Metro

Abducted Pastor Escapes, Surfaces In Kwara As Kidnappers Sleep Off

Published

3 years ago

March 16, 2022

Oke Ako, a community in the Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, erupted in joy on Tuesday as a cleric, Michael Adeyeye of Christ Apostolic Church in the community escaped unhurt from the four gunmen who abducted him on Saturday.

Residents of the community could not believe their ears when news filtered in on Tuesday morning that the cleric had escaped and was at Eruku in Kwara State awaiting vehicle to convey him back to Oke Ako.

It was carnival like as the cleric arrived the community in the afternoon to the waiting arms of youths and the elderly who sang and danced round the town.

Adeyeye, while recalling his experience, said he, alongside the four gunmen who initially demanded N50million ransom before reducing it to N15million, walked in the forest throughout Saturday night and Sunday.

He said, “We were in church for a vigil on Saturday. At about 10.20pm, four armed men arrived the church, saying ‘where is pastor?’ On locating me, they tied my hands and ordered me to follow them. We went into the bush.

“The following day, Sunday, they asked me to call my family to get N50million ransom across to them for me to regain my freedom. We were using my phone which they had already seized for the calls. Later, they reduced the ransom to N15million.

“Unfortunately for the gunmen, on Monday morning, at about 5am, the God of covenant demonstrated his awesomeness. I saw the CAC Founder, Apostle Ayo Babalola, in a vision. That was what woke me up to discover that my abductors were fast asleep.

“So, I rose and stealthily moved away from the location into the bush. I kept walking in the bush until Tuesday morning when I got to Eruku, a town in Kwara State. On getting to the town, I called one of my brothers whose phone number I know offhand.”

Adeyeye, who said that his abductors were Fulani Bororos going by their language and physical appearance, added, “Their guns looked like AK-47, the guns appeared fabricated. I am happy for my escape. I am happy to be reunited with my people and church members. I can see love from the community.”

The cleric, who lauded security agencies for their efforts since he was abducted on Saturday, said, “The report I had on my return is that operatives of the police, Amotekun, Nigerian Army, vigilante and local hunters did their best on the matter. Our people said the security agencies went into the bush on rescue mission to ensure my release and apprehension of the criminals.”

The PUNCH reports that Oke Ako residents have been complaining that the community is under the siege of herdsmen who they complained were committing all sorts of atrocities including attacks in the farms, kidnappings and making lives unbearable for them.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami’s Brother For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

… Group lauds agency

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emami Ajetsibogho, younger brother to Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami, for allegedly smuggling drugs worth billions of naira into the country.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by the agency’s strike force at Apapa in Lagos State Command following a tip-of.

Reacting to the arrest in a statement, rights activist and president, Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, commended the agency and in particular Commandant-General of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa for fighting against drug illicit drugs

Ozobo said, “The arrest of Chief Emami’s brother is a milestone, laudable achievement in the fight against drug trafficking in this country.

“I want to commend NDLEA who were able to get the lead information to apprehend this criminal suspect.”

He added: “As Ijaw people, we are happy that God is vindicating us. The Itsekiris are hell bent to kill the Ijaw people to grab their lands.”

He recalled how a British Soldier from the Itsekiri extraction was recently arrested for smuggling guns into Warri to kill innocent people, especially Ijaw and to cause a crisis in Warri, adding, “God exposed him and DSS arrested the British Soldier and thwarted his evil intentions.”

He noted that another Itsekiri person has been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into the Country. “Who knows whether it was to drug miscreants to kill Ijaw people and burn villages? Ozobo asked.

“Ayiri particularly who has been making all kinds of unprintable statements against Ijaw people, we are surprised that his younger brother is a drug baron. Ayiri should be ashamed of himself.

“This shows that Ayiri Emami’s family is not a reputable family, by wanting to bribe NDLEA with a whopping sum of Two hundred million (N200m) to get his brother released. We thought Ayiri had a reputation, but it is shameful.”

Comrade Ozobo, therefore, urged the NDLEA to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute the suspect in line with stipulated laws to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I am calling on the NDLEA to investigate properly and bring to book anyone connected to this crime. If Ayiri is connected, he should be brought to book. Anyone connected connected should be brought to book,” he said.

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Man Over Alleged Threat To Life

Published

7 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 31-year-old man, Caleb Ajobor, at the correctional custody in Ado Ekiti over alleged assault and threat to life.

The defendant was accused of conducting himself in a way that constituted a threat to the life of a woman, one Omotayo Olowolagba, at the Ekute area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant on June 29, 2025, at about 10am at Ekute Quarters, Ado Ekiti, did assault and threaten the life of Olowolagba Omotayo.

“The defendant did hit the chest of the female victim and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace in society.

“The offence committed is punishable under sections 185, 46, 181(d) laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021,” the prosecutor stated.

Oriyomi pleaded with the court to order the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Adunni Olanipekun, however, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, refused the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre.

Adeosun adjourned the matter till July 11 for hearing.

Metro

Customs Intercept 111 Live Parrots, Illicit Drugs In Adamawa, Taraba

Published

8 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The Adamawa and Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 111 live African grey parrots, illicit drugs, and other contraband items worth over N67 million.

The Area Comptroller, Garba Bashir, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Yola.
Bashir said that within three weeks, officers recorded 19 seizures valued at N67,785,358 in different locations.

According to him, the locations are Mubi-Sahua, Goshindan-Farang, Belel, Girei-Woro Bokki, Gella, Fufore-Gurin, Damare Waterside, Apawa-Numan road, and the Savannah-Numan axis.

The seized items include; 13,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 1,925 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, packed in 528 and 77 jerry cans respectively.

“11 sacks of second-hand clothing, Tramadol capsules; 5,710 (100mg), 990 (50mg); and 185 packets of Benzhexol tablets, 111 live African grey parrots and nine dead ones,” he said.

The comptroller said that the illicit drugs were intercepted from a suspect along the Apawa-Numan road on June 19.

He noted that the substances were concealed in charcoal sacks and recovered following credible intelligence.

“These drugs, when abused by youths will induce them to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

“Such drugs can be inimical to the health of the citizens and undermining security of the nation,” he said.

On the wildlife seizure, Bashir said a suspected trafficker was caught on June 27 while attempting to smuggle the parrots from Cameroon through the Gurin border.

Bashir said the parrots were stuffed in six wooden boxes, leading to the death of nine resulting from poor handling.

“The interception aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Poaching methods are often brutal and a high percentage of captured birds die even before reaching export sites.

“The species are highly trafficked due to its high demand as intelligent and mimicking pet,” he said.

The comptroller said that the seized drugs and suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, while the parrots would be transferred to the World Parrot Trust for rehabilitation.

He said that 101 raw donkey skins, earlier seized in May, would be destroyed under NCS regulations.

He said the seized petroleum products would also be auctioned immediately to avoid fire hazards, with proceeds paid into the Federation Account.

The customs boss commended the leadership of the Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing an enabling environment and support from sister security agencies.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to curbing smuggling, protecting Nigeria’s borders, and safeguarding public health and the economy.

(PUNCH)