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Military Officers who nabbed terrorists that escaped from Kuje Prison in danger — Lawyer

Published

3 years ago

July 8, 2022

The lives of some gallant military officers who masterminded the arrest of several Boko Haram Terrorists who were among inmates that escaped after an attack on the Kuje Prison in Abuja on Tuesday are in “grave” danger, PRNigeria can authoritatively report.

Recall that ISWAP fighters on Tuesday attacked Kuje Prison, freeing hardened criminals into the nation’s capital.

PRNigeria reported that the insurgents stormed the facility at about 10pm, detonating explosives and opening live rounds on state agents guarding the facility.

Soldiers and other security personnel around the facility reportedly fled when the attackers arrived in large numbers of motorcycles.

It was gathered that the terrorists, who fled after fighters of the Islamic State of West African Province bombed Kuje Prison, have vowed to “eliminate” the military commanders behind their arrest and detention.

Most of the terrorists who had spent years at the custodial facility were said to have been arrested by some military officers ‘involuntarily’ retired from service in 2016.

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Some of the officers, who were unjustly retired but won court judgements for their reinstatement, included Colonel Danladi Ribbah Hassan, Colonel Auwal Suleiman and Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Abdulfatai, had successfully led several daring missions that led to the neutralisation of hundreds of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, prior to their “sudden” removal from the Nigerian Army.

Hassan, Abdulfatai and Suleiman also got many insurgents arrested and eventually detained, while also preventing bloody attacks on civilian populations and public infrastructural facilities in the North East and Abuja before they were arbitrarily retired, six years ago.

A legal representative of one of the “illegally” retired army officers, told PRNigeria that his client and some other military commanders that led combat operations in the North East a few years back, which resulted in the killing and arrest of terrorists, have received threat messages from Boko Haram and ISWAP.

He said: “My client’s life and that of his colleagues are in serious danger.

“We don’t know what the terrorists are planning to do to them.

“The military and other relevant security agencies must act fast.”

The counsel, while declining to give his name, expressed dismay over the refusal of the present military hierarchy to facilitate the reinstatement of his clients and others in line with several court rulings in their favour.

He, however, said that he would still not persists in writing letters of appeal to relevant authorities to intervene and get justice for the forcefully retired officers.

He said: “It is gratifying to note that the present Service Chiefs do not have an objection to the court ruling.

“Moreover, they were not behind the travails of my client and his colleagues.

“But our concern is the Minister of Defence. He has refused to act and do the needful.

“Nevertheless, we shall not relent in writing and exploring every possible avenue that will get justice for the retired senior army officers.”

According to the counsel, his client, whose name he will not mention, and some of his colleagues are still committed to serving the Nigerian military and have even pledged to tackle criminal bandits terrorising States in the North Central and North West, together with the Federal Capital, if they are reinstated.

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Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerian TikTok star Peller

Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested popular social media influencer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, following a viral video showing him driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle during a live-stream.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the arrest comes after public outrage over the dangerous road crash, which occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The police described Peller’s actions as life-threatening, endangering both himself and other road users.

“The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained Habeeb Hamzat aka ‘PELLER’ for further investigation, following the viral video in which he was seen driving recklessly, resulting in a dangerous accident while live-streaming,” the statement partly read.

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The incident is now under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), with the outcome to be made public. The suspect is expected to face charges in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned social media influencers and members of the public against using online platforms to engage in reckless or unlawful behaviour. “Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, and the full weight of the law will be applied on any offender,” he stated.

The crash has reignited debate over the rising trend of risky stunts by content creators, with many Nigerians calling for stricter enforcement to curb similar incidents.

Authorities continue to emphasize road safety, urging all drivers to comply with traffic regulations and warning that anyone endangering lives on the state’s roads, regardless of social status or online influence, will face prosecution.

This latest incident highlights the urgent need for responsible social media usage, public safety awareness, and stronger law enforcement against dangerous behaviour on Nigerian roads.

Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

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Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

LAGOS — Prominent human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of 10 soldiers accused of killing three police officers in Taraba State, as well as 400 alleged terrorism financiers whose cases were reportedly abandoned under the previous administration.

In his petition, Falana accused former AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, of deliberately shielding the suspects from justice despite “overwhelming evidence.” Copies of the petition were also sent to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“The withdrawal of terrorism charges against these soldiers and the failure to prosecute hundreds of terror financiers amount to a grave abuse of prosecutorial powers and a betrayal of public trust,” Falana said.

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Falana recalled that in August 2019, 10 soldiers led by an Army Captain ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, after they had arrested notorious kidnapper Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume. Although the soldiers were initially charged with terrorism offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the case was abruptly terminated after Malami entered a nolle prosequi, which Falana described as unconstitutional.

He noted that while the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram—two sentenced to life imprisonment and four jailed for 10 years—Nigerian authorities failed to bring a single financier to justice.

Falana accused Malami of failing to prosecute the 400 suspected terrorism financiers arrested after investigations by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Department of State Services (DSS), despite assurances that trials would commence after a judicial workers’ strike.

“The case files of these suspected financiers are reportedly still in the Office of the Attorney-General, while many of the suspects have regained their freedom. Nigeria cannot win the war against terrorism while protecting those who finance and execute it. The era of impunity must end,” Falana added.

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

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Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Published

5 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Nigerians may experience power shortages this Yuletide as gas-to-power debt issues disrupt electricity generation across the country.

Gas companies have begun cutting supplies to thermal power plants over unpaid debts, forcing electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to reduce daily power supply.

On Tuesday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) informed customers across the South-East that low system frequency, caused by gas supply constraints, had necessitated load shedding by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). EEDC subsidiaries affected include MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand.

Similarly, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that poor generation and allocation from generation companies (GenCos) were causing load shedding in its franchise areas.

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The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) confirmed that gas producers had started cutting supply due to outstanding debts owed by the government, despite a recent approval of N185 billion by the Federal Government for payment of arrears to gas suppliers, announced on December 4, 2025, by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) further disclosed that gas pipeline vandalism in the upstream network has worsened the situation, causing reduced output from gas-fired power plants and a decline in national grid generation capacity. Emergency measures, including increased hydroelectric dispatch and voltage control interventions, have been activated to maintain system stability.

With over 80 per cent of grid-connected power plants relying on natural gas, the sector remains highly vulnerable to gas supply disruptions, raising fears of sustained power outages during the festive season unless liquidity issues and infrastructure vulnerabilities are urgently addressed.

The current development signals a critical need for government intervention, stakeholder coordination, and investment in gas infrastructure to prevent widespread electricity shortages across Nigeria.