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Police Rescue 25 Ivorians From Kidnappers, Arrest Eight Suspects

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Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued 25 Ivorian nationals from the hands of a cross-border kidnapping syndicate operating in Ogun State.

The police also arrested eight suspects in connection with the crime, following a swift and coordinated operation carried out in collaboration with Interpol.

According to a statement on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the operation was launched in response to a formal request from the National Central Bureau, Abidjan.

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Adejobi said the request followed a report by Kaussi Marianman, who alleged that her son, Ladji Yoa Pierre, had been lured to Nigeria under false pretenses by Simon Oliver and Michael Odunga with a promise to secure travel documents to Belgium.

Upon arrival, Adejobi said Pierre was held captive, and the suspected kidnappers demanded a ransom of 2.5 million CFA francs, approximately ₦6.6 million.

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He said, “The operation was triggered by a report filed on April 23rd, 2025, by Mrs. Kaussi Amenan Marianman at NCB Abidjan alleging that her son, Ladji Yoa Pierre, had been lured to Nigeria under false pretenses by some individuals who were later identified as Simon Oliver and Michael Odunga, promised to facilitate his travel documents to Belgium.

“Once in Nigeria, Ladji Yoa Pierre was held captive, with the abductors demanding a ransom of two million five hundred CFA (equivalent to six million six hundred and twenty-five thousand Naira).”

Adejobi said the Commissioner of Police, INTERPOL Annex Lagos, Bode Ojajuni, immediately deployed a team of experienced investigators to track down the suspects and rescue the victim.

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He added that on May 5, 2025, the operatives stormed Osehi Hotel in Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, rescuing two victims and arresting two suspects.

READ ALSO: How I Was Forced To Perform In Police Cell – Skales

Adejobi said a follow-up operation at Ejegun Itele in the same area led to the rescue of 23 additional victims, including Ladji Yoa Pierre himself, and the arrest of six more suspects.

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He said, “Upon receiving the request from NCB Abidjan, the Commissioner of Police INTERPOL, Annex, Lagos, CP Bode Ojajuni psc, immediately deployed a team of trained investigators to rescue the victim and apprehend his abductors.

“On May 5th, 2025, the team successfully stormed the hideout of the abductors rescuing two victims and apprehended two suspects at Osehi Hotel, located at Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State. Subsequent operation conducted at Ejegun Itele, Ado-odo-Ota resulted in the rescue of 23 additional victims, including the said Ladji Yoa Pierre, and the arrest of six more suspects.”

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Following the successful rescue, Adejobi said Pierre was reunited with his mother, who travelled from Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria.

He said the remaining 24 rescued victims were handed over to the Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration, Zone A Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, for further processing.

“The eight apprehended suspects are in Police custody undergoing investigation for possible prosecution, ” he added.

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In response to this successful operation, Adejobi said the Head, NCB Abidjan in its letter dated May 6, 2025, expressed deep appreciation and compliment to the Nigeria Police Force and Interpol Unit for the brilliant operation leading to the rescue of the victims and hope to strengthen collaboration between both agencies towards tackling trans-border crimes.

Metro

Teenager Allegedly Kills Cousin For Ritual In Edo

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A 12-year-old boy identified as Emiliano Egwunbare, was allegedly kidnapped and killed by his 18 years old cousin, identified as Tega Emajuwa.

The incident was said to have happened in Obagie Community, Egor local government area of Edo State.

The suspect and two of his friends allegedly kidnapped their victim and collected ransom from parents of the deceased but didn’t release him.

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The suspect had reportedly stayed with parents of late Emiliano for few months before carrying out the dastardly act on September 16th, 2025.

READ ALSO:Edo Sets Up Special Court To Prosecute Govt-owned Land Encroachers

Sources said the police were involved after payment of ransom, and through due intelligence, Emajuwa was tracked down and arrested.

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Police source said Emajuwa confessed to the crime one week after his arrest, adding that two of his accomplices, Edugie Destiny, aged 20 and Osayande Vincent, aged 23 were arrested.

Their confession led police to where they dumped the body of Emiliano inside a well.

Some vital organs of late Emiliano were reportedly harvested.

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READ ALSO:Edo Twin Babies Died Of Natural Causes — Autopsy Report

Deputy spokesman of the Edo Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and denied allegations that the suspects have been released.

She said the case was initially reported at Ogida Police Division and later transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit, Benin, for discreet investigation.

