Crime

Police bust child trafficking syndicate, rescue 11 children in Anambra

Published

4 months ago

July 25, 2025

The Anambra State Police Command says it has investigated and busted an interstate child stealing/abduction and trafficking syndicate operating in Uruagu, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.

The command said during the operation carried out by the police operatives attached to the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka in collaboration with Adamawa police operatives, on July 15, one suspect was arrested while 11 children — five boys and six girls — were rescued.

In a statement released on Friday, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said investigation revealed that the children were abducted/stolen and transported from Adamawa State.

Ikenga added that the children were illegally given to unsuspecting members of the public seeking adoption for N1.5 million for the boys and N800,000 only for the girls respectively.

The statement read in part, “The police operatives attached to the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka on July 15, 2025, complemented the efforts of the officers of Adamawa State Police Command on investigation activities to record a breakthrough in busting an interstate child stealing/abduction and trafficking syndicate.

“The intelligence-driven operation led to the arrest of one female suspect, Uche Okoye aged 43 years, and the rescue of eleven children, (five boys and six girls), ranging in age from three to six years, in Uruagu, Nnewi, Anambra State.

“The suspect is believed to be a major link in the abduction of children and the trafficking network operating between states.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the children were abducted/stolen and transported from Adamawa and illegally given to unsuspecting members of the public seeking adoption for N1.5 million for the boys and N800,000 only for the girls respectively.

“The rescued children were handed over to the Assistant Commissioner of Police Shuaibu Wara, Team Leader of the Operatives from Adamawa Police Command, for possible reuniting with their families and biological parents.”

According to him, the command is working on the information provided by the suspect for the possible arrest and prosecution of other members of the syndicate.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, while commending the operatives involved in the operation, especially the Adamawa State Police Command for their proactive and professional approach, pledged his continuous support in efforts aimed at dismantling child trafficking networks across the country.

“In a strong advisory, the CP also cautioned individuals and couples seeking to adopt children to endeavour to do the necessary checks and to follow legal procedures and avoid involvement in criminal acts under the guise of adoption,” the statement added.

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Crime

Three Nigerians arrested for fraud in Kenya

Published

59 seconds ago

November 14, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

At least three Nigerians have been arrested in the Mwaliko Estate, Mwea Town, Kenya, on allegations of cyber fraud.

A report by Tuko News, a Kenyan digital news platform, revealed that the suspects were apprehended by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Wednesday.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Peter Chukwujekwu, Alazor Chukulute Sunday, and Nnalue Chiagozie Samwe.

According to the report on Thursday, the trio were flushed out of their apartment after members of the public raised concerns about suspicious late-night activities in the building.

The DCI confirmed the arrests, stating that they occurred during “a multi-agency raid targeting a cyber fraud ring” in the area.

The report quoted the DCI as saying: “Three Nigerian nationals nabbed in Kirinyaga multi-agency raid. A well-coordinated multi-agency raid in Mwaliko Estate within Mwea town has blown the lid off a suspected cyber fraud ring operated by three Nigerian nationals.”

The suspects, who claimed to be running an online business, were said to be living in Kenya illegally and lacked valid work permits.

This arrest is part of a broader trend of Nigerians being apprehended abroad for various criminal activities, including cyber fraud, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

In June 2023, Kenyan police arrested 19 Nigerians in Nairobi for engaging in electronic fraud targeting Kenyans.

According to the DCI, the men, aged between 19 and 33, used social media to initiate their scam, swindling unsuspecting Kenyans under the guise of offering goods deliveries from abroad.

“The fraudsters start by befriending you on social media (Facebook), and once you accept the friend request, they initiate a friendly chat that promises the victim goodies to be sent through DHL at the airport,” the DCI explained.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Police arrest three suspected child traffickers, rescue 17 children in Kaduna

Published

8 hours ago

November 14, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested three suspected child traffickers and rescued 17 children in Zaria Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the command, DSP Mansir Hassan, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, November 13, 2025 said the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence on the suspicious movement of some children under the Danmagaji Flyover in Zaria.

