Crime

Professional Scavengers Outlawed in Abuja

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Professional Scavengers Outlawed in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

Professional scavengers have been outlawed in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in reaction to growing vandalization of public facilities.

Parading 19 suspected vandals and manhole thieves at the FCT Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Commandant Olusola Odumosu said there is immediate need to banned the activities of professional scavengers (popularly called Baba Boola) as many criminal disguised as one to perpetuate crimes which include vandalization of public facilities and outright theft of manhole.

He also lamented that investigation have shown that many of the scavengers are informants to armed robbers and even in armed robbery at notorious black spots of Abuja.

Odumosu, who disclosed that the paraded acclaimed scavengers were arrested at the wee of the night vandalizing public facilities and some sleeping under the bring disguising as homeless persons.

He said: “Those nabbed and paraded
from the intelligence gathered are thieves pretending to be homeless, slept under bridges but were caught stealing manholes and vandalising government property in various area in the FCT.”

Some of the suspects include; John Ahmed “M” 46 years from Lafia local government area of Nasarawa State, Abba Musa ‘’M” 26 years fromDala local government area of Kano State, Jack Ikekwe ‘’M” 25 years from Kalabari local government area of Rivers State, Kabir Dauda Ummar ‘’M” 25 years from Gwale local government area of Kano State, Peter Eseh ‘’M” 39 years from Ado local government area of Benue State, Monday Magaji ‘’M” 25 years Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, among others.

Odumosu said henceforth, the Corps will no longer tolerate activities of the scavengers in the FCT.

He assured that the corps will continue to defend the integrity of the government property in the territory.

The Commandant also promised to sanitised the territory of the activities of scavenger, vandals and other criminals, warning those with bad intentions in Abuja to vacate the city, hence the law will catch up with them.

The arrested person, Odumosu said will be handed over to Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for proper prosecution.

The Commandant said: “To counteract the escalating instances of theft and vandalism that have been adversely impacting the FCT Metropolis, the Command took an active approach.

“We activated strategically planned routine night patrols, which proved to be highly effective. In the course of these patrols, we successfully arrested nineteen (19) scavengers and miscreants within the stipulated time frame. The arrested suspects underwent comprehensive interview and profiling processes.

“Subsequently, they will be handed over to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for possible further prosecution.
“These intensified measures serve a dual purpose: deterring potential criminals and ensuring the apprehension of those responsible for these unlawful activities. Through these actions, we are sending an unequivocal and resolute message that criminal behavior will no longer be tolerated within our jurisdiction.

“The proactive strategy we have embraced underscores the unswerving commitment of the government to address the concerns of its citizens. We are steadfastly dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of critical national assets and infrastructure throughout the FCT Metropolis.

He said “the FCT Command remains fully committed to upholding its duty of curbing vandalism. Our collective effort, combined with the support of the community and relevant agencies, will undoubtedly contribute to a safer and more secure Federal Capital Territory.”

Professional Scavengers Outlawed in Abuja

Crime

Gunmen abduct village head’s three children in Kwara

Published

1 day ago

August 14, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Gunmen abduct village head’s three children in Kwara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have abducted three children of the Village Head of Gamalegi community in Lafiagi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Vigilante Commander of Gbugbu Zone, Mr. Suleiman, said the incident occurred on Thursday at about 2:30 a.m., when the attackers invaded the community, shooting sporadically.

He said the gunmen stormed the house of the Village Head, Alhaji Hassan, and whisked away his three children – 15-year-old Aliyu Alhassan, 17-year-old Sheshi Alhassan, and 14-year-old Ibrahim Alhassan.

According to him, vigilantes, soldiers, police and local hunters immediately mobilised and launched a bush-combing operation to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

He added that the operation was ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

Gunmen abduct village head’s three children in Kwara

Crime

Two killed, two abducted in bandit attack in Zamfara

Published

4 days ago

August 12, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Two killed, two abducted in bandit attack in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two persons and abducted two others in an attack on Ruwan Bore village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Monday when a group of armed men invaded the village, shooting sporadically.

“Two persons were shot dead while two others were abducted to an unknown destination,”said the sources.

The sources added that upon receipt of the report, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were mobilised to the area in search of the perpetrators and to rescue the abducted victims.

The sources said assured pf efforts track the attackers.

Two killed, two abducted in bandit attack in Zamfara

Crime

Fleeing General Overseer arrested in Lagos for cross-border drug trafficking

Published

5 days ago

August 10, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Fleeing General Overseer arrested in Lagos for cross-border drug trafficking

By: Michael Mike

A fleeing founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele (alias Abbas Ajakaiye) after months underground has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for masterminding multiple shipments of illicit drugs into Nigeria.

A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said Prophet Adefolusho was arrested at his church located in Okun Ajah, Ogombo road, Lekki area of Lagos on Sunday 3rd August 2025 by NDLEA officers who waited for him since morning to conclude the Sunday worship service in the evening before moving in on him the moment he stepped out of the church premises.

He noted that the arrest came after he had evaded arrest twice and fled to Ghana to hide since June when operatives started trailing him following the seizure of two shipments of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis linked to him.

He said the first seizure of 200 kilogrammes of the psychoactive substance was made at Okun Ajah beach on 4th June 2025 while another consignment of 700 kilogrammes of Whitten substance was recovered from his delivery van on 6th July 2025.

He was said to have admitted in a written statement, ferrying the illicit consignments through the waterways from Ghana into Nigeria, adding that he had fled to the West African country to hide after he escaped arrest twice in the recent past.

In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Thursday raided an apartment at Kishi House 11 Layi Ajayi Bembe street, Parkview Estate Ikoyi where they arrested a suspect Benjamin Ukoh and recovered 32 pouches of Canadian Loud, a strain of Cannabis with a total weight of 15.63 kilogrammes.

In Nasarawa state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday recovered a large consignment of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 3,093 kilogrammes from the trio of Emmanuel Asoquo, 51; Okem Raphael, 33, and Chekwube Odo, 25, at New Karu area of the state.

While 29-year-old Nura Yahaya was nabbed at Geza area of Kumbotso Kano State with 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359 kilogrammes last Friday, another suspect Umar Adamu Umar, 27, was taken into custody last Wednesday by NDLEA officers after seizing 9 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis from him along Zaria-Kano road, Kano.

In another interdiction operation in Kano, 20,000 pills of tramadol and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection were recovered from a suspect Usman Musa, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa along Zaria-Kano road last Friday.

A raid at an uncompleted building located at Tudun Wadan Pantami in Gombe town, Gombe state last Friday led to the recovery of 550,266 pills of opioids mainly tramadol, while a suspect Usama Isah was arrested.

The following day Saturday another suspect Ibrahim Adamu, 23, was arrested by NDLEA officers along Potiskum road, Bajoga with 50,000 capsules of tramadol.

In Edo state, a white Toyota Hiace bus marked YAB 5522 K coming from Onitsha, Anambra state and heading to Isanlu in Kogi was last Wednesday intercepted at Ewu junction, Edo by NDLEA operatives who after a search recovered 23,940 capsules of tramadol, 1,100 tablets of same opioid and 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection with a suspect Taiye Jethro arrested.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

Fleeing General Overseer arrested in Lagos for cross-border drug trafficking