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Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate In Imo, Arrest Three

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The Imo State Police Command has arrested a couple, Monday Atodo, and his wife, Ezekwere Ngozi, for kidnapping a four-year-old boy from Kogi State.

This is even as they have arrested the proprietor of St. Theresa’s Orphanage at Apo Street, Lokogoma, 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu, a female from Nimo, Anambra State, as the mastermind behind the child trafficking syndicate.

Police spokesperson for Imo State command, Henry Okoye, said the duo were arrested while on transit on August 12th, 2025, along the Owerri–Port Harcourt Road with baby Isaiah with them, who they claimed was their biological child.

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According to Okoye, 46-year-old Ezekwere Ngozi ‘F’ of Udi LGA, Enugu State, resident in Abuja, and her husband, 43-year-old Monday Atodo ‘M’ of Ofu LGA, Kogi State, resident in Kogi State, were on their way to deliver Isaiah to the person who bought him.

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It was during investigations that the Police discovered that 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu ‘f’, of Nimo, Anambra State, and resident in Abuja, who operates St. Theresa’s Orphanage at Apo Street, Lokogoma was the mastermind behind the syndicate.

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Okoye said, “On 12th August 2025, operatives of the Command, while on routine stop and search along the Owerri–Port Harcourt Road, intercepted a couple identified as 46-year-old Ezekwere Ngozi ‘F’ of Udi LGA, Enugu State, resident in Abuja, and her husband 43-year-old Monday Atodo ‘M’ of Ofu LGA, Kogi State, resident in Kogi State. They were found with a four-year-old boy, Isaiah (surname unknown), whom they falsely claimed was their biological child.

“Interrogation revealed that the child was stolen in Kogi State by one Blessing Ogwo and handed over in Abuja to Ngozi, whose role was to deliver trafficked children to buyers. Further investigation uncovered the syndicate’s mastermind, 56-year-old Ogochukwu Chikwelu ‘f’, of Nimo, Anambra State, and resident in Abuja, who operates St. Theresa’s Orphanage at Apo Street, Lokogoma. She was tracked, arrested in Abuja through a joint operation with the State CID, and transferred to Owerri for further investigation and prosecution.”

READ ALSO:NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-yr-old Grandma With Colos In Moimoi Sachets

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He assured that baby Isaiah was safe and that efforts were ongoing to reunite him with his biological parents, adding that efforts were ongoing to nab other fleeing members of the syndicate.

In another development, the Imo Police Command has arrested 29 years 29-year-old Precious Okoh from Enugu State after a child was stolen from Bayelsa State and trafficked to Owerri, where she was sold.

Okoye said operatives, on July 16th, 2025, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Precious Okoh, who hails from Nkanu-East Local Government area of Enugu State, in Umuguma housing area in the Owerri West council.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Gunmen Kill Policeman, Abduct Other In Imo

He said, “On 16th July 2025, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Precious Okoh, 29, of Nkanu-East LGA, Enugu State, at Umuguma Housing Area, Owerri, with a 9-year-old girl, Promise Christopher. She confessed that the child was stolen from Igbogene, Bayelsa State, and brought to Owerri for sale. The operatives traced the parents to Bayelsa, and the child has since been reunited with her parent”.

Already, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to eradicating child trafficking.

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Further, he has called on the public to stay vigilant, provide useful information, and partner with the Police in protecting children and other vulnerable persons.
(PUNCH)

Metro

One Injured As Truck Falls Off Lagos Bridge

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A fully loaded six-tyre truck on Saturday plunged off the Oshodi Bridge in Lagos after reportedly suffering brake failure, leaving one man severely injured.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said its operatives swiftly intervened to rescue the victim and restore traffic in the area.

According to a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the truck, with registration number AKD 135 YK, was laden with toner printing materials when it lost control while descending the Oshodi-Oke bridge inward Mile 2 and fell into the terminal ditch below.

