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Detectives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, have arrested two women for allegedly spreading a false claim that Access Bank Plc would shut down operations, in one of several major breakthroughs recorded by the unit between June and September.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Annex, AIG Simeon Akpanudom, disclosed this on Friday while briefing reporters on the department’s activities between June 25 and September 18.

He said the suspects, Idorenyin Umoh and her associate, Fineness Monday Esu, were traced to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and arrested after a petition from Access Bank’s lawyers linked them to a Facebook post claiming the bank would close on 23 September and urging customers to withdraw their funds.

According to the AIG, the two women admitted belonging to a WhatsApp group where the message originated before it was copied to a Facebook account with over 12,000 followers, triggering wider circulation on other platforms. They have since been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Akpanudom also disclosed that INTERPOL rescued 36 victims of human trafficking during the period, with one victim repatriated and efforts ongoing to arrest the suspected traffickers.

In another case, operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit arrested four men for vandalising telecommunications facilities across Lagos and southeastern Nigeria between March and May, following a petition from ATC Telecommunications’ lawyers. The AIG said the hoodlums stole equipment worth about N150 million, including solar batteries, solar panels, generators and other modules.

Those arrested were named as Abuchi Odikemere, 29; Anyanwu Emmanuel, 28; Kayode Segun, 28; and Emmanuel Chineku, 17. They were traced to a shop in Kosofe area of Lagos.

Akpanudom said exhibits recovered from the suspects included two surveillance cameras, 52 solar batteries, three small solar panels, two solar meters, a hammer and a chisel.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court, while efforts continue to track down other members of the syndicate still at large.

Detectives also arrested four suspects, including a woman accused of receiving stolen goods, over a shop-breaking incident at Ogudu, Ojota, in which armed hoodlums made away with mobile phones, smart watches, power banks and other items valued at about N20 million. The AIG said the suspects confessed to selling most of the items to a cross-border buyer and have been charged to court.

Giving an overview of the department’s caseload, Akpanudom said FCID Annex, Lagos received 1,816 petitions during the period, of which 1,803 were referred for investigation, nine sent to state police commands, and four dismissed as civil matters. He added that 24 cases were concluded and processed in court, while others remain at various stages of investigation and legal review.

The AIG said the outcomes reflected ongoing efforts to boost the department’s investigative capacity, including specialised training for 17 personnel, infrastructure upgrades at the Annex, and closer collaboration with agencies such as the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and NAFDAC.

He thanked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu and supervising DIG Margaret Ochalla for their support, and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to aid crime prevention.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Oloye Taofeek Adegoke, has picked Aderoju Oladayo Salako as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

Adegoke also received his certificate of return from the party at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

A statement by Adegoke’s Media Team on Friday said the certificate, signed by the National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, certified Adegoke as the winner of the party’s 2026 Oyo State governorship primary.

The certificate stated: ‘This is to certify that Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke having satisfied the requirements of the party constitution, is hereby declared the winner of the 2026 Oyo State primary governorship election, issued on the 30th day of May 2026.’

The statement added that a second certificate, signed by the party’s Electoral Committee, confirmed Adegoke’s participation in the 2026 primary election.

Salako, a Christian from Saki in Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State, was born on August 3, 1979.

He graduated from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, in 2005 with a Bachelor of Technology (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering.

He was certified and registered as an engineer by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in 2019.

According to Adegoke’s Media Team, Salako has worked on several infrastructure projects, including the beautification of Soun Ogunlola Town Hall, Ogbomoso; construction of a modern maternity and health centre at Ibapon, Ogbomoso; rehabilitation and construction of the Iwo-Ate/Ife-Odan Road in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area; and rehabilitation and construction of the Iresa-Adu/Iregba Road in Surulere Local Government Area.

His other projects include the rehabilitation of two maternity centres and two primary healthcare centres in Olorunsogo Local Government Area, Igbeti; construction of a housing estate in Lokogoma, Abuja; construction of a bus terminal at Igando, Lagos State; and a bus depot at Alimosho Local Government Area, Ikotun, Lagos.

