Metro
Supreme Court upholds 12-year jail term for child rapist
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the conviction and 12-year prison sentence handed to a 42-year-old man, Dauda Sani Haladu, found guilty of raping his 15-year-old domestic worker, in what the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) described as a major victory against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
According to a post published on NAPTIP’s Facebook page on Monday, the apex court delivered its final judgment on May 8, 2026, upholding the sentence against the convict for the assault of the teenage girl, identified as Judith James, a pseudonym used to protect her identity.
The agency disclosed that the incident occurred on March 11, 2017, when the man allegedly took advantage of the absence of his wife and children to sexually assault the victim at his residence. Following the attack, the victim was reportedly threatened with death in an attempt to prevent her from speaking out.
Despite the intimidation, the teenager later confided in a school official, prompting NAPTIP’s intervention and subsequent prosecution of the suspect.
The defendant was arraigned on November 11, 2017, under Section 1(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPPA).
In a statement, NAPTIP said the Supreme Court ruling sends a strong message that perpetrators of violence against women and children will not escape justice.
“This final judgment serves as a stern reminder that the law is patient but persistent,” the agency stated.
NAPTIP further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, particularly domestic workers and minors, while ensuring offenders face the full weight of the law.
The judgment is being seen as a significant boost to efforts aimed at combating sexual violence and strengthening accountability for crimes against children in Nigeria.
Metro
Soldier, five others killed in Adamawa road crash
Six people died in a road crash at the Murke section of the Yola–Song Road in Adamawa State.
Sources said on Wednesday evening that the accident involved a Hummer bus and a military patrol vehicle, which collided while travelling in opposite directions.
A witness said five passengers in the Hummer bus were burnt beyond recognition after the vehicle caught fire following the collision, while a soldier died at the scene.
A seventh person, who was severely affected, reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries and was found unconscious at the scene.
The Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, was on her way to Mubi for an official engagement when she arrived at the scene of the accident.
An aide to the deputy governor disclosed that she immediately directed members of her convoy to evacuate the victims to the Specialist Hospital, Yola.
Metro
Police uncover gun factory in Yobe, arrest 7 suspects
Operatives of the Yobe State Police Command have uncovered an illegal firearms fabrication site in Potiskum and arrested seven suspects.
This is contained in a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, on Wednesday in Damaturu, the state capital.
Abdulkarim said operatives of the Potiskum Area Command, in collaboration with the Divisional Police Headquarters, carried out a coordinated raid following credible intelligence.
He stated that police operatives mobilised to a blacksmith workshop located at Tasha Adua along Danchuwa Road, Potiskum.
According to him, during the operation, seven suspects were arrested, two fabricated pistols were recovered, twenty-four muzzle pipes, nine gun butts, four unserviceable Dane guns, one filing machine and one sharp cutlass.
“The suspects are currently undergoing thorough investigation with a view to identifying their collaborators, possible buyers, and the intended use of the fabricated firearms,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Usman Jibrin, has directed officers handling the case to intensify investigation, identify other illegal firearms fabrication centres within the area, and assess the level of security threat posed by such criminal activities.
The command further advised members of the public to refrain from allowing their premises or facilities to be used for unlawful activities, including the fabrication of dangerous weapons.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or other security agencies.
Metro
Final-year Kogi varsity student found dead by roadside in Lokoja
The Kogi State Police has confirmed the death of a final-year student of the Federal University Lokoja, Sarah Ojodomo Idoko.
The deceased’s body was found by the roadside in the Crusher area along the Felele-Lokoja Road in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Her body was discovered on the night of May 30, 2026, shortly after she was allegedly dumped at the location by unknown persons.
A passerby was said to have seen a vehicle stop briefly near the area around 8 p.m. before speeding away, after which the body was found.
Meanwhile, an identity card recovered at the scene initially led to reports that she was a student of Kogi State Polytechnic, but the police later clarified that she was a student of Federal University Lokoja.
The Association of Nigerian Female Students, Kogi chapter, condemned the killing, describing it as inhuman and unfortunate, calling on security agencies to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, confirmed the incident and said investigations had commenced.
“For now, we are not ready to disclose much about the ongoing investigation. We will make our findings public at the appropriate time for the law to take its course,” he said.
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