The Kebbi State Police Command has dismissed rumours claiming that schools in the state have been closed due to insecurity, describing the reports as false.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi while responding to claims of school closures, kidnappings and the withdrawal of pupils by parents.

According to him, there is no truth to the speculation, stressing that academic activities are continuing as scheduled across the state.

Usman noted that students have recently resumed for the new term, while graduating students are safely sitting for the Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, in various centres across Kebbi.

He added that the state’s school calendar remains under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and has not been disrupted by security concerns.

The police spokesperson further said security agencies, in collaboration with vigilante groups, have continued to carry out intelligence-led operations across the state to maintain peace and protect residents.

He maintained that recent arrests and the neutralisation of criminal elements demonstrate the effectiveness of the ongoing security efforts and urged the public to disregard unfounded rumours capable of causing panic.

Operatives attached to the Idiroko Division of the Ogun State Police Command have foiled a cross-border vehicle trafficking attempt, arrested two suspects and recovered a stolen 28-seater Toyota Coaster bus belonging to a company.

The suspects, Seun Lawal, 46, and Ademola Oriyomi, 38, were arrested on Friday.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the bus was declared stolen from Lagos.

He noted that Seun, the company’s driver, and his guarantor, Ademola, conspired to steal and smuggle the bus into the Benin Republic.

The statement reads: “The operation was based on credible intelligence received at about 11:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026, indicating that the suspects had positioned the said vehicle at the Babaloke area of Idiroko and were preparing to move it across the international border under false pretence.

“Acting swiftly on the information, CSP Adejuwon Ariyo mobilised and led a surveillance team to the location, where operatives intercepted the suspects in the course of executing the cross-border movement.”

According to the police spokesperson, the operatives demobilised the vehicle by shooting one of its tyres, effectively immobilising it and preventing its escape across the border.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Seun Lawal, a driver, conspired with Ademola Oriyomi, his guarantor, to steal and sell the vehicle in the Benin Republic. The suspects admitted that the proceeds were intended to facilitate their relocation after the illegal transaction,” he added.

Babaseyi stated that the suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to uncover possible links to broader cross-border vehicle theft syndicates.

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism, vigilance and tactical precision of CSP Adejuwon Ariyo and the operatives of the Idiroko Division.

The CP reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to proactive policing, strengthened border security operations and sustained efforts aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action within Ogun State and its border corridors.

Meanwhile, he urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has recorded significant successes in dismantling drug trafficking syndicates that recruit and exploit women for illicit drug operations across Nigeria.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), where he outlined the NDLEA’s strategy of targeting not only drug couriers but also the masterminds behind such operations.

Babafemi said the agency remains committed to dismantling networks that prey on women and other vulnerable groups by tracing the chain of command beyond those caught transporting illicit drugs.

“We don’t just stop at the level of the traffickers or the mules. We follow the chain to the top of the ladder to ensure that the big masterminds hiding behind various fronts to recruit women and vulnerable groups into these activities are brought to book. We have been very successful in doing that,” he said.

According to him, several investigations involving women recruited into drug trafficking have led to the arrest and prosecution of the syndicate leaders responsible for orchestrating the illegal operations.

Babafemi noted that the agency’s enforcement efforts are complemented by preventive measures aimed at discouraging women from becoming involved in drug-related crimes.

However, he acknowledged that cultural and religious factors sometimes pose challenges to the agency’s sensitisation campaigns.

He explained that such barriers can restrict direct engagement with certain groups of women during advocacy programmes, making it more difficult to educate them on the dangers and consequences of involvement in illicit drug trafficking.

Despite these challenges, the NDLEA official reaffirmed the agency’s determination to intensify its crackdown on drug trafficking networks while expanding public awareness initiatives to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation by criminal organisations.