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Gunmen abduct UTME candidates, others in Benue

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Gunmen have abducted passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination being conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State.

The victims were said to be travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said the bus, which was conveying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 pm by suspected bandits who took most of the occupants into the bush.

According to the source, the passengers were mainly young persons heading to Otukpo to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday.

“Two people, the driver and one passenger, managed to escape. Incidentally, the passengers were mainly young men and women who travelled to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for today (Thursday),” he said.

However, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, adding that one victim escaped.

Emenari, who spoke in a telephone interview with PUNCH Online on Thursday, said he was in Otukpo coordinating the rescue operation.

“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush and am heading the operation.

“What happened was that one Benue Links bus carrying passengers coming to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums and 14 passengers were kidnapped but one was able to escape,” he said.

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He added that the command had commenced an investigation into the incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the journey.

According to him, the Benue Links management has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.

“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued,” the CP said.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, saying security operatives had been deployed to the area.

Ogiri said, “It is true, I’m just coming out from a security meeting, and security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims.

“The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to Otukpo to write JAMB.”

Passengers travelling along the Makurdi-Otukpo road have faced repeated attacks by gunmen in recent months.

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Crime

Police arrest 45-year-old over N2.5m deep freezer fraud in Ogun

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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Tony Ameachi, over an alleged N2.5m fraud involving a deep freezer transaction.

The command also said 25 Automated Teller Machine cards, 25 mobile phones and 16 Subscriber Identity Module cards were recovered from the suspect following his arrest.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, adding that the investigation into the case began in April 2026.

According to the statement, the complainant, a dealer in the purchase and resale of deep freezers, responded to an online advertisement for the sale of the goods on April 1, 2026.

She subsequently contacted the person behind the advertisement and, after discussions, transferred N2.5m to a bank account bearing the name Abdulmoruf Abdulahi for the purchase of the freezers.

However, the goods were allegedly not delivered, while the person with whom the complainant had been communicating reportedly stopped responding to her messages.

The matter was reported at the Igbesa Police Division on April 4, 2026, prompting detectives to commence an investigation.

Babaseyi said, “Following discussions, she transferred ₦2,500,000 into a bank account bearing the name Abdulmoruf Abdulahi for the purchase of the deep freezers for resale. The goods were not delivered, and the person with whom she had been dealing subsequently stopped responding to her messages.

“The matter was formally reported at Igbesa Police Division on 4 April 2026, following which detectives commenced investigation.

“The investigation yielded a breakthrough in September 2026, when detectives traced Tony Ameachi to the Ojo area of Lagos State, where he was arrested on 22 September 2026.

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“A search conducted during the arrest led to the recovery of 25 ATM cards, 25 mobile phones and 16 SIM cards.

“Further investigation established that the suspect allegedly obtained utility bills and newly registered SIM cards from associates, who were directed to use them to open various bank accounts. The ATM cards were thereafter collected by the suspect and allegedly used in transactions connected with fraudulent activities.

“The recovered devices, ATM cards and SIM cards are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation to establish their relevance to the present case, determine whether they are connected to other similar transactions and identify other persons or possible victims linked to the investigation.

“The suspect, case file and recovered exhibits have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further discreet investigation.

“Upon conclusion of the investigation, the suspect will be charged to court in accordance with the law.”

The police urged members of the public to verify the identities and credibility of sellers before making substantial payments for goods or services, particularly during online transactions.

The command also advised members of the public to retain transaction receipts, account details, telephone numbers, messages and other relevant records when conducting online transactions.

It further warned against allowing other people to use one’s ATM cards, bank accounts, SIM cards or personal documents for transactions outside the owner’s control.

The police encouraged members of the public to report suspected fraud promptly, noting that early reporting could assist investigators in tracing suspects and preserving relevant evidence.

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Source: punchng.com

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Police arrest Indian hemp seller threatening officers with knife in Ogun

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The Ogun State Police Command on Friday said it had arrested a woman seen in a viral video holding a knife and cursing some police officers for allegedly arresting her over the sale of cannabis, commonly known as Indian hemp.

The middle-aged woman, wearing a green gown, was seen seated inside a car, hurling insults and cursing the officers for arresting her.

She later came down from the car, holding a knife and moving menacingly towards a young woman, apparently one of the officers who was recording the altercation.

Speaking in Yoruba, the woman, among other things, said, “Why are you troubling us, are we the only ones selling Indian hemp? And you have continued to harass us repeatedly, it will never be well with you….”

The incident was said to have occurred in Ijebu Igbo, the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Speaking on the video on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and said investigation was ongoing.

Babaseyi said, “The suspect has been arrested and the matter is already under investigation.”

The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, who was also contacted over the incident, confirmed that the woman would be charged to court by the police on Friday.

Ogungbade said, “I have contacted the CP over the viral video and I was told that the woman will be charged to court today.”

Source: punchng.com

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See also  Court strikes out N12.3bn fraud case against Otudeko after settlement
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Army destroys terrorist hideout, recovers weapons in Anambra

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Troops of the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, have destroyed a terrorist hideout in Anambra State and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition during an operation aimed at dismantling criminal networks in the region.

In a post obtained from the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Friday, the operation, carried out by troops of 185 Battalion in collaboration with the Anambra Vigilante Group, followed the abduction of three people around the Osakwa General Area of Ihiala Local Government Area.

The victims were subsequently rescued by the troops.

On October 1, 2026, troops conducted a snap operation and arrested a suspected kidnapper identified as Sunday Obi. Information obtained during interrogation reportedly led security forces to a syndicate camp at Abator in Ogbaru Local Government Area, across the Isieke waterside.

Acting on the intelligence, the troops moved to the location using canoes to cross the waterways and access the hideout. According to the Nigerian Army, the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds.

The operation led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles with magazines, three pump-action guns, and three locally fabricated Dane guns. Troops also recovered 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 149 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, as well as two cartridges and materials suspected to be intended for the fabrication of improvised explosive devices.

Other items recovered from the camp included a solar generator, power bank, car battery, two motorcycle batteries, two solar panels and two mobile phones.

The Army said the recovered items provided further insight into the logistical network supporting kidnapping and other criminal activities in the area.

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It added that follow-up operations were underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects, their collaborators, logistics suppliers and other facilitators.

The Nigerian Army said Operation UDO KA would continue coordinated operations with other security agencies and local stakeholders to disrupt terrorist and criminal networks and safeguard communities across the South East.

Source: punchng.com

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