tactical Squad (STS) FIB, Abuja, who stormed the institution on Saturday morning to arrest suspected student cultists in their hostel.

Consequently, scores of protesters comprising students of Kwara state Polytechnic and residents of the neighbouring school Junction and the surrounding villages stormed the streets of Ilorin to protest the attack.

The police authorities, however, claimed that there was a clash in Lajolo village in the Polytechnic area when suspected students cultist laid ambush for the police during which a police officer was injured and two suspected students cultists were arrested.

The police team was said to have been to the Polytechnic area on the trail of student cultists who went and killed a student of Kwara state university, Malete on Friday and four suspected cultists were arrested.

The protesters from Polytechnic Junction took to Zango, area and Maraba down to Challenge on their way to government house at the time of filing this report.

Shops and offices around the Kwara Polytechnic Junction were under lock as business, economic and social activities around the areas were completely paralysed.

Vanguard gathered that two of the victims of stray bullets died immediately while the other one was rushed to the nearby private hospital.

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Vanguard however gathered from some students that the operation was carried out by officers of National Drug Law Enforcement Area who went to arrest Yahoo students involved in illicit drug usage.

Soldiers were also seen at the junction of the school gate pacifying the protesting students to allow peace to reign.

Efforts to get the reaction of the office of NDLEA in the state at press time proved abortive, while credible sources in the office of the zonal office of EFCC said the operation was not effected by officers from the commission.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the security operatives stormed the area Saturday morning to arrest suspected cult students who are involved in illicit drug usage

The suspected students on a tip-off reportedly took to their heels and the security officers pursued them.

While efforts to arrest them appeared failing the security officers reportedly fired gunshots at them but hit three residents and missed the targets.

The state police command which reportedly drafted anti-riot police officers to return calm to the areas however confirmed the development.

According to the statement issued by the police spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, “Kwara State Police Command wishes to allay the fears agitating the minds of the general public, especially residents around Kwara State Polytechnic area, that the pandemonium experienced today within the area arose as a result of the attack unleashed on a team of Police detectives from the Special Tactical Squad (STS) FIB, Abuja, who came on the trail of some cultists in the area.

“Recall that, cultists attacked and killed a student of Kwara State University, Malete yesterday 28/1/2022. Four of the cultists were arrested and dangerous weapons were recoverd from the suspects.

“Information available to the STS team indicated that some of the cultists were hiding at Lajolo area of Kwara Polytechnic Ilorin, where similar attack was unleashed on one student named Idris Aderemi by same cultists at about 0600hrs today 29/1/22, in the same area.

” This prompted the visit to the area by the STS team. Surprisingly, the cultists who were already in ambush, attacked the police team damaging the police Hummer bus and inflicting a gunshot injury on the head of one police Sergeant, Adebayo Abdulahi attached to the STS team.

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“In the ensuing imbroglio, students in their numbers came out to block the road and prevented free flow of traffic and burning tyres on the road.

“The Commissioner of Police Kwara State, CP Tuesday Assayomo psc (+) immediately dispatched teams of Policemen to the area to restore peace.

“However, two cultists, one Ahmed ‘m’ surname unknown and one Musibau ‘m’ A.K.A Shaban were arrested with one fabricated English pistol with 3 live ammunition, 2 live cartridges and one pistol magazine. The injured policeman and the suspects have been taken to the hospital for treatment

“The commissioner of police wishes to advise members of the Public to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of attack or intimidation; calm has been totally restored in the affected area, while Policemen are on standby to forestall any further act of lawlessness from any quarters.”

Meanwhile, the Polytechnic authorities have described their students as law-abiding in a statement issued by the spokesman, Abdulkadir Yunus.

The statement reads, “Attention of Kwara State Polytechnic authority has been drawn to the misinformation making round in some quarters that the Polytechnic Campus is under siege by students protest.

“It is pertinent to clear the air that the Polytechnic Students are law-abiding citizens and will not indulge in any illegal activity that will disrupt their academic careers.

“Meanwhile, the incident that occurred at Lajolo community early this morning was between the Police and Lajolo community and has nothing to do with the Polytechnic Students or the Campus, as first semester CBT examinations are going on right now in the Campus without any disturbance.

