The Yobe State Police Command has arrested five suspects allegedly involved in the vandalisation of railway infrastructure within the state and recovered 85 vandalised railway steel sleepers.

The command, in a statement through its Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this on Saturday, noting that in collaboration with members of the Hunters Group, the suspects were arrested in the Nannawaji area of Gujba LGA while transporting the vandalised railway steel sleepers en route to Potiskum LGA.

“The suspects were arrested in a Mitsubishi Canter vehicle with registration number YAB-234YJ (Abuja), loaded with 85 railway steel sleepers suspected to have been unlawfully removed from railway installations.

“The suspects are Abdullahi Habu, 27, of Potiskum LGA; Abba Muhammed, 18, of Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA; Salisu Adamu, 20, of Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA; Isiyaka Adamu, 20, of Potiskum LGA; and Muhammed Muhammadu, 23, of Kukareta, Damaturu LGA,” the command said.

It said that during preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed that the alleged mastermind behind the vandalisation is one Abba Chari, 45, a resident of the Yadin Buni area of Gujba LGA.

According to the police command, investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting other accomplices and ensuring the diligent prosecution of all persons connected to the crime.

Commissioner of Police Usman Kanfani Jibrin, in the statement, warned criminal elements to desist from acts of vandalism and other related offences.

He further reiterated that anyone found engaging in vandalisation of public infrastructure or any criminal activity will face the full wrath of the law.

The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued three kidnapped victims who spent 40 days in captivity and arrested five suspected informants allegedly linked to the kidnapping syndicate. 

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the victims were rescued during a joint security operation involving officers from Fushin Kada and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Hunkuyi. 

Hassan stated that the operation followed sustained intelligence gathering, strategic surveillance and coordinated efforts that led operatives to a suspected bandits’ hideout.

 “Upon sighting the advancing security personnel, the bandits fled the area, abandoning the victims who were subsequently rescued unharmed,” he said. 

According to him, the rescued victims were identified as Ekechikwu Omale, Ummi Salisu of Kudan LGA in Kaduna State, and Pastor Daniel Tanko Bawa of Tufa Village in Niger State, adding that the victims received medical attention at the police clinic before being reunited with their families. 

The spokesman added that five suspected informants were arrested during the investigation. Preliminary findings indicated that the suspects allegedly provided information and logistical support to the kidn@ppers. 

“The suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation,” he stated. 

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the professionalism and collaboration among security agencies that led to the successful operation. 

He reiterated the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.

A road accident has killed five people and injured 12 others along the Nkalagu axis of the Enugu–Abakaliki Federal Highway in Ebonyi State.

The Ebonyi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Daniel Asanya, confirmed the incident and described it as a lone crash involving a commercial bus.

Asanya stated that the accident occurred at Edema Bridge in Nkalagu, Ishielu Local Government Area, when a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Abakaliki to Enugu crashed.

According to him, the vehicle, bearing registration number RSH 231 XE, was carrying 17 passengers, comprising 12 males, four females and one female child.

The Sector Commander said five occupants lost their lives in the crash, including four male passengers and a female child, while the remaining 12 passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He attributed the accident to excessive speed, disclosing that items recovered from the scene included three mobile phones, personal belongings contained in two sack bags and a quarter bag of rice.

He said the injured victims were taken to Annunciation Hospital, Emene, Enugu State, for medical treatment, while the deceased were deposited in a morgue.

Asanya urged motorists to exercise caution while driving, particularly on sections of the Enugu–Abakaliki Highway undergoing construction and maintenance.

He also called on the construction company handling the road project to provide adequate warning and reflective signs to alert motorists to ongoing work and enhance road safety.