Several travellers were reportedly abducted by suspected bandits while travelling from Sheme in Katsina State to Kebbi State to escort a bride, raising fresh concerns over insecurity along roads in the North-West.

Crisis reporter covering the North-West region, Bakatsine, disclosed the incident in a post shared via his X handle on Saturday.

According to him, the victims were part of a wedding convoy that came under attack while travelling to Kebbi State.

Bakatsine appealed for prayers for the victims, saying members of the convoy were abducted during the journey.

“We kindly request your prayers for our friends and relatives who were travelling from Sheme, Katsina State, to Kebbi State to escort a bride. 

Along the journey, they reportedly encountered bandits and some members of the convoy were abducted.

Details surrounding the attack, including the exact location where it occurred and the number of people abducted, were not immediately available.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while the fate and whereabouts of those reportedly abducted remained unknown.

Lagos State Police Command has apprehended the alleged leader of a criminal syndicate accused of defrauding vehicle dealers of 29 luxury automobiles valued at over N1 billion across the state.

The suspect, who had reportedly remained on the run for a prolonged period, was arrested after investigators traced him through information provided by other members of the syndicate already in police custody. According to investigators, confessional statements from the suspects identified him as the alleged mastermind behind the operation.

A police source disclosed that the syndicate allegedly targeted automobile dealers by posing as genuine buyers and using deceptive means, including post-dated cheques and unfamiliar intermediaries, to obtain expensive vehicles before diverting them for personal use.

The source advised vehicle dealers to exercise caution by thoroughly verifying the identities and credentials of prospective buyers, especially in transactions involving post-dated cheques, to avoid falling victim to similar schemes.

According to Vanguard, the arrest prompted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani, to direct operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba, to intensify efforts to apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large.

The police have relied on intelligence-driven operations and the AUTOREG vehicle tracking platform to recover the stolen vehicles. So far, 16 of the 29 vehicles have been traced, with 12 already returned to their legitimate owners.

Authorities, however, said vehicles valued at approximately N534 million are still missing, adding that recovery efforts are ongoing.

The case is being investigated by the Financial Crimes Section of the SCID, Yaba, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.

Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has stepped up enforcement of environmental sanitation regulations by shutting down several markets, shopping complexes and commercial premises in the Ikotun-Igando area over persistent waste management violations.

The agency also announced the commencement of fresh compliance notices to businesses operating along the Ojuelegba-Lawanson-Itire corridor ahead of another phase of enforcement.

The operation, carried out on Saturday by LAWMA’s Project WISE West team, focused on markets and commercial establishments along the LASU-Igando Road corridor in Alimosho Local Government Area.

According to the agency, the affected traders and business operators repeatedly engaged in indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians despite several warnings, environmental awareness campaigns and notices of intention to seal their premises.

The latest exercise comes on the heels of a similar enforcement campaign along the Yaba-Ojuelegba corridor earlier in the week, which LAWMA said resulted in improved compliance with sanitation regulations and restored environmental cleanliness in the area.

Commenting on the exercise, LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the positive outcome of the Yaba operation encouraged the agency to extend the initiative to other strategic locations across the state.

He revealed that, alongside the closures in Alimosho, the authority had begun issuing notices of intention to seal markets, plazas, shops and other commercial facilities along the Ojuelegba-Lawanson-Itire corridor as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with Lagos State environmental laws.

Among the facilities sealed during Saturday’s enforcement were Owode Market, Omo Oba Shopping Complex, Oja Oba Market, Irewolede Market, Egan Junction Market, BoA Shopping Complex, Blissful Electronics Stores and several other businesses found to have breached environmental sanitation regulations.

Gbadegesin stated that the affected markets and commercial establishments would remain closed until they met all stipulated environmental requirements and the authority was satisfied that the necessary corrective measures had been implemented.

He reiterated that dumping refuse on road medians, drainage channels and other unauthorised locations contravenes Lagos State environmental laws and warned that violators would continue to face strict enforcement measures.

The LAWMA boss urged traders, market associations, business owners and property managers to keep their surroundings clean, patronise only their designated Private Sector Participant, PSP, waste operators and desist from illegal waste disposal practices.

He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to sustaining public enlightenment campaigns alongside firm enforcement of environmental regulations to promote responsible waste management, safeguard public infrastructure and maintain a cleaner, healthier and more livable Lagos.