New Post Africa

Category: Crime Diary

  • INEC Disassociates From Fraudulent Online Recruitment, Warns Citizens

    INEC Disassociates From Fraudulent Online Recruitment, Warns Citizens

    ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA): The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from an online recruitment scheme falsely attributed to the commission.

    A fake website, https://tinyurl.com/INEC-Ad-hoc-Staff-Recruitment, had circulated claims of an ongoing recruitment exercise. In a statement issued on Saturday, INEC clarified that the site is “fake, misleading, and not authorized by the Commission.”

    “The Commission did not approve or originate the link currently circulating as ‘INEC Ad-hoc Staff Recruitment 2026,’” the statement read. INEC urged citizens not to submit personal information through the fraudulent platform, stressing that all official recruitment announcements are made exclusively via its verified website and official communication channels.

    The commission advised the public to disregard the link and remain vigilant against online scams. For further enquiries, INEC provided official contact numbers: 09050858629, 09050858675, and 09050858649.

    Fraudulent recruitment schemes are common in Nigeria, fueled by high unemployment rates. Such scams often exploit the names of government institutions and established brands to deceive unsuspecting individuals into parting with money or exposing personal data.

  • Nigerian Police Confirm Arrest of TikToker Mirabel Over Alleged False Rape Alarm

    Nigerian Police Confirm Arrest of TikToker Mirabel Over Alleged False Rape Alarm

    OGUN STATE, NIGERIA (NPA) — The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Nigerian TikToker Mirabel, known online as @mirab351, for allegedly raising a false alarm of rape and assault.

    On February 15, Mirabel went viral across social media after claiming she had been molested and raped by a man she met online at her residence. Days later, however, she retracted the allegation in a video, admitting that no such attack had occurred and asking for forgiveness.

    Her reversal sparked outrage among social media users, many of whom demanded her arrest and prosecution, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent in an era where clout-chasing has become common on platforms like TikTok. Others questioned whether her denial was part of a broader attempt to shield the alleged attacker from accountability.

    Speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, Ogun State Police Command spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed that Mirabel is in custody. “She is with us now and investigation is ongoing,” he said.

    According to Babaseyi, “The facts will tell at the conclusion of our investigation if she will be charged to court. If it is otherwise, the law goes against giving false information, and that can make anyone who gives false information culpable.”

    False rape claims have increasingly surfaced on TikTok and other social media platforms. Analysts note that clout-chasing and attention-seeking are among the primary drivers, as sensational content often attracts followers and visibility. In Mirabel’s case, observers accused her of seeking attention after inconsistencies in her initial video were noticed.

    Experts also point to psychological and emotional factors, including instability and a need for validation, as contributing to such harmful false claims. Police reports in Mirabel’s case highlighted concerns about her mental state.

    The speed and anonymity of social media make it easier to spread unverified claims without immediate consequences. Such false allegations erode public trust, making it harder for genuine survivors to be believed, while also damaging the reputations of accused individuals who face stigma even when proven innocent.

  • Bandits Kill Ondo State Monarch in Palace Attack

    Bandits Kill Ondo State Monarch in Palace Attack

    ONDO STATE, NIGERIA (NPA): Suspected armed bandits attacked the Agomo community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, killing the traditional ruler, Oba Kehinde Falodun, on Wednesday.

    Eyewitnesses reported that more than ten heavily armed assailants stormed the monarch’s palace and fatally assaulted him during the raid.

    The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued Thursday by its spokesperson, Mr. Abayomi Jimoh. He said the command had launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

    “Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), alongside tactical teams from the command, promptly mobilised officers in collaboration with local security outfits,” Jimoh stated.

    He added that Atuluse Security, local hunters, and Amotekun operatives joined in combing nearby bushes and surrounding areas to apprehend the perpetrators. “Efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects. Monitoring and surveillance activities have been intensified across the area to ensure the safety of residents and prevent further breakdown of law and order. The public is assured that no stone will be left unturned in bringing those responsible for the heinous act to justice,” he said.

    Banditry in Nigeria began with sporadic attacks by cattle rustlers and armed gangs around 2011, particularly in Zamfara State. It has since evolved into widespread rural violence, kidnappings, and extortion across the North-West, North-Central, and now increasingly in the South-West.

    The tactics of these groups include mass abductions of schoolchildren and worshippers, burning of villages, and ransom-driven extortion.

