SP Daniel Ndukwe,

A joint team of security operatives in Enugu State has neutralised a kidnapping suspect and rescued an abducted victim during a coordinated operation in Udenu Local Government Area.

The operation, carried out by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command alongside the Nigerian Army, Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch Group and local vigilantes, followed a distress report received in the early hours of Wednesday, January 29, 2026.

The report indicated that a male victim had been abducted by armed men in Ezimo-Uno community.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, upon receiving the report, ordered the immediate deployment of security forces to the area to rescue the victim and apprehend the suspects.

According to the statement, the joint team tracked the kidnappers to the Agu-Shere and Okpakereke forest axis, where they encountered the suspects.

The kidnappers reportedly opened fire on the operatives, who responded with what the police described as “mastery and precision,” leading to the neutralisation of one of the suspects.

Other members of the gang escaped into the forest bordering Benue State, some with gunshot injuries.

The kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt.
Items recovered from the scene include one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition, one extra magazine, two daggers, military camouflage uniforms, mobile phones, assorted food items, cooking utensils, and a freshly slaughtered chicken.

SP Ndukwe disclosed that a manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to sustaining the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes across Enugu State.

He called on residents, especially health and medical service providers, to promptly report anyone seen with gunshot injuries to the police or the nearest security formation.

He also urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information, assuring them that such cooperation remains critical to maintaining peace and security in the state.

A 95-year-old woman has lost her life after a fire outbreak razed a two-storey residential building at Fabikez Street, Omagba Phase 2, Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The inferno, whose cause is yet to be determined, reportedly started in one of the apartments at about 5:15 pm on Friday and quickly spread to adjoining flats, trapping the elderly woman for several hours before help arrived.

It was gathered that the fire caused extensive damage estimated at several millions of naira, destroying personal belongings and household items before officials of the Anambra State Fire Service brought the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses said the incident triggered panic among tenants and residents of the area, who made desperate efforts to contain the blaze before the arrival of firefighters.

A resident of the compound, identified simply as Uche, described the incident as terrifying.

“There was thick smoke and fire everywhere. People were shouting and running in different directions as the fire spread rapidly,” he said.

“Sadly, an elderly woman who was trapped inside did not survive.”

The landlord of the affected building could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

Confirming the incident, the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, led by the state fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, said a distress call was received at about 5:08 pm, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters and a fire truck to the scene.

According to Chiketa, firefighters battled the flames for several hours and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. The operation ended at about 7:45 pm.

“Unfortunately, a 95-year-old woman was trapped during the incident and one casualty was recorded,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Anambra State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged residents to remain fire-conscious, observe safety precautions, and promptly report fire emergencies to enable swift response.

The incident comes barely days after another fire outbreak destroyed dozens of apartments and shops in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state, though no life was lost in that incident.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the removal of traditional rulers in the Amasiri clan of Afikpo Local Government Area and directed the immediate withdrawal of their staff of office following a violent attack that left four persons dead in Edda Local Government Area.

The governor also sacked the Commissioner for Tertiary Education from the area, Prof. Amari Omaka, and dissolved the entire political and traditional leadership structures of the Amasiri community.

The decisive actions followed a brutal attack on Okporojo in Oso Edda community, during which four persons were allegedly beheaded, with their heads taken away by assailants reportedly from the Amasiri clan.

Nwifuru announced the measures on Saturday during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo, where he met with residents, community leaders, security agencies and government officials.

Describing the incident as “most unfortunate,” the governor said such a barbaric act would never be tolerated in Ebonyi State, assuring that the perpetrators would be decisively dealt with.

He urged residents to remain calm and shun retaliation, warning that any reprisal attacks would only escalate the crisis. According to him, the government’s response would be firm but guided by the need to prevent further bloodshed.

The governor disclosed that the conflict had persisted for years despite several reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements between the affected communities, noting that such agreements were repeatedly violated.

He said his visit was meant to send “a strong signal” that the state government would no longer tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.

Turning to the role of the Amasiri community in the crisis, Nwifuru issued a stern warning, cautioning that violence would never produce a meaningful resolution and that the situation was approaching “a point of no return” if provocations continued.

Consequently, the governor announced the immediate dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members, the withdrawal of the traditional ruler’s certificate, and the removal of all village heads in the Amasiri autonomous community.

He further ordered the sack of all political appointees from the Amasiri community, including management committee members and commissioners serving in his administration.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in Edda Local Government Area, Nwifuru promised that the affected communities would begin to experience tangible improvements through government intervention by next year.

Expressing deep grief over the killings, the governor said: “I am particularly very saddened. I repent of this kind of development. I have never in my whole life expected this kind of development. It is quite unfortunate. But as a careful leader, you speak less when you are very angry, and at this moment I will speak less.

“I want to assure the people of Okporojo autonomous community that the government of Ebonyi State will definitely show the perpetrators what it means to challenge government authority. I promise you, the lives lost will never be in vain by the special grace of God.

“I am seeking the right words at this moment so that I do not escalate the crisis, but I plead with all of you to maintain peace. At the end of the day, those who started this violence will regret it. My visit here today will leave a very bold mark.

“By the end of today, you will see the outcome of this visit. And I promise you, as long as I remain your governor, this kind of rascality will never happen again.”

