Crime
BREAKING: Massacre as herdsmem attack Oyo Community Ibarapa
Blood flowed freely in Igangan, one of the seven principal towns of Ibarapa land in Oyo State, on Saturday night as gunmen reportedly dispatched many persons to their early graves in the town.
The bandits, according to sources, were about 50 and they invaded the town around 11 pm on Saturday on more than 20 motorcycles.
During the invasion, the palace of the paramount ruler of the town, the Asigangan of Igangan, Oba Lasisi Adeoye, as well as a popular petroleum station and some cars were reportedly razed.
The exact number of people killed during the attack could not be immediately ascertained at the time of filing this report. Some people said 20 persons lost their lives, while another set said 10 persons were killed.
The Secretary of Farmers Union in Igangan, Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, at least 10 lives were lost during the invasion, adding that the invaders shot at least five residents dead, while security agents also neutralised five among the attackers.
According to him, a petrol station, cars and a truck were burnt down by the attackers.
He said: ”The Fulani terrorists wage war on Igangan from around 12 midnight today, Sunday. They burnt much property, including cars, a truck and a petrol filling station. We will know the exact number of people killed, those injured and the number of property they destroyed later.”
The convener of Igangan Development Advocate, Oladiran Oladokun, said Igangan suffered human losses as the town came under heavy gunfire by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
“On numerous occasions, Ibrahim, Seriki Saliu’s son kept pledging that Igangan would be razed down to ashes. He had the audacity to proclaim this on social media as well as on radio shows, perhaps his words were taken as mere groans, but local vigilantes at Igangan kept receiving the news of impending danger.
“The state, I believe thought it’s just another hype, for we notified the state of our fears on the 14th of April when covert information reached us of a meeting of the Fulani towards fulfilling their oath of allegiance towards reprisals.
“Today we lick our wounds. We suffered heavy losses and casualties. The Fulani fulfilled their pledge. I cannot say the same for those who are supposed to see to our security. In fact, Igangan did all within her limit to see to her own security. Folks contributed to power local hunters. And the local hunters, vigilantes and some OPC were the only shreds of a tiny armour that shielded us as we came under heavy gunfire from 11 pm of 5th June to 3 am of 6th June. And no state security apparatus got to us during the storm.
“If we had not made a little cover. Perhaps, as Ibrahim, son of Seriki pledged, Igangan would have become a dunghill of ashes, or perhaps, this is just their beginning.”
A former caretaker chairman of Ibarapa North, where Igangan is located, Tunji Omolewu, stated: ”People had barely retired to bed when they said they sighted motorcycles entering the town. Before our people could know what was going on, they had started killing people. I got the call around 11 pm. We were on our way from Ekiti where we had gone to do the Yoruba nation rally. I got to Ibadan around 12 am and when the calls did not stop coming, I decided to come home. I have counted more than 20 dead bodies. The palace of our monarch was torched. Adolak filling station too was burnt. We are assembled here.”
A former caretaker chairman of neighbouring Ibarapa Central, Yemi Akinlabi, also spoke from the United States: ”It is so sad. Only a few days ago, our people got an intelligence report and forwarded it to the appropriate quarters for actions but here we are today. Are we going to continue to live in fear in our land? I have spoken to General Togun about last night’s incident and we would want him and his team to do something. Our people must not be allowed to resort to self-help.”
The Chairman of Amotekun Corps in the state, Gen Ajibola Togun (retd), former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) and former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service, had on Wednesday, June 2, this year, raised the alarm that foreign Fulani have saturated the entire South West and ready to strike the geo-political zone very soon.
He raised the alarm during a lecture on the topic: Security Challenges: ‘The Significance of Regional Security Dimensions,’ organised by the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS) Students’ Association, University of Ibadan.
But he enjoined all residents of the South West to prepare for self-defence because the invaders have concluded all arrangements to strike on the claims that God has given the land of Nigeria, especially the South West to them as an inheritance.
“The foreign Fulani herdsmen have invaded South West. There is nowhere in the South West that they are not. They are there. They are the okada riders. They are the ones using wheelbarrows to sell carrots and other things. I said they are foot soldiers. These okada people, many of them, have weapons under the seats of the motorcycles.
“They said they have come in to take the inheritance given to them by Allah, and that is Nigerian land, particularly South West. So, they will still strike. I am not just screaming aloud. So, everybody has to be ready. Everyone should go and learn how to fight. If it is a cutlass, buy it, learn how to use it, and keep in your house for self-defence. If it is a knife, buy it to defend yourself. You have to defend yourself. Before they kill you, defend yourself. I know it,” Togun had said.
But the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached on his mobile phone on Sunday morning via calls and text message, to confirm the number of casualties and property that we’re destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin, has condemned the fresh attack on Igangan, by bandits and suspected criminal herders overnight.