    A recent report (January 2026) estimated that 600,000 people were killed in just 11 months, with more than two million kidnappings and ransom payments exceeding ₦2 trillion. In February 2026, one of the deadliest single attacks occurred in Woro village, Kwara State, where 35 people were killed and homes were set ablaze.

    By late 2025, analysts described Nigeria as being “under siege,” with banditry reshaping daily life, destabilizing rural economies, and undermining national security.

  • Nwifuru Relaxes Amasiri Curfew, Insists State’s Demands Must Be Met

    Nwifuru Relaxes Amasiri Curfew, Insists State’s Demands Must Be Met

    ABAKALIKI, EBONYI (Newpost Africa): Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has announced a relaxation of the curfew imposed in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, following recent communal clashes that claimed several lives.

    The curfew, initially set from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m., has now been adjusted to 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nwifuru announced on Tuesday at the New Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki. He warned that residents of Amasiri must produce the severed heads of victims of the Okporojo killings within 72 hours or face stringent penalties.

    As of press time, schools remain closed, and economic activities in Amasiri are paralysed as security agencies continue investigations into the unrest.

    The crisis erupted on January 29, 2026, when armed men, allegedly from Amasiri, invaded Okporojo in Afikpo South Local Government Area, setting houses ablaze and killing at least four people.

    In response, Governor Nwifuru dismissed all government appointees from Amasiri, dissolved the community development union leadership and village heads, and withdrew the certificate of the community’s traditional ruler.

    Visibly angered by the killings, Nwifuru described the attack as “most unfortunate,” stressing that he never expected such brutality in the state. He vowed that his administration would act decisively to restore peace and ensure justice for the victims.

    The governor’s tough measures mirror his earlier intervention in Effium Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, where he successfully quelled a protracted bloody communal conflict between the aborigines (Effium) and the Ezza people—a crisis that had devastated the once-thriving agrarian town for years, lasting through the past administration of Engr. Dave Umahi.

  • FG to Establish Fire Stations in 109 Senatorial Districts

    FG to Establish Fire Stations in 109 Senatorial Districts

    KANO, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has announced plans to establish fire stations in all 109 senatorial districts across the country as part of efforts to mitigate fire disasters and strengthen emergency response.

    Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Dr Olumode Samuel-Adeyemi, disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the Singer Market in Kano State, following the February 14 fire incident.

    Samuel-Adeyemi said a dedicated fire post would be established at Singer Market to curb recurring outbreaks. He conveyed the condolences of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the government and people of Kano State, particularly traders who lost lives and property worth billions of naira.

    Strengthening Response and Prevention

    The CG explained that the initiative is part of a broader plan to:

    • Expand fire coverage nationwide through senatorial and local government fire stations.
    • Construct water reservoirs in major markets to ensure quick access to water during emergencies.
    • Collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for crowd control during incidents.
    • Intensify public education and inspections through the Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit to enforce compliance with fire safety standards.

    He identified faulty electrical wiring, unsafe fuel storage, cooking inside shops, use of generators, lithium battery installations, and unattended appliances as major causes of market fires.

    Samuel-Adeyemi also noted that although firefighters arrived at Singer Market within 20 minutes, access was delayed due to obstructed roads. He appealed to Nigerians to give right of way to fire trucks during emergencies.

    Legislative Backing

    The CG added that the proposed amendment of the Fire Service Act would strengthen enforcement powers, including the authority to seal premises that fail to install required fire safety equipment.

    He commended the Kano State Fire Service and other emergency agencies for their cooperation and assured continued federal support in equipment and training.

  • Ifunanya Nwangene, Nigerian Singer Who Died of Snakebite, Laid to Rest

    Ifunanya Nwangene, Nigerian Singer Who Died of Snakebite, Laid to Rest

    ENUGU, NIGERIA — The remains of rising Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangene were laid to rest in her hometown in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. Her death on January 31, 2026, after a snakebite in her Abuja apartment, sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

    According to reports, Nwangene was rushed to hospitals, including the Federal Medical Centre, but was unable to access life-saving antivenom. Her tragic passing has reignited debate over Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system, long plagued by poor funding, corruption, and inadequate drug availability.

    Observers note that the incident underscores the impact of the ongoing “Japa” syndrome, where medical professionals leave Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad, further straining the country’s health sector.

    In response, the Nigerian Senate leadership has directed hospitals nationwide to stock antivenoms to prevent similar tragedies. However, questions remain over how effectively such a directive can be enforced, given systemic challenges.

