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.

The Lagos State Police Command said it has commenced an investigation into a viral video showing the alleged assault of a gold seller by police officers in the Festac area of Lagos.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on Friday, gained widespread attention on Saturday after the victim shared videos alleging that he was assaulted by the officers while delivering a gold necklace to a customer.

The command disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, saying the officers captured in the video had been identified as personnel attached to Area E Command.

In the videos, the man claimed he was stopped and searched by the officers, who allegedly found no incriminating item on him but questioned a digital scale he said he used for weighing gold.

According to him, the officers accused him of using the scale to weigh cannabis and ordered him to accompany them to the police station.

He alleged that he refused because he had committed no offence and became suspicious as the officers were not properly dressed in police uniforms, while the vehicle they arrived in had no registration number.

The man further alleged that the officers dragged him in an attempt to force him into the vehicle, hit him on the head with a gun and physically assaulted him.

The footage showed a brief confrontation outdoors near a red minibus before cutting to the man, who displayed an injury near his eye and a gold necklace he said he was delivering at the time of the incident.

A follow-up video also surfaced online in which the man alleged that one of the officers instructed his colleagues to open fire before they fled the scene.

Reacting to the videos, the Lagos State Police Command said the officers involved had been identified and summoned for investigation.

According to it’s statement: “The Lagos State Police Command has seen the video and has commenced an investigation into the incident.The officers involved have been identified as personnel attached to Area E Command.”

It added: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, has directed the Area Commander to immediately produce the officers at the Command Headquarters for further investigation and appropriate action.”