Category: Security

 

 

The family of a 23-year-old student k!lled in protests in Iran have said that they had to sift through hundreds of young people’s bodies to find her.

Rubina Aminian, 23, a fashion student at Shariati College in Tehran, was k!lled after leaving the college and joining protest gatherings on the evening of Thursday, January 8.

Sources close to her family told Iran Human Rights that the young Kurdish woman was shot from close range from behind in the head.

Upon hearing of her k!lling, her family travelled to Tehran to identify her.

They were met with lots of bodies of protesters who had been k!lled in the past week but weren’t allowed to take her for burial.

Rubina’s mother said: “It wasn’t just my daughter; I saw hundreds of bodies with my own eyes.”

A source close to her said: “The family was forced to search among the bodies themselves to identify their daughter, and they undoubtedly saw many of the bodies of young people k!lled during the protests.”

Her family described Rubina as “a young woman full of joy for life and passionate about fashion and clothing design, whose dreams were buried by the violent repression of the Islamic Republic.”

Eventually the family managed to free her body but found out that the army had surrounded their home in Marivan, preventing her burial. She was buried on the roadside between Kermanshah and Kamyaran.

Her name emerged as one of at least 500 protesters k!lled in Tehran since mass demonstrations threatened to topple the regime.

Iran threatened to attack Israel and US bases if Donald Trump launches strikes over the brutal crackdown on anti-government protestors.

Meanwhile, enormous crowds of Iranians defied threats they would face the de@th penalty to gather across the country on Saturday night, Jan. 10, in the largest challenge to the rule of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Hundreds of protestors are feared to have been k!lled in the past three days by security forces loyal to the regime, which is fighting for its survival.

Iran is under an internet blackout, but verified video has emerged showing protestors taking over the streets in Tehran’s Gisha district and clashing with security forces in the city of Mashhad.

The de@th toll in the crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has spiked to at least 538 people, activists said.

More than 10,600 people have been detained, said the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Of those k!lled, 490 are protesters and 48 are members of the security forces, it said, warning the toll is likely to go up.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult.

The Iranian government has not offered any overall casualty figures for the demonstrations.

Khamenei has labelled the demonstrators a “bunch of vandals” seeking to “please” Trump.

The latest anti-government protests in Iran began on December 28, 2025, over rampant inflation.

They have since spread to more than 100 cities.

The regime imposed an internet blackout, which reportedly applies to international phone calls, on Thursday, Jan. 8, according to internet freedom watchdog NetBlocks.

Despite this, images have emerged of protests across the country, as well as a huge fire ripping through a government building in Karaj, near Tehran.

Hospitals are said to be facing a “completely chaotic” situation, overwhelmed with de@d and injured patients.

An Iranian social worker who attended a protest in Tehran on Friday told CNN that the demonstration turned into a “nightmare” when security forces began attacking people on the streets.

She said: “Bullets, who knows, tear gas, whatever you can think of, they would fire them. And it was very terrifying.”

By Ebinum Samuel

 

 

The Edo State Police Command, through its spokeswoman, ASP Eno Ikoedem, has clarifeid the true position of events surrounding the protest that occurred in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, and the swift interventions undertaken to restore peace and public safety.

According to her, following reports of a planned protest in Ekpoma, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, on Sunday, 4th January, 2026 proactively visited the town in furtherance of the Command’s preventive policing strategy. During the visit, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, in the company of the Area Commander, Ekpoma, and the Divisional Police Officer, convened a robust stakeholders’ engagement meeting involving community leaders, students’ representatives, and other critical interest groups. The objective, she said was to openly dialogue, address grievances, promote peaceful expression, and forestall any breakdown of law and order.

“Upon the commencement of the protest yesterday 10th January, 2026 the Area Commander, Ekpoma, immediately mobilized Police personnel in strategic collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure that the protest remained peaceful, orderly, and within the confines of the law. Regrettably, the protest was hijacked and all the rules of peaceful protest was ignored which led to incidents including malicious
damages, looting of property, vandalisation of shops, as well as a millitary personnel discharging firearms at a protester.

“In response to the sudden escalation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, promptly led additional tactical reinforcements from the State Command Headquarters, Benin to Ekpoma to reinforce operational control, restore public order, and prevent further degeneration of the situation. Through coordinated deployments, strategic positioning of personnel, and professional crowd control measures, normalcy was swiftly restored across the affected areas.

“The Commissioner of Police has personally visited the man who was shot during the protest, 32 years old Osagie Abraham who is presently receiving medical attention at Eromoele Medical Center, Ekpoma. He has ordered the immediate and thorough investigation of the incident” she concluded Meanwhile, the military personnel involved in the shooting incident has been identified while the appropriate military authorities, have been formally notified for necessary administrative and disciplinary action in line with established protocols. Those who engaged in acts of violence, vandalism, and looting have also been identified and arrested, and thorough investigations are ongoing to ensure that all culpable persons are brought to justice as the

Commissioner of Police has reiterates that it is the constitutional right of citizens to engage in lawful protest and freely express their grievances; however, such protests must always be conducted peacefully, responsibly, and without infringing on the rights, safety, and property of other members of the public.

Addressing the concerns raised by residents regarding the incidence of kidnapping, the Commissioner of Police assures the public that the Edo State Police Command is deploying intensified intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols, and targeted tactical interventions to decisively curb kidnapping across Edo State, including Ekpoma. The Command remains resolute in doing everything within its available resources to dismantle criminal networks in the state and sustain public confidence.

