The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two Ekpo masquerade participants over allegations of extorting money from passers-by and assaulting members of the public in Ikot Ekpene.

In a statement on Thursday, Timfom John, police spokesperson in the state, said the suspects were arrested along the Ukana/Abak highway during an operational show of force.

John said the suspects were allegedly found with masquerade costumes and attire, machetes, spears and arrows.

“The suspects, identified as Ine Isong, aged 29, of Ukana Ikot Esoh Village, and Emmanuel Ekpenyong, aged 20, of Ikono Local Government Area, were allegedly found in possession of Ekpo masquerade costumes and attire, machetes, spears and arrows,” the statement reads.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the suspects and other persons allegedly involved in the activities had been terrorising residents and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Reports further indicate that some innocent persons, particularly women, were assaulted in the process.”
John said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify other persons who may be connected to the alleged offences.

He quoted Baba Azare, the state commissioner of police, as warning that the police would not tolerate the use of cultural practices or masquerade activities as a cover for criminality, intimidation, extortion or violence against members of the public.

“While respecting lawful cultural traditions, the command remains resolute in ensuring that no individual or group takes the law into their own hands or threatens the peace and security of residents.”

Five students travelling from Gombe State to Lagos in search of Industrial Training (IT) placements have reportedly been killed in a road crash involving a GUO Logistics truck along the Ijebu–Epe Road.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, according to a statement issued by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez.

According to report, Afeez said the GUO Logistics truck allegedly left its lane and collided with the bus conveying the students in the opposite direction, killing the students instantly.

He identified the deceased students as Isiyaku Sa’idu, Maigana Mohammed, also known as Abbati, Anas Abubakar, who was the driver, Zaiyanu Bajoga, and Abubakar Ibrahim.

The NANS president described the deaths as a devastating loss, saying the victims were young Nigerians travelling to Lagos in pursuit of opportunities to complete their Industrial Training.

Afeez raised further concerns over the alleged conduct of representatives of GUO Logistics at the scene of the accident.

According to him, rather than prioritising the victims and their families, the company’s representatives allegedly appeared more concerned about protecting the company’s image.

He alleged that one of the company’s staff members attempted to remove or erase GUO Logistics’ name from the truck after the crash.

Afeez said NANS had yet to receive confirmation that GUO Logistics had contacted the families of the deceased or assumed adequate responsibility for the injured victims receiving treatment in hospital.

He expressed concern that some of the injured victims could be abandoned without adequate medical care.

“This is unacceptable! Human lives must matter more than corporate reputation,” Afeez said.

He called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and demanded that those found responsible be held accountable.

“The families of the deceased deserve justice, the injured deserve adequate medical care, and those affected deserve accountability,” he said.

Afeez said the association would continue gathering information about the incident and would make its findings and intended actions public.

“The lives lost cannot be brought back, but we must ensure that the circumstances surrounding their deaths are thoroughly investigated and that responsibility is established,” he said.

He further warned that no company should be allowed to place its corporate reputation above the lives and dignity of Nigerians.

Afeez demanded answers from GUO Logistics over the circumstances surrounding the crash, the treatment of the injured victims and the company’s alleged conduct at the scene.

A Benue State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Abounu, has arraigned the Benue State correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, Henry Ibya, in Makurdi over alleged cyberstang.

The trial judge had sought the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s argument that the journalist was reliable and should be granted bail.

The absence of the prosecution counsel in court did not stop the proceedings, as the defendant’s counsel, Tom Uja, Esq., notified the court of his bail application for his client.

He stated that the prosecution had taken the journalist to two other courts in the state on the same charge and that his client had never failed to appear in court whenever required.

Although the prosecutor’s absence did not affect the judge’s decision to proceed and grant bail, which was also believed to be in the interest of justice, the matter was adjourned until November 5, 2026.

One Terna Abuul, said to be the Director of ICT at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, reported Henry Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command.

The director had accused the journalist of allegedly reporting mismanagement in the institution’s ICT department.

According to Abuul, Ibya’s report accused him of wrongdoing.

On the strength of the said report, the journalist was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi.