The Bayelsa State Police Command has commenced investigations into the death of a Bolt driver at Samphino Junction in the Kpansia axis of Yenagoa, the state capital.
Punch Metro gathered that passersby discovered the lifeless body of the middle-aged driver on Friday morning inside his vehicle and alerted the police, who cordoned off the area.
This came barely a week after a 27-year-old graduate of the Federal University, Otuoke, Daniel Ayama, was killed by some assailants less than a kilometre away.
It is believed that the deceased was shot at a close range in a case of suspected assassination, as nothing is said to have been removed from his vehicle.
Reacting to the incident, the police spokesman in the state, Musa Mohammed, said a full-scale investigation was underway.
“We are working to gather all necessary intelligence. Forensic teams have been deployed to the scene and we are also liaising with the Bolt company to retrieve trip data that may help in tracking down the culprits,” Mohammed stated.
Meanwhile, members of the drivers’ union and other stakeholders have called on the police to expedite their investigations and ensure that those behind the murder are brought to justice.
The Nigerian Air Force said airstrikes from its operatives with Operation Hadin Kai have killed scores of terrorists and destroyed their stronghold in Borno State.
The service air mission, which was carried out in the early hours of Friday, was conducted on fleeing Boko Haram elements in Bita, a known insurgent enclave in the North-East.
According to a statement on Friday, by the Director of Public Relations and Information at the NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the coordinated air assault marks a substantial milestone in efforts to degrade the operational capacity of the terrorists threatening national security in the region.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Air Force through the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, has recorded a major operational success against Boko Haram terrorists.
“In the early hours of today, NAF combat aircraft carried out precision airstrikes on fleeing terrorists in Bita, Borno State, neutralising scores of insurgents in what has been described as one of the most decisive blows against the group in recent times.
“The highly coordinated operation, executed under the cover of darkness, represents a major leap in ongoing efforts to dismantle the operational capabilities of terrorist elements undermining national security in the North East. Ground forces have since commenced clearance and exploitation operations to consolidate on the gains achieved from the successful air strikes.
“The NAF wishes to reassure Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity and protecting law-abiding citizens. All necessary measures are being taken to ensure that terrorist elements have no safe haven anywhere within the country.”
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has commiserated with the Niger State Government on the flood, which has claimed many lives in the Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement signed by the NGF chairman, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, on Friday, the forum said that it was shocked by the magnitude of the flood, which has claimed many lives and property in the community.
However, it commiserated with Governor Usman Bago, the government, and the people of the state for the loss of lives and property.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 21 people had died and property worth millions of Naira had been damaged by the flood which ravaged Mokwa in the state.
AbdulRazaq, who is the governor of Kwara State, wrote, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stands in solidarity with the government and people of Niger State on the devastating flood that has wreaked huge havoc in Mokwa town of the state.
“We are shocked by the magnitude of the flooding, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties in the community.
“We sincerely commiserate with the affected families and express our support to the state government at this difficult time.
“We also commend the interventions of the Niger State Government and its coordination with the emergency responders to support the victims of this disaster.
“This flood again reminds us of the stark realities of climate change and the accompanying effects on how we live. We commit ourselves as leaders of our people to continue to work with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to not only help our people cope with this global challenge but also to strengthen mitigative actions and relief institutions.
“We pray God to console families who have lost loved ones and properties in the Mokwa incident, and we urge citizens to support the government’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to cooperate with agencies working to assist those in urgent need at this time.”
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has revealed that 70 to 80 per cent of the perpetrators of insecurity in the state are not in the forests but rather embedded within local communities as informants.
Speaking on Thursday during a special prayer event to mark his second anniversary in office, Governor Radda emphasised the critical need for intentional and decisive measures from all citizens to expose these individuals, asserting that the fight against banditry cannot succeed without addressing this internal threat.
Radda said, “We’re not here to celebrate power but rather to thank Allah and remind ourselves that leadership is a trust, not a trophy.
“This job is not about prestige. The money we manage is not ours. It belongs to the people. We are just caretakers”.
Radda admitted that the perpetrators of insecurity are not only from the forest saying those in the forest constitute only a migre number compared to those (informants) in communities.
