An official of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State, Saheed Aweda, has been killed and three others injured after they were ambushed by suspected smugglers.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chado Zakari, on behalf of the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 3, said the officers were attacked along Sinau-Kenu Road in the Baruten Local Government Area of the state.
Aweda was said to have been buried according to Islamic rites in his home town in Popogbona in the Ilorin West LGA of the state.
The statement explained that the officers were on a routine patrol and had recovered some contraband goods when they were attacked.
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The statement read in part, “JBPT Sector 3 operatives on information patrol along Sinau-Kenu Road in Baruten LGA of Kwara State intercepted 40 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each, and 30 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 25 litres each, abandoned on the bush path, Sinau-Kenu Road.
“The operatives immediately swung into action and removed the seized items into their operational vehicles for onward delivery to a government warehouse for safe-keeping in line with rules of engagement. While on transit, a group of hoodlums laid ambush and attacked our personnel with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items.
“The hoodlums shot sporadically at the officers. In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while three officers sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in a hospital.”
The statement said the Coordinator, JBPT, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, representatives of the Department State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian Immigration Service and other security agencies had visited and commiserated with the family of the deceased.
Punch
Paramilitary Recruitment: CDCFIB Disqualifies 360,923 Applicants, 432,935 Fail to Complete Applications
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has disqualified 360,923 applicants from its ongoing paramilitary recruitment exercise, while 432,935 candidates failed to complete their applications, according to official data released on the board’s recruitment portal following the conclusion of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) phase.
The figures show that out of an estimated 1.9 million applicants, only 1,120,491 applications (58.5%) were successfully completed, while 22.6% remained incomplete, and 18.9% were disqualified during various stages of screening and verification.
The recruitment exercise covers key paramilitary agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The CDCFIB confirmed that the CBT examination phase has been closed, marking a significant step in the digital screening process designed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and merit-based selection of candidates across the country.
Officials explained that disqualifications were largely due to incomplete applications, failure to meet eligibility requirements, duplication of records, and inconsistencies identified during automated verification checks.
The board added that the use of a centralized digital system helped improve the integrity of the federal paramilitary recruitment process, reducing manual errors and limiting opportunities for fraudulent entries.
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The data also revealed a notable gender imbalance in participation. Male applicants accounted for 737,270 completed applications (69.5%), while female applicants recorded 323,052 (30.5%), highlighting continued disparities in female representation in uniformed service recruitment in Nigeria.
At the state level, Kogi State recorded the highest number of completed applications with 75,494, followed closely by Nasarawa (69,041) and Oyo (69,071).
Other strong-performing states include Jigawa with 54,414 applications, Yobe with 52,487, and Ogun with 50,940 completed entries.
However, Lagos State, despite being Nigeria’s most populous and economically active state, recorded one of the lowest participation levels with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 completed applications, a sharp contrast to its population size.
The CDCFIB reiterated its commitment to a transparent and merit-driven selection process, stressing that all stages of the recruitment exercise are fully digitized and monitored to ensure fairness.
The board urged applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against fraudulent agents and misinformation circulating online.
Successful candidates are expected to proceed to the next phase of the exercise, which will include physical screening, document verification, and final selection stages.
The ongoing recruitment exercise is part of efforts to strengthen manpower across Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies and improve national security operations through a more efficient and technology-driven process.
Gunmen Kill Six, Injure Eight in Fresh Plateau Community Attacks
Six persons have been killed and eight others injured following two separate night attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State, in what residents described as a coordinated wave of violence that has reignited insecurity concerns in the state.
The attacks occurred on Sunday night in Hurum Gashish community in Barkin Ladi and Shonong Bachi community in Riyom, leaving several families in mourning and many residents displaced.
In the first incident, gunmen reportedly invaded Hurum Gashish community around 10 p.m., opening fire on residents. Four people were killed instantly, while five others sustained injuries during the attack.
Barely an hour later, another group of armed attackers stormed Shonong Bachi community in Riyom Local Government Area at about 11 p.m., shooting sporadically and killing two residents while injuring three others.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers moved through the communities while firing indiscriminately, causing widespread panic as residents fled into nearby bushes and surrounding areas for safety.
The incidents have further heightened concerns over rural insecurity in Plateau State, where communities have continued to suffer repeated attacks linked to armed violence and communal tensions.
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The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tenglong, confirmed the attacks and said the communities had been thrown into mourning following the deadly incidents.
He condemned the renewed violence, describing it as disturbing and unacceptable, and called for urgent action to stop the recurring attacks in rural parts of the state.
Tenglong also confirmed that the injured victims have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, where they are currently receiving medical care.
Security sources say patrols have been intensified in the affected areas, with operatives deployed to prevent further attacks and maintain order.
However, attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The latest killings add to a growing pattern of violent attacks in Plateau State, where residents have repeatedly raised concerns over safety, displacement, and lack of adequate security presence in rural communities.
Community leaders are again calling on security agencies and government authorities to strengthen protection mechanisms and address the root causes of the recurring violence.
While calm has reportedly returned to the affected areas, tension remains high as residents await official government response and improved security deployment.
INEC Exposes Fake X Account Impersonating Chairman Joash Amupitan
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it has uncovered a fabricated account on X (formerly Twitter) impersonating its Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, following a detailed forensic investigation that exposed a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting the commission.
The development was disclosed through the Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, who said INEC commissioned independent cybersecurity experts to carry out a multi-layered forensic investigation into the alleged account and related online activities.
According to the commission, the investigation relied on X platform data analysis, digital identity forensics, OSINT tools, internet archive records, and cross-platform tracking, all of which confirmed that the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal X account.
INEC stated that all posts, replies, and screenshots attributed to the handle in question were fraudulent, technically inconsistent, and digitally unverifiable, describing the entire activity as part of a coordinated attempt to mislead the public.
The electoral body outlined key findings from the investigation, beginning with the absence of any digital linkage between the alleged account and the Chairman’s verified contact details, including email addresses and phone numbers.
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The commission also dismissed claims suggesting ownership through financial identity data, noting that such information does not prove control of any social media account.
One of the most critical discoveries was timestamp manipulation, where an alleged reply (“Victory is sure”) was posted before the original tweet it was said to have responded to — a technical impossibility that strongly indicated fabrication.
INEC further confirmed that there was no historical record of the account on internet archive platforms and no trace of the alleged posts on X itself, reinforcing the conclusion that the content was manufactured.
Investigators also observed that the account was later renamed, switched to private mode, and labelled as a “parody account” shortly after the screenshots went viral, suggesting an attempt to conceal the impersonation.
The commission also identified at least seven additional fake accounts across Facebook and Instagram using the Chairman’s identity, describing the trend as a sustained coordinated disinformation campaign.
INEC cautioned Nigerians against sharing unverified social media content, stressing that online virality does not confirm authenticity.
The commission urged journalists, political actors, and the public to verify all information through official INEC communication channels before dissemination, especially during politically sensitive periods.
It also called on social media platforms, particularly X, to strengthen monitoring systems and take swift action against impersonation accounts used to spread misinformation.
INEC confirmed that the full forensic report has been submitted to relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible prosecution under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
The commission further urged media organisations to adopt stricter verification standards when reporting social media content, particularly where public officials are involved, warning that accuracy must take priority over speed in news reporting.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting electoral integrity, strengthening digital communication systems, and preventing future social media impersonation and misinformation campaigns against public institutions.
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