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Police arrest ex-Okpebholo aide Kelly Okungbowa for allegedly assaulting officer

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The Edo State Police Command has arrested Mr Kelly Okungbowa, a former aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo and former Coordinator of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), for allegedly assaulting a police officer on duty.

DAILY POST reports that the Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Benin City.

Ikoedem said the suspect is currently in police custody and would be charged in court.

The command’s spokesperson, who urged members of the public to respect officers while carrying out their lawful responsibilities, noted that no individual is above the law.

According to her, everyone should respect police officers performing their lawful duties, as no one is above the law.

It was gathered that the former governor’s aide allegedly assaulted the officer while he was carrying out his lawful duties on Saturday evening, May 30, 2026, along the Upper Sakponba axis in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

He was alleged to have attacked the officer during an encounter, prompting his arrest by police operatives.

Reacting to the incident, the President of the Talakawa’s Rights Group, Kola Edokpayi, condemned the alleged assault and described it as unacceptable.

Edokpayi, in a statement, commended the officers involved for displaying restraint and professionalism despite what he described as provocation.

He opined that law enforcement officers deserve respect as public servants committed to safeguarding lives and property.

He, however, added that grievances against security personnel should be channelled through established procedures rather than confrontations.

“Given Okungbowa’s influence and connections within government circles, it would have been more appropriate for him to report any perceived misconduct through official channels instead of engaging in a face-off with armed police officers,” he added.

DAILY POST recalls that Kelly Okungbowa, who was appointed Coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team, had earlier served as Chairman of the Committee set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo for the recovery of government vehicles.

The governor, however, on March 14, 2025, sacked and suspended him indefinitely as Coordinator of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) following multiple public complaints of extortion, misconduct and a tragic incident in which a two-year-old child was killed during a vehicle seizure operation by the task force in Benin City.

He was also arrested on March 17, 2025, by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged naira abuse.

He was arrested following a viral video in which he was seen spraying and mutilating the naira at a bar on March 9, 2025, in Benin City.

Okungbowa was subsequently granted bail after being charged to court.

The former aide to Governor Okpebholo was also reported to have assaulted a female journalist with the Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS), Mrs Juliet Enabulele, and a cameraman, Mr Bright Osifo, on December 15, 2025.

The incident reportedly occurred at the Festival Hall of Government House, Benin City, during an empowerment programme for 250 persons with physical disabilities organised by Mrs Remi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.



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Police foil bandits’ attack, rescue kidnap victims in Katsina

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Katsina State Police Command has foiled an attack by suspected bandits in Fulalawa village, Musawa Local Government Area of the state, rescuing several kidnap victims and recovering two motorcycles.

The command’s spokesman, Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the incident occurred on August 13, 2026, at about 11:30 am.

According to him, the Musawa Police Division received a distress call reporting that suspected armed bandits had attacked the village with dangerous weapons.

Aliyu said the attackers broke into local shops, abducted several residents and rustled livestock during the attack.

He said a joint security team was immediately deployed to the area, adding that the bandits opened fire when they sighted the team.

“On sighting the team, the bandits opened fire. The joint team responded with superior tactics and firepower, forcing the attackers to abandon their captives and flee into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot injuries,” he said.

The police spokesman said all the kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed and had been reunited with their families.

He added that two operational motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing bandits were recovered at the scene.

Aliyu said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.



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Two arrested for allegedly impersonating soldiers years after leaving military school

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The Niger State Police Command has arrested two men accused of impersonating military personnel and allegedly assaulting a laundry attendant in the Suleja area of the state over a missing mobile phone.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspects, identified as Abraham Ashiwel and Michael Okonkwo, both of Bakassi area, Suleja, were arrested after they allegedly stormed a laundry shop in Angwan-Gwari area of Suleja on August 8.

He explained that the suspects assaulted the shop attendant over an alleged missing phone before operatives of ‘B’ Division, Suleja, commenced investigation and arrested them.

During interrogation, Abiodun said the suspects allegedly confessed to impersonating military personnel in the community for years.

The Police command said investigation revealed that both men had attended the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, but were expelled in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

Items recovered from the suspects include a military camouflage trouser, two combat T-shirts, two pairs of desert boots, two identity cards and two jackknives.

The police said the suspects remain in custody for further investigation and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further action.



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Contractor goes into hiding as 3-storey building collapses in Abia

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The contractor handling an ongoing three-storey building in Umuozue area of Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Abia State has reportedly gone into hiding, following the collapse of the house on Thursday morning.

The building which is located at No.7 Chima Otuka Street in Osisioma, collapsed at about 3:am on Thursday, eight hours after site workers had closed for work the previous evening.

The falling house also damaged a car and other property belonging to a tenant living in an adjascent house.

The cause of the collapse has not yet been established by government agencies but some residents of Umuozue community disclosed that Parapet works were completed on the house on Wednesday evening by site workers.

Responding to the development, officials of Osisioma Ngwa town planning office, sealed the site, to allow thorough investigation.



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