BANNER NEWS

Month: November 2026

  • Customs Appoints New Acting Comptroller For Adamawa, Taraba

    Customs Appoints New Acting Comptroller For Adamawa, Taraba

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Yola

    The Nigeria Customs Service has appointed Deputy Comptroller Mamman Ishaku Ali as Acting Area Comptroller of its Adamawa/Taraba Area Command.

    Ali assumed duty on Monday at the Customs House, Yola, taking over from Comptroller Mohammed Aminu Tako, who was promoted to Assistant Comptroller-General and posted to Zone B, Kaduna, as Coordinator.

    At the handover ceremony, Ali pledged to uphold professionalism, integrity, discipline and accountability, warning that indiscipline and compromise would not be tolerated.

    He also directed officers to ensure that every seizure was backed by the arrest of suspects and appropriate legal proceedings to facilitate prosecution.

    In his valedictory address, Tako said the command recorded seizures with a combined Duty Paid Value of N530,975,193.91 during his tenure from December 9, 2025, to November 2, 2026.

    He thanked personnel for their cooperation and urged them to extend the same support to his successor.

    Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Adamawa State chapter, Abdulmalik Bello, commended Tako for maintaining cordial relations with petroleum marketers and pledged the association’s cooperation with the new leadership.

  • Amotekun Arrests 301 Suspects, Secures 27 Convictions In Ondo

    Amotekun Arrests 301 Suspects, Secures 27 Convictions In Ondo

    A

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Akure

    The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, says it has arrested 301 suspects and secured 27 convictions for various offences since August.

    The Corps also paraded 15 suspects in Akure, including nine allegedly involved in kidnapping, four accused of violating anti-grazing laws and two others arrested for alleged breach of law and order.

    The State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while addressing journalists during the parade.

    Adeleye also announced the launch of Operation Laafia DanDan, a security initiative aimed at ensuring peaceful celebrations before, during and after the Yuletide.

    He said the Corps would train and deploy about 1,200 personnel across the state’s 18 local government areas as part of efforts to strengthen security during the festive period.

    The commander disclosed that the 27 convicted suspects were serving various jail terms or fulfilling court-imposed conditions, including payment of fines.

    He added that 102 cases had been resolved through alternative dispute resolution.

    Adeleye attributed the Corps’ operations to collaboration with Amotekun ambassadors, intelligence operatives, local vigilantes and other security stakeholders across the state.

  • Bayelsa Court Sentences Two To Death By Hanging Over 2022 Killings

    Bayelsa Court Sentences Two To Death By Hanging Over 2022 Killings

     

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Yenagoa

    A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced two men to death by hanging for their involvement in the killing of three persons in Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, in 2022.

    The convicts, identified as Gideon Atama, 32, and Clever OVO, 33, were found guilty of charges bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder in suit number BYHC/YHC/CR/32/2025.

    The victims included Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, said to be an in-law of a prominent politician in the state, the Paramount Ruler of Kalaba community, Kolibo Francis Amabelimo, and Samuel Oburo.

    Ogbolosingha was reportedly kidnapped and subsequently killed by the convicts.

    The presiding judge, Justice Michael Amadise Ekade, pronounced the death sentences after evaluating the evidence presented by the prosecution and finding the defendants guilty.

    Meanwhile, a third defendant, 50-year-old Bethlehem Nwanlia, reportedly slumped and died within the court premises while awaiting the delivery of judgment.

    Nwanlia was said to have suffered health complications, including high blood pressure and stroke, while in custody at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre.

    The three defendants were reportedly arrested by operatives of the Police Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), formerly known as Operation Puff Adder, under the leadership of CSP Chris Nwaogbo.

    Reacting to the judgment, relatives of the deceased commended the VCRU operatives for their role in the arrests and investigation that led to the prosecution of the suspects.

    They also praised the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice for prosecuting the case.

  • Group Intensifies Mobilisation In C’River Towards Garnering 10m Votes For Tinubu

    Group Intensifies Mobilisation In C’River Towards Garnering 10m Votes For Tinubu

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar

    The National Director of Strategic Deployment and Implementation of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTFN), Hon. Shedrach Innocent Egede, says the group is intensifying grassroots mobilisation in Cross River State as part of efforts to secure 10 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

    Egede disclosed this on Monday in Calabar, shortly after mobilising more than 5,000 supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally at the U.J. Esuene Stadium.

    He said the mobilisation drive was part of the mandate given to him by RTFN’s Chief Founder, Barr. Seyi Tinubu, and its Director-General, Hon. Bala Ahmed.

    According to him, the group plans to strengthen its political structures across the 18 local government areas and 196 wards of Cross River State to achieve its electoral target.

    Egede said coordinators of the organisation in the state would intensify community-level engagements to expand its support base ahead of the 2027 elections.

    “The planned mobilisation drive is designed to expand our support base, strengthen community-level political structures and take the message of the Renewed Hope Agenda directly to the people,” he said.

    He added that the group’s activities would extend beyond attendance at political rallies to sustained engagement with communities.

    Egede also reaffirmed RTFN’s support for the re-election of President Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu, as well as other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

    He said the organisation was committed to translating its mobilisation activities into electoral support for the party across the state.

  • Police Arrest Three Over Alleged Forged ICPC ID in Nasarawa

    Police Arrest Three Over Alleged Forged ICPC ID in Nasarawa

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Lafia

    The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested three men over an alleged forged Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) identity card and recovered an unregistered Lexus IS 250 from them.

