Metro

Kidnappers Confess To Receiving N10m Ransom In Edo

Published

7 months ago

March 6, 2025

Two suspected kidnappers, Utubor Uchenna and Felix Ebama, have confessed to collecting N10 million ransom from their last operation before they were arrested.

The suspects confessed on Wednesday while identifying houses where they kept their victims.

Speaking to journalists in Benin, Uchenna and Ebama, who are part of a seven-man gang, admitted to being involved in several kidnapping cases in Edo Central.

Uchenna revealed that their last victim was targeted because of the luxury car he drove. He said the victim was kidnapped alongside a lady, and both were released after paying N10 million ransom.

Uchenna said, “The last operation we did fetched us N10 million ransom. We abducted a man who drove flashy cars, and he was with a lady. They were both kidnapped.

“We are here to identify the house where we keep our victims. We have been involved in several kidnapping operations.”

In a move to tackle crime in the state, the state government on Wednesday began the demolition of houses linked to kidnappers.

The demolition took place in Illeh, Esan West Local Government Area and Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Akhere Paul, who led the operation, said the action was in line with the anti-kidnapping law recently passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

He said, “This house has been used for criminal activities. They keep kidnapped victims here, and dangerous weapons were recovered by the police during a raid.

“According to the new law, any house found to be used for kidnapping activities will be demolished. This will serve as a warning to others.”

Akhere advised landlords to properly profile their tenants before renting out their properties.

He added, “Go to the police station to help you verify the identity of any new tenant. You must know who they are, where they work, and what they do to avoid situations like this.”

He assured the people that the demolition exercise would continue as part of Governor Okpebholo’s effort to rid the state of criminals.

Also speaking, the Commander of the Special Task Force, SP Michael Anetor, said the exercise would discourage others from engaging in kidnapping.

Anetor urged residents to report suspicious activities to the police or members of the task force, adding that a safer Edo is everyone’s responsibility.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Lady Smuggling Drugs Inside Butt Pads, Phone Chargers

Published

11 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported two new methods of drug concealment as part of its ongoing efforts to combat trafficking ahead of the festive season, dubbed “Detty December.”

In a post on his X handle on Sunday morning, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of their drug consignments.

He shared two videos illustrating the sophisticated concealment methods used by the suspects.

According to Babafemi, one of the videos shows a lady who was caught with drugs hidden inside her butt pad underwear.

The second video reveals a separate seizure where a suspect attempted to smuggle drugs concealed within phone chargers.

“With the spate of ongoing arrests and seizures by @ndlea_nigeria at some major entry points, it’s obvious the race and desperation for Detty December are already in overdrive,” Babafemi wrote.

He urged law-abiding citizens to “stay vigilant and careful.”

Metro

Two Dead, Four Injured In DICON Factory Explosion

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2025

Editor

Two people, including a military officer, were killed and four others critically injured on Saturday following an explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) factory in the Kurmin Gwari area of Kaduna.

The blast, reportedly from gunpowder used in arms production, occurred during a weekend shift, shaking nearby buildings and sending residents into panic.

Eyewitnesses said the explosion killed the officer and a civilian worker instantly, while four other workers sustained severe injuries.

The injured were first taken to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, before being evacuated by military ambulance to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for further treatment.

Sympathizers and relatives of the victims thronged the hospital, with many weeping.

DICON management has yet to release an official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.

Metro

Police Detain Lagos NURTW Leader For Killing Resident

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a top official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state, Samsideen Oladiti, over allegations of murder and the brutal assault of a dispatch rider.

It was that gathered that the 55-year-old man, popularly known as ‘Shamelon’, was linked to two violent crimes on Lagos Island; one involving murder and the other, assault which caused harm to the victim.

In a statement by the deputy spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command on X, Babaseyi Oluseyi, said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had responded to a protest at the Sandgrouse Market, where they arrested the suspect in connection with murder and assault.

He wrote, “Following news of the death, sympathisers of the deceased mobilised and staged a violent protest at the suspect’s office in Sandgrouse Market, Lagos Island, setting two motorcycles belonging to the suspect ablaze and causing unrest in the area.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, personally led police personnel to the scene.

“He swiftly restored calm, prevented further breakdown of law and order, and assured residents that the suspect is in custody and will be promptly prosecuted after investigations are concluded.”

Oluseyi stated that the NURTW official had been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

He stated, “The suspect is currently in the custody of the SCID, Panti-Yaba, for discreet investigation.”

Explaining the murder and assault, the deputy spokesperson stated, “On 17th September 2025 at about 3:00pm, the suspect allegedly attacked a dispatch rider on Lagos Island, using a helmet and fists to inflict serious bodily injury (on him). The victim (dispatch rider) was rushed to hospital, placed on oxygen, and is currently receiving medical treatment.”

In August, police reported that the suspect had also assaulted a man who later died.

Oluseyi narrated, “On 18th September 2025, at about 11:00 am, another complaint was lodged against the same suspect in connection with an incident that occurred on 28th August 2025.

“During the altercation, the suspect allegedly used a metallic ring to repeatedly strike a man on the head and face, inflicting severe injuries. Despite medical intervention, the victim was confirmed dead by a doctor on 17th September 2025. His body has since been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.”

The police appealed to residents, assuring them that justice would be duly served.

She wrote, “The Lagos State Police Command wishes to assure members of the public that justice will be diligently pursued in all the cases against the suspect.

“Jimoh further appeals to residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and not to take the law into their own hands. He enjoins them to cooperate fully with the police in the ongoing investigations.”

Meanwhile, the state chairman of NURTW, Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego has dissociated the union from the actions of Oladiti, stressing that the “NURTW does not condone violence or any unlawful activity.”

Adekunle, in a statement on Friday, noted that while he once trusted Oladiti’s loyalty, the incident had left him “bitter and disappointed.”

He urged security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial probe, assuring that if found guilty, the suspect would also face the union’s internal disciplinary measures after the legal process is concluded.

“I urge law enforcement officers to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure justice is served.

“Once the legal process is complete, he will also face the union’s internal disciplinary procedures. As I have always stated, the NURTW does not condone violence or any unlawful acts,” Adekunle said.

He warned members of the union against any form of lawlessness, stressing that loyalty or closeness to him would not shield anyone from the consequences of being lawless.