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Killing of APC supporter: Police accuse Kogi SDP candidate, Yakubu, of undermining security efforts

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.Say he moves around with suspected thugs, engages in ‘political brigandage’

. Direct DCP, CID, SCID to investigate parties’ accusations and counter-accusations

The Kogi State Police Command says it has begun investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing of a supporter of the All Progressives Congress in Kotonkarfe, Kogi LGA of Kogi State on Saturday.

The Police, in a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, SP William Ovye Aya, for the Commissioner of Police, said the Command  received a report where some persons were said to have been killed and injured in the process through political violence.

While assuring the people of the state that no stone would be left unturned to secure lives and property, the CP condemned, in strong terms, acts by some politicians whose stock-in-trade was violence and who had taken it upon themselves to cause mayhem and heat up the state through “their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities”.

He specifically accused the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the state, Muritala Yakubu, of conducts that had allegedly continued to jeopardize security efforts in the state, saying that the SDP candidate “moves around with a retinue of suspected political thugs armed to the teeth.”

“His riding rough-shod and engaging in political brinkmanship and brigandage is an ill-wind that blows no one any good,” the Police said in the statement.

According to the CP, while other parties have been carrying the Police along in their activities, “the SDP Candidate has consistently and vehemently refused to honour any of Police invitations for investigation, or inform the Commissioner of Police nor the Command while embarking on political rallies.”

The statement said the CP had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, to commence a thorough, diligent and wholistic investigation of all acts of political violence, accusations and counter-accusations on all the Political Parties and Actors with a view to bringing offenders to book.

The statement reads in full: “The Kogi State Police Command received a report of alleged attack on the SDP Campaign at Koton-Karfe where some persons were said to have been injured in the process through political violence.

“The CP Kogi State Command CP Bethrand C.Onuoha psc(+) wishes to sympathize with all victims of political violence in the State while condemning in strong terms some Politicians whose stock-in-trade is violence and who have taken it upon themselves to cause mayhem and heat up the State through their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities.     

“The CP further directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, SCID to commence a thorough, diligent and wholistic investigation of all acts of political violence, accusations and counter-accusations on all the Political Parties and Actors with a view to bringing all offenders to book.

“The CP assures of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of all lives and property in the State.                
 
“He further stated that these instances of violence are attributed to the failure of most of the political actors to honour invitations and partake in series of Stakeholders Parleys/Interactions where issues bordering on security and the need to conduct political  activities as enshrined in The Electoral Act are discussed.

“While Chairmen and Candidates of the other Political Parties have continued to honour Police Invitations to discuss petitions and or allegations with the Police, and other salient issues germane to peaceful campaigns, and that of the INTER-AGENCY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON ELECTION SECURITY (ICCES), be it emphasised here that several invitations (have been) extended to the SDP and ADC Candidates for interaction and consultation with the Police to shed light, provide explanations and give their own side of the story on Petitions written against them but to no avail.

“While these other Parties have been carrying the Police along in their activities, the SDP Candidate has consistently and vehemently refused to honour any of Police invitations for investigation, or inform the Commissioner of Police nor the Command while embarking on political rallies to enable the Police provide adequate security coverage.

“His refusal to deal with the Police is undermining peace in the State, has been impeding efforts to stream-line and regulate political activities which in turn has greatly contributed to the pockets of political violence being witnessed in the State presently.

“His riding rough-shod and engaging in political brinkmanship and brigandage is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

“For instance on the complaint of Breach of Security Against The Executive Governor of Kogi State at Banda on 3rd June, 2023, the SDP Candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, has consistently refused to honour Police several invitations to give his own side of the story!

“Again, since he applied for Police Security, he was invited to come but till date, he refused to show up. He moves around with a retinue of suspected political thugs armed to the teeth. Consequently, the above facts and scenario, coupled with his recalcitrance and obduracy have continued to jeopardize Police Investigation and maintenance of law and order in the State.

“The CP uses this medium to sternly warn all the Political Parties in the State and their supporters to play by the Rules and stop heating up the State, desist from all forms of violence as anyone caught disrupting the prevailing peaceful environment in the State will be made to face the full wrath of the Law.

“He appealed to the Political Actors to give peace a chance by conducting themselves in peaceful manner and shunning all acts capable of truncating the peace, tranquility and unity of Kogi State.    

“To this end, the CP therefore, for the last time, warns would-be trouble-makers to have a change of heart and desist from acts of intolerance as the Police is ever determined to deal decisively with anyone who will not give peace a chance in the State.”

