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Ikirun mayhem: How victim was killed, by eyewitness

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2022

Prince Olalekan Akadiri, the new Akinrun of Ikirunland

A resident of Ikirun, Gboyega Adebayo, has narrated how one Lukman Olatunji, who reportedly lost his life during a melee at the entrance to Akinrun of Ikirun’s palace on Wednesday was shot dead.

Olatunji was reportedly shot dead by some police operatives at the entrance to the palace, sparking rage from the residents of the community.

PUNCH Metro gathered that while policemen were making efforts to unlock the palace, some suspected arsonists, set a building within the premises on fire.

The palace had been under lock since the new Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, was installed monarch, thus preventing the royal father from accessing it.

It was also learnt that men of Osun State Fire Service that were called by the police to put out the fire were attacked with charms with three of them sustaining injuries and having to be treated at a hospital.

The mob, it was also learnt damaged and vandalised the fire truck taken to the area by the firemen, who reportedly fled the scene after they were attacked.

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Giving a further account of how the incident happened, Adebayo said he was on his way to Oja Oba, a neighbourhood market, located directly opposite Akinrun’s palace when he heard sporadic gunshots from police operatives as they were alighting from two vehicles.

He further said the police operatives had come to the entrance of the palace to unlock it.

According to him, the policemen who were shooting into the air caused panic, as many people near the palace had to run for cover, adding that it was in the process of running to safety that Olatunji was hit by a bullet in the head.

He further said, “I was on my way to the Oja-Oba area to buy a herbal product. Then 4 policemen were seen walking towards the palace. A few minutes after, two vehicles conveying more policemen arrived the scene.

“They started firing teargas and gunshots into the air around the palace gate. Everyone near the premises ran in different directions to avoid being shot. It was a bullet from their gun that hit a man called Omoola in the head. He died on the spot.

“The policemen then brought a welder to help them open the locked gate of the palace. They (police) were shooting to scare people away. Bullet also hit about 4 other people. Those ones are not dead yet but Omoola died immediately after he was shot by the police.”

But Tajudeen Gboleru, an elder brother of the deceased, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on phone, said his brother was shot dead when some security men, were attempting to enter Akinrun’s palace.

Speaking further on the circumstances surrounding the incident, Gboleru said “a person trying to enter the palace had come to the area with a lot of policemen and soldiers. One of the security men must have fired the shot that hit him.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Osun State Fire service, Ibrahim Adekunle, confirmed that three men from the team who went to the scene of the Ikirun palace fire were injured.

He also said a fire truck taken to the area was abandoned after a mob attack.

“They attacked our men. Three of them are still in hospital beds receiving treatment. Our fire truck was also vandalised. Our men had to abandon it and run to safety after they were attacked. It was the police that invited us to put out the fire and the mob attacked us,” Adekunle concluded.

Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, when asked for a reaction, said a statement would be issued on the incident.

metro

Mob Kills Injured Motorcycle Rider After AK‑47 Rifles, Ammunition Found in Crash Scene

Published

13 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman

Mob Kills Injured Motorcycle Rider After AK‑47 Rifles, Ammunition Found in Crash Scene

A motorcycle accident in Niger State turned deadly when an injured rider was beaten to death by a mob after a sack recovered from the crash scene was found to contain three AK‑47 rifles, six magazines, and 104 rounds of ammunition, police have confirmed. The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, along the Boyi‑Sarki/Toll Gate area in Suleja, as the riders travelled from Tafa in Kaduna State towards Abuja.

According to the Niger State Police Command, two men on a motorcycle collided with a road construction/diversion barrier in a lone accident. One rider died instantly from injuries sustained in the crash, while the second, who was injured, was lynched by a crowd that had gathered under the guise of helping. Both corpses were later taken to the General Hospital morgue in Suleja.

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Police confirmed that a sack belonging to the victims contained three AK‑47 rifles, six magazines, and 104 rounds of live ammunition, raising concerns about illegal firearms trafficking and potential criminal activity along the busy Kaduna‑Abuja corridor.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, condemned the act of jungle justice, stating that the injured rider could have assisted police in tracing the source of the weapons and exposing criminal networks. CP Elleman directed the Area Commander in Suleja to conduct a thorough investigation and arrest the perpetrators. The recovered rifles are currently undergoing ballistic analysis for further investigation.

The Niger State Police Command emphasised that mob justice endangers lives, obstructs investigations, and undermines the rule of law. Authorities called on citizens to report crimes and suspicious activities to law enforcement rather than resorting to violence.

