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A 46-year-old man posing as a medical doctor, who identified himself as Osazee Okungbowa, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command.

Okungbowa was arrested after a woman he allegedly assisted during childbirth reported to the police that her baby was missing.

He was paraded alongside 44 other suspects, including alleged kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and murder suspects, by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, on Friday.

Parading the suspects, Agbonika said they were arrested through intelligence-driven operations and coordinated tactical responses carried out across the state during the period under review.

Providing a breakdown of the arrests, the police commissioner said 15 suspected cultists, three suspected armed robbers, 11 murder suspects, and 14 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases were apprehended.

He said the command had intensified operations against kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and other violent criminals through enhanced intelligence-led policing.

According to him, the command’s determination to ensure that criminal elements have no hiding place in Edo State has been strengthened by sustained efforts that continue to yield significant operational successes.

He said: “The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment, professionalism, and selflessness of officers of the Edo State Police Command, working in close collaboration with other security agencies and with the patriotic support of the public.

“Within the period under review, a total of 45 suspects involved in violent crimes were arrested.

“These achievements underscore our unwavering resolve to rid Edo State of criminal elements and demonstrate that the command remains proactive, responsive, and relentless in confronting every form of violent crime.

“As we continue the fight against criminality, I sincerely thank the law-abiding citizens of Edo State for their continued cooperation and confidence in the police. The timely information, intelligence, and assistance we receive from members of the public remain crucial to our operational successes.”

Speaking on his arrest, Okungbowa said: “I am a clinic doctor and the manager of Grace Health Nursery and Maternity. The owner of the hospital is licensed and employs both qualified and unqualified staff.

“On that day, a man identified as Mr. Godwin brought a pregnant woman to the hospital and informed me that she was due for delivery. I was unwell at the time and told them I could not handle the delivery.

“I then called a colleague to assist at the facility. According to her, the woman agreed, and she delivered the baby the following day. After the delivery, the nurse said the baby was premature and should be taken to an incubator, but the baby later died.

“I was trained as an auxiliary nurse in 2003 and have worked in different hospitals as a health assistant.”

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A woman identified as Nana Batula and her two children have regained their freedom after spending about one month in the custody of armed bandits in Zamfara State.

The victims were abducted on May 30, 2026, when suspected bandits reportedly attacked their family home in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

During the attack, the assailants allegedly killed Batula’s husband, Sagir Umar, before abducting his wife and their two children.

Security analyst Bakatsine confirmed the family’s release in a post shared on July 1, 2026.

A source close to the family also confirmed that the victims had returned safely, expressing gratitude for their release after weeks in captivity.

According to the source, Nana Batula and her children are currently receiving medical attention and psychological support following their ordeal.

Police have yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding their release.

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Barely 48 hours after Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani declared in a television interview that travellers could use the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road without security escorts, suspected bandits struck along the route on Thursday, killing one person.

The attack occurred at about 4 p.m., according to a resident of Birnin Gwari who confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters via WhatsApp.

The assailants reportedly killed the victim, stole his motorcycle, and shot his brother, identified as Mallam Haruna, who was rushed to hospital for treatment after the attackers fled.

Governor Sani had, during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, challenged the programme’s anchor, Charles Aniagolu, to travel to Birnin Gwari himself or invite the station’s Kaduna correspondent to do so, insisting that the road was now safe and free of security threats.

However, residents disputed the governor’s claim, insisting that bandits remain active along the highway. They recalled that the criminals recently killed a commercial driver, said to be a grandson of one of the district heads in the Birnin Gwari Emirate, before abducting passengers travelling from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari.

Meanwhile, despite the Kaduna State Government’s widely publicised amnesty and reconciliation initiative with bandits, residents of several Birnin Gwari communities have raised fresh concerns over continued attacks and the destruction of farmlands.

In a statement issued under the banner of the Kuyello Progressives and signed by Mallam Abdullah, residents of Kuyello, Kutemeshi, Tabbanni, Dogon Dawa and Kazage appealed to the Birnin Gwari Local Government and the Kaduna State Government to urgently intervene, saying the reconciliation meeting held in Kamfanin Doka has failed to bring peace to their communities.

The residents alleged that herders continue to allow their livestock to graze on cultivated farmlands, destroying crops and leaving farmers with huge losses. According to the group, thousands of hectares of farmland have already been devastated, plunging many farming families into severe hardship.

The statement further alleged that killings, kidnappings, theft and the rape of girls and married women have continued unabated despite the peace accord, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of the government’s reconciliation efforts.

“We therefore appeal to the government and all relevant stakeholders to intervene immediately to stop this destruction and protect the lives, livelihoods and property of the affected communities,” the statement read.

The group said the affected communities have remained law-abiding and have continued to honour all the terms agreed during the peace process.

It expressed hope that the authorities would take prompt action to ensure justice, lasting peace and the protection of farming communities, warning that the people would no longer remain silent in the face of their continued suffering.