By George Mgbeleke

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has commended security operatives for rescuing three of the five persons kidnapped in Zurin Mahauta village in Lakwaya town, Gwarzo LGA of Kano State, by bandits on Sunday night.

Bandits suspected to be from neighbouring states stormed the village last night and abducted five persons.

Senator Barau, in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, urged the security operatives to go after the criminal and rescue the remaining two.

” Last night’s invasion of Zurin Mahauta village in Lakwaya town in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State by marauding bandits is condemnable, and these criminals must be dealt with forthwith. The good news, however, is that the security operatives have rescued three out of the five persons kidnapped. I urge our gallant officers to go after the criminals to rescue the remaining two persons,” he said.

In an online publication around 3 p.m. on Monday, Daily Trust quoted Captain Babatunde Zubairu, an Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, as saying, “three persons have so far been rescued.”

Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said the incursion into villages in Kano must stop.

” This unfortunate incursion must be the last in the series of attacks on our peace-loving people. For weeks, there have been no attacks in our area until last night.

” In this regard, I appeal to our gallant security operatives to redouble their efforts in fortifying the areas and remain vigilant in tackling these marauding criminal elements.

” The security of our people’s lives and properties is paramount. I will continue to support our security agencies with logistics to enhance their performance,” he said.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,Niger State command, has revealed that the urban patrol introduced by the Command in Minna metropolis and environs has recorded landmark successes, leading to the arrest of many youths engaged in drugs, miscreants as well as criminals with dangerous weapons.

Niger State Commander of NDLEA,Commander Shehu Gwadabawa gave the hint while speaking with Journalists in his office, in Minna, Monday 15th December,2025.

Commander Gwadabawa, explained that the urban patrol was aimed to curtail the youths’ restiveness who engaged in phone snatching and attack on the innocent people within the metropolis.

Commander Shehu also elaborated that aside from urban patrol,the agency has also carried out regular raids on some black spots and arrested youths engaged in drugs.

According to him “.We introduced the patrol so that the restive youths would have second thoughts before they move around, adding that, they know,they can be intercepted ,of course,the urban patrol has curtailed their movement drastically”.He noted.

“We do stop and search within the city center in Minna in order to ensure that movement of illegal drugs from one point to another is curtail”.He emphasized.

The NDLEA Commander had earlier revealed that from January to November,2025,the state command had seized over 3 tones of cannabis and had arrested 6 persons,and 4 vehicles, adding that,they were all charged to court and each was jailed for 10 years.

“Within the period under review,we have made a huge recovery of (244) bags of cannabis weighing over 3,000 kilograms in Suleja,so we are recording successes”.He asserted

NDLEA boss had warned drug dealers to re-think,if they don’t want to be arrested,they should leave the business,or relocate and leave Niger.

In Gwadabawa’s words”.We will definitely get you and when we get you, you will be prosecuted,he also urged parents to watch their children closely as well as disassociate them with bad friends”.

He however advised community leaders and other stakeholders to feel free and come ward to report issues of drugs in their immediate communities, assuring that the agency is ready to partner with any one with useful and genuine information that will assist the agency perform its functions ultimately.

Commander Shehu Gwadabawa, applauded governor Muhammad Umaru Bago for granting expressed approval for the construction of the agency parameter fence, saying that the command has been operating without a fence for over Two decades.

He also appreciated the governor for the gesture of an Helix van,and appealed for more vehicles so as to enable the command Police the state adequately.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Operatives of the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Niger State Police Command,has arraigned Eight persons believed to be selling children before a Minna Chief Magistrate Court number one in

The head of the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Niger State Police Command Ahmed Saidu DSP led a crack operatives of the squad to effect the arrest of the syndicates and arraigned them before the Minna Chief Magistrate Court number one.

They were arrested by the men of the Anti Kidnapping Squad of Niger State Police Command from Nasarawa State being in possession of stolen children from various parts of Niger State.

Among the defendants includes Leo Ugochukwu,Ngozi Ugochukwu, Henrietta Obiako, and Rosemary Ogbulogo. Others defendants according to the police first information report are Chiroma Onyaja,Vincent Emmanuel Joy Ndife and Olusegun Isaiah all of Nyaya in FCT and Nasarawa State.

They were remanded on eight count charges which includes Criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing,or keeping in confinement, kidnapped abducted persons, dealing in human beings, child stealing, trafficking in persons,indecent treatment of children, wrongful confinement and wrongful confinement in secret.

According to the police first information marked MMC/CMC/74/25Report (FIR), made available in court,the count charges were punishable under section 60 (2),(a) (1),211,238 and239 of the Niger State penal code law.

The Police Prosecutor Inspector Aliyu Yakub Kuta,told the court that on the5th November,2025, at three O’clock in the afternoon one Victorian Ebunoha of Loko Karu Local government area of Nasarawa State was arrested at Dikko Junction in possession of three male children suspected to be stolen.

“ During Police interrogation,she confessed to have stolen the children from Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State heading to Nyaya in FCT to sell them out.

“During further investigation,she revealed that she stole other seven children from their parents, namely Mohammed Bala, Danlami Zhami,Bello Usman and others at Lambata and Sabon Wuse “

The stolen children according to the police prosecuting officer were sold “ to you Leo Ugochukwu of Loko at the rate one million one hundred thousand Naira (N1,1000,000),Ngozi Ugochukwu,at the rate of one million one hundred thousand Naira (N1,1000,000).

“ On further interrogation,you all confessed to have intentionally purchased the children from Victoria Ebunoha knowing fully that the children were stolen by her”

When the charges were read to them by the presiding Chief Magistrate Murtala Bala Ibrahim they all pleaded not guilty while,the police prosecuting attorney Inspector Aliyu Yakub Kuta then applied for a new date for further mention of the case.

He then prayed the court for their remand in Minna old correctional Custody till the next adjourn date.

While ordering for their remand Chief Magistrate Murtala Bala Ibrahim then adjourned the case to 5th January 2026 for further mention.