Metro

Ondo Police Arrest Woman During Stolen Baby’s Christening

Published

3 years ago

July 21, 2022

The Ondo State Police Command said it had arrested a woman identified as Funmi Mogbojuri for allegedly stealing a day-old baby.

The police said the 35-year-old suspect stole the baby at the Sabo Area of Okitipupa, the headquarters of the Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state and took the baby to Sagamu in Ogun State.

Speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the suspect was arrested while the latter was about to christen the stolen baby

She said, “One Abass Issah of Arikawe Street, Okitipupa, came to the station and reported that his new-born baby was stolen by unknown persons. Discreet investigation by the Okitipupa Divisional Policemen led to the arrest of Funmi Mogbojuri, who absconded with the baby to Makun, Sagamu in Ogun State.

“During interrogation, she confessed to have absconded with the baby to her husband’s house. It was also discovered that she had earlier stolen another baby on the 16th of January, 2021, in Okitipupa, took the child to Igbokoda and gave him to one Lucky and said the child died few days later.”

Speaking, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and pleaded for forgiveness. She said she could not ascertain the spirit that entered her to have committed such an act.

Mogbojuri also said she had two kids for her first husband before but his family prevented her from having access to them.

She said, “It was not intentional, I will just beg Nigerians to forgive me. Truly, I stole the child and I did that in order to be taking good care of the child. I have given birth before, but I never had child for the husband I’m presently with. I just like the child, that’s why I abducted the child because I have not conceived for my present husband.

“The husband I married now did not know anything about the situation, I lied to him that I was pregnant. This would be the second time I will abduct a child so I’m just pleading for forgiveness.”

The mother of the baby, Binta Alhassan, who also spoke on the incident, stated that Mogbojuri came to their house because she was very familiar with their house and requested to pass the night in her house on the day she put to bed, which she obliged.

She said, “She had a friend in our house before who she always visited but the man is no more living in our house. That is how we knew her. She came in the evening of the day I put to bed that she was stranded in Okitipupa and had no place to sleep.

“We allowed her to spend the night in one of the vacant rooms, we even gave her food to eat that night, not knowing that she had a mission. To my surprise, the following morning, while on my way from the bathroom, the woman had disappeared with the baby which I had not even been breastfed by then, it was after five days that the police found and arrested her.”

The Police Public Relations Officer said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded on the matter.

PUNCH

Metro

Gunmen Abduct Chief Imam In Edo, Demand N30m Ransom

Published

6 hours ago

July 13, 2025

Editor

The Chief Imam of Uromi, Sheikh Murtadho Muhammad, has reportedly been abducted by unknown gunmen.

Muhammad, who is also the
President of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Edo-Delta Chapter, was said to have been kidnapped at the Angle 90 Area of Uromi, in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, around 2 p.m. on Thursday

Eyewitness accounts revealed that Muhammad had stepped out to buy food for his family near his residence shortly after observing one of the daily prayers when he was forcefully taken away.

Alhaji Abdulazeez Igbinidu, Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), while confirming the incident on Sunday to newsmen, condemned the act and called for the immediate release of the Islamic leader.

“I am hearing that they are asking for a very large amount of money, and we don’t have such.

“Even if you have it, if you pay, you are encouraging them,” he said.

The chairman urged the Edo State government to intensify efforts to protect ordinary citizens.

“They are the ones with the apparatus for security. So they should do everything possible to ensure the Imam is released unconditionally and unharmed.

“Government should also make every effort to ensure that citizens can sleep with their two eyes closed and move freely without fear of kidnapping or assassination,” he added.

A family source disclosed that the suspected kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding a ransom of N30 million.

The incident has sparked widespread concern among the Muslim community in the state, considering the victim’s dual role as a revered religious leader and youth development advocate.

Contacted, the Edo State Police Command confirmed the report, saying: “It was reported to us on 10/7/2025. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim and track down the culprits.”

Metro

NDLEA Intercepts Drugs In Factory-fitted Lipsticks At Lagos Airport

Published

14 hours ago

July 13, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of illicit substances concealed in factory-fitted female lipsticks at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The discovery, which marks the second of such in less than a week, was announced by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday.

“Ladies beware! It does appear like female lipstick is becoming attractive as an instrument for concealment and trafficking now,” Babafemi warned.

“With yet another consignment of factory-fitted female lipsticks stuffed with illicit substances intercepted at MMIA barely a week after NDLEA officers uncovered a similar cargo at a courier company in Lagos.”

He urged Nigerians, particularly women, to be cautious when purchasing or accepting cosmetic products, especially from unfamiliar or suspicious online sources.

The NDLEA has yet to reveal the identity of the suspect(s) behind the latest smuggling attempt, but investigations are said to be ongoing.

Metro

50-year-old Bandit, Two Informants Arrested

Published

14 hours ago

July 13, 2025

Editor

The Zamfara State Police Command has announced the arrest of eight suspected criminals, including a 50-year-old bandit and two informants, as part of ongoing operations to dislodge criminal elements across the state.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Yazid Abubakar, the command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed these successes during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Gusau.

Abubakar stated that the arrested individuals include Ibrahim Mohammed, a 50-year-old suspected bandit from Maru Local Government Area of the state, two bandit informants, a gun runner, and five other suspects.

He credited the arrests to credible intelligence received from members of the public.

Items recovered during the operations include assorted rifles, a stolen ATM card, leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle, among other items.

The arrests are part of the Zamfara State Police Command’s sustained efforts to combat banditry and other criminal activities plaguing the state.