Crime
1,617 civil servants with fake employment letters uncovered by FG

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, Tuesday said that a total of 1,618 civil servants with fake employment letters were uncovered by the government.
She also noted that the government was working towards an upward review of the Duty Tour Allowances of civil servants.
Speaking with selected journalists in Abuja ahead of the 2023 Civil Servants Week, she noted that a committee was working towards salary harmonization in the civil service.
“The Presidential Committee on Salary Harmonization is working to review salaries to reduce the disparity. Earlier, 40 per cent of Basic salary approved by FEC as Peculiar allowance with effect from January 2023. Also, we are working towards Upward Review of Staff Duty Tour Allowance.
“On the issue of procurement of insurance cover for the federal government employees from 9th February 2023 to 8th February 2024; and payment of backlog of death benefits to over 1500 deceased officers to their beneficiaries from 2021 to date. On the third pillar of FCSSIP 25, the Office of the Head of Service has been working towards the implementation of HR Module of IPPIS with a view to bridging the identified gaps in the system. As you are aware, prior to the introduction of the current mechanisms put in place to drive the implementation of the IPPIS, the system was bedevilled with considerable leakages and wastes as well as the incessant infiltration of ‘ghost workers’ etc.
“Consequent upon the identified loopholes in the IPPIS, the Office introduced control mechanisms. Notable among others was the inauguration of a Committee on Enrolment of Newly Recruited Civil Servants on the 1st of March, 2021. Hence, this and other initiatives in accelerating the roll-out of the HR Module of the IPPIS has brought about the following: Detection of 1,618 fake/illegal employment letters; Continuous suspension of Officers from IPPIS platform for not uploading their records; Verification of 69,854 officers across the core MDAs in FCT and the six (6) geo-political zones.”
Meanwhile, the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, on Tuesday noted that there won’t be a delay in payment of July 2023 salaries for civil servants. She made this clarification during the meeting with the HOS Abuja.
It was earlier reported that there were delays in the payment of May 2023 and June 2023 salaries.
Madein noted that the delay in May and June 2023 salaries were due to some bottlenecks beyond the control of the Office of the Accountant General. She, however, noted that modalities have been put in place to ensure that salaries are paid as and when due.
She said, “For May and June, we encountered some difficulties beyond our control but I can assure you that everything has been put in place to ensure that July 2023 salaries are not delayed and will be paid any moment from now.”
Crime
Bandits kill respected community member, several others in Sokoto

Several people, including a respected community member were killed during a bandit attack in Gidan Taro, Kwasare Sisawa ward, Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident which happened on Thursday night, was shared by security analyst Bakatsine in a post on Friday.
Among those killed was Alhaji Bello Gidan Taro, a well-known and respected leader in the community.
Many others were injured, and some were abducted during the violent raid.
“Yesterday night, bandits attacked Gidan Taro in Kwasare Sisawa ward, Wurno LGA, Sokoto State, killing several, injuring many and abducting others. Among those killed was a respected community member, Alh. Bello Gidan Taro,” Bakatsine wrote.
Crime
N8.5m ransom recovered from kidnappers in Delta – Police

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of N8,500,000 from suspected kidnappers.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen in Asaba on the achievements of the command in July 2025.
According to him, N5,000,000 was recovered on July 12, 2025, at about 6:30 am, when operatives of the Special Anti‑Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad trailed suspected kidnappers to their hideout in Ogwashi‑Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area.
“A suspected kidnapper, Sanusi Abdulahi, was arrested in possession of the money,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police stated that the sum was part of the ransom his gang had collected from their last victim.
He further alleged that the gang was responsible for a series of kidnappings in Ibusa, Ogwashi‑Uku, Obulu‑Okiti, Issele‑Uku and Issele‑Asagba.
In another development, the police recovered N3,500,000 from suspected kidnappers who had abducted two female polytechnic students.
“The recovery was made when operatives stormed Ogwashi‑Uku forest on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
“At about 11 pm, operatives of the Special Anti‑Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad, in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Army attached to the 63 Brigade, embarked on an intelligence‑led operation and stormed the Ogwashi‑Uku forest, the hideout of suspected kidnappers who abducted two female polytechnic students on July 23, 2025, at Asagba Ogwashi.
“The combined team engaged the suspects in a gun duel, which led to the death of two of the suspected kidnappers.
“One AK‑47 rifle, 39 rounds of live ammunition, and a bag containing N3,500,000 suspected to be ransom collected from one of their victims were recovered,” he said.
Crime
Soldier, 7 Others Rescued After Highway Abduction

Eight passengers, including a serving soldier, have been rescued by troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) after being kidnapped by armed robbers along the Jos–Makurdi road near Rafin Sanyi in Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The abduction took place around 10:30 p.m. on August 2, while the victims were travelling in an ash-coloured Sharon vehicle.
According to a security source who spoke with Zagazola Makama, the OPSH Sector 6 troops stationed at Sopp community quickly responded to a distress call and confronted the kidnappers.
Seven passengers were freed immediately at the scene, but one, Corporal Munyal Abdullahi from 3 Division Garrison, was initially taken away by the attackers into the nearby hills.
Preliminary inquiries disclosed that the soldier, attached to the 73 ST Brigade Fire Unit as a driver, had just completed his duty and was heading to Abuja without an official pass, carrying yet-to-be-confirmed items intended for a relative.
The kidnappers contacted the rescued victims by phone, demanding a ransom of N60 million for the release of the soldier.
Nevertheless, through a well-coordinated search and rescue effort by OPSH forces working alongside other units, the soldier was eventually rescued and reunited with the other passengers.
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