General News
Intelligence operation foils mass kidnap plot in Katsina
Abu Umar
Security forces have foiled a planned mass kidnapping operation in Gidan Iyado, Kakumi Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina, neutralising 18 armed bandits and recovering weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and suspected rustled livestock.
The successful operation which took place on Monday, involved personnel of the Nigerian military, Department of State Services DSS and local vigilantes, following intelligence on the planned attack by a criminal group operating in the area.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda, commended the security personnel for their gallantry and swift intervention, saying the operation had prevented the criminals from carrying out a mass abduction of residents.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasir Mu’azu, disclosed the development in a statement, describing the operation as intelligence driven and part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal activities before they escalate into attacks on communities.
Mu’azu said security forces, acting on credible information about the planned abduction for ransom, deployed operational assets and laid an ambush for the bandits before engaging them in a confrontation.
He said the encounter resulted in the neutralisation of 18 armed members of the group while efforts were immediately intensified to recover weapons and other items in the possession of the fleeing criminals.
According to the commissioner, the operation led to the recovery of one G3 rifle, two AK 47 rifles and 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Three motorcycles were also recovered from the scene.
The security forces further recovered two cows and 94 sheep believed to have been rustled by the criminal group, reinforcing concerns over the link between banditry, kidnapping and livestock theft in affected communities.
Mu’azu identified the alleged leader of the group as Musa Duki whom he described as a former school headmaster who later became a bandit kingpin operating from Mununu Forest in Faskari Local Government Area.
The commissioner said the latest success would not mark the end of the operation, disclosing that security agencies had commenced further covert activities to track the kingpin and dismantle the network associated with him.
He said the military and DSS were also working to identify other members of the group, locate their hideouts and prevent them from regrouping or launching fresh attacks on Bakori, Faskari and neighbouring communities.
Mu’azu reaffirmed the government’s determination to sustain coordinated security operations across vulnerable areas, particularly through intelligence gathering, community based surveillance and timely intervention against emerging threats.
The operation adds to ongoing efforts by the Katsina government and security agencies to deny armed groups the opportunity to establish operational bases, disrupt their networks and strengthen the protection of residents in communities facing persistent security challenges.
Abu Umar
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday reserved ruling on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of a telephone communication.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution and defence lawyers adopted their respective positions on El-Rufai’s no-case submission.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that the business of the day was for El-Rufai to adopt his no-case submission.
Counsel to El-Rufai, Mr Akinyemi Aremu, who announced that the defence team was led by Mr Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that Erokoro had prayed for the matter to be stood down as he was still on his way to court.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, refused the request, saying, “I do not do stand downs”.
Aremu subsequently sought the court’s permission for his co-counsel, Mr Ekere, to handle the proceedings.
Ekere then moved a motion seeking an extension of time to deem the defendant’s no-case submission properly filed and served.
The judge granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the no-case submission properly filed and served.
Ekere thereafter adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to uphold it and discharge the defendant.
Aladedoyin, however, opposed the defendant lawyer’s prayer and asked the court to overrule the no-case submission and order the defendant to enter his defence.
He argued that the defence, in making their no case submission, had evaded Exhibit B, which he said was the defendant’s confession.
“If they had averted their mind to it, they won’t make the ‘no case submission’, so I urge my lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” he said.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 26 for ruling.
Our Reporter
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly will consider the State Police Bill transmitted by the National Assembly when it resumes plenary on Monday, Sept. 28.
Dr Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the House, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lafia while speaking with journalists.
Jatau said the bill was received from the Clerk of the National Assembly on Friday, Sept. 18.
“Yes, we are in receipt of the State Police Bill from the Clerk of the National Assembly. We received it last Friday,” he said.
He said the lawmakers would scrutinise the bill and take the necessary legislative action.
“We will go through it when we resume on Monday next week,” Jatau said.
The speaker assured that the Assembly would give the bill the necessary legislative attention.
“We will look at it and do the needful,” he said.(NAN).
Our Reporter
The Osun House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution supporting the establishment of State Police to complement existing security agencies in combating insecurity in the state.
The resolution followed the transmission of the proposed constitutional amendment by the National Assembly to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The National Assembly had on June 24 passed the constitutional amendment Bill seeking to provide for the establishment of State Police.
The motion for the resolution and passage of the proposed State Police amendment was moved by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr Babajide Kofoworola, and seconded by Mr Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Adewale Egbedun, directed that the resolution and amendments approved by the Assembly be forwarded to the National Assembly for further consideration.
The Assembly later dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.
The Assembly considered corrections and amendments to the Bill, with the agreed changes incorporated into the proposed legislation.(NAN).
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