Metro
Police bust Kano syndicate that impersonated spirits to defraud residents
The Kano State Police Command has uncovered a fraud syndicate that allegedly impersonated spirits, locally referred to as Aljannu, to deceive and extort money from unsuspecting residents.
The Command said two suspects were arrested in connection with the crime, while 28 SIM cards used in the alleged fraud were recovered.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the suspects, Ahmad Ibrahim, 24, and Isma’il Muhammad, 22, both from Dandinshe Quarters in Dala Local Government Area, were arrested on April 10, 2026, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
Police said the arrest followed credible intelligence about suspicious phone activities traced to the suspects.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to using multiple GSM numbers to call victims while disguising their voices to sound like spirits.
“They used voice modulation to make their voices sound like ‘Aljannu’,” the police said in the statement.
“They would instruct victims to recite certain incantations and threaten them with misfortune if they failed to comply.”
The Command further alleged that the suspects used fear and spiritual manipulation to extort money and valuables from members of the public, claiming they had defrauded over 500 victims through the scheme.
The recovered 28 SIM cards are currently being examined as part of ongoing investigations.
Police also said efforts are underway to track and arrest other members of the syndicate who are still at large.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the officers involved in the operation for what he described as “swift action and technical expertise” in dismantling the network.
He also warned criminals who exploit people’s beliefs for financial gain, saying such tactics would not be tolerated.
“Criminal elements are continuously devising new methods to exploit the fears and beliefs of citizens,” the commissioner warned.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with unknown callers demanding money or giving spiritual instructions.
The Command added that no genuine spiritual or religious authority communicates through phone calls to demand money or threaten individuals with harm.
“Residents should not transfer money, share personal details, or follow instructions from suspicious callers,” the statement advised.
“Report any suspicious activity immediately to the nearest police station.”
Metro
Man dies trapped inside Kano well while recovering mobile phone
A 45-year-old man, Yusuf Usman, has died after he became trapped inside a well in Kwa Town, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, while attempting to retrieve his mobile phone.
The incident was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at about 11:13 am, according to the statement.
The Fire Service said it received a distress call from one of its staff, Kabiru Tata, after which rescue officers were swiftly deployed to the scene.
“On arrival, the rescue team found the man inside a well that had been converted into a waste disposal pit,” the statement revealed.
The victim reportedly entered the well to retrieve his phone after it fell inside but was unable to find a way to climb out.
“The rescue team successfully brought him out of the well unconscious. He was later confirmed dead, reportedly due to oxygen depletion and heat inside the well,” the Fire Service said.
The body was handed over to the Ward Head of Kwa Town, Alhaji Mukhtar.
Metro
Five abductees in Kwara community feared dead in bandits captivity
At least five worshippers kidnapped during the violent attack on ECWA Church in Omugo, located in the Oro Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, are reported to have died in terrorists’ captivity.
Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Security, Zubair Olaitan, confirmed to DAILY POST on Wednesday that the report is true.
The tragic development emerged from reports filtering out of the terrorists’ camp, including accounts provided by one of the abductees who reportedly escaped from the armed gang.
Informed sources revealed that the wife of the church pastor, Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, is among those reportedly killed alongside four other abductees.
According to one of the sources, “Five of the Omugo abductees have died in captivity,” though the exact details surrounding the deaths remain sketchy.
“No details of how and where they died,” the source further stated, citing information allegedly provided by one of the victims who escaped from the kidnappers’ den.
The source added that the tragic development has already been relayed to the affected families.
“The sad news has been broken to the families of the deceased,” the source said, adding that relatives of the victims were thrown into mourning following the revelation.
The victims were among worshippers abducted on March 22, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen invaded ECWA Church, Omugo, during a church service in the Oro Ago area.
Witnesses had narrated how the attackers opened fire within and around the church premises, causing panic among congregants before whisking about eight worshippers away into nearby forests.
Following the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly established contact with the families through the father of one of the abductees and demanded a ₦1 billion ransom for the release of the victims.
Sources, however, said the amount was later reviewed downward during negotiations.
Alleged efforts by relatives to secure the victims’ freedom, including the delivery of about ₦20 million, food supplies, and hot drinks requested by the abductors, proved abortive, as the captives were reportedly not released.
Security agencies had earlier disclosed that joint rescue efforts were ongoing to locate the victims and apprehend those behind the attack.
Official confirmation from authorities regarding the reported deaths could not be obtained at the time of filing this report on Wednesday.
Metro
Soldier, five others killed in Adamawa road crash
Six people died in a road crash at the Murke section of the Yola–Song Road in Adamawa State.
Sources said on Wednesday evening that the accident involved a Hummer bus and a military patrol vehicle, which collided while travelling in opposite directions.
A witness said five passengers in the Hummer bus were burnt beyond recognition after the vehicle caught fire following the collision, while a soldier died at the scene.
A seventh person, who was severely affected, reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries and was found unconscious at the scene.
The Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, was on her way to Mubi for an official engagement when she arrived at the scene of the accident.
An aide to the deputy governor disclosed that she immediately directed members of her convoy to evacuate the victims to the Specialist Hospital, Yola.
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