Metro
Suspected cultist arrested with fabricated pistol in Benue
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have arrested a suspected cultist and recovered a locally fabricated pistol and ammunition in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
This was contained in a post shared on Tuesday on X by security analyst, Zagazola Makama.
According to Makama, the arrest was made on June 22 at about 7:10 p.m. during a security operation conducted by troops of Sector 1 OPWS in the area.
Security sources said the suspect was picked up based on intelligence linking him to cult-related activities that have contributed to insecurity in the local government area.
“Items recovered from him included one locally fabricated pistol, two cartridges, and a bag containing suspected personal belongings,” Makama wrote.
A source said the suspect is currently in custody while investigations are ongoing to determine his level of involvement and to identify possible accomplices.
“The suspect is under investigation to establish his role and other persons connected to his activities,” the source said.
Security authorities explained that the arrest is part of ongoing efforts to curb cultism and other forms of criminal activities in Benue State and neighbouring areas.
They added that Operation Whirl Stroke has continued to intensify patrols and intelligence-led operations to maintain peace and improve security in its area of responsibility.
Metro
Law school student dies after alleged rooftop fall in Lagos hostel
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 23-year-old Nigerian Law School student, Faith Alayande, in an incident at the institution’s hostel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The student was reportedly found unresponsive within the hostel premises on Friday, August 7, 2026, after allegedly jumping from the rooftop of the four-storey building.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation, saying the matter was reported to the police by the hostel matron.
According to Adebisi, a hostel mate and a relative of the deceased reportedly discovered a note believed to have been written by Alayande and began searching for her.
She said the student was allegedly located after she had jumped from the rooftop of the hostel building.
“I can confirm the incident. The deceased reportedly wrote a suicide note and, before her hostel mate and a relative could locate her, she jumped from the rooftop of a four-storey building,” Adebisi said.
She added that police officers visited the scene after receiving the report, while the deceased’s remains were subsequently evacuated to a morgue for preservation.
A security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who also reported the incident on X, said another student discovered Alayande’s body within the hostel and alerted the institution’s matron.
According to Makama, the Chief Matron of the Law School, Mrs Igbokwe Juliana, reported the incident at the Victoria Island Police Division at about 6:30am.
He said the matron subsequently proceeded to the scene, where the deceased was found lying on the ground within the hostel premises.
Makama stated that preliminary observations suggested that Alayande may have fallen from the rooftop of the four-storey hostel building.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the contents and authenticity of the alleged note, remain subject to police investigation.
The Lagos State Police Command said an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
Metro
Suspected cultists allegedly beat man to death over missing phone in Lagos
A young man identified as Azeez has reportedly died after he was allegedly assaulted by suspected cultists following a dispute over a missing mobile phone in the Oko-Oba area of Agege, Lagos State.
A police source, who spoke with our correspondent on Sunday, said the incident occurred on Monday, August 3, after Azeez and some associates reportedly became involved in an argument over a missing phone following a party.
According to the source, the disagreement escalated into a physical attack on Azeez by some of the suspected cultists, who were said to be his friends. He reportedly sustained injuries during the assault and later died.
“We got a report that he passed away as a result of an assault on him by some suspected cultists said to be his friends. The argument was as a result of a missing phone,” the source said.
An anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, provided a separate account of the incident in a post published on Saturday, alleging that the events began during a birthday celebration on Sunday night, August 2.
The platform claimed that a fight broke out at the gathering and that a man identified as Abela allegedly picked up a phone and handed it to Azeez.
According to the account, the phone’s owner later realised it was missing and began searching for it. When the device was eventually traced to Azeez, he allegedly explained that Abela had given it to him for safekeeping.
Naija Confra alleged that Abela denied handing the phone to Azeez despite claims that witnesses had seen him do so.
The platform further claimed that the phone’s owner and some associates subsequently assaulted Azeez before leaving the venue after allegedly being unable to confront Abela.
It added that Azeez later confronted Abela over the alleged denial, resulting in another confrontation that reportedly escalated into a further assault.
According to the advocacy platform, Azeez was subsequently taken to another location by suspected members of the Neo-Black Movement, where he was allegedly attacked.
The police source, however, did not provide details of the circumstances surrounding the alleged second assault or identify those responsible for the attack.
The source confirmed that Azeez eventually died from injuries sustained during the assault.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for an immediate reaction. Calls placed to her telephone lines were unanswered, while a text message sent to her had not received a response as of the time of filing this report.
The circumstances surrounding Azeez’s death remain subject to police investigation, and the allegations made by the advocacy platform could not be independently verified.
Metro
Police neutralise three suspected kidnappers after Ogun students’ rescue
Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the death of three suspected kidnappers linked to the abduction of students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, following a gun battle with security operatives.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement detailing recent operational successes recorded by the police and other security agencies across the country.
According to Iniedu, the victims were rescued unhurt after sustained pressure was mounted on the kidnappers by security operatives. He said personnel from the police Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Department of State Services, DSS, subsequently tracked the suspects to their hideout.
The operation reportedly resulted in a confrontation between the security forces and the kidnappers. Three of the suspects were killed during the exchange of gunfire, while others managed to escape with injuries.
Iniedu stated that six students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic who had been abducted at Ipara were eventually freed without injuries.
“Anti-Kidnapping and DSS operatives subsequently stormed the kidnappers’ hideout and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. Three kidnappers were neutralised, while others escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.
The police spokesman said operatives recovered an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine, three mobile phones and N2.3m during the operation.
He added that the State Criminal Investigation Department had commenced further investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the abduction and identify other suspects who may have been involved.
The development follows an earlier assurance by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, that criminal elements would not be allowed to operate freely in the state.
Abiodun had spoken after the rescue of the five students and two other residents, declaring that his administration remained committed to safeguarding lives and property across Ogun.
The governor, who addressed journalists at his Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta alongside security chiefs and some of the rescued victims, attributed the successful operation to the coordinated efforts of multiple security and local protection agencies.
According to him, the operation involved the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Ogun State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, as well as local vigilantes and hunters.
Abiodun also revealed that the operation was strengthened by the deployment of a police helicopter after the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, approved its use for aerial surveillance.
He said the helicopter played an important role in supporting the ground operation and ultimately contributed to the successful rescue of the abducted students and other victims.
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