Metro
‘I am an electrician’ – Suspected Edo kidnap gang leader denies charges
The suspected gang leader of the kidnapping syndicate that abducted a woman at a vegetable market along Airport Road in Benin City, Marvelous Isaac, has denied being a kidnapper, saying he is an electrician.
DAILY POST reports that the suspect made the claim on Friday during his trial before Justice Terry Aigbona Momodu of the Special Criminal Court set up by the Edo State Government to prosecute kidnapping and cultism related cases.
The 32-year-old Marvelous Isaac was cross-examined by the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Roland Otaru.
He denied being involved in the June 14, 2026 vegetable market kidnapping incident and other cases he was accused of spearheading in the state.
The accused and three others are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The suspected gang leader also denied knowing the other two suspects facing trial with him, apart from his 27-year-old girlfriend identified as Miss Gift Raphael.
The other suspects are Wisdom Michael, 36, and Rufus Emete Michael, 30.
“I am not a kidnapper but an electrician specialized in wiring of houses. I don’t own a car and I don’t know how to drive,” he said.
Isaac also denied knowing Oreoghene Street, Siluko Road axis in Benin City, where he was alleged by the prosecution to have kidnapped a victim on March 8, 2025 and collected a ransom of N5 million.
Other kidnapping incidents that the accused also denied being involved in are the April 23, 2026 abduction of one Mr Paul at his wife’s pharmacy store, opposite the Ekenwa Army Barracks, and another one on May 26, 2026, also along Ekehuan Road, near GT Bank, Benin City.
He denied collecting a ransom of N5.5 million, Lexus RX 350 SUV, N12.5 million, Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ phone, car keys and other valuables from the two victims before they were released.
After the cross examination, Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu adjourned the case to Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
Speaking to newsmen, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Justice, Stephen Okoror, described the proceeding as excellent.
Okoror said the defence counsel has been able to open his case by calling the first accused, Marvelous Isaac.
While noting that the accused denied all the allegations and the charge levelled against him, he expressed optimism that justice would be done at the end of the trial.
Metro
BREAKING: Police arrest officers in viral video threatening to slap, detain motorist if he’s Igbo
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of officers captured in a viral video attempting to extort money from a motorist along Lagos –Benin Expressway.
In the video, one of the officers said he would have slapped and detained the motorist if he was Igbo.
The circulating footage of the incident had sparked widespread anger across the country with several Nigerians calling for the arrest and prosecution of the officers.
Addressing journalists on the incident on Friday, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the erring personnel have been identified and arrested.
“The Command wishes to inform the general public that the officers captured in the video have been arrested and identified as AP/No. 207454 ASP Elomore Sodayo, AP/No. 332012 Inspector Adefila Adewale, AP/No. 332449 Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi, and AP/No. 332369 Inspector Odusola Peter.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, psc, mnips, mspsp, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved,” he said.
Metro
Kano court sentences man to death for murder of pregnant woman
A Kano State High Court has sentenced a man, Shuaibu Abdulkadir, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering 22-year-old Rumaisa Shuaibu, who was pregnant.
Justice Farida Dan Baffa delivered the judgment on Friday after ruling that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Abdulkadir, a resident of Farawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area, was charged with one count of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 of the Kano State Penal Code. He was arraigned before the court on August 23, 2025.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Barr. Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, called three witnesses, including the victim’s husband, Ibrahim Muhammad; the defendant’s fiancée, Asiya Abdulmalik; and the investigating police officer, ASP Chindo Chiwa.
The prosecution also tendered several exhibits, including a video of the incident, a flash drive containing electronic evidence, the defendant’s written confession, English and Hausa transcripts of the confession, photographs of the victim, the knife allegedly used in the killing, and the defendant’s mobile phone.
After hearing both the prosecution and the defence, the court convicted Abdulkadir of killing Rumaisa after she became pregnant for him and sentenced him to death by hanging.
Reacting to the verdict, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude (SAN), described the conviction as “another significant milestone in the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that criminal cases are prosecuted professionally, fairly, and diligently.”
