Katsina State Hisbah Board has directed its personnel to obtain valid court orders or arrest warrants before entering hotels or private residences in the course of their official duties.

The directive was contained in an internal circular issued by the board and addressed to all local government commanders and headquarters personnel.

According to the circular, the decision followed a resolution reached at one of the board’s regular meetings and took immediate effect.

The board directed that officers must obtain a valid court order or arrest warrant before conducting searches or entering hotels and residential premises, except where the Commandant General or existing laws expressly provide otherwise.

It said the directive was introduced to ensure compliance with existing laws governing law enforcement operations and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The board also warned commanders and other personnel against authorising or carrying out searches of hotels or private residences without the required legal approval, except in circumstances permitted by law.

It instructed all local government commanders to communicate the directive to officers under their command and ensure full compliance.

The circular emphasised the need for personnel to respect the constitutional rights of citizens and carry out their duties in accordance with due process and the rule of law.

The board warned that any officer who violates the directive would face disciplinary measures in addition to any legal consequences arising from such actions.

The Delta State Police Command has successfully foiled an attempt to kidnap a pastor and a retired school principal in Ughelli.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, disclosed on Wednesday that on July 31, 2026, operatives of ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, acting on credible intelligence, foiled a planned kidnapping following information that Jeremiah, aged 26 (surname withheld), had allegedly attempted to recruit an individual into a kidnapping syndicate with a view to abducting a pastor and a retired school principal in Ughelli.

“The intelligence was immediately acted upon, leading to the arrest of the suspect at his duty post in Ughelli.

“A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of one single-barrel gun and two live cartridges.”

He revealed that the suspect is undergoing further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the officers for the successful operation and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and the relentless pursuit of violent criminals.

He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing efforts to keep Delta State safe.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has cleared the Commander of its Mining Marshals unit, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, of allegations linking him to the diversion of N2 billion and an alleged cover-up surrounding the death of an operative, Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) Levi Agada, during an operation at a mining site.

The clearance came as the Corps announced disciplinary measures against 79 personnel, including the dismissal of two Mining Marshals operatives for unlawfully supplying firearms to illegal miners.

The Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, represented by the Corps’ spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this on Wednesday.

He said investigations carried out by the Corps found no evidence implicating Onoja or the management of the Mining Marshals unit.

Audi said comprehensive investigations had cleared Onoja, the lead prosecutor, and other members of the management team of any alleged complicity in the allegations that had trailed the unit.

“Allegations suggesting otherwise were found to be false and without factual basis,” he said.

The clarification comes months after allegations circulated linking the Mining Marshals commander and members of his team to the controversial death of the officer during an operation in Nasarawa State, as well as claims of a N2 billion diversion.

Onoja had consistently rejected the allegations, describing them as false and part of a coordinated campaign to discredit the Mining Marshals and frustrate the unit’s operations against illegal mining syndicates.

The NSCDC also announced sanctions against 79 personnel of the Corps for various acts of misconduct.

Audi disclosed that two members of the Mining Marshals unit were dismissed and recommended for prosecution for unlawfully supplying firearms to illegal miners.

“Consequently, both personnel have been dismissed from the service and recommended for prosecution in accordance with the law,” Audi said.

However, DAILY POST reports that the police had earlier fingered Onoja in connection with the death of Agada.