Crime & Conflict
Gombe Police Rescue Abducted Residents, Recover Firearms After Intense Night Operation in Pindiga
Security operatives in Gombe State have recorded a significant breakthrough following a coordinated response to armed attacks on several communities in Pindiga Local Government Area. In an operation carried out in collaboration with local vigilante groups and units of Operation Hattara, police officers were able to rescue abducted residents, recover weapons, and neutralize armed assailants after a confrontation in the early hours of January 24.
The incident began around 2 a.m. when armed attackers stormed Rahama Village in the Gagarabami district. During the assault, a 70-year-old resident, Tela Bello Ahmadu, was tragically killed. His two sons were taken away by the attackers, marking the beginning of a series of assaults across neighboring communities.
Not long after the initial attack, the armed group advanced toward Lambo Village, a nearby settlement. In this second strike, the attackers abducted three residents identified as Babayo Garba, aged 30; Malam Abba Musa, aged 45; and Babayo Bayi, aged 20. The movement of the attackers suggested a coordinated pattern, with the intention of seizing multiple victims across different locations within a short period.
Authorities, upon receiving distress calls from the affected villages, immediately mobilized available resources. Police units, supported by Operation Hattara operatives and local vigilante members familiar with the terrain, advanced swiftly toward the scene. Their timely intervention proved critical, preventing the attackers from moving the victims further into remote hideouts within the Pindiga axis.
A confrontation soon followed, resulting in an intense firefight between security forces and the armed group. The exchange lasted several minutes, after which the attackers were forced to withdraw. During the engagement, two members of the armed gang were neutralized. Security operatives also recovered two AK-47 rifles believed to have been used in the attacks, along with four operational motorcycles abandoned during the retreat.
In the course of the rescue operation, security forces successfully secured two of the abducted residents. Another victim, identified as Babayo Bayi, was unfortunately caught in the crossfire during the confrontation. His death added to the toll of casualties that began with the killing of 70-year-old Tela Bello Ahmadu earlier in the night.
Following the operation, law enforcement authorities assured residents of Pindiga and surrounding areas that additional patrols and surveillance will be intensified. The police command emphasized its commitment to preventing further incidents and restoring confidence among communities affected by recurring security threats.
Local vigilante groups, who have long assisted security personnel in monitoring remote settlements, also pledged to maintain heightened vigilance. Their role remains essential, especially in supporting early detection of suspicious movement and providing security teams with local intelligence needed during emergency responses.
The recent attacks highlight the continuing security challenges facing some rural communities in Gombe State. However, the rapid response and successful rescue operation demonstrate the growing effectiveness of joint security strategies that combine state resources with community cooperation. The recovery of firearms and the disruption of the attackers’ activities serve as an encouraging indication that coordinated security measures are making a tangible impact.
Residents of the affected villages expressed relief that security agencies intervened promptly, preventing the situation from escalating into a larger tragedy. Community leaders have called for continuous engagement between security forces and local residents to ensure that early-warning systems remain effective and that remote areas receive consistent monitoring.
As authorities continue to track remaining suspects and investigate the incident in greater detail, the Gombe State Police Command reiterates its commitment to safeguarding lives and property. Ongoing patrols, intelligence-driven deployments, and strengthened collaboration with vigilante networks are expected to remain central to the region’s security response in the weeks ahead.
Lawyers Ask EFCC to Remove Photos of Clients Facing Corruption Charges
Lawyers representing two defendants facing corruption-related charges have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to remove their clients’ names and photographs from media publications linked to their ongoing criminal trial.
The lawyers argued that publishing the identities of the defendants in connection with the allegations could damage their reputations and create the impression that they had already been found guilty before the court reached a verdict.
The petition was submitted by J Aboje & Co., also known as Compass Chambers, on behalf of Folashade Oketope, a former chairwoman of the committee responsible for the sale of Federal Government houses in Abuja, and Mohammed Kabir Usman, a staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
In a letter dated October 13, 2026, and addressed to the EFCC chairman, the law firm described the publications as an infringement on its clients’ constitutional rights, particularly the presumption of innocence and the right to dignity.
Lawyers Cite Presumption of Innocence
According to the petition, the letter followed an earlier correspondence dated July 28, 2026, concerning the publication of the defendants’ arraignment.
Oketope and Usman were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja, on July 13, 2026, on a three-count charge involving alleged conspiracy, breach of trust, corruption and the unlawful sale of government properties.
The allegations relate to the sale of four properties identified as Houses 3, 4, 7 and 8 at Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi, Abuja.
Oketope previously chaired the committee responsible for the sale of Federal Government houses in Abuja, while Usman was an FCTA employee seconded to the committee.
Their lawyers maintain that the defendants have not been convicted and should not be publicly portrayed as criminals while the case remains before the court.
The legal team also questioned whether the EFCC obtained permission from the court before publishing their clients’ names and photographs.
