Crime
Kano Police Arraign 333 Suspected Thugs Over By-Election Violence
The Kano State Police Command has dragged 333 suspected political thugs before various magistrate courts following their arrest during the weekend’s re-run and by-elections in the state.
The suspects were apprehended in Ghari/Tsanyawa and Bagwai/Shanono constituencies, where security operatives recorded widespread attempts to disrupt the polls.
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Giving an update on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, said the accused persons were charged to Magistrate Courts 20, 27, and 44 in Nomansland, as well as Magistrate Courts 8 and 53 in Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano.
“All the arrested suspects have been charged to Magistrate Courts No. 20, 27 and 44 at No-man’s-land Kano 18th and Magistrate Courts No. 8 and 53, Gyadi-Gyadi Kano on Monday, for prosecution under various electoral offences,” the CP said.
Bakori explained that the charges ranged from criminal conspiracy and disorderly conduct to unlawful possession of offensive weapons, intimidation, ballot snatching, destruction of election materials, and improper solicitation of votes.
“The elections, which were conducted under challenging circumstances, witnessed attempts by unscrupulous individuals to disrupt the process through the massive importation of thugs from within and outside the state,” he added.
According to him, the police recovered a pump-action rifle, five locally made guns, 94 sticks, 16 swords, 18 cutlasses, 32 locally fabricated weapons, 28 knives, one bow, 23 arrows, seven catapults, 45 stones, 14 vehicles, two ballot boxes, 163 thumb-printed ballot papers, and ₦4,048,000 in cash from the suspects.
“During the election process in Ghari, Bagwai and Shanono LGAs, a total of 333 suspects were apprehended. These suspects were arrested for disrupting the electoral process,” Bakori stated.
The CP commended the joint efforts of security agencies, noting that their “dedication, commitment, and selfless service” ensured that violence was contained and that both election officials and voters were protected.
He vowed that the command would “ensure that justice is served and that those who seek to undermine our democratic process are held accountable.”
Crime
Edo Police Probe Officer Seen Firing Rifle During Clash With Traffic Officials
The Edo State Police Command has launched an investigation into an altercation involving officers of the Police Intelligence Response Team and officials of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency.
The development followed the emergence of a video on social media showing personnel from the two agencies involved in a confrontation.
In the footage, an officer identified as a member of the Intelligence Response Team was seen firing his rifle into the air during the incident.
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Reacting to the development on Thursday, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, ordered a discreet investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed in a statement that the commissioner had already interviewed representatives of both parties as part of efforts to establish what transpired.
The command also ordered that the conduct of the officer captured firing the rifle be subjected to an appropriate disciplinary review.
The police authorities said they would not tolerate indiscipline, unprofessional conduct or abuse of police powers by any of their personnel.
The command stated that any officer or official found culpable after the investigation would be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
The Edo Police Command also emphasised the importance of inter-agency cooperation and mutual respect among security and government agencies.
According to the command, effective public safety depends on agencies working together professionally towards a common objective.
“The incident is therefore being treated with the seriousness it deserves,” the command said, while noting that the development would not prejudice its established working relationship with the Edo State Traffic Management Agency.
The police further urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands, advising anyone with complaints about police misconduct to use the appropriate complaint channels, including the Police Complaint Response Unit.
Crime
₦432bn Debt Scandal: Reps Summon NNPCL, 146 Oil Companies
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has launched a probe into billions of naira in outstanding regulatory debts owed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and oil companies.
The liabilities under investigation have risen to ₦432.07bn, according to findings contained in reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The committee’s investigation follows concerns over petroleum-related obligations that have remained unpaid for several years, with some debts reportedly dating back to 2017.
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The Auditor-General’s 2023 report had put the combined indebtedness of NNPCL and oil companies at ₦392.73bn. NNPCL accounted for ₦162.46bn, while oil companies operating under industry associations including DAPPMAN, MEMAN and MOMAN were responsible for ₦230.27bn.
Further submissions by the NMDPRA revealed that 146 oil companies owed the authority ₦327.53bn as of 2025.
The outstanding liabilities are linked to various petroleum-sector obligations, including Balancing Allowance, National Transport Average and the one per cent Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund. Some legacy debts are also connected to petroleum importation, coastal transactions and credit arrangements.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, said the lawmakers were determined to establish how the debts accumulated, what amounts had been recovered and how much remained outstanding.
Salam warned companies summoned by the committee to appear with the appropriate representatives and provide all relevant documents.
He stressed that the investigation was not intended to witch-hunt any company but to ensure that government revenue was properly accounted for and recovered.
The committee is expected to examine the basis for the assessments, the periods covered by the debts, payments made by the affected companies and the enforcement actions taken by the NMDPRA against defaulting entities.
Lawmakers will also investigate why some liabilities have remained outstanding for years and whether the regulatory authority deployed sufficient measures to recover the funds.
The probe comes amid growing scrutiny of revenue collection and accountability in Nigeria’s petroleum industry following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The NMDPRA, established under the PIA, regulates Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including petroleum processing, transportation, distribution, domestic gas activities and related infrastructure.
The committee said the investigation forms part of the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibility and would require both the affected companies and the regulatory authority to provide documents needed to establish the true position of the outstanding debts.
Crime
How Police Used Intelligence To Foil Kidnap Operation In Akwa Ibom
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping operation in Oron Local Government Area of the state, recovering a pump-action gun, cartridges, a rope, speedboats and outboard engines.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday.
According to John, the operation followed credible intelligence provided by members of the public concerning a suspected plan to carry out a kidnapping operation around the Oron axis.
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She said the information prompted the command to deploy operatives on a joint, intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected criminal camp along the Calabar-Oron channel.
During the operation, the police recovered one pump-action gun, two cartridges and a white rope suspected to have been intended for criminal activities.
The operatives also recovered two speedboats, three 200-horsepower outboard engines and one 15-horsepower outboard engine.
John said all the recovered items had been properly documented and kept in safe custody as investigations continue.
She explained that the operation was part of the command’s sustained intelligence-led and proactive policing strategy designed to identify and disrupt criminal networks before they can execute their plans.
“The strategy is aimed at identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal networks before they are able to implement their plans.”
The police spokesperson further said the command remained committed to preventing criminals from turning waterways in Cross River into operational corridors, hideouts or escape routes.
She added that the Marine Police Unit had continued to maintain heightened vigilance across strategic waterways and coastal communities in the state.
According to her, the heightened security presence is intended to protect residents of coastal communities, boat operators, fishermen and other users of the waterways.
John also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Azare, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the officers involved in the operation.
She quoted the commissioner as commending the personnel for their professionalism, courage and effective use of actionable intelligence.
“The commissioner of police is happy; the men are working gallantly. He is happy at their display of professionalism, courage and actionable intelligence,” she said.
The police command said it would sustain intelligence-driven operations and heightened surveillance across the state’s waterways to prevent criminal activities and protect lives and property.






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