Crime
PHOTOS: Edo State Govt uncovers adoption scam, shuts down illegal orphanage and arrests proprietress
The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has uncovered an alleged adoption scam following the closure of an illegal orphanage, Uwadia Children Home, in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area.
The development also led to the arrest of the proprietress, an elderly woman, Mrs Grace Efe Uwadia who has been handed over to the Aideyan Police Station in Benin City for further investigation and prosecution.
Providing further insight into the case, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development revealed that the incident was triggered by a formal complaint from an alleged victim, Mr Monday Akpaduma who had approached the ministry after encountering irregularities in an adoption process.
According to the Commissioner, the man alleged that he initially applied to adopt a child through the orphanage and paid a sum of N250,000 as a processing fee.
He was subsequently asked to pay an additional N1 million before the child could be released to him.
After prolonged delays, he was allegedly informed that the adoption fee had been increased to N2 million by the ministry, a claim that raised suspicion and prompted him to report directly to the ministry.
The Commissioner explained that an internal investigation was immediately launched, which revealed that all documents presented by Mr. Akpaduma were fraudulent and did not originate from the ministry, despite being issued on an old ministry letterhead.
Further allegations by Mr. Akpadume, pointed to a staff member of the Social Welfare Department in Owan East Local Government Council, Mr Vincent Ogbodo as the source of the documents, suggesting possible collusion with the illegal orphanage in carrying out the alleged illicit activities.
She disclosed that the Local Government staff could not be arrested at the time of the operation, as he was not present in the office.
However, she assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend him, stressing that all individuals connected to the illegal operation will be brought to justice.
The Commissioner further stated that the ministry has evacuated the children from the orphanage to a safe location, adding that some of them are currently receiving medical treatment.
She emphasized that the Edo State Government has zero tolerance for exploitation, fraud, or any form of illegal practice involving vulnerable children, and reiterated that the ministry does not charge arbitrary or inflated fees for adoption.
She urged members of the public to always verify information directly with the ministry and report any suspicious activities, while assuring that the affected children are now in safe custody and receiving appropriate care.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
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Crime
PHOTOS: N10 billion Cocaine, Loud, opioids intercepted at Lagos ports as NDLEA arrests kingpins
A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.
According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.
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A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.
According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.
They expressed relief following his apprehension.
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