He explained that police detectives from the Danmagaji Division swiftly swung into action, leading to the rescue of seventeen children of various ages who were allegedly being prepared for trafficking to Abuja and other parts of the country and beyond.

According to the PPRO, the suspects, upon interrogation, confessed to having brought the children from different locations and were in the process of transporting them to Abuja and beyond before their arrest.

He added that all the rescued children are in good health and currently under the care and protection of the Police Command, while efforts are ongoing to locate and reunite them with their parents or guardians.

“On 12th November, 2025, at about 1600hrs, following credible intelligence on the suspicious movement of children under the Danmagaji Flyover in Zaria, detectives from Danmagaji Division swiftly swung into action,” the statement read.

“Their prompt response led to the rescue of seventeen (17) children of various ages who were allegedly being prepared for trafficking to Abuja and other parts of the country and beyond.

“The three members of the syndicate were arrested in connection with the incident. They are; Musa Shuaibu, 21 years a native of Funtua Katsina, Sani Mamman, 23 years comes from Ingawa Katsina state and Mubarak Ismail, 20 years he hails from Unguwa Uku Kano state.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to having brought the children from different locations and were in the process of transporting them to Abuja and beyond before their arrest.

“All the children are underage they were rescued victims are in good health condition and are currently under the care and protection of the police Command, as efforts are ongoing to locate and reunite them with their parents or guardians.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, psc, mni, commended the operatives of Danmagaji Division for their swift and decisive action, emphasizing the Command’s zero tolerance for child trafficking and exploitation.

“He also advised the parents not to allow themselves to be deceived or lured by the syndicate that their children will have a greener posture in the cities.

“He also assured that the suspects will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted upon the completion of investigations.

“He further urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or individuals within their communities to the nearest Police formation for prompt action.”

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Crime

Robbers shoot Lagos hairstylist to death

Published

24 hours ago

November 13, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

A professional hairstylist identified simply as Sebastine Timothy has been killed by suspected armed robbers in the Satellite Town area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday in the Olasanoye Street area of the community.

A police source who spoke to our correspondent in confidence on Wednesday, but did not want his name in print as he was not permitted to speak on the incident, said the deceased victim was attacked shortly after he returned home after the day’s work.

The source said, “A complaint was made to the police on Monday morning that he was attacked in his apartment after he returned home from his place of work on Sunday night. The robbers robbed him of his belongings and transferred a certain amount of money from his bank account. He was thereafter shot in the head.”

The police source added that the robbers fled the scene while his lifeless body was later found on the spot by neighbours who heard the sound of gunshots.

In a separate account, a channel known for exposing cult-related activities, Confra Naija, in a post on X on Monday, linked the incident to a suspected cult attack.

The platform added that attackers had initially planned to attack his brother before killing him.

“The Eiye cultists came to attack Sebastine’s brother, who is a member of Aye. When they didn’t find him, they turned on Sebastine, who told them his brother wasn’t around. They forced him to unlock his phone and transfer money to them, took his phone after the transfer, and shot him in the head,” the platform wrote.

A Facebook user, Glory Hope, however, mourned the passing of the deceased hairstylist, describing him as hardworking.

“Very hard-working guy, why did this happen to you, na? Very good barber chai, I feel so sad since I heard the news. RIP guy,” she wrote.

When contacted on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the deceased sustained a head injury during a fight with some unidentified men in the community.

“He sustained an injury to the head and died on his way to the hospital. The police can’t say if it is a gunshot injury or a machete cut. The family reported the incident at the station and later took his corpse to the mortuary,” she added.

PUNCH Metro reported in October that residents of the Cele Nica community in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state were thrown into mourning after armed robbers attacked a barbershop, killing two teenage customers identified simply as Chijindu and Akorede.

The incident comes amid concerns over repeated suspected cult attacks and robbery incidents in the state, as residents called on the police to intensify patrols.