• Photo: Fatima and her children

Malam Auwal, father of the prime suspect arrested for the murder of seven family members in Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano metropolis, has called on authorities to swiftly punish his son, Umar Auwal, without delay.

Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her children were reportedly murdered by assailants, allegedly led by Umar who broke into their residence at Dorayi Gidan Kwari, sparking outrage across Kano and beyond.

Umar, who is currently in police custody, is accused of murdering his aunt, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in broad daylight on Saturday.

The victims include Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7) and Abdussalam (one-and-a-half years old).

Police confirmed that the suspect has confessed to the killings, as well as a recent attack in Tudun Yola where two housewives were murdered and their home set ablaze.

In an interview with Freedom Radio, Malam Auwal distanced himself from his son, describing him as “useless to society” and insisting that he should be executed rather than kept in prison.

“What he committed against my younger sister and her six children, my wife’s younger sister and her co-wife is condemnable. I distance myself from him,” Auwal said.

He further alleged that Umar had killed his younger sister some years ago and plucked out her eyes.“I don’t even want them to waste time on prosecution. Umar and his likes are supposed to be eliminated. They are not supposed to be remanded and fed with taxpayers’ money,” he added.

The grieving father commended the police for their handling of the case, saying he had already “sacrificed” his son, and vowed that neither him nor his wife (Umar’s mother), would attend any court proceedings during the trials.

In a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s anti-narcotics campaign, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo”, ending a 12-year manhunt tied to the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers.

The suspect, described as notorious for drug trafficking, repeated evasion of arrest, and mobilizing armed thugs against security agents, was apprehended on Friday, January 16, 2026, at his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State, following credible intelligence and a tactical operation by NDLEA teams.

During the arrest, operatives recovered 69 kilograms of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) from the location.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Jimoh’s criminal record dates back to June 15, 2014, when he allegedly orchestrated a violent mob attack on a team of NDLEA officers attempting to arrest him at his enclave.

The assault, carried out by armed thugs mobilized by Jimoh, resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others.

Jimoh escaped the scene at the time and remained a fugitive, even after a subsequent NDLEA raid on his residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, on August 12, 2023, where officers seized 1,922 kilograms (139 sacks) of skunk.

That property was later forfeited to the Federal Government through court proceedings.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the arrest as “a triumph of justice” and a powerful reminder that the agency never forgets its fallen officers.

“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you,” Marwa said. “This arrest is for the families of those three officers who have waited 12 years for justice.

Today, we have proven that the NDLEA does not forget its own.

“The operation forms part of a broader wave of nationwide raids, with additional seizures and arrests reported in states including Edo, Lagos, Jigawa, Delta, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The arrest underscores the agency’s renewed resolve to dismantle drug cartels, disrupt supply chains, and ensure accountability for attacks on law enforcement personnel involved in the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria.

Jimoh is currently in custody and expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and the 2014 murders.

Gunmen suspected to be linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), launched a sudden and unprovoked attack on a Police Distress Response Squad (DRS) team in Enugu State, resulting in the deaths of two officers and the destruction of a patrol vehicle.

The incident occurred on the night of Thursday, January 15, 2026, along Agbani Road, near the Police Detective College area in Enugu metropolis.

According to the Enugu State Police Command, the assailants opened fire on the officers without warning during a routine operation.

The police team responded immediately with return fire, forcing the attackers to flee. Several of the assailants reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during the fierce exchange.

Tragically, two officers suffered severe gunshot wounds and were rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment, where they were later confirmed dead by medical personnel.In the chaos, the operational patrol vehicle caught fire and was burnt.

Reports indicate the attackers used a snatched Lexus 330 Jeep for the operation.In a swift follow-up, police operatives recovered the bullet-riddled Lexus 330 Jeep that had been carjacked from its owner and used by the gunmen in the attack.

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an intensified manhunt involving tactical and intelligence units to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

He emphasized that the Command is leveraging actionable intelligence to sustain the pursuit and bring the perpetrators to justice.

CP Giwa appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could aid the ongoing investigation, assuring that the police remain fully committed to preventing such subversive and violent acts from going unpunished.

The attack marks a fresh escalation in security challenges in the region, with police maintaining a resolute stance against criminal elements.

The identities of the slain officers have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.

The Enugu State Police Command extended condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues of the fallen officers.