Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested 16 suspects for various alleged crimes ranging from conspiracy, kidnapping, aiding and abetting kidnapping, and attempted murder.

Among the suspects are three minors identified as Ali Umaru, 16; Alhaji Mosu, 17; and Abacha Babagana, 14, who were arrested for unlawful possession of property suspected to have been stolen.

At a press conference in Ilorin on Friday, the State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, disclosed that items recovered from the suspects included nine cartons of i17 Air Flip mobile phones, 10 cartons of i17 Air Pro Flip mobile phones, four Oraimo, New Age and Rex power banks of various capacities, and two wristwatches, among others.

He said the suspects were arrested on July 20, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m. during a stop-and-search operation along the Oko-Olowo/Alapa axis of the state.

Adekimi said the suspects have been remanded at the appropriate juvenile correctional centre pending further proceedings.

The police commissioner further revealed that one Aliyu Mohammed was also arrested for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping, aiding and abetting kidnapping, and attempted murder.

According to the CP, the state police command received a distress report on July 15, 2026, of a kidnap incident in Wande Community under the Oro-Ago Kingdom, where armed hoodlums abducted one Miss Shekinat Mukaila, 26.

During the attack, her father, the Baale of the community, sustained gunshot injuries while attempting to resist the assailants.

Following the intervention of the command, the community was secured and the injured Baale was evacuated to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where he received medical treatment and has since been discharged. The abducted victim has also been rescued.

Six other members of a kidnap syndicate—Mohammed Jamiu, Fashola Abdulfatai, Daniel Gideon, Adegoke Oladimeji, Aliyu Yusuf and Abubakar Ahmed—have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of one Suleiman Rilwan, 29, since July 26, 2026.

“Investigation subsequently established a criminal conspiracy involving the principal suspect, Jamiu Mohammed, and his accomplices.

“During interrogation, Jamiu Mohammed voluntarily confessed to his involvement in the commission of the offence and provided useful information that led detectives to an abandoned well in a bush in Offa, where the corpse of Suleiman Rilwan was recovered.

“The confession further generated actionable investigative leads, resulting in the arrest of five additional suspects believed to have played various roles in the planning and execution of the crime,” the police commissioner added.

Five other suspects arrested for alleged involvement in cultism and membership of an unlawful society are Oluwafemi Bukoye, Israel Ogungbe, Adesoye Abdulwarith, Dayo Sesan and Ismail Abdul Malik.

Four others arrested for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide are Ahmed Alhaji Ahmadu, Abubakar Mohammed, Mustapha Mohammed and Mohammed Tsado.

The suspects are allegedly connected with the murder of one Mohammadu A. on June 3, 2026.

“Preliminary investigation established that on June 3, 2026, the deceased had gone out to graze livestock alongside his younger brothers.

“While attempting to locate the route back to their settlement, they approached some individuals working on a nearby farmland for directions.

“The deceased thereafter proceeded with one of the individuals who offered to guide him, while his brothers remained behind awaiting his return.

“When he failed to return after several hours, a search party was initiated, leading to the discovery of his lifeless body in a nearby bush bearing multiple injuries.

“Further investigation established that his motorcycle and a sum of N500,000 believed to have been in his possession were missing,” the police commissioner added.

He said detectives immediately secured and processed the crime scene, while the victim’s remains were evacuated to a medical facility for a post-mortem examination.

A 30-year-old woman, Habse Ubale, has been killed in an alleged witchcraft-related attack in Garin Malam Village, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, while one suspect has been arrested and two others remain at large.

The Bauchi State Police Command disclosed that the incident occurred in the early hours of July 28, 2026, after suspects allegedly stormed the residence of 38-year-old Audu Sabo following accusations that his wife, Habse Ubale, was a witch.

According to the police, the prime suspect, Garba Daudu, 35, allegedly conspired with two other suspects identified as Ya’u Garba and Musa, who reportedly trespassed into the family’s home and launched a violent attack.

“During the assault, Habse Ubale was allegedly attacked with a machete, while Audu Sabo and two minors, 12-year-old Sale Audu and 14-year-old Yakubu Audu, were beaten with sticks, leaving all four victims with varying degrees of injuries,” the statement said.

Police operatives, assisted by local hunters and vigilantes, responded swiftly after receiving the report and evacuated the victims to the General Hospital in Gamawa.

“Habse Ubale was, however, confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while one of the injured victims remains on admission. The other two victims were treated and discharged after receiving medical attention,” the statement explained.

The police said one suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the two remaining suspects who fled the area.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the attack, warning against jungle justice and acts of violence driven by superstition.

He assured residents that “the Command is committed to ensuring justice is served” and appealed to members of the public to remain law-abiding and provide credible information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects.

At least 14 members of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces were killed in a coordinated terrorist attack and subsequent ambush in N’Guigmi, Diffa Region, southeastern Niger, on Friday morning.

Security expert Zagazola Makama disclosed this in a report posted on his official X handle.

He said the attack occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on July 31, when heavily armed assailants approached the town from the Sabon Carré neighbourhood, southwest of N’Guigmi, and launched an assault on a National Guard position located near the town’s cemetery.

According to sources, the initial attack prompted a military response as reinforcements moved to pursue the fleeing attackers.

However, the responding troops reportedly ran into a well-prepared ambush about one kilometre south of the National Guard position, resulting in heavy casualties.

Preliminary reports indicate that 14 security personnel were killed, comprising 10 soldiers of the Niger Armed Forces (FAN), including one officer, and four members of the National Guard.