The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has arrested 53 suspects, including 21 undocumented foreign nationals allegedly residing in two apartments in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were among those paraded by the corps at its headquarters in Akure on Monday for alleged involvement in various criminal activities, including kidnapping, self-kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, burglary, stealing and cultism.

Parading the suspects, the state commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the 21 foreigners were arrested following intelligence provided by members of the Fulani community in the state.

Adeleye said the suspects claimed to have entered Nigeria from neighbouring West African countries to engage in menial jobs and phone repairs but could not produce documents authorising their stay in the country.

He said the command had observed an influx of foreigners moving through the state’s forests and cities under different guises in recent months.

The commander said, “I want to call the attention of the general public to the embarrassing way that foreigners traverse the state’s forests and cities under different guises.

“Consistently in the last three months, we’ve been having foreigners pretending to be selling phones, pretending to be repairing phones, living in hotels that what they came into the country for is not commensurate with.

“We’ve directed them to the relevant sister security agencies for scrutiny.

“Again today, we have 21 of them that rented only two apartments in Owo under the guise of coming in from neighbouring West African countries to do menial jobs and repairs of phones, being coordinated and assisted by indigenes.

“We found out that they don’t even have ECOWAS papers to guarantee their stay.”

Adeleye said the landlords of the apartments could also face scrutiny, alleging that they were more concerned about collecting rent than knowing the identities and activities of their tenants.

He warned that undocumented foreigners abandoned by their sponsors could become vulnerable to recruitment into criminal activities.

“Apart from being likely to be suspected illegal immigrants, most times when their sponsors abandon them, they become ready tools as criminals and accomplices,” he said.

The commander, however, said the 21 foreigners were being handed over to the appropriate government agency for further investigation and necessary action.

Meanwhile, Adeleye said the command had also uncovered a self-kidnapping syndicate involving four suspects who allegedly used social media to raise false alarms and demand money.

He said the suspects included a man who reportedly alerted the Amotekun Corps that his siblings had been kidnapped but was later found to be an accomplice.

According to him, investigators arrested two suspects and subsequently traced the purported kidnap victim to his home.

“We have four people here today that give self-kidnapping and raise false alarms using social media. We moved in and were able to arrest the first two.

“Upon detailed investigation, we found out that the man who rushed to the Amotekun Corps office to report that his siblings were kidnapped turned out to be an accomplice. And upon detailed scrutiny, he led us to his home where we found the man they claimed had been kidnapped,” he said.

Adeleye also disclosed that seven other suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping activities following collaboration with members of the Fulani community.

He said a military uniform was recovered from one of the suspected kidnappers during the operation, while two kidnapped boys were rescued.

According to him, one of the victims sustained machete injuries to his head and body during the attack but was rescued alive and taken for medical treatment.

He said, “With the cooperation we received from the Fulani community, we were able to jointly carry out an operation where a military uniform was recovered from one of the kidnappers, and we successfully retrieved the two kidnapped boys, though wounded.

“In an attempt to kill one of them, they macheted his head, his body and every part of him. We brought him back alive and he is now stable.”

Adeleye commended members of the Fulani community for their cooperation in identifying and apprehending suspected criminal elements within their community.

He also thanked the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for supporting the corps in its efforts to combat crime across the state.

Source: punchng.com

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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the death of Basit Kolade, who was allegedly attacked by a mob in the Lagos Island area of the state.

PUNCH Metro reported on Monday that the incident happened weeks before Kolade’s wedding.

The spokesperson for the command, Abimbola Adebisi, in a statement on Sunday, stated that the incident occurred around 10:40 pm on Wednesday, September 2, on Freeman Street, Lagos Island.

According to her, Kolade was travelling with his spouse in a black Lexus Jeep when a motorcycle allegedly collided with the vehicle from behind.

Adebisi said an argument ensued, adding that the vehicle subsequently reversed and hit the motorcycle, causing the rider and the motorcycle to fall.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Basit Kolade was travelling with his spouse from Ebute Metta towards Lagos Island in a black Lexus Jeep, with registration number KSF 115 JZ, when a motorcycle allegedly collided with the vehicle from behind.

“An argument reportedly ensued between both of them. In the course of the incident, the vehicle allegedly reversed and hit the motorcycle, causing the rider and the motorcycle to fall.

This reportedly attracted a group of individuals in the area, who allegedly attacked Basit with dangerous weapons.“

She said that while Basit was being attacked, his spouse was rescued by women in the area.

The statement added that the victim was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

Adebisi added that the motorcycle rider survived and was receiving treatment.

