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Traders, land grabbers’ clash claims three lives in Lagos

Published

3 months ago

August 27, 2025

Traders, land grabbers’ clash claims three lives in Lagos

A violent clash between traders and suspected land grabbers in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos State has left three people dead and a police officer critically injured.

The state Police Command has declared one suspect, Abiodun Ariori, the CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, wanted in connection with the deadly clash.

It was gathered that the altercation led to blockage of major roads, and disruption of commercial activities in the area.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, a combined team from the Command’s Operations Department, Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical Squads, and State CID was deployed to quell the violence.

Jimoh personally led the intervention team, restoring order and reopening the roads for public use.

“During the clash between the traders and the land grabbers, three persons sustained fatal injuries and a Police Inspector was seriously injured.

“The three fatally injured persons were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the Police, while the Police Inspector injured is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital where he is receiving treatment,” Hundeyin said.

The police urged the public to assist with credible information on Ariori whereabouts.

He is believed to have gone into hiding, with his last known address in Egbeda, Lagos.

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“In the cause of preliminary investigation and prima facie evidences available, one Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, is connected to the deadly clash between the traders and the land grabbers.

“He is hereby declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice has so far proved abortive. It is very clear that he has gone into hiding,” Hundeyin stated.

He also confirmed that four officers allegedly brought into Lagos by Ariori were arrested for engaging in an illegal operation.

Hundeyin disclosed that they are currently in detention and facing an orderly room trial, adding that the outcome of the trial and further investigations will be made public.

“In furtherance to ensuring justice and in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, four policemen, brought in from outside Lagos State by the wanted suspected land grabber, were immediately identified and detained at the Command headquarters for orderly room trial for going on illegal duty with the wanted suspect.

“The outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public,” he said.

In a related development, normalcy has also been restored at Balogun Market on Lagos Island after a separate incident involving hoodlums.

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Hundeyin clarified that contrary to initial rumours of an ethnic clash, the incident was a personal altercation that escalated.

“One Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious. He is currently under arrest in the hospital where he is being treated.

“Investigation into the matter will be concluded and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital.

“There was no loss of innocent lives or injury to any person or damage to goods and properties of marketers inside Balogun Market,” he said.

The Command emphasised that no tribal or ethnic conflict occurred at Balogun Market, urging the public to disregard misinformation and go about their lawful activities without fear.

“The Lagos State Police Command wish to reiterate that the incident is not a tribal clash but purely between miscreants and hoodlums around the Balogun Market. Normalcy has been restored.

“Marketers and the general public on the Island and other parts of Lagos State are encouraged to go about their businesses and other lawful endeavors without fear or apprehension,” Hundeyin added.

Jimoh called on residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with the police Command to sustain existing peace in the state and not to spread fear in the mind of the public, adding that the state is generally peaceful.

Traders, land grabbers’ clash claims three lives in Lagos

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Sokoto Officials Deny Reported Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

Published

2 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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Sokoto Officials Deny Reported Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Ayuba Hashimu, has dismissed viral reports alleging that bandits attacked a mosque in the council area, killing an Imam and several worshippers.

Some online platforms had circulated claims that armed bandits stormed a mosque in Sabon Birni, murdered the Imam and congregants, and abducted others.
However, Hashimu, speaking by telephone, described the reports as entirely false.

“I don’t know any mosque that was attacked, not to talk of killing of an Imam and worshippers. The story is false,” he stated.

A member of the state legislature representing the area, Hon. Aminu Boza, also debunked the claims, insisting that no mosque attack occurred on Saturday.

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“I don’t know how they got their story, but it is not true. No mosque was attacked by bandits,” he said.

While officials denied the alleged mosque incident, a separate early morning assault on Gatawa town within the same LGA resulted in five deaths and left one person critically injured.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that six people — including two married women, two teenage girls and two young boys — were abducted by attackers suspected to be bandits.

“The bandits invaded our community around 1:30 a.m. and started shooting sporadically. Our vigilantes engaged them, but four of them paid the supreme price on the spot. Two others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to the hospital, but one later died,” the resident said.

He added that the attackers also stole livestock as they fled.
“We heard them exchanging fire with security agents, but none of the abducted persons was rescued,” he recounted.

Sokoto Officials Deny Reported Mosque Attack as Bandits Kill Five in Gatawa Raid

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FG Begins Formal Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools for Nationwide Rehabilitation

Published

2 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Almajiri school

FG Begins Formal Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools for Nationwide Rehabilitation

The Federal Government has commenced the official recovery of 157 model Almajiri schools built during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a renewed push to overhaul Almajiri education across the country.

The move was confirmed by Nura Muhammad, spokesperson for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), during an interview in Abuja on Sunday. He described the recovery process as a crucial step toward fully revamping and institutionalising Almajiri education.

Muhammad explained that the effort follows the establishment of a legally backed national body now responsible for all Almajiri-related programmes — a structure he said was missing during earlier reform attempts.

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While commending former President Jonathan for constructing the schools, which he described as “a noble and well-intentioned stride toward modernising the system,” Muhammad noted that the previous initiative struggled due to weak policy implementation, including inadequate engagement with Alarammas, the traditional Qur’anic teachers who play a central role in the Almajiri system.

He added that the lack of a strong institutional framework — with the project operating only as an initiative under the Federal Ministry of Education — contributed to its challenges.

According to him, the Commission is now strengthened by law and guided by the newly adopted National Policy on Almajiri Education, positioning it to deliver sustainable reforms.

Muhammad expressed confidence that harmful practices linked to the Almajiri system would be addressed, emphasising that all recovered schools would soon be fully under the Commission’s control and rehabilitated to serve their original purpose.

FG Begins Formal Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools for Nationwide Rehabilitation

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Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

Published

8 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu

The Delta State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu in Anambra State, arresting key suspects linked to the case.

Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe disclosed on Sunday that operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on credible intelligence, apprehended 25-year-old security guard Godwin Mngumi on 6 December 2025. Mngumi allegedly murdered the retired judge, and authorities also recovered the deceased’s mobile phone from him.

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According to Edafe, Mngumi confessed to inviting a friend, Nnaji Obalum, and another accomplice — who remains at large — to the residence where the crime was committed. Obalum has since been arrested, while a manhunt continues for the third suspect.

The arrests mark a major step forward in the effort to bring all perpetrators of the high-profile murder to justice.