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Police bust kidnap gang, arrest over 180 internet fraudsters in Delta

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Operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team of the Delta State Police Command have busted a notorious kidnap syndicate under the leadership of one Owei Abebo, alias ‘Adusa’, who was said to have been on the command’s watch-list since 2021.

The team also recovered 247 rounds of Submachine Gun rifle live ammunition from the hoodlums.

PUNCH Online gathered that sequel to a series of intelligence reports received on the planned abduction of several high-profile individuals in Sapele, Oghara and their environs, by the notorious gang that has been on the, operatives of the CP-SAT led by ASP Julius Robinson, swung into a strategic operation “in compliance with the directives of the state Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, on intelligence-led operations and proactive policing.”

“On 19th July 2025, in the early hours of the day, the operatives arrested one Peter Benson, a 35-year-old male suspect of Kwale in Ndokwa LGA, Delta State, and a suspected spiritual herbalist responsible for ritual preparations for the criminal gang”, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, Bright Edafe, said in a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday.

The PPRO stated that, “Following intensive interrogation, Peter Benson led operatives to another suspect, one Joseph Saniyo, 63 years old, of Ajakorama Community, Ovia South-West LGA, Edo State. Saniyo, identified as the syndicate’s primary spiritualist, was found in possession of three live tortoises and other fetish items believed to be used in criminal fortification rituals.

“Acting swiftly on further intelligence provided by the arrested suspects, operatives stormed Oghara and successfully apprehended the ring leader, Owei Abebo a.k.a “Adusa”, aged 42, along with the following male accomplices: Ebi Maye, 41 years, from Poloborbor Community in Warri North LGA, Delta State; and Happy Obegha, 39 years, of Aakoroma Community, Ovia North-East LGA, Edo State.

“During a thorough search of the suspect’s hideouts, the operatives recovered 247 rounds of live ammunition for a Submachine Gun (SMG) rifle.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that their latest plot involved planned coordinated kidnappings across Sapele and Oghara, which was successfully foiled after their arrest.”

In another development, the Delta State Police Command, in a combined effort with the Nigerian Army, has recorded a significant breakthrough in the fight against internet fraud and other cyber-related offences.

The police spokesman disclosed that “On the 21st July 2025 at about 17:45hrs, operatives of Ekpan Division, acting on credible intelligence in a combined effort with the Nigeria Army, carried out a coordinated raid on a location within Post Housing Estate, Effurun, where suspected internet fraud and terrorism financing activities were taking place.

“The operation resulted in the arrest of one Kelvin Odini, aged 33 years, and 183 others engaged in online fraud-related activities. Items recovered from the suspects include 273 assorted laptops, 97 assorted smartphones, one iPad, one table phone, nine laptop chargers, and two Wi-Fi routers.

“All suspects and exhibits have been taken into custody as investigations intensify to unravel the extent of their operations and apprehend other accomplices.”

Meanwhile, the CP, Abaniwonda, has “Commended the gallant officers involved in these operations for their professionalism, bravery, and swift response to credible intelligence.”

The CP reiterated that “The command’s readiness to intensify intelligence operations, surveillance, and community engagement to ensure that Delta State remains uninhabitable for criminal syndicates and individuals engaged in activities inimical to peace and development.”

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Crime

Imo police burst child trafficking syndicates, rescues victims

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Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have uncovered two separate child trafficking cases, arrested the suspects involved, and rescued two children from the hands of traffickers.

According to the police, on August 12, 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.”

Okoye mentioned that the rescued child is safe, and efforts are ongoing to reunite him with his biological parents, as the command calls on members of the public with useful information to assist in this regard. The command is also intensifying efforts to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large.

Similarly, on July 16, 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.

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Crime

PHOTOS: EFCC declares Atiku’s Son-in-law wanted over alleged money laundering

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Abdullahi Bashir Haske, wanted over an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

In a notice issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC urged members of the public with helpful information about Haske’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or any of the commission’s offices nationwide.

“The public is hereby notified that ABDULLAHI BASHIR HASKE, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy and Money Laundering.”

Haske, 38, whose photograph was released by the anti-graft agency, was last known to reside at No. 6 Mosley Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The EFCC appealed to Nigerians to assist in tracking him down by providing credible information through its offices in major cities, including Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.

They noted that useful information about his thereabouts could be shared via the commission’s telephone line, or email address.

See the notice below

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Crime

PHOTOS: 14 children ‘trafficked from Adamawa and sold for N800,000 each in Anambra’ are rescued

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14 children trafficked from Adamawa State and sold in Anambra State for amounts ranging from N800,000 to N1.7 million have been rescued by Adamawa State Government.

On Wednesday, August 20, the Adamawa State government reunited the rescued children with their parents at a ceremony in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

Speaking during the ceremony, Kaletapwa George Farauta, Adamawa deputy governor, said after numerous reports of missing children in July, the government set up a joint operation with security agencies to unravel the situation.

Farauta said the operation led to the arrest of one Ngozi Abdulwahab, a suspected trafficking kingpin, who operates a small provision shop in Jambutu Ward, Yola north LGA.

The deputy governor said the suspect reportedly used snacks and gifts to lure children between the ages of 4-9 before trafficking them to Anambra.

14 children ?trafficked from Adamawa and sold for N800,000 each in Anambra? are rescued

“It is a mixed feeling of sadness and joy, it is sad that today, Adamawa is on the map of an unfortunate monster ravaging the nation, the monster of child trafficking,” she said.

“This is a story we often hear happening far away, but unfortunately, it has caught up with us.

“This notorious trafficker has perfected the art of trafficking minors aged four to nine years from various communities in Adamawa to the south-eastern region of Nigeria.

“There, she sold the victims for paltry sums ranging from N800,000 to N1.7 million per child.

“She operated from a small provision shop which she owned at Jambutu ward, Yola-North LGA, where she used snacks and gifts to lure unsuspecting children.

“Today, we have rescued 14 children and rehabilitated them.”

The deputy governor said the suspects would be prosecuted under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, Adamawa Child Protection Law (2008), the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021, and the Penal Code of the state.

She added that the family of each rescued child would receive N100,000, food, and non-food items.

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