The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued six kidnapped victims following a search-and-rescue operation.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the victims were rescued on Friday when a joint police and Community Protection Guard team on highway patrol along the Anka-Gummi Road noticed an abandoned ash-coloured Peugeot 206 by the roadside.

Abubakar said, suspecting a kidnapping incident, security operatives immediately launched a search operation, leading to the safe recovery of the six victims.

Those rescued, according to him, were Bakiru Muhammad Masama, Alyh DanTani Masama, Aminu Aliyu Bukkuyum, Ahmad Muhammad Masama, Umar Sa’idu Ruwan Jema and Shehu Mulluwa.

Parts of the statement read, “The rescued persons have since been reunited with their families.

“The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, commended the operatives for their prompt response.

“He reassured the public of the command’s relentless effort in collaboration with sister security agencies to rescue all kidnapped victims and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.

“CP Maikaba further urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency for immediate action.”

Abubakar stressed that the state police command remained resolute in its mission to dismantle criminal networks and restore lasting peace in the state.

In what can be said to be a mystery, two suspected lovers were found dead in a room on Friday at Alo in Ankpa local government of Kogi State.

The duo suspected to be lovers were found dead stark naked on the man’s bed.

The deceased persons were identified as Sheriff Salifu and Blessing Adama both from Ankpa.

Confirming the incident, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Ovye Aya who described the incident as sudden and unnatural, said the command was investigating the cause of the deaths.

SP Aya narrated that one Salisu Ibrahim from Alo in Ankpa came to the station at about 12 noon to report that his tenant, one Sheriff Salifu did not come out of his room as usual at about 09:31am.

“So, the brother of the deceased entered the room through the ceiling and met his brother and one Blessing Adama of Ojogobi Road Ankpa lying lifeless in the room. Both deceased were seen naked,” he said.

As a result, the PPRO stated that the Divisional Police Officer in Ankpa detailed detectives to the scene where they saw the bodies of the deceased persons, took photograph of them and the bodies to the zonal hospital in Ankpa where they were confirmed dead.

The state police spokesperson stated further that the bodies were also taken for postmortem examination to determine the cause of their death.

“But the family of the Sheriff requested that the body should be released to them. So, he has been buried according to Islamic rites, while the remains of Blessing Adama is still deposited at the mortuary,” Aya said.

A total of 23 internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to varying jail terms by the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between April 11 and 17, 2025.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on the official X handle of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday.

“Justices W.I. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between April 11 and 17 convicted and sentenced 23 internet fraudsters to various jail terms,” the statement partly read.

The convicted individuals are: Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, David Ogwunu, Jude Okolie, Lucky Ehizojie, Chineye Isioma Christian, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Uzodion Luke, and Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere.

Others include: Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Ajayi Aisosa, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni.

The statement continued, “They were prosecuted on one count, separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.”

One of the charges against the convicts read: “The charge against Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu reads: ‘That you Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu (m) on or about the 12th of April, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’”

All 23 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them. “All the defendants pleaded ‘guilty’ to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions,” the statement continued.

Justice A.N. Erhabor sentenced Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Jude Okolie, Obadiunor Joseph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni to two years imprisonment each, with an option of N200,000 fine.

Chineye Isioma Christian and Uzodion Luke received three years imprisonment each or a fine of N200,000.

Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin convicted Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, and Ajayi Aisosa, sentencing them to two years in prison or a N200,000 fine each. David Ogwunu and Lucky Ehizojie received stiffer penalties, each being sentenced to three years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.

“In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers and money found in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of crime. They also undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth,” the statement added.

The EFCC revealed that the convicts were arrested in a sting operation by operatives of its Benin Zonal Directorate following actionable intelligence linking them to online fraudulent activities.

“The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities,” the commission concluded.