He was also involved in the construction of the Ogbese River Bridge linking Ondo and Edo states, among other infrastructure projects across the country.

The statement said Salako’s experience in engineering and infrastructure development would contribute to Adegoke’s plans for Oyo State.

Adegoke said Salako was selected after consultations and consideration of political interests across the various geopolitical zones of the state.

The statement added that Salako’s name had been updated on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal as the substantive ADC deputy governorship candidate for Oyo State.

Properties worth millions of naira have been damaged in parts of Minna, the Niger State capital, as youths protested the deaths of 37 suspected illegal artisanal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The protest, which began on Thursday night, escalated on Friday morning and spread to several parts of the city.

Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago had planned to visit the families of the deceased to commiserate with them but could not proceed with the visit because of the unrest.

The demonstrations started in Tunga and Maitumbi before spreading to Kpakungu, Bosso, Tudun Natsira and Berger areas.

The protesters blocked roads, including the Flamingo Junction, while demanding justice. Vehicles, public property and campaign materials were also reportedly damaged in some areas.

Security personnel, including policemen and soldiers, were deployed to restore order. There were reports of the use of tear gas and, according to some unverified accounts, live ammunition as protesters confronted security operatives.

Unconfirmed reports also said some youths were shot during the protest. A video circulating online appeared to show a youth with an injury to the face at the NSTA park.

The NSTA park was reportedly invaded by protesters who vandalised buses, including vehicles preparing to depart and others that were parked at the facility. Shops and traders’ goods around the park were also damaged, forcing passengers to flee by jumping over fences.

Two banks located near the NSTA park, GTBank and Access Bank, were also reportedly attacked, while traders at Tunga Market hurriedly closed their shops as the situation deteriorated.

Along Bosso Road, protesters reportedly damaged the glass windows of a security post at the Bahago Sports Complex in an attempt to gain access to the facility.

Posters bearing the governor’s image were also destroyed, while the Chanchaga Local Government APC secretariat, opposite Bahago Secondary School, was reportedly attacked.

Vehicles, windows, a security post, televisions and other property were reportedly damaged at the secretariat, while its watchman was said to have sustained injuries from stones and shattered glass.

An AEDC Hilux vehicle and other vehicles belonging to residents and businesses were also reportedly targeted during the unrest.

Motorists have been advised to avoid affected roads as authorities work to restore normalcy.

The state government has imposed a curfew in Minna to prevent further destruction and restore order.

The Peace Advocates Network (PAN) has commended General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for sustaining military operations against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups across the country.

In a statement on Friday signed by Dr Charles Kazayet, PAN said the operational gains recorded across the various theatres showed that troops were making progress against security threats, while urging Nigerians to support the military with credible intelligence and cooperation.

The group said the progress was particularly notable in the North-East, where troops under Operation Hadin Kai have continued to target Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and their logistics networks.

The group noted that troops in the North-East neutralised 484 terrorists, arrested 370 suspects and rescued 595 kidnapped victims during the second quarter of 2026.

The statement further stated that troops also facilitated the surrender of 38 insurgents and their family members, while more than 360 civilians, mostly women and children, were rescued from the Mandara Mountains in Borno in June.

In the North-West, PAN noted that Operation Fansan Yamma had sustained offensive operations against bandits and kidnappers across Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna and Kebbi states.

The citizens group observed that the military has also continued to conduct operations in the North-Central, targeting criminal groups and securing vulnerable communities and major routes.

The group said military operations in the South-East had similarly focused on kidnappers, armed criminal groups and secessionist elements, while troops in the South-South continued operations against oil theft, illegal refining and other criminal activities affecting the nation’s economy.

‘Recent figures from the Defence Headquarters showed that troops dismantled 18 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products in the South-South in July. In the same period, Operation Udo Ka in the South-East arrested 26 suspects, rescued 10 civilians and recovered weapons and other logistics,’ the statement reads.