His words: “Early this morning, I received distressed calls of a fresh attack on our people in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government by bandits and suspected criminal herders in which about five residents were allegedly killed, some injured and property burnt.
“I condemned this unfortunate attack and sympathise with the families who lost their loved ones and property. I also appreciate the security personnel, vigilantes, Amotekun corps, our local hunters and brave men that rose in the middle of the night to combat the bandits and save the lives of our people.
“These murderers are not tired and it is our collective responsibility to protect our lives, women, children and our communities from these evildoers.
“While assuring my continuous support to every adoptable security measures and strategies, I’m also calling on all security agencies- the Nigerian Police, Operation Burst, Amotekun Corps, vigilante groups, local hunters, community leaders within and around Ibarapaland for an urgent security meeting.
“If this insecurity persists, it means we have not done enough. All of us. It is not time to sleep…let us all stay awake.”
Curled from The Sun
A 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” was on Thursday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of hacking into the server of Suntrust Bank Plc and fraudulently diverting more than N800 million into multiple bank accounts.
Eze was arraigned before Justice Friday Ogazi by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The prosecution counsel, M. Bajela, told the court that the defendant, alongside others still at large, allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully interfere with the bank’s computer system, resulting in the diversion of over N800 million belonging to Suntrust Bank.
The DSS further alleged that Eze concealed and transferred proceeds linked to the cyberattacks on financial institutions and unlawfully gained access to critical national financial information infrastructure.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Sections 5, 6(1) and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20 and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the plea, Bajela urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.
Defence counsel, E. Afrogha, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed, noting that Eze had been in DSS custody for more than a month.
The prosecutor, however, said he had not yet been served with the bail application and added that the prosecution was ready to proceed with its witnesses.
After hearing both parties, Justice Ogazi adjourned the case until August 24 for the hearing of the bail application. The judge also ordered that Eze be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of his bail request.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Ugochukwu Eze, alias ‘Amazon’, sometime between 2023 and 2026 in Lagos and other places within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully hindered the function of Suntrust Bank Plc’s computer system and, in the process, fraudulently diverted over N800 million belonging to the bank.”
The prosecution said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
By Chinedu Sabastine
ENUGU — The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has called on traditional rulers, Presidents-General and other community leaders to end violence and human rights abuses against persons accused of witchcraft in their communities.
The Convener of AfAW, Dr. Leo Igwe, made the call on Thursday in Enugu during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 World Day Against Witch Hunts, scheduled for August 10.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Chiefs and Ending Witch Hunts in Communities,” Igwe said the campaign seeks to highlight the critical role of traditional rulers and community leaders in combating witchcraft-related violence.
He alleged that some chiefs and community leaders fuel witch hunts by encouraging or condoning assaults, public humiliation, banishment and other forms of abuse against people labelled as witches.
Igwe urged traditional institutions to desist from actions that promote witchcraft accusations, stressing that many victims are elderly people living with dementia or adherents of traditional religions who are wrongly branded as witches.
He noted that countries such as Scotland have abolished laws and practices that encouraged the persecution of alleged witches, urging Nigerian communities, particularly in the South-East, to embrace similar human rights standards.
“AfAW urges chiefs to take urgent measures to end abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks in their communities. This call aligns with the 2021 United Nations resolution urging states to combat human rights violations committed in the name of witchcraft beliefs or ritual practices,” he said.
According to Igwe, the month of August is dedicated to raising awareness of abuses arising from witchcraft accusations and promoting measures to end them.
He said AfAW, established in 2020, is spearheading a decade-long campaign running from 2020 to 2030 to eradicate witch hunts across Africa.
Igwe maintained that traditional rulers play a pivotal role in either sustaining or ending witch persecution.
“In many communities, chiefs preside over witch trials, banishments and other forms of persecution. Some condone jungle justice and regard witch hunting as part of tradition rather than a violation of human rights,” he alleged.
He called on traditional rulers to become advocates against witch persecution, insisting that witch hunting is unconstitutional and cannot be justified under the guise of culture or tradition.
“All chiefs should become agents of positive and progressive change by helping to eradicate witch persecution and other abuses linked to witchcraft accusations in communities across Nigeria and Africa,” he added.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a female native doctor in connection with the mysterious death of three children in Ideani Community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said efforts to save the children were unsuccessful, except for one child who survived and is currently receiving treatment. He noted that investigators are hopeful the survivor’s account will provide crucial information to aid the ongoing investigation.
According to Ikenga, the Command received a report on August 5, 2026, about four unconscious children found at a residential premises in Umuoduba Village, Ideani.
“The Anambra State Police Command, today, 5th August 2026, expressed profound sadness over the discovery of four unconscious children at a residential premises in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State,” he said.
