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The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, identified as Muhamodu Sanni, while he was allegedly attempting to withdraw ransom money at a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal.

The arrest, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, deals a significant blow to a criminal syndicate operating around the Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area.

According to the police command, the breakthrough was the result of a meticulously planned, intelligence-led operation triggered by the armed abduction of three individuals during an invasion of Obudu Village on July 28, 2026.

“The sustained offensive of the Kwara State Police Command against kidnapping has recorded another significant breakthrough, as intelligence-led operations successfully penetrated the support structure of a kidnapping syndicate operating around Obudu/Woru axis of Ilorin East Local Government Area, culminating in the arrest of Muhamodu Sanni while allegedly attempting to cash out ransom proceeds linked to a recent abduction,” the statement said.

“The breakthrough followed the activation of the command’s intelligence and tactical architecture after three persons were abducted during an armed invasion of Obudu village on 28th July, 2026.”

Rather than confining their investigation to the immediate scene of the attack, detectives adopted a broader strategy, widening their scope to track the communication, logistics, and, crucially, the financial channels sustaining the kidnappers’ operations.

The tactical shift paid off when detectives intercepted intelligence surrounding a pending ransom transaction, leading them directly to Sanni as he allegedly attempted to cash out the proceeds at a POS location.

During interrogation, Sanni reportedly cooperated with investigators, making disclosures about his role in the ransom collection process.

He also reportedly provided actionable intelligence on other members of the syndicate, specifically identifying two accomplices named Aminu and Umar.

Ejire-Adeyemi noted that these disclosures have given detectives critical operational leads that are currently being “discreetly exploited” to dismantle the rest of the network.

Reaffirming the command’s commitment to eradicating violent crime, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, assured residents that the police remain operationally positioned to disrupt criminal networks and deny them any freedom of action.

He also urged the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.

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Tears flowed freely on Monday as traders watched helplessly while their shops were demolished at Johnson Line, within the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State.

The demolition, reportedly carried out on the orders of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, took some traders by surprise, with many having assumed that the exercise would no longer take place following months of delay.

Heavy-duty tractors moved into the area and pulled down shops and structures, leaving traders with forlorn faces as they struggled to salvage their goods and belongings.

The development comes months after Soludo announced plans to remove shanties and structures obstructing gutters, electricity lines and other infrastructure within the market.

The governor had also held meetings with market leaders at the Light House in Awka, where he explained plans to rebuild and modernise the market, widely regarded as one of the largest commercial markets in West Africa.

According to Soludo, the redevelopment is aimed at transforming the market into a more organised and modern commercial centre comparable to major markets in other parts of the world.

He had said the proposed redevelopment would eliminate shanties, while also providing facilities and infrastructure, including a fire service station, hospital, improved parking facilities, better electricity supply and improved road access.

However, Monday’s demolition left many traders distressed, particularly those operating along Johnson Line.

One of the affected traders, who identified himself as Emeka, said the development caught them off guard because they had begun to believe that the demolition would no longer happen.

“I didn’t see this coming. In fact, this started yesterday. A friend called me to come and evacuate the goods in my wife’s shop as a tractor had arrived in the area,” he said.

According to him, his wife was overwhelmed by the news after hearing that the demolition had commenced.

“My wife almost collapsed in the kitchen out of fear when she heard the news. I called her down and we went together to the place and luckily her shop was not hit until this morning, when it became obvious that her shop would not be spared,” he said.

Emeka disclosed that he had almost paid N10 million for another shop in the area but decided to delay the transaction until the fate of the existing structures became clearer.

“I almost paid for another shop around there to the tune of N10 million but somehow, I held the seller to tarry a while, so we know the fate of the building first,” he said.

He added that he and other affected traders had begun searching for alternative shops, with some reportedly being offered for about N3 million.

Another trader, who pleaded anonymity, said although traders had earlier been informed about the planned demolition, they became less concerned after some other sections were demolished while Johnson Line was left untouched.

He lamented that he was now uncertain about how to continue his business.

“I don’t know where to go from here because I don’t have the huge money to buy a shop,” he said.

Also affected was Mrs Uche Ejiakor, who said she bought a shop in one of the demolished buildings just three months ago for N3 million.

Ejiakor, whose business was still at an early stage, expressed despair over the loss.

“How do I start again? I just bought a shop, here we are today, the shop is levelled down. The money is gone,” she said in tears.

The demolition also triggered panic across parts of the market, as several traders who were not directly affected hurriedly closed and locked their shops.

The development left sections of the usually busy market unusually deserted, while groups of traders stood around watching as the demolition continued.

The state government has maintained that the exercise is part of its broader plan to transform and modernise the Onitsha Main Market, improve infrastructure and restore order within the commercial hub.

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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a self-styled pastor, Kehinde Makinde, popularly known as Pastor Kenny, for allegedly defrauding 18 fellowship members of about N2.5m under the guise of arranging a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Makinde was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, after detectives attached to the Obantoko Division reportedly spent four months gathering intelligence and conducting surveillance on him.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Babaseyi said the suspect allegedly operated across Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, where he was accused of manipulating unsuspecting people while claiming to offer spiritual deliverance.

He said investigations showed that Makinde allegedly collected about N2.5m from 18 fellowship members in the Saje area of Adatan, Ogun State, after promising to facilitate their participation in a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly told each of the victims that they would receive N2m in connection with the purported programme.

“Following four months of sustained intelligence gathering and discreet investigation, detectives attached to the Obantoko Division, on August 3, 2026, arrested Kehinde Makinde, popularly known as Pastor Kenny, in Ibadan, Oyo State,” Babaseyi stated.

The police spokesman said the investigation was initiated following allegations that Makinde had been using spiritual activities as a means of exploiting unsuspecting members of the public.

He added that the suspect remained in police custody while detectives continued their investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.

Babaseyi said the command was also working to identify other persons who may have fallen victim to the suspect and establish whether he had accomplices.

The police assured members of the public that further developments would be made known as the investigation progresses.