Operatives of the Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsà State Police Command have arrested a 38 year old man, Iliasu Mohammed over his alleged involvement in the 2022 shooting of a Police Inspector, Ekperi Edwin in the stomach and left for dead in Yenagoa, the State capital.

The Police Inspector was shot on August 21, 2022 by unidentified gunmen along his street at Akenfa, Yenagoa during what police sources described as an alleged armed robbery and attempted assassination.

The police inspector was reported to have sustained life-threatening injuries and underwent emergency surgery, with bullet pellets still reportedly lodged in his body over three years after the incident.

The case however took a new dimension following allegations that a key suspect linked to the crime was released under questionable circumstances after being handed over to the Nigeria Police by the military.

Sources familiar with the incident told our correspondent that a new petition to the State Commissioner of Police, Daniel Iyamah. has been minuted to the Special Tactical and Intelligence Unit of the State Command headed by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.

A suspect connected to the case is currently in police custody and is expected to be arraigned in court, marking the first concrete prosecution step since the incident occurred.

Police sources described the move as part of efforts by the new commissioner of police to ensure a thorough, impartial, and intelligence-led investigation, given the sensitivity of the case and the status of the victim as a serving police officer.

Senior security sources however revealed that the takeover by Operation Puff Adder signals renewed commitment by the Nigeria Police Force to address unresolved violent crimes, especially those involving attacks on its personnel

Police authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing and assured that the matter will be investigated thoroughly.

Already, the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the State Ministry of Justice has approved the case for prosecution and the Police is awaiting the arraignment of the suspect in the State High Court.

A US Marine who fell overboard from an attack ship in the Caribbean has become the first known American casualty in the Trump administration’s operation targeting drug-trafficking boats.

Nigerian-born Lance Cpl Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, fell from the USS Iwo Jima on 7 February and was lost at sea. He was pronounced dead after a lengthy search, which ended 10 February.

His death was announced on Wednesday and remains under investigation by the military.

The Florida native was assisting Operation Southern Spear, which has carried out 38 lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean since September. It played a key role in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro.

A statement from the US Marines contained no details regarding how he may have fallen from the ship.

“We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family,” said Col Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the Marine Expeditionary Unit known as Special Operations Capable.

“The loss of Lance Cp. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten.”

A news release from the military branch said the sprawling search for Oforah involved five ships and 10 aircraft.

The USS Iwo Jima was used to transport Maduro after his capture in a US raid. Maduro’s capture came after weeks of a military build-up in the region, along with frequent strikes on vessels that the Trump administration said were carrying drugs headed for the US.

The pace of the strikes has notably ebbed since US forces in early January captured Maduro – who has been accused by the Trump administration of working with drug trafficking groups.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said Operation Southern Spear is aimed at removing “narco-terrorists from our hemisphere” and securing the US from “the drugs that are killing our people”.

But some legal experts have said the strikes could be illegal and violate international law by targeting civilians, with no due process afforded to the suspects.

US officials have faced bipartisan scrutiny over a follow-up strike – or “double-tap” – on 2 September that targeted an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in the Caribbean Sea.

The families of two Trinidadian men killed in the 14 October strike have since filed a lawsuit against the American government, alleging the strike amounted to “lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theatre”. (BBC report)

…unveils Victory Roadmap for six Area Council Polls

Yilwatda: Political activities of Atiku, Peter Obi ‘inconsequential’

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday, formally inaugurated its 138-member Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Campaign Council, alongside the unveiling of a comprehensive roadmap aimed at securing victory in all six area councils ahead of the February 21, 2026 elections.

The high-profile ceremony, attended by governors, National Assembly members, party leaders, and key stakeholders from across the country, signalled the party’s renewed push for grassroots mobilisation, inclusion, and internal cohesion in the nation’s capital.

While inaugurating the council, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, charged members to work relentlessly toward delivering total victory for the party.

He expressed strong confidence in the council’s leadership, headed by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, describing the team as capable and battle-ready.

Professor Yilwatda disclosed that three governors, Hope Uzodimma, Mai Mala Buni, and Mohammed Umar Bago, were appointed as co-chairmen of the high-powered council.

Responding to questions on the political activities of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who are reportedly campaigning for ADC candidates, Yilwatda dismissed their efforts as inconsequential.

He stressed that the APC’s mobilisation strategy is deeply rooted at the grassroots and spans all regions of the country.

“Our campaign is not selective. It is ongoing across communities, cutting across tribes and regions. Governors from every geopolitical zone are engaging directly with the people. We are mobilising more than any other party, and we are confident of victory,” he said.

In his remarks, the Campaign Council Chairman, Governor AbdulRazaq, thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in the council, describing the assignment as both a responsibility and an opportunity to deepen democratic dividends for FCT residents.

“This campaign is not just about rallies; it is about results, winning through strategy, effective mobilisation, and genuine grassroots engagement,” he said.

A major highlight of the inauguration was the deliberate inclusion of representatives and governors from all six geopolitical zones, reflecting Abuja’s status as a melting pot of Nigerians. AbdulRazaq explained that the structure would ensure effective mobilisation of residents across communities through coordinated outreach.

Acknowledging the party’s performance in the last FCT elections, he noted that renewed momentum, expanding support, and the return of key stakeholders now signal a stronger APC poised for success.

He assured that the council would adopt a people-centred approach, including community-level engagement, house-to-house mobilisation, and efficient deployment of resources to reach every voter.

“With dedication, discipline, and unity, we are confident of victory across all six area councils,” he affirmed.

Other members of the council include governors such as Uba Sani, Peter Mbah, Hyacinth Alia, Sheriff Oborevwori, Monday Okpebholo, Biodun Oyebanji, Francis Nwifuru, and Umo Eno, among others.

Also named to the council are Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen.

The FCT Area Council Elections will determine chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors for Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.

A total of 570 candidates will contest 68 chairmanship/vice positions and 62 councillorship seats.