Metro News Archives - Page 5 of 21

Court Jails Five for Exhuming Corpse, Removing Eyes for Rituals in Gombe

March 13, 2026 by admin

A High Court sitting in Gombe on Friday sentenced five men to various prison terms for exhuming a corpse and removing its eyes for alleged ritual purposes. The court, presided over by Justice Abdulsalam Mohammed of Gombe State High Court No. 8, delivered the judgment after the defendants pleaded guilty to some of the charges brought against them. The defendants are Mohammed Isah, also known as Chindo; Kawuni Sarki; Manu Saleh; Umar Jibrin, also known as Daddy; and Adamu Nasiru, all from Gadam village in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State. A sixth defendant, Abdullahi Umar Dauda, was also arraigned in connection with the case. The prosecution, led by state counsel, Ahmed Yakubu Gombe, told the court that the defendants were facing a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit an offence, causing indignity to a corpse, unlawful entry into a graveyard, theft, destruction of public property, membership of an unlawful society, use of unlawful charms, and unlawful possession of a human head. According to the prosecutor, the offences were committed on September 11, 2025, at the Gadam Muslim graveyard in Kwami Local Government Area. Yakubu told the court that the defendants conspired with two other suspects, Aliyu Baka and Reuben, who are currently at large, to exhume the grave of a deceased person identified as Malam Manu Wanzam. “They jointly exhumed the grave of the late Malam Manu Wanzam, unwrapped the burial shroud and brought out the fresh corpse. The defendants then removed the two eyes from the corpse,” the prosecutor told the court. He added that one of the suspects, who is still at large, fled the scene with the plucked eyes, allegedly for ritual purposes. “The accused persons unlawfully entered the Muslim graveyard at night, exhumed the corpse and removed the eyes of the deceased for ritual purposes, thereby causing indignity to the corpse and the grave,” Yakubu said. The prosecutor further stated that the defendants also attempted to exhume another grave in the same cemetery on the same day. He noted that the offences are punishable under Sections 96, 95, 218, 213, 286, 335, 306, 97A, 97B, 216 and 219 of the Penal Code Law. During the proceedings, the defendants pleaded guilty to some of the charges after the court interpreter explained the charges to them. Following their plea, the prosecution urged the court to summarily try them on the counts to which they admitted guilt, citing Sections 335(2) and 355(2) of the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law. Delivering judgment, Justice Abdulsalam Mohammed convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly. The court sentenced Mohammed Isah (Chindo), Kawuni Sarki, Manu Saleh, Umar Jibrin (Daddy), and Adamu Nasiru to six months’ imprisonment under Section 218 of the Penal Code. They were also sentenced to one year’s imprisonment each on additional counts. On the charge of theft, the court convicted Mohammed Isah, Kawuni Sarki, and Adamu Nasiru and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment each. Justice Mohammed ordered that the sentences should run consecutively. Accordingly, Mohammed Isah was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment; Manu Saleh to two years and six months’ imprisonment; Umar Jibrin to two years and six months’ imprisonment; while Adamu Nasiru was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment. In his ruling, the judge said, “Having pleaded guilty to some of the charges, the defendants are hereby convicted and sentenced as stated by the court.” The court further ordered that the trial would continue on the remaining counts against the defendants. Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned the case to April 16, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.

25 Killed in Jihadist Attacks in Northeast Nigeria – Report

February 26, 2026 by admin

At least 25 people were killed in two separate jihadist attacks in northeastern Nigeria’s Adamawa state, local sources told AFP on Thursday. The attacks in the towns of Madagali and Hong in the border region with Cameroon were attributed to Boko Haram jihadists, whose fighters have been active in the area since the group began its violent insurgency in 2009. “Gunmen, we believed to be Boko Haram on many motorcycles… attacked the market. They opened fire on people and killed 21,” a Madagali local government official told AFP about the Tuesday evening attack, on the condition of anonymity. “We are still searching for more bodies as some might have died in the bush from gunshot wounds while trying to find safety.” The attackers also looted a market and stole food items and motorcycles, the source said. Four others, including three troops, were killed in neighbouring Hong, resident Ezekiel Musa told AFP. “Boko Haram attacked us after they left the town. We saw the corpses of three soldiers and one woman was killed,” Musa said. “Now the town has security personnel but some of us have already started leaving the town because of fear of what happened.” – ‘Senseless attacks’ – State governor Adamu Umaru Fintiri condemned the attack without providing an official toll in a statement. “We will not let terrorists undermine our efforts to restore peace and stability,” he said in the statement. “I warn perpetrators: desist from these senseless attacks or face the full weight of our collective resolve.” Since 2009, the jihadist insurgency in Nigeria, led primarily by Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has left more than 40,000 dead and two million displaced in the northeast of the country, according to the United Nations. Nigeria is also grappling with other armed groups that have compounded its insecurity challenges in the north of the country. Military crackdowns have yielded little results. The jihadist conflict has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional military coalition to fight these groups. The coalition has lost steam in recent years after the withdrawal of Niger due to a diplomatic spat with Nigeria following a 2023 military coup in Niger. Earlier this month, the United States began deploying troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to the country’s soldiers in fighting the jihadist groups. The US Africa Command said 200 troops were expected to join the deployment overall. AFP

