The Police Command in Nasarawa State has arrested 21 commercial motorcyclists who allegedly killed a National Drug Law Enforcement Agency personnel on April 18, in Karu.
Adesina Soyemi, Commissioner of Police in the state, said this on Thursday in Lafia, while parading the suspects alongside 29 others arrested for allegedly committing various criminal offences.
He said that the Divisional Police Officer, New Karu Division, had on April 18, at about 9:30 p.m., received a distress call that commercial motorcyclists attacked an NDLEA personnel and were about to set his house ablaze.
Soyemi said upon receipt of the information, the DPO, Anti-Cultism unit and a crack-team led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, swiftly mobilised to the scene at Koroduma, One man village.
He said the police on arrival at the scene, found the victim in the pool of his blood and rushed him to the hospital where the doctor confirmed him dead.
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The commissioner of police said that a manhunt for the perpetrators was immediately launched, which paid off with the arrest of the 21 suspects who allegedly participated actively in the lynching of the NDLEA personnel to death.
He said that police recovered weapons including stones, metals and other hard objects used by the suspects to commit the crime as exhibits.
Soyemi added that the suspects have made useful statements on the matter and that investigation was ongoing at State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia.
The CP, who reiterated the commitment of the command to rid the state of criminal elements, gave highlight of the feat recorded between March and April to include arrest of 12 suspected kidnappers and 11 cultists.
He said five others were arrested for sundry offences, while two firearms and two ammunition were recovered within the period.
“The Command wants to assert firmly that the security of lives and property of every law abiding citizen is its topmost priority and will not shirk away from this responsibility,” he said.
“The State Police Command is however, warning strongly, all criminal elements in the state who may be nursing agenda that are inimical to the state and security, to desist from such act.
“The police will not relent in mobilising all resources at its disposal to frontally confront and render their operations fruitless,” Soyemi said.
Abducted Anambra Rev Fr released after police, gunmen fierce battle
The Anambra State Police command has secured the release of a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Stephen Echezona, who was abducted in Ichida, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga said the priest was released unhurt after an encounter with his abductors in Ihiala.
In a statement in Awka, the PPRO said: “In the early hours of March 23, 2025, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence, AVG Ichida, and Ihiala respectively, secured the release of Rev. Father Echezona at Ihiala. The priest was returned unharmed.
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“The victim was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida. A joint security force, in an ensuing gun duel with the armed criminals operating in a white Lexus SUV without plate number, overpowered the kidnappers.
“The assailants abandoned the white Lexus and in a bid to flee the scene due to the superior fire power of the joint security team, fled the scene and held the Rev. Father hostage. The operatives also recovered the white Lexus vehicle.”
“In a coordinated hot chase by the operatives, different security checkpoints and security operatives in the state were alerted, which resulted in the criminals abandoning the Priest at Ihiala and escaping through a nearby bush.”
According to the PPRO, the joint security team has taken over the scene in Ihiala for possible arrest of the armed men and recovery of the Toyota Highlander belonging to the Rev. Father.
Group tackles Natasha over call for drug test on senators
Some indigenes of Kogi West Senatorial District on Sunday, rose in defence of their senator, Sunday Karimi over the verbal tirade between him and Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the embattled Senator of Kogi Central who is currently on suspension from the national assembly, noting that her call for periodic drug tests was apt and self-indicting.
The indigenes said the embattled senator’s advice was in order, considering the fact that her conduct since she refused to obey a simple sitting arrangement rule at the Senate, had truly called for a drug test to ascertain if she was free from the influence of substance.
The constituents were responding to a statement by the embattled Senator, where she called for periodic drug tests for senators, in response to a statement by Karimi.
Their reaction came through a statement signed by the Chairman, Kogi West Patriotic Assembly, Ayodele Joshua, PhD; and Secretary, Kareem Adigun.
Senator Karimi had said former Governor Yahaya Bello had been vindicated by the embarassment Akpoti-Uduaghan had brought on the Senate and Nigeria as a whole.
The Kogi West Indigenes, who swiftly rose in his defence after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s response, told him not to engage in a war of words with her, stating that they were well positioned to give the embattled Senator the right response.
“Our attention has been drawn to a rejoinder by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to Senator Sunday Karimi’s comments on her conduct at the National Assembly, which recommended drug tests for serving senators.
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Taraba police spokesman Abdullahi Usman is dead
The Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, has passed away after a protracted illness.
Usman died in the early hours of Sunday at his residence in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, after serving as spokesman of the command for the last three years.
Gambo Kwache, who is the acting spokesperson of the Command, confirmed the death of the PPRO to journalists on Sunday.
“I woke up and saw several missed calls on my phone and a message, stating that Oga is dead. I will call you, let me get there first,” Kwache stated.
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Also, a close friend of the late Usman, Mr. Ahmed Manga, confirmed the death of the PPRO.
Manga, who spoke to our correspondent through the phone of the PPRO, said Usman died at about 5am on Sunday.
“He was sick, although not much, until last night, when he started struggling with the sickness. We wanted to take him to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Jalingo.
“Before we could get there, he died on the way. He was later confirmed dead when we arrived at the FMC,” he said.
Manga said Usman will be buried on Sunday afternoon according to Islamic rites.
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