The Adamawa State Police Command has intensified security across Yola, the state capital, ahead of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s condolence visit to the family of the late former Minister of Transportation, Bamanga Tukur.

The command deployed heavily armed personnel, including anti-riot policemen and armoured tanks, to strategic locations across the state capital as part of measures to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.

The police said the deployment was ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, CP Kabir Hassan, following preparations for the Vice President’s visit.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s spokesman, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said adequate security had been put in place across Yola and other strategic locations in the state.

“Ahead of the official visit of His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Adamawa State, the Adamawa State Police Command has deployed adequate security and placed watertight security measures across Yola and other strategic locations in the State,” Nguroje stated.

According to the statement, the command has mobilised various operational units to support the security arrangements.

They include personnel from the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Intelligence Unit, Traffic Unit and Divisional Police Officers.

The police said the deployment was aimed at maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that the Vice President’s condolence visit proceeds without disruption.

The Commissioner of Police also disclosed that traffic diversions and stop-and-search operations would be carried out in and around Yola as part of the security measures.

He urged residents and other members of the public to cooperate with security personnel deployed to various locations and remain law-abiding throughout the visit.

The police commissioner further warned suspected criminals, miscreants and other individuals who may attempt to cause trouble to stay away from venues designated for the Vice President’s visit.

He said the command would not hesitate to take action against anyone who attempted to breach the peace or disrupt the condolence visit.

The command also called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, activities or movements to the nearest police station or through the emergency lines provided by the command.

The police assured residents of Adamawa State that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard lives and property before, during and after the Vice President’s visit.

The condolence visit comes as Shettima is expected in Adamawa to commiserate with the family of Bamanga Tukur, a prominent Nigerian politician and elder statesman.

The heightened security presence is expected to remain in strategic parts of Yola as authorities coordinate traffic and movement around locations associated with the visit.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has issued a 14-day ultimatum to kidnappers and other criminals operating in the state’s forest reserves to vacate the forests or face security operations.

The directive was disclosed on Wednesday in Akure by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Forestry, Bidemi Obayangban, during an interview with journalists.

Obayangban said the governor’s order was specifically targeted at criminals who had turned parts of the state’s forest reserves into hideouts and were using the locations to perpetrate criminal activities.

He explained that the move was part of the administration’s efforts to restore security across the forest reserves and create an environment conducive to legitimate economic activities.

According to him, the government’s plans to revitalise the forestry sector and attract investors could not succeed without adequate security for people operating within the reserves.

“A vision without maximum security to ensure the safety of investors, farmers, timber contractors and those conducting legitimate business across Ondo State’s forest reserves is effectively meaningless,” he said.

The governor’s aide said the administration had concluded plans to tackle kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the forests, stressing that the government would not allow criminal elements to undermine its economic development plans.

He warned those operating illegally in the forests to comply with the directive within the stipulated 14-day period.

“Failure to comply will result in them meeting their Waterloo,” Obayangban said.

He noted that securing the forests was not only necessary to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities but also essential to restoring confidence among farmers, investors, timber contractors and other legitimate operators.

Obayangban said the government’s broader forestry-sector plans were designed to promote legitimate economic activities and support sustainable growth.

He maintained that the state could not achieve meaningful economic development in an environment where farmers, investors and other legitimate businesses remained exposed to security threats.

The directive comes as the Ondo State Government seeks to reposition its forest reserves as productive economic assets while addressing criminal activities allegedly taking place in the areas.

The administration is expected to work with security agencies as part of efforts to enforce the directive and improve safety within the forests.

The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a stolen 2016 Toyota Camry from a hotel in Ifo and arrested one suspect, less than eight hours after the vehicle was reported missing.

The vehicle, belonging to an Indian national operating from the Ilupeju Industrial Estate in Lagos, was allegedly stolen on September 9, 2026, by the owner’s newly employed driver, identified as Waidi Olaide Kolawale.

The command disclosed this in a statement shared on its official X account on Sunday, saying Kolawale had only been employed two days before the incident.

According to the police, the suspect told his employer that he was taking the vehicle to a nearby vulcaniser to repair a faulty tyre but allegedly absconded with the car.

After the theft was reported, the vehicle was electronically tracked to the Ifo axis of Ogun State. The information was subsequently relayed to the Divisional Police Officer of Ifo Division, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, who immediately deployed surveillance and anti-robbery operatives to locate the vehicle.

The police said the operatives followed the vehicle through several locations before eventually locating it at a hotel in Ifo at about 8:30pm.

The command said Kolawale fled on sighting the police, allegedly escaping with the vehicle’s ignition key, while his suspected accomplice, identified as Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene.

“On sighting the police, Kolawale allegedly fled with the ignition key, while his alleged accomplice, Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigation, according to the command, revealed that the suspects had allegedly approached a mechanic with the intention of removing the vehicle’s catalyst.

However, the mechanic reportedly declined to carry out the job.

The recovered Toyota Camry has since been secured by the police, while efforts are ongoing to arrest Kolawale and determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft.

The Ogun State Police Command described the swift recovery as an indication of its “proactive, technology-driven and intelligence-led approach to policing.”

It also stressed the importance of promptly reporting criminal incidents, noting that early reporting and coordinated police action could help prevent criminals from establishing what it described as a “safe operating space.”

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ifo Division operatives for their professionalism, vigilance and quick response to the incident.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and ensuring that those involved in criminal activities are brought to justice.

The police further advised vehicle owners to install reliable tracking devices and adopt additional anti-theft measures such as steering locks and tyre locks.

Members of the public were also urged to exercise caution when entrusting vehicles, property and access to their homes or businesses to other people.

“Trust should be accompanied by due diligence,” the command advised.

The police equally urged hotel operators to strengthen their guest and vehicle verification procedures, maintain accurate records and promptly report suspicious individuals, vehicles or activities within their premises.

The command called on residents to assist security agencies by reporting suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield Toll-Free Line on 0800 000 9111, or via 09164859299 and 09154293464.