  • U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    WASHINGTON, D.C. / ABUJA: The United States government has sanctioned eight individuals in Nigeria for alleged links to Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgent group responsible for widespread violence across Nigeria’s northeast, northwest, and north-central regions, as well as in the wider Lake Chad Basin covering Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram, designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the U.S. in 2013, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since its insurgency began in 2009.

    The sanctions were announced in a publication by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which blocks the property and interests of designated persons. Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu (a.k.a. Salihu Yusuf), born August 23, 1990, who was convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. Others named include Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, Khaled Al-Barnawi, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki.

    The U.S. indictment alleges that all sanctioned individuals actively participated in Boko Haram’s operations in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

    This action follows the October 31, 2025, designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, after reports that jihadist groups killed more than 7,000 Christians and abducted 7,800 others in the first seven months of 2025.

    On December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day), the U.S. military launched Tomahawk missile strikes against suspected Islamic State (ISIS) camps in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria. The operation, coordinated with the Nigerian government, targeted militants linked to the Islamic State–Sahel Province and its affiliate, Lakurawa. The U.S. Africa Command confirmed the strikes, describing them as aimed at “ISIS terrorists in Nigeria.”

    In early 2026, the U.S. deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking the first official American military presence on the ground in support of counterterrorism operations.

  • Ohanaeze Accuses Asari Dokubo of Inciting Ethnic Violence Against Igbos

    Ohanaeze Accuses Asari Dokubo of Inciting Ethnic Violence Against Igbos

    PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — The Rivers State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has accused former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo of attempting to incite ethnic violence through what it described as a “false and venomous video.”

    In a statement issued on Monday, January 16, and made available to Newpost Africa, the chapter president, Livingstone Wechie, criticised Dokubo’s claims that Igbo communities in Rivers State were behind attacks on Northern Muslims during recent clashes in Rumuokwurusi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Wechie said the video was “inciting and malicious,” aimed at pitching Igbos against their northern neighbours. He clarified that the violence at the Oil Mill Fruit Market on January 14 stemmed from a dispute between Benue and Hausa traders, not Igbo communities.

    Wechie stressed that Igbos are neither anarchists nor destroyers, noting their significant population in Rivers State and across northern Nigeria, where they coexist peacefully with other ethnic and religious groups. He emphasised that both Christian and Muslim Igbos live in Rivers State and respect the religious rights of others.

    The Rivers State Police Command also confirmed that the incident was a clash between Hausa and Benue traders, not involving Igbos, and that the suspect in the killing had been arrested. Wechie urged the public to disregard Dokubo’s “emotional outburst and combustible propositions,” warning that such rhetoric could destabilise the state. He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his swift intervention, which restored calm and prevented further escalation.

  • Customs Seize Four Live Pangolins in Ogun

    Customs Seize Four Live Pangolins in Ogun

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, says it intercepted four live Pangolins, an endangered species, along the Yemoamota-Abule-Igboora axis of the state.

    The Deputy Superintendent of NCS, Chado Zakari, also the Command’s Spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Ota.

    Zakari explained that the seizure underscored the service’s unwavering commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    According to him, at about 3.00 a.m. on Thursday, a patrol team acting on credible intelligence intercepted a motorcycle in the Yemoamota-Abule-Igboora, and Ebute Igboora axis of the command.

    “Upon inspection, officers discovered four pangolins confined in wire mesh cages and concealed within a sack.

    “The sophisticated nature of the packaging suggests the involvement of an organised smuggling syndicate.

    “To evade arrest, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle and the endangered species, vanishing into the thick terrain as the evening fog rolled in,” he said.

    Zakari said that prioritising the animals’ welfare after the seizure, the Command officially transferred the pangolins to the Wildlife Conservation Centre on Feb. 13, 2026.

    He said that the handover was conducted by Assistant Comptroller Tajjudeen Bello (Acting Deputy Comptroller for Administration), on behalf of the Acting Customs Area Comptroller, Oladapo Afeni.

    The area comptroller noted that the officers acted with remarkable courage and professionalism throughout the covert operations.

    The comptroller reiterated the command’s commitment to be steadfast in its vigilance against trans-border crime and to collaborate with its partners to eliminate the illegal trade in endangered species.

    Afeni issued a stern warning to smugglers and traffickers of endangered wildlife, urging them to desist from the act.

    He emphasised that the command remained ‘battle-ready’ and fully equipped to track down and apprehend anyone undermining the law.