He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others

AWKA, Nigeria – A 16-year-old girl has been rescued from a nightmare of repeated sexual abuse after her own guardian allegedly forced himself on her nightly and brought seven other men to join in the assaults in Nawfia community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. The teenager, whose name is being withheld for legal and safety reasons, is now two months pregnant as confirmed by a medical report presented to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Onyekesi. The case came to light when a Catholic priest from Nawfia intervened after learning of the abuse and reported it to the commissioner’s office. A “Good Samaritan” had earlier facilitated the girl’s rescue from the abusive environment last week.

The Anambra State Government has vowed to ensure justice for the 16-year-old girl, with Commissioner Onyekesi, visibly emotional and in a weeping mood, promising that all perpetrators would be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others. “The state government condemned this act in strong terms, and the ministry will ensure that all perpetrators in the dastardly act are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others,” Onyekesi said during an interaction with newsmen in Awka, the state capital. The commissioner expressed deep outrage over the level of trauma the teenager endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. “We express deep outrage over the level of trauma the young girl had endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. This is unacceptable. We urge men to protect women and young girls, rather than take advantage of their vulnerability,” she stated.

While recounting her ordeal at the commissioner’s office, the victim revealed that her guardian had been forcing himself on her every night, with other men later joining in the sexual assaults. She said a “Good Samaritan” facilitated her rescue from the abusive situation last week, after which some arrests were made before she was brought to the commissioner’s office for safety. The victim also stated that the guardian’s wife is a stroke patient and was unable to intervene in the assaults. She further noted that the guardian’s children were grown and some married, yet none intervened in the ongoing abuse.

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The victim informed the commissioner that two of the eight suspects had been caught by police at the Nawfia Division, while the remaining six were still on the run. The case is currently being processed at the Nawfia Police Station. Commissioner Onyekesi assured the victim of her safety and pledged that the ministry would follow the case diligently to ensure justice is fully served.

This horrific case exposes the dark reality of abuse by trusted guardians in informal care arrangements. The primary perpetrator was the very person entrusted with the girl’s protection. Instead of safety, she found repeated violation inside what should have been her home. The case also highlights the critical role community members can play in rescuing victims. Without the intervention of the Good Samaritan who facilitated her escape and the Catholic priest who reported the matter to authorities, the abuse might have continued indefinitely.

In a related incident that underscores the persistent threat of sexual violence in Anambra State, the body of a sexagenarian woman, Victoria Adegoke, was discovered abandoned in a nearby bush in May. The victim was found naked and suspected of having been raped and strangled before her body was carried into the bush. That case remains under investigation, and authorities have not announced any arrests.

The Anambra State Government has assured the public that it will not rest until all the perpetrators in both cases are apprehended and prosecuted. The case of the 16-year-old serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of children in informal guardianship arrangements and the urgent need for community vigilance, stronger protective mechanisms, and swift legal action against sexual predators.

He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others

Emir of Argungu Urges Communities to Legally Acquire Weapons for Self-Defence

ARGUNGU, Nigeria – Amid rising insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, has issued a stark warning: Muslims must not remain passive while bandits and terrorists unleash violence on innocent communities. Speaking during an emergency security meeting with district, village, and ward heads at his palace in Argungu, Kebbi State, the traditional ruler advised residents to lawfully acquire weapons for the protection of their families, farms, and communities. “It is not right for a Muslim to remain passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens, and rape our women,” the Emir declared. “Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families, and your communities against any attack.”

The Emir expressed deep frustration over the vulnerability of rural communities, noting that many villages lack any form of organized defence. When bandits strike, he said, even village heads flee. “When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self-defence,” he explained. According to the monarch, communities should explore collective efforts to raise funds for the purchase of legally approved weapons to strengthen local self-defence. He also urged residents to ensure that potential attackers know a community is capable of fighting back. “If you acquire such weapons legally, make sure the bandits are aware that your community possesses the means to defend itself. This alone can serve as a deterrent and discourage attacks,” he said.

Citing Islamic principles, the Emir argued that passivity in the face of aggression is not supported by the faith. His comments come as Lakurawa terrorists and armed bandits continue to terrorize parts of Kebbi State, killing scores and kidnapping women and children. He clarified, however, that his call is not an endorsement of vigilantism or unlawful actions. He stressed that lawful self-defence had become necessary because security agencies alone cannot shoulder the burden of the escalating crisis.

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While advocating for self-defence, the Emir issued a firm warning against retaliatory violence. “I will not support anyone who uses weapons to target other ethnic groups or engage in unlawful acts,” Mera said. He noted that many attacks in the region are retaliatory in nature, and he appealed to residents not to embark on revenge missions against innocent people. Unlawful killings, he warned, often trigger fresh cycles of violence.

The Emir’s address reflects a grim security reality in Kebbi State. In recent months, Kebbi State has witnessed several deadly incidents. In February 2026, over 30 villagers were killed by Lakurawa fighters in the Bui district of Arewa. In November 2025, about 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga. Multiple villages have been razed, and cattle rustling remains rampant. The Emir alleged that although many members of the Lakurawa group have left the area, armed bandits linked to them remain active and continue to terrorize local communities through existing networks.

