Crime
JUST IN: Tinubu orders offensive as fresh Plateau attack leaves 51 dead
President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the violence in Plateau State, urging the state’s leadership to find a lasting solution to persistent communal conflicts.
This comes after at least 51 people were again killed by gunmen with scores injured in the early hours of Monday in the Zikke and Kakpa communities in Bassa Local Government Area of the North Central state, two weeks after deadly clashes in another part of the state left several people dead.
Last week, the National Emergency Agency said gunmen had killed at least 52 people and displaced nearly 2,000 others over several days of attacks in Plateau, which has had a history of violence between farmers and cattle herders.
On Monday, residents said 51 bodies had been recovered in the Zikke and Kimakpa villages in Plateau’s Bassa district, while several more were reportedly injured.
The cause of the attack was not immediately known.
“We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough,” Tinubu said in a statement signed Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu condemns latest attack in Plateau, charges Governor Mutfwang to resolve underlying communal issues.’
Tinubu expressed profound sorrow over the bloodshed and extended his condolences to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the state government, and the people of Plateau.
The President argued that “The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease.
”Therefore, he called on the governor to demonstrate political resolve in addressing the underlying communal issues fueling the violence and establishing enduring peace.“
Beyond dealing with the criminal elements of these incessant killings, the political leadership in Plateau State, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, must address the root cause of this age-long problem.
“These problems have been with us for more than two decades. We can no longer ignore the underlying issues.
“It is time to tackle them fairly and find a lasting solution. I have discussed these problems with the governor over time and offered suggestions for lasting peace,” Tinubu asserted.
He emphasised the importance of fostering unity and harmony across ethnic and religious lines.
Tinubu also appealed to community, spiritual, and political leaders both within and outside Plateau State to work together to halt the cycle of retaliatory attacks devastating affected communities.
He said, “I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts.
”President Tinubu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the Plateau State government in fostering dialogue, social cohesion, and accountability, crucial steps towards permanently resolving the conflict.
“The Federal Government remains committed to supporting Governor Mutfwang and the Plateau State government in promoting dialogue, fostering social cohesion, and ensuring accountability—crucial steps towards permanently resolving the conflict in Plateau,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, a youth leader in the community, Joseph Chudu, confirmed the attack, which began around 12am on Monday in Jos.
Chudu said that the gunmen invaded the community in large numbers shooting and burning their houses.
Chudu said, “The attack lasted for more than one hour. Many who sustained injuries have been evacuated to the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Please, we need blood for the injured.”
Crime
Two Police Officers Killed in Deadly Attack on Checkpoint Along Agbani Road, Enugu
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.
Crime
Supreme Court Orders Sule Lamido ₦1.35bn Corruption Trial to Resume
In a landmark unanimous decision delivered today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has set aside the July 2023 ruling of the Court of Appeal that discharged former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his sons Mustapha and Aminu Lamido, and their associated companies from corruption charges.
The five-man panel, led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, upheld the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), declaring it meritorious.
The apex court has now directed the defendants to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue their defense against the allegations.
The long-running case stems from a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and related offenses. The EFCC accuses Lamido of laundering approximately ₦1.35 billion in alleged kickbacks from contractors during his tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015. His sons and companies Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited are also implicated in the alleged financial misconduct.
After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no-case submission at the trial court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. The Federal High Court rejected the submission, ruling that the evidence presented was sufficient to require the defendants to enter a defense.
The defendants successfully appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal, which discharged them in July 2023. Dissatisfied, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that the appellate court erred in law by halting the trial despite a prima facie case having been established.
Today’s ruling reinstates the charges and paves the way for the trial to resume at the lower court, marking a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most prominent high-profile corruption prosecutions spanning over a decade.
Legal analysts view the decision as a reinforcement of the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring accountability in public office cases, with the matter now set to proceed to full trial and potential conclusion.
Crime
Tragic: Husband’s Body Found Days After Wife’s Killing
The body of Ayoola Ayanwale, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of his wife, has been discovered in Ogun State, bringing a shocking and grim conclusion to a case that has gripped public attention.
According to residents of River Valley Estate, Ayanwale’s lifeless body was found on Friday evening in the Sotubo area, just days after the violent death of his wife, Mrs. Ayobami Ganiyatu Ayanwale.
Personal items believed to belong to the deceased suspect were recovered at the scene, raising immediate questions about his movements in the days following the alleged murder of his wife and the circumstances surrounding his own death.
The grim discovery comes barely 48 hours after security agencies launched a statewide manhunt for Ayanwale, following the Thursday night killing that left Mrs. Ayobami Ganiyatu Ayanwale dead and sparked widespread outrage across the state.
The incident has once again thrust the issue of domestic violence into the national spotlight, with many residents and activists calling for stronger measures to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent such tragedies.
Police authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause of Ayanwale’s death or confirm whether foul play is suspected. An investigation into both deaths is ongoing.
The double tragedy has left the local community in mourning and disbelief, with many asking how a domestic dispute escalated into such fatal consequences for both parties involved.
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