Emir of Yashikira, Kwara North Senatorial District, Alhaji Umar Seriki Usman, has said seven abducted members of his royal family were released on Wednesday by armed bandits.

In a chat with DAILY POST on Friday, the monarch disclosed that three of his wives and four children were among those released by the bandits who invaded his palace early this year.

He said the press conference by youths of the community in Abuja drew the attention of the Federal Government to the development in Yashikira, which led to the rescue operation.

“We thank God and appreciate the federal and state governments for the release of the abductees.

“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State made a representation to the Federal Government, which did not work until our youths in Abuja addressed the press conference, which drew the attention of the government to the situation on the ground.”

Asked if ransom was paid for the release of the kidnap victims, Umar Seriki said he could not confirm, though “we know the release of the victims was not free as the bandits demanded N150m for each of the captives, while there was no exchange of gunshots before their release by the bandits.”

The monarch appealed to concerned authorities to secure the community because the bandits are still around in the area.

“We are all happy about the development, but nobody feels secure because they are still with us and we don’t know them,” he added.

A man has been arrested in Adamawa State for allegedly killing his father and dumping his corpse in a well.

The Adamawa State Police Command on Friday named 40-year-old Peter Sinamai of Sangere, Gombi Local Government Area, as the suspect in connection with the alleged killing of his biological father.

The command said its operatives arrested the suspect after receiving a report detailing the crime.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, emphasised that preliminary investigations confirmed that the suspect allegedly killed his father and dumped the body in a well within the neighbourhood.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Kabiru Umar Hassan, had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The corpse has been recovered and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy,” Nguroje stated.

He assured that the suspect would be charged in court after the completion of the investigation.

The Lagos State Government has arrested 27 suspected hoodlums for allegedly vandalising the newly constructed bridge connecting Festac Town to Alakija during a late-night enforcement operation.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, describing the incident as a serious act of sabotage against public infrastructure.

According to Wahab, preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly stripped the bridge of vital structural materials, including iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other components essential to its stability and safety.

“Investigations revealed that suspected hoodlums had deliberately vandalised critical structural components of the bridge by removing iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other supporting materials essential to the integrity of the infrastructure,” he said.

The commissioner warned that the alleged destruction of the bridge’s structural elements poses a significant danger to public safety and compromises the government’s investment in critical infrastructure.

“This criminal act poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines the government’s investment in critical infrastructure,” Wahab added.

He explained that the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated midnight operation carried out by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in collaboration with the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI,p task force.

“The operation led to the arrest of 27 suspected hoodlums, who will be prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of Lagos State,” the commissioner stated.

Wahab reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding public infrastructure, stressing that enforcement operations against vandals and other offenders would be sustained.

“The Lagos State Government remains committed to protecting public infrastructure and will continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups engaged in acts of vandalism, environmental infractions and other criminal activities that threaten the safety and wellbeing of residents,” he said.