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Niger police arrest 11 suspects for child trafficking

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The Niger State police command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with their roles in the trafficking of some children in the state.

Spokesman for the Command, Wasiu Abiodun, who made this known to Arewa PUNCH on Tuesday via his crime bulletin, said the arrest is in continuation of an investigation of an alleged abduction and child trafficking offence brought to the office.

Abiodun further revealed that three additional children were rescued and three more suspects had been arrested.

The Command’s spokesman gave the names of the three suspects as Chioma Onyanja, 45 years, of Nyanya, Abuja; Joy Ndife, 48 years, of Kurudu area, Abuja; and Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin, 44 years, of Orozo area of Abuja.

He also gave the names of the three trafficked children as Saifullahi Abdulmumini, five months old; Possible Danlami, four years old, and Safiya Mamman Sani, one year and six months.

He said all the trafficked children who were found in the custody of the suspected receivers were taken away from Gajere and Tafa around September 2025.

Abiodun narrated: “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, who was arrested around Dikko junction on November 5, 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 the Nasarawa and Abuja axis.

“The three additional suspects are as follows: Chioma Onyanja, 45 years, of Nyanya, Abuja; Joy Ndife, 48 years, of Kurudu area, Abuja; and Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin, 44 years, of Orozo area of Abuja

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“In the course of the investigation, three children were rescued. They are: Saifullahi Abdulmumini, five months old; Possible Danlami, four years old, and Safiya Mamman Sani, one year and six months – all found in the custody of the suspected receivers and were taken away from Gajere, Tafa, within September 2025.

“Saifullahi, five months old, was found at 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 N2.7 million for the child.

“Possible, four years 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 the Mararaba area of Nasarawa State.

“She stated that Victoria, the prime suspect, came to her house in 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, a one-year-and-six-month-old, was rescued from the residence of one Pastor Olusegun of Covenant Fulfilment Ministry, Masaka, Nasarawa State, who claimed to also operate Elohim Orphanage and Benevolent Care Centre, Oroz,o Abuja.

“He revealed that Victoria came to the orphanage on September 11, 2025, with the child stating that the child belonged to a young girl who had abandoned the baby in her care and with no means to locate her, while adding that she was facing financial hardship and was in need of help to cater to her and other six children. After negotiation, the pastor paid N1 million for the baby.

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“All three children were successfully rescued unhurt and have been reunited with their parents, making a total of nine recovered children found at various locations and 11 suspects in custody,” Abiodun said.

He gave the names of the rescued children as: Muhammadu Hussaini – four years, Kasimu Saidu –  four years, Idris Saidu – two years, Ummi Kairi Salisu – three years, Goodnews Sunday – four years,

Rahmat Mohammed – two years, Saifullahi Abdulmumini – five months, Safiya Mamman Sani – one year and six months and Possible Danlami – four years.

The names of the 11 suspects arrested are:

Victoria Chukwumezie, 40 years, ‘f’; Harrieta Obiakor, 50 years, ‘f’; Divine Sunday, 43 years, ‘f’;

Rosemary Ogbulogo, 46 years, ‘f’; Vincent Emmanuel, 41 years ‘m’; Rose Nwabufor, 70 years, ‘f’; Chioma Onyanja, 45 years, ‘f’; Joy Ndife, 48 years, ‘f’; Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin, 44 years, ‘m’; Leo Ugochukwu, 55 years, ‘m’; and Ngozi Ugochukwu, 45 years, ‘f’.”

The commander’s spokesman said further investigations were ongoing to recover other missing and trafficked children and possibly arrest the other receivers or facilitators.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Two suspected car thieves arrested in Rivers

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The Eleme Local Government Council in Rivers State has arrested two suspects linked to a stolen Toyota Corolla.

The Chief Security Officer of the council, Comr. Greg Emere Ogosu, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 said the arrests followed ongoing efforts to fight crime in the area.

According to Ogosu, the suspects had been under watch since April 5, 2026, when the stolen car was found hidden at New Road in Onne.

The duo was later arrested after a manhunt and confessed to the crime.

He added that they have been handed over to the Nigeria Police for proper investigation and prosecution, stressing that there is no room for jungle justice in Eleme.

The council also warned that criminal activities will not be allowed in the area.

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Terrorists kill 20 in Borno, Adamawa border communities

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Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed 20 persons in Pubagu, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, and Mayo-Ladde in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Our correspondent gathered that the terrorists stormed the two border communities around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, overpowering local security operatives before killing residents.

Confirming the attack exclusively to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, the Chairman of Askira Uba Local Government Area, Mada Saidu, said 11 people were killed in Pubagu, Borno State, while nine lost their lives in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

He said, “Yes, there was an attack in Pubagu, Askira Uba, yesterday, Tuesday, around 4 p.m. Eleven people were killed. While in Mayo-Ladde, Hong Local Government in Adamawa State, nine people were killed.”

The two locations, according to him, are separated by a river.

“In total, we have 20 deaths, 11 from Askira Uba in Borno, nine from Hong Local Government, Adamawa,” he added.

Saidu noted that the insurgents overpowered local security operatives, gained access to the communities, and shot their victims.

“I later went there together with the Army. Initially, it was local security that was there, that is, hunters and vigilantes. But they were overpowered by the terrorists,” he stated.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the communities on motorcycles and operated for hours, destroying homes and looting property.

One of the survivors, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Yesterday evening, the terrorists stormed our community in Pubagu. They shot sporadically for hours, burning houses and shops. They killed both men and women after operating for over one hour.”

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The source added that the terrorists operated with little resistance from security operatives.

“The local vigilantes and hunters tried their best. Unfortunately, the terrorists were well armed and in much greater numbers. The resistance was not strong enough. The hunters later fled for their lives, too,” the source added.

On April 16, PUNCH Online reported that Boko Haram terrorists killed four soldiers and one civilian in Mussa community in Askira Uba Local Government Area.

The Chairman of the local government, Mada Saidu, who confirmed the earlier attack, said the civilian casualty was a woman.

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Crime

EFCC nabs suspected fake lawyer with forged NBA seal in Lagos

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Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ikoyi, Lagos have commenced an investigation of a suspected fake lawyer, John Anoruo, for possession of a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

Anoruo, who operates a legal and educational consultancy in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was arrested by EFCC operatives on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The agency in a statement said his case began after he submitted a petition dated September 22, 2025 to the EFCC, on behalf of his clients, against the management of a company, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited.

However, investigations revealed that both the petition and the subsequent Letter of Withdrawal dated March 5, 2026, bore a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which Anoruo confessed to have obtained from an undisclosed business centre in Lagos.

During investigations,the 55-year-old claimed that although he obtained a Law degree in 2018 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, through evening classes, he did not attend the Nigerian Law School.

The agency says the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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