Members of the public, particularly residents of Ekpoma and its environs, are therefore advised to remain calm and continue their lawful activities, as the situation is firmly under control and normalcy has been fully restored.

The Command appreciates the cooperation of law-abiding citizens and urges continued partnership with security agencies in maintaining peace and order.

 

 

The Police Command in Lagos State on Monday said it has confirmed the identity of officers accused of extorting N3.3 million from a couple in Lagos, and have consequently detained them.

 

The command identified the officers, following a social media publication with the headline “Lagos Police Officers Extort N3.3 Million From Couple, Return N2.2 Million, Claim Remaining N1.1 Million Already Shared.”

 

According to the report, police officers attached to the Area H Command, Ogudu, Lagos State, were alleged to have extorted 2,000 dollars (approximately N3.3 million) from a couple they wrongfully apprehended on Dec. 18, 2025.

It was further reported that N2.2 million was returned to the victims after the incident gained public attention on X (formerly Twitter), while the officers allegedly appealed to retain about N1.1 million, claiming the money had already been shared among several colleagues.

 

Confirming the development on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said on her X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo, that the officers involved had been brought to the Command’s Headquarters for investigation.

 

The image maker said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration (DC ‘A’) to oversee the probe.

Adebisi said that the officers had given their statements as part of an ongoing investigation, adding that the command was awaiting the complainant to come forward to present his side of the story.

 

She assured members of the public that the command remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency.

 

She said that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken if the officers are found culpable.

 

The spokesperson also encouraged members of the public to report any misconduct by police personnel through appropriate channels to enable prompt action. (NAN)

 

By Ebinum Samuel

 

The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to reports of illegal charges of up to Fifteen Thousand Naira (₦15,000) or more being collected by some cyber cafes and their agents from applicants seeking to apply for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). These unscrupulous elements falsely claim that part of the money is remitted to the Commission and other government authorities.

 

The Commission, according to the Head,Protocol and Public Affairs, Torty Njoku Kalu, wishes to reiterate categorically that the application process for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force is ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE. No payment whatsoever is required from applicants at any stage of the process.

 

Prospective applicants are strongly advised to personally visit the official recruitment portal at: www.npfapplication.psc.gov.ng to submit their applications directly, without necessarily involving third parties.

 

The Commission warns that anyone found engaging in such fraudulent activities will face the full wrath of the law. Applicants are urged to report any demands for payment to the nearest police station or directly to the Police Service Commission via: 07054992071 (SMS/Whatsapp only).

 

The PSC remains committed to a transparent, merit-based, and accessible recruitment process.

By Ebinum Samuel

 

 

The Nigerian Air Force, under the Joint Task Force South West, Operation AWATSE, has arrested drug suspects and recovered assorted narcotics during an intelligence-led operation in Lagos, handing them over to the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

 

 

 

Speaking during the briefing, Air Commodore Muhammed Imam, the Commander, Base Services Group and Air Component Commander of Operation AWATSE, said the operation was established to protect critical national assets and combat multiple security threats in the South West.

 

He said: “The Joint Task Force South West Operation AWATSE was established to halt pipeline vandalism, crude oil and petroleum product theft along the 72 kilometre pipeline from the Atlas Po to the Mosimi Depot. The operation is also an anti-banditry, anti-kidnapping, anti-robbery and anti-drug abuse operation.”

 

He said the launch of a follow-up operation was based on a Federal Government directive conveyed through the Chief of Defence Staff.

 

 

He said: “In line with this mandate and in accordance with the recent Federal Government of Nigeria Directive, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, directed the theatre commander of the operation to launch Operation Ember Guard.

 

“Accordingly, Operation Ember Guard was launched to deny criminal elements in the southwest the freedom of action”, which he said made sustained patrols and raids lead to the arrest of suspects in December.

 

“With 18,000 raid operation patrols and in this light, on the 28th of December, while leading an intelligent lead operation around Igimu, Tatuaru and Egbeda, we arrested these 16 drug suspects.”

 

 

 

He listed items recovered from the suspects to include crack form of cocaine, 60 pieces of loud, 40 pieces of coded cough syrup, Kola and barcadi, six barcode, two pieces of Russian cream.

 

“We also recovered three electronic skills. We recovered crushers as well as psychotropic drugs like rohypnol, as well as ice.”

 

The base commander, who said the suspects were transferred to the appropriate agency for further action, were afterwards handed over to the NDLEA, who are statutorily mandated to deal with this kind of issue.

 

Also speaking, Stephen Oboshua, NDLEA Deputy Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of Teju, commended the Nigerian Air Force for the arrests.

 

Representing the NDLA leadership in Lagos, he expressed appreciation for inter-agency collaboration.

 

He said: “On behalf of the State Commander-in-Person of ACGM, Aba Kaurani, and the entire Lagos State Strategic Command, we are appreciating the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force for taking it upon themselves in the course of their duties to effect the arrest of these six suspects and the several drugs being displayed here right now.”

 

He said the agency remained firm in its stance against drug abuse and trafficking, just as he stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among security agencies.

 

“We appreciate the synergy that we are enjoying with other systems, agencies, especially with the Nigerian Customs and Air Force officers and the Nigerian Navy.”

 

He noted that the fight against drugs was critical to protecting young people and “we shall continue to help the Nigerians to reduce the proliferation of drugs in their society, which tends to affect our youth, especially the central nervous system that we know that these drugs are affecting. Most of these drugs are depressants, drugs, and psychoactive in nature”.