Armed bandits on Thursday attacked Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

In the fresh attack on the community, one person identified as Mohammed Abubakar Ndapkada was abducted by the daring bandits, raising renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in the area.

The incident occurred between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., according to community sources.

Local sources told NupekoTV that shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted members of the community to confirm that Mohammed was in their custody. They also handed him the phone to speak with his brother.

During the brief conversation, Mohammed reportedly told his brother that he had been blindfolded and did not know where he was being held.

As of the time of filing this report, the abductors had not communicated any ransom demand or conditions for his release.

The latest incident comes barely weeks after security operatives repelled a similar attack in Lata Nna, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed bandits to communities in Patigi Local Government Area.

Residents have again renewed their appeals to the state government, the Federal Government, and security agencies to urgently strengthen security operations across the area and ensure the safe release of the abducted victim.

The community has repeatedly raised the alarm over the worsening security situation in the area, with residents sending SOS messages to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and making several appeals through the media for increased military presence and sustained security intervention in Lata Nna and neighbouring communities.

They warned that, without urgent action, more communities in the area could remain vulnerable to recurring attacks by bandits.

The Yobe State Police Command has recorded major operational successes, with 407 criminal cases handled and 152 convictions secured within the year under review.

The Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Damaturu.

He said the 407 cases comprised 31 murder cases, 35 rape cases, eight kidnapping cases, 11 armed robbery cases and 322 other offences.

“A total of 448 suspects were arrested in connection with the various crimes.

“152 suspects were convicted, 127 cases are before competent courts, 69 cases are pending, 17 case files are awaiting legal advice, while 42 cases resulted in acquittal,” he said.

The CP, while highlighting key arrests, said operatives uncovered a suspected drug warehouse in Potiskum, arrested a suspected drug baron and recovered eight cartons of assorted illicit drugs, 1.5 Ghana-Must-Go bags of Tramadol and Exzol tablets, as well as N835,500 suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking.

He noted that police repelled violent resistance from members of the syndicate and were intensifying efforts to arrest fleeing accomplices.

“The Command also carried out coordinated raids on criminal hideouts and drug joints in Jakusko LGA, leading to the arrest of 14 suspected drug dealers and users and the recovery of over 300 sachets and packages of Tramadol, Indian hemp, Vega tablets and other prohibited substances,” he added.

The Police Commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, proactive crime prevention and the protection of lives and property.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced one Sunmonu Olasunkanmi Thaoban to four years’ imprisonment for money laundering.

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Sunmonu on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Meanwhile, the defendant pleaded guilty to both count charges.

After his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, H. U. Kofarnaisa, reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

The pressing judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko found Sunmonu guilty and sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment, with an option of a N1.8 million fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s black G-Wagon Jeep and mobile device to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In a related development, the court also convicted and sentenced four Bureau de Change, BDC, operators to 12 months’ imprisonment each for engaging in illegal foreign exchange transactions.

The convicts, Umar Muhammad Lamido, Yusuf Musa Yusuf, Abdulmuhimin Mahmud, and Muhammed Musa, were prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, on separate one-count charges bordering on illegal foreign exchange operations.

The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, H. U. Kofarnaisa, reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Aluko convicted the four defendants and sentenced each of them to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of a N100,000 fine.