Day: April 20, 2026

OTUKPO KIDNAPPING: Police Rescue All 18 Abducted Benue Links Passengers, Arrest Seven Suspects

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant operational success with the rescue of all 18 passengers abducted during the Otukpo kidnapping incident involving a Benue Links bus on 15 April 2026. According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the breakthrough followed coordinated clearance operations conducted by operatives of the Benue State Police Command across the Amla Forest corridor and adjoining areas, acting on credible intelligence. The operation led to the safe rescue of the remaining 13 victims, bringing the total number…

IGP Restructures Police Monitoring Unit, Appoints DCP Aliyu Abubakar to Lead Oversight Reforms

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved a major restructuring of the Police Monitoring Unit as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening discipline, improving operational efficiency, and reinforcing internal accountability across the Nigeria Police Force. The reform, according to the Force, is designed to reposition the Monitoring Unit to focus more effectively on its core mandate by addressing operational inefficiencies and enhancing its role as a credible internal oversight mechanism. As part of the reorganisation, the Unit has been streamlined to boost proactive monitoring, intelligence-driven inspections, and…

FRSC Foils Vehicle Fraud in Gombe, Recovers Car Reported Stolen Since 2021

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has foiled an attempted vehicle fraud at its National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) Office in Gombe, leading to the recovery of a vehicle suspected to have been stolen since 2021. The breakthrough occurred during a routine number plate revalidation exercise at the RS3.2 Gombe Sector Command on April 16, 2026. According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Commander Osondu Ohaeri, the fraud attempt was uncovered when an applicant presented documents for plate conversion, prompting officials to commence standard verification procedures. Ohaeri said…

FRSC Darazo Command Intercepts Dangerously Overloaded Vehicle on Bauchi–Kari Route

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), RS12.12 Darazo Unit Command, has apprehended a dangerously overloaded vehicle along the Bauchi–Kari route, in a decisive move to enforce road safety regulations and prevent avoidable tragedy. The vehicle was intercepted while conveying passengers seated on top of piled goods, exposing them to extreme danger and constituting a gross violation of traffic safety rules. FRSC described the situation as a serious threat to human lives, noting that overloading remains one of the major causes of road crashes due to its impact on vehicle stability,…

FRSC Returns ₦1.12m Recovered From Fatal Crash to Deceased Victim’s Family

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has handed over the sum of ₦1.12 million recovered from the scene of a fatal road crash to the family of a deceased victim, in a move the Corps described as a demonstration of transparency, integrity and accountability. The money, according to the FRSC, was recovered during a rescue operation following a fatal crash that occurred on April 11, 2026, at Idu Village along the Gegu–Abaji route, involving a Toyota Corolla with registration number GWP418CV and a Volkswagen Golf marked RBC220DG. The driver of…

NCC, CBN Sign MoU to Combat Fraud, Strengthen Consumer Protection

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Communications Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at combating fraud, protecting consumers, and strengthening Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem. The agreement, signed in Abuja, also saw the inauguration of a Joint Committee on Payment Systems and Consumer Protection, as well as a Joint Committee on the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) Portal. Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, described the MoU as a major milestone in regulatory collaboration, noting that it provides a structured…

CDS Oluyede Tasks Troops to Intensify Offensive Against Bandits, Vows Restoration of Peace in North West

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Olufemi Oluyede, has charged troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to sustain and intensify ongoing military operations against bandits and other criminal elements operating in Nigeria’s North West, insisting that the country must be made safe at all costs. General Oluyede gave the charge during an operational visit to the Headquarters, Theatre Command Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in Gusau, Zamfara State. The visit was aimed at assessing operational readiness, addressing challenges facing troops, and boosting morale in the ongoing campaign against…

FRSC, Beer Sectoral Group Renew Five-Year Pact Against Drink-Driving

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Road Safety Corps and the Beer Sectoral Group have renewed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at combating drink-driving and promoting responsible alcohol consumption among drivers across Nigeria. The renewed partnership, signed on Monday at the FRSC National Headquarters in Abuja, seek to strengthen nationwide campaigns, intensify public education and implement targeted interventions to reduce road crashes linked to alcohol-impaired driving. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Shehu Mohammed described the agreement as a strategic step toward addressing one of the most preventable causes of road fatalities in…

Ololade Bakare Celebrates Senator Sharafadeen Alli at 63, Hails Leadership Qualities

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Oyo State governorship aspirant ahead of the 2027 election, Dr. Ololade Usman Bakare, has felicitated with Senator Sharafadeen Alli on the occasion of his 63rd birthday, describing him as a committed public servant and exemplary leader. Bakare, a cyber security expert, joined political associates, progressives and residents of Oyo State in celebrating the lawmaker representing Oyo South Senatorial District, commending his contributions to grassroots development and the progress of the state. In a birthday message, Bakare praised Alli’s political trajectory, noting…

Broken promises, empty pockets and Osun’s plight By Dele Adeyemi

Emporium Reporters

When the dust finally settles on the streets of Osogbo, Iwo, and Ile-Ife, the people of Osun aren’t going to be talking about how well a politician can dance or how many flashy slogans were printed on billboards. They are going to be talking about the weight of their pockets and the emptiness of their stomachs. In the high-stakes world of real-life politics, elections are rarely just about policy manuals and manifestos; they are a deep-seated reflection of the bond between the leader and the led. When that bond frays…