Operatives of the Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested a 46-year-old man for allegedly vandalising the perimeter fence of the Great Green Wall at the Gabasmari Forest Reserve in Birniwa Local Government Area of the state.

The arrest followed intelligence reports of the vandalism of government property across the state. Several government facilities, including roofing sheets, doors and windows, were reportedly removed by criminals.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the NSCDC Jigawa State Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC Badruddeen Tijjani, the command said one of the suspects, Abdullahi Muhammad of Kasaaga Village in Guri Local Government Area, was arrested on Saturday at about 11:50 am by vigilant NSCDC operatives.

“The successful operation followed credible information and the collaborative efforts of a local farmer, Amadu, and the Birniwa Zonal Forestry Officer, Zakar Yau Muhammad, whose prompt action led to the suspect’s apprehension,” he said.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly vandalised approximately 10 metres of fencing wire protecting the Gabasmari Forest Reserve, adding that the damaged fence, constructed about seven years ago, forms part of a major environmental protection project.

It said the state commandant, CC Muhammad Ingawa, condemned the recent surge in vandalism and warned criminals in the state to desist or face severe punishment, stressing that operatives of the corps were strategically deployed across different locations to prevent criminal activities.

Abia State Police Command has clarified that no shaved human hair was found inside the pot recovered from the room of an arrested barber in the state.

The barber, simply identified as Emeka, was arrested last week by police officers, during which a fetish pot was recovered from him.

However, the command explained that only a native pot, carved images and other suspected fetish items were found in the barber’s room during a search of his residence, and not human hair as was erroneously reported.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, stated this over the weekend while responding to enquiries from DAILY POST about the incident.

According to the police spokesperson, a report of threat to life was lodged against the suspect, Emeka, by an individual, prompting the police to begin an investigation into the petition.

DSP Chinaka said that during a search of the barber’s home, a pot and some other items were found in his room, but maintained that no human hair was among the recovered items.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect confessed that the carved images found in his house represented the ancestors he worships as a practitioner of traditional religion.

She downplayed the sensation generated by reports claiming that human hair was recovered, urging the Abia public to disregard them.

“No shaved human hair was found inside the pot. Nothing like that.

“When he was asked about the carved images found in his house, he said they represented his ancestors, saying those were the representatives of the ancestors he worships.

“Investigations are ongoing, but the truth is that no shaved human hair was found in the house. Content creators and bloggers are looking for followers,” DSP Maureen Chinaka said.

A staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, has been electrocuted while repairing a fault on an electricity pole opposite the Federal Polytechnic Satellite Campus in Ado Ekiti, over the weekend.

This is the second incident in the area since 2012, when a staff under the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Samuel Isaac was electrocuted while also on duty.

According to report, the incident occurred opposite the Federal Polytechnic Satellite Campus, where the BEDC staff was working to restore power to residents in the area following a disruption.

According to eyewitnesses, the man was on top of the electric pole when he suddenly became weak and appeared disoriented.

His fellow BEDC staff were the first to assist him before operatives of the Ekiti State Fire and Emergency Service arrived to help bring him down from the pole Geographic Reference

He was thereafter rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Hospital sources confirmed that he later died while receiving treatment.