Metro

Police Rescue 21 Kidnap Victims, Neutralize One Suspect, Arrest Another In Enugu

Published

1 month ago

May 25, 2025

Police operatives in Enugu State rescued 21 kidnapped victims, neutralized one suspect, and arrested another during multiple coordinated operations across the state.

According to Vanguard, the operations also led to the recovery of a firearm, a vehicle, and other exhibits.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the breakthroughs were achieved through collaboration with local security outfits including the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and local hunters.

“On May 23, 2025, operatives from Okpuje Division, working alongside local security groups, stormed a forest bordering Enugu and Kogi States. Eight kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt after a gun battle in which one suspect was neutralized. Others escaped with gunshot wounds. Several exhibits linked to the gang were recovered,” Ndukwe stated.

He added that on May 22, 2025, the Oji-River Police Area Commander led a joint operation into Uvuru-Ukpata forest in Uzo-Uwani LGA, where nine kidnap victims, abducted along the Olo-Umulokpa Road the day before, were rescued. The suspects fled after an exchange of gunfire, and the victims have since been safely reunited with their families.

That same day, operatives from 9th Mile Division swiftly responded to a distress call in Ekochin Layout, Udi LGA, and foiled an armed robbery. A cut-to-size single-barrel gun and an expended cartridge were recovered, though the suspects escaped. A manhunt is ongoing.

Ndukwe further noted that on May 21, police from Udenu Division, with support from local vigilante groups, rescued two men kidnapped five days earlier from Ezimo community, found in a forest at Amalla-Egazi.

Also on the same day, Uwani Division officers rescued a female victim and recovered her Toyota Sienna vehicle at Gariki, Awkunanaw. The suspects fled on sighting the operatives. The victim was safely reunited with her family.

In another operation on May 20, Awkunanaw Division operatives, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch, rescued a man who had been kidnapped and tied up in an uncompleted building in Akwuke-Awkunanaw, Enugu South LGA. The kidnappers had extorted ₦30,000 from the victim’s relatives before the police intervention. One male suspect was arrested; efforts are ongoing to track down his accomplices.

Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu Giwa, commended the officers, community members, and security partners for their collaboration. He directed all divisional heads and area commanders to sustain proactive and intelligence-led operations, while urging the public to continue providing credible information to aid security efforts.

Metro

Police Declare Two Wanted Over Attack On Ahoada-East LGA Administrator, Theft

Published

14 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command has declared two top officials of the Ahoada-East Local Government Area wanted over their alleged involvement in the brutal attack on the LGA’s Sole Administrator, Hon. Goodluck Iheanachor.

Declared wanted are Mr. Hector Ekakita, Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Ahoada-East LGA, and Mr. Aloni Olodi, Chief of Staff (COS) of the LGA.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the police said the duo is wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and attempted murder. The offenses stem from a violent incident that occurred on June 20, 2025, at the Ahoada-East Council Secretariat.

According to the statement, Ekakita and Olodi, alongside a group of about 30 others, allegedly conspired to assault the Sole Administrator, inflicted injuries on him, forcibly obtained his signature under duress, stole his mobile phones and sensitive documents, and carted away both personal and official property from his office.

The police revealed that despite repeated invitations, the suspects have failed to appear for questioning, prompting the declaration.

“The Rivers State Police Command has declared the following individuals wanted… Mr. Hector Ekakita – Chief Security Officer (CSO), Ahoada-East LGA, and Mr. Aloni Olodi – Chief of Staff (COS), Ahoada-East LGA,” the statement read.

“Their actions resulted in bodily harm to the administrator, who continues to receive medical treatment.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, has urged the suspects to report to the Police State Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, without further delay.

He also warned that anyone found aiding or shielding the suspects would face the full weight of the law.

“The Rivers State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to justice and maintaining public peace and safety,” the statement concluded.
(VANGUARD)

Metro

10 Die In Ogun Night Bus Crash

Published

19 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead, while three others sustained injuries in a lone crash involving a Mitsubishi bus on the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Expressway.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.

Akinbiyi said the accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Ome Bridge, Awa, along Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan highway in Ijebu North Local Government Area.

He stated that the lone crash involved a Mitsubishi bus, registration number EJ829-LSR, which was conveying 15 passengers at the time.

According to Akinbiyi, seven male and three female passengers died. Three others were injured, while a toddler and one adult escaped unhurt.

He said preliminary findings indicate that overspeeding and wrongful overtaking led to the accident.

“Eyewitnesses said the driver wrongly overtook another vehicle at high speed and could not regain control after noticing an oncoming vehicle.

“The driver veered off the road, hit an abandoned gravel pile beside the bridge, and plunged the vehicle into the river,” Akinbiyi explained.

He said the deceased were taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital’s morgue, while the injured were also being treated at the same facility.

The spokesperson urged motorists to avoid speeding and to refrain from travelling at night, stressing the importance of road safety at all times.

Metro

NDLEA Detains Couple, 2 Daughters For Alleged Drug Running

Published

20 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday said it has arrested and detained a businessman, his wife and two daughters over alleged drug peddling.

A statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja, stated that a family friend of theirs was also taken into custody.

Babafemi said that this came after an investigation revealed that the family ran a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos involving a family friend.

“The couple was first arrested on Friday, June 13, by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ojo area of the state and transferred to NDLEA along with 277.5kg of skunk.

“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in his house.

“This led to a raid of their home and a packing store where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, July 1.”

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 2, intercepted a frequent flyer for drug trafficking.

Babafemi said that the suspect specialised in conveying goods for customers from Nigeria to Italy and vice versa.

“He was found to have hidden 7,660 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg inside food items packed among other goods he was conveying to Italy.

“He claimed that he was to be paid the sum of 800 euros upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Italy,” he said.