A Toyota Corolla car belonging to a Magistrate in Abia State, Ngozi Lekwa of Court 2, has reportedly been stolen in Umuahia by car thieves.

The vehicle was packed outside the court premises along Finbars Road by the owner on Tuesday, to handle a brief official duty, but was nowhere to be found by the time the Chief Magistrate returned to the spot at noon.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the case has been reported to the police, stressing that investigations were ongoing to recover the car and apprehend the thieves.

In a related development, a Brown Toyota Sienna car belonging to the wife of the traditional ruler of Nkpa community in Bende LGA, G.N. Izuwa, was on Sunday, stolen at the Assemblies of God Church, Umuahia by unknown persons.

The vehicle was taken away at No. 5-8 Item Street, Umuahia, when the Monarch’s wife, who came to church in the car, was still worshipping inside the church.

Also, the Abia State correspondent of Vanguard newspaper, Steve Oko’s black Toyota Camry car, was also stolen in front of Oko’s residence at Uwalaka Street, Umuahia, a few weeks ago and has not yet been found, among other reports.

There was pandemonium in Iluke community of Bunu District of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Wednesday when bandits struck and killed a vice principal of a school alongside two others and kidnapped three students.

The attack, which was said to have taken place in the early hours of Wednesday, threw the community into mourning and heightened concerns over security in the area.

According to report, students who were scheduled to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, English Language paper on Wednesday were taken away during the incident.

Reacting to the development, the Kogi State Government said security operatives foiled an attempted mass abduction of students during the attack.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the attackers disguised themselves in military uniforms to gain access to the community.

According to the government, three community members lost their lives in the attack, while security personnel successfully rescued students who were allegedly being taken away by the assailants.

“The unfortunate attack led to the death of three members of the community. The government extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the people of Iluke Community, and the entire Bunu District over this painful loss,” the statement said.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a suspected drug baron, Ofonime Etim, in Ikot Ebom Itam, Itu Local Government Area of the state, after dismantling a notorious drug den in a renewed offensive against criminal elements in the state.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Timfon John, in Uyo on Wednesday, said the operatives, acting on intelligence, conducted a coordinated intelligence-led operation targeting a criminal enclave suspected of being a haven for drug traffickers, receivers of stolen property, vandals, and other criminal elements terrorising residents of the area.

According to the statement, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded another significant operational breakthrough in its sustained offensive against criminal elements, with the successful dismantling of a notorious drug bunk, recovery of suspected stolen property, and arrest of a suspected drug baron in Ikot Ebom Itam, Itu Local Government Area.

The operation led to the arrest of Ofonime Etim, of Ikot Ebom Itam.

A thorough search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of substantial quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, numerous packets of rolling papers (rizlas), axes, machetes, vandalised electrical wires, bundles of roofing sheets, aluminium windows, cartons of assorted provisions and beverages, cartons of sachet illicit gin, a submersible water pump, and several electronic and electrical appliances.

The statement further disclosed that the village council chairman identified the recovered property, noting that the submersible water pump belonged to the Ikot Ebom Itam Village Hall borehole facility, which had earlier been reported stolen, while the suspect allegedly confessed to stealing the pump from the community facility.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations indicated that the premises once functioned as a major distribution point for illicit drugs and a repository for suspected stolen items.

It said the suspect will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.