The Emir of Argungu is not alone in calling for citizens to take up arms. Across Nigeria, there is a growing debate over whether the state has failed in its constitutional duty to protect lives and property. The Middle Belt Forum has called on the federal government to liberalize access to basic self-defence weapons, citing Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution (right to life). Legal suits have been filed against the government over the refusal to grant firearm licences to citizens for self-defence. Additionally, the Northern States Governors’ Forum has renewed calls for state policing to address localized security threats.

To avoid misinterpretation, the Emir made several clarifications about what he is not calling for. He is not calling for vigilantism or mob justice. He is not supporting ethnic or religious violence. He opposes extrajudicial killings and revenge attacks. Instead, he urges residents to cooperate with security agencies and conduct their affairs with the fear of God. His message is one of lawful, defensive preparedness, not offensive aggression or lawlessness.

In his final advice to communities across the Argungu Emirate, the Emir urged residents to remain vigilant, share intelligence with security forces, and prioritize lawful conduct. “Do not rely on weapons alone,” he said. “Be alert, cooperate with authorities, and let the fear of God guide your actions.” The monarch acknowledged that security agencies alone cannot solve the crisis, but stressed that community efforts must remain within the bounds of the law.

Emir of Argungu Urges Communities to Legally Acquire Weapons for Self-Defence

FCT Police Begin Enforcement of Tinted Glass Ban, Seize Over 30 Vehicles

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has commenced the enforcement of a ban on vehicles with tinted windows and covered number plates across Abuja, citing growing security concerns and the increasing use of such vehicles in criminal activities.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed, said the enforcement exercise was directed by the Inspector-General of Police and is aimed at enhancing security and reducing crime within the nation’s capital.

According to the police commissioner, intelligence and ongoing investigations have shown that vehicles with heavily tinted windows and concealed registration plates are frequently used by kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements to avoid identification and evade law enforcement.

Muhammed disclosed that more than 30 vehicles had already been impounded since the commencement of the operation, warning that violators would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to cooperate with security agencies, stressing that the enforcement exercise is a necessary step toward improving public safety and strengthening security across Abuja and surrounding communities.

The commissioner also highlighted a series of major security breakthroughs recorded by the command in recent weeks, including the arrest of suspected kidnappers, illegal arms handlers and individuals linked to viral social media videos showing armed men dressed in military camouflage.

According to him, the command launched an investigation after videos surfaced online showing four unidentified men openly displaying AK-47 rifles, ammunition and communication gadgets while dressed in military uniforms.

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Following a digital forensic investigation and intelligence-led operation, operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), working alongside officers from the Zuba Division, arrested three suspects at Runji Village in Zuba on May 25, 2026.

The suspects were identified as Umar Babangida, 25; Adamu Yeti, 22; and Yahaya Idris, 24, all residents of Rijana in Kaduna State.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly obtained the firearms from a gang leader identified simply as “Esco,” who remains at large. Authorities also recovered additional videos and photographs from the suspects’ mobile phones showing them dressed in military camouflage while brandishing firearms and communication equipment.

Recovered exhibits included one AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, eight mobile phones, two jackknives, power banks and several incriminating digital materials.

Muhammed said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing gang leader and dismantle the wider criminal network.

In a separate operation, the FCT Police Command arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Emmanuel Chukwuemeka.

The case was reported to the Apo Divisional Headquarters after family members raised concerns over the victim’s disappearance. Through intelligence gathering and collaboration with the Benue State Police Command, investigators tracked and arrested Emmanuel Acha Leku, a 32-year-old Cameroonian national, alongside his girlfriend, Kazan Vincent, in Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect and the deceased had allegedly engaged in fraudulent dealings together. Investigators alleged that a dispute over proceeds from the scheme led to the killing.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly lured the victim to a mountainous area in Lokogoma, Abuja, where he was murdered. Authorities further alleged that the victim’s phone was subsequently used to demand a ransom of N5 million from family members in an attempt to disguise the crime as a kidnapping.

The suspect was reportedly planning to flee to Cameroon before his arrest. Police recovered two mobile phones, including one belonging to the deceased, and later traced the victim’s decomposing remains, which have been deposited at Sahad Hospital in Apo for autopsy.

The command also announced the arrest of a suspected ammunition supplier accused of providing logistics and weapons to terrorists, bandits and kidnappers operating across the North-Central region and the FCT.

The suspect, Yau Sule, from Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, had reportedly been on the command’s wanted list since 2023. He was arrested on June 2 while travelling along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

During the operation, police recovered 81 rounds of 7.62mm live AK-47 ammunition and 100 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition intended for a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).

Further investigations led to the arrest of Maria Sule, the suspect’s sister and wife of a wanted bandit identified as Buhari Shuaibu, who remains at large. Police alleged that she assisted in the movement and supply of ammunition to criminal groups operating in Abuja, Kaduna, Niger and neighbouring states.

The commissioner also confirmed the arrest of a suspected “one-chance” robbery suspect and the interception of a blue Volkswagen Golf vehicle conveying two additional suspects identified as Muhammed Muhammed, 22, and Muhammed Saidu, 20.

Muhammed described the arrests and recoveries as evidence of the command’s determination to tackle insecurity and protect residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

He commended members of the public for providing useful intelligence and urged residents to continue supporting law enforcement agencies with timely information that could help prevent crime and enhance public safety.

FCT Police Begin Enforcement of Tinted Glass Ban, Seize Over 30 Vehicles