He said, “It is no longer just about the forests. We cannot pretend, the Insecurity problem is not in the forests anymore. A lot of it is right inside our communities. That is where your voices matter the most.
“I am still calling on religious leaders and everyone on the issue of insecurity bedevilling our State. We had a security meeting yesterday and in our analysis, we discovered that only 30 to 20 per cent of perpetrators of insecurity are found in the forest, while 70 to 80 per cent are found among us in our communities.
“Those in the forest are getting information from those in our communities and they are the ones who are buying drugs, fuel for the bandits to ride to perpetrate their heinous crime, providing them with medication, taking ransom sum to them in the forest. I must say if we didn’t deal with these informants living amongst us, we would not succeed in this fight against insecurity. We should all be responsible in this course by exposing them.
“Another thing that we may not make right in the banditry fight is the lack of parental upbringings. Parents are not taking responsibility for the upbringing of their children anymore.”
He said the lack of parental upbringing has brought in another menace of insecurity, bedevilling the state.
He said, “Cases of one man with many children, while in the event he cannot take care of them, surely, they must become a nuisance.
“Religious leaders, you must rise up to create awareness on how we will curb the issues of lack of parents taking responsibility in the upbringing of their children, to let them also follow the law of the land and especially in exposing informants.
“As for us in the government, we will leave no stone unturned if anyone is found aiding bandits in whatever form. “We have given so much attention to those in the forest, and now, we will shift our focus more on those (informants) in our communities, which we believe will curtail insecurity.”
Secretary to the state government, Abdullahi Faskari, earlier said about 75 per cent of the administration’s goals have already been achieved, saying, “This government works with purpose and discipline.”
Also speaking, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Abdulkadir Nasir, said over 140 experts helped shape the governor’s development plan noting that the next phase of the administration will focus more on helping people, not just building projects.
“We have built the foundation. Now it is time for a continuation to empower people to stand on it,” he said.
Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service have arrested a popular native doctor, Levi Obieze, also known as ‘E de play, e de show.’
Obieze is wanted by the Enugu State Police Command for alleged involvement in abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, on Thursday confirmed the arrest in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, titled ‘Nigeria Immigration Service confirms arrest of notorious crime suspect, Obi Levi Obieze.’
“Through credible intelligence, Obi Levi Obieze was apprehended by vigilant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Border Patrol Command, at Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Road while attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle,” the statement read.
Obieze, a resident of Umuojor village in Isiagu Community, Enugu State, and a known native doctor, is alleged to have been involved in the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl on Tuesday.
According to reports, the community was thrown into panic on Monday following the discovery of two decomposing bodies of pregnant women in the soakaway pit of a native doctor.
The discovery was linked to the kidnapping of the teenager days earlier as she walked with her father to the farm.
Reports say two men on a motorcycle abducted the girl after they feigned a technical fault by the roadside.
“She was walking with her father to the farm on Monday when two men riding on a motorcycle stopped and pretended that their motorcycle had developed faults
“One of the men told the father of the little girl to please help them with his cutlass to use and fix the fault in the motorcycle, which the man obliged.
“They said the fault would require pushing the bike and begged him to help. It was in this process that one of the men grabbed the girl and jumped onto the motorcycle, and they zoomed off,” a source told The Guardian.
Local vigilante groups and the police began searching for the missing girl after her father raised the alarm.
Residents reported hearing screams from a bush near Obieze’s compound.
The search party then approached the premises, where the native doctor reportedly tried to stop them.
However, the vigilante groups overwhelmed him, foraged through the compound, and successfully rescued the abducted girl.
Further search revealed two decomposing corpses of pregnant women in separate soakaway pits on the premises, triggering an uproar in the community.
In a video shared on social media, community members were seen dragging and parading Obieze naked.
Popular for his flamboyant displays of wealth and habitual money spraying at public events, the native doctor was reportedly on the run along with his four wives before his eventual capture.
Akinlabi revealed that, “He is currently in custody and his identity has been confirmed through a National Identity Management Commission enrollment slip found in his possession.
“During initial questioning, he admitted to the alleged crimes.”