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“Following sustained tactical and technical intelligence, operatives of the unit arrested three suspects — Tega Emajuwa ‘m’ aged 18, Edugie Destiny ‘m’ aged 20 and Osayande Vincent ‘m’ aged 23 — who all made confessional statements linking them to the crime.

Sadly, during the course of investigation, the victim’s body was later discovered inside a well in Obagie Community.

READ ALSO:Another Accident On Otedola Bridge Causes Fresh Traffic Disruption In Lagos

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“The remains were evacuated and deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) mortuary for autopsy.

“In a viral video recently circulated on social media, the mother of the deceased alleged that the suspects have been released from Police Custody.

“The Edo State Police Command wishes to categorically state that this claim is false, misleading, and unfounded.

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“The suspects remained in lawful custody until they were charged to court on 16th October 2025, where the case is currently, while they have all been remanded for prosecution.

“The said mother was of the deceased was present in court during the proceedings.”

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Police Rescue Seven Kidnap Victims In Edo

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Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have rescued seven kidnapped victims in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Emem Ikoedem, disclosed this on Saturday in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin.

She said the victims were abducted in the Ikeken Forest, where they had gone to farm by armed men suspected to be kidnappers.

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The statement reads, “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its relentless onslaught against kidnapping and violent crimes in the State, as operatives of the Command have successfully rescued seven kidnapped victims in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

READ ALSO:Court Sentences 11 to 79 Years Improvement In Edo

“The incident occurred on Saturday, 1st November 2025, when one Enoch Omozokpia of Ikeken Ewohimi reported that his father, William Omozokpia (65 years), who went to his farm in the Ikeken Forest, was abducted by armed men suspected to be kidnappers alongside six others.

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“Acting swiftly on the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ewohimi, led a team of operatives in a joint rescue mission with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups.

“The team stormed the forest in a well-coordinated operation, engaging in an intense bush combing effort that forced the abductors to abandon their captives and flee.

“All seven victims were rescued unhurt and have since been reunited with their families. The rescued victims are: William Akhabue, Innocent Ebarekor, Rachel Ebarekor, Efuah Ebarekor, Winner Ebarekor, William Omozokpia and Lucky Igiese (popularly known as Bulala).”

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READ ALSO:Edo Sets Up Special Court To Prosecute Govt-owned Land Encroachers

She stated that the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command CP Monday Agbonika commended the gallantry and professionalism displayed by the Police operatives, soldiers, and vigilantes who participated in the rescue operation.

Ikoedem, reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to the safety of all residents and assured that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.

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Ikoedem urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police station.

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PHOTOS: Residents Cry For Help As Flood Ravages Delta Community

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Natives of Souragbene community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have cried to the Delta State Government and the local government council chairman for urgent help as flood submerges the community.

In a video that has gone viral, a young lady is seen with school pupils and other adults lamenting “we are at this moment gathered here inside water in Souragbene to tell the whole world that flood has taken over our community.”

According to her, “Our children had to literally swim in the flood to get to their schools. They get soaked; they get so dirty in the process.”

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READ ALSO:Police Arrests Principal Supplier Of Weapons To Bandits In Delta

Our houses have been submerged — we have nowhere to go. We are literally swimming in the flood to our children’s schools. Is this okay? Yet we have well-connected people as indigenes; we have wealthy people; we have those politicians who are connected to the government, yet they feel no concern about the community.”

Another woman appears in the video with the pupils inside the flood, saying in a sober voice: “We greet the government from here. We know you are trying your best. Today, we are gathered here in Saurogbene community, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.”

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The woman, while lamenting in the video that the flood has lasted for seven days, added: “Because of the flood we can no longer do anything. Our children do go to school but because of the flood, they can no longer go to school. We have to use a woodenboat to ferry them to school in the flood. You can see the suffering of the children.

“When the flood starts, for 3 to 4 hours, everything stands still. And if everything stands still, we cannot do anything. Imagine we, not doing nothing for four hours because of flood, how do we survive?”

READ ALSO:‘Felt Like World Was Against Me’ – Jonathan Recounts Losing 2015 Polls As Incumbent

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She appealed to Delta State governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the local government council chairman, Chief Sylvester Oromoni, and well-meaning Nigerians and Deltans in particular to come to their rescue.

A man identified in the video as the
spokesman of the community appears in the video lamenting: “Because of the flood, everyone literally swims. Hon Sylvester Oromoni, you are the chairman of this local government. We are begging you to come to our rescue.”

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