Metro

Ondo Amotekun Arrests 80 Suspected Criminals

Published

3 years ago

January 30, 2023

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, has arrested no fewer than 80 people for allegedly being involved in criminal activities in the state .

The corps said the suspects were arrested since the beginning of the year 2023.

Speaking on the development, the state Commander of Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the suspects were arrested at different locations across the 18 local government areas of the state.

According to him, 32 of the suspects have been charged to court while investigations were ongoing on some of the cases pertaining to the suspects.

Adeleye said, ”In the last three weeks, 80 criminals were arrested. In the last one week, about 32 were taken to court for prosecution, investigations are going on in most of these ones and some of them at the end of the day were found to be victims of circumstances, like those that comes out without a means of identification at odd hours and were found where they are not supposed to be.

“Those ones upon proper interrogation were released to go while some were released on bail.

“But what we have here is about 36 men and women engaged in various criminal activities ranging from murder, to anti-grazing, stealing of motorcycles, stealing of grinding machine, stealing of keke napep, stealing of various household equipment including generators, and armed robbery.

“Majority of these ones have concluded the investigations, and sone of them will be going to court early in the week next (this) week. This is what we have been able to put together since the last three weeks.

“A criminal is a criminal, regardless of where they come from. We don’t want to give colour to criminality, a criminal is a criminal.

“Once you engage in criminal activities, the signal we are sending is that Ondo State is a place where you can’t thrive as a criminal. The criminals should better leave Ondo State, not only within the town, but within the forest.

“Some of these criminals were arrested right inside the forest. Again, the anti open grazing law is in force in Ondo State where we discouraged the use of underaged for grazing, especially when they engage in destruction of farm products.

“Some of them engaged in very massive destruction. We arrested some of those that were engaged in the destruction of one of the principal officers of PDP that went viral, saying that his farm was destroyed. We caught them and we brought them to book.”

Adeleye added, ”In the last two weeks, we observed an increase in the rate of missing people within the town. And our discreet investigations reveal that most of these people board Okada that are not registered with SITA and are not registered with the okada association, even their bikes are not registered at all.

“So it becomes very difficult to identify them and the majority of the victims that manage to escape that we interrogate thereafter, told us that those kidnappers put on hoods and put helmets on it.”

The Amotekun boss noted the arrests were successful following the collaboration with other security agencies.

Metro

Two Jailed For 26 Months Over N8.56bn Bank Cyber Fraud In Lagos

Published

13 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has convicted and sentenced two men; Hamza Zakaria and Nurudeen Ibrahim, to 26 months imprisonment each for their involvement in an N8.56 billion fraud.

The duo were found guilty of gaining unauthorised access to the computer systems of a new-generation bank.

They were initially arraigned on May 2, 2025, alongside other suspects, on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Their charges bordered on conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful access to a computer system, offences contrary to Sections 409 and 331 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.

Both defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty.

However, they changed their plea after the EFCC presented amended charges, enabling the court to convict and sentence them based on the updated information.

During the review of the case, EFCC counsel Muhammad Bashir called an operative of the Commission, Airende Monday, who presented documents that were admitted into evidence.

Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi ruled:
“I find the defendants guilty in the two-count amended information, and I convict them accordingly. This is the judgment of the court.”

The court imposed eight months imprisonment on count one and one year and six months on count two.

The sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a N50,000 fine.

According to the EFCC, Zakaria, Ibrahim and others still at large conspired in January 2025 to illegally access and manipulate Wema Bank’s computer systems and servers, transferring and retaining criminal proceeds derived from the breach.

Metro

Police Arrest Suspected Organ Harvester, Rescue Four Victims

Published

16 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

A notorious organ harvest suspect is in police custody over an attempt to buy the kidneys of four victims in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Confirming the development in a press conference yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro, said the suspect, Mr Maro Ebojoh, 40, was arrested by officials of Yahaya Sabo Motor Park, Bukan Sidi in Lafia while perfecting his plans to harvest organs of his targets.

The CP said Nasarawa police operatives deployed to the area arrested him and further investigation revealed that Umar Barau, 25, Suleman Alhaji-Garba, 20, Williams Dadung, 32, and Stanley Ezekiel 27, were lured with promise to receive N2 million each after the deal is sealed.
He said the four victims were sent to a hospital in Abuja to be screened for fitness for the removal of their kidneys.

“The command detailed operatives to the facility where the organ harvest was to take place. On arrival, the victims were placed on medical rest in a hotel to calm the blood pressure of one of the victims before the operation.

“The victims confessed that the suspect promised them N2 million each after the initial N500,000 initial deposit by the suspect,” he said.

According to the CP, the suspect confessed to the crime, stating that he procured a donor for another client two months ago where he received N1 million, and paid the victim N2.5 million.

In another development, nine criminal suspects were arrested in connection with gang-related robbery at night within Mararaba and environs.

The CP said their modus operandi include, attacking residents, stealing mobile phones and transferring funds from their victim’s bank account before selling the device to unsuspecting buyers.

He said that the suspects confessed to the crimes and admitted to carrying out operation at the Uke Karu where the son of serving police officer was killed.

Shettima urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious, particularly against individuals who disguise as genuine organ donor solicitors but only interested in the financial gains, moreso as the festive season is fast approaching.

Nasarawa is among the states in the North where organ harvest is rampant among young people. Most victims of organ harvest are poor citizens who engage themselves in menial jobs to survive.

Metro

Lagos Begins Clearance Of Tejuosho Market

Published

16 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Lagos State government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, yesterday, began clearance of Tejuosho Market in Yaba, Lagos State

The clearance operation is aimed at restoring sanity and upholding environmental standards in the area. The ministry said the operation was in line with the THEMES+ agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make the state cleaner and habitable for business.

Commissioner for the Envir onment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said public spaces must remain orderly, safe and free from obstruction, and that the ministry would continue to enforce the law and ensure compliance with environmental regulations across Lagos.

Speaking with The Guardian, Head, Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI, Ajayi Lukman, said the agency received petitions against the traders three months ago and and engaged them in different occasions to leave the road but all the engagement did not yield fruit.

He said: “They didn’t turn a new leaf despite series of engagements and advocacy, and we decided to dislodge them today (November 18, 2028). The traders left their shops to move to walkways and setbacks. They also closed two lanes and left one for motorists. They converted the road into market without recourse

“Their excos came around to apologise. But no going back on our operation.”

The Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), said residents must continue to make Lagos habitable and cleaner for business via monitoring of all environs.

He noted the resolve of the agency towards eradicating the nefarious acts perpetuated by environmentally-insensitive individuals as he bemoaned the negative impact posed to public health.

Cole also emphasised how open urination, defecation and improper refuse disposal contributed to the sub-par air quality in some parts of the state.