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The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a prophetess and a suspected ‘fake’ midwife in connection with separate cases of maternal and infant deaths in the Akure and Emure-Ile areas of the state.

The arrests, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the police spokesperson in the state, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, followed incidents recorded earlier this month in which two women and their newborns died after childbirth was handled outside recognised medical facilities.

Abayomi said the prophetess identified as Blessing Efiong was apprehended in Emure-Ile after allegedly conducting the delivery of a 20-year-old woman, Jenifer Sunday, inside a church.

He explained that Augustine Kufre reported the case on April 11, stating that his girlfriend was taken to the church after she went into labour.

“The newborn reportedly died at the scene, while the mother died on the way to the hospital following complications,” Abayomi said.

In a related development, operatives of the command also apprehended one Elizabeth Aremu in Akure for allegedly posing as a midwife.

DSP Abayomi said the incident, reported on April 16, involved the death of a woman, Blessing Lawal, who was said to have gone into labour at Aremu’s residence in the Gloryland area, off Ado Road.

According to him, the victim developed complications shortly after delivery and died before she could be rushed to a medical facility.

He said detectives who visited the scene discovered the newborn’s lifeless body wrapped in a sack.

Abayomi said the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo morgue for preservation and autopsy.

He added that investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incidents and bring those found culpable to justice.

Abayomi, however, cautioned residents against patronising unqualified individuals for medical services, especially during childbirth, stressing the need to seek care from licensed health professionals.

“In both cases, detectives from the Command have commenced thorough investigations. The remains of the deceased mothers and their infants have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, and the Federal Medical Centre morgue, respectively, for preservation and autopsy.

“The Ondo State Police Command assures the public that diligent investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding these tragic incidents and to ensure that all persons found culpable are brought to justice.

“The Command strongly advises members of the public to always seek medical care from qualified and licensed healthcare providers, particularly in critical situations such as childbirth, and to avoid unregulated facilities or individuals posing as medical practitioners,” he said.

The command reiterated its resolve to protect lives and clamp down on all forms of criminal negligence in the state.

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Tension is mounting in Benue State after bandits demanded ₦9 million each for two students believed to be JAMB candidates abducted from a commercial bus, even as the Nigeria Police Force announced a major breakthrough with the arrest of seven suspects and the rescue of some victims.

The victims were among passengers seized on Wednesday when gunmen intercepted an 18-seater Benue Links bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo, forcing occupants into nearby bush paths in what has become a chilling pattern of highway kidnappings in the region.

Family In Distress As Ransom Soars

In an emotional appeal, the father of two of the abducted students said the kidnappers have escalated their demands after a series of confusing negotiations, leaving the family devastated and helpless.

According to him, the abductors initially demanded ₦10 million for each of the victims before briefly dropping the figure to ₦500,000, only to return with a hardline demand of ₦9 million per child.

“I have two children that were kidnapped in that bus and none of them has been released,” the distraught father said.

“They first asked for ₦10 million each, later said ₦500,000, but now they insist on ₦9 million each. We are still begging them.”

The father, who spoke under anonymity for security reasons, revealed that his children were travelling from Nasarawa State when they fell into the hands of the kidnappers after boarding the ill-fated vehicle.

“Even if you sell me, I cannot be worth the ₦9 million they are asking for each of them,” he lamented.

He said the incident has thrown the family into emotional turmoil, disclosing that his wife has not eaten since the abduction, while the family now clings to hope for government intervention.

Sources say several of the victims were young travellers, including students heading to write examinations, heightening public outrage over the targeting of vulnerable citizens on Nigerian highways.

The attack has again spotlighted the growing insecurity along major routes in Benue and neighbouring states, where bandits and suspected armed herdsmen have increasingly tightened their grip.

Amid the rising anxiety, the Benue State Police Command confirmed a breakthrough in the ongoing rescue operation.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, the command said a coordinated operation involving multiple security agencies has yielded results.

“The Benue State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a significant breakthrough following the kidnapping incident,” the statement read.

According to the police, operatives launched a targeted search-and-rescue mission in Amla Forest and surrounding areas, leading to the rescue of some victims, who are now receiving medical attention.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of seven suspects, who are currently in custody as investigations continue.

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The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the death of a police inspector, Jido Ahmed, attached to 61 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Kontagora, following his involvement in an alleged armed robbery.

In a statement released in Minna on Friday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that the late inspector and an accomplice, who is currently at large, had attacked a filling station behind the BCG Motor Park in Kontagora

The inspector died on Thursday at the police clinic in Minna from gunshot injuries sustained during a confrontation with a police patrol team from ‘A’ Division in Kontagora.

During the operation, they reportedly shot the station attendant after robbing him of an undisclosed amount of money.

“It was reported that the two suspected robbers used a motorcycle, went to the filling station, robbed an attendant, and shot the victim in the chest,” the statement read.

Consequently, Abiodun disclosed that the police patrol team from ‘A’ Division, Kontagora, immediately mobilised to the scene. They pursued the alleged robbers to the Dadin Kowa area of Kontagora, where a gun duel ensued.

“Fortunately, one of the robbers was shot in the leg, disarmed, and later identified as one Inspector Jido Ahmed attached to 61 PMF Kontagora. He was taken to General Hospital, Kontagora, for medical attention and later transferred to the Police Clinic, Minna,” Abiodun added.

The command further noted that the inspector was confirmed dead on Friday. “Further investigation into the unfortunate incident is ongoing, and effort to arrest the fleeing suspect is intensified,” the PPRO stated.