The Niger State Police Command has arrested three more suspects, including two pastors, in connection with the child stealing and abduction case linked to a notorious human trafficker, Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 said three additional children were rescued from the syndicate and reunited with their parents.
The three children, including a 5 months old baby, were stolen from Gajere in Tafa Local Government Area of the state and sold to different buyers N3.7m.
According to the PPRO, the command has so far rescued nine children stolen by the prime suspect and sold to different buyers in Abuja, Nasarawa and Delta.
Wasiu added that eleven suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
“In continuation of the investigation into the case of alleged abduction and child trafficking referred to the SCID Minna for discreet investigation, involving one Mrs. Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie arrested around Dikko junction on 5th November 2025, three additional suspects were arrested by the police operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in connection with the case on November 28, 2025 within Nasarawa and Abuja axis,” the statement read.
“The three additional suspects are as follows; Chioma Onyanja 45yrs of Nyanya, Abuja, Joy Ndife 48yrs of Kurudu area, Abuja, Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin 44yrs of Orozo area of Abuja.
“In the course of the investigation, three children were rescued. They are; Saifullahi Abdulmumini 5 months old, Possible Danlami 4yrs old and Safiya Mamman Sani 1yr/6 months all found in the custody of the suspected receivers. Taken away from Gajere, Tafa within September, 2025.
“Saifullahi, 5 months old, was found in the residence of one Chioma who claimed that she got the child sometime in August 2025 through her pastor, one Evangelist Rosemary operating Divine Majesty Church, Nyanya Abuja.
“Rosemary claimed the child belonged to a student who was desperate to give out the child for adoption and convinced Chioma who paid two million, seven hundred thousand naira (#2.7m) for the child.
“Possible, 4yrs old was traced to the residence of one Mrs Joy who claimed that she operates an orphanage home and a children’s school called “Emmavies” located around Mararaba area of Nasarawa State.
“She stated that Victoria, the prime suspect, came to her house early September 2025 and advertised a baby whom she claimed was unwanted by her mother, and as Joy couldn’t afford the child, she planned to facilitate the sale of the child to another unsuspecting mother when she was arrested.
“Safiya Sani 1½yrs old was rescued in the residence of one Pastor Olusegun of Covenant Fulfilment Ministry, Masaka Nasarawa State who claimed to also operate Elohim Orphanage and Benevolent Care Center, Orozo Abuja.
“He revealed that Victoria came to the orphanage on the 11th September 2025 with the child stating that the child belonged to a young girl who abandoned the baby in her care with no means to locate her, while adding that she was facing financial hardship and was in need of help to cater for her and other six children. After negotiation, the Pastor paid one million naira (N1m) for the baby.
“All three children were successfully rescued unhurt and have been reunited with their parents making a total of nine (9) recovered children found at various locations and eleven (11) suspects in custody.”
The suspects arrested so far are; Victoria Chukwumezie 40yrs ‘f’, Harrieta Obiakor 50yrs ‘f’, Divine Sunday 43yrs ‘f’, Rosemary Ogbulogo 46yrs ‘f’, Vincent Emmanuel 41yrs ‘m’, Rose Nwabufor 70yrs ‘f’, Chioma Onyanja 45yrs ‘f’, Joy Ndife 48yrs ‘f’, Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin 44yrs ‘m’, Leo Ugochukwu 55yrs ‘m’, Ngozi Ugochukwu 45yrs ‘f’.
“However, further investigation is still ongoing to recover other missing and trafficked children and possible arrest of other receivers or facilitators.”
Police officers attached to the Ekiti State Command who were captured in a viral video during a confrontation with a motorcyclist are undergoing disciplinary proceedings at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The Police Complaint Response Unit disclosed this in an update posted on X on Tuesday, saying the action followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.
The update, linked to complaint tracking number CRU100953, read, “The officers in the viral video attached to Ekiti State Police Command are now at the Police Complaint Response Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, undergoing disciplinary actions as directed by the IGP, Tunji Disu.”
The development follows a complaint received by the Ekiti State Police Command on October 6 from representatives of the Biker Association, Federal University Oye-Ekiti chapter, over the alleged extortion and intimidation of one of its members.
In a statement issued on October 7, the command said the biker was allegedly intercepted by a police patrol team while riding alone from Itapa to Ikole-Ekiti and subjected to a demand for money under circumstances the complainants considered improper.
The command said it had identified the officers involved and taken them into custody for questioning as part of its investigation into allegations of extortion, intimidation, disobedience to lawful orders and other acts of unprofessional conduct.
It added that the investigation had been transferred to the State Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti for a comprehensive and impartial probe.
The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Falade Micheal, directed that the officers be subjected to appropriate disciplinary procedures in line with police regulations, subject to the outcome of the investigation.
The command said, “The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns all forms of extortion, intimidation, abuse of authority and other conduct capable of undermining public confidence or bringing the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute.”
A yet-to-be-identified man has been shot dead by two suspected assailants near the back gate of the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Saturday evening while the victim was riding a motorcycle in the area.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the incident, said the assailants crossed the victim’s path before opening fire on him.
“The incident happened in the evening, and the attack was sudden. He was on a motorcycle when two masked men emerged from nowhere, shot him and fled the scene,” the source said.
A police source told our correspondent on Sunday that an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify those responsible.
“We received information about the incident and are working to establish what happened and identify those responsible. Although there are indications that the shooting is cult-related,” the source said.
The police source added that the deceased’s remains had been deposited in a morgue.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she was not aware of the incident but promised to provide an update.
However, she had yet to do so as of the time this report was filed.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has rearrested an 83-year-old woman, Uloma Uchechi Sunday for alleged drug trafficking, barely a year after she was convicted for a similar offence.
The octogenarian was arrested on Wednesday, October 7, at her residence in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, with quantities of methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, allegedly tied around her waist with a wrapper.
