The Ogun State Police Command has foiled a planned abduction in the Abigi area of the state and arrested a wanted serial kidnapper, Clement Elijah, who had been on the run since 2024.

Elijah, linked to a high-profile kidnapping case in Ajelanwa village last year, was apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit following credible intelligence and community cooperation.

It was learnt that two of his accomplices were previously arrested in connection with the same incident.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, Elijah had returned to the Ibiade community on June 13, with intentions to abduct a prominent resident of Ago Village, Abigi.

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His plan, however, was thwarted through coordinated action between the police and vigilant residents.

Odutola said, “Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping unit apprehended Clement Elijah, a felon who had been on the run since 2024 in connection with a high-profile kidnapping incident at Ajelanwa village, Ogun State.

“Elijah arrived Ibiade community on June 13, 2025, and planned to abduct a prominent individual in Ago Village, Abigi, but his sinister mission was thwarted through timely collaboration between the police and vigilant residents.”

Three days later, on Monday, a clearance operation led to the arrest of the gang’s alleged armourer, Posi Friday.

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Odutola said the police operatives recovered one pump-action rifle, a locally fabricated pistol, and eight live cartridges concealed in a Boom Speaker.

Commending the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, lauded the Ibiade and Abigi communities for their vigilance and collaboration.

“We appreciate the sustained communication and support from the communities.

“Their role was critical in preventing yet another crime and in the apprehension of these suspects,” Ogunlowo said.

n a separate development, the command also confirmed the arrest of 14 suspected cultists from rival groups on June 16, 2025.

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According to Odutola, the suspects were apprehended by the Anti-Cultism team in Ijagun, Ogbo, Ijele, and Imaweje areas of Ijebu Ode, while allegedly planning violent attacks as part of a supremacy clash during their institution’s signing-out celebration.

“Operatives of the Anti-Cultism team arrested 14 suspected cultists of two rival groups planning attacks over superiority on June 16, 2025.

“The suspects were rounded up in Ijagun, Ogbo, Ijele areas and Imaweje areas in Ijebu Ode as they assembled to mark their institution’s examinations signing out,” she said.

Odutola said all suspects and recovered weapons are currently being processed at the State Criminal Investigation Department, while further investigations continue.

The Rivers State Police Command said its men arrested two notorious cultists who have been terrorising residents of the Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state and its environs.

The police revealed that the suspects were members of the dreaded Iceland cult and lieutenants of their slain leader, Gift Okpara, popularly known as 2-Baba, responsible for the gruesome murder of the former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada East LGA, Bako Angbashim, in 2023.

Spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

She said the first suspect identified as Goodluck, nicknamed K1′, was nabbed following credible intelligence and swift action by the command’s Octopus Tactical Unit, who raided their hideout in the Ikata community in Ahoada East LGA and recovered weapons.

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The statement reads, “On May 3, 2025, operatives of the command received credible information regarding the whereabouts of a notorious cultist known as aka “K1,” a member of the late 2Baba Iceland cult group.

“This group was linked to the murder of late SP Bako Angbashim, the then DPO of Ahoada Division.

“The police operatives swiftly stormed the suspect’s camp in Ikata Community, Ahoada East LGA, and arrested one Lovegod Goodluck, a male resident of Ikata Community.

“During the operation, one locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from him.

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“In a follow-up operation on the 13th of June, 2025, at about 1730 hrs, operatives made another breakthrough, arresting one Precious Olumini, a male suspect who had earlier escaped. An English made pump-action gun and a locally made pistol were recovered from him.

“During interrogation, suspects confessed to being members of the dreaded Iceland cult group that has been terrorising Ahoada-East axis of the state.”

It continued, “Suspects and exhibits are in police custody; investigation is currently in progress with efforts being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover their operational weapons.”

Speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has reassured people and residents of the state that the command under his watch remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of lives and property in the state.

Adepoju urged citizens to cooperate with the police in their efforts to rid communities of violent and criminal elements by reporting any suspicious activities to the police for prompt action.

Survivors of the recent deadly killings in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, have spoken out in anguish, recounting how their family members were killed and homes set ablaze by suspected herdsmen.

In a video interview with News Central TV, a survivor, Michael Ajah, narrated the trauma of losing at least 20 members of his family in the assault.

“My people, my family members, they died in this house, 11. Some died in the other store, eight, and some died here. My whole family members that died yesterday, the day before yesterday, on that very day, there were 20.” he said.

“That is my own family members. I’m not talking about any other thing. That is my own family members,” Ajah added.

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He added that his goods and property were also lost in the attack saying, “This is my store. Those shops are my stores. Those places are burnt. My house is up there, that place also is burnt.

“And the store where I pack my goods, I store my goods everywhere. That’s burnt. They burnt my clothes. They burnt everything. They burnt our food. All my family members.

“What we came out with is our clothes, what we wear. And I, standing here, this is what I came out with. And this is the only thing that I have. There is nothing with me,” he said holding the cloth he was wearing.

Ajah further described how the attackers stormed their home late in the night during a heavy rain saying, “On that very day, rain started in the evening. So we entered. I slept there. So, I was sleeping. Around 10.20, we heard gunshots at the back there. So, before we could notice that something has happened, fulani men, they entered this place.”

He added that he was certain they were Fulani men because he heard them speak.

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“They were speaking and I was inside the room and I heard them clearly, not somebody told me. I was inside the room there and they surrounded that room. I escaped narrowly. My brother was burnt in this house. Some escaped. My dad was burnt in this house,” he said.

In a separate interview, another resident, Bature Bartholomew, revealed that he lost his younger brother, his sister-in-law, and his mother in the attack, all of whom were said to have been burnt alive in their home.

Bartholomew added that his goods worth millions of naira were burnt during the attack.

He said, “I can’t say precisely because it’s over millions of naira. I store grains like guinea corn, maize, soya beans, rice.

“My younger brother stays here. he’s no longer alive, he was burnt inside this house. He was burnt in this house, yes him, his wife, mother and many others were burnt in this house.”

President Bola Tinubu has also rescheduled his official visit to Kaduna State saying that he will travel to Benue State on Wednesday as part of renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state.

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