Metro

Police Foil Kidnap Attempt On Foreigner In Anambra

Published

9 months ago

October 7, 2024

Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have foiled the attempted abduction of a foreigner by armed hoodlums, suspected to be members of a secessionist group.

This was revealed in a statement by the state police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Monday.

Ikenga disclosed that the incident occurred in the Ogbunka community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday.

He said the victim was rescued after police engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle that lasted several minutes.

He added that two police officers, who sustained bullet wounds during the incident, are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

He said, “In the morning of 6/10/2024, police operatives foiled the abduction of a foreigner by suspected armed secessionist members in Ogbunka village.

“The operatives courageously engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and rescued the VIP. Unfortunately, during the gun duel, two police officers were injured by gunfire. They are in a stable condition and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

“Meanwhile, operations are ongoing in the area to apprehend the armed men.”

Ikenga added that in a related development, police operatives attached to Nimo Police Station responded to a distress call at about 8:25 pm on Sunday regarding a suspected cult clash at Umuka, Nawfia, in Njikoka LGA of the state.

He said, “The operatives, upon arriving at the scene, found four lifeless bodies of young men in a pool of blood with suspected multiple gunshot wounds lying on the road. The victims were confirmed dead by a doctor on duty and have been deposited at the morgue.

“They were later identified as Ebuka Nwaonkwube Ekenta of Mmimi village, Nawfia, Nnatuanya Junior a.k.a. Starboy of Mmimi village, Nawfia, Aniemena a.k.a. Osama of Umuariam village, and Ahmed Auwal.

“Information from eyewitnesses and some villagers revealed that the victims were known for their nefarious activities and were constantly in rivalry with another cult group in the area. Furthermore, joint patrols with operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad have been intensified in the area.”

Ikenga also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered an immediate investigation into the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old girl, suspected to have been used for ritual purposes.

According to him, the girl’s lifeless body was found in a bush at Omasi village on Sunday at about 4:25 pm and was later identified as Chinasa Adigwe from Umueje village, with her private parts cut off before the police were alerted.

“The body has been recovered and deposited in a morgue.

“The CP, while condoling with the family, friends, and community of the deceased, stated that the police will do everything possible to ensure that those behind the barbaric act are arrested and brought to justice.

“Further developments will be communicated,” Ikenga added.

Metro

Police Detain 3 Nsukka Masqueraders For Allegedly Assaulting Residents

Published

7 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

The police command in Enugu State has detained three masqueraders in the Nsukka area of the state for allegedly assaulting law-abiding citizens.

The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday that police operatives, with the assistance of members of the community, led to the arrest of the suspects on June 23 at 3:30 p.m.

He said that the arrest of the suspects was in connection with the alleged physical assault of citizens by the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade group on June 22 as seen in a viral video.

“The suspects, along with others still at large, took advantage of the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade celebration to assault several innocent members of the public, inflicting bodily injuries on them.

“One of the victims was hospitalised for treatment due to injuries sustained during the attack.

“The masqueraders initially resisted police arrest and fled the scene.

“However, with the assistance of law-abiding community members, the three suspects were later identified and apprehended,” he said.

The spokesman said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had ordered a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that justice was served.

Ndukwe quoted the commissioner as saying that masquerade celebration was a sacred and symbolic aspect of the nation’s culture.

He said that the state police chief, however, decried the actions of those who exploited the occasion to commit criminal acts.

Ndukwe said that the commissioner warned against the use of cultural festivities as a cover for fomenting trouble and committing crimes against fellow citizens, as perpetrated by the ‘Oriokpa’ masqueraders.

“The command is assuring the public that all those involved in the assault of law-abiding citizens will be brought to justice,” he added.

(NAN)

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Four Suspected Cultists

Published

10 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Edo Police Command said it has arrested four suspected cultists allegedly responsible for cult violence in Auchi and its environs of the state.

In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu said, the suspects, who were arrested during a joint operation, belong to different cultist groups.

The statement reads partly, “On 22/06/2025, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit in a joint operation with Jattu and Auchi Divisions embarked on a house-to-house arrest of cultists.

“These four (4) suspects were arrested in various locations in Auchi; Musa Murphy 25yrs of No 35 Ogeneni area Jattu, Auchi a member of Arobaga Confraternity, Gabriel Moses 25yrs of ECocota-Community, Auchi a member of Aye Confraternity, Michael Ayo 23yrs of No1 Emeke Uzuire, Auchi member of Eiye Confraternity and Philip Sunday 24yrs of Ebira camp, Auchi a member of Vikings Confraternity.”

Yamu expressed the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika’s assurance to the “general public of the Command’s resolve to rid the State of cultism while the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”

Metro

Chaos In Court As Ex-convict Attempts To Escape

Published

14 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

A dramatic scene unfolded on Tuesday in an Ilorin Area Court as an ex-convict, Segun Samuel, attempted to escape from the court premises, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Samuel Mayowa, who witnessed the incident, told NAN that the ex-convict cunningly removed the chains from his leg with a broomstick, walked towards the restroom and scaled the court fence.

“He has four different criminal cases in this court. One of the cases was heard on Monday, and he was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.

“In the second criminal case, he was sentenced to six months of community service, and the third case was supposed to be heard today, before he pulled that stunt,” he said.

Luckily, he said, the police officers in the court premises and the prison warder swung into action and pursued him.

He said that after a thorough search, and with the help of the community, the ex-convict was found in a dilapidated building at Oke-Suna Area, Ilorin.

The Correctional Service officer, he said, was called, and the ex-convict was captured and returned to custody