Metro

Delta Police Arrest 10 Kidnappers, Others

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2023

The Delta State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers just as it also foiled a tricycle robbers syndicate.

The operatives recovered from the suspected kidnappers a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. WWR 353 LS, a locally made cut-to-size single barrel pistol as well as 11 rounds of live cartridges.

The PUNCH gathered that sequel to the rampant cases of reported armed robbery/kidnapping along Sapele-Warri road and its environs, which have created fear among road users.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, had on assumption of duty detailed an intelligence unit of the command, the CP-Decoy squad, to embark on a discreet and an intelligence-led operation.

The Commander Decoy Squad, ASP Julius Robinson, led operatives of the squad, relocated to Sapele on a covert operation and while acting on credible intelligence gathered within Sapele and environs arrested one Nyero Sunday (29), of Okwitolo community alongside eight others all in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that all the suspects who were arrested through technical intelligence-led investigation have confessed to their involvements in numerous kidnapping, armed robbery operations, and also admitted to terrorising the Sapele-Warri road.

Confirming the incident, the police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, noted that further investigation also led to the arrest of one Umar Bello (33) from Sokoto State but residing in Warri, who usually buys the stolen phones and other valuables robbed from their victims.

A Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. WWR 353 LS, a locally made cut-to-size single barrel pistol as well as 11 rounds of live cartridges, were recovered from the syndicate.

The PPRO said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.

“In another development, police operatives of ‘B’ division Warri, led by the DPO SP Bolarinwa Alabi were on visibility, confidence building patrol along Airport road, they sighted a tricycle with three male occupants, and in their usual way, flagged down the tricycle, but the rider on sighting the police manoeuvred in a bid to escape on May 15, 2023, at about 0015hrs.

“The operatives went after them until they eventually abandoned the tricycle and took to their heels.

“One of the suspects, named Nworie Emmanuel (20), was arrested and taken to the police station.

“During interrogation, the suspect stated that he is a member of a three-man gang of armed robbers who uses a tricycle to rob innocent people of their belongings along Airport Road Warri.

“He also confessed that they had earlier that night robbed two persons along Airport road, adding that the phone robbed was with Abdul, one of their fleeing gang members and that their modus operandi is to look out for their victims standing at a lonely road at night, and Abdul (currently at large) will jump down from the tricycle, use knife to threaten their victim and rob them of their phones and other valuables.

“Meanwhile, the tricycle together with the knife they use to scare their victims are in custody alongside the suspect while the police are making frantic effort to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang,” the statement read

Also, the command crack squad on May 16, 2023, raided a criminal blackspot located around Osuani in Patani LGA, and arrested one Priscillia Amor, female, aged 35 years.

They recovered 26 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, 19 wraps of substance suspected to be Methamphetamine, eight packets of rizlas, some mobile phones and other exhibits from the female suspect.

The PPRO stated that an investigation is ongoing to arrest her other gang members.

Metro

Six Killed, Nine Injured In Fatal Crash On Lekki–Epe Expressway

Published

6 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

Six people were confirmed dead, and nine others sustained injuries in a road accident at Ibeju Bus Stop along the Lekki–Epe Expressway in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said the crash occurred on Monday when a blue Volvo FL6 truck loaded with wooden planks rammed into a white commercial bus with registration number AKD 336 YD.

The fatalities included two men, three women, and a child. Four other occupants of the bus escaped unhurt.

LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said officials, with support from other emergency responders, swiftly rescued the survivors.

“The nine injured survivors were swiftly extricated by LASTMA officials with support from other emergency responders and immediately conveyed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Epe and Hammond Hospital for urgent medical attention.”

He added that LASTMA worked in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps to evacuate victims and clear the accident scene.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the bereaved families and cautioned motorists against reckless driving, particularly overspeeding. He urged drivers to remain vigilant, obey traffic laws, and avoid distractions, especially during the Ember Months, a period known for frequent road crashes.

He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the FMC morgue in Epe, awaiting formal identification by their families.

Taofiq said the four unhurt survivors received immediate attention from the LASTMA Rescue Unit, working with other agencies.

Metro

NSCDC Arrests 84-year-old, Teenager For Vandalism

Published

6 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command, has paraded an 84-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy arrested for alleged vandalism of transmission power cables in the state.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent of Corps Buhari Saad, who represented the State Commandant, Jibril Idris, said the duo were apprehended with several meters of vandalised aluminium cables.

According to him, the suspects, identified as Salisu Muhammad, 84, of Anguwa Idi, Gombe, a scrap marketer, and Muhammad Tahiru Babayo, 14, of Anguwa Dawaki, Gombe, a welder and fabricator, were caught with the items at Salisu’s shop located in Anguwa Uku.

“The two were involved in the act of vandalism and were caught with critical national assets, transmission power cables.

“They will be charged to court for vandalism and unlawful possession of vandalised items,” the commandant stated.

The NSCDC boss noted that the arrest was part of renewed efforts by the command to protect critical national infrastructure from criminals who target public utilities for selfish gains.

He warned vandals to desist from the illegal act or leave the state entirely, stressing that the command will continue to track and apprehend perpetrators of such crimes.

“We want to strongly warn vandals to steer clear of Gombe State. We will get them wherever they are.

“Security agencies are determined, but we also urge citizens to report suspicious activities because security personnel are not spirits and cannot be everywhere,” he added.

Metro

Father, Son, 72-year-old Arrested For Defiling Minors

Published

6 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Monday paraded a father and son over the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

The father, Ibrahim Haruna, a 48-year-old and his 15-year-old son, Abdusalam Ibrahim, were identified as suspects.

Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Gombe, the Public Relations Officer, SC Buhari Saad, decried the spate of kidnapping in the state.

He said, “The second category of people that we have, we have three suspects that are involved in rape, gross indecency and defilement.

“They are, one, Ibrahim Haruna, aged 48, of Jekarifari. He is a tailor by occupation. We also have Abdusalam Ibrahim, aged 15, of Jekadefari.

“The two people were involved in some acts of rape, gross indecency and defilement.

“It’s now a worrisome pattern; the case of rape is taking place in the state. The father has been committing this act of rape at his shop, while the son usually takes his turns at their residence. They took advantage of the young girl who is 13 years old.

“She happens to be their neighbour who has some mental illness. So they took advantage of her and have been raping her serially.”

Also paraded was 72-year-old Balarabe Suleiman, from Yelanguruza, who was alleged to have lured a 13-year-old girl into his car and raped her serially.

“He’s been giving her the sum of N200 for every act. And in this instance, it is the lady, the young girl, who became tired of his escapade and informed her parents. The case is still under investigation”, he added.