The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly stabbing his younger brother to death while he slept in Ogwashi-Uku, even as operatives dismantled a motorcycle-snatching syndicate operating within Agbor and surrounding communities.

The Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, confirmed the development on Sunday, stating that the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of January 8, 2025, along Poly Road near Adaigbo Filling Station, Ogwashi-Uku.

Edafe said the police received a distress call at about 7:31 am., reporting that a young man had been stabbed to death around 3:20 a.m. while asleep.

According to him, the Divisional Police Officer of the Ogwashi-Uku Division, CSP Israel Okoyomon, immediately deployed detectives to the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was allegedly attacked by his elder brother, identified as Aliyu Haman, also aged 20.

The suspect was promptly arrested, while the weapon allegedly used in committing the crime was recovered.

The body of the deceased was evacuated and deposited at the Odua Mortuary in Ogwashi-Uku for autopsy, as investigations continue to determine the motive behind the killing.

The incident has shocked residents of the area and renewed concerns over domestic violence and youth-related crimes in the state.

In a related development, the Police Command announced the arrest of two suspected armed robbers involved in motorcycle snatching in Agbor as part of sustained intelligence-led operations against violent crime.

Edafe said the arrests followed discreet investigations into a reported armed robbery incident that occurred on December 24, 2025.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives led by the DPO of Agbor Division, CSP Michael Obekpa, carried out a targeted operation on January 4, 2026, at about 10:45 pm.

Two suspects, identified as Owakwe Chuks, 37, and Bright Moses, 32, were arrested during the operation.

They are alleged to be members of a gang that specialised in snatching motorcycles from unsuspecting members of the public within Agbor and neighbouring communities.

Items recovered from the suspects include a hammer allegedly used to assault victims, a short knife, a brown face mask, a face cap, and a mobile phone.

Reacting to the developments, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, reiterated that the protection of lives and property remains the Command’s top priority.

He assured residents that the police would continue to tackle criminal activities through intelligence-driven operations, sustained patrols, and visible policing.

The Police Command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support law enforcement agencies by providing timely and credible information as investigations into the cases continue.

The Katsina State Government has defended its decision to initiate the release of 70 persons suspected to be involved in banditry-related offences, describing the move as part of efforts to sustain an ongoing peace agreement with repentant bandits across the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Muazu, disclosed this during an interview with DCL Hausa, saying the action was aimed at consolidating peace in communities affected by insecurity.

According to Muazu, the peace accord entered into by at least 15 local government areas has already yielded significant results, including the release of about 1,000 abducted persons by repentant bandits.

He likened the release of the suspects to prisoner exchanges commonly witnessed during and after armed conflicts, noting that such arrangements are not new in peace-building processes.

The explanation follows public outrage triggered by a leaked official letter dated January 2, 2026, which indicated that the state government had taken steps to secure the release of the suspects from custody.

The letter, classified as “Secret” and issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice, was addressed to the Chief Judge of the state.

It requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the detained suspects.

Signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, Esq, the letter revealed that a list of 48 suspects facing various banditry-related charges had been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

The ministry explained that the proposed release was a condition precedent for the continuation of the peace agreement reached between frontline local governments and bandit groups.

It further disclosed that while some of the suspects had already been arraigned before the Federal High Court, the majority were still awaiting trial at various Magistrate Courts across the state.

In addition, a separate list of 22 inmates standing trial before different High Courts was reportedly submitted for possible release under the same peace arrangement.

The Ministry of Justice urged the Chief Judge to take necessary action, stating that the request fell within the statutory powers of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.

However, the move has generated widespread criticism, with many Nigerians warning that releasing suspects accused of serious crimes such as banditry could undermine the rule of law, deny victims justice, and embolden criminal groups.

Responding to the concerns, Muazu said the peace deal had already led to the release of abductees across several local government areas, including Safana, Kurfi, Sabuwa, Faskari, Danmusa, Malumfashi, Musawa, Matazu, Dutsinma, Jibia, and Bakori.

He insisted that prisoner exchange remains a recognised global practice, citing Nigeria’s civil war and past negotiations involving Boko Haram as examples where detained fighters were released as part of peace agreements.

Muazu maintained that the actions of the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary did not violate any existing laws, adding that anyone dissatisfied with the process was free to seek redress through the courts.

Bandits have killed at least four people in Damala village, located in the Woko district of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, January 10, just a week after gunmen killed 42 residents across several communities in Borgu and neighbouring Agwara LGAs.

The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday.

Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Wasiu Abiodun, said the attackers stormed the village, rustled an unspecified number of cattle, killed four residents, and set several shops ablaze before fleeing the scene.

Security forces promptly responded to the raid, Abiodun added, with a clearance operation currently ongoing.

Monitoring has been intensified in the area to prevent further attacks and protect residents.

The police assured the public that efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and restore normalcy remain a top priority.

Bandits have frequently targeted villages in the North-Central and North-West regions, often carrying out kidnappings for ransom and looting communities.

Niger State has been among the hardest hit, alongside Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.

In November, armed gangs abducted over 250 students and staff from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Authorities later released the victims in two batches, without confirming if a ransom was paid.

The recent attack in Damala occurred less than 20 kilometres from Papiri village, where the school abduction took place.

Local church authorities reported a higher death toll from Saturday’s raid, claiming more than 40 fatalities.

“Reports indicate the bandits operated for hours with no security presence,” the Catholic Church in Kontagora stated on Facebook.

Nigeria faces multiple security challenges, ranging from jihadist insurgency and banditry to farmer-herder conflicts and separatist violence.

Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the Damala attack

“Those killed and those abducted were traders, farmers, and schoolchildren from both Muslim and Christian backgrounds.”

Recent violent incidents include a suspected suicide bombing on Christmas Eve in Borno State, which killed at least five people at a mosque.

The United States has criticised Nigeria for its handling of security, claiming that some attacks target Christians, though Nigerian authorities reject such characterisations.

Washington carried out airstrikes on militants linked to the Islamic State group on Christmas Day, which Nigeria later approved.

In response to growing insecurity, President Bola Tinubu pledged a national security revamp and increased defence spending in the 2026 budget.

In early December, he replaced the defence minister, appointing a former top military commander to lead the ministry.