Crime

Kidnapped Edo residents regain freedom after 11 days in captivity

Published

6 months ago

January 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Seven kidnapped indigenes of Imoga Community in Akoko Edo Local Government have regained their freedom.

They were released on Monday evening after the payment of an undisclosed ransom.

The Coordinator, Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, Dr Bode Ekundayo, who disclosed in a message to The PUNCH on Tuesday, said that the victims have been reunited with their families.

Ekundayo’s message read, “Victims have now been released after the payment of a huge ransom.”

However, when probed in a telephone interview on how much was paid for the release of the victims, he stated that he was not in a position to give the information.

He also said that the eighth person who escaped during the kidnapping is also receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

He stated, “I can tell you that they have been reunited with their family after the community secured their release. It is a sad experience and we hope that they will overcome the effect.”

He also said that the police have been informed about the release of their indigene, noting that the community is happy about the return of their brothers and sisters.

The Royal father of Imoga, Oba Patrick Abudu, also told The PUNCH that he met with the victims on Tuesday and that the community is in a jubilant mood.

He said that a large entourage went to receive them at the border of the community and Okene when the news of their release filtered into the town.

He added, “It is like we are having a special festival in the community. Everyone came out to rejoice and I also met with them. A large entourage went to receive them and I have never seen such in the community.

“Despite the sad ordeal, people were united to ensure our indigenes were released. With unity, everything is achievable.”

Also, the PPRO of the Edo State Police, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the release of the residents.

Ikoedem said, “Yes, I can confirm that the kidnapped victims have been released.”

Recall that the January 9 victims were kidnapped on January 9 while lodging at Stay Boy Hotel on Imoga-Ibillo. The owner of the hotel, also an indigene of Imoga, was also abducted along with the guests.

However, on January 11, the gunmen demanded N100 million for the release of the victims. After negotiation, the ransom was reduced to N70 million and later to N40 million.

On January 16, the kidnappers threatened to start killing the abductees if the ransom was not paid.
This was to show the community and families of the victims that they “meant business”.

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Crime

Four Abuja police officers arrested for allegedly extorting ICPC chairman

Published

20 hours ago

July 20, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has detained four officers accused of extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an unauthorised stop-and-search exercise in Abuja.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, July 20, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, condemned the officers, describing them as “thieves” who had disgraced the police force through their actions.

Investigations by the police showed that the officers allegedly abandoned their assigned duty posts, converged around the Banex area of Wuse and erected an illegal checkpoint where they targeted motorists for extortion. Unaware of the identity of their victim, they reportedly stopped the ICPC chairman and compelled him to obtain cash through a Point of Sale (POS) operator.

According to Sanusi, Aliyu withdrew N53,000, paid the transaction charges and handed over the money, which the officers allegedly shared among themselves.

The police boss disclosed that the command declared the officers wanted before tracking down their leader. His confession, he said, led investigators to the remaining members of the group.

“We got all of them. We are going to make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed.”

The commissioner also reminded officers and members of the public that the Inspector-General of Police had outlawed the indiscriminate search of citizens’ mobile phones during patrols.

“You cannot stop anybody on the road and ask the person to bring out his phone for search. If any policeman stops you and asks to search your phone, don’t agree. Call the police emergency lines and we will ask them why. We will still enforce the IG’s directive. Some of them are on the task because they are criminally minded. They want to perpetrate such acts. If we get them, they will face disciplinary actions and will be made to face the consequences.”

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Crime

PHOTOS: NAFDAC arrests two over counterfeit alcohol production in Lagos

Published

20 hours ago

July 20, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested two suspected counterfeiters following the discovery and dismantling of two illegal alcoholic beverage production operations in the Mushin area in Lagos State

The suspects, identified as Uchenna Ekezie and Peter Okparalgbo, were apprehended during separate enforcement operations conducted by the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

Confirming their arrest to newsmen on Monday, July 20, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said large quantities of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, including premium local and international brands, were recovered from shops, storage facilities and an illegal production site.

Some of the products seized included Hennessy, William Lawson’s, Don Julio, Martell, Rémy Martin, Flirt Vodka, Lords Gin, Imperial Blue, Gordon’s, Jack Daniel’s, Best Whisky, Eagle Gin, Aman Tequila, The Macallan Scotch Whisky, Casmero Whisky, 501 and Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Also confiscated were bottles, labels, packaging materials and other equipment used in the illicit production of the fake alcoholic beverages.

According to Iluyomade, the suspects admitted during interrogation to producing the counterfeit alcoholic beverages, adding that all recovered products and production materials had been secured as exhibits while further investigations continue ahead of prosecution.

NAFDAC arrests two over counterfeit alcohol production in Lagos

In another enforcement operation, the Agency uncovered more than 450 cartons of expired salad cream stored at two locations within Oke Arin Market in Lagos.

The expired products, some of which had expired since 2024, were immediately evacuated to prevent them from being sold to unsuspecting consumers.

The Agency also invited the owner of the products for questioning, while several other shops found stocking unregistered and banned products or operating under poor storage conditions were sealed pending further investigations.

Iluyomade also disclosed that on July 15, 2026, one Mr. Chidera Chukwuka was convicted by the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a six-count charge before Justice Allagoa.

He said the court imposed a total fine of ₦1.65 million on the convict and ordered the forfeiture of all offending products to NAFDAC for destruction.

The director reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to protecting public health by ensuring that only safe, quality and properly regulated products are available to consumers.

“These operations underscore NAFDAC’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians by disrupting the activities of individuals and networks engaged in the production and distribution of unsafe and counterfeit regulated products.” AkwaIbom News

He assured Nigerians that surveillance and enforcement activities would continue across the country, urging members of the public to purchase regulated products only from reputable outlets and report suspicious products or activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Crime

Police arrest four cops for extorting ICPC chairman of N53,000 in Abuja

Published

1 day ago

July 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Four police officers have been detained by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command for allegedly extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja, describing the officers as “thieves” who had no business wearing the police uniform.

According to him, the officers mounted an unauthorised checkpoint around the Banex area of Wuse after leaving their respective duty posts and extorted the ICPC chairman without knowing his identity.

He said the ICPC boss was forced to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale operator and even paid the transaction charges before the officers shared the money among themselves.

“I must say here too that we have about four policemen in custody as we speak who successfully extorted somebody of high importance, unknown to them that this person is a highly placed person in society. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC.

“They extorted him of N53,000. They took him to a POS, he withdrew the money, paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves, ” he said.

The police commissioner said investigations revealed that the officers had abandoned their designated duty posts and formed a gang that mounted an illegal checkpoint to extort motorists.

“They are a gang of criminals who left various divisions, clustered together, moved to Wuse Banex and created a checkpoint where they perpetrated this act before fleeing,” he said.

Ajao said the command declared the officers wanted before arresting their gang leader, whose confession led to the arrest of the other members of the syndicate.

“We got all of them. We are going to make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed,” he added.

The commissioner reiterated that the Inspector-General of Police had prohibited indiscriminate search of citizens’ mobile phones by officers on patrol.

He advised residents to refuse any unlawful demand by policemen to search their phones on the roadside and immediately report such incidents through the police emergency lines.

He urged members of the public to promptly report cases of extortion and other misconduct by police personnel, assuring that offenders would be tracked down and sanctioned.

“We will still enforce the IG’s directive. Some of them are on the task because they are criminally minded. They want to perpetrate such acts. If we get them, they will face disciplinary actions and will be made to face the consequences,” Sanusi said.

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