Fire Breaks Out at Lagos Airport Old Terminal, FAAN Reports No Casualties

February 23, 2026 by admin

A fire outbreak has reportedly engulfed the old terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, a facility currently undergoing a multi-billion-naira renovation. Details surrounding the incident remain unclear as of the time of filing this report, but the affected terminal, which is part of the airport’s older infrastructure, is currently being renovated as part of efforts to upgrade facilities and improve passenger experience. Confirming the development to PUNCH Online, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Henry Agbebire, said authorities were already on the ground managing the situation. “We are aware of the outbreak, and we are there right now. We will publish a statement right now.” He added that the agency’s emergency response unit had swung into action to prevent further damage. “Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to curtail the situation,” he said. Agbebire assured the public that there were no casualties from the incident. “No loss of lives has been recorded. Further updates will be recorded,” he added. Passengers and airport users have been advised to remain calm as officials work to fully extinguish the fire and assess the extent of damage to the facility. Further details are expected as the authority releases an official statement. Detail later…

Police Begin Probe into Student Shooting Incident in Osun

February 23, 2026 by admin

The Osun State Police Command has commenced a review and ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged shooting and pursuit of a student and his family in Osogbo. This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, following a viral video and a press statement by the National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D. “The attention of Osun State Police Command has been drawn to viral video and a press statement issued by the Assistant General Secretary, National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D, dated February 22, 2026, regarding the alleged shooting and pursuit incident in Osogbo,” the statement read. The Command said it had commenced an immediate review of the incident reported to have occurred around Itaolokan Junction to Oke Ayepe area of Osogbo, adding that preliminary findings were being gathered. “The Police Command wish to inform the public that the Command has commenced an immediate review of the incident… Preliminary findings are being gathered, including operational records and eyewitness accounts,” the statement added. It further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and other senior officers, visited the victims at the hospital. “The victims are responding to treatment, and the Command has taken it upon itself to take care of the medical bills,” Ojelabi stated. According to the police, officers suspected to have been involved in the incident were under investigation, warning that any unauthorised or reckless use of firearms would not be tolerated. “Any unauthorised or reckless discharge of firearms, if established, will not be condoned. Officers found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary consequences,” the statement said. The Command urged members of the public with verifiable information or video evidence to come forward, assuring that justice would be pursued based on facts and evidence, while also calling for calm among stakeholders.

Police Confirm Abduction Of 12-Year-Old Secondary School Student In Ibadan

February 12, 2026 by admin

IBADAN – THE Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a 12-year-old female secondary school student in the Challenge area of Ibadan, describing the incident as a suspected kidnapping and assuring the public that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim. The student, a Junior Secondary School 2 pupil of Monarch Model College, was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Thursday, February 12, 2026, while being dropped off for school. Eyewitnesses said the kidnappers, who were masked and arrived in a vehicle without number plates, allegedly trailed the girl’s mother before striking at a junction leading to the school premises. The gunmen were said to be armed and fired shots into the air to scare residents, while also puncturing the tyre of the mother’s vehicle — a Toyota RAV4 with Lagos registration number KRD 350 GP. The student was reportedly dragged away despite attempting to resist, as the abductors escaped through the Challenge axis. The incident was promptly reported at the Orita Challenge Police Station, where officers visited the scene alongside the victim’s mother for preliminary assessment. Confirming the incident in an official police response, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olusola Olayinka Ayanlade, “An incident of suspected kidnapping was reported in the Challenge area of Ibadan in the early hours of today, Wednesday, 12th February 2026.” According to the Command, “Preliminary information indicates that at about 7:20 a.m., a 12-year-old female student of a private secondary school in the area was allegedly abducted by unknown armed men at a junction leading to the school premises as she was alighting from a vehicle that conveyed her to school.” The Police said detectives were immediately mobilised to the scene. “The incident was promptly reported to the Police, and detectives were immediately deployed to the scene for preliminary assessment and fact-finding. Eyewitnesses at the scene were identified and questioned, and their accounts are providing valuable leads to assist ongoing investigations,”the statement read. The Command further disclosed that the parents of the victim are working closely with the Police. “The parents of the victim have been contacted and are in close contact with the Police as efforts continue to ensure the safe rescue of the child,” it added. Reassuring the public, the Police said the Commissioner of Police has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident. “The Commissioner of Police has directed a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation, assuring that all possibilities and options are being explored to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring those responsible to justice,” the statement said. The Command appealed for calm and cooperation from residents. “Members of the public are urged to remain calm and to support the Police with any useful information, assuring that such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality,” it stated, adding that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.

