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The Osun State Police Command has warned individuals or groups planning to disrupt public peace to have a rethink, saying its operatives will not allow miscreants to engage in criminal activities.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, and made available to journalists on Sunday.

The statement followed a notice of protest purportedly issued by a group which the police said was identified through intelligence as the “Congress of Cultists” and allegedly associated with the Neo-Black Movement, also known as Black Axe.

The command said its operatives would respond decisively and appropriately to any action capable of threatening the peace and security of the state.

Advising individuals or groups with grievances or disputes to seek lawful means of resolving them, the police said no person or group should take the law into their own hands or resort to violence, self-help or reprisals.

The statement read, “The attention of the Osun State Police Command has been drawn to a notice of protest purportedly issued by a faceless group identified through intelligence as the ‘Congress of Cultists’, allegedly associated with the Neo-Black Movement, also known as Black Axe.

“The command is using this medium to warn any individual or group planning to cause chaos, disturb public peace or engage in any form of criminality to have a rethink.

“The police and other security agencies will not fold their hands and allow miscreants to use any opportunity to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere and destroy lives and property. Our operatives will respond decisively and appropriately to any action capable of threatening the peace and security of the state.”

Giving an update on a recent killing in the state, the command said a thorough and discreet investigation had commenced into the incident.

The police said the investigation had yielded useful leads, while some suspects identified in connection with the incident were still at large.

It appealed to members of the public, particularly those with useful information about the killing, to come forward, assuring them that such information would be treated confidentially.

The command vowed not to relent until all those found to be involved in the incident were arrested and brought before the appropriate authorities to face the law.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, also called on parents, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other responsible members of the public to prevail on youths and others in their communities not to participate in acts capable of destabilising the state.

“Members of the public are urged to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, and to promptly report suspicious activities or movements to the nearest police station or other security agency.

“The Osun State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace and public order across the state,” the statement added.

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Gunmen have killed and beheaded the village head of Lafagu community in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the killing in a text message, saying the incident occurred on Sunday.

Usman, however, did not disclose the identity of the deceased traditional ruler.

He said the police had arrested some suspects in connection with the incident and would provide further details after investigations.

“Yes, it is true the village head was killed in Lafagu under Bagudo Local Government. We have made some arrests in respect of the incident and will provide details later,” the PPRO said.

Meanwhile, findings by our correspondent suggest that the killing may be linked to an armed ethnic militia operating in the area rather than bandits or Lakurawa insurgents.

A source, Tukur Kaoje, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Sunday, said members of the Fulani, Kambarawa and Bargawa communities had lived together in the area for decades until the recent escalation of insecurity, allegedly associated with cattle rustling and kidnapping.

According to him, following the alleged infiltration of some communities by Lakurawa fighters, some residents of the Bargawa and Kambarawa communities reportedly accused Fulani residents of being behind the attacks and subsequently formed armed groups to confront them.

Kaoje alleged that the militia recently attacked Boya village, where scores of Fulani were reportedly killed.

He said, “Yes, the village head was beheaded in Lafagu, but we are not sure whether the killers were bandits or Lakurawa. There are allegations that it was carried out by an armed ethnic militia.”

He described the situation in Lafagu and neighbouring communities as tense, urging the government to urgently intervene to prevent further escalation.

He warned that failure to address the situation could lead to a wider cycle of communal violence and make the crisis increasingly difficult to contain.

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A man has been killed in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State amid reports of a disagreement with his wife over plans to marry a second woman.

The deceased, identified as Hafizu Gausu, was reportedly attacked in the Katsalle area of Rogo town on Friday evening.

Gausu’s wife, Bilkisu Sani, has since been arrested by the police as a prime suspect in the incident.

A resident of the area, Auwal Kazagi Rogo, told Daily Trust that the incident happened around 7pm.

According to him, residents rushed to the scene after hearing cries from Bilkisu, who reportedly raised the alarm that her husband had been slaughtered.

“On reaching there, we saw that he was not slaughtered but hit on the head with an object. He fell in blood and died. There was even a sign of bite on his ear,” Kazagi said.

He said the police were immediately alerted and later took the body away for investigation.

Kazagi said Gausu had allegedly been engaged to another woman and was planning to marry her as his second wife.

The plan reportedly led to repeated arguments between the couple, with Bilkisu allegedly vowing to stop the marriage.

According to the resident, elders had earlier intervened in the dispute, but the disagreement continued.

Kazagi said police had arrested Bilkisu while investigations into the incident were ongoing.

Gausu was buried on Saturday morning in Rogo in accordance with Islamic rites.

The couple had been married for nearly seven years and had two children. Bilkisu is also reportedly pregnant with the deceased’s child.

Sources in the area said Gausu had asked his fiancée’s family to move the wedding date forward by two months because of the opposition from his wife.