“However, the management of the Polytechnic has magnanimously accepted the plea of the students who could not make it to the campus before the blockage at Oyun, to rescheduling their examinations on another date to be communicated to them via their heads of the department.”

Related Topics:Cultists Featured Ilorin police students

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Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

Published

47 minutes ago

August 22, 2026

Trends Admin

Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace, supported by vigilantes and local hunters, apprehended 30-year-old Halima Ibrahim during an intelligence-led raid in Bassa Local Government Area. The operation, linked to the recent abduction of a medical doctor, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a locally fabricated revolver, and other military items.

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace, in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and local hunters, have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered an AK-47 rifle, magazines and other military-related items in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The operation was carried out on Friday, August 21, following intelligence linking the area to the recent abduction of a medical doctor, Dr Abraham Owoicho, who was kidnapped on August 19.

According to security sources who spoke to security analyst Zagazola Makama, troops moved into Kisayi and Dogon Daji settlements after receiving intelligence on the activities of suspected criminals operating in the communities. The troops, supported by local security volunteers and hunters, raided the settlements and searched identified locations.

Several male residents reportedly fled into the surrounding bush when they sighted the advancing security personnel, leaving women and children behind. A 30-year-old woman, identified as Halima Ibrahim, was however arrested while allegedly attempting to escape with two AK-47 rifle magazines. Following her arrest, troops cordoned off and searched her residence in Kisayi B Village.

The search reportedly led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, which investigators are working to trace to its source and determine its ownership. During preliminary questioning, the suspect allegedly told investigators that the rifle belonged to her husband, identified as Ibrahim. Troops also recovered a locally fabricated revolver pistol, a military jungle hat and three mobile phones from the residence. The suspect and the recovered items have been taken into military custody as investigations continue.

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The Nigerian Army has reiterated its commitment to conducting intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks involved in kidnapping, arms trafficking, and other violent crimes across the country. The operation in Plateau was part of broader efforts, with separate operations in Edo State leading to the rescue of a kidnapped victim.

According to security sources, investigators are working to establish the source of the firearms, the circumstances surrounding their possession and any possible links between the suspects and criminal networks operating in the area. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt kidnapping networks and the illegal arms trade in Plateau State, particularly following recent abductions in Bassa Local Government Area. Further intelligence-driven operations are expected in the affected communities as security agencies continue investigations.

The arrest comes amid heightened security operations in Plateau State, where troops and other security agencies have intensified efforts to disrupt criminal networks. In a separate operation on August 19, troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace, recovered one AK-47 rifle, one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, one locally fabricated revolver rifle, two Dane guns and 15 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during a raid in Mangu Local Government Area, following intelligence about a suspected attack on Mwar community. The military has also intensified operations across the state, with troops of Sector 6 arresting 19 suspects in Riyom Local Government Area following an ambush that killed two security operatives.

Troops Arrest Female Gunrunner, Recover AK-47 in Plateau

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Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

Published

1 hour ago

August 22, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lifted the restriction on Osun State Government bank accounts after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the agency to vacate the order.

The affected accounts, held with First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, are now operational, according to confirmations from both the Presidency and an aide to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

A Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed that the restriction had been removed, saying the EFCC could not disregard the President’s directive.

“The lien has been lifted. EFCC cannot ignore the presidential order. I can confirm to you that it was done immediately,” Ajayi said.

An aide to Governor Adeleke, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that the Post No Debit (PND) restriction had been vacated and that the state government’s accounts were functioning again.

The EFCC had imposed the restriction on August 5, 2026, as part of an investigation into the alleged fraudulent handling of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The commission said the investigation had been ongoing since March 2026 and was aimed at preventing the alleged diversion of public funds.

The decision to restrict the accounts, however, generated significant controversy because it came shortly before the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

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The timing prompted allegations from the Osun State Government and its supporters that the EFCC action was politically motivated and intended to weaken Adeleke ahead of the election. The commission rejected the allegations and maintained that its action was connected to an ongoing financial investigation.

The dispute escalated after the President intervened and directed the EFCC to take steps to vacate the restriction.

