Category: Crime Diary

ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Ogun State Police Command has warned members of the public and applicants seeking recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force to disregard a fake “2026 Recruitment Medical Screening Schedule” currently circulating online.

The command said no official date has been fixed for the medical screening exercise, describing the circulating notice as fraudulent and misleading.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the police advised applicants to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to scammers attempting to exploit the recruitment process.

The command urged candidates to rely only on official communication channels for authentic updates regarding the recruitment exercise.

According to the statement, verified information can only be obtained through the official Police Service Commission websites and approved social media platforms.

Applicants were directed to monitor Police Service Commission, NPF Recruitment Portal and the official X handle, @PSCNigeria for credible announcements and further instructions.

The command further advised candidates to await official directives through authorised channels to avoid misinformation and possible fraud.

Police authorities reiterated their commitment to ensuring a transparent and credible recruitment process while cautioning applicants against dealing with unauthorised individuals or platforms.

LAGOS, Nigeria (Agency Report) — The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has commended the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) for ongoing reforms aimed at addressing estimated billing and strengthening consumer protection in the state’s electricity market.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by the FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu.

According to the commission, the reforms outlined in LASERC’s 2025 Lagos Electricity Market Report include stricter enforcement against electricity supply to unmetered consumers and a phased rollout of universal smart metering across Lagos State.

LASERC is expected to begin compulsory metering from 2026 through a feeder-by-feeder deployment strategy for smart meters across the state’s electricity network.

The initiative also provides for tighter regulatory oversight of electricity distribution companies, improved consumer complaint resolution processes and sanctions for operators that fail to comply with regulatory standards.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, described the reforms as a significant step toward achieving transparent billing systems and strengthening consumer confidence in the power sector.

“Estimated billing remains one of the leading sources of consumer complaints within Nigeria’s power sector,” Bello said.

He added that measures aimed at accelerating metering and improving billing transparency were essential to enhancing consumer protection and market accountability.

According to him, effective metering promotes fairness, reduces billing disputes and strengthens accountability within the electricity value chain.

Bello urged other state regulators and governments to adopt similar reforms to improve service delivery and consumer protection across the country.

He also called on electricity distribution companies and other market operators to support ongoing metering programmes and comply with their consumer protection obligations.

The FCCPC noted that LASERC’s report identified persistent service delivery gaps, complaint resolution challenges and electricity supply inefficiencies affecting consumers in Lagos State.

It stated that the findings underscore the need for stronger consumer safeguards, sustained infrastructure investment and improved electricity service delivery nationwide.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and fair market practices across Nigeria’s electricity sector.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties during a recent aerial bombardment in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, insisting that the operation targeted armed bandits and terrorist hideouts.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, on Wednesday.

According to the DHQ, the airstrike was conducted following credible intelligence on the movement and gathering of armed bandits in Lukupe Village and adjoining communities within Shiroro LGA.

The military said intelligence reports and post-strike assessments confirmed that the operation successfully neutralised several terrorists, particularly in Kusasu community, where about 70 bandits were reportedly killed.

It added that surviving fighters were seen evacuating the bodies of their dead colleagues for burial after the operation.

The statement further disclosed that more than 200 armed fighters mounted on motorcycles reportedly fled towards Zango following the air interdiction.

The DHQ maintained that the operation was carefully planned and executed based on verified intelligence, stressing that civilians were not present at the targeted locations during the bombardment.

According to the military, residents of nearby communities had relocated to Sarkin Pawa before the commencement of the operation, contrary to claims that innocent civilians were affected.

“The operation specifically targeted armed bandits and terrorist enclaves,” the statement said.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and conducting military operations in accordance with established rules of engagement and international laws governing armed conflict.

The DHQ also assured Nigerians that ongoing military operations across the country would continue to focus on dismantling criminal and terrorist networks threatening national security.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a staggering consignment of Canadian Loud cannabis worth ₦10.43 billion at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos, dealing another heavy blow to international drug syndicates.

The seizure — weighing 4,173.5 kilograms — followed two months of intelligence-driven surveillance, tracking the shipment from Toronto, Canada, through Montreal and Morocco’s Tanger Med Port, before it arrived in Lagos on May 9.

NDLEA operatives, working in synergy with the Nigeria Customs Service, the UK Home Office International Operations, the US DEA, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, uncovered the drugs concealed inside a Ford Bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 hidden within the shipping container.

This breakthrough comes just days after NDLEA raided a Lekki mansion, recovering 2,326 kilograms of Loud valued at ₦5.8 billion, underscoring a coordinated attempt by cartels to flood Nigeria’s market.

NDLEA’s Director of Seaports Operations, ACG Ibinabo ArchieAbia, hailed the bust as proof of the power of inter-agency cooperation and global collaboration.

Reacting, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) praised the vigilance of officers, warning syndicates that Nigeria’s ports will not serve as gateways for their trade. “This second massive seizure in less than a week is a clear message to international syndicates. We will not rest until every link in this supply chain is broken and those behind these shipments are brought to justice,” Marwa declared.

The back-to-back seizures highlight NDLEA’s growing capacity to dismantle transnational drug networks, while sending a strong signal to cartels that Nigeria is no longer a haven for their illicit trade.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that the visit of its operatives to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday was to authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect standing trial.

The commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

Oyewale said the suspect was remanded by Justice M.A. Onyetunu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, over alleged fraud involving multiple microfinance banks, including the University of Uyo Microfinance Bank.

According to him, the suspect had presented a medical report which required verification by the management of the teaching hospital.

He explained that the EFCC had earlier written two letters to the hospital management on March 11 and April 20 requesting authentication of the medical report but received no response.

