Crime
Police arrest Boko Haram bomb manufacturer in Taraba
Police arrest Boko Haram bomb manufacturer in Taraba
The Taraba State Police Command has arrested a suspected bomb manufacturer who also is a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group linked to three bomb explosions recorded in the state this year.
The suspect was arrested in his house which he uses as a factory in Tella town within the Gassol Local Government Area of the state.
He was apprehended with different arms, ammunition, explosives, and devices for manufacturing bombs
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Sokoya, confirmed the arrest at a press briefing in Jalingo the state capital, on Thursday.
Sokoya disclosed that the breakthrough came after the suspect had attempted to assassinate a resident of Gunduma village in Mutum Biyu but was overwhelmed by the security agencies and subdued.
He said that in the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed that he was a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group and has operated in Kogi and Niger states before he moved to Taraba and joined armed robbery and kidnapping groups.
“This press briefing is in line with our tradition of keeping the press updated with timely and accurate information on happenings in our line of duty towards promoting necessary awareness for the security of lives and property in Taraba State.
“Taraba State Police Command, is working hard to ensure that the state is not a safe heaven for criminals and unscrupulous elements. During the period under review, the Command has put in enormous efforts in order to reduce crime and criminality and has achieved results.
“On 9/6/2022 at about 2100hrs, one BALA USMAN ‘M’ of Tella Town, Gassol Local Government Area who armed himself with a pistol scorpion loaded with seven rounds of live ammunition, went to the house of USMAN YAKI ‘M’ of Gunduma village, via Mutum biyu town attempted to kill him. The suspect fired one round of live ammunition, and Police were alerted in collaboration with the Vigilante, and the suspect was subdued and arrested.
“During the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed that he is a member of Boko Haram, Armed Robber and Kidnapping syndicate that terrorized Niger State, Kogi State and Taraba State. A search was conducted in the house/premise of the suspect at Tella town, and the following exhibits buried in the ground within the house were recovered:
198 Pieces of 7.6MM live ammunition, 558 assault live ammunition, One PISTOL BREECH NO.CZ 999 SCORPION with (6) rounds of live ammunition.
“Other items recovered include 20 plastic bottles of SODIUM AZIDE ACID, Eight plastic bottles of KERMI ACID, 27 plastic bottles of locally made Bombs, Three Face Masks, Three pullover Jackets, a bunch of highly volatile cable wires 36 lighters, and Two empty magazines of AK 47 Rifles and assault rifle.
“Concerted efforts are ongoing to arrest, Abubakar Lawal and ABDULLAHI GARBA and others now at large, who are members of the syndicate. Investigation into the case in progress” he added.
Police arrest Boko Haram bomb manufacturer in Taraba
Bandits kill driver, abduct five passengers on Bagaga-Anka road
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits attacked a Golf vehicle on the Bagaga-Anka road in Zamfara State on April 26, 2025, killing the driver and abducting five passengers.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 11:40 a.m. when the bandits blocked the road, shot dead the driver, and abducted the five passengers traveling in the vehicle.
Upon receiving the distress report, joint security forces were swiftly mobilized and dispatched to the scene. The injured driver was taken to Bagega Primary Healthcare for treatment.
Efforts to rescue the abducted victims are ongoing, with security agencies intensifying their search for the perpetrators.
Bandits kill driver, abduct five passengers on Bagaga-Anka road
Police rescue 68 trafficking victims, arrest 16 suspects in Oyo State
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Oyo State have rescued 68 victims of human trafficking and arrested 16 suspects, including 10 males and 6 females, following a raid on a hideout in Kajorepo community, Agabala Daniel Area.
Sources reliably informed Zagazola Makama that the operation, carried out on April 26, 2025, was based on credible intelligence from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the State Intelligence Division (SID).
The rescued victims include 47 males, 20 females, and one child. They were found locked in a building where they were reportedly being held with the intent to be trafficked.
The suspects were taken into custody for interrogation, while the victims were provided with care and assistance. The building was sealed off, and patrol teams have been deployed to prevent any attempts by an angry mob to destroy the property.
The sources added that further investigations are ongoing to dismantle the trafficking network.
Police rescue 68 trafficking victims, arrest 16 suspects in Oyo State
Police smash kidnapping syndicate terrorising Taraba, neighbouring states
By: Zagazola Makama
The Taraba State Police Command, in collaboration with operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Force Headquarters Abuja, has arrested members of a notorious kidnap and banditry syndicate responsible for terrorising communities across Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States.
Security sources told Zagazola
Makama that the breakthrough, according to the Command, was achieved following credible intelligence that was processed into actionable operations, leading to the arrest of key gang members on April 25.
The sources said that the operatives, working in conjunction with a local vigilante group, apprehended three suspects at about 10:00 a.m.
Those arrested were identified as Shehu Ibrahim, 27, of Larai Gada, Ilorin; Abdullahi Haruna, 28, of Angwan Karofi, Bauchi; and Yusuf Bello, 40, of Birama Village, Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State.
“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnapping operations across the affected states,” the spokesperson said.
Items recovered from them include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-49 rifles, six AK magazines, and 45 live rounds of ammunition.
The police sources noted that the recent arrests follow earlier operations that led to the capture of other members of the same criminal gang.
Those earlier apprehended include Suleiman Mohammed, 28, of Lariski, Gombe State; Tijjani Bello, 30, of Nasarawo, Jalingo; Muhammed Umar, 25, of Sabon Gari, Jalingo; Adamu Ibrahim, 22, of Mutum Daya, Karim Lamido; Solomon Nathaniel, 32, of Logo, Benue State; and Haruna Adamu, 25, of Lushi Village, Lau, Taraba State.
From these earlier arrests, the police recovered three AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, and four AK-47 magazines.
He said that three suspects have confessed to several heinous crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery, and attacks on rural communities.
He added that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and dismantle the network completely.
Police smash kidnapping syndicate terrorising Taraba, neighbouring states
Police arrest two suspected informants to bandits in Kwara
Army troops rescue Deputy Commander of NDLEA officer, five others from kidnappers in Taraba
Rival gangs clash at wedding, one dead in Kontagora, Niger State
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