    The suspects were identified as Mohammed Umar, Mohammed Nuhu and Ibrahim Suleiman.

    Police spokesman, SP Ramhan Nansel, said operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit intercepted the trio during a routine patrol around Bukan Sidi area of Lafia.

    He said the suspects were travelling in the unregistered vehicle when they were stopped for questioning.

    According to Nansel, Nuhu claimed to be an ICPC officer and presented an identity card purportedly issued by the commission. However, the driver, Umar, could not satisfactorily explain the ownership of the vehicle.

    The police spokesman said further investigation established that the identity card was forged.

    Nansel added that Nuhu claimed he accompanied the driver from Kaduna State to Lafia because the latter did not have a valid driver’s licence.

    He also said police profiling allegedly linked the third suspect, Suleiman, to the Eiye Confraternity, adding that the claim was being investigated.

    The three suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue. Nansel said they would be charged to court, while efforts were ongoing to establish the vehicle’s ownership.

    The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling crime and urged residents to report suspicious activities to security agencies.

  • Gunmen Kill Soldier, Steal Weapons in Plateau

    Gunmen Kill Soldier, Steal Weapons in Plateau

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Jos

    Gunmen have killed a soldier and carted away two weapons after attacking troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) at a checkpoint in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    The attack occurred at about 8pm on Saturday at Sopp checkpoint in Ungwan Boka community.

    Security sources said the gunmen opened fire on the troops from different directions, triggering a gun battle before escaping into nearby bushes with the weapons.

    Confirming the incident, OPEP spokesman, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, described the attack as deliberate and unprovoked.

    He said troops had restored normalcy in the area and were pursuing the attackers to apprehend them and recover the stolen weapons.

    Oteh urged residents to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in tracking down the perpetrators.

  • Owan-Enoh, Other APC Chieftains Seek God’s Intervention Ahead of Calabar Rally

    Owan-Enoh, Other APC Chieftains Seek God’s Intervention Ahead of Calabar Rally

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar

    Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan-Enoh, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams and former Cross River representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, Sylvester Nsa, were among APC chieftains who attended a Catholic Church service in Calabar ahead of the party’s presidential rally in the state.

    The politicians spent more than two hours at the service, where prayers were offered for the successful mobilisation of APC members and supporters for the rally.

    The worship service preceded the inauguration of the Cross River State executive committee and polling unit structures of Project Beyond 2027, an APC support group.

    Speaking during the service, Owan-Enoh said the decision to worship and pray ahead of the inauguration was to commit the political project and the forthcoming elections into God’s hands.

    He also thanked God for what he described as His guidance of the APC at the state and national levels.

    At the subsequent inauguration ceremony held at Atu Field, Calabar South Local Government Area, the minister charged members of the newly inaugurated structures to work towards securing victory for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu and other APC candidates in the state.

    He warned the party against a repeat of its poor performance in the 2023 presidential election, when the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, won 10 of Cross River’s 18 local government areas.

    “In the 2023 election, out of 18 local governments, our president only won seven. Atiku Abubakar won one. Ten of Cross River’s local governments were won by Peter Obi,” he said.

    Owan-Enoh said Project Beyond 2027 would work with the state APC leadership to secure victory in all 18 local government areas in the next election.

    He specifically urged the party to improve its performance in the seven local government areas of the southern senatorial district, where he said it must secure substantial votes.

    The minister directed the coordinators to return to their respective wards and polling units to engage residents, visit markets and communities, and canvass support for the APC.

    Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development and Project Beyond trustee, Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, said the initiative was established in 2021, with its headquarters in Abuja.

    Ayinde also spoke about the group’s activities and its political mobilisation efforts across the country.

  • As APC Rally Holds In Calabar Monday, ‘We’ve Many Demands Before Mr President’ – Gov Otu

    As APC Rally Holds In Calabar Monday, ‘We’ve Many Demands Before Mr President’ – Gov Otu

    By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar

    Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has said the state has several demands to present to President Bola Tinubu ahead of his visit to Calabar on Monday for the APC presidential campaign rally.

    Otu spoke on Sunday while inspecting preparations for the rally scheduled to hold at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    He said although the President had already taken decisions on some of the issues raised by the state, his visit would provide another opportunity to discuss Cross River’s expectations and future development plans.

    “There are things Cross River placed before him, and many he has taken decisions on already. All we want is for him to show here as a great Cross Riverian because this is the home of Jagaban,” the governor said.

    He added that the state was looking forward to further engagements with the President, expressing confidence that his visit would strengthen the relationship between Cross River and the Federal Government.

    Otu also declared that the APC would win all 18 local government areas in the state in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the party was cheated in the 2023 election when it secured only seven LGAs.

    “It’s 18 over 18. They cheated us in that election. It’s 18 over 18 this time,” he said.

    The governor said the preparations for the rally had generated enthusiasm across the state, adding that traditional rulers, political leaders, youths and other residents were expected to welcome the President.

    Also speaking, Director of Organisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Osita Izunaso, said the party was satisfied with the preparations after inspecting the stadium.

    Izunaso commended Otu for coordinating the arrangements and said the rally would provide an opportunity for the party to mobilise support for Tinubu and other APC candidates.

    He urged party supporters to vote for Tinubu, Otu and APC candidates contesting for Senate, House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly seats in the 2027 elections.