Security analysts warn that incidents like this highlight broader challenges in parts of northern Nigeria, including illegal arms proliferation, mob violence, and the risks of self-help justice. Communities are urged to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure public safety and accountability.

Mob Kills Injured Motorcycle Rider After AK‑47 Rifles, Ammunition Found in Crash Scene

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Police Bust Gang Armoury, Arrest Two Suspects in Delta

Published

14 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Police Bust Gang Armoury, Arrest Two Suspects in Delta

The Delta State Police Command has made a major breakthrough in its fight against armed gangs and violent crime by arresting two suspected armed robbers and uncovering a gang armoury containing locally fabricated firearms and ammunition.

According to the Command, the operation reflects a renewed commitment to dismantle criminal networks, recover illegal weapons, and ensure public safety. Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola stated that the Command “remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks, mopping up illegal firearms, and ensuring that perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice.”

The raid followed intelligence-led investigations that led operatives of the Special Assignment Team (CP‑SAT), under ASP Julius Robinson, to a suspected criminal hideout along the Sapele–Warri Road near Adeje Community in the early hours of February 19, 2026. The operation was linked to the interrogation of 25-year-old Dafiaga Timothy from Effurun, allegedly associated with a gang terrorising commuters along the Warri–Sapele axis.

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Police recovered a locally fabricated long gun, a cut-to-size firearm, and a Beretta-style pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, along with ten additional cartridges and a dagger. The Command described the seizure as a major disruption to the operational capability of the gang, while investigations continue to identify other suspects and trace the source of the arsenal.

In a related operation on February 18, 2026, officers from the Area Command in Warri intercepted a tricycle along the Agbarho/Warri Expressway. Two occupants fled, but the driver, Aliyu Sabo, 25, was arrested. A search uncovered a locally fabricated pistol, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge, and several other items, including mobile devices and a bag suspected to be linked to criminal activity. Sabo remains in custody as police work to apprehend his accomplices.

The Delta State Police emphasized that these operations form part of a broader campaign to curb violent crime, illegal firearms proliferation, and gang-related activities across the state. Authorities have urged residents to remain security-conscious and report credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.

The discovery is expected to have a significant impact on reducing armed robberies and cult-related violence, particularly along high-risk corridors such as Sapele–Warri Road and Agbarho/Warri Expressway, which have long been affected by criminal syndicates.

Police Bust Gang Armoury, Arrest Two Suspects in Delta

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Woman Dies in Bandits’ Camp After Family Pays ₦25 Million Ransom

Published

15 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Army headquarters reviews troops combat readiness

Woman Dies in Bandits’ Camp After Family Pays ₦25 Million Ransom

The family of seven abducted residents in Erinmope-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area, Ekiti State, is mourning the death of one of the victims, identified as Hawau Suleiman, who reportedly died in captivity, even after her family paid a ₦25 million ransom for the release of the hostages. Six other abductees were freed following the payment, but the deceased’s remains have not yet been recovered.

The victims were initially kidnapped on January 24, 2026, when armed gunmen stormed the community, abducting five women, including a nursing mother and a pregnant woman. The kidnappers initially demanded a ₦100 million ransom for their release.

Family members first raised ₦10 million and sent two relatives to deliver the money, but the kidnappers rejected the amount and detained the emissaries, increasing the number of captives to seven. After further negotiations, a total of ₦25 million was paid, resulting in the release of six abductees.

One of the freed victims, Muhammad Soliu, who had also been detained as part of the ransom negotiation, recounted the harrowing conditions in captivity. He said the abductees were tied together like goats and forced to trek several kilometres barefoot through dense forests spanning Ekiti, Kwara, and Kogi states.

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Soliu revealed that the deceased, Hawau Suleiman, became too weak to continue the trek and collapsed. “She was exhausted from the long distance we were made to walk. We pleaded with them to allow us carry her, but they threatened to kill us if we stopped. They ordered us to keep moving without looking back. It was the worst experience of my life,” he said.

He added that the pregnant woman among the captives was taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention, while locating Suleiman’s remains would be difficult due to the depth and density of the forest where she reportedly died.

Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, said the command would investigate the incident and provide further details, but no official updates have yet been released regarding the recovery of the deceased.

The ordeal highlights the growing kidnapping crisis in Ekiti and southwestern Nigeria, where families are often forced to pay large ransoms under threats of violence, and victims face life-threatening conditions in captivity. Security analysts continue to warn that ransom payments, while sometimes saving lives, may embolden criminal gangs and perpetuate the cycle of banditry and insecurity.