The NIS, reaffirming its commitment to border security, says it is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force for the suspect’s handover and further investigation.
Operatives of the Rivers State Police have arrested a 45-year-old Pastor of a new generation church simply identified as Lucky, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl in the Ihuaje community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the arrest of the said cleric was carried out by members of a local security outfit formally called ‘ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee’ led by its Commander code-named OSPAC.
Punch Metro further gathered that the Commander of OSPAC in Ahoada East LGA, Precious Ihuruzu, led his men to the community after receiving the news of the incident.
The suspect, who is the pastor of a branch of the church in the area and handed over to the Ahoada Police Division.
Speaking to newsmen on the incident, a member of the association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Dennis Otobo, said he had received a call from the gender desk of the State Ministry of Health about a case of child abuse which they wanted him to follow up; which he obliged.
Otobo added, “In the course of my investigation, I got to know that one Pastor Lucky (surname withheld), who is also the proprietor of a group of schools (private) in Ihuaje community in Ahoada East, has been having sexual affairs with a 10-year-old girl in his care.
“This got to the knowledge of the parents. When the parents visited her on that Saturday at the Pastor’s house, the girl now informed them of what she had been going through. That anytime he had affairs with her, he would give her N500 to keep quiet.
“Her parents immediately took the girl to the hospital, where they did a preliminary investigation.
“On that level, I decided to call the Divisional Police Officer for assistance and arrest. It was in the evening that the DPO told me that they should come on Sunday and that he was going to handle the case professionally. Truly, he did that because, as we are talking, the man (pastor) is in Ahoada Police station, Ahoada East.”
Otobo commended the DPO of Ahoada Police Division, the Chief Security Officer of Ahoada East LGA, Hector Ekeakita, the OSPAC and a rights activist, Prince Wiro, who is the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights and Accountability Campaign, for their various roles in ensuring the suspect’s arrest.
The gender advocate, therefore, called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and if found culpable, the suspect should be charged in court for prosecution.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the pastor’s arrest, saying it followed a complaint of alleged defilement by the parents of the tween girl.
Grace Iringe-Koko stated, “Yes, I can confirm his arrest. The Pastor is with us here in the Command. We received a complaint from the parents of the girl and our men working with a local vigilante there arrested him. Investigations are ongoing.”
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base Escravos, have deactivated eight illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta creeks in a sustained effort to enhance Nigeria’s daily crude oil output and combat economic sabotage.
The Commanding Officer of the FOB Escravos, Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, told journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday, that the exploits followed a series of successful operations targeting crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other illicit activities in the region.
“In total, the three operations led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites, with the seizure of approximately 16,040 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
According to him, the materials were found in two ovens, 43 dugout pits, and 18 polythene sacks.
Okoloagu added, “These operations, conducted under Operation DELTA SANITY II and guided by actionable intelligence, underscore FOB ESCRAVOS’ unwavering commitment to the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, aimed at eliminating all forms of maritime illegality in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
“On May 14, 2025, based on credible intelligence, FOB ESCRAVOS operatives uncovered and dismantled two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino, in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. The sites contained approximately 5,625 litres of stolen crude oil, stored in one oven and 17 dugout pits.
“Subsequently, on May 19, 2025, three more illegal refining sites were discovered and dismantled in the same vicinity. This operation led to the recovery of approximately 2,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined AGO, stored in one oven, five dugout pits, and 18 polythene sacks.
“Maintaining operational momentum, FOB Escravos personnel conducted a follow-up operation on May 26, 2025, uncovering and deactivating another three illegal refining sites at Oteghele, also in Obodo Omadino. These sites harboured an estimated 7,915 litres of stolen crude oil, concealed in 21 dugout pits.
“FOB Escravos remains committed to its mandate of disrupting the operations of economic saboteurs and ensuring that Nigeria harnesses the full benefits of its natural resources.”
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base Escravos, have deactivated eight illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta creeks in a sustained effort to enhance Nigeria’s daily crude oil output and combat economic sabotage.
The Commanding Officer of the FOB Escravos, Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, told journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday, that the exploits followed a series of successful operations targeting crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other illicit activities in the region.
