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Court Remands Six Over Assault on LASTMA, Task Force Officials in Lagos

Published

1 month ago

December 25, 2025

File photo

Court Remands Six Over Assault on LASTMA, Task Force Officials in Lagos

The Chief Magistrate of the Special Offences Court in Oshodi, Lagos, has remanded six of seven suspects until February 19, 2026, for allegedly assaulting traffic officials and causing grievous bodily harm while they were performing their lawful duties.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the assaulted officers included LASTMA personnel, KAI officials, and operatives of the Lagos State Task Force.

According to LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq, the incident followed a complaint from the Nigerian Airports Authority about motorists causing traffic congestion along the airport corridor.

“During the lawful execution of the enforcement operation, five officers of the joint task force were viciously attacked with dangerous weapons, while one of the authority’s tow trucks was deliberately set ablaze by rampaging miscreants in a desperate attempt to sabotage the exercise,” Taofiq said.

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He added that the officers displayed professionalism, restraint, and courage, despite the imminent threat to life and public property. During the operation, a total of 56 vehicles were impounded for traffic and environmental violations, including 44 commercial buses, five private cars, and seven trucks.

The suspects, who were arraigned on a four-count charge on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty. The magistrate consequently remanded six in custody, while the seventh was granted bail.

Reacting to the court’s ruling, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting public infrastructure, ensuring road safety, and upholding law and order.

“The government will neither capitulate to intimidation nor tolerate violence from criminal elements. Every act of lawlessness will be decisively addressed within the full weight of the law,” Bakare-Oki stated.

He assured the public that enforcement operations along strategic corridors in Lagos would continue to be intensified and strictly within the law, in collaboration with sister agencies, to eradicate criminality, restore public order, and safeguard lives and property.

Court Remands Six Over Assault on LASTMA, Task Force Officials in Lagos

Related Topics:assault LASTMA task force

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Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a newly‑wedded woman suspected of poisoning her husband to death in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the community.

Police reported that the deceased fell seriously ill after eating a meal prepared by his wife and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators from the Jahun Divisional Police Headquarters launched an inquiry and quickly detained the wife as the main suspect.

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During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to putting rat poison in her husband’s food, claiming she was coerced into the marriage by her parents, which fueled resentment that led to the deadly act. Police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway, and the suspect will face court charges once the investigation is complete.

The Commissioner of Police has urged the public to remain calm, stressing that marital disputes should never escalate to violence, and warning that such actions have irreversible consequences. The tragic case highlights growing concerns over domestic poisoning and marital-related crimes in the region.

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

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Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that six people were killed by suspected bandits in the Wawa community of Borgu Local Government Area, intensifying concerns over the growing security crisis in rural Niger State.

Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun stated that the attack occurred on January 22, 2026, when the victims — including farmers and a local vigilante — were ambushed while heading to their farms near Damala village. Two other people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.

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Local residents described the incident as devastating, urging the state and federal governments to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable communities from frequent bandit attacks.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of banditry in Niger State and neighbouring areas. Recent attacks in Damala village, Woko District, and Kasuwan Daji market in Demo community have left dozens dead, properties destroyed, and residents displaced, highlighting the escalating rural insecurity in the region.

Authorities have vowed to strengthen security operations, while experts warn that continued attacks threaten socioeconomic stability, displace local populations, and erode confidence in local law enforcement.

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

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DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicado

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicad

The whereabouts of the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe and two other union officials, Mr Tuwonimi Benstowe and Mr Michael Mbata remain unknown, following their alleged arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Rivers State, according to their lawyer.

NAPO’s counsel said the union leader and his colleagues were picked up during a security operation in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, but have since been held incommunicado, with no official confirmation from the DSS on their detention or location. The development has sparked growing concern among family members, labour unions and civil society groups.

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The lawyer described the action as unlawful and a violation of the detainees’ fundamental human rights, noting that security agencies are required by law to disclose the whereabouts of arrested persons and grant them access to legal representation.

The arrests reportedly followed rising tensions linked to NAPO’s labour activities, including a recent warning strike by plant operators working on the NLNG Train 7 project in Bonny. The union had protested alleged irregular salary deductions and tax remittance issues, which were also the subject of a pending case before the National Industrial Court.

Labour rights advocates have warned that the continued silence of the DSS could undermine due process and escalate industrial unrest, calling for the immediate disclosure of the detainees’ location or their release.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the DSS have remained unsuccessful, while pressure continues to mount on authorities to respect the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.