By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

Security expert and executive protection specialist, Dr. Jackson Lekan Ojo has commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Office of Special Adviser on Homeland Security and for appointing Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Fadewa, rtd., to the role.

In a statement made available to journalists, Ojo said the move signals a clear commitment to strengthening internal security coordination, enhancing intelligence-driven operations, and improving inter-agency collaboration at a time when Nigerians are demanding safer communities.

He described Fadewa as a highly decorated officer with over three decades of experience in military and intelligence operations, counter-terrorism, and national security strategy.

“His role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre at the Office of the National Security Adviser demonstrates his capacity for high-level coordination and strategic planning,” Ojo said.

He, however, suggested a swap of roles between National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu and Fadewa to better align expertise with mandate.

“In the spirit of constructive nation-building, I respectfully advise a strategic swap to align expertise with mandate,” he said.

Ojo proposed appointing NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, arguing that his background as a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC chairman aligns directly with managing domestic threats, policing, civil unrest, and inter-agency cooperation.

He recommended appointing Maj. Gen. Fadewa as the NSA, citing his extensive military career, experience as the Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA, and leadership in intelligence fusion and national security strategy.

“This realignment is not a criticism of any individual, but a recommendation to match skillsets to roles for optimal results.

“The right person in the right seat will accelerate policy execution, improve synergy between security agencies, and give Nigerians confidence that both internal and external threats are being addressed with the right expertise,” Ojo said.

Anambra Police Rescue Kidnap Victims, Recover Heavy Weapons, Arrest Bishop’s Alleged Killer

By Our Correspondent

In abid to rid Anambra State of criminal activities,the State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on kidnapping, cultism, child trafficking and violent crimes across the state, including the rescue of abducted victims, recovery of sophisticated weapons and the arrest of a domestic worker allegedly involved in the murder of his employer, an Pentecostal bishop.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Awka on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, said the Command remained committed to intelligence-led policing and sustained operations aimed at protecting lives and property in the state.
The CP disclosed that operatives on May 10, 2026 rescued four kidnapped victims, including the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, Nkpor, three days after they were abducted.

According to him, the victims were rescued after a fierce gun battle between police operatives and members of the kidnapping gang at their hideout in Obosi.
He said two armed suspects were neutralised during the operation, while police recovered a locally-made pistol, 100 rounds of live General Purpose Machine Gun ammunition, 23 expended ammunition and three vehicles, including a silver Lexus RX 350 belonging to one of the rescued victims.
Orutugu, however, said the operation claimed the life of a police officer who sustained fatal injuries during the exchange of gunfire.
“The officer paid the supreme sacrifice in active service to the nation. The Command honours his courage, gallantry and dedication to duty,” he stated.
He also appreciated the Anambra State Government for promising support to the deceased officer’s family and for covering the medical expenses of two injured officers currently receiving treatment.
The commissioner added that operatives cordoned off the building where the victims were rescued following attempts by angry residents to burn it down.
In another operation carried out on May 7, 2026, police operatives conducted strategic clearance raids in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area, targeting camps linked to a proscribed secessionist group.
The CP said the operation followed intelligence reports that some fleeing gang members were attempting to regroup after an earlier joint security raid destroyed their camp.
He identified one Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, aged 37, as a suspected top commander of the group currently in police custody.
Items recovered during the raid included one General Purpose Machine Gun with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 improvised explosive devices, one locally-made Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three hand grenades, 10 rounds of K2 live ammunition, a gas cylinder and a black Ecolac box.
“The operatives dislodged the armed criminals and sustained operational dominance in the area to prevent any regrouping,” Orutugu said.
The Command also recorded another breakthrough following the arrest of one Favour Izunna, also known as Njoku, aged 22, who was allegedly linked to the Vikings Confraternity cult group.
The suspect allegedly led police operatives to the recovery of a pump-action gun, seven live cartridges, a locally-made Beretta pistol and five rounds of 7.5mm live ammunition.
Police said the suspect confessed to participating in several killings in Obosi and surrounding areas, including those of Emeka Chukwuka and Chinelo Onyeka.
The CP said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members and dismantle the cult network.
In a separate development, Orutugu paraded arrested domestic staff member allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry, Asaba, Delta State.
The police commissioner said the suspect, who reportedly served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic aide, allegedly conspired with other criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Toyota Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
He said operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, tracked and arrested the suspect alongside another individual alleged to have attempted to purchase the stolen vehicle in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to the CP, the stolen Prado Jeep was successfully recovered while investigations continued to arrest other suspects connected to the crime and unravel the full circumstances surrounding the murder.
Orutugu advised residents to exercise caution in employing domestic staff, drivers and other household workers.
He urged the public to properly profile and verify the identities of domestic employees while remaining vigilant to suspicious conduct and activities.
On crimes involving children and vulnerable persons, the police commissioner disclosed that five suspects had been remanded at a correctional facility over cases involving sexual offences and child abuse in Awka.
Among the suspects, he said, was a father accused of having an unlawful sexual relationship with his biological daughter in Oko.
“The Command views crimes against children and vulnerable persons as grave violations and assures the public that all cases involving sexual abuse and child-related violence will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” he said.
In another operation, police arrested a female suspect identified as Chinazo Winners Anyasirikwu over alleged child trafficking activities in Aguata Local Government Area.
The operation led to the rescue of 12 children — seven girls and five boys aged between one and 20 years — believed to be victims of child stealing and trafficking.
Police said the rescued children had been placed under protective care while investigations continued to uncover other members of the trafficking network.
The commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining operations against criminal elements across the state and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.
He also commended the support of the Nigeria Police Force, the Anambra State Government, sister security agencies, community leaders and residents in the fight against crime.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The Niger State High Court,sitting in Suleja Judicial Division has resumed hearing into the dastard killing of the late Village head of Lambata in Gurara Local Government of Niger State,Alhaji Mohammed Abdulsafur after three years of his killing.