He added that the judgment demonstrates the ministry’s determination to protect victims’ rights, uphold the rule of law and ensure offenders are held accountable.
Maude also praised prosecutor Barr. Basiru Kabiru Aliyu for his professionalism and dedication throughout the trial, saying his work reflects the standard expected of state counsel.
He urged all state prosecutors to continue handling criminal cases with integrity, competence and fairness, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution of serious crimes and ensuring justice remains the foundation for peace and security in Kano State.
Metro
Taraba teenager dies after alleged assault in Marshal custody
The death of 15-year-old Busang Ayuka following an alleged assault by operatives of the Taraba State Marshal has sparked widespread outrage across the state, with residents, civil society groups and concerned stakeholders demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The teenager, who lived in Angwan Alfa, Serti B, Gashaka Local Government Area, reportedly died on Friday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, after allegedly sustaining severe injuries while in the custody of Taraba State Marshal operatives in Baruwa.
The incident has once again reignited concerns over the conduct of security personnel during routine enforcement operations, as many residents question the level of accountability within agencies responsible for maintaining law and order.
Information gathered indicates that the incident began after a disagreement between Busang and one of his friends over a missing MP3 player and a power bank. The complainant reportedly accused the teenager of taking the items before reporting the matter to the Taraba State Marshal office. Busang was subsequently arrested by operatives of the agency.
His family alleges that he was brutally assaulted by the operatives, while the agency has yet to confirm the circumstances surrounding the injuries that eventually claimed his life.
Speaking through tears, the deceased’s mother, Mrs Hasena Ayuka, recounted how the family’s ordeal unfolded. According to her, the complainant first approached her on the night of the incident, accusing Busang of taking the missing items before proceeding to the Taraba State Marshal office.
“The following day, which was Sunday, officers of the Taraba State Marshal arrested my son. Later, they asked me to come to the CRCN Hospital in Gashaka, where I found him lying half-dead,” she said.
Mrs Ayuka rejected claims allegedly made by the officers that her son developed an ulcer while in custody.
“My son never had an ulcer. When I saw him, his neck appeared broken, parts of his body were swollen, and he could not speak. From that moment until he died, he never regained consciousness,” she alleged.
She explained that Busang was first admitted to the CRCN Hospital in Baruwa before being referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, after his condition deteriorated.
“My family wants to know why my son was killed. Whatever the allegation against him, nobody has the right to take his life. We want justice for Busang,” the grieving mother said.
The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged assault remain unclear. No official account has yet established what transpired during the teenager’s detention, the nature of the force allegedly used, or whether established procedures governing arrests and detention were followed.
Those unanswered questions have intensified demands for a transparent and independent investigation. Residents insist that only a credible inquiry can establish the facts and determine whether any laws or operational guidelines were violated.
Community members have also called on the state government and relevant security agencies to ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated and that anyone found culpable is prosecuted.
For many residents, the incident represents more than the death of a single teenager. They argue that it reflects broader concerns about the treatment of civilians during law enforcement operations and underscores the urgent need for professionalism, respect for human rights and stronger oversight of security agencies.
Legal observers note that the outcome of any investigation could significantly influence public confidence in institutions charged with protecting lives and enforcing the law.
Responding to the allegations, the Commandant of the Taraba State Marshal, retired Commissioner of Police Agyole Asenya Abeh, maintained that the agency operates strictly within the law.
He said personnel are regularly instructed to respect the rights of citizens and discharge their responsibilities professionally.
According to him, any operative found to have acted outside the law would be held personally responsible for such conduct, stressing that the alleged incident should not be viewed as representative of the entire agency.
Describing culpable homicide as a grave criminal offence, he noted that the Nigeria Police Force has the statutory responsibility to investigate such allegations.
He also appealed to residents and members of the Marshal Security Guard not to prejudge the matter until investigations are concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement on the incident or confirmed whether any investigation or arrests had been made.
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