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Crime

Crime rate heightens as Lagos Neighbourhood Watch goes ‘AWOL’

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Despite establishment of Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and massive investment in security by Lagos State Government, to curb rising crimes in the metropolis, rampant criminality in the city is giving residents great concerns.

Hardly a day passes without tales of robbery attacks on residents.

They are robbed at Mushin, Cele and Oke Afa, near Ajao Estate, Apakun and Island.

Residents in Abaranje, Itire and Lawanson, have sorrowful tales of how they are robbed, some times, at gun-point by miscreants.

Some of the attacks happened in broad daylight and even few distances from police checkpoints or stations.

A victim, Njideka Samuel, said her phones and bags were snatched by hoodlums at Canoe last week.
Samuel said she was returning from work about 7:00p.m., the urchins came out from nowhere, and threatened to shatter her car window if she didn’t wind down.

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Out of fear, she obliged and they took her phone and bag in the full glare of other motorists, and dashed away.

Another victim, Collins Udoh, who was robbed at Cele Express, said he was attempting to descend the bridge when a group of boys swooped on him and collected his laptop and wallet.

“ I sighted Vehicle Inspection Officials, checking vehicle documents close to the scene.

“ It was a traumatic experience with the enormous investments in security by the Lagos State Government,” he added.

Udoh questioned the whereabouts of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), a uniformed security agency established in 2016, to assist the Lagos State Police Command, and other security agencies, maintain law and order.

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He noted that in 2019, officials of LNSC were present in neighbourhoods with their motorcycles or bicycles but they are not seen anymore.

Also, a resident in Ilupeju, Folasade Okunfolami, said: “I saw some of the LNSC officers around my area a week ago inspecting abandoned vehicles but people who go to work early face a lot in the hands of miscreants and I wish they can do more.

“Robbers can now rob for four hours and go freely, security agencies will not show up but only to harass innocent persons, instead of protecting people.”

But the General Manager of LNSC, Prince Oyekan Falade, said the officials are still working, stressing that they decided to go undercover and stop putting on uniforms.

According to him, it was a strategy to help identify criminals on the streets.

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Falade said: “Our men still patrol on bikes, but some of the bicycles are spoilt and we still go out of our way to take care of vehicles given to us in 2010. We’ve spoken with the governor and we have been assured that we will get more vehicles. As for the bicycles, I have the number given to each local government so, I will get to the bottom of everything to know what happened to them and hold whoever is responsible,” suggesting the agency had not done an inventory of its assets for some time.

Explaining how LNSC operates, he said: “When it comes to intelligence gathering, which is an undercover operation, officials are not in uniform like they used to be. If you look at the recent report of the state governor, he said there is no hiding place for criminals. It is because the intelligence gathering arms of the corps collated a 250 pages of dark spots. If the governor could say that he has a document to work with, then, Lagosians are in the best position to judge if we are working or not .

“We didn’t stop at giving the report to the governor, we went further to give reports to the commissioner of police, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the Ministry of Justice, and other MDAs involved in security.”

On why LNSC operatives have disappeared from some locations, he explained that some were absorbed by the Police.

“Our numbers are thinning down; the governor gave 4,250 of our men to the police as constabulary and we are still paying their salaries, so, on what basis will anyone say, Neighbourhood Watch is not working? We need gadgets, technology to combat crimes.”

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Crime

Five Arrested By Police For Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts

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Five men have been arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, after police allegedly found them wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”

The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.

According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.

Police charged the five men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.

Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive trial has been scheduled for October 26.

The case has drawn attention because the alleged conduct involved wearing clothing displaying a political message.

Amnesty International criticised the prosecution, describing the arrests as arbitrary and arguing that peaceful political expression is protected by fundamental human rights. The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and urged authorities to discontinue the case.

Amnesty International also expressed concern that the prosecution could have implications for political expression and opposition activities in Borno State.

The case has generated reactions on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the display of political messages on clothing should constitute a criminal offence.

There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in Borno State may have influenced the arrests. The allegation has not been independently verified.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful as of the time of filing.

The defendants remain subject to the court process, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.

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Crime

Hisbah Arrests Eight Over Alleged Homosexual Acts in Jigawa

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The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has arrested eight people in Kazaure Local Government Area over alleged homosexual acts, according to the board.

The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Hadejia said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a 22-year-old man, who alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.

According to the statement, the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged encounters. He reportedly appealed to the Hisbah authorities for justice, describing the alleged conduct as deceptive and harmful to his life.

Following the complaint, Hadejia said Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant.

“So far, eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.

He added that the eight arrested individuals reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations to having engaged in sexual acts with the complainant.

Hadejia said the board had gathered information and evidence that would be presented before a court. He added that the investigation remained ongoing and that the suspects would be charged upon its completion.

The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr. Hussain Baban, reportedly urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and the people with whom they associate.

He also called on members of the public to be mindful of the consequences of their actions and to uphold religious and moral values.

The board further expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.

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Crime

Newlyweds Kidnapped Shortly After Engagement Ceremony

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A newly married couple, Funmilayo Bamidele and her husband, Reverend Abiodun David, have been abducted along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, a border route linking Kwara and Kogi states.

The couple were reportedly returning from their engagement ceremony in Eruku on Saturday evening when armed men intercepted their vehicle and abducted them alongside four other passengers.

According to sources, the vehicle was initially expected to take the Isanlu Road. However, the driver reportedly chose an alternative route to drop off the best man and other members of the group at Iyamoye in Kogi State.

The vehicle was subsequently intercepted by armed men along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, leading to the abduction of all the occupants.

A photograph of the newly abducted couple has since emerged following the incident, while details about the whereabouts of the other passengers remain unclear.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said soldiers had been deployed to search the surrounding bushes and rescue the victims while also pursuing the suspected kidnappers.

Ojo disclosed that the vehicle used by the victims was later found abandoned at a former police station in Ayetoro, Ekiti State.

He added that police operatives from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states were working jointly on the rescue operation because the incident occurred around the border communities of the three states.

Authorities have yet to disclose further details on the identities of the suspected abductors or whether any contact has been established with the victims.

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Crime

Gunmen Kill Five Miners in Plateau State

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At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen reportedly ambushed them at a mining site in Plateau State.

The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

According to community sources, the miners were carrying out their legitimate activities when they came under attack. The incident has plunged the community into mourning and renewed concerns over the safety of residents in the area.

Confirming the attack, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said five people lost their lives while two others sustained injuries.

“It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect communities and prevent similar incidents.

A community member, Simon Mundat, also described the attack as devastating and appealed to the authorities to strengthen security in the area.

“We are deeply saddened by this attack. We appeal to authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear,” he said.

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Crime

EFCC Returns ₦84m to Edo Businessman

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The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned ₦84 million to an Edo State businessman, Ekhahon Abraham, following an investigation into an alleged land fraud.

The EFCC said the money was recovered from a woman identified as Anita Eborome, who allegedly collected the funds from Abraham under the pretence of selling him a parcel of land measuring 115ft by 135ft in a community in Edo State.

According to the commission, Abraham paid for the property and subsequently erected a perimeter fence on the land. However, the fence was later demolished by a man who claimed to be the rightful owner of the property.

Abraham reportedly approached Eborome to request a refund but said she became evasive. He subsequently petitioned the EFCC, which commenced an investigation.

The commission said its investigation established that Abraham had transferred the ₦84 million to Eborome, who allegedly diverted the money for her personal use.

The acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi, presented a draft for the recovered ₦84 million to Abraham.

Hanafi reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to carrying out its duties professionally and ensuring that individuals involved in fraudulent activities do not benefit from the proceeds of their alleged wrongdoing.

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