Metro

Nigerian Police Parade Eight Suspected Kidnappers Behind Abduction Of Ekiti School Pupils

Published

8 months ago

February 17, 2024

The state police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu in a statement on Friday said the command had apprehended some of the suspects allegedly involved in the incident.

The Nigerian Police Force, Ekiti State Command, has confirmed the arrest of eight notorious kidnappers responsible for the abduction of school children in the Emure Local Government Area of the state.

SaharaReporters had reported that the bandits abducted some pupils, a head teacher and a driver of Apostolic Faith School in Emure, Ekiti.

According to the video seen by SaharaReporters, sources said the children were kidnapped after school hours on their way to Eporo Ekiti in their school bus.

The state police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu in a statement on Friday said the command had apprehended some of the suspects allegedly involved in the incident.

He explained that the syndicate were responsible for various kidnapping in the state, adding that one of the suspects was killed during a gun battle with policemen.

He also affirmed that the group were behind the abduction of the All Progressives Congress Chairman, Mr Paul Omotosho in the state in the year 2023.

The statement reads in part; “On 8/02/2024 at about 1300hrs, the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) received a credible tip-off that a gang of armed men has invaded a farmland at Eda-Oniyo-Ekiti and were planning to kidnap some Expatriates in Dairy Farmland, Ikun-Ekiti.

“Upon receipt of the information, a team of RRS operatives swung into action and arrested one ABUBAKAR ALIYU a.k.a SMALLIE who was on a mission to spy on the actual location of the Expatriates.

After the arrest of Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a SMALLIE, the leader of the kidnapping gang identified as one Sumo Karami sent two (2) vigilante members, one Saliu Ibrahim and Umaru Saliu, to secure the bail of the arrested gang member from Police custody.

“The two (2) vigilante members were arrested and they led the RRS operatives to Oro-Ago town where one Mohammed Bashiru, the leader of Miyetti Allah vigilante in Oro-Ago, Kwara State, was arrested.

During interrogation, Mohammed Bashiru revealed that he is a relative of Sumo Karami who is a leader of a dreaded kidnapping gang and that Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a SMALLIE is one his gang members who have been terrorizing and kidnapping innocent citizens with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.

“Initial investigation revealed that Sumo Karami and his gang members were responsible for the kidnapping of the Pupils and their Teachers in Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024.

“Meanwhile, the phone used to demand for ransom for the release of the Pupils and the Teachers was recovered from the suspects and effort intensified led to the arrest of two (2) among the gang members, namely: Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba in Owo forest, Ondo State.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Kenneth Ugwu in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 14/02/2024. The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate who kidnapped 5 Pupils, three (3) teachers and a driver in Emure-Ekiti who was allegedly killed by the kidnappers. The suspect led a team of RRS operatives to the kidnapper’s hideout inside Agric Reserved Forest between Ise-Ekiti/Emure-Ekiti.

“On sighting the Police, the armed hoodlums engaged the team in a gun duel. In the process, one of the gang members who was later identified as AYUBA was neutralized, one Abubakar Mohammed a.k.a Smallie was captured alive while other gang members escaped through the forest.

“Investigation revealed that the syndicate was responsible for the kidnapping of one Paul Omotosho, the APC Chairman, Ekiti State, along Agbado/Imesi, Ekiti road on 08/07/2023, the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Awoniyi along Ikere/Itaogbolu road in the month of January this year and the kidnapping of teachers and pupils of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Emure-Ekiti on 29th January, 2024.

“EXHIBITS RECOVERED: One (1) AK 47 assorted rifle; One(1) pump action gun loaded with five (5) lives cartridges; Twenty-one (21) AK47 live ammunition;Expended shells of AK-47 ammunition; One (1) face-mask; One (1) Nose mask; Two (2) pairs of hand glove; Twenty (20) different handsets; One (1) National ID Card bearing Salisu Mohammed; Two (2) MTN sim card; One (1) airtel sim card.”