He explained that a rescue team led by police operatives attached to the Ogidi Police Station immediately rushed the victims to a hospital for emergency medical treatment.
“Regrettably, three of the children were certified dead by medical doctors, while the fourth victim is currently receiving treatment in a critical condition,” Ikenga stated.
He disclosed that a female suspect is currently in police custody in connection with the incident, adding that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the case for a thorough, professional, intelligence-driven, and evidence-based investigation.
The police spokesperson further expressed optimism that, subject to the survivor’s recovery and medical clearance, the child’s testimony would help unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident and support further investigative efforts. He added that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
While extending condolences to the bereaved families and sympathizing with the people of Ideani Community, the Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and allow investigators to conclude their work.
The Nigerian Army has arrested two serving soldiers over their alleged involvement in an unauthorised deployment during the wedding ceremony of Nigerian content creator Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and fellow TikTok personality Jarvis.
The arrests followed intelligence indicating that the soldiers allegedly participated in an illegal deployment at the celebrity wedding held in Lekki, Lagos State, over the weekend.
The personnel were apprehended on Tuesday morning as the Army commenced investigations into the incident.
The arrested soldiers were identified as 23NA/85/10007 Private Onasanya Ifeoluwa of the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) and 23NA/85/7885 Private Ukpai Onyinyechi, also attached to the 81DMSH in Obalende, Lagos.
A report on the incident stated: “Following credible intelligence on the involvement of Nigerian Army personnel in illegal deployment during a popular social influencer’s wedding known as Peller at Lekki, Lagos, the Group arrested 23NA/85/10007 PTE Onasanya Ifeoluwa of 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) and 23NA/85/7885 PTE Ukpai Onyinyechi of 81DMSH at Obalende this morning.”
It added that a preliminary investigation was ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement and identify other personnel connected with the incident.
“Further details will be forwarded as the investigation unfolds,” the report stated.
The arrests came after videos from the high-profile wedding circulated widely on social media, showing uniformed military personnel providing security around some of the celebrity guests.
One of the videos that attracted significant public attention allegedly showed a Nigerian soldier acting as a bouncer for TikTok personality Ivanna, escorting her through the crowded venue.
The footage sparked criticism online, with many Nigerians questioning the presence and alleged deployment of military personnel at a private social event involving influencers and celebrities.
The wedding, held in Lekki over the weekend, attracted prominent entertainers, social media influencers and content creators, with videos from the ceremony dominating social media platforms.
The controversy emerged after clips surfaced showing men in military uniforms controlling access to parts of the venue and escorting some attendees.
The Nigerian Army has repeatedly maintained that serving personnel are prohibited from undertaking unauthorised private security duties or participating in deployments without official approval.
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have rescued four kidnapped victims in two separate intelligence-driven joint operations conducted within Enugu State and across the border with Benue State.
The operations also led to the recovery of 15 rounds of live ammunition and other exhibits, while the decomposing body of another kidnap victim, who was allegedly shot by his abductors while in captivity, was recovered.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In the first operation, operatives of the Udenu Police Division, Anti-Kidnapping Section of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and Distress Response Squad (DRS), in collaboration with operatives of the Orukam Police Division of the Benue State Command, Benue State Civil Protection Guards, Nigerian Army, Enugu State Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch members and Ezimo Vigilante Group, rescued two brothers who were abducted on August 3, 2026, at Ezimo-Ulo in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The operation, which also leveraged the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu’s Handshake Patrol initiative, was carried out across the Enugu-Benue border.
The victims were rescued unhurt at about 1:40 p.m. on August 4, 2026, at Ikele, Owukpa Community, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, following an intense gun duel that forced the kidnappers to flee with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Recovered from the kidnappers’ hideout were 15 rounds of live ammunition, the victims’ Android phones and car keys, other mobile phones and accessories, a bottle containing suspected hard drugs and drug paraphernalia, clothing items and ₦11,800.
The rescued victims were subsequently debriefed and reunited with their family.
In the second operation, operatives of the Command’s Umabor Police Division, Anti-Kidnapping Section of the VCRU, Enugu State Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch members rescued two victims abducted on July 31, 2026, at Amukpa Village, Ogbozara Community, Nsukka Local Government Area.
The Police, however, said another victim was found dead from gunshot injuries sustained while in captivity, with his decomposing body recovered from the forest.
The two rescued victims were debriefed and reunited with their families.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the operatives and other supporting security teams for their courage, professionalism and effective collaboration.
Giwa directed the operatives to sustain the ongoing manhunt for the fleeing suspects and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating violent crime and protecting residents across the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing the Police with credible and actionable information that could assist ongoing security operations.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on August 4, 2026.
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