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LASTMA arrests fake officer over N140,000 extortion

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LASTMA officers on duty

LASTMA arrests fake officer over N140,000 extortion

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have apprehended an alleged serial impersonator for  allegedly collecting N140,000 from owners of vehicles impounded over traffic infractions.

The vehicles were impounded by LASTMA.

The agency’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Taofiq Adebayo, confirmed the  development in a statement yesterday.

Adebayo said the suspect was apprehended by the monitoring and surveillance team of the agency at Oshodi.

He said the suspect was nabbed after the agency received complaints of extortions from owners of inter-state commercial buses,  impounded and ticketed for traffic infractions around Moshalasi by the Alaka area of Surulere.

Adebayo explained that investigations conducted,  revealed that the suspect, Femi Adegbemi, had been collecting huge amounts of money from innocent owners of vehicles impounded by LASTMA officials during enforcement operations.

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“The arrested suspect collected N140,000 from owners/drivers by promising to help them get their impounded vehicles released from the agency’s custody.”

“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users,  particularly owners of impounded vehicles on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from them. By such acts, they are  tarnishing the image of the agency before the public,” he said.

Adebayo said the General Manager of LASTMA, Bakare-Oki Olalekan, warned the public to be wary of such  unscrupulous elements, noting that the agency operated a cashless policy.

He said that apprehended violators were often charged to court via a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them, assuring that more surveillance/monitoring personnel had been strategically deployed to hunt unscrupulous elements,  duping innocent motoring public across the state.

The 56-year-old suspect,  Adegbemi, was said to have confessed to the crime.

“He confessed that he collected N140,000 from owners of the impounded inter-state commercial vehicles.

“Adegbemi  who confirmed to be living at 9, Anifowose Street, Somolu, confessed further to be making an average of N250,000 weekly from the illegal deal with his other colleagues.

“He, however, promised to turn a new leaf if let off the hook by the state  government.”

LASTMA arrests fake officer over N140,000 extortion

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Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member

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Reverend Michael Kofi Appiah

Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member

Reverend Michael Kofi Appiah, the founder of Light of Faith Ministry, was tragically found dead in a guest house in Takoradi, Ghana, following a night out with a female church member. The incident has sparked widespread concern and prompted an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to reports, Reverend Appiah and the woman checked into the guest house around 10:00 p.m., where they reportedly ordered food and drinks. Staff became alarmed later in the night after hearing unusual calls for help, only to discover the pastor unresponsive in his room. Authorities and medical personnel were promptly notified, and the pastor was confirmed dead at the scene.

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The exact cause of death remains unclear, and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the circumstances. Police are currently gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, while urging the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue.

The pastor’s sudden death has shocked church members and the wider community, prompting an outpouring of condolences on social media. Many have expressed grief over the loss of a preacher who had a significant impact in Takoradi and beyond.

Authorities have assured that a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted to ascertain what led to the tragedy, including examining any possible foul play. Meanwhile, the pastor’s remains have been transferred to the morgue pending the outcome of official inquiries.

This incident comes amid rising concern over safety and accountability in public and private spaces, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and investigation whenever such sudden deaths occur.

Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member

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Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack

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Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed
Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed

Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack

Nasarawa State — At least 11 people have been killed and 52 houses burnt in a reprisal attack by suspected hoodlums in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred on Friday, was reportedly in retaliation for the alleged killing of two kinsmen, highlighting ongoing communal tensions in central Nigeria.

The Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement by SP Ramhan Nansel, the state police spokesperson. He said the hoodlums went on a destructive rampage, killing residents and setting their homes ablaze. “In the course of the attack, 11 people were killed, while about 52 houses were burnt in the two communities,” Nansel stated.

CP Shetima Mohammed, the state Commissioner of Police, led a team to the affected areas to assess the destruction and reassure residents. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property and commiserated with the victims’ families, pledging the police command’s commitment to ensuring justice.

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To contain the situation, the CP ordered an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators, directing tactical teams and investigative units to promptly identify, arrest, and prosecute the hoodlums responsible. Security personnel were reinforced in the affected communities to prevent further escalation.

Police efforts are being conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to provide adequate protection and restore lasting peace. During a stakeholders’ meeting, the CP urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.

Authorities say that normalcy has largely been restored, but residents remain on edge as they begin the process of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods. Analysts warn that communal disputes over land, livestock, and alleged killings continue to fuel cycles of retaliation in Nasarawa and other parts of the Middle Belt.

This latest reprisal attack underscores the urgent need for improved security measures, early warning systems, and community engagement to prevent similar tragedies in the region.

Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack

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Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus

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Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope
Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope

Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus

Jos, Plateau State — The remains of Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope, a 500‑level quantity surveying student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), have been confirmed dead, three days after he was reported missing amid escalating insecurity in Jos. The tragic news was first shared by his close friend, Meshak Gimba, a 400‑level psychology student, via social media on Friday.

Gimba explained that he had initially posted Temitope’s photograph online to help locate him but later received a call directing him to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, where the body was discovered. According to hospital officials, Temitope was allegedly attacked by unknown assailants at Bauchi Junction, near the UNIJOS hostels, while returning from the market.

UNIJOS authorities, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, and the university’s Chief Security Officer, Agama Solomon, confirmed the incident. Solomon said the university management verified the body at the hospital and contacted the family to commence arrangements for a joint burial.

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Temitope’s death comes amid a spike in violence in Jos, particularly following a bandit attack in Angwan Rukuba on March 29, which claimed at least 28 lives and injured several others. The Plateau State Government subsequently imposed a 48-hour curfew on parts of Jos North Local Government Area, though fresh tension continued to rise in the city.

In response to the growing insecurity, UNIJOS ordered all students to evacuate hostels immediately and suspended scheduled examinations until after the Easter break. The university also coordinated with security agencies to ensure student safety and liaised with state governments to assist in relocating students, especially those from neighbouring states.

State authorities, including the Kogi and Benue governments, assisted in evacuating their students from UNIJOS to protect them from potential attacks. Security agencies in Plateau intensified patrols and intelligence operations around university campuses and high-risk areas to prevent further incidents.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also provided relief materials, including food and medical supplies, to support victims and displaced residents affected by the recent attacks. Community leaders and student associations have called for enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of students and restore normalcy in the Plateau State capital.

The tragic killing of Adeyemo Temitope underscores the urgent need for stronger protection of academic institutions and civilian areas in Jos as residents continue to face threats from bandits and armed assailants.

Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus

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