metro
Kidnap victim rescued, gang member arrested during disagreement on Europe-returnee‘s abduction
The Delta State Police Command has rescued a 63-year-old woman abducted by suspected kidnappers in the Ughelli area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim was rescued on November 30 following information received from a motorcyclist that a woman was seen with two men, who were armed with machetes, in an isolated area around Irri-Aviara.
Our correspondent learnt that the Oleh Divisional Police Officer, SP Paul Oboware, swiftly mobilised a team of policemen and vigilantes to the area.
The hoodlums, on sighting the security team, reportedly abandoned the victim and escaped into the bush.
Investigation later revealed that the woman was kidnapped four days earlier on her way home on Olori Road, Ughelli.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement, said the Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Ali, mandated the DPO to arrest the fleeing hoodlums.
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He noted that in compliance with the directive, the DPO embarked on an intelligence-based investigation.
Edafe said the efforts paid off on Thursday, December 2, when the DPO received another distress call from the vigilantes deployed around Irri Roundabout, Oleh, that some hoodlums operating in a white Toyota Hilux were sighted in the area.
The hoodlums, after a failed attempt to kidnap a man who recently returned from Europe, reportedly had a disagreement among themselves, which made residents suspicious.
The command spokesman said police operatives, in an operation with vigilantes, arrested one of the suspects, Davidson Odigho (26), while other members of the gang escaped in the Hilux.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being part of the gang that kidnapped the 63-year-old woman on November 30 and abandoned her when they noticed that the police were closing in on them.
“The suspect led police operatives to his house where one AK-47 rifle, 19 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one magazine, one pump-action gun and 26 live cartridges concealed in a sack and buried in the compound, were recovered,” the statement added.
Edafe said a manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang was ongoing.
Punch
metro
Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash
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
metro
Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration
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
metro
Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies
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.
Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies
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