Crime
Court Jails Notorious Kidnap Kingpin, Wadume
Court Jails Notorious Kidnap Kingpin, Wadume
A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced notorious kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, to seven years imprisonment without option of fine on Monday.
Wadume was convicted of escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms.
Wadume, a suspected Nigerian kidnap-for-ransom kingpin, based in Taraba State but operated across Northeast, was arrested in August 2019 by the Nigerian Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Justice Binta Nyako convicted Wadume on counts two and 10 of the 13-count charge brought against him and six others by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the Federal Government.
Other defendants in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/30/2020 are: Aliyu Dadje (a police inspector), Auwalu Bala (aka omo razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu), Bashir Wazlri (aka baba runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.
Justice Nyako, in the judgment delivered on July 22 this year, upheld the case of the prosecution team, which included Labaran Magaji and Mrs. Yetunde Cole, as it relates to five out of the seven defendants.
Justice Nyako also convicted and sentenced Inspector Dadje to three years on count seven, in which he was accused of tampering with police record to conceal a crime.
Dadje, who was a Station Officer at the Ibi Divisional Police Headquarters, Ibi Local Government Area, Taraba State was said to have, in August 2019, “willfully tampered with the entry made by the leader of the IGP IRT team, Inspector Felix Adolije, by tearing off the entry page to cover up for Captain Tijani Ahmed Balarabe and his team” upon knowing that an offence of terrorism had been committed by Capt. Balarabe and his team, who attacked and killed three members of the IGP IRT team and two civilians who were in Ibi, Taraba State to make lawful arrest.
Justice Nyako equally convicted and sentenced Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu) and Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) to seven years each on counts three, four, five, six and 11.
The duo, in the four counts, were charged with illegal possession and unlawful dealing in prohibited firearms and ammunition.
Justice Nyako also convicted and sentenced Abdul to three years for harbouring Wadume in his house in Kano after Wadume’s escape from police custody in Ibi.
The judge struck out count one, in which Wadume was charged with kidnaping Usman Garba (aka Mayo) and collecting N106million before releasing him.
She however discharged and acquitted Auwalu Bala (aka Omo Razor) and Bashir Wazlri (aka Baba Runs), who were listed as the 3rd and 5th defendants, for want of evidence.
Court Jails Notorious Kidnap Kingpin, Wadume
Troops Arrest Suspect with Over 1,300 Empty Ammunition Casings in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces headed by the Special Adviser of the Borno State government, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was the former OC Crack in Borno state have arrested a suspect in connection with the discovery of a large quantity of empty ammunition casings following an explosion incident in Kaleri general area of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that operatives, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), mobilised to the scene at about 9:13 p.m. on May 6, 2026, after receiving information on the explosion.
On arrival, one suspect was apprehended in possession of 1,341 empty cases of 12.7 x 99mm ammunition as well as 47 ammunition boxes.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the recovered items were linked to the suspect’s brother, a soldier serving at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, who allegedly removed warheads from live rounds and diverted the empty casings for illegal sale.
The suspect is currently in police custody while further investigations are ongoing to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the diversion and possible network involved.
Troops Arrest Suspect with Over 1,300 Empty Ammunition Casings in Borno
Crime
23 Suspects, Including Notorious Gang Leader, Transferred After Joint Security Screening in Adamawa
23 Suspects, Including Notorious Gang Leader, Transferred After Joint Security Screening in Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Security agencies have transferred 23 suspected criminals, including a wanted gang leader, to the Adamawa State Police Command following a joint screening operation in Mubi South and Mubi North Local Government Areas.
Security sources told Zagazola that the development followed a joint raid conducted on May 6, 2026, in which 73 suspects were arrested at a suspected criminal hideout within the area.
The sources said a joint screening exercise was carried out at about 10:00 a.m. on May 7, 2026, at the Mubi South Police Division, involving intelligence operatives, military police, Nigeria Police Force representatives and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Following the screening, 50 of the suspects were released to their families after being cleared of direct involvement in criminal activities.
However, 23 suspects were retained for further investigation and subsequently transferred to the Adamawa State Police Command for additional interrogation and possible prosecution.
Among those transferred was a suspected notorious gang leader identified as Mallam Salim Danabba, also known as “Bravo Boy Leader,” who is reportedly on the security watchlist for involvement in organised criminal activities in the area.
Security authorities said the joint operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and improve security across Adamawa State and surrounding border communities.
They added that follow-up operations and intelligence-driven raids would continue to prevent the regrouping of criminal elements in the region.
23 Suspects, Including Notorious Gang Leader, Transferred After Joint Security Screening in Adamawa
Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner, Recover Firearm in Abia State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 144 Battalion (Rear), operating under Operation UDO KA in collaboration with operatives of the 14 Military Intelligence Regiment, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), and Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected gunrunner in Abia State.
Security sources told Zagazola that the suspect was apprehended at about 5:30 a.m. on May 8, 2026, at Mkpa-Ujere in Ndoki community, Ukwa East Local Government Area, following credible intelligence on plans to acquire a firearm.
The sources said troops conducted a targeted operation which led to the arrest of the suspect, who was found in possession of one dane gun.
The suspect is currently in military custody and undergoing further interrogation to determine the extent of his involvement in arms trafficking and possible links to criminal networks.
Military authorities said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts under Operation UDO KA to curb illegal arms proliferation and enhance security across the South-East region.
Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner, Recover Firearm in Abia State
UNIFEMGA Urges Positive Mindset, National Unity as Key to Nigeria’s Growth
Troops Arrest Suspect with Over 1,300 Empty Ammunition Casings in Borno
NSITF Restoring Hope to Injured Nigerian Workers Through Compensation Scheme — Faleye
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