He also spoke on the role of the Afikpo Local Government leadership, saying: “The Chairman of Afikpo is here. He is known for his doggedness, peace-loving nature and respect for the rule of law. But if his subjects decide to take lives at will, it is a pity.”

Nwifuru further stated: “If you see a quiet person, do not push him to the wall. I have been pushed to the wall.

“This matter did not start today. We have held several meetings, traced boundaries and reached agreements. But it has now reached a critical point.”

“My message to the people of Amasiri is to rethink their actions. Violence will never lead them anywhere. I have also heard that Akpoha community blocked their road because they feared an attack. This shows how far things have gone.”

He concluded by declaring: “On this note, for now, the development union executives and all village leadership structures in Amasiri are hereby dissolved.

“The traditional ruler’s certificate is withdrawn. All government appointees from Amasiri, from management committee members to commissioners, are hereby sacked.”

“All village heads in Amasiri autonomous communities are removed. We will do more, and we will show everyone why we are government.”

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has upheld the death sentences imposed on five men convicted over the deadly 2018 Offa bank robbery, dismissing their appeals against the judgement of the Kwara State High Court.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision delivered on Friday by Justices Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, Gabriel Kolawole and Abdul Dogo, affirmed the trial court’s verdict sentencing the convicts to death by hanging.

The five convicts; Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Abraham were found guilty of armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms in connection with coordinated attacks on five commercial banks in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State in April 2018.

Confirming the judgement in a statement on Saturday, the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Akande, said the appellate court found no justification to interfere with the decision of the trial court.

“The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, comprising Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi JCA, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole JCA, and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo JCA, on Friday affirmed the judgement of Hon. Justice H. A. Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court, which sentenced the appellants, Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, and Adeola Abraham, to death by hanging for their involvement in the Offa bank robbery,” Akande stated.

“The appellants failed to establish any miscarriage of justice. The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and upheld the convictions.

“The court dismissed all their grounds of appeal and upheld their convictions. They have been taken back to prison,” he added.

DAILY GAZETTE recall that Justice Haleemah Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court handed down the death sentences after a six-year trial that attracted nationwide attention.

In her four-hour judgement, the trial judge held that the convicts “acted contrary to the law and allowed their connections with those in power at the time to lead them astray.”

In addition to the death penalty, the High Court also sentenced the convicts to three years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms.

Reacting to the appellate court’s ruling, lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), described the judgement as “thorough and well-considered,” noting that it reaffirmed the strength of the prosecution’s case despite delays that prolonged the trial.

On the defence side, counsel to one of the convicts, Abdullah Jimba, disclosed that preparations were already underway to approach the Supreme Court.

The convictions stemmed from the April 2018 coordinated bank robbery in Offa, during which five commercial banks were attacked and at least 32 people, including nine police officers, were killed, making it one of the deadliest bank robbery incidents in Nigeria’s history.

A sixth suspect, Michael Adikwu, a retired police officer, died in custody before the commencement of the trial.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out an application filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to another custodial centre.

Kanu, who is currently serving a sentence following his conviction on seven terrorism-related charges on November 20, 2025, had approached the court through an ex parte motion asking to be moved to a prison facility within the jurisdiction of the court.

In the alternative, he requested a transfer to nearby custodial centres such as Suleja or Keffi to enable him effectively pursue his appeal.

However, the court had earlier ruled that the application could not be entertained as an ex parte motion and directed that it be converted to a motion on notice, with the federal government and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) properly served.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Kanu’s counsel from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, informed the court of his decision to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences with the applicant and his relatives.

Asan told the court that Kanu’s family failed to cooperate in processing the application and accused the IPOB leader of attempting to dictate how the case should be conducted in court.

According to him, Kanu insisted on controlling what counsel would say during proceedings, a situation he said was incompatible with his duties as an officer of the court.

Following consultations with his superiors, Asan formally applied to withdraw his appearance, a request that was granted by the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, who commended the lawyer for upholding the dignity of the court.

Ruling on the application, Justice Omotosho noted that there was no proof that the respondents had been served with the motion on notice as earlier directed by the court.

He subsequently struck out the application for lack of competence, bringing the proceedings on the prison transfer request to an end.

A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the release of Mr Ja’o Sabo, who spent more than 10 years in detention without being tried, awarding him N10 million in compensation and mandating a public apology from the authorities.

Sabo was arrested in 2014 on allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery but remained in custody for over a decade without his case being brought before a court.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday at the High Court in Birnin Kudu, Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu held that the prolonged detention constituted a grave breach of Sabo’s fundamental rights.

“The respondents are hereby ordered to discharge the applicant, Mr Ja’o Sabo, also known as Ya’u, from detention with immediate effect,” the judge ruled.

The court further directed the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, the state government, and the Commissioner of Police to jointly pay N10 million as damages for the unlawful detention.

Justice Birnin-Kudu also ordered that a public apology be issued to Sabo and broadcast on major radio stations across Jigawa State.

According to the court, Sabo’s continued incarceration without trial violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly Sections 35, 36, 41, and 46, which guarantee personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement.

The judge also cited relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, noting that Nigeria is bound by its obligations under the charter.

Reacting to the judgment, Sabo’s lawyer, Baffa Al’asan, described the ruling as a strong reminder of the judiciary’s duty to protect citizens from abuse of power and to uphold constitutional rights.