The police on Saturday arrested an 18-year-old painter over the murder of a retired Permanent Secretary, Adamu Jagaba, in Niger State.

Mr Jagaba was stabbed to death Saturday evening at a block industry along the Eastern Bye-pass, Minna and his attackers also stole his vehicle.

The police spokesperson in the state, Wasi’u Abiodun, said the incident was reported to the Tudun-Wada police division on Saturday.

He added that the victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

However, at about 7 p.m. on the same day, a police team intercepted Mr Jagaba’s stolen vehicle on Bosso Estate Road, Minna, with the 18-year-old suspect, Fatiyah Abdulhakeem.

Mr Abiodun said the suspect under interrogation said he was the victim’s car painter and had just visited him at his block industry opposite the PDP Secretariat in Minna.

He allegedly further said that after discussing changing the vehicle bumper, he stabbed Mr Jagaba multiple times on the head and neck before driving away his vehicle.

The suspect allegedly confessed that he conspired with some of the deceased’s workers in committing the crime.

Mr Abiodun said the police were after other suspects as they continued their investigation.

The Katsina State Police Command has foiled two separate kidnap attempts in Jibia and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state.

The command also rescued 20 kidnapped victims during the operations on Saturday in these areas.

Briefing newsmen on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, said the first incident occurred on December 7th, 2024, at about 19:00 hours at Kwanar Makera along the Katsina–Magamar Jibia road in Jibia LGA.
A group of armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, opened fire on a moving vehicle, attempting to abduct the occupants.

“However, operatives of the command attached to the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, swiftly responded and engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon their mission and flee the scene with gunshot injuries. All ten occupants of the vehicle were successfully rescued unharmed.

“In a similar incident, on the same date at about 20:30 hours at Marabar Bangori, along the Funtua–Gusau road in Faskari LGA, suspected armed bandits laid an ambush on a motor vehicle carrying passengers. The command’s operatives, alerted to the situation, quickly mobilised and stormed the scene, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun duel. Due to superior firepower, the bandits abandoned their heinous plan and fled the scene, with all the passengers successfully rescued.

“Unfortunately, one of the rescued victims was rushed to the hospital due to severe assault inflicted on him by the assailants. The victim is currently responding to medical treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, psc†, while commending the gallantry and professionalism displayed by the officers, charged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the state, reiterating the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the people of the state,” Sadiq said.

A newly wedded couple who were returning from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry alongside 16 other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries following a multi-vehicle collision on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State on Saturday.

According to a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the accident occurred when an LT bus developed brake failure while at speed and collided with a mini truck.

The impact of the collision was said to have led to the occupants of both vehicles sustaining varying degrees of injuries including fractured limbs.

He identified the vehicles involved as a mini truck with number plate AGL 22 YE and a commercial LT bus with number plate BFG 204 XF.

Taofiq said, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, in collaboration with emergency response agencies, today orchestrated the successful rescue of 18 individuals involved in a serious vehicular collision on the Third Mainland Bridge, near Ilaje, heading towards Iyana Oworonsoki.

“Among the victims were a newlywed couple returning to the mainland from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry. The accident, which involved a mini truck (AGL 22 YE) and a commercial LT bus (BFG 204 XF), was attributed to a brake failure on the LT bus, which was travelling at excessive speed.

“The bus collided with the mini truck, which was moving slowly due to mechanical difficulties. A total of 16 passengers seated in the rear of the LT bus, 11 women and 5 men, sustained significant injuries and were swiftly transported to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre near the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for urgent medical care.”

Taofiq added that two of the victims suffered severe injuries after being trapped in the wreckage of the LT bus and were later rushed to Gbagada General Hospital for specialised treatment.