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The Delta State Police Command has rescued a two-year-old child allegedly abducted in Warri and concealed inside a sack, leading to the arrest of a 29-year-old suspect identified as Fejiro Obaduemu.

The dramatic rescue, which took place at Igbudu Market in Warri, followed swift intervention by operatives of the Quick Response Squad (QRS) after vigilant residents raised alarm over the suspect’s suspicious movement with the child.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the incident occurred on May 10, 2026, at about 9:15 a.m. when the suspect, said to be from Idesor Street, Esi Layout, Warri, was intercepted by residents who suspected an attempted child theft.

The police said the child was allegedly hidden inside a sack bag, a development that provoked outrage from the crowd, which attempted to lynch the suspect before QRS operatives arrived at the scene.

“The operatives swiftly rescued both the suspect and the child and evacuated them to safety,” the statement said.

Obaduemu, who reportedly sustained injuries from the mob attack, was first taken to the Police Clinic in Warri for treatment before being placed in custody for further investigation.

Police investigations conducted the following day reportedly led to the tracing of the child’s biological parents, after which the toddler was formally reunited with the family in the presence of leaders of the Hausa community in Warri.

Preliminary findings, according to the police, indicate that the suspect allegedly confessed to acting on the instructions of another individual currently at large, who allegedly sent him to steal the child.

The command said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplice and uncover a wider child trafficking network operating within the state.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating child trafficking, abduction, and related crimes.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities involving children to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency line: 08036684974.

The latest operation comes amid growing concerns over child trafficking and abduction cases in parts of the country, with security agencies intensifying surveillance and community-based intelligence gathering to curb the menace.

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Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has queried the credibility of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term if elected president.

Onanuga referenced Obi’s political history, alleging that the former Anambra State governor had previously pledged loyalty to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, before later leaving the party.

The presidential aide further alleged that Obi had moved across different political platforms over the years.

In a post on his X handle, Onanuga said “If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything.

Consider his record: while in APGA, he famously placed himself under a self-curse, vowing never to leave the party that made him governor. He gave his word to the Ikemba, even on his deathbed, swearing loyalty and fidelity to APGA.

“By his own actions, Peter Obi has shown that his word cannot be trusted. His promises are as fleeting as his political allegiances.”

Recall that Obi had last week defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, alongside Rabiu Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Observers see this move as an effort by the party to convince the North that Obi’s one term pledge would stand

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has abolished the requirement for Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to obtain prior written approval before releasing advertisements and marketing campaign materials.

The new directive was contained in a circular dated May 8, 2026, and signed by the Director of the Surveillance Department, Abdulrahman Saleem.

According to the Commission, the policy takes immediate effect and replaces Section 6.3.1 of the Guidelines for the Operations of Pension Fund Administrators, which previously required PFAs to secure written approval before advertising or promoting their products and services.

PenCom said the decision was aimed at promoting operational efficiency, reducing bureaucratic delays and enabling quicker dissemination of information to potential clients.

The Commission stated that although prior approval is no longer mandatory, PFAs are still required to notify PenCom before deploying advertisements across broadcast, print, digital and outdoor media platforms.

“In furtherance of the Commission’s commitment to promoting operational efficiency, reduce bureaucratic delays, and quicker dissemination of information by PFAs to their potential clients, the Commission deems it necessary to allow PFAs to henceforth release their advertisement and media campaign materials without the prior approval of the Commission,” the circular stated.

PenCom, however, outlined strict compliance conditions that operators must meet before releasing promotional materials.

Under the new framework, PFAs are required to disclose the duration and timelines of advertisements and submit copies of creative materials before publication.

The Commission also directed operators to clearly define the target audience for each campaign and provide evidence of internal clearance from their Legal and Compliance departments.

It further stated that pension products or services being advertised must already have PenCom’s approval before they can be promoted to the public.

Despite relaxing the approval process, PenCom stressed that regulatory oversight remains fully in force.

The Commission warned that all advertising materials must be factual, verifiable and compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 as well as the Pension Reform Act 2014.

PenCom also prohibited the use of lotteries, prize draws and other inducements in pension advertisements.

In addition, the Commission banned misleading claims, unaudited financial references and deceptive fee disclosures in promotional campaigns.

PFAs were equally warned against using government symbols, public figures or institutional assets without proper authorisation.

The circular further directed pension operators to register slogans, taglines and promotional phrases with the national Trademarks Registry before deployment.

PenCom maintained that PFAs would remain fully responsible for all advertising content, including campaigns handled by third-party consultants, media agencies and digital influencers.

Industry stakeholders believe the latest move is part of broader reforms by the Commission aimed at streamlining pension administration and reducing delays within Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Last year, PenCom also eliminated the pre-approval requirement for several categories of retirement benefit payments, allowing PFAs to process and approve requests without seeking prior clearance from the Commission.

The reform, which took effect on June 1, 2025, was introduced to fast-track pension payments and improve service delivery to Retirement Savings Account holders.