Kebbi State Police Command neutralized four suspected kidnappers, rescued a victim, and recovered N3 million in Suru LGA of Kebbi.

Nafi’u Abubakar, the command’s spokesman, CSP   disclosed this in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

“On 14 February, at about 1:45 pm, armed men suspected to be kidnappers invaded Gobiraje Village in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi and abducted one60 years old  Umaru Bawa. “Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer in Suru urgently mobilised a team of policemen and vigilantes to the scene. They tracked the suspects to Tundafari Forest in the Dakingari axis and engaged them in a gun battle.

“As a result, four of the kidnappers were shut down, one was arrested with fatal injury, while others fled into the forest with gunshot wounds,” he said.

According to Abubakar in the statement, the police men  also successfully rescued the kidnapped victim unharmed and recovered the sum of N3 million, which had already been paid to the kidnappers as ransom.

 The state commissioner of police Bello Sani commends the officers for their efforts and praised their resilience, professionalism, and tactical display of bravery.

The commissioner further reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime in the state and urged residents to remain vigilant.

Sani appealed to the peace-loving people of Kebbi to always be security-conscious and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station for prompt action.

The Edo State Security Corps has announced the arrest of 18 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in the state just few days after Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, issued a directive to security agencies to flush out criminals and make the state’s forests and bushes safe and secure for farmers, residents, and the general public.

The Edo state security corps commandant, Friday Ibadin, a retired Commissioner of Police, disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin City. He stated that the suspects were apprehended along the Benin-Auchi road, and 38 locally-made guns, pellets, and several charms were recovered from them.

He continued by explaining that the arrests were made during a bush-combing operation near Equedion Camp, close to the army checkpoint along the Benin-Auchi Road.

As explained by his report, 17 of the suspects were non-indigenes of Edo State, while one indigene was from the Agbede community in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

“On 14 February 2025, while on patrol along the Benin-Auchi Road near Eguedion Camp, close to the soldiers’ checkpoint, two individuals were sighted holding guns. On spotting my men, they fled. They were pursued to a camp, where 18 suspects were arrested.

“Seventeen of the 18 arrested suspects are non-indigenes, while one is an indigene from the Agbede community. In the process, 38 fully loaded locally made guns and charms were also recovered,” he said.

Edo state security commandant “Friday Ibadin” further stated that the suspects had been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer at Agbede Police Station. He also called for closer collaboration between the corps and other security agencies in the state.

While stressing the need for a concerted effort to rid off criminals in the state, he assured that his personnel would continue combing the bushes and sensitising locals to ensure that the forests are cleared of criminals, making the state safe and secured for all.

He also guaranteed residents of the state the commitment to providing and enabling  a safe environment, particularly for the farmers during this year’s farming season.

He further assured that his men would continue to intensify efforts to ensure that Edo State is completely rid of criminals.

Osun State All Progressive Congress,( APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of using state power to subdue the opposition brutally.

The allegation came during the recent Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated local government chairmen sacked by the Adeleke administration.

In an assertion signed by Kola Olabisi, its Director of Media and Information, on Thursday, the APC warned Adeleke against taking actions that could trigger political turbulence in the state.

The party insisted that the ruling was binding and should be respected by all parties, including the state government.

Kola Olabisi, its Director of Media and Information aforesaid, “The earlier Governor Adeleke realises that Osun State is governed by the law and not as an extension of his family estate in Ede, the better for him.”

The APC censure Adeleke’s reaction to the court’s decision, stating that his approach reflected a lack of understanding of democratic governance.

In addition, The party argued that there was no legal groung for conducting fresh local government elections, as the reinstated chairmen legally occupied their offices.

“It defies logic that any government would attempt to conduct elections, when in the eyes of the law, there is no vacancy in the local government system,” he warned.

The party also accused the governor of interfering with the judiciary, stressing that the courts had ruled on the matter and that their decision should be upheld without political interference.

The APC urged Adeleke to follow legal redress at the Supreme Court rather than making inflammatory statements that could instigate violence.

“If the governor is not satisfied with the ruling, the appropriate step is to approach the Supreme Court, not to incite the public against a lawful judgement,” the party added.

Dismissing accusations that the APC was planning to cause chaos in the state, the party maintained that its members had no reason to incite violence.

It argued that the real perpetrators of political violence were thugs allegedly aligned with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Assuming without conceding that any group is planning to create unrest, Governor Adeleke should look within his party. PDP thugs have been attacking our members since Monday’s judgement,” the APC claimed.

The statement further alleged that APC supporters had been targeted in various parts of the state since the Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the reinstated chairmen.

“It is unfortunate that Governor Adeleke, who became governor through the judiciary, is now undermining the same institution simply because a ruling did not favour his party,” the party added.

However, Governor Adeleke has denied the allegations and raised concerns over what he described as a plot by the opposition to destabilise the state.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke accused the APC of attempting to disrupt the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for February 22nd.

The Governor, who described Osun as one of the most peaceful states in the federation, decried the reprehensible desperation among the opposition politicians, especially of the All Progressive Congress which is manifesting in their concoction of fake court rulings, deliberate fabrication of fake news and condemnable building of false narratives instead of facing the electorate on February 22nd.

According to the State Governor, there is a subsisting court judgement secured by the APP which nullified the kangaroo local government election held in 2022, declaring that the judgement remains valid in law and reality.

The statement affirmed that the judgement of a Court of Appeal in Akure was about the filing of court processes by the PDP which had nothing to do with the subsisting judgement that sacked the illegally elected council chairmen and councilors of the APC.

“The evil agenda is designed to create chaos and push for a declaration of a state of emergency. Security agencies have been directed to apprehend anyone involved in such a plot,” the governor stated.

Governor Adeleke maintained that a previous court ruling had nullified the 2022 local government elections that brought the reinstated chairmen into office, arguing that the recent Court of Appeal decision did not override that judgement.

“I have directed security agencies to secure the state and ensure peace is dominating. There is no legal basis for any group to take over local government offices illegally.

“Anybody who tests our resolve to sustain law and order in Osun state will have himself to blame. As the Chief Security Officer for the state, I am determined to deploy all available machinery of the state to maintain peace and punish trouble makers.