The command identified the four suspects arrested in connection with the incident as Khalid Rafiq, 20; Gafar Rahim, 21; Ibrahim Azeez, 33; and Samos Momoh, 21.

The police spokesperson also noted that efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest other persons allegedly involved in the attack.

“The Command has commenced an investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a homicide case, and the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigation and appropriate legal action.

“The Command wishes to reiterate that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, guarantees every person the fundamental right to life under Section 33. The Constitution permits deprivation of life only in circumstances specifically recognised by law,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Tijani, in the statement,  directed that all persons found culpable in the incident be identified, arrested and prosecuted.

The command assured the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and thoroughly.

Source: punchng.com

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The Olarinde Royal Family of Oguntedo Village, Satellite Town, Lagos State, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, accusing some officers of the Lagos State Police Command of abuse of power, intimidation and alleged collusion with land grabbers.

The petitioners also alleged that the officers frustrated investigations into violent attacks on members of the family and used police authority to harass and intimidate them.

The family had staged a protest at The PUNCH Place in July 2025 over the alleged harassment and land dispute.

In the petition, signed by Prince Yussuf Olarinde on behalf of the family and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, the petitioners accused officers attached to the Satellite Police Station, Area E Command, Tactical Team Area E and the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department of allegedly aiding land-grabbing activities and frustrating complaints against persons they described as land grabbers.

The petition was also addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the X-Squad Unit and the Police Service Commission.

The family claimed that the disputed New Oguntedo Village and Satellite Town settlement was created and allocated to the Olarinde Royal Family by the then Federal Military Government in 1978 following government acquisition and resettlement exercises.

It further claimed that its ownership and possessory rights over the land were affirmed by a 1989 judgment of the High Court of Lagos State, which it said was subsequently enforced through warrants of possession issued in 1997 and 2010.

The petitioners alleged that despite the court judgment and possession orders, the family had continued to face invasions, demolitions, intimidation and violence by persons it described as land-grabbing syndicates and criminal trespassers.

They also accused some police officers of allegedly providing operational cover for armed thugs, preventing family members from accessing their ancestral properties and frustrating complaints made to the authorities.

The petition partly read, “Rather than maintaining neutrality and enforcing lawful court judgments, the officers complained against provided operational cover and protection for armed thugs and land-grabbing syndicates; intimidated lawful occupants and family members.

“They prevented members of the Olarinde family from accessing their ancestral homes and properties. While they supervised and facilitated unlawful invasions and demolitions, they also frustrated lawful complaints and petitions submitted by the petitioners; and used police authority as an instrument of oppression against victims while shielding alleged perpetrators.”

The family further alleged that several violent incidents, including shootings, assaults, threats to life and destruction of property, had been reported to the police.

It specifically cited an alleged assassination attempt on Olanrewaju Olarinde on July 9, 2025, accusing armed thugs of attacking him and claiming that the police failed to arrest or prosecute those responsible despite repeated complaints.

The petitioners also accused some officers of allegedly fabricating criminal allegations against members of the family, manipulating investigations and using criminal proceedings to harass and intimidate them.

They cited the arraignment of Yussuf Olarinde, Sanni Olarinde and the Oba-elect, Latifu Sadiku Olarinde, over alleged murder and armed robbery charges, as well as a separate case involving another family member, Tope Olarinde.

The family further alleged that properties belonging to its members were demolished, looted or unlawfully occupied during what it described as police-backed invasions.

According to the petition, vehicles, building materials, cash, personal belongings and other valuables worth millions of naira were allegedly stolen or confiscated during the incidents.

The family consequently urged the IG to order an independent investigation into the allegations and transfer the relevant case files from the Lagos State Command to the FCID or another investigative unit outside the state.

It also requested the investigation of the officers named in the petition, recovery of allegedly stolen properties, prosecution of identified suspects and police protection for members of the Olarinde family and residents of Oguntedo Village and Satellite Town.

The petitioners said, “We respectfully submit that the continued silence, compromise, neglect, and inaction of some officers of the Lagos State Police Command in the face of overwhelming complaints, subsisting court judgments, attempted killings, violent invasions, criminal intimidation, and organised unlawful activities constitute a dangerous perversion of justice and a grave threat to the rule of law.

“We therefore passionately appeal to your distinguished office to urgently intervene in the interest of justice, public peace, protection of innocent citizens, preservation of lives and property, and safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the Nigeria Police Force.”

The Force Public Relations Officer, Iniedu Okokon, could not be reached for reaction on Monday, as calls made to his telephone lines were unanswered.

A text message sent to him had also yet to receive a response as of the time of filing this report.

Source: punchng.com

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