ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

A yet-to-be-identified officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has reportedly drowned while pursuing a suspected drug offender into the Ethiope River at Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, was captured in a video circulating on social media and seen by Vanguard.

According to information accompanying the video, the NDLEA officers were reportedly attempting to apprehend suspected drug offenders when one of the suspects, who was allegedly being taken towards the Ethiope River Bridge, jumped into the river in an attempt to escape.

The officers reportedly followed the suspect into the river in an effort to apprehend him.

While one of the officers was reportedly rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention, another was said to have drowned in the process.

The suspected offenders were also said to have escaped through the river.

The body of the officer reportedly drowned was later recovered from the river.

Community sources said traditional rites associated with drowning incidents in the area were performed before the remains were released to the relevant authorities.

The sources claimed that items, including a goat, were provided as part of the traditional rites.

However, Vanguard could not independently verify the identities of the officers involved, the suspected offenders or the circumstances surrounding the alleged pursuit.

The NDLEA was yet to officially comment on the incident as of press time.

A similar incident happened in August 2016, when an NDLEA officer attached to Borno State Command drowned while chasing a notorious drug baron.

Ona Ogilegwu, NDLEA Commandant in Borno, told newsmen that the incident occurred during an operation in the Gwange area of Maiduguri.

He said, “In an effort to arrest a notorious baron, four men of the command were involved in a water mishap after diving into the Gwange River in pursuit of the suspect.”

The narcotic boss said that the NDLEA officials were involved in the mishap because they could not swim.

He said, “The sad incident led to the death of one of our officers in the hospital after a failed attempt to revive him.

“The survivors were discharged from hospital.”