DSS officer testifies against NSCDC officials standing trial for kidnapping
DSS officer testifies against NSCDC officials standing trial for kidnapping
Mr Stephen Okolo, a Department of State Service (DSS) official, has said that the deployment of technology aided the arrest of three security personnel facing charges of kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.
Okolo said this in his testimony before Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, on Monday.
He was giving evidence as first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial against the three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and one other.
The three NSCDC’s officers are, Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale and Asmau Omar while the fourth defendant, Emmanuel Olatunji, is an unlicensed arms dealer.
“My lord, following the increase in the cases of kidnapping and banditry in Okeogun area of Oyo State and parts of Kwara, the DSS fashioned out how to address the issue by deploying our technical expertise, that is equipment.
“With sustained surveillance, we were able to detect, trace, and arrest the criminals involved.
“My lord, two kingpins; one Baguda and the other Banshile, who were the most dangerous terrorists operating in that axis were identified in the process.
“The operation which led to the arrest of one Lawan Buhari, and one of the NSCDC’s officials believed to be supplying ammunitions to the terrorists commenced in January 2023.
“Further operation led to the arrest of the other three defendants; Okesola, Olatunji and Adewale,” Okolo told the court.
The PW1 tendered before the court, a bag containing 1000 rounds of live ammunition as an exhibit collected from Buhari,.
He said the command was able to break the chain of supply of ammunition to terrorists, which reduced the high rate of kidnapping and banditry in the areas.
In his own testimony, Lawan Buhari, the PW2, said that he received thousands of naira supplying AK47 guns and bullets to the defendants who sent same to their terror links.
“Before I was apprehended and detained at the 81 battalion barrack at Mokola, I was serving with the Operation Burst security outfit where the trio approached me to start supplying them arms,” Buhari said.
The DSS prosecution Counsel, Mr T.A. Nurudeen told the court that the defendants were arraigned on a 15-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, aiding and abetting terrorism.
The four defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Maha adjourned the suit until Feb. 11 for continuation of trial. (NAN)
News
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.
It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.
The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.
Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)
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APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)
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282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.
The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.
He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.
“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.
“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”
“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.
Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.
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