Some irate youths believed to be loyalist of a purported acclaimed village head, one Illyasu Umar Sarki who is a defendant in the killing of of the late Village head Mohammed Abdulsafur is also standing trial along with twenty eight other suspects.

At the Tuesday resumed hearing into the case,the defence Attorney,Barrister Baba Shehu, opened their defence before Justice Aisha Bawa Wodu of Suleja High Court number four.

Counsel to the first accused person and 19 other defendants, Barrister Baba Shehu Ahmed outlined 4 witnesses among the accused persons before the court as witnesses for his defense.

The first defense witness Musa Mohammed Atanda who is the 12th defendant on the matter and prosecution witnesses 1 told the court that he was not in Lambata at the time the village head was killed as he was in the neighbouring village of Tufa, where he went to collect medicine for his sick mother.
He received a call from one Mai anguwa Umaru who told him there was crises in Lambata.

According to him, he then returned to Lambata and discovered that security personnel had taken over everywhere and he went to his house where he remained indoor until he was invited to the police area command suleja where he was arrested.

During cross-examination by the prosecuting chief state counsel Barrister Umar Halilu the witness denied that he doesn’t know any Mohammed Abdulsafur who was appointed as a village in Lambata or the person that was killed as villages of lambata.

He also told the court that since the death of the last village head about 10 years ago, the acclaimed village head Iliyasu Umar Sarki or any village head were not appointed in Lambata till date.

The second defense witness Yunusa Ibrahim a cousin to the acclaimed village head also told the court that he was not aware of the incident as he was inside Lambata market when the incident occurred and was only informed by his father when he returned from the market later in the evening and the following day , his cursing Iliyasu Umar Sarki was arrested and taken to the state CID Minna.

He said he was also arrested two weeks later at the state CID when he went to bail some of the arrested persons in connection to the crime where some family members of the deceased village head saw him at CID and told the police that he was among the suspects.

The witness also told the court that he was not aware of the appointment of Mohammed Abdulsafur as the village head of lambata and his cousin Iliya Umar Sarki were also not in anytime appointment as the village head of lambata since the demise of the late village head Shuaibu Gani in 2019, even though he doesn’t know who appoints village heads for lambata .

The presiding Judge, justice Aisha Wodu Bawa told counsels on the matter to assist the court by avoiding unnecessary technicalities that would delay proceeding in the matter, as she intends to speed up the case in order to prosecute those found wanting and give justice to the deserving.

She then adjourned the case for continuation of hearing to Tuesday the 13th and Thursday,the 15th of May,2026.