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PHOTOS: Police arrest 14 suspected kidnappers linked to multiple abductions, murder in Enugu

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The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected members of an interstate kidnapping syndicate allegedly linked to multiple abductions and a murder in different parts of the state, recovering five AK-47 rifles, other firearms and 310 rounds of live ammunition.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Enugu.

Giwa said the suspects were allegedly members of an organised criminal network operating from different parts of Nigeria that converged on Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their various locations.

According to him, the suspects have confessed to involvement in several recent and past kidnapping incidents along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road, Obioma-9th Mile-Umulumgbe-Okpatu Road, Eke-Affa-Egede-Ezinze axis and various locations in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

Giwa said the suspects had been linked to the May 25, 2026, abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa, Ezeagu LGA, during which N5.5 million ransom was allegedly paid. They were also allegedly involved in the May 9 abduction of two men and the shooting and murder of a woman at Obioma, Udi LGA, where $28,700 was reportedly collected as ransom.

He added that the gang was also linked to the April 10 abduction of two male victims along the Eke-Ezinze Road, Udi LGA, for which $70,000 was allegedly paid, and the April 12 kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu LGA, which reportedly yielded N25 million in ransom.“These are in addition to other kidnapping incidents and ransom payments which the suspects have disclosed during interrogation,” he said.

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The commissioner said the breakthrough followed sustained intelligence-led operations by the command and other security agencies, particularly after the kidnapping of worshippers at a church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi LGA.

One victim was rescued on August 2, while subsequent operations led to the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects and the neutralisation of another.

Giwa said two additional suspects linked to the Affa church kidnapping were later traced to Port Harcourt after fleeing Enugu. Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit arrested the suspects and brought them back to Enugu for investigation.

Preliminary investigations, he said, showed that the suspects allegedly regrouped with other members of the syndicate in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was released after a N5 million ransom was paid.

The police commissioner said 12 other suspects had earlier been arrested between June and August in Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states through human and technical intelligence operations, suggesting that the syndicate operated across state boundaries.

He disclosed that the gang allegedly had local collaborators in Enugu, including a tricycle operator who transported members, firearms and other criminal implements to and from operational locations.

“Another Enugu-based member provides intelligence that enables the gang to evade security surveillance and identify suitable targets and locations,” Giwa said.

According to him, investigations also revealed that the suspects allegedly concealed proceeds of their criminal activities through investments in livestock and properties, lavish spending, leisure activities and overseas trips, including visits to neighbouring Cameroon.

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Items recovered from the suspects include five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.

Giwa said investigations were continuing to establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent crime cases within and outside Enugu State, identify other members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons and criminal proceeds.

“The command is conducting further investigations to establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime incidents within and outside Enugu State, identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, and recover additional firearms, ammunition and other criminal proceeds,” he said.

The commissioner attributed the breakthrough to sustained intelligence gathering, technology-enabled investigation, inter-agency collaboration and interstate cooperation, assuring residents that the police would maintain pressure on criminal networks operating in the state.

“We will continue to make Enugu State increasingly unconducive to unrepentant local criminals, criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the State, and their activities,” Giwa declared.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police, assuring them that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations in accordance with extant laws.

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Crime

EFCC busts Chinese-linked illegal refinery in Ogun

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

The commission said the facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence and surveillance on the activities of illegal sludge oil refiners.

The EFCC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

Oyewale said the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.

However, he said operatives discovered waste products from the refining process and underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

The statement read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

“The operation, conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, followed credible intelligence and surveillance by the commission on the activities of the illegal sludge oil refiners.

“The refinery was found deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area. However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location.”

Oyewale said during the raid, underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing the sludge oil were also discovered.

“Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel.

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“Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing,” Oyewale added.

He said the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

“Personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility.

“Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC have since taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage,” he added.

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

Oyo boxer, KBlaq stabbed to death during street fight

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An amateur boxer identified simply as Kehinde and popularly known as KBlaq has been stabbed to death during a street fight at Olodo Garage in Ibadan, Oyo State.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday that the incident occurred on Sunday, sparking outrage among social media users, who called for justice for the deceased.

According to accounts circulating online, the deceased was not initially involved in the fight, while the suspect allegedly appeared after the confrontation had ended and stabbed him in the neck with a broken bottle.

Kehinde, who was described by acquaintances as a boxer, reportedly succumbed to his injuries.

Several social media users expressed shock over the killing, with some claiming that the suspect was not among those involved in the initial fight.

An X user, @MVKAY2, wrote, “The person who stabbed him was not even involved in the fight, and they had stopped fighting already. Just one of those vile men wey the matter no concern came from nowhere and stabbed him.

“Before una start dropping different narratives, I wish he was with Z second. I wish he was never there.”

Another user, @omononaolapo, wrote, “Funny enough, this guy that stabbed him was not even among those that they were fighting.”

Similarly, @Tunde, who described the deceased as his brother, wrote, “Na my brother o. Ajeh. Olodo bike men can be very mean sometimes, and they were all there watching them fight.”

Another user, @Fela, added, “This was why I made this tweet earlier today. This boxer is my younger brother’s friend. I got to church yesterday and my brother told me someone killed his friend. I was shocked when he told me.”

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Also, @Pelumifundz, who described Kehinde as the younger brother of a friend, wrote, “This guy is a twin and my friend’s junior brother. He’s so gentle and doesn’t cause trouble. I would really love to know what happened that made the bikeman stab him in the neck. Anyways, rest in peace, Kenny. I know you won’t go without having justice. We will definitely get it for you.”

Confirming the incident on Monday, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, told our correspondent during a telephone interview that an investigation was ongoing.

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

Terrorists abduct 14 Islamic school students in Niger

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Suspected terrorists have abducted 14 students in a Niger State Islamic school.

The incident reportedly happened on Saturday in Pandogari in Rafi Local Government Area.

The PUNCH learnt that the students were abducted while harvesting maize in their teacher’s farm when the terrorists invaded the farm.

The teacher was also reportedly kidnapped during the incident.

The spokesman of the Niger State police command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying that the number of abducted students was 14 and not 50 as reported.

He also said a joint security mission was on a rescue mission, assuring that the abducted students would be rescued.

“On 31/10/2026 at about 12.30 pm, suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village via Rafi LGA and abducted some persons working on the farm.

“The report further indicated that the abducted victims were about 14 students of an Islamiya helping their Mallam to harvest maize on the farm before the incident.

“However, joint security rescue efforts are ongoing; further developments will be communicated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Jonathan Vatsa, speaking on the incident, condemned Governor Mohammed Bago over his handling of the security situation in the state.

He lamented that the governor was busy with electioneering and had failed to protect lives and property.

“The security agencies in the state lack operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to confront the situation.

“The government is only there to issue statements either condemning every attack or condole with the people over the death of their loved ones without any cogent step to address the situation,” Vatsa said.

See also  Police detain officer for firing at moving car in Delta

Source: punchng.com

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