Crime

Cult killing: Edo arrests 14, seals hotel, demolishes parks

Published

1 month ago

June 22, 2026

The Edo State Security Corps has arrested 14 suspects in connection with a cult-related killing in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that last week, tension heightened at Abiodun Motor Park, Jattu Junction, as residents, commuters, and business owners ran for their lives after suspected cultists shot and killed a middle-aged man.

Following the killing, the Chief Security Officer and Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo led other security agencies on a raid of criminal hideouts in the Edo North Senatorial District from Wednesday to Friday.

The operation led to the arrest of 14 suspects, while two others, who are also members of the ESSC, are still at large.

At Jattu Junction, the team demolished Abiodun Motor Park and the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers park.

According to a statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, the squad also raided Triple J & J Hotel, Aviele, where suspects were arrested.

The team also operated in Igbira Camp, Warrake Road, Akpekpe, and other areas, targeting hideouts of criminal elements disturbing the peace of Edo North Senatorial District.

The suspects were arrested at the said hotel following intelligence reports that the killing of the young man was planned there, after which the suspects allegedly moved from the hotel to carry out the act at Jattu Motor Park.

After the arrest, the hotel was sealed. The squad, acting on intelligence reports, later moved to Igbira Camp, where the prime suspect, Anefi Kassim, was said to reside, but he was not found.

According to investigations, Kassim is a member of the Juris Confraternity, while Idris Mustapha, who is also at large, is said to be a member of the ESSC. Both were given 24 hours to report to the Area Command, Auchi.

The squad has ordered the Auchi sector commander of the ESSC, under whose command they operate, to produce both suspects to face justice.

Speaking on the arrests, the spokesperson for the squad, Eribo Ewanta, said Okpebholo gave the team a marching order to restore peace and arrest those behind the killing.

He said, “We have arrested 14 suspects connected to the killing, and they are helping security agencies with useful information that will help in the arrest of all others at large, including the mastermind of the killing.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration will not allow any form of criminality in Edo State, as criminals will no longer be safe operating in the state.

“The parks at Jattu Junction, where the young man was killed, have been demolished because they are operating and collecting revenue, which has been banned by the Okpebholo-led administration.

“The governor has banned unauthorised revenue collection across the state, but in this park in Jattu, they are still engaged in illegal revenue collection. The property will be utilised for the benefit of the Edo people, as the governor will bring development here.”

He added that investigations revealed the killing originated with Kassim.

“We are giving the sector commander of ESSC, Auchi, 24 hours to produce Anefi Kassim and Idris Mustapha, who are key suspects in the Auchi killing. Failure to do that, they will be declared wanted,” he said.

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Crime

Army recovers slain Imo community leader’s remains from shallow grave

Published

4 hours ago

August 3, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Troops of Operation UDO KA have exhumed the remains of a community leader, Chief Ibe Anyadu of Aggah Community in Imo State, from a shallow grave after a suspect allegedly involved in his murder led security operatives to the burial site.

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the operation was carried out by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade under the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II.

According to the Army, the breakthrough followed intelligence-led operations that recently resulted in the arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a Nigerian Army soldier and the recovery of stolen service weapons.

The statement said one of the suspects confessed during interrogation to participating in the murder of the community leader.

It read, “This development follows recent intelligence-driven operations that led to the arrest of suspects responsible for the killing of a Nigerian Army soldier and the recovery of stolen service weapons.

“During interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to involvement in the murder of Chief Anyadu and volunteered to lead troops to the burial site.”

The Army said the suspect subsequently led troops to a forest camp where the remains were recovered.

“On 2 August 2026, the suspects guided troops to a shallow grave within Umudike Forest, one of the criminals’ known camps, where the remains of the late community leader was successfully exhumed,” it added.

Slain Imo community leader’s remains | Nigeria Army

It said the exhumation was witnessed by members of the deceased’s family, vigilante personnel from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and representatives of the Aggah and Umudike communities.

“The exhumation was conducted in the presence of the deceased’s family members, vigilante personnel from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, and representatives of Aggah and Umudike communities.

“The family provided a coffin and ambulance to ensure a dignified burial in accordance with their customs and traditions,” the release noted.

The Commander, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, Maj. Gen. Oluremi Fadairo, sympathised with the family and assured them that those responsible would face prosecution.

It read, “He further assured the family and the people of Aggah Community that justice will be served, as the suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Army reiterated its commitment to dismantling criminal networks in the South-East and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Suspected k!llers of soldier arrested as troops dismantle criminal syndicate, recover stolen weapons in interstate operation

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested three suspected members of a criminal gang linked to the ambush that k!lled a soldier and injured another, recovering stolen military weapons and additional firearms during a coordinated operation spanning Rivers, Delta and Imo states.

Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations
82 Division Nigerian Army, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, 1 August 2026.

