Firefighters in Kwara State, on Thursday averted a major fire disaster at Olori town, along the new Jebba highway.

The incident occurred at about 09:08hrs, following a petrol tanker spill incident.

The accident involved a petroleum tanker with registration number OYO 45 AA, loaded with approximately 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and conveying the product from Lagos to Abuja.

According to information gathered at the scene, the tanker driver noticed a strange sound while on transit and immediately pulled over to inspect the vehicle. 

After checking and finding no obvious fault, he was about to resume his journey when the tank containing the PMS suddenly detached from the truck head, resulting in a potentially hazardous situation.

The incident occurred within a densely populated community surrounded by buildings, shops and vehicles, thereby presenting a significant risk of fire outbreak and possible loss of lives and property.

Upon arrival, the firefighters immediately commenced preventive firefighting operations by drenching the surrounding area and the PMS tanker with water to prevent any possibility of spontaneous ignition and further escalation.

The firefighters, however, successfully mitigated the immediate danger and maintained a standby operation at the scene until the PMS was safely syphoned into another empty tanker.

Chief Fire Officer of the state fire service, Alabi Muhammed, commended the professionalism and vigilance of the firefighters, emphasising that incidents involving petroleum products required immediate and coordinated intervention due to their highly flammable nature.

He further advised tanker operators and drivers transporting petroleum products to conduct thorough inspections of their vehicles before and during long-distance journeys, and to immediately alert emergency responders whenever any unusual sound, leakage, mechanical fault or other warning sign is observed.

He also urged communities and motorists to keep a safe distance from petroleum tanker incidents and avoid any activity that could generate sparks or flames around spilled petroleum products.

The Benue State Police Command has rescued a newborn baby who was reportedly stolen immediately after delivery at a healthcare facility in Gboko, Gboko Local Government Area of the state, and arrested 11 suspects in connection with the incident.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Orchia Aondogwu.

He said that on August 12, 2026, at about 11 am, operatives attached to A Division, Gboko, received a complaint from one Aondofa Chia that his wife had delivered a baby at a healthcare facility in Gboko and that the newborn had gone missing shortly after birth.

Aondogwu said that upon receiving the report, police operatives immediately commenced an investigation, which led to the arrest of nine suspects for questioning and to assist in establishing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

He said further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects at about 10 pm on the same day, including the principal suspect, Mrs Nguhemen Asugh, 35, who allegedly stole the newborn baby. The infant was subsequently rescued from her custody and safely reunited with the mother.

Aondogwu said that with the latest arrests, a total of 11 suspects are currently in police custody in connection with the offence. He added that investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case, determine the roles played by all the suspects and ascertain each person’s degree of culpability.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed allegations of increased smuggling, revenue leakage, recruitment impropriety and manipulation of succession within the Service, describing them as a misrepresentation of its operations and administrative processes.

A report had alleged intensified smuggling along the Seme, Idiroko, Ilaro, Ipokia and Igbeti-Kishi corridors, as well as manipulation of the 846 valuation code at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and PTML Area Commands.

NCS National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, stated in a statement on Thursday, that the claim of a surge in smuggling was inconsistent with the Service’s enforcement activities and pointing to regular seizures recorded along the affected corridors.

“Our responsibility is to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum, not to claim that it can be completely eradicated,” he said.

On the 846 valuation code, the NCS explained that it was a digital tool designed for vehicles with non-standard or non-compliant Vehicle Identification Numbers, including specialised heavy equipment, classic vehicles and customised models.

“The 846 code is an established digital valuation code within the Customs portal, specifically designated for vehicles with non-standard or non-compliant Vehicle Identification Numbers,” Maiwada said.

He added that standard vehicles were assessed automatically through manufacturer-linked databases, while 846 applications were subjected to secondary approval by valuation officers and Area Controllers.

Maiwada said discrepancies discovered through post-clearance audits could lead to Demand Notices for the recovery of short-collected duties and sanctions against offending operators, adding that revenue collections at major ports had reached historic levels under the digital framework.

On the recruitment of Assistant Superintendents of Customs II, the Service said the exercise was conducted under the authorisation of the Nigeria Customs Service Board and in line with the NCS Act 2023 and Federal Character Commission guidelines.

It said successful candidates were issued provisional offers subject to medical verification, background checks and formal acceptance.

The Service also rejected allegations of succession manipulation and favouritism among officers, saying promotions were determined by seniority, merit, promotion examinations and available vacancies in accordance with established regulations.