Fire Guts 10 Shops in Ibadan

February 10, 2026 by admin

No fewer than 10 shops were completely destroyed by fire at the Iya Maryam Adebara Complex in the Ogunpa Market area of Ibadan on Monday night. The Chairman, Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr Moroof Akinwande, disclosed this in a statement made available on Tuesday in Ibadan. Akinwande said the agency’s personnel received a distress call about the fire incident via a telephone call from Baale Ogunpa, Alhaji Nurudeen Lawal, at exactly 8:11 pm on Monday. He said that firemen were promptly deployed to the scene and, upon arrival, found 10 shops out of several already engulfed in flames. “Our officers swiftly got into action and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops and nearby properties while the Federal Fire Service also joined hands with us to extinguish the fire,” he said. The chairman attributed the fire to a generator being fueled by one of the shop’s occupants. He also said no casualties were recorded and commended the police personnel from Iyaganku Police Headquarters for providing security.

2 Division Launches “Operation Igbo Danu” In Kwara, Destroys Terrorists’ Camps

January 30, 2026 by admin

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 22 Armoured Brigade, under the 2 Division, have recorded significant operational successes following the launch of Operation “Igbo Danu”, a sustained forest-clearing offensive targeting terrorist elements in Kwara State. The coordinated operations according to a signed press statement made available to journalists on Friday conducted between 23 and 29 January 2026, were executed with massive support from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) within the Joint Operations Area (JOA). The offensive was led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), Major General Chinedu Nnebife, alongside the Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume. According to military sources, troops carried out aggressive fighting patrols across several bandits’ enclaves, resulting in the neutralisation of a terrorist, while several others fled into surrounding forests with suspected gunshot wounds. The operation also led to the destruction of multiple hideouts and camps, effectively dislodging the criminals from their strongholds. In a related operation, troops successfully cleared Garin Dandi, a notorious bandits’ enclave in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, leading to the destruction of logistics bases and disruption of the bandits’ supply networks. The troops further advanced into remote camps previously inaccessible to security forces, where several abandoned camps and logistics enablers were destroyed, significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment capabilities. Despite the difficult and restrictive terrain, troops maintained an aggressive posture across the forested areas, denying the criminals freedom of movement. Blocking positions were established along escape routes, resulting in the arrest of suspected bandits. The operations also led to the rescue of several kidnap victims from different camps across the state. Observations from the operations revealed that the bandits receive support from collaborators within nearby communities, who provide intelligence on troop movements, enabling early withdrawal from targeted locations. The successes recorded, the Army said, underscore the resolve and operational effectiveness of 2 Division in degrading terrorist elements and restoring security in Kwara State. The GOC, Major General Nnebife, has urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely intelligence on bandits and their collaborators to support ongoing operations. He assured that Operation Igbo Danu remains ongoing, with troops determined to decisively dismantle all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State.

