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Police arrest suspected terrorist financiers in Sokoto

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The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested suspected bandit financiers and motorcycle thieves in two coordinated operations carried out on Wednesday across Sokoto and neighbouring Zamfara State.

According to a statement released on Friday by the command’s spokesman, Ahmed Rufai, three men were apprehended in Tangaza Local Government Area for allegedly funding a notorious bandit group by helping them sell rustled cattle.

Rufai said, “One of the arrested suspects, Ruwa Ginyo, identified as the Fulani head of Gidan-Madi, was apprehended alongside two accomplices. Police recovered four rustled cows during the operation.”

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Musa, described the suspects as part of the “financial engine room” that keeps bandits active. “Cutting off their funding stream is a major victory,” he said.

Hours later, the Command’s Strike Force raided Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, arresting several individuals linked to a motorcycle theft and resale syndicate.

Two motorcycles reported stolen in Sokoto were recovered during the operation.

Musa said the arrests demonstrate the Command’s expanding operational reach.

“Our message is clear. If you commit a crime in Sokoto, we will find you — even if you run to another state. The era of criminals feeling safe across borders is over,” he added.

He urged residents, particularly livestock and motorcycle dealers, to verify ownership documents before transactions and to report suspicious activities promptly.

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Read how suspects kidnapped three-day-old baby in Nasarawa

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The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued a three-day-old baby boy who was abducted from his mother’s home and arrested two suspects in connection with the crime.

The command’s spokesman, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Nansel said the mother, Aisha Bada, 19, a resident of Unguwan Bako, Orange Market, Mararaba, in Karu Local Government Area, reported at the police station on March 29 that unknown persons had broken into her home and taken her newborn son.

“On 28th March 2026 at about 1150 hours, while she was asleep with her three-day-old baby in her uncompleted building located at the outskirts of Unguwan Bawa, Orange Market, two unidentified men broke into the house, threatened her with violence, and abducted the baby to an unknown destination,” he said.

Her husband, Abubakar Isah, a commercial tricycle rider, had been in Lagos for business since about five months earlier.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, directed detectives of Mararaba ‘A’ Division to visit the scene and ordered a full-scale investigation.

Nansel said acting on credible intelligence, police operatives on Thursday at about 4am arrested two suspects — Furera Abdulrahman, 35, of Rugan Juli, and Sadiya Abdullahi, 39, of Unguwan Bako, Orange Market — and recovered the baby from their possession.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and implicated an accomplice who is currently at large. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect,” he added.

The rescued baby was taken to the Medical Centre, Mararaba, where a doctor certified him in good health before he was discharged. He has since been reunited with his parents.

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The spokesman said the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia for further investigation upon the completion of preliminary inquiries.

“The Nasarawa State Police Command reassures members of the public of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and urges citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station,” Nansel said.

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PHOTOS: Police arrest 3 suspects for cybercrime, cultism, recover laptops, toy gun and other exhibits

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The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, has arrested three suspects involved in criminal conspiracy, cybercrime, forgery, impersonation, and cultism.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Afolayan Gbenga, the breakthrough followed a credible intelligence received by detectives attached to the Zonal Intelligence Department (ZID).

The statement said the operation carried out on the 7th of January, 2026, in the Lekki−Ajah axis of Lagos State, led to the arrest of Tega Emmanuel (male, 24 years old), Jacob Olatunde (male, 33 years old), and Gift Okubakpere (male, 36 years old).

Tega Emmanuel was intercepted along Chevron Drive, Lekki − Ajah expressway, while driving a Porsche vehicle. He confessed to his involvement in cybercrime activities. A search warrant executed at his residence subsequently led to the arrest of two other suspects, Jacob Olatunde and Gift Okubakpere.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their various roles in the coordinated cybercrime operation.

Tega Emmanuel confessed to coordinating cyber fraud, romance scams, and generating fraudulent accounts. Jacob Olatunde confessed to handling financial transactions and managing the collection of Illicit funds, while Gift Okubakpere was responsible for managing cryptocurrency-related scams carried out via Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, cryptocurrency platforms, and Online banking platforms.

Police disclosed that further investigations led to the recovery of the following exhibits: three HP Laptops, one Apple MacBook Laptop, two MacBook Tablets, nine iPhones containing evidences of criminal activities, devices used for fraudulent transactions, six international passports, Lagos State vehicle number plates (LSR 235 JM, FKJ 558 JK), three dealer plate numbers, military camouflage, one mini printer, one toy gun (pistol) which the suspect claimed was used for skit production.

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Also recovered were 98pieces of suspected counterfeit 100−Dollar United States currency notes, illicit drugs suspected to be Indian hemp, and smoking paraphernalia.

Investigations have also been extended to relevant agencies to confirm the status of the suspected counterfeit currency and illicit drugs.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and assured members of the public that the suspects will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

He further reaffirmed the commitment of the Zone 2 Headquarters to sustaining the fight against fraud-related offences within Lagos and Ogun states.

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Couple sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for selling babies in Cross River

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has secured the conviction of a couple for trafficking babies in Cross River State.

The convicts, Esther Ini Udo, 32, and Eyo Stephen Udo, 34, were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment each by the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar.

According to a statement issued by NAPTIP on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the couple were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on buying and selling of babies for exploitation, contrary to provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

“Today, the 1st day of April, 2026, Cross State Command Secured two(2) convictions in FRN VS ESTHER INI UDO & EYO STEPHEN UDO – CHARGE NO. FHC/CA/19C/2025. The convicts were charged with 4 counts charge bordering on buying and selling of babies for exploitation contrary to Ss. 13(4)(a)(c) & (e), 21 and 27 of TIPPEA Act, 2015,” the statement read.

“1st convict sold her newborn baby to one Oluchi Judith, who is at large for the sum of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only). Also, the two Convicts bought a 1-year-old baby boy for the sum of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from Blessing and Uduak (both Convicts) and resold the said baby to the same Oluchi Judith for the sum of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira Only.”

The statement noted that the offences formed the basis of the charge marked FHC/CA/19C/2025, filed on March 19, 2025.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges

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Delivering judgment on April 1, 2026, the trial judge, Justice I. Ojukwu, sentenced Esther Udo to 15 years’ imprisonment with an option of N2m fine.

Her husband, Eyo Udo, was also sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with an option of N2m fine.

The court held that the sentences would run concurrently from the date of judgment.

Justice Ojukwu condemned the act, warning members of the public against engaging in child trafficking for financial gain.

The court also directed NAPTIP to arrest the alleged buyer, Oluchi Judith, for prosecution over her alleged involvement in trafficking activities.

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