Crime & Court
Police Invasion of Ibadan Research Institute: Witnesses Narrate Ordeal
THERE has been conflicting narration of what truly transpires that led to Monday’s invasion of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Federal College of Agriculture and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology all housed within the same premises at Moor Plantation, Apata Ibadan by men of the Oyo State Police Command. However, witnesses account shed more light on the furore as they narrated their ordeal.
The crisis, as gathered started on Monday morning when the students of Federal College of Agriculture were peacefully protesting against the leadership of the Provost of the institution, Dr. Babajide Adelekan.
According to the students, they were tired of prolonged strikes by workers of the institution and various crises that have been confronting his administration.
Mr. Emmanuel Olufemi Oladehinde, the Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), IAR&T chapter, who condemned the police for allegedly shooting on peacefully protesting students while giving his eye witness account noted that though the students blocked the road but suddenly, the police started shooting bullets and canisters on all on sight without regard to anyone.
One of the victims of the attack, a staff of IAR&T.
He narrated his ordeal further that the overzealous policemen led by a Divisional Police Officer ordered for his arrest and four other staff of the institution who were also brutalised by the same police.
Oladehinde disclosed that it took the intervention of the Area Commander who ordered for their release.
“I was at the spot, what really happened is that the students were making a peaceful demonstration, though they blocked the road, the policemen, they were there, suddenly, the police started shooting, so the students came inside the institute and the police officers said they cannot identify which one is staff and which one is student.
“So they started shooting gunshot, they started teargasing everybody on sight. I was even arrested, I was harassed. I went to the DPO and I said see, this is my identity, I am the NASU chairman of the institute, those one that were even arrested are staff of IAR&T and the DPO said they should arrest me too.
“I was arrested, they collected my wallet but later they returned my wallet to me, the police even stoned me, they stoned me in my hands and four of our staff were brutalised, they were detained, we went to the station to go and release them, it was the Area Commander that gave them the order that they should release them, so they were released.
“We took them to the hospital and we have discharged them from the hospital. But those that were shot are still in the UCH now, the information we learnt was that they are about to wheel the woman that was shot in the adornment to the theatre.
“So the second person, who was shot on the leg, is also there. That is the situation we found ourselves”, the chairman’s statement reads.
It would be recalled that the Oyo State Police Command through its Commissioner, Mr. Abiodun Odude claimed that no fewer than four policemen have been hospitalized after being injured during a clash between the police and students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Apata Ibadan, on Monday.
Odude also added that eight police vans were damaged in the clash.
“Four of them were injured and they are now in hospital. Eight police vans were destroyed too. We have to use force to push them back into the school. If you are students, it does not give you the liberty to break laws. Those who were arrested will be charged to court after due investigation”, the commissioner stressed.
Another staff of the institute who confided in our reporter demanded for thorough investigation of the police activities where several persons were injured.
The witness said, “there is a need to investigate the activities of the policemen, we don’t know who called them, what they did was very wrong. How can they just be shooting on innocent people like that?
“The police invaded the IAR&T and shot two of our staff and an IT student. Several other were also injured. I don’t have the picture now, but some of our staff and even students have the video. You can see, it is very unfortunate.
“And unfortunately, the bullets went straight to the innocent people, the old ones, it is not a rubber bullet, it is a real bullet.
“We shall see if it is rubber or real bullet, when they remove the bullets, that is when we will know who is lying”, he continued.
A staff who also spoke on the condition of anonymity lamented that the invasion has caused fear and psychological trauma to some of the staff especially the female who have made up their minds to resume to their places of work when the trouble started.
He, then appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to as a matter of urgent importance investigate the overzealous policemen.
“It is bad for police in this era to invade an institution like this. The IG must hear this. This is condemnable and unfortunate. They have to pay for it”, he reiterated.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned popular social media influencer and relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36m fraud linked to a property transaction.
Blessing CEO was docked before Justice Deinde Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
At the resumed proceedings on Thursday, defence counsel, P. I. Nwafor, told the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money allegedly obtained from the complainant.
According to him, the influencer had refunded N24m out of the N36m involved in the matter and was making moves to settle the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24m out of the N36m,” Nwafor said.
“We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance. The nominal complainant agreed that if the balance is paid, they can prevail on the EFCC to drop the case.”