“The investigating officer handling the matter took a further step of visiting the hospital to enquire about the status of the request. Still, no response,” he said.

Oyewale stated that EFCC operatives later visited the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital on Tuesday for further enquiries but were allegedly attacked and locked inside the facility by some staff members.

“As a last resort, operatives of the commission visited the Chief Medical Director of the hospital on Tuesday to make further enquiries, only to be locked in with a false alarm and subjected to unprovoked attack by misguided staff of the facility who pelted them with stones and other dangerous objects,” he said.

The spokesman, however, said there was no breakdown of law and order during the incident, adding that the operatives exercised restraint and left the premises without disrupting hospital activities.

He further alleged that while the operatives were inside the hospital, the CMD directed that the hospital gates be shut, making lawful enquiries difficult.

According to him, police authorities in Akwa Ibom later advised the hospital management to reopen the gates to allow the operatives leave peacefully, but the request was allegedly ignored.

Oyewale stressed that enquiries relating to EFCC operations were lawful and urged individuals and organisations to cooperate with the commission during investigations.

“Contrary action could be deemed as obstruction, which is criminal with attendant legal consequences,” he added.

JOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has raised concern over the killing of six persons in fresh attacks in Plateau State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the cleric—who has been at the forefront of global awareness campaigns on the killing of Christians in Nigeria’s north-central—lamented that the six victims were killed on Tuesday in separate attacks across communities in the state despite repeated warnings by Gov. Caleb Mutfwang over the worsening security situation.

Dachomo questioned the continued wave of violence and killings in the state, asking why the perpetrators appeared emboldened to carry out attacks without fear.

“How long will blood continue to flow while families bury their loved ones in silence and fear?” he asked.

The cleric also queried whether the attackers felt untouchable because of alleged backing from influential individuals or because narratives surrounding the attacks were often distorted.

“Why are these terrorists so bold and fearless? Is it because they feel untouchable? Is it because there are powerful forces protecting them behind closed doors? Or because certain propaganda voices are always quick to twist the narrative, justify the killings, and confuse the world about who the real victims are?” he said.

According to him, every life lost represented a family thrown into grief and pain.

“Every life lost was someone’s father, mother, child, brother, or sister. These were human beings with dreams, hopes, and families waiting for them to come home,” he stated.

Dachomo said Plateau communities were living in fear as many children were growing up amid trauma and violence instead of peace and opportunity.

“Enough of the silence. Enough of the excuses. The people deserve protection, justice, and truth,” he added.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Stakeholders in the South-East have expressed concern over the rising wave of litigation within Nigeria’s political parties, warning that the trend could weaken democratic stability and opposition strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They made the remarks in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on “Proliferation of Political Litigation and Its Implications for Democracy,” noting that persistent court battles over leadership, party structures and electoral disputes could undermine internal democracy and political cohesion.

Major political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), are currently facing varying degrees of legal disputes and leadership crises.

The ADC has been affected by leadership tussles and court cases over control of party structures. The PDP continues to battle recurring litigation over national leadership legitimacy and disputes in several state chapters. In the Labour Party, disagreements over leadership and structure reportedly contributed to the exit of key figures, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi and other prominent members. The APC, though relatively stable at the national level, has witnessed internal disputes in some states, particularly Rivers State.

A recent Supreme Court decision on the ADC leadership crisis also failed to conclusively resolve the matter, returning substantive issues to the lower court and prolonging uncertainty within the party.

Speaking in Enugu, Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Awforkansi Nnadiume, said the trend reflects a slowing democratic process. “After almost 30 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, we are still struggling with full democratic consolidation,” he said, adding that many disputes should ordinarily be resolved within party structures.

He warned that excessive litigation over internal party affairs could distort political competition and even weaken opposition parties. “Most of these matters are internal issues that parties should resolve themselves, but the courts are increasingly drawn into them,” he said, urging stronger internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

Also speaking, Dr Ambrose Igboke, Chairman of the Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (Enugu chapter), said the issue reflects weak internal democracy in political parties. “Most parties lack discipline and have structural loopholes that are often exploited,” he said. Igboke, however, noted that resort to litigation remains preferable to violence and could ultimately strengthen legal interpretation of democratic processes.

In Ebonyi State, political analyst Chief Chinedu Okafor warned that repeated court cases within opposition parties create uncertainty and weaken public confidence in the political system. Constitutional lawyer Mr Ifeanyi Nworie also stressed that political parties must respect their constitutions to reduce unnecessary judicial intervention.

Civil society advocate Mrs Nkechinyere Nnachi said prolonged legal battles contribute to voter apathy and public frustration, urging political leaders to prioritise dialogue, reconciliation and issue-based politics.

In Anambra, analyst Mr Tony Okafor said excessive litigation has turned courts into political battlegrounds, weakening opposition effectiveness and public trust. He cited the Labour Party leadership crisis as an example of how prolonged disputes can fracture party unity and discourage supporters.

Former NBA Orlu Branch chairman, Mr Chinedu Agbordike, said judicial intervention remains essential but warned against politicisation of the judiciary. He called for stronger internal conflict resolution systems within parties.

Some analysts also alleged that certain litigations are politically motivated to destabilise opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

A political science lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Chinedu Ejezie, described the trend as a “bad omen,” warning that weakening opposition parties could erode democratic competition. He stressed that democracy thrives on credible alternatives for voters.

Stakeholders across regions called for electoral reforms, stronger party institutions, and improved internal democratic practices to reduce litigation and safeguard Nigeria’s democratic stability ahead of future elections.