Police Arrest Prime Suspect Of Murdered FUT Minna Lecturer

The Police Command in Niger says it has arrested Joy Afekafe, the prime suspect in the killing of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer with the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna. This is contained in a statement in Minna by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun. Abiodun stated that two other suspects connected to the crime were at large, adding that effort was ongoing to apprehend them. He recalled that on October 29, 2023 at about 10:00 a.m., some friends and church members of Adefolalu, visited her residence in Gbaiko area of Minna following their inability to get her on telephone. “Unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of blood with marks of injury on her body. “Police operatives attached to Bosso Division visited the scene and two knives with blood stains suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown person(s) were recovered from the scene. “She was taken to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist (IBB) Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead,” Abiodun said. He noted that during investigation, the police arrested the deceased’s housemaid, 14-year-old Afekafe of Gbeganu, Minna on September 30 at about 9:00p.m. The PPRO said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed that she served as the deceased’s housemaid for about three weeks, adding that she was laid off due to her misdeed in the house. He stated that after she was laid off, she narrated her ordeal to her classmates called Walex and Smart and they conspired to attack the lecturer at her residence. He explained that they went to the residence on September 28 at about 4:00p.m., with a motorcycle and she surfaced at the gate, while the lecturer opened the gate for her. The PPRO said that Walex and Smart later entered, beat the deceased, hit her head with a stood and stabbed her with a knife brought by Walex while Smart took another knife from the deceased’s kitchen, and stabbed her severally. He said that the suspects also stole the deceased’s phone, laptop and the battery of a car parked in the compound and fled the scene. Abiodun said that the suspect would be transferred to State Crime Investigation Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution, while effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects

Military taskforce apprehends 39 suspects linked to Plateau attacks, banditry

Over the course of one week, troops from Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the military taskforce responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States, have apprehended 39 suspects involved in cases of banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. According to Captain James Oya, the Media Officer of OPSH, the arrests took place between August 14 and August 21 in various locations. The troops, during their operations, successfully recovered illicit drugs, arms, and ammunition from the suspects. Among the detained individuals, two were long-sought individuals connected to multiple armed robberies and kidnappings. The recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action Magnum gun, an AK-47 magazine, 14 rounds of 7.62mm “special” ammunition, and a mobile phone. One of the arrested suspects was identified as both a kidnapper and an arms dealer, apprehended in Kuba village within the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau. Additionally, two members of the militia group responsible for an attack that led to the death of 21 individuals in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau on August 10 were also among the detainees. These individuals were found to be in possession of two AK-47 rifles, seven fabricated rifles, and four pump-action cartridges. A drug syndicate operating in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau was also targeted in a sting operation, leading to the arrest of seven drug peddlers and the confiscation of a significant amount of drugs. The troops also addressed issues related to grazing, impounding 307 cows that were grazing on farmlands owned by locals in the Kubat and Mabel communities of Mangu and Bokkos local government areas, respectively. During the same time frame, the taskforce responded to 37 distress calls, successfully rescuing 17 kidnap victims. It also thwarted numerous attempts of cattle rustling and repelled attacks on vulnerable communities, with a focus on areas such as Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom in Plateau. Captain Oya reiterated OPSH’s dedication to reinstating sustainable peace across all parts of Plateau. He assured that the operation’s officers and personnel would remain swift in their response to threats against the safety and property of citizens. The ongoing efforts of OPSH underscore the commitment of the military to curbing criminal activities, ensuring the safety of residents, and fostering a more secure environment within the region.

Police arrest 5 suspects for various crimes in Bauchi 

The Police Command in Bauchi State has arrested five suspects of various crimes ranging from armed robbery, burglary to phone snatching in the state  The Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Bauchi. He said the five suspects were arrested for committing different offenses in different parts of the state. “Our operatives arrested 24 years old Umar Abubakar AKA (Barbertov) with a dangerous weapon, who trespassed into the victim’s house situated at Kandahar Area of Bauchi and attempted to steal the victim’s Jincheng motorcycle AX 100 model. “The police also arrested two suspects, all armed with Dane-gun and cutlass, who had stormed their victim’s residence on July 31 at about 2300 hrs and demanded money. “The command also arrested two suspects, Usman Musa, 18, aka Kan Daki of Gwallameji, and Usama Sulaiman, 18, aka Keya of Birshi Gandu for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, causing grievous hurt and receiving stolen property,” Wakil said. He said the command recovered exhibits that included Jincheng motorcycle AX 100 model, machetes, Dane guns, axe, knives, cutlasses, stick laptops, and different models of phones, among others. The Spokesperson said the investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to a notorious group that specialized in terrorising innocent citizens’ houses within Bauchi metropolis and robbing them of valuables. Wakil said the suspects, during the investigation, confessed to their crimes, adding that they were currently cooperating with the detectives in mentioning some of their accomplices. He said the suspects would be profiled and charged in court without delay. Wakil said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Auwal Muhammad, lauded the efforts of the operatives for their unrelenting commitment and professionalism in discharging their statutory duties to curb all forms of criminality in the state.