The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have been ordered to pay ₦ 100,000 million in damages by a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.

Naija News reports that the court on Monday imposed ₦100,000 million damages on Egbetokun, the NPF, and the PSC for breaching the law in their attempt to stop the February 22, 2025, local government election in Osun State.

Honourable Justice A. A Demi-Ajayi, while delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/OS/CS/41/2025, held that the sealing of the offices of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and arrest of staff of the commission in the build-up to the election was unlawful as the Police authority failed to provide any law that was broken to warrant its action.

The judge noted that the evidence presented before the court showed that the election was held in compliance with the relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022, and other enabling laws, leaving the Police with no legal justification to interfere with the process.

The suit, which has the OSSIEC and its Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye as claimants, had prayed the court to hold that the action of the Inspector-General of Police and officers of the Nigerian Police in sealing Commission’sission’s Head office and offices across the state a few hours to the local governments election in the state, the threat to arrest OSSIEC Chairman, and eventually arrests of ad-hoc officers engaged by it, was unlawful.

In suit, the claimants asked the court to determine “whether the plaintiffs, generally, severally and variously, are not entitled to enjoy their fundamental rights to liberty, right to private life, right to dignity of human person and right to own movable and immovable property as enshrined under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”

They also contended that the action of the Police reflected partisanship and urged the court to declare the arrest and detention of staff Commission in the build-up to the February 22, 2025, local government election as illegal and unlawful, “while the threat of further arrest and/or continuing detention of the plaintiffs’ staff by the defendants is illegal, unlawful.”

Besides, the claimants argued that the local government’s election was ordered by the court and described the conduct of the Police as an affront to the judiciary, which they prayed the court to hold against the IGP and the Police authority by awarding an aggravated damage of N2 billion against them.

The claimants request that the court restrain the IGP or any of its agents from continuing to overreach their power by interfering with the Commission’s lawful duties, and plead with the court to grant their request in the interest of justice.

However, the defendant acknowledged the sealing off of the offices of OSSIEC and the arrest of its staff, stating that the step was a preemptive measure to prevent the commission of a crime.

In an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ogunmokun Abiodun, the Police noted that its action was not carried out arbitrarily but “was founded on the credible suspicion their engagement in actions deemed to have violated the Electoral laws and other applicable laws as opposed to the averment contained in paragraph 14 of the plaintiffs’ affidavit.”

He contended that the claimants had exaggerated the development, as the Police only performed their duty of ensuring peace and order, urging the court to dismiss the suit as frivolous.

He denied the allegation of partisanship raised against the IGP and the Police authority by the plaintiffs, noting that it was acting within the scope of its constitutional and statutory duties.

Reacting to the judgment, OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, extolled the judiciary, asserting that justice has been served. He also commended the legal team led by Maruf Adediran Esq., saying that history already has in its records the illegal action of the Police in interfering with grassroots democracy in Osun State, and that at every time, that book will speak to the generations to come.

Brigadier General U. Uba, 25 Brigade Commander of Damboa, has reportedly been confirmed killed by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

According to Zagazola Makama, before his unfortunate capture, the Brigade Commander made a video stating that he was okay, but unfortunately, after several hours, he lost orientation within the forest.

“The troops, both ground and air made several efforts to rescue the Commander who told them he was on his way to return to his base. He was unfortunately re-captured by the terrorists after viral report of his abduction went viral,” Zagazola Makama wrote on X on Monday.

Providing further details, Zagazola Makama wrote: “In the chaotic hours following the ISWAP ambush along the Burum–Kubua axis of the Damboa–Biu road, confusion spread rapidly both on the ground and across social media. Shortly after the encounter, the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. M. Uba, who had tactically maneuvered out of the kill zone with his men, temporarily took cover inside the forest.

From that concealed position, he established communication with the Theatre Commander, confirming his safety and proof of life in a video Watssap call. He also sent his Live location through his Wattssap which prompted ground and Air rescue mission by Air and surface troops of Operation HADIN KAI.

“However, before official channels could release accurate information, social media platforms were flooded with sensational claims. Several blogs and influencers falsely reported that ISWAP had abducted a Brigade Commander a narrative that instantly went viral due to its shock value.

What followed was an information wildfire. The more the story spread, the more the terrorists, who initially had no situational awareness about the Commander’s movement, were alerted. Media amplification effectively turned him into the most sought-after “golden fish” in the Sambisa axis, prompting ISWAP cells linked to Ba Shuwa and Abu Qudama to intensify their scramble for a target they never actually had.

“This misreporting created an unnecessary operational burden, as troops had to factor in the media-induced pressure while conducting recovery and reorganisation. It also heightened public anxiety and momentarily disrupted the flow of accurate battlefield communication.

“At the time of the report, Zagazola dismissed the viral claims as entirely false. Verified accounts confirmed that a video released by the Commander himself confirmed he was alive, unharmed, and fully in control.

“Unfortunately, Gen. Uba’s mobile phone became unreachable and he was not found at the Live location he initially provided. The Theatre Commander himself led troops to Azir and remained there for almost 24 hours searching for the Commander without any trace.

In the end, the Brigade Commander was recaptured while attempting to maneuver his way out of the terrorists infested forest.

“This incident illustrated a recurring challenge in conflict reporting: how information can endanger personnel and inadvertently assist hostile groups by providing them with operational clues.”

Recall that ISWAP terrorists had ambushed a Nigerian military convoy in a late-night attack on Friday, killing several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF.

The commander had led troops of the 25 Brigade Task Force on a routine patrol to secure communities around Wajiroko in Azir Multe, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The insurgents, armed with sophisticated weapons, reportedly launched a coordinated strike on the convoy, leaving multiple casualties and triggering fresh fears across communities in the northeastern region.

In a development described as unprecedented, the terrorists were said to have abducted a serving Brigade Commander alongside other military personnel during the assault.

HumAngle, in its report, stated, “ISWAP fighters last night ambushed a Nigerian military convoy, killing several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

“In an unprecedented escalation, the insurgents abducted a Brigade Commander alongside other troops.”

However, the Nigerian Army denied reports claiming that the 25 Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. U. Uba, was kidnapped by the insurgents.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, in a statement on Saturday, admitted that the troops came under sudden and heavy insurgent fire while returning from a successful patrol within the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

The army spokesperson said the team courageously fought through the insurgents’ ambush with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and to abandon their mission.

She said the team comprised troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

“During the encounter, two brave soldiers and two heroic CJTF members paid the supreme price while on active service to the nation.

“The Army Headquarters also wishes to debunk the fake narrative going around some media platforms online alleging the abduction of the Brigade Commander.

“The general public is hereby advised to disregard the fake news regarding the incident while praying for the continuous success of our gallant servicemen and women,” she said.