The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected drug dealers and rescued a kidnapped woman in separate operations, the force confirmed.

SP Bright Edafe, spokesperson for the command, said that operatives of the Crack Squad, acting on credible intelligence, raided a hideout in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Effurun, in the early hours of 12 October 2025. Two suspects, Igwe Samson, 33, and Abalum Sunday, 39, were arrested.

During the operation, a search conducted on the suspects’ Sienna vehicle led to the recovery of a large cache of illicit drugs, including 450 bottles of CSP Codeine, 188 bottles of Bargadine, 208 sachets of Tramadol 100mg, 100 sachets of Tramadol 500mg, 300 sachets of Swinol, 50 sachets of Rophynol, and a bag of weeds suspected to be cannabis.

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According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had been in the illegal drug business for about two years, sourcing their supplies from Onitsha and transporting them mostly at night to evade security detection.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate, including their suppliers and buyers,” Edafe stated.

In a separate incident, operatives of the Ovian-Aladja Police Division foiled a kidnapping operation and rescued a woman who had been abducted from her home in the early hours of the same day.

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The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Friday Ekundayo, reportedly acted on a distress call received around 2:00 a.m. and immediately led his team in pursuit of the kidnappers.

The suspects were tracked to a forest along the Iyara community, where the combined pressure from police operatives forced them to abandon their victim and flee.

The woman was safely rescued and has since been reunited with her family, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

International human rights organisation, Amnesty International Nigeria, has faulted the pardons granted by President Bola Tinubu to 175 individuals, noting that granting clemency to persons convicted of human rights crimes prevents reparations of victims.

Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, in a statement on Tuesday, said the association was “deeply concerned” by the pardons granted by President Tinubu, noting that the way the exercise was carried out seemed to prioritise the perpetrators, rather than access to justice and effective remedies for victims and their families.

“We are deeply concerned by the clemency and pardons granted by the government of President Bola Tinubu to some persons convicted of human rights crimes, as the pardons for these crimes prevent reparations for victims.

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“The way and manner Nigerian authorities carried out the exercise seemed to prioritise the perpetrators instead of access to justice and effective remedies for the victims and their families,” the statement partly read.

Tinubu had on Friday, October 10th, 2025, granted pardons to 175 convicted persons, including Herbert Macaulay, Ken Saro Wiwa, former Minister of the FCT in the Babangida regime, Major-General Mamman Vatsa (retd), among others.

However, controversy trailed the release of the full list of persons who received the presidential prerogative of mercy, after it was discovered that the list also included the names of convicted drug offenders, and several others jailed for various crimes, including Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardon To Herbert Macaulay, 174 Others

Amnesty argued that the government’s actions had the potential to undermine the rule of law, prevent the emergence of truth, and entrench impunity for human rights crimes.

Sanusi, therefore, called on the President to reconsider the pardons for those who were convicted of human rights crimes and ensure the rights of victims and their families.

“The actions of the government have the potential of undermining the rule of law, preventing the emergence of the truth, the determination of guilt or innocence by a court and reparations for victims, as well as entrenching impunity for human rights crimes.

“President Bola Tinubu should reconsider his government’s pardons for those convicted of human rights crimes and uphold and ensure the rights of the victims and their families,” he stated.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic 4-0 in the decisive 2026 World Cup qualification at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and second-half goal from substitute Frank Onyeka were enough to give Nigeria three points against Benin in its quest to qualify for the World Cup.

Although the goals were not enough to give Nigeria the qualification ticket, as leaders, South Africa secured three points by beating Rwanda 3-0, qualifying for the World Cup tournament in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

There were four changes from our win over Lesotho. Ndidi leads the team tonight. Simon makes his 85th appearance. Osimhen partners with Akor Adams up front.

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Nigeria’s Line-up vs Benin Republic: 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK); 2. Benjamin Fredrick, 3. Zaidu Sanusi, 4. Wilfred Ndidi (C), 6. Semi Ajayi, 9. Victor Osimhen, 11. Samuel Chukwueze, 15. Moses Simon, 17. Alex Iwobi, 20. Akor Adams, 21. Calvin Bassey.

Substitutes are: Adebayo, Ekong, Arokodare, Onyeka, Onyemaechi, Abdullahi, Obasogie, Uche, Moffi, Olusegun.

As the match kicked off, Victor Osimhen scored in the third minute courtesy of an assist from Samuel Chukwueze.

The Cheetahs of the Benin Republic are also pushing for an equaliser in the 12th minute of the match, but the attack was stopped by Calvin Bassey.

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As of 14 minutes into the game, ball possession is Nigeria 58% and Benin 42%. While both teams are on one short on target each.

In the 22 minutes, Osimhen almost converted the cross made to him in the box, but unfortunately was defended by a calm Beninoise defender.

In the 38th minute, Osimhen doubles the lead courtesy of another Samuel Chukwueze’s cross into the box. It is now 2-0 in favour of the Super Eagles.

The Egyptian referee who serves as the first official for the game has added five minutes of extra time.

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Benin Republic began the kick off into the second half to put pressure on the Super Eagles.

Osimhen, again, again and again. The Super Eagles forward hit a hat-trick in the 51st minute.

The Super Eagles come knocking on the Cheetahs’ door again in the hunt for a fourth goal, but the effort was wasted by Wilfred Ndidi in the 68th minute.

However, the resilient Nigerian squad came knocking again after substitute Onyeka fired a shot past the Beninoise goalkeeper to make it four goals to nil in the 90th minute.