Metro
Police arrest suspected kidnappers of Ministry of Justice Director, niece in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of 45-year-old Ability Etim Samuel and 36-year-old David Vincent Samuel for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a director from the Ministry of Justice and his niece.
In his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo, on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, stated that operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, team, acting on intelligence, uncovered the kidnappers’ den in Ikot Ukpong village, Abak Local Government Area. The victims, who were kept in an abandoned soakaway, were rescued, and two suspects were neutralised during the operation.
The tactical team, led by CSP Kokoete Ebong, arrested two suspects during further investigations and recovered the victim’s car, which had been abandoned along Etinan Road, as well as the Toyota Sienna vehicle used in the kidnapping.
The commissioner’s statement read in part: “You may recall that in December 2024, a distress call was received reporting the kidnapping of a director with the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, and his niece (name withheld) by five armed men. Our operatives immediately swung into action and located the kidnappers’ den in a dense forest within Ikot Ukpong village, Abak Local Government Area.
“A thorough search was conducted within the forest, and the victims were rescued unharmed from an abandoned soakaway. The victim’s car was recovered along Etinan Road, where it had been abandoned. Additionally, the Toyota Sienna vehicle used in the kidnapping was recovered, while two suspects were neutralised. Further investigation led to the arrest of Ability Etim Samuel, 45, and David Vincent Samuel, 36. They are currently under investigation to identify more members of their gang and recover their weapons.”
The rescued victim, speaking to journalists shortly after the press conference, recounted how he was blocked at a road bump in Etinan, had his car window smashed with a hammer, and was blindfolded before being taken to an unknown forest, later identified as being in Abak Local Government Area.
He expressed gratitude to CSP Ebong, the rescue team, and the police command for their swift response and professionalism, which ensured his and his niece’s safe return from the kidnappers’ den.
Additionally, the command paraded six suspects for alleged sodomy. The suspects include Okwudili Levi Okeke (aka Eze), 34; Idara Itam Daniel, 23; David Udoh James, 23; Udofia Edem Udosen, 29; David Bassey Bassey, 26; and Daniel Jacob Edet, 30.
The commissioner disclosed that the arrests followed information received from a journalist on 8 January 2025, reporting that a 13-year-old boy had been repeatedly raped by four different men over three years. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects, Okwudili Okeke, had been recruited into sodomy and had engaged in anal sex with several men in the state.
Commissioner of Police Azare assured the public that all suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of investigations. He vowed to intensify efforts to clamp down on criminals in the state and urged the public to provide useful information to help tackle crime and criminality.
Metro
Man commits suicide after wife’s death in Niger

A young man identified as Stephen Moses has reportedly committed suicide after the death of his youngest wife in Ikumi Village, Shako District, Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State,
Sources told Daily Trust that Stephen, 30, had battled mental and emotional health challenges since the death of his second wife in March this year.
Sources said he had constantly stated that he could not have a comfortable life without his late wife.
Daily Trust gathered that he used his dane gun with which he hunted to kill himself on his farm.
One of the sources said he left behind his first wife and two children.
Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust.
He said the incident happened on April 24, 2025.
According to him “On 24th April, 2025 at about 8pm, report received that one Stephen Moses 30yrs of Ikumi village via Shako District of Gawu-Babangida, Gurara LGA earlier around afternoon period shot himself on the chest with a Dane gun in his farm.
“Police operatives of Gawu-Babangida Div visited the scene, found a Dane gun and the body on the ground, corpse was taken to the hospital while preliminary findings revealed that the deceased was mourning the death of his wife who recently passed on, and has been threatening to commit suicide, and his relatives didn’t inform the Police for preventive measure”.
Metro
Wanted CBEX promoter surrenders to EFCC

One of the suspected promoters of the cryptocurrency trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange, Adefowora Abiodun, who was recently declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, voluntarily surrendered himself to the anti-graft agency on Monday.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, in a ruling on Thursday last week, approved the EFCC’s request to arrest and detain six promoters of CBEX pending the conclusion of investigations into the alleged offences and possible prosecution.
Abiodun, alongside five others – Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim – was declared wanted by the EFCC following submissions made by the commission’s counsel, Fadila Yusuf.
After hearing the EFCC’s application, Justice Nwite ruled, “I have listened to the submission of learned counsel for the applicant. I have also reviewed the affidavit evidence and exhibits, along with the written address. I am satisfied that the application is meritorious and hereby grant it as prayed.”
All six promoters were declared wanted by the EFCC for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent investment scheme valued at over $1bn.
Following the declaration, Abiodun, accompanied by his lawyers, turned himself in at the EFCC headquarters at around 4:00 p.m. on Monday.
Abiodun expressed his willingness to cooperate with the EFCC.
Counsel for the suspect, Babatunde Busari, stated that his client decided to submit himself for investigation to clear his name and correct the false narrative being widely circulated in the media.
Metro
Boko Haram kills 17, displaces farmers in Adamawa village

The Chairman of Hong Local Government Area in Adamawa State, Usman Wa’anganda, has cried out in anguish following another deadly attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Kopre village, where at least 17 hunters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were killed on Saturday.
The fresh attack, which occurred around 4:00 p.m. on April 26, 2025, saw armed insurgents storm the border community on motorcycles, overpowering local defenders with superior firepower.
The onslaught left many houses burnt and deepened fears among residents already living under the shadow of repeated assaults.
Wa’anganda, speaking exclusively to The Guardian in an interview, lamented the worsening security situation in Kopre, a village sharing a porous border with the notorious Sambisa forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram terror group.
“You know Kopre is one of the villages that shares a border with Sambisa forest, so Boko Haram frequently enters and attacks,” he said. “We only have hunters there. There are no soldiers or any security presence. Even when we call them, they don’t come.”
According to him, 17 people have been killed in Kopre and other nearby villages in the last two weeks alone, with many others fleeing their homes to escape further attacks.
Wa’anganda warned that the continued displacement of farmers could devastate food production as the rainy season approaches.
He acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Adamawa State Government to empower local vigilantes but insisted that more must be done.
“The security situation here is disappointing. I advise the government to send a battalion here so that our people can return to their homes and farms,” he pleaded.
Sources revealed that the hunters and Civilian JTF members killed on Saturday had been deployed from Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State and other parts of Adamawa to reinforce security in Kopre. However, they were overwhelmed by the insurgents’ sophisticated weaponry.
Since 2024, Kopre has suffered repeated terrorist attacks, with at least 40 villagers abducted by insurgents still languishing in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Police Command has deployed additional personnel to the area to strengthen security.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahya Nguroje, said the officers were tasked with improving surveillance, protecting lives and property, and recovering illegal arms.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, urged the deployed personnel to act professionally and respond promptly to distress calls, emphasizing the force’s commitment to safeguarding residents.
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