In the petition, the lawyers challenged the commission to explain whether it would apologise and withdraw the publications if the defendants were eventually acquitted.
Dispute Over Government Properties
The lawyers also referred to a separate case, identified as FCT/HC/CV/4094/2025, which they said was pending when the criminal proceedings began.
According to the petition, the separate suit concerns whether the properties in question belonged to the Federal Government and whether the committee could lawfully dispose of them.
The lawyers argued that the unresolved issues surrounding the ownership and sale of the properties should be considered alongside the criminal proceedings.
They urged the EFCC chairman to direct the removal of the disputed publications from all platforms where they appeared.
The legal team maintained that the defendants should be allowed to defend themselves in court without being subjected to what they described as prejudicial public exposure.
EFCC Reviewing Petition
The EFCC had not publicly responded to the specific allegations in the petition as of the time of the report.
However, a senior commission official, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the agency had received the petition.
The official reportedly said the commission’s legal team was reviewing the matter.
The dispute highlights the debate over how anti-corruption agencies communicate information about ongoing prosecutions while respecting the rights of defendants who have not been convicted.
For now, the request to remove the photographs remains a demand by the defendants’ lawyers, and the outcome of the ongoing court proceedings will determine the criminal allegations against their clients.
Crime & Conflict
₦110.4bn Fraud Trial: Witness Explains ₦1.425bn Forex Transactions Linked to Yahaya Bello Case
A bureeau de change operator, Jamilu Abdullahi, has told a court in Abuja that he handled foreign exchange transactions worth ₦1.425 billion on behalf of Abba Adaudu between December 2021 and February 2022.
Abdullahi, the 19th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, gave the testimony on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
According to the witness, the transactions involved funds deposited into accounts associated with him and his company, Kunfayakun Global Limited. He told the court that the money was used to purchase foreign currencies, which he subsequently delivered to Adaudu.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu over an alleged ₦110.4 billion fraud and money laundering scheme. The defendants are facing a 16-count charge.
Witness Explains Bank Transactions
While being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Abdullahi identified several bank deposits and transfers recorded in accounts linked to him and his company.
He explained that some deposits of ₦10 million each made through a bank branch in Lokoja were connected to foreign exchange transactions arranged by Adaudu.
The witness maintained that the payments were not gifts but funds intended for purchasing United States dollars.
However, when questioned about other deposits recorded in his name, including transactions of ₦9 million and ₦8 million, Abdullahi denied making the deposits personally.
He told the court that he had never visited the Lokoja branch where some of the transactions were recorded, adding that his name could appear in transaction records as a beneficiary even when another person initiated the payment.
Abdullahi also identified several transfers involving companies he said were associated with Adaudu. He maintained that the funds were used for foreign exchange transactions and that he delivered the purchased currencies to Adaudu.
Witness Discusses School Fee Payments
The court also heard testimony concerning payments made to the American International School, Abuja.
Abdullahi said he processed school fee payments using account details and instructions provided by Adaudu. He identified Fatima Bello, Zahra Bello and Na’ima Bello as names familiar to him in connection with the transactions.
He further identified receipts presented in court as evidence of payments made to the school, explaining that he forwarded the receipts to Adaudu after completing the transactions.
During cross-examination by Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, counsel to the first and second defendants, the witness said he had no direct dealings with any of the defendants.
When asked about the total amount he handed over to Adaudu, Abdullahi said he could not remember the exact figure because of the numerous transactions involved.
Court Adjourns Trial
Following the testimony, Justice Anineh adjourned the case until October 27 and November 24, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.
The EFCC’s case centres on allegations that public funds belonging to Kogi State were unlawfully diverted and laundered. Bello and his co-defendants are facing prosecution over the allegations, which remain before the court.
The latest testimony forms part of the prosecution’s evidence in the ongoing trial. The allegations have yet to be determined by the court.
A Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos State, has sentenced six men to two years in prison each for assaulting officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI).
The conviction was announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
According to Wahab, the six men were arrested in the Alakija area of Lagos on October 10 following an incident involving the assault of KAI officers who were carrying out their official duties.
The suspects were subsequently arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Bolade, Oshodi, where they pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
Following their guilty pleas, the court convicted each of the defendants and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment.
The convicted men were identified as Ghadafi Ismail, Balarabe Mustapha, Usman Danladi, Abdullahi Bello, Kamala Garuba and Musa Idris.
Reacting to the development, Wahab stressed the importance of respecting public officials who carry out lawful duties on behalf of the government.
He warned that the Lagos State Government would not tolerate violence against enforcement officers, adding that offenders would face the consequences of their actions under the law.
The commissioner also urged residents to allow government officials to perform their statutory responsibilities without intimidation, obstruction or physical attacks.
The development underscores the state government’s position on protecting public officers and enforcing environmental regulations across Lagos State.
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