No Shots Fired at Anti-Demolition Protesters – Lagos CP

January 29, 2026 by admin

The Lagos State Police Command has denied claims that its officers shot at residents protesting the demolition of their homes, insisting no gun was fired during Wednesday’s demonstration. Protesters from communities including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding proper relocation plans, compensation, and justice for residents who reportedly lost their lives during past demolition exercises. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “A megacity cannot be built on the bones and blood of the poor” and “Justice for Owode-Onirin traders,” the protesters demanded compensation, relocation plans, and justice for past demolitions. PUNCH Online reports that tensions escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa when demonstrators were denied entry. According to the report, several people, including journalists and a nursing mother, were affected by tear gas fired to disperse the crowd. One protester sustained a leg injury. A photograph showing an injured protester being assisted to the hospital circulated widely on social media, sparking claims that the individual was shot. Responding to the reports, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, told Channels Television on Thursday, “No gun was fired. I was there. I was appealing to them to remain peaceful, but they continued to hurl abuses at me. As a police officer, I am trained to work under this kind of pressure, so I did not react.” He added that the police sought to resolve the situation peacefully. “We spoke with the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who promptly — despite being in recess — sent five honourable members to appeal to them. Still, it fell on deaf ears because their aim was to enter the House of Assembly and cause mayhem, which we will not allow.” He also dismissed reports of bullet wounds reportedly sustained by one of the protesters. He said the case was reported to the area commander, who inspected the injury and determined that it was not caused by a bullet. Jimoh said the injury could have occurred while protesters were fleeing from teargas. Teargas was used to disperse the crowd, and some injuries were reported. The police chief explained, “When teargas is fired, people run to leave the scene. It is during that process that some may sustain injuries. To our records, nobody reported a gunshot injury to us during the operation after they had been warned that force would be used if they refused to disperse.”

Heavy Gunfire Erupts Near Niger Capital’s Airport

January 29, 2026 by admin

A burst of heavy gunfire and explosions erupted early on Thursday near the international airport in Niger’s capital Niamey before halting within hours, residents told AFP. Videos filmed by residents of the area showed streaks of light in the sky with the sound of loud explosions, while other images showed flames several metres high and charred cars. The capital’s Diori Hamani International Airport houses an air force base and is located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the presidential palace. Niger, a country hit regularly by jihadist attacks, has been led for more than two years by Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of a junta that overthrew the country’s elected civilian president in 2023. The shooting began shortly after midnight, according to residents of a neighbourhood near the airport. Calm returned two hours later, they told AFP. It was not immediately clear what had caused the gunfire and whether there were any casualties. The sound of sirens from fire trucks heading towards the airport could also be heard in the early hours of the morning, according to local residents. An online activist who supports the military rule, Ibrahim Bana, posted a video on Facebook in which he called on people to turn out on the streets of the capital to “defend the country.” The country’s largest international airport is also the headquarters of a joint force created by Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to combat jihadist groups waging deadly violence in the region. Since taking over the country, Niger’s military leadership has forced out French and US forces who had been helping to combat the jihadists. Niger and its neighbours, also led by military juntas, have teamed up to create their own confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States, and have announced the creation of a 5,000-strong force for joint military operations. According to ACLED, an NGO that tracks conflict casualties globally, jihadist violence killed nearly 2,000 people in 2025 in Niger. A huge uranium shipment with an unknown buyer, which left the country’s north in late November, has also been stuck at the airport for weeks.

Police Arraign 11 Suspects Over the Murder of Arise TV Journalist, Security Guard

January 21, 2026 by admin

Eleven suspects linked to the murder of Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory court. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed the arraignment in a statement released on Wednesday, stating that the suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. Maduagwu, an anchor, reporter, and producer with Arise News, was killed alongside Danlami during a robbery attack at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, on September 29, 2025. The suspects arraigned include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (aka “Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman. The command said in a statement, “The suspects were arraigned on a nine-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.” The 29-year-old journalist died in the early hours of September 29, 2025, when armed robbers stormed the three-storey apartment complex around 3:30 am, moving from flat to flat and dispossessing residents of their belongings. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, speaking at the time, said, “Policemen moved to the scene and found her lying unconscious. She was immediately taken to Maitama General Hospital, where doctors tried to resuscitate her using CPR, but sadly, she could not make it.” Adewale had condemned the killing as “cruel and senseless,” stressing that such violence “has no place in a sane society.” The Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, had earlier revealed that preliminary investigations showed the syndicate procured its firearms from an arms dealer operating across the Nigeria–Niger border. Items recovered from the suspects include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights. The suspects also confessed to participating in other armed robbery operations at Katampe 1, a hotel in Apo, and another in Zuba, all within the FCT. Arise Television management had described Maduagwu as “delectable, intelligent, and bold,” noting that she joined the station in September 2024 after representing Nigeria at the Miss Tourism World pageant in Quanzhou, China, in 2023. The management noted that through her legal background and reporting skills, she advocated for out-of-school children and campaigned against sexual and gender-based violence. The matter has been adjourned to February 2026 for further proceedings. The command urged “members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or packages through the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, or CRU FCT: 08107314192.”