Crime
PLATEAU POLICE ARREST 22 SUSPECTS OVER KILLING OF 12 WEDDING GUESTS
The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 22 suspects in connection with the brutal killing of 12 wedding guests in Mangu Local Government Area. The incident occurred on June 20, 2025, at about 9:47 p.m., when a bus carrying passengers from Zaria, Kaduna State, to Qua’an Pan LGA for a wedding ceremony was attacked by an angry mob after they lost their way in Mangun Village.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, the police received credible intelligence about the attack and swiftly responded to the scene. “Upon receipt of this intelligence, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer, Mangu Division, to mobilize men and swiftly race to the scene,” Alfred said.
The police officers, in collaboration with other security agencies, quickly dispersed the mob and rescued 21 victims, who were rushed to the hospital for treatment. “Upon conducting our preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the victims were travelers from Zaria, Kaduna State, who were in transit to Quan’pan LGA to attend a wedding ceremony when they lost their way. Their vehicle was illegally stopped by the angry mob and set ablaze,” the police statement read.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 passengers, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries. However, 14 people were rescued unhurt. Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, visited the scene on Saturday morning and deployed personnel from the State Intelligence Department, State CID, and Tactical Teams to intensify investigations and apprehend more suspects.
“The CP has deployed men from the State Intelligence Department (SID) to Mangu for effective intelligence gathering. He has also deployed men from the State CID and directed them to launch an intensive investigation into the matter. Additionally, the Police helmsman has deployed Tactical Teams and other Operational Assets to the LGA to support our investigation and ensure the arrest of more suspects,” Alfred added.
The Commissioner of Police assured the public that the Command is doing everything within its constitutional power to ensure that all those involved in the inhuman act are brought to justice. He called on citizens, especially youths, to avoid taking the law into their hands and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or security agency.
Emergency contact numbers were also provided for citizens to report incidents: 07059473022, 08038907662, 08075391844, and 09053872296.
A 30-year-old pregnant woman is currently receiving medical treatment after she was allegedly raped and assaulted by a 24-year-old suspect, identified as Ugwu Desmond, in Affa community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to the Enugu State Police Command, the incident occurred on the night of March 14, 2026, when the victim was returning home from a neighbour’s house along a quiet path in Amokwo-Affa.
Police said the suspect, armed with a cutlass, reportedly trailed the victim before attacking her from behind. He allegedly forced her to the ground, attempted to strangle her, and covered her mouth to prevent her from raising alarm. The assailant then dragged her into an uncompleted building where he threatened to kill her before raping her and inflicting injuries.
The victim reportedly managed to survive the ordeal and reported the incident to authorities around 6:15 a.m. the following day, prompting swift action by operatives of the Affa Police Division, who arrested the suspect.
The police said the victim was immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while investigators processed the scene and recovered key exhibits, including the cutlass used in the attack and clothing suspected to contain blood and seminal stains.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the development, adding that the suspect has confessed to the crime.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, described the incident as disturbing and assured that a thorough investigation is ongoing. He stated that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Giwa also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, stressing that community awareness is critical to preventing crime.
A Nigerian national, James Junior Aliyu, has been sentenced to 90 months (seven and a half years) in prison in the United States for his involvement in a large-scale wire fraud and money laundering scheme.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Aliyu played a key role in a transnational cybercrime network that targeted business email systems and defrauded individuals and organisations of millions of dollars.
Investigations revealed that the fraud scheme involved hacking into corporate email accounts and using them to divert funds through fraudulent transactions. Authorities said the operation affected multiple victims and formed part of a broader business email compromise (BEC) conspiracy.
Aliyu was arrested in South Africa in 2022 following an international investigation involving Interpol and local law enforcement before being extradited to the United States to face trial.
The 30-year-old later pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. As part of the sentence, the court ordered him to forfeit $1.2 million and pay $2.4 million in restitution to victims.
Authorities also confirmed that Aliyu will be deported after completing his prison term.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected gunrunner, Kelvin Ebikeniye Dugo, in Cross River State, intercepting a cache of 850 rounds of live ammunition.
The arrest, which took place on March 16 at Ivara Esu Estate in Odukpani Local Government Area, followed credible intelligence on the suspect’s alleged plan to acquire the ammunition.
Security sources said Dugo was apprehended shortly after receiving the consignment, which had been concealed inside food items. The ammunition was reportedly supplied by another suspected gunrunner, Azenda Barnabas, also known as Jagaban, based in Aliade, Benue State.
Items recovered during the operation included 850 rounds of live ammunition and two empty AK-47 magazines.
The sources noted that the DSS has stepped up operations nationwide in a bid to dismantle gunrunning networks and curb the proliferation of illegal arms.
They added that the latest arrest underscores the agency’s ongoing commitment to tracking down and prosecuting individuals involved in arms trafficking across the country.