According to the NDLEA, her arrest followed intelligence reports indicating that she operated a drug joint where criminal elements allegedly gathered.
The agency said Uloma was first arrested on May 17, 2025, alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, at the same residence. See here
The two women were found with 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of skunk, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol.
They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. They opted to pay the fines and were released.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the latest arrest was among a series of operations conducted by NDLEA operatives across several states, resulting in the seizure of large consignments of illicit drugs, the arrest of suspected traffickers and the recovery of firearms and ammunition in Plateau State.
In a related operation, operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, arrested a South African national, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, over the alleged importation of 32.74 kilogrammes of Thai Loud, a potent cannabis strain.
The suspect was intercepted with 30 parcels of the substance concealed in two travelling bags after arriving from Thailand through Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight.
The NDLEA said she admitted to previously trafficking drugs through other African countries and attempting to expand her operations to Port Harcourt.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 354,000 tablets of Tapentadol, each weighing 250mg, in a shipment from Pakistan.
The consignment, weighing 307.20 kilogrammes, arrived aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight on September 29 and was placed under surveillance.
A joint examination of the nine cartons on October 6 uncovered the pharmaceutical drugs.
In another operation at the Lagos airport, operatives intercepted 70 parcels of Colorado weighing 75.90 kilogrammes in six Ghana-Must-Go bags contained in a consolidated cargo shipment from the United Kingdom.
The shipment arrived on September 29, after which the agency began monitoring the consignment.
A clearing agent, John Edrah, 54, was arrested on September 30. Other suspects subsequently arrested were Taofiq Ajibola, 54, an Uber driver; Adetunji Adebayo; and Kazeem Damola Dosunmu, 48, a clothing trader.
According to the NDLEA, Ajibola was arrested while attempting to collect one of the bags at a logistics company in the Mafoluku area of Oshodi, while Adebayo and Dosunmu were apprehended when they arrived to collect the remaining five bags.
The agency said Ajibola identified a UK-based associate, Lukman Sa’idu, as the sender of his consignment, while Dosunmu attributed his own shipment to another UK-based individual identified as Yusuf.
Over Two Tonnes of Cannabis Seized in Cross River, Edo, Ondo
In Cross River State, NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, raided Iyala Nkun village in Ikom Local Government Area on Sunday, October 4, arresting a 46-year-old suspect, Adama Inuwa.
The operation led to the recovery of 181 bags of cannabis weighing 1,100 kilogrammes and 17.15 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, on October 5.
The vehicle was allegedly conveying 1,049 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 702.83 kilogrammes.
Three suspects — Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20 — were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a separate operation in Benin City, operatives arrested Ojugo Mercy, 26, at Asoro, off Sakponba Road, with 989 grammes of Loud, 13 grammes of Colorado and 83 grammes of methamphetamine.
In Ondo State, a 21-year-old suspect, Happy Endurance, was arrested at her hideout in the Shasha area of Akure on October 5, following surveillance by NDLEA operatives.
The operation led to the recovery of 29 bags of cannabis weighing 290 kilogrammes.
On the same day, another raid at an apartment in Oba-Ile, Akure, resulted in the arrest of Tunde Adebayo, 42, with 35 bags of cannabis weighing 351 kilogrammes.
In Orile, Lagos, operatives on October 6 arrested Musbau Balogun Adekunle with 32.51 kilogrammes of skunk and 52.65 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds, bringing the total seizure to 85.16 kilogrammes.
Tramadol, Diazepam Seized in Taraba, Kano
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, arrested Abdulrasheed Mohamed, 31, and Abubakar Saidu, 37, at Chanchanji village in Wukari Local Government Area on Friday, October 9.
The suspects were allegedly found with 166,200 tablets of tramadol, each weighing 225mg, with a combined weight of 107 kilogrammes.
In Kano State, a stop-and-search operation along the Kano-Maiduguri Road on the same day led to the arrest of Yahaya Musa, 32.
The agency said 24,990 capsules of tramadol, 50,000 tablets of diazepam and 22,000 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered from him.
In Kaduna State, operatives on patrol along the Zaria-Kaduna Expressway arrested Mohammed Musa, 29, with 31 jumbo bags and 775 blocks of skunk weighing a combined 1,027 kilogrammes.
Rifles, Ammunition Recovered in Plateau
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives recovered firearms and ammunition during a raid on the residence of Christian Chukwudi Uju, 45, at Rukuba Road, Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, October 8.
The agency said the suspect was found with 47 grammes of methamphetamine, two pump-action rifles, one locally made gun, 199 live cartridges, five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one round of 9mm ammunition.
The recovery adds a firearms dimension to the series of drug-related operations carried out by the agency during the period.
Rifles, Ammunition Recovered in Plateau
Beyond the arrests and seizures, the agency said its commands and formations continued public enlightenment activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The sensitisation exercises were conducted in schools and communities across Oyo, Ebonyi, Niger, Kano, Lagos and Ogun states, among other locations.
Beneficiaries included students and staff of Progressive Grammar School, Tede, Oyo State; Ehugbo Technical College, Afikpo, Ebonyi State; Baptist High School, Lambata, Niger State; and Ipara Senior and Junior Community Secondary School, Badagry, Lagos State.
Other institutions reached included Madarasatul Tarbiyatul Islamiya in Tudun Wada, Kano State, and Manbahu Ridwanullah Nursery and Primary School in Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking on the operations, NDLEA chairman and chief executive officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended personnel of the Lagos, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo and Plateau commands.
Marwa urged officers across the country to sustain what he described as a balanced approach to drug control, combining intelligence-led enforcement with public education and preventive measures.
The agency said the operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, intercept illicit substances and reduce the circulation of dangerous drugs across the country.