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“In an exemplary display of operational precision and institutional alertness, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to public safety, emergency responsiveness, and traffic orderliness as its operatives today rescued a severely injured male victim following a ghastly accident involving a fully loaded six-tyre truck with registration number AKD 135 YK, which suffered a brake failure and plunged off the Oshodi Bridge into the terminal ditch while descending from Oshodi-Oke inward Mile 2.

READ ALSO:Four Escape Death As Trucks Collide In Anambra

Preliminary information gathered from the scene indicated that the ill-fated truck, reportedly laden with tonner printing materials, experienced a critical mechanical failure while descending the bridge, thereby losing control before skidding off the carriageway and tumbling into the terminal below,” Taofiq said

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He added that LASTMA officers arrived at the scene within minutes to commence rescue operations and prevent secondary accidents.

He said, “Upon arrival, the officers immediately commenced rescue operations and successfully extricated a male victim who sustained grievous injuries in the accident.

“The injured man was expeditiously conveyed to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment, while the driver of the truck was apprehended and handed over to security operatives from Makinde Police Station, Oshodi, for further investigation into the cause of the brake malfunction and other contributory factors.”

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READ ALSO:Five Die As Dangote Truck Crashes Into Tricycle In Ogun

Taofiq noted that the accident could have resulted in more casualties but for the prompt and coordinated efforts of LASTMA officials who diverted traffic and cleared the wreckage.

“To forestall secondary collisions and ensure the safety of road users, LASTMA operatives swiftly cordoned off the accident scene, diverted vehicular movement, and supervised the clearance of the wreckage thereby restoring traffic normalcy within a remarkably short period,” he said.

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The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakare Oki, commended the operatives for their swift and professional response.

“Mr. Bakare Oki, lauded their exceptional response, diligence, and adherence to standard safety protocols during the operation.

READ ALSO:Obasanjo Holds Memorial Service For Late Wife, Stella, Says She Lived Serving Others

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“He reiterated the Agency’s unrelenting vigilance in ensuring the protection of lives and property on Lagos roads, particularly during the ember months, when traffic density and accident risks are significantly heightened,” the statement stated.

According to the statement, Oki said the agency remains vigilant in protecting lives and property, especially during the ember months when road accidents are more frequent.

He noted that heavy-duty recovery vehicles and mini trucks have been strategically deployed across the five administrative divisions of Lagos, supported by over 2,700 personnel stationed at critical traffic points for quick emergency response.

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“Mr. Oki further emphasized that the agency’s ongoing 24-hour traffic management operations were instituted to guarantee seamless vehicular movement across the state before, during, and after the festive season.

READ ALSO:Truck Rams Into Students In Ogun, Kills WASSCE Candidate

“He disclosed that heavy-duty recovery vehicles and mini trucks have been strategically deployed across the five administrative divisions of Lagos, supported by over 2,700 personnel stationed at critical traffic nodes and corridors for optimal coverage and swift emergency response,” the statement said.

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Oki urged motorists to maintain their vehicles regularly and adhere strictly to traffic regulations.

He reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to “proactive traffic regulation, timely rescue operations, and continuous public enlightenment to make Lagos roads safer for everyone.”

READ ALSO: Truck Crushes Vigilante Members To Death In Edo

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The Oshodi area, particularly the busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway corridor, serves as a major transport node in Lagos, linking routes from the port and mainland and regularly experiencing severe traffic gridlocks.

Heavy-duty trucks, including those laden with cargo bound for terminals and depots, are frequent contributors to the congestion.

Mechanical faults, including brake failure and tyre bursts, remain a recurring cause of road accidents across Nigeria.

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According to the FRSC 2022 compendium, mechanical/vehicle-defect factors account for about 10 per cent of road crashes nationwide.

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50 Arrested For Violating Environmental Sanitation Laws In Edo

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The Environmental Taskforce on Saturday arrested no fewer than 50 persons in Benin for violating environmental sanitation laws in Edo State.