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BREAKING: 20 suspects arrested over hacking of 2025 UTME results

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The Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigerian Police Force, have arrested at least 20 suspects over hacking of the 2025 computer-based test, CBT, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

The 2025 UTME was conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.

According to reports, the suspects are part of a syndicate believed to have over 100 persons who specialise in hacking of the computer servers of examination bodies like JAMB and the National Examinations Council, NECO.

The report also confirmed that the suspects have confessed to sabotaging the CBT system in order to discredit JAMB and discourage students from using CBT for future examinations to be conducted by NECO and the West African Examination Council, WAEC.

“The syndicate would install an attacking software on the examination body hardware. The software, in turn, would remotely hack JAMB servers at any targeted CBT centre,” the source quoted one of the suspect as confessing.

The entire hacking process was to influence high scores for special candidates who paid between N700,000 and N2 million.

The report further added that preliminary investigations revealed that several members of the syndicate own private schools and colleges, and make huge sums of money from their special centres.

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JUST IN: IGP condemns unprovoked attack on IRT operatives in Edo State

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….Orders Investigation into Oyo Tragic Traffic Incident‎‎

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has condemned the recent unprovoked attacks on police operatives in the early hours of Monday, 20th May 2025, at Okhuimwun Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.‎‎

In a press statement made available to Ohibaba.com, and signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, ‎Force public relations officer, ‎at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, ‎on the 21st May, 2025, the IGP also condemned the alleged killing of an SSCE student by police personnel in Ibadan.

The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemns the unprovoked attack on police operatives in the early hours of Monday, 20th May 2025, at Okhuimwun Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

‎‎The operatives, who are members of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), were in transit from Lagos through Edo State when they encountered a mob that had blocked the road immediately after the University of Benin (UNIBEN) axis.

The mob, in an unlawful display of aggression, descended on the officers with stones, sticks, and other dangerous objects, inflicting serious injuries on two police personnel.

‎‎It is noteworthy that despite the provocation and threat to life, the officers exercised commendable restraint by not resorting to the use of force.

The injured officers are currently receiving medical attention and are in stable condition.

‎‎The Nigeria Police Force warns against acts of lawlessness and unprovoked aggression against its personnel who are committed to maintaining law and order and hereby assure the public that investigations have commenced, and appropriate legal actions will be taken against those found culpable.

‎‎In a separate development, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered a comprehensive investigation into a tragic incident in Oyo State involving personnel of the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA), which led to the unfortunate demise of a 14-year-old boy, Kehinde Alade.‎‎

The Inspector-General of Police condemned the incident and assured that the officer involved in the shooting has been taken into custody while a full-scale investigation is underway.

He equally reiterated that the process will be transparent, and its findings will be made public to ensure justice is duly served as he expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased young man.

‎‎The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urges citizens to remain law-abiding and to channel grievances through lawful and peaceful means.‎‎‎

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JUST IN: ICPC uncovers account used for six-week degree scam

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered a bank account operated by a foreign national allegedly used to collect payments from Nigerians seeking to obtain a questionable six-week bachelor’s degree abroad.

The discovery was announced by ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, during a stakeholders’ advocacy event on asset tracing, recovery and management held Tuesday in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI), with support from the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

“Within some weeks, we were able to discover that a foreigner opened an account in Nigeria while Nigerian students were paying money into the account to obtain that six-week degree,” Aliyu revealed.

“We were able to track the account and obtain a civil forfeiture order. We have been trying to ensure that the culprits are brought to book, especially those that are beyond our shores.”

He called for greater synergy among anti-corruption agencies to ensure that perpetrators of financial crimes are not allowed to enjoy the proceeds of their actions.

Also at the event, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr. Abdullahi Bello, disclosed that an ongoing audit of over 10,000 public servants’ asset declarations has revealed that about 20 percent of them are false.

On a broader continental scale, the Director-General of GIABA, Edwin Harris, lamented the growing trend of illicit financial flows out of Africa.

Citing a report by former South African President Thabo Mbeki under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Harris noted that while $50 billion was previously estimated to be lost annually, the current figure now stands between $88 billion and $94 billion.

CeFTPI Executive Director, Umar Yakubu, said the event brought together key stakeholders from anti-graft institutions, civil society, the judiciary and international partners to develop innovative mechanisms for transparency, citizen engagement and accountability in asset recovery efforts.

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