Crime
Taraba: Gassol traditional ruler, Chiroma allegedly using police to harrass residents, IGP urged to investigate
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has been called upon to investigate alleged harassment, arbitrary arrest and intimidation and extortion of residents of Gassol community in Taraba State, North East Nigeria on the order of Chief of Gassol, Alhaji Idris Yakubu Chiroma, and his influential family members.
The accusations stem from a series of events surrounding a land dispute in the area.
On November 2, 2024, police officers from Zone 3 in Yola, Adamawa State, arrested Babangida Sani, a resident of Gassol, on charges related to his involvement in a protest against the unlawful seizure of agricultural lands by Senator Sanusi Daggash. The protest, which took place in September, had seen several farmers from the district demand the return of their lands, which they claim were unlawfully taken.
The arrest of Babangida Sani has caused uproar within the community, with locals accusing the Chief of Gassol and his family of using their political power and connections to suppress opposition. Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, a spokesperson for the community, described the actions as an abuse of power, accusing the traditional ruler of using the police to silence dissenters.
“We are witnessing a situation where the police are being used as tools to intimidate and terrorize innocent people,” Abubakar said. “It is clear that this is a politically motivated action aimed at crushing opposition to the Chief of Gassol’s leadership and his land-grabbing policies.”
The police reportedly acted on a petition written by Adamu Abdullahi, an associate of Hon. Ja’faru Yakubu Chiroma, a member of the Federal House of Representatives and younger brother to the Chief of Gassol. According to Abubakar, Abdullahi, a resident of Yola, influenced the police in Adamawa State to arrest Sani and others involved in the protest, despite the fact that the Taraba State Police Command should have handled the matter locally.
Abubakar has called on the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure the immediate release of Babangida Sani and stop further harassment of Gassol residents. He also expressed concern over reports that the police in Yola have demanded that Sani and the other detained protestors apologize to the Chief of Gassol before being released.
“It’s absurd that the police in Yola have told our people that Babangida Sani and the others must apologize to the Chief of Gassol before they can be freed,” Abubakar said. “This is a clear violation of their rights.”
In a brief statement, Alhaji Idris Yakubu Chiroma confirmed that he was aware of the arrest, adding that those involved in the protest had insulted his character and would have to “suffer the consequences.” He also stated that he had instructed his lawyers to take the matter to court, but made it clear that he would not back down from pursuing legal action against the protestors.
Sources within the police have confirmed that influential individuals from Taraba State have played a role in pressuring the police in Yola to carry out the arrests. These revelations have sparked further concerns about the extent of political influence over law enforcement.
The people of Gassol have vowed to resist further attempts at intimidation, calling for an independent investigation into the conduct of the police and the alleged abuse of power by the Chief of Gassol and his family. They are also demanding the immediate release of those detained and the protection of their rights as citizens of Taraba State.
As tensions rise, the matter has drawn the attention of human rights organizations and political analysts, who are watching closely for a response from national authorities.
Groups operating under the aegis of the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) South East Zone have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to release ritualists and native doctors in detention.
The groups said, the Qnambra Governor should use the three years anniversary of his office to release the ritualists who have been in detention in the government house.
The appeal was contained in a joint statement by the Executive Director of the Human Rights body, CD South East Zonal Chairman Dede Uzor A.Uzor, the groups said he should use their release as a gift to their families in this season and occasion of three years in office.
The group named the native doctors as: Akwa Okuko tiwara Aku in Oba, Eke Hit from Okija and Onyeze Jesus from Nkpor.
The trio were arrested in connection with “spurious and obnoxious social media instigation on our youths” which painted a very bad image for the society.
The group lamented that the native doctors encouraged ostentatious lifestyle and crime, making our youths to believe that hard work doesn’t pay unless you engaged in unwholesome criminal activities like ‘okeite’ or ‘Awale, yahoo plus’ among other false lifestyles.
It also said “their activities promoted serious insecurity and tension in the state with teeming young people turning to such criminal and outlandish lifestyles.
“But since their arrest, we believe they have learnt a big lesson”.
The group advised that Soludo should make them sign undertaking with the hope of discontinuing such crude, unethical and diabolical activities in line with the extant laws of the State,” they appealed to the Governor.
HURIDE said Governor Soludo should grant amnesty to them in the spirit of this successful celebration of three years in office, saying that he has done so much to improve the lives of citizens of the State.
CAPITAL POST recalled that the Soludo administration has been clamping on criminal elements amid high number of missing persons believed to be orchestrated by ritualists in the State.
Crime
Ghana’s anti-drug agency nabs Nigerian drug kingpin, Uchechukwu Chima, seizes $2.1m worth of cocaine, heroin
Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested a drug kingpin of Nigerian origin from the South East , Uchechukwu Chima.
The commission operatives raided his hideout in Accra.
Chima, who is 56 years was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the discovery of 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, valued at $2.1 million on the streets.
The acting Director of of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC, Francis Amoah speaking on the matter in Accra, confirmed that the substances seized were indeed cocaine and heroin.
Authorities believe Chima has played a significant role in previous drug-related operations in the country.
He said the operation marks a critical success in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Ghana.
“NACOC remains committed to making the country a hostile environment for drug trade and ensuring the safety of both Ghanaians and the international community.”
The Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, attached to Police Mobile Force, 70 Squadron, Kabba today Friday 14th March, 2025 foiled abduction of passengers along Ayere road. This is consequent upon a distress that some armed hoodlums blocked the road in an attempt to abduct some passengers in a Vehicle.
On receipt of the distress call, reinforcement teams from Sharper Corner pindown were promptly mobilized and sent to the scene which equally engaged the hoodlums, and owing to the superior fire power of the Police, the hoodlums fled into the bush and abandoned their victims who were rescued by the Police.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, has ordered the deployment of additional operational and tactical assets of the Command to embark on thorough combing of the surrounding bushes with a view to apprehending the hoodlums and bringing them to deserved justice.
The CP while commending the unwavering dedication by the men of 70 PMF, Kabba, assured the public that the Police will not rest on its oars in the fight against criminality in the State.
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