But prosecuting counsel, Suleiman I. Suleiman, opposed the request, insisting that the anti-graft agency was not part of any settlement discussion between the parties.
“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” he said.
Ruling on the submission, Justice Dipeolu held that any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant would not stop the criminal proceedings.
“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled.
According to one of the charges, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained N36m from one Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the guise of securing for her a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos.
The EFCC alleged that the representation was false and violated Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second charge accused the defendant of fraudulently converting the said N36m, property of the complainant, to personal use, contrary to Sections 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Act.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, the prosecution urged the court to remand her in a correctional facility and fix a date for trial.
However, the defence counsel informed the court that the defendant had only been served with the charges on May 14, 2026, adding that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.
He thereafter appealed to the court to allow the defendant remain in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody.
The case was subsequently adjourned till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Crime & Court
Nursing Mother Bags 20 Years For Terrorism Support, Illegal Possession of 302 Rounds Of AK-47 Ammunition
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced a woman, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and attempting to support acts of terrorism.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa handed down the sentence after the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts in a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services.
The DSS had arrested the convict in Plateau State and subsequently arraigned her before the court on March 11.
The prosecution reviewed the facts relating to counts three and four, to which the defendant pleaded guilty, prompting the court to adjourn for judgment.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yilwa held that the defendant, by pleading guilty, admitted to the facts presented by the prosecution and failed to provide any defence against the allegations.
The defence counsel, Hamza Dantani, had urged the court to temper justice with mercy, describing the convict as a first-time offender who was remorseful.
He further told the court that the defendant is a nursing mother of a one-year-old child who was arrested alongside her.
According to him, the defendant did not waste the time of the court as she admitted to the offences during arraignment.
Counsel for the prosecution, Caliistus Eze, also informed the court that there was no record of previous conviction against the defendant.
Justice Yilwa thereafter sentenced Umar to 20 years’ imprisonment on count three and one year on count four.
The judge adjourned the matter till July 9 for the commencement of trial on counts one and two, to which the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Crime & Court
UNIBEN killing: Edo security squad arrests 12 suspected cultists, seals initiation centres
Security operatives in Edo State have arrested 12 suspected cultists and sealed two apartments allegedly used as initiation centres during coordinated raids across parts of Benin City following the killing of a young man near the gate of the University of Benin.
The operation, code-named “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers,” was carried out by the state’s Special Security Squad after the killing recorded on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.
According to the statement, the Chief Security Officer and Principal Security Officer to the governor led the raids conducted in Ekosodin, Isihor, Old Road off S&T Barracks, Airport Road, 19th Street Ugbowo, Ogba-Evbuodia and Evbuomore Quarters, all in Benin City.
Spokesman for the security squad, Noah Idemudia, alleged that some youth leaders within communities in the state were aiding violent crimes and harbouring criminal elements.
He said intelligence reports indicated that sophisticated weapons used in deadly attacks were often traced to communities across the state.
“Reports reaching us indicate that some persons are allegedly harbouring criminals. Intelligence reports also suggest that sophisticated weapons used in deadly attacks on citizens are allegedly sourced from communities.
“The governor is warning community leaders to maintain peace in their various communities and ensure that no unlicensed weapons are found in their possession, as they will be held liable and treated as criminals,” Idemudia said.
He, however, clarified that the 12 suspects arrested were not directly linked to the killing near the university gate.
According to him, the suspects were allegedly identified as members of different cult groups after security operatives reportedly discovered symbols, signs and other incriminating materials on them during the raids.
Idemudia added that the suspects had been handed over to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for profiling and further investigation.
Speaking on the properties sealed during the operation, he said one of the apartments was allegedly being used as a cult initiation centre.
He explained that operatives came under attack while attempting to arrest suspects at the location, forcing authorities to seal the premises and invite the property owner for questioning.
He added that another apartment raided allegedly contained shrines and fetish items scattered across several rooms, which investigators suspect were being used for initiation into different confraternities.
According to him, the owner of the property had also been invited for questioning by security agencies.
“The governor has warned those sponsoring cultism and violent killings in the state to desist immediately.
“Anyone found aiding criminality in Edo State will face the full weight of the law, as the state will no longer be conducive for criminal elements,” Idemudia added.
He also warned against unlawful gatherings, alleging that some cult groups were planning anniversary celebrations across the state.
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