Police to review vigilante group activities, as 3 arrested in Damaturu

By: Our Reporter

The Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, CP Garba Ahmed, has called for a review of the registration and activities of the vigilante outfits in the state, acknowledging their important role in complementing security agencies in the fight against crime and criminality. 

He, however, said the call for a review of their activities was made following the arrests of three (3) members of a local security outfit (vigilante) for criminal conspiracy, house trespass, burglary, receiving, and trading in stolen properties in Damaturu.

A statement from DSP Fungus Abdul Karim said this development is a result of a series of complaints about the untoward actions of some of those outfit members, as another incident was recorded. 

“On June 27, 2024, the Police Response Unit (Haba Maza) responded to a distress call from a shop owner in Damaturu who had employed vigilante members for guard duties, and the vigilante members carted away the shop’s property worth a large sum of money without explanation. 

“Investigation led to the arrest of Ibrahim Mohammed, 24, and Hassan Umar, 25, who were found in possession of some stolen materials. The suspects implicated another vigilante member in the crime, who was immediately arrested. 

“The public is advised to be vigilant in recruiting personal security guards and reporting criminal elements posing as vigilante members.” The statement said:. 

The statement further stated that the command is developing a strategic plan for proper documentation and supervision of Divisional Police Offices regarding vigilante activities in their jurisdiction.

“In this vein, the Commissioner of Police urges the public to continue supporting their Divisional Police Stations, report unscrupulous security personnel activities to the state headquarters through the Complaints Response Unit (CRU) at 07068858500, or address your complaint’s letter to the Commissioner of Police through the PPRO.” The statement was added. 

Police to review vigilante group activities, as 3 arrested in Damaturu

6 killed several other injured in a suicide attack

By: Zagazola Makama

A suicide bomber attacked a social gathering at T Junctionof Marrarraban Gwoza in Borno State , killing 7 people and injuring seceral others.

The bomber, who was later identified as a young lady in her early twenties, detonated her explosive device in the middle of the gathering, causing chaos and destruction.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the victims, who were all civilians, were returning from a wedding celebration when the attack occurred near a busy motorpark.

Emergency services rushed to the scene to rescue those injured and transport them to the hospitals in Gwoza.

Medical personnel in the hospital said at least six people were killed while 15 others injured in the attack.

Another bomber who disguised as a mourner, has detonated another explosive device in Gwoza LGA as the people were preparing for the funeral of the victims killed in an attack few hours ago.

The victims, who were all civilians, were gathered to pay their respects to the deceased when the attack occurred.

Atleast one additional person died while 16 others were injured and rushed to the hospital.

Yusuf Lawal, Borno Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile a curfew has been announced in Gwoza by the military to enable them senitise the town from any further threat.

6 killed several other injured in a suicide attack

NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command has arrested four suspected vandals in Dabi Bako area of the Kwali Area Council, Abuja.

The arrest was made during a routine patrol of the anti vandal team of the Command where one of the suspects was caught vandalizing armoured cables at the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), small Sheda, Kwali, kwali Area council, Abuja.

Upon interrogation, the suspect made useful confessions that led to the arrest of three (3) other accomplices and the recovery of more stolen armoured cables already on its way to the market.

The suspects are:
Amodu Lawal, 20 years, male, Katsina
Zaki Idris, 32 years, male, Kano
Suleiman Yunusa, 25 years, male, Kano
Isa Abdulrazak, 38 years, male, Kano

Further investigation is ongoing, thereafter the suspects would be prosecuted according to the provisions of the NSCDC ACT which empowers the Corps to arrests, detain and prosecute in the name of the Attorney General of the Federation (NSCDC Act Section 3:1f).

In the same vein, the men of the Anti- Vandal unit of the Command while on patrol in Abaji Area Council discovered an Ak47 rifle without its magazine attached in a farmland.

According to the farm owner who alerted the men on patrol, the riffle was discovered by him in his maize farm upon his arrival early in the morning at about 7am to work on his farm.

The said rifle have been recovered and taken to the Command’s headquarters for safe keeping and further investigation to unravel the ownership and source of the rifle.

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu commended the command’s anti vandal team for their gallantry and commitment to the protection of critical infrastructure as well as safety of the FCT residents in general.

He charged them not to rest on their oars but to redouble their efforts towards ensuring total eradication of vandals by effecting more arrest of these criminal elements destroying public utilities.

He assured FCT residents of the Corps commitment to their safety and the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure which is already yielding positive results.

“We want to assure all residents of the FCT that we will not rest on our oars, we are determined to keep you safe and ensure the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in the FCT” the commandant said.

Dr Odumosu praised the farm owner for alerting the operatives on patrol upon his discovery of the rifle and not keeping it to himself for sinister motives.

He advised other citizens to emulate the patriotic spirit exhibited by the farm owner by reporting promptly any incident of crime or suspicious movement or activities in their environment to security agencies nearest to them.

NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE