Metro

Just In: Benin-Auchi Road Under Kidnappers’ Seige, Passengers Taken Into Captivity

Published

5 years ago

December 3, 2020

The ever busy Benin-Auchi road came under heavy attack early Thursday morning as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers laid siege to the road and kidnapped a sizeable number of persons travelling on the route.

Benin-Auchi road from time immemorial, had been a den of robbers, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

According to information made available to newsmen on the latest incident, the gunmen were said to have first attacked a commercial bus at the Urhokosa/Obagie end of the road and abducted a number of passengers.

The suspected kidnappers who were said to be in groups, got a group to lead the first set of the victims to the bush, enroute the kidnappers’ den, while a second group caused the driver of the bus to use the vehicle to block the road.

A trailer driver, who saw the blockade and suspected that it might be for the sinister operation of the men of the underworld, was said to have refused to stop and rammed his articulated vehicle into the blocked, killing two of the passengers.

Other vehicles which ran into the traffic jam, occasioned by the blockade, were attacked by another group of the kidnappers, who selected victims and marched them to join the earlier captured passengers.

A member of a vigilante group in the area, who acted bravely by confronting the gunmen, was shot dead by the kidnappers, according to an eyewitness, who narrowly escaped into the bush while the confusion reigned on the road as the gunmen operated without any challenge.

The escaped victim, who claimed that he had to abandon his vehicle to run into the bush, added that he met some other persons who also escaped in the bush, just as he said that the gunmen were shooting sporadically for a long time without any resistance from the security agents.

Flash points for robbery and kidnapping on the axis have over the years been Urhokosa, Obagie, Ogbemudia Farm, Agbede, Aviele and the boundary between Edo and Kogi states at Okepella and beyond.

Efforts to reach the Edo Police Command authorities of the incident proved abortive as neither the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, nor the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, answered to the calls to his mobile phone.

Metro

EFCC Arraigns Three Over 25m Petroleum Theft In Lagos

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, and three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged petroleum theft involving over 25 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.

In a statement posted by EFCC on Wednesday on X, the defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas — were charged alongside the vessel on a four-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The charges state that the defendants conspired to steal 25,354,000 litres of PMS, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

One of the counts reads: “MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin and Mr. Vincent Wayas sometime in January 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”

Other counts outline alleged thefts of 9 million litres and 3 million litres of PMS on or about January 17, 2024.

All defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the court “to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility. She prayed the court not to grant them bail, that the applicant was a flight risk, that they had nothing to lose if they jump bail or abscond from trial.”

The statement stated that: “However, the defence team informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and urged that the defendants be allowed to continue under the bail conditions earlier granted by the EFCC.”

Justice Dada subsequently ruled, “That the defendants should continue on the existing EFCC bail conditions and subsequently adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.”

Metro

NSCDC Arrests Five Fake Security Operatives In Anambra

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has arrested five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump-action rifle during a series of coordinated raids in Awka.

The State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Awka.

Olatunde said the operation, conducted across several hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, around 11 am, followed credible intelligence reports.

He explained that the intelligence indicated the presence of individuals wearing uniforms resembling those of legitimate security outfits, allegedly hired by political actors to cause unrest ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

He said, “In a bid to rid Anambra State of individuals masquerading as private security operatives, the NSCDC, Anambra State Command, has apprehended five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump action rifle during a series of raids conducted in Awka.

“The raids conducted across various hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at about 11:00hrs, were based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of individuals dressed in attire resembling that of a security outfit, who may have been hired by political actors with the intention of utilising them to cause chaos during the election.”

He listed the suspects as Mmeka Ekene (43), Peter Detuchi Kelvin (28), Sunday Akpan Idiong (45), Enemuo Ifeanyichukwu (26), and Francis Ugochukwu Nwosu (28).

Olatunde explained that the operation, which was carried out by the Private Guard Companies Department, was aimed at flushing out undesirable elements, criminal gangs, and irredentists, as well as preventing emerging security threats, illegal possession of firearms, and any form of violence or intimidation that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the election.

He continued, “We are resolute in our commitment to providing a secure environment for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election, slated for November 8, 2025. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Anambra State remains peaceful and secure.”

The Commandant further stressed that the NSCDC would not be swayed by the antics of individuals pretending to be private security operatives in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.

“The Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, will take all necessary measures within its operational guidelines to counter and suppress any act that could potentially destabilise the peace enjoyed in the state,” he said.

Olatunde also revealed that the Command had strengthened surveillance and enhanced intelligence gathering to thwart any attempts by “disruptive elements or desperate politicians” to compromise the electoral process.

He stated, “The arrested suspects are currently being interrogated and will be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigation,” The PUNCH quoted him.

Metro

Newborn Rescued As Police Bust Anambra Child Trafficking Syndicate

Published

3 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a newborn following the arrest of four suspects in connection with child trafficking in Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed this in a statement in Awka, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Ikenga stated that police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, arrested the suspects in the early hours of Tuesday.

He further noted that during the raid, the operatives rescued the one-week-old baby girl and arrested the four female suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy and child trafficking.

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command, through its operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in the early hours of Tuesday, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a location identified as Mama Maternity situated at Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area.

“During the raid, the operatives rescued a one-week-old baby girl and arrested four female suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy and child trafficking.

“The arrested suspects include: Elizabeth Okafor, 62 years; Esther Nweke, 48 years; Ngozi Maanfa, 45 years; and Peace Elijah Moses, 25 years, respectively.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects conspired among themselves and allegedly purchased a newborn baby girl, barely a week old, for the sum of N1.7m.

“They had reportedly paid an advance sum of N350m to the purported biological mother of the child, identified as Peace Elijah Moses, who is among the arrested persons.”

According to him, the baby girl has been safely rescued and is currently under protective care, while the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the Case to the State Criminal Investigation Department Gender Unit, Awka, for discreet investigation and necessary prosecution.

“The CP also reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of children and the ongoing fight against all forms of human trafficking in the State,” he added.

The PUNCH had in July 2025 reported that the Anambra State Police Command investigated and busted an interstate child stealing/abduction and trafficking syndicate operating in Uruagu, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.

The command stated that during the operation carried out by police operatives attached to the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, in collaboration with Adamawa police operatives, on July 15, one suspect was arrested, while 11 children — comprising five boys and six girls — were rescued.

Ikenga, who disclosed the development to journalists, said the investigation revealed that the children were abducted/stolen and transported from Adamawa State.

Ikenga added that the children were illegally given to unsuspecting members of the public seeking adoption for N1.5m for the boys and N800,000 only for the girls, respectively.