Kazayet said the results should encourage Nigerians to see national security as a collective responsibility rather than an assignment left entirely to the military.

‘The Peace Advocates Network recognises the sacrifices being made by officers and soldiers across the different theatres of operation. From the North-East to the North-West, North-Central, South-East and South-South, our troops are confronting different forms of threats under difficult circumstances. The reported rescues, arrests, recovery of weapons, disruption of criminal networks and destruction of illegal refining sites demonstrate that the Armed Forces are maintaining pressure on those threatening the peace and security of our country.’

The group commended Oluyede for what the strategic leadership and urged the military leadership to sustain joint operations, intelligence gathering and cooperation with other security agencies.

‘We particularly commend the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the commanders and personnel serving across the various theatres for their commitment to the defence of Nigeria. We believe the country must build on these gains through stronger inter-agency cooperation, better intelligence, improved equipment and sustained support for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect citizens and national assets.’

PAN also appealed to politicians to avoid actions or statements that could undermine security operations or create divisions among citizens.

‘At this point in our national journey, politicians and citizens must close ranks and support the Armed Forces. Political differences should not become a reason to weaken public confidence in our security institutions or discourage cooperation with troops. Every Nigerian has a role to play by providing timely and credible information, supporting security personnel and refusing to give shelter or legitimacy to criminal elements.’

The group urged communities, traditional rulers and political leaders to strengthen cooperation with security agencies, saying sustained public support would be critical to consolidating the gains recorded in the fight against insecurity.

PAN also called for continued attention to the welfare and equipment needs of military personnel, stressing that the sacrifices of troops serving in conflict-prone areas should not be taken for granted.

The ancient town of Oyo is mourning the loss of its oldest and most famous animal resident.

‘Baba’, a giant tortoise, who lived for 420 years inside the royal palace, died on Monday after falling ill.

Known across the region as the oldest living animal in Yorubaland, ‘Baba’ was a central figure in the palace of the Alaafin, the paramount ruler of Oyo Kingdom.

His long life made him a living bridge to the past, connecting generations of Yoruba culture and history.

It was gathered that, for centuries, ‘Baba’ was cared for by a line of kings, who passed down the responsibility of taking care of him. Royal caretakers served him his favourite food, including watermelon, leafy grass and corn pap wrapped in leaves.

Two dedicated palace officials were assigned full-time to monitor his health and daily routine.

‘In Oyo, ‘Baba’ was regarded as the oldest indigene,’ said Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin.

He added: ‘It was the Alaafin’s most besotted pet. The incumbent paramount ruler met it in the palace, as ‘Baba’ was nourished by a succession of kings, who inherited him as part of the relics of their ancestors.

‘Over the decades, thousands of tourists and local visitors travelled to the ancient palace specifically to see ‘Baba’. His impressive size, friendly personality and unbelievable age made him a major attraction. People were so fond of his fatherly age that no one used a regular name for him; they simply called him ‘Baba’, which means father in Yoruba language.

‘Unlike the belief in Yoruba land that royal animals were expected to die alongside their kings during rituals, ‘Baba’ survived many monarchs. He remained a peaceful constant through changing centuries, outlasting kings and carrying the stories of the old empire into the modern era.’

He said ‘Baba’ suffered a short illness on Monday, stopped eating, and passed away quietly later that day and had since been buried within the palace ground.

‘His passing on marks the end of a unique era for the kingdom and leaves a quiet void in the heart of the palace. ‘Baba’ was more than a turtle in status. He represented a part of the oral history of the Yoruba race. Now, the Alaafin has lost an ageless companion.

‘Even though ‘Baba’ is gone, his legacy remains alive in the town’s history. His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Owoade, plans to preserve the memory of the beloved tortoise so that future generations can continue to learn about his story for another century,’ Durojaiye said.