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Cops foil abduction of Lagos restaurateur

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10 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

Troops arrest soldier declared wanted for supplying military uniforms to terrorists

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1 day ago

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July 26, 2026

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Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a soldier declared wanted by the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in supplying military uniforms to terrorist groups operating in the North-East.

Security expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a statement posted on X.

Makama said that the suspect, identified as 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility, NAOTF, Lagos, was apprehended at about 6:30 pm on July 25, 2026 by troops of 7 Provost Group led by the Acting Commander.

He added that preliminary investigations revealed that before he was declared wanted, the soldier absconded from his unit and travelled to Maiduguri on July 7, 2026, where he allegedly went into hiding.

Investigators further established that the soldier was sheltered at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by 25NA/89/12687 Private Baba Kamal Sale of the Corps of Intelligence, Dikwa.

The security expert further noted that acting on credible intelligence, troops of the 7 Provost Group placed the suspect under 24-hour surveillance before intercepting and arresting him at Jidari Bus Stop while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Cameroon.

“The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where he is undergoing further investigation into the alleged supply of military accoutrements to terrorist elements and the possible involvement of other collaborators.

“The arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle insider networks aiding terrorist groups, adding that investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any accomplices,” Makama added.

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PHOTOS: N10 billion Cocaine, Loud, opioids intercepted at Lagos ports as NDLEA arrests kingpins

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1 day ago

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July 26, 2026

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A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.

According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.

NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”

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NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap

In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Suspected cable thief nabbed in Bayelsa community

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1 day ago

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July 26, 2026

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A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.

​According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.

They expressed relief following his apprehension.

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