Abia State Police Command has impounded fifteen vehicles and arrested fifteen suspects across the State for violating registration and number plate regulations.

According to the Police Command, the actions were taken in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police,  Olatunji Disu  and the State Command’s commitment to enhance security.

A statement signed by DSP Maureen Chinaka, the Spokesperson of the Abia Police Command, explained that the State-wide enforcement operation was targeting unregistered vehicles and vehicles bearing obscured, defaced, altered, or unlawfully covered registration number plates.

“Within the period under review, the Command successfully impounded a total of fifteen (15) vehicles found  violating vehicle registration and number plate regulations across various locations in the State. 

“Fifteen  (15) suspects were arrested for offences connected to the use of unregistered vehicles and tampered or improperly displayed registration plates.

“Nine (9) cases have been charged to court, while other related cases that are still under  investigation will be concluded and diligently prosecuted”, DSP Chinaka said.

The Command commended the operational discipline of officers involved in the exercise and reiterated that the enforcement is aimed at strengthening public safety, improving crime prevention, and denying criminal elements opportunities to exploit vehicle identification loopholes.

Kidnapped pregnant woman, her children and a sibling in Igboho community, Oyo State, have been released hours after Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho issued a two-hour ultimatum.

DAILY POST reports that Igboho had on Saturday issued a stern warning to Fulani community leaders in the community, asking the kidnappers to release the victims within two hours.

The Yoruba activist also warned the trouble makers, citing the rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity in the country, particularly the Southwest.

In a viral video, Igboho, who spoke in Yoruba language while addressing some stakeholders, could be heard accusing some members of the Fulani community of kidnapping residents, referencing the incidents involving a pregnant woman.

Igboho lamented that someone who took ransom to the bandits was murdered by the assailants.

“The person who brought the ransom, you still killed him and spared only one person,” Igboho furiously said, while warning that such incidents must not repeat.

A few hours after Igboho’s ultimatum, a video clip emerged on social media showing members of the community celebrating the return of the victims.

Although details surrounding their release are still very sketchy, it was gathered that the kidnappers heeded Igboho’s warning and granted freedom to the victims.

The Kebbi State Police Command has neutralised a suspected kidnap kingpin, identified as Jiji Mujugu, and arrested another gang member during an operation in Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to him, police operatives, in collaboration with other security agencies, acted on credible intelligence and arrested Bube Tukur of Yarma Village in Suru Local Government Area, who resides in Kasuwar Daji, Bagudo.

Usman said investigations revealed that Tukur belonged to an eight-member gang allegedly led by Mujugu and linked to the abduction of a resident, Alhaji Abu Geza.

He added that one locally fabricated pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from the suspect.

According to the police spokesman, Tukur subsequently led security operatives to the gang leader’s hideout.

Usman said Mujugu opened fire on security personnel and attempted to escape when operatives arrived at the location.

He said the operatives responded and neutralised the suspect during the exchange of gunfire, recovering another locally fabricated pistol from him.

The police also rescued the abducted victim, Alhaji Abu Geza, unharmed from the hideout.

According to the statement, the gang had been terrorising several communities, including Geza, Adawa, Matsinkai, Sharabi, Illela, Suru, Dakin Gari and Bagudo, as well as surrounding areas.

The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.

Usman added that the Commissioner of Police commended residents for their cooperation and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.