The suspects were arrested in Egor Local Government Area of the state as the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr Saidi Akintayo, led a monitoring operation across the city.

The operation covered strategic areas such as Third East Circular Road Junction, Sapele Road, Ekiosa Market, Siloko Road, Ugbowo, and New Benin Market, amongst others.

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Akintayo said the exercise aimed at ensuring compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation directive of the Edo State Government.

READ ALSO:CSOs, Academia, Impacted Communities Launch Climate Justice Campaign In Edo

The commandant, who led his management team, said the exercise also aligned with the corps’ renewed drive to support federal and state efforts toward maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment for residents.

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“A clean environment is a healthy environment. It is our collective duty as citizens to ensure that our surroundings are kept clean at all times,” he said.

“The corps will continue to support government efforts by enforcing compliance and sensitising the public on the importance of environmental hygiene.”

During the exercise, residents and traders were seen sweeping drains, clearing refuse, and cleaning up their premises, a development that the NSCDC boss described as “encouraging.”

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READ ALSO:Reps To Probe Edo, Delta Communal Crisis

The commandant’s team later visited the local government secretariat, where he was received by the Executive Chairman, Osaro Eribo.

At the secretariat, the 50 suspected offenders were arraigned before a mobile court.

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The commandant lauded the synergy among local authorities, the environmental task force, and security agencies, describing it as crucial to sustaining the gains of the exercise.

He reiterated the NSCDC’s readiness to enforce environmental laws, support public health initiatives, and maintain peace and order across Edo.

READ ALSO:Tenebe Fingers Edo APC Chieftains As Plot To Replace Him As Chair Thickens

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Our presence underscores the Corps’ unwavering commitment to protecting lives, property, and the environment,” he said.

“We will continue to stand with the government to ensure Edo remains clean and safe for all.”

In a similar development, the Chairman of Oredo Local Government, Mr Gabriel Idusere, who joined the monitoring exercise, commended residents for their cooperation.

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He, however, acknowledged public complaints about the delay in refuse evacuation.

Idusere assured that the council had put in place measures for prompt waste collection, particularly in markets and densely populated areas.

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Police Arrest Lovers, Others For Murder, Robbery In Sokoto

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The Police in Sokoto State have arrested two lovers who allegedly conspired to kill a young man, Ali Salisu, in Gidan Kacha village, Gada Local Government Area of the state.

The police said the deceased, a resident of Darnawa village, was lured to his death by his girlfriend, Rukayya Amadu, who allegedly plotted with another lover, Hamisu Ibrahim, to rob and murder him.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the tragic incident occurred on October 4, 2025, when Rukayya invited the victim to a secluded area in Dabagi bush for a private meeting.

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Unknown to him, Rukayya had arranged with Hamisu to set a deadly trap. When the victim arrived, Hamisu ambushed him, tied a rope around his neck, and strangled him to death before fleeing with his red Kasea motorcycle.”

READ ALSO:Why We Arrested Sowore – Police

It said further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects, Lawali Abdullahi and Ibrahim Abdullahi, who received the stolen motorcycle in Sokoto without verifying its ownership.

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The police, however, confirmed that all four suspects have been arrested and are in custody and would soon face prosecution for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, armed robbery, and receiving stolen property.

Police arraign man for wife’s murder in Enugu
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, commended the police investigators for their swift action, describing the case as “a reminder that crime, no matter how carefully concealed, cannot go unpunished.”

The police boss described the case as both tragic and instructive, saying it shows how misplaced trust and deceit can lead to unimaginable loss.

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“We call on citizens to exercise caution in personal relationships and to avoid secluded areas, especially at night,” the CP Musa said in the statement.

The police also warned buyers and traders to always confirm ownership documents before purchasing valuable items such as motorcycles, vehicles, or electronics.

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“Receiving stolen property is a serious offense. Ignorance will not absolve anyone from criminal liability.”

The Command further urged members of the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station, assuring them that all information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

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