Tinubu expressed concern about the timing of the action and its potential implications for public confidence in the electoral process, while also maintaining that anti-corruption agencies should carry out their responsibilities professionally.

The account restriction had also triggered a legal battle between the Osun State Government and the EFCC.

The state government approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the restriction and sought N2 billion in damages, arguing that the EFCC’s action unlawfully interfered with the state’s access to its funds.

The legal dispute changed following Tinubu’s intervention and the subsequent lifting of the restriction.

After being declared winner of the governorship election, Adeleke directed the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, SAN, to withdraw the suit against the EFCC.

Adeleke said the President’s intervention had addressed the immediate dispute and that there was therefore no need to continue with the case.

With the accounts now operational, the immediate confrontation between the Osun State Government and the EFCC appears to have eased.

However, the lifting of the account restriction does not necessarily mean that the underlying investigation has been discontinued. The EFCC’s earlier allegations concerning the handling of about N11 billion remain separate from the decision to restore access to the accounts.

The development has also renewed discussions about the relationship between anti-corruption agencies and elected governments, particularly when financial investigations take place close to major elections.

For the Osun State Government, the restoration of access to its accounts removes an immediate financial constraint and allows the state to continue accessing funds required for government operations.

For the EFCC, the development means the financial investigation, if still ongoing, would have to proceed through the appropriate legal and investigative channels without the earlier account restriction.

Tinubu’s order: EFCC lifts freeze on Osun government accounts

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IPOB Accuses UK of Hypocrisy Over Israel Stance, Demands Kanu’s Release Following UN Ruling

Published

1 hour ago

August 22, 2026

Trends Admin

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

IPOB Accuses UK of Hypocrisy Over Israel Stance, Demands Kanu’s Release Following UN Ruling

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called out the British Government for what it describes as a “selective outrage” and double standards in applying international law, citing a United Nations ruling that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was subjected to torture and extraordinary rendition.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the British Government of hypocrisy and applying international law selectively over its stance on Israel and the continued detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The group was reacting to recent comments by the British Foreign Secretary concerning real estate development in Jerusalem. IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, in a statement on Friday, said the group supports Israel and recognises Jerusalem as its “eternal and undivided capital”.

The group maintained that Britain lacks the moral authority to lecture Israel on international law while allegedly ignoring the findings and recommendations of United Nations human rights bodies concerning Kanu. According to IPOB, the United Nations Human Rights Council, acting under the UN General Assembly, has officially indicted Nigeria for what it described as gross violations of international law and fundamental norms in Kanu’s case. The group stated that the UN had determined that Kanu was subjected to torture and extraordinary rendition after being forcibly returned to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021, and the UN Working Group explicitly called for his immediate release and payment of compensation.

“These are not the words of IPOB. These are the findings of the highest international human rights bodies,” the statement emphasised. IPOB regretted that, rather than support this binding call for justice, Britain chose to assist Nigeria in defying international law. The group further lamented that the same Britain now lecturing Israel about international law turned a blind eye to the torture of a British citizen. “The same Britain invoking legal principles against our Israeli brothers and sisters actively helped Nigeria circumvent those very principles when it concerned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement said.

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IPOB also criticised the British Foreign Secretary’s position on Israel, describing it as entirely one-sided. The group accused the British Government of condemning Israel over construction near Jerusalem while allegedly failing to adequately address Palestinian terrorism, incitement, and the Palestinian Authority’s “pay for slay” policy. The group claimed that this policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has contributed to a massive wave of antisemitic hatred against the British Jewish community.

IPOB vehemently rejected what it described as the patronising tone of the British government’s lectures, pointing out that the Jewish people have the right to live throughout the historic and Biblical land of Israel. “Jerusalem is Israel, and Israel is Jerusalem. The Balfour Declaration formally recognised this historic right more than a century ago,” the group said, adding that Britain, which still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores, has no right to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their tiny historic homeland.

IPOB subsequently demanded what it described as consistency in Britain’s application of international law. The group called on the British Government to publicly support the UN findings concerning Kanu, demand his release and compensation from the Nigerian Government, and end what it described as the selective application of international law based on political convenience. “Britain must choose: respect international law for all, or be exposed as a hypocrite that uses law only as a weapon against its friends,” the statement concluded.