The Nigeria Police Force has reported seven homicide incidents across seven states within 24 hours, including the killing of a 67-year-old man in Osun State over an alleged N10,000 dispute.
The incidents, recorded between October 29 and November 1, 2026, also included the death of a three-year-old boy who was allegedly thrown into a well in Adamawa State, the killing of two brothers with arrows in Borno State and multiple fatal knife attacks.
In its operational update for November 1, released on Monday, the police said four suspects were arrested across the country, while investigations were ongoing into several of the killings.
In Osun State, police arrested Oyebamiji Lekan for allegedly hacking 67-year-old Samson Gabriel, an Urhobo indigene, to death with a machete following an argument over N10,000 reportedly belonging to the deceased.
The incident occurred on October 31 at about 8am.
According to the police, the suspect, who was reportedly a neighbour to the victim’s father, inflicted multiple machete cuts on Gabriel, killing him at the scene.
Police operatives recovered the suspected weapon and arrested the suspect, while the victim’s remains were deposited at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
In Adamawa State, a 17-year-old girl, identified as Ummi Saad, allegedly threw three-year-old Abdulrazak Aminu into a hand-dug drinking water well at Shuwa Village, Duhu District, Madagali Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on October 31 at about 10:30pm.
The police said rescue efforts lasted several hours before the child was recovered and rushed to Cottage Hospital, Gulak, where a doctor confirmed him dead.
The incident reportedly triggered outrage among residents, who attempted to lynch and set the suspect ablaze.
However, police operatives intervened and rescued her from the mob. The Command said normalcy had since been restored, while the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yola was investigating the incident.
In Borno State, police recovered the bodies of two brothers, identified as Umar Mohammed, 30, and Goni Mohammed, 20, who were allegedly killed with arrows.
Their elder brother, Usman Adamu, 25, reportedly discovered their decomposing bodies on October 31 at La’mallumti Village, Gamasuno Ward, Gubio Local Government Area.
The police said the bodies had apparent arrow wounds on their chests and other parts.
A joint team of police officers, Rangers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force visited the scene, documented the incident and handed the remains to relatives for burial.
Meanwhile, in Bauchi State, police launched a manhunt for a 31-year-old suspect, Usuman Aliyu Isah, over the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Usama Idris.
The suspect allegedly attacked Idris with a knife, inflicting deep injuries on his back and forehead at the Zango area of Bauchi metropolis on October 31.
The victim was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where he was confirmed dead. His remains were deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.
In Cross River State, police are also searching for suspected cult members allegedly involved in the killing of Patrick Alim in Ogoja.
The incident occurred on October 30 at about 10:10pm, when armed cult members reportedly led by a suspect identified as Solo Nnamdi attacked and stabbed the victim during a fight.
Alim later died at Ogoja General Hospital, where his remains were deposited for autopsy.
In Osun State, suspected armed robbers dressed in military camouflage reportedly barricaded the Ife-Osu Expressway in the early hours of October 31 and dispossessed motorists of their valuables.
The police said a commercial driver who refused to surrender his vehicle keys was assaulted and injured but was later treated and discharged from hospital.
Operatives, who responded to the incident, reportedly forced the attackers to flee into a nearby bush. Police said tracking and bush-combing operations were ongoing.
In Niger State, two 20-year-old men, identified as Bandagi Yabagi and Keke Alhaji Shaba, drowned after a canoe capsized on River Dogo at Echegi Village, Katcha Local Government Area, on November 1.
The victims were reportedly attempting to cross the river to their farms when the canoe overturned.
Police operatives recovered their bodies for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Also in Niger State, detectives launched an investigation after the body of an unidentified man, estimated to be about 30 years old, was discovered with a stab wound on his chest around Angwan-Kabula Junction in Suleja.
The discovery was reported on November 1 at about 7:20am.
The corpse was evacuated to General Hospital, Suleja, for autopsy as investigators work to establish the victim’s identity and circumstances surrounding his death.
In Ogun State, police commenced an investigation into the death of a 44-year-old Chinese national, identified as Yu Yan Jun, a storekeeper with Donfeng Chinese Company along Iperu-Ode Remo Road.
The police said Yu complained of ill health after leaving work on October 29.
He reportedly had a history of high blood pressure and was receiving medication before he was rushed to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, where a doctor confirmed him dead.
Detectives subsequently visited the scene, documented their findings and deposited his remains at the hospital mortuary pending the arrival of his family members.
Separately, in Akwa Ibom State, police arrested two men, identified as Onyenenus Romanus and Ufanabasi Sunday, over alleged vandalism of a construction site belonging to Craneburg Company along Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo.
The suspects were intercepted on October 31 during a stop-and-search operation along Abak Road while conveying suspected stolen electrical cables and iron bars in a tricycle.
The police said the suspects confessed to vandalising the construction site, while the State Criminal Investigation Department in Uyo continued investigations.
Providing a breakdown of its operational activities, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said four suspects were arrested during the 24 hours.
The police also reported no recovery of firearms, live ammunition or vehicles, and no rescued kidnapped victims or suspects neutralised.
The Force further disclosed that the period recorded seven homicide incidents, one armed robbery incident and one cultism-related incident.
It said no cases of gender-based violence, kidnapping, banditry or terrorism were recorded during the reporting period.