According to the statement, the arrests followed months of intelligence-driven pursuit by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade under Operation UDO KA (OPUK) after the ambush on troops on May 4, 2026, during which the attackers carted away military weapons.

Sustained raid operations and the interrogation of previously arrested gang members yielded actionable intelligence that identified the principal suspects as Albert Tony, also known as “Chiboy,” Temple Eburua, alias “Marathon,” and Vitalis Eburua, alias “Onowu.”

The investigation further revealed that the suspects had initially fled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before relocating to Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, with the assistance of an associate identified as Mr. Abire.

The troops apprehended Abire in Port Harcourt on July 30, and during interrogation, he disclosed the suspects’ whereabouts in Oleh.

Acting on the intelligence, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade moved to Delta State in the early hours of July 31, where they linked up with personnel of the 181 Battalion and carried out a raid at Opaebe, Oleh, leading to the arrest of the three suspects.

Following their arrest, the suspects reportedly led troops to their hideout in Ohaji/Egbema, where they had concealed military weapons stolen during the May ambush.

Further exploitation also uncovered another camp at Umudike Plantation.

During the operations, troops recovered military weapons stolen from the slain soldiers, including one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, one FN rifle and two FN rifle magazines.

Additional arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects included three AK-47 rifles, nine AK-47 magazines, one pistol with its magazine, 194 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and one fragmentation jacket.

“Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, operating under Operation UDOKA through the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II, have recorded a significant operational success with the arrest of key members of a notorious criminal syndicate responsible for the ambush of troops on 4 May 2026,” the statement read.

“Unfortunately, the ambush claimed the life of one soldier and left another wounded.

“Following the attack, troops launched a series of intelligence-led raids aimed at apprehending the perpetrators and recovering weapons stolen during the incident. These sustained operations resulted in the arrest of the suspects.

“Acting on actionable intelligence, in the early hours of 31 July 2026, troops in collaboration with 181 Battalion operating under 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, conducted a coordinated raid at Opaebe and Oleh in Delta State, which led to the arrest of the suspects popularly known as Chiboy, Marathon, and Onowu, who had fled to Oleh in Delta State after the dastardly ambush on troops.

“Subsequently, the suspects guided troops to their hideouts at Aggah Plantation, Ekpeaggah, Rivers State, and Umudike Plantation, where the stolen weapons and other arms used in committing their nefarious acts were concealed.

“During the operation, troops recovered the stolen service weapons comprising one AK-47 rifle with two magazines and one FN rifle with two magazines.

“Additionally, troops recovered three more AK-47 rifles with nine magazines, pistols with their magazines, 194 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

“Military clothing and protective gear, including camouflage shirts, trousers, jungle hats, and a fragment protection jacket, were also recovered.

“Other items included one empty first aid box and five mobile phones believed to be linked to the syndicate’s criminal activities.

“The suspects are currently in custody for further investigation and will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

“The Headquarters Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDOKA, commends the professionalism, resilience, and inter-agency cooperation demonstrated by the troops throughout the operation.

“This success underscores the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to safeguarding lives and dismantling criminal networks in order to sustain the peace-building processes ongoing across the region.”

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Crime

PHOTOS: China, Italy-bound cocaine concealed in local mortar, backpack intercepted in Lagos

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cocaine consignments ingeniously concealed in a local mortar and the false bottom of a backpack intended for shipment to China and Italy, respectively, in fresh anti-narcotics operations across the country.
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‎According to a statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) made the seizures at a Lagos logistics company on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
‎
‎Babafemi disclosed that 250 grammes of cocaine were factory-fitted into the base of a local mortar destined for China, while another 500 grammes were hidden inside the false bottom of a backpack packaged for export to Italy.
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‎The spokesman also said NDLEA operatives arrested a notorious drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, 38, at Eagle Island, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following intelligence-led operations. He was reportedly found with quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine syrup.
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‎In Anambra State, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck carrying 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960 kilogrammes at the DMGS Roundabout in Onitsha and arrested the driver, Chinedu Nwanze, 40.
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‎Babafemi further stated that operatives recovered 331.84 kilogrammes of skunk from a Toyota Sienna vehicle along the Kwale-Ughelli Expressway in Delta State, while a 64-year-old suspect, Joseph Nwaeke, was arrested in Nasarawa State with 68 kilogrammes of skunk and 29 grammes of methamphetamine.
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‎He added that in Zamfara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted Sani Umar, 27, along the Zaria-Gusau Highway with 7,400 pills of Tramadol 225mg, suspected to be supplies meant for bandits and other criminal elements.
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‎Beyond enforcement, Babafemi said the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, motor parks and communities across Kano, Oyo and Taraba states.
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‎He said NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the successful operations and urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced strategy of drug supply reduction and public enlightenment.