“In total, the three operations led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites, with the seizure of approximately 16,040 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
According to him, the materials were found in two ovens, 43 dugout pits, and 18 polythene sacks.
Okoloagu added, “These operations, conducted under Operation DELTA SANITY II and guided by actionable intelligence, underscore FOB ESCRAVOS’ unwavering commitment to the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, aimed at eliminating all forms of maritime illegality in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
“On May 14, 2025, based on credible intelligence, FOB ESCRAVOS operatives uncovered and dismantled two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino, in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. The sites contained approximately 5,625 litres of stolen crude oil, stored in one oven and 17 dugout pits.
“Subsequently, on May 19, 2025, three more illegal refining sites were discovered and dismantled in the same vicinity. This operation led to the recovery of approximately 2,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined AGO, stored in one oven, five dugout pits, and 18 polythene sacks.
“Maintaining operational momentum, FOB Escravos personnel conducted a follow-up operation on May 26, 2025, uncovering and deactivating another three illegal refining sites at Oteghele, also in Obodo Omadino. These sites harboured an estimated 7,915 litres of stolen crude oil, concealed in 21 dugout pits.
“FOB Escravos remains committed to its mandate of disrupting the operations of economic saboteurs and ensuring that Nigeria harnesses the full benefits of its natural resources.”
The All Progressives Congress in Benue State has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the incessant killings in the state.
The party stated that the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, can no longer address the worsening insecurity.
The state publicity secretary of the party, under the leadership of the Austin Agada faction, Daniel Ihomun, made this known in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.
This was in reaction to the recent killing of a police officer and 41 people in four communities in the Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.
The APC described the latest massacre as another tragic addition to the growing list of unprovoked attacks on the defenceless people of the state.
Ihomun said, “It is now crystal clear that the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia has no strategy or capacity to address the persistent security crisis ravaging Benue communities.
“The government’s inability to stem the tide of bloodshed has left our people vulnerable, and the silence from the corridors of power is both deafening and damning.”
The party also criticised what it described as the “conspicuous silence” of the Benue State House of Assembly and condemned the lawmakers’ sudden recess.
“As representatives of the people, their inaction and failure to speak out against these atrocities is utterly unacceptable.
“The leadership of the Assembly has sadly turned its back on those they were elected to serve. At a time when our state is engulfed in what amounts to a genocide, there is absolutely no justification for legislative recess or passivity.
“As defenders of our people, the APC Benue State Chapter calls on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to urgently intervene by deploying more security personnel to the state to protect lives and restore peace.
“The state government has clearly run out of ideas and lacks the political will to confront this menace,” the party’s publicity secretary said.
The party, however, reiterated its call for a stakeholders’ security meeting to address the rising insecurity in the state.
It suggested that such a meeting should include critical stakeholders across party lines—National Assembly members, government appointees, youth representatives, clergy, traditional rulers, and security agencies.
“Our people deserve to live without fear. We will not keep silent in the face of continuous attacks and governmental indifference,” the factional party added.
Meanwhile, Alia, in a statement condemning the killings, reaffirmed his commitment to the safety and security of the people of Benue State.
According to a statement issued by his media aide, Kula Tersoo, the governor expressed support for traditional institutions in the state that have mandated Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state.
The statement reads, “He (Alia) stands resolute with the traditional institution, which has recently mandated the immediate evacuation of criminal herders and their accomplice terrorists from Benue lands.”
Governor Alia also urged security agencies to intensify their efforts to safeguard Benue communities, stating, “It is imperative that these criminal elements and their accomplices are apprehended and dealt with swiftly and justly in accordance with the laws of our land.”
The Nigeria Police Force has identified and summoned a group of officers featured in a viral video extorting motorists.
The video, which circulated widely on Monday, captured the moment a police officer demanded either ₦5,000 or five litres of fuel from motorists who were unable to provide proof of Electronic Central Motor Registry.
Responding to the incident, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, condemned the behaviour in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He wrote: “This action is utterly condemned. The officers have been identified and summoned to Force Headquarters for necessary action.
“We will not tolerate any act of indiscipline or unprofessionalism. We will update the public on our decisions as soon as possible. Thanks.”
