Traffic movement along the Lagos/Ore/Benin Expressway was severely disrupted on Wednesday after truck drivers blocked the Oniparaga section of the highway over allegations of extortion by police officers in Ondo State.

The protest caused a major gridlock on the busy route, leaving commuters, motorists and passengers stranded for several hours as movement on the expressway slowed to a halt.

Frustrated travelers called on relevant authorities to urgently intervene and resolve the situation to ease the hardship faced by road users trapped in the congestion.

However, the Ondo State Police Command denied allegations linking the incident to extortion by police personnel.

In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, described reports circulating on social media as false and misleading.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the disruption was caused by a tanker driver who intentionally blocked the highway following a disagreement with officers performing lawful duties.

The command insisted that the incident was not connected to any protest against police extortion, as widely reported.

The police further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, had directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel to the area to restore normalcy, manage traffic flow and ensure the safety of commuters.

The command urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misinformation surrounding the incident and advised residents to rely only on verified updates from official channels.

The Kaduna State Police Command has detained a couple in connection with the death of their teenage son in Kurmin-Mashi area of Kaduna State.
The deceased, identified simply as Sadiq and believed to be between 12 and 14 years old, reportedly died on Tuesday following an alleged beating by his mother, Hauwa’u Adamu, popularly known as Maman Sadiq and her husband, Sharhabil.

The incident which occurred on Dahiru Road in Kurmin-Mashi was made public by an online platform K-Mashi Voice.

According to neighbours featured in the report, trouble began on Monday after Sadiq was sent by his mother to withdraw N5,000 from a Point of Sale (PoS) operator. However, suspicions were raised when it was allegedly discovered that two separate withdrawals had been made, while the boy returned home with only N5,000.

It was gathered that his stepfather Sharhabil accompanied him back to the PoS outlet, where the operator reportedly confirmed that two withdrawals had been carried out.

Following the discovery, the couple allegedly accused the teenager of dishonesty and subjected him to severe corporal punishment.

A female neighbour reportedly heard the boy crying around 10 p.m. on Monday and intervened, pleading with the couple to stop the punishment. The appeals were allegedly ignored.

Sources further disclosed that the neighbour later contacted a local Islamic cleric, who visited the family and advised the couple against the severity of their actions. However, the warning was reportedly not heeded.

Residents said the boy was left in that condition overnight, while his death was confirmed the following morning.

Police from the Kurmin-Mashi Division subsequently responded to the incident and evacuated the body to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, also known as Dutse General Hospital, for an autopsy and other examinations to determine the cause of death.

The deceased’s mother and her husband have since been taken into custody as police continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

Troops of the Nigerian Army under 1 Brigade, Counter-Terrorism Operation 6, have rescued three kidnap victims who escaped from a terrorist hideout after spending about three months in captivity in Zamfara State.

This was made known in a report by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region.

Makama said the victims were rescued at about 8:45am on June 22, 2026, by troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Bagega in Anka Local Government Area of the state.

He disclosed that the victims managed to escape from their captors’ hideout before making contact with military personnel in the area.

“The troops immediately secured the victims and provided initial assistance before evacuating them for medical attention,” he said.

Makama further stated that the rescued victims are currently undergoing medical evaluation and treatment following their time in captivity.

He said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts by troops to dismantle terrorist enclaves and secure the release of abducted persons across Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West region.

The report added that military operations against terrorist and criminal groups remain ongoing in the area.