The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, identified as Sanda Aliyu, over an alleged plan to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

Aliyu was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section on August 3, 2026, following actionable intelligence that he was negotiating with one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, for the procurement of the firearm.

The police said detectives immediately commenced an operation based on the intelligence and apprehended Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the suspect admitted during interrogation that he was involved in the attempted arms transaction.

“The suspect voluntarily admitted his involvement in the transaction and disclosed that N1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the rifle.

“He further revealed that the purpose of acquiring the firearm was to enable him to rise to the position of a ‘Boss’ within his current kidnapping gang before ultimately breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal gang,” the PPRO said.

She added that investigators had commenced further verification of the transaction to establish the identities of other individuals connected with the attempted purchase and determine the extent of the criminal network.

“The ongoing investigation is expected to provide further leads into the circumstances surrounding the attempted acquisition, identify other persons connected with the illicit arms transaction, establish the full extent of the network, and unravel the broader criminal activities associated with the gang,” the statement further added.

Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the command would sustain its intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state.

A young man identified as Shamsu Muhammad has died while in custody at the Gwauron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano, following injuries reportedly sustained during an altercation with another inmate.
According to a report by Freedom Radio, Shamsu was allegedly bitten on the leg by another inmate after he reportedly refused a demand for sexual relations.

The deceased’s uncle, Bello Muhammad, said the incident occurred after Shamsu was remanded at the correctional facility by Court No. 27 in Nomansland, Kano, presided over by Justice Hauwa Abba Musa, over an alleged offence.

Bello said Shamsu had told him that an unnamed inmate approached him and allegedly attempted to engage him in a sexual act.

According to him, Shamsu refused, after which the inmate allegedly bit him severely, causing an injury that reportedly affected the veins around his leg.

“He told us that the inmate asked him to engage in a sexual act, but he refused. The inmate then bit him, causing serious injury to his leg,” Bello said.

He further alleged that the inmate had previously been involved in similar incidents involving other inmates.

“This person does nothing but look for men, especially newly admitted inmates. If someone refuses, he bites him, and sometimes it takes several people to pull him away,” Bello alleged.

Following the injury, Shamsu was reportedly taken to a hospital for treatment, he later died after spending few days receiving medical attention.

The family’s lawyer, Barrister Garzali Dattijo Ahmed, said they had approached the court seeking official documents of Shamsu’s death so that the family could formally petition the relevant authorities, including the correctional service and the Kano Emirate authorities.

“We want to write a formal complaint to the authorities because sane and mentally unstable inmates are being kept together at Gwauron Dutse, and the mentally unstable ones are killing those who are mentally sound. We cannot accept this situation,” Ahmed said.

However, the Kano State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has rejected the allegation that Shamsu was attacked because he refused a sexual advance.

The command’s spokesperson, Musbahu Lawal Kofar Nassarawa, said an internal investigation did not support the claim, while confirming that Shamsu sustained an injury and was provided with medical attention.

“Our investigation shows that the incident did not happen that way. We have strict measures in place, and it would not be possible for such a situation to occur as alleged,” Kofar Nassarawa said.

He added that Shamsu was properly attended to after sustaining the injury.

“It is true that he sustained an injury, and the necessary measures were taken to care for him. He was given medical attention and was eventually granted bail,” he said.

The conflicting accounts have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Shamsu Muhammad’s death and the safety and welfare of inmates at the facility.

The deceased’s family said they will decide on the legal and administrative steps they will take to seek clarification and accountability over the circumstances surrounding his death.

In May 2025, There was also widespread controversy over allegations of increasing cases of inmates seeking sexual relations with other male inmates in Kano correctional facilities.

The controversy began after an inmate Shehu Adamu, reportedly raised a complaint of sexual assault, although the correctional authorities denied the allegation, sparking intense debate among members of the public.

Troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have restored calm following a clash between farmers and herders in Dong Community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A military source told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 1:35 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in a riverside area of the community.

Following reports of the confrontation, troops deployed at the Dong Check Point quickly mobilised to the area to prevent the situation from escalating.

“Upon arrival, the troops brought the situation under control and facilitated efforts to restore calm in the affected area,” the source said.

During the altercation, a farmer identified as John Ajah sustained injuries and was subsequently evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

The source said the troops also engaged relevant community stakeholders as part of efforts to resolve the dispute and prevent further tensions.

“Following the prompt intervention of the troops and engagement with relevant community stakeholders, the dispute was resolved and normalcy restored,” the source added.

Security personnel have continued to maintain vigilance in the community to forestall any further escalation and support peaceful coexistence between farming and herding communities.