“I wish to reiterate that under my leadership, Ekiti State will be made hot and unbearable for all criminal elements as I have ordered a vigorous, constant and sustained bush combing operations as well as raiding of black spots across the State.

“Citizens are therefore implored to support and cooperate with the Police by supplying timely and credible information that could lead to the arrest of criminal suspects in the State,” the statement added.

Metro

SAD: Man drowns in Lagos river after taking hard drugs

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Francesca Hangeior

A 45-year-old man, simply identified as Kazeem, has drowned in a river at Odo Tente, a boundary community between Lagos and Ogun States.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Friday around 11 am.

Before the incident, Kazeem was said to have taken a hard drug suspected to be Colorado.

The deceased, who soon started to act under the influence of the drug, reportedly ran uncontrollably and jumped into the river.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, while confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, stated that he drowned in the process.

The statement read, “On 11/10/2024 at about 11 am, a complainant reported at Alagbado Division that one Kazeem, ‘M’ aged 45, under the influence of a hard drug suspected to be Colorado, ran uncontrollably and jumped into a river at Odo Tente boundary between Lagos and Ogun State.

Sequel to this, the victim drowned and died.”
Hundeyin further stated that detectives from the Alagbado Division visited the scene and took photographs of the deceased.

The police spokesman added that the father of the deceased, when contacted, directed that the corpse be buried immediately by the riverside according to their tradition.

He, however, noted that the police had commenced an investigation into the incident.

Metro

Police arrest organ trafficker, childabuser, rescue victims in Imo

Published

3 days ago

October 13, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

In a bold move to tackle crime, the Imo State Police Command has dismantled a suspected kidnapping and organ trafficking syndicate, arresting one suspect and rescuing a 19-year-old girl.

The successful operation took place on October 10, 2024, at Douglas area in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State.

ASP Okoye Henry, Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the arrest, on Saturday, explained that the kidnappers were intercepted while transporting the abducted girl to an undisclosed location in their vehicle.

He said: “The arrest followed the swift response of vigilant operatives on visibility patrol, who observed the syndicate in a blue and white bus forcefully taking the young girl to an undisclosed location where they intended to kill her and harvest her organs.”

The police engaged in a hot pursuit, leading to the abandonment of the vehicle and the arrest of 38-year-old Justine Emmanuel, while others escaped into the nearby bush.

In another breakthrough, operatives of the Owerri Urban Area Command arrested one Mrs. Blessing Emmanuel, a secondary school teacher, for allegedly dehumanizing her 12-year-old stepdaughter, Amarachi Emmanuel.

The arrest occurred on Tuesday after a complaint was filed by Owerri-based activist journalist Chidiebube Okeoma.

Okoye urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

“The Imo State Police Command is committed to combating violent crime and ensuring community safety,” he said.

Metro

Ogun: Councillorship Candidate Shot, Stoned To Death

Published

3 days ago

October 13, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Adeleke Adeyinka, a councillorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, was brutally murdered on Saturday afternoon by unknown assailants along Osoba Way, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The former youth leader of Ward 15 in Abeokuta South was reportedly shot and stoned to death by his attackers, who fled the scene in an unregistered vehicle.

The tragic incident has shocked the community, with the APC Youth Leaders Forum condemning the killing and demanding swift justice.

In a joint statement by the Youth Leader of Abeokuta South Local Government, Comrade Kabir Odedairo, and the forum’s State Public Relations Officer, Comrade Timothy Odedina, the group described the killing as senseless and horrific.

The statement read in part, “We strongly condemn this senseless and horrific act, which has left our community shaken and grieving.

The fact that Adeleke was shot and stoned to death by unknown assailants in a tinted car is particularly disturbing and warrants immediate attention from law enforcement agencies.”

The forum called on security agencies to investigate the killing and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. They also urged the police to enhance security in the area to prevent further violence.

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers, suspected to be cultists, arrived in an unregistered Toyota Corolla and opened fire on 40-year-old Adeleke before fleeing the scene.

The community and APC members are mourning the loss of a promising leader, and the forum has called for increased security measures in Abeokuta to ensure the safety of residents.