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Cops foil abduction of Lagos restaurateur

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4 months ago

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There was panic on Sunday after gunmen attempted to abduct a food vendor, Joy Ochommah, in front of her restaurant in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that the incident happened around 9:30 p.m. in the Addo Road area of the community.

The victim who spoke to our correspondent on Monday said she had just closed for the day and was waiting for an e-hailing driver she ordered when a van suddenly pulled up in front of her.

According to her, two armed men came out of the vehicle, moved close to her, and tried to force her inside the van.

She said, “I operate a restaurant on Addo Road, and I was waiting for a ride I ordered at about 9:30pm when a black van suddenly parked in front of me. I was not bothered initially until I saw two men come out of the van and approach me. They asked if I knew a particular street in the area, and while I was trying to reply that I did not know, they held my hand and tried to drag me into the bus. Immediately, I threw myself to the ground and started to scream for help.”

She added that this attracted two men who were in a vehicle as they parked and rushed to her aid.

According to her, the suspected kidnappers, who were startled by her resistance, abandoned her and sped away in their van.

“I don’t know what came over me at that point; all I knew was that I was dragging with them, and in the process, I saw two men moving close to us, including some passers-by. When they realised this, they left me and quickly entered their van and sped away.

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“The men who were in mufti later identified themselves as police officers. They said they sighted me while I was dragging with the men, and knew something was not right, which prompted them to stop. That was the same thing the passersby who also came to save me said.”

Mrs. Ochommah said she sustained minor injuries and was taken to a nearby clinic for treatment.

Speaking from the hospital bed, she also claimed she was still traumatised by the experience.

She, however, called for the presence of police personnel in the area, while also adding that she would make a report after being discharged from the hospital.

A relative of the victim, who identified herself simply as Cynthia, told PUNCH Metro that the officers were from the Ajah Police Station.

“We were told that the officers were from Ajah police station, and we are grateful for their bravery because it would have been something else if not for their intervention.”

When PUNCH Metro contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, for comments on the incident, the call was answered by her personal assistant, who explained that the PPRO was the appropriate person to respond to the inquiry. He, however, advised that a WhatsApp message be sent to her.

As of the time of filing this report, the message had yet to receive a response.

PUNCH Metro reported in September that the Lagos State Police Command arrested six yet-to-be-identified men for allegedly abducting their business partner in the Lekki area of the state.

The victim, identified by his nickname Senator, was kidnapped and held for three days following a business dispute.

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A complaint was lodged by the family of the victim over his whereabouts, leading to a search by the police, after which he was found in the apartment.

The latest incident has renewed calls for increased patrols across Lagos communities, where residents say such kidnap cases were recorded.

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Crime

Pastor Arrested For Hiring Cultists to Kill A Rival Pastor In Bayelsa Over Church Membership

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13 minutes ago

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February 1, 2026

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Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a Delta State–based pastor, Elijah Oro, alongside a suspected cult member, over an alleged plot to assassinate a rival prophet in the state.

Police sources revealed that the pastor allegedly recruited a 21-year-old suspect, Samuel Daniel, said to be a member of the dreaded Greenlanders cult, to carry out the attack. The alleged conspiracy is believed to have stemmed from a lingering dispute over church membership and property.

Confirming the arrests in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said the operation was based on actionable intelligence. He disclosed that both suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation in connection with the alleged attempt on the life of the unnamed prophet.

According to Mohammed, “On January 28, 2026, at about 10:35 a.m., operatives of the SWAT Unit arrested Samuel Daniel, 21, from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community, and Pastor Elijah Oro, 59, of Ozoro Community in Delta State, in connection with an alleged plot to kill a prophet.”

He added that preliminary findings showed that Daniel was apprehended at the residence of the targeted prophet, where he reportedly confessed to being a member of the Greenlanders cult and admitted that he was allegedly contracted by Pastor Oro to execute the plan.

The police spokesperson said investigations are ongoing to fully unravel the circumstances and motive behind the alleged plot, assuring that all those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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Crime

NAPTIP rescues 10 minors after intercepting suspected child traffickers in Taraba

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56 minutes ago

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February 1, 2026

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The Taraba State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has intercepted a suspected human trafficker and rescued 10 minors in Jalingo.

The State Commandant, Mr Bako Amos, disclosed this in a statement issued to Journalists this weekend.

He disclosed that the arrest followed actionable intelligence received by the agency.

According to Amos, the interception was carried out at about 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Kurmi Park in Jalingo, in collaboration with the Special Adviser to the governor of Taraba State on Human Trafficking, Mrs Sarah Ishaya.

“The suspect was apprehended while making preparations to traffic the 10 children to an unknown destination,” he said.

Amos added that both the victims and the suspect are currently in NAPTIP’s custody, while investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the trafficking attempt.

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See also  PHOTOS: Police arrest notorious car snatching syndicate, recover 6 stolen cars and N15m cash in Abuja
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Crime

EFCC Arraigns Alleged Serial Fraudster, Titilayo Eboh, Two Others For Alleged N247.5m Fraud

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16 hours ago

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January 31, 2026

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday, January 30, 2026, arraigned an alleged serial fraudster, Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, for an alleged N247,500,000( Two Hundred and Forty-seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) before Justice Justice Ramon Oshodi of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos.

Eboh, alongside Uchenna Ejindu and Salami Eneojo Stephen, was arraigned on an amended four-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence, conspiracy , money laundering and stealing.

The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud one Jude Nyemike Atoh of the sum of ₦247,500,000 (Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Investigation revealed that the defendants received the sum of money in cash under the pretence that they would provide the dollar equivalent to the petitioner, a representation they knew to be false.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Uchenna Ejindu, Musa Abdulhamid, Salami Eneojo Stephen, and Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, sometime in July 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to defraud Mr. Jude Nyemike Atoh of the sum of ₦247,500,000 on the pretence that you would give him the dollar equivalent, which pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.”

Another count reads: ” Musa Abdlhanmid (trading under the name and style of Rizqan Dayyiban Global Concept), Salami Eneojo Stephen and Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, sometime, in July, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, collaborated to conceal the sum of $160,300 (One Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred Dollars), property of one Jude Nyemike, with the aim of concealing the ilegal origin of the said sum by giving and receiving same in cash.”

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The first, second and third defendants pleaded “not guilty” to counts one, two, and three, while the second and third defendants also pleaded “not guilty” to count four.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, T. J. Banjo informed the court that the matter had already been fixed for trial on February 27, 2026, and prayed the court to maintain the date.

Responding, counsel to the first defendant, Victor Okpara, SAN, told the court that his client had been on bail since May 15, 2025, and had diligently attended all court proceedings.

He also urged the court to allow him to continue to enjoy the existing bail conditions.

Counsel to the second defendant, Dehinde Dipeolu, aligned with the submission of Okpara.

Counsel to the third defendant, Mike Umonnan, informed the court that he had filed a bail application and also prayed for an earlier date to move the application in view of the health condition of his client.

The prosecution counsel, however, vehemently opposed the bail application of the third defendant and also urged the court to remand her in a correctional centre, citing difficulties previously encountered by the Commission in arresting her.

Justice Oshodi, consequently, adjourned the matter till February 12, 2026, for the hearing of the third defendant’s bail application and also ordered that she be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

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