Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected kidnapper while attempting to collect ransom from a female resident in Nasarawa State.

The suspect, identified as Mukaila Iliyasu, was arrested at Akwaba in Eggon Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, during a joint security operation conducted by troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, and DSS personnel.

The arrest followed intelligence reports that Iliyasu had allegedly threatened to abduct a woman unless she paid the sum of ₦200,000.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, made the confirmation in a statement.

According to the statement, DSS operatives alerted the military to the alleged threat on October 29, leading to the deployment of a coordinated operation to track down the suspect and prevent the planned abduction.

To facilitate his arrest, a soldier reportedly went undercover and posed as the individual assigned to deliver the ransom.

The suspect was apprehended while collecting the money, with security operatives recovering ₦200,000 believed to be the ransom demanded from the intended victim.

The military described the operation as a successful intelligence-led intervention that prevented a possible kidnapping and underscored the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling criminal activities.

Following his arrest, Iliyasu was handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke and General Officer Commanding 5 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Kolo Gara, praised the troops and DSS operatives for their professionalism, courage and effective coordination.

Gara urged the security personnel to sustain their collaboration and strengthen intelligence sharing to tackle kidnapping and other security threats across their areas of responsibility.

He also emphasised the need for continued inter-agency cooperation to protect lives, safeguard communities and maintain peace in the region.

Terrorists have reportedly attacked a vehicle carrying Nigeria Police officers travelling from Sokoto to Zamfara State for a special duty, killing some of the operatives.

Report says the attack resulted in the death of some of the officers, although the exact number of casualties and whether any personnel survived remained unclear.

A vehicle reportedly used to convey the officers was seen with visible bloodstains.

The bodies of the slain officers were reportedly evacuated from the scene following the attack, the report also said.

A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Idris Ashimiyu to life imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old girl.

Justice Abiola Soladoye convicted Ashimiyu after finding him guilty of a one-count charge brought by the Lagos State Government.

The court also ordered that his name be entered in the state’s Sexual Offenders Register, in accordance with Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021.

The survivor, who was 13 when she testified, told the court that she knew Ashimiyu as someone who ran errands and washed cars within their compound.

She recounted how he approached her while she was outside, touched her and subsequently defiled her.

Delivering judgment, Justice Soladoye said the survivor’s account was credible and consistent with the evidence before the court.

“I have carefully considered the testimonies and other evidence before this court, including the age of the survivor, the consistency of her testimony and the issue of consent.

“I find the testimony of the survivor credible and coherent. The prosecution has established that she was a child at the time of the incident and that she did not consent to the sexual act.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. I therefore find Ashimiyu guilty as charged,” the judge held.

Ashimiyu was prosecuted under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which prescribes life imprisonment for unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.