Crime
PHOTOS: Suspected k!llers of soldier arrested as troops dismantle criminal syndicate, recover stolen weapons in interstate operation
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Crime
PHOTOS: FCT police arrest suspected vandals of govt properties, recover drainage covers, solar street lights and others
The FCT Police Command has arrested suspected vandals of public and private infrastructure in the city.
Parading the suspects before newsmen, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammed Sanusi, said the vandalization has not only resulted in significant economic sabotage but has also exposed residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to hazards caused by the destruction and theft of public infrastructure.
He disclosed that the suspects removed drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured cables used for the transmission of high-voltage electricity, and internet communication cables worth millions of naira for personal gain. Crime& Justice
He mentioned that the actions of the vandals have directly contributed to road traffic accidents, injuries to pedestrians, increased incidents of street crime in areas plunged into darkness, and the disruption of electricity supply to entire communities through the theft of high-tension power cables.
He mentioned that the vandalized items were recovered during coordinated operations across Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative, Lugbe, and Nyanya Areas of the FCT .
He gave the names of the suspects as Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale and Dabarani Mujitafa.
The police chief mentioned that the exhibits recovered will be formally handed over to the Director, Facility Maintenance, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Crime
PHOTOS: 5 suspects arrested as Niger State police Command smash notorious kidnap gang that abducted woman after k!lling her son in Abuja
The Niger State Police Command has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate linked to armed robbery, abduction, m8rder in parts of the state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, arresting five suspects and recovering 10 AK-47 rifles. Geographic Reference
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disclosed this during a press briefing in Minna on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
According to CP Elleman, the suspected gang leader, Samaila Ilya, alias Yakumujuri, was arrested on July 10 at Kpakungu Roundabout, Minna, after earlier escaping during a fierce gun battle with police operatives in Bwari, Abuja.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari.
The suspect also revealed how a member of the gang k!lled the son of a kidnapped woman and collected ransom before releasing her. Crime & Justice
“Based on reports of incessant kidnapping around Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka and Kaduna road within the early period of this year, the Command tactical teams were deployed to these areas and further intelligence received indicated that one Samaila Shefiu a.k.a Yakumujuri 45yrs of Barikin-Sale was among the kingpins terrorizing the above mentioned areas including Kubwa and Bwari areas of FCT, Abuja,” the CP said.
“The tactical team followed up to Samaila’s residence in Bwari in an attempt to arrest him and his gang, but a gun duel ensued between the tactical team and his gang members and the hoodlums escaped from the location.
“Fortunately, on July 10th 2026 at about 6pm, the said Samaila was arrested around Kpakungu roundabout with the aid of technical intelligence.Crime & Justice
“During interrogation, he confessed to series of kidnapping in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari areas of Abuja.
“Investigation was extended to Sabon-Wuse where some of his gang members were located at Bwari hills, which led to another exchange of gunfire between the hoodlums and the Police team and when the enclave was searched, one AK-49 rifle was recovered with five rounds of live ammunitions.
“A week later, a team of VCRU were deployed to Gauraka for a tactical and rescue mission due to a report of a kidnapping incident in the area and in the course of this, three kidnapped victims were rescued and five other suspects were arrested;
“Amadu Abdullahi a.k.a Kachalla Baban-Tsoho, ‘m’ of Kidandam forest via Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State.
“Adamu Abubakar ‘m’ of Igede village via Mashegu LGA.
“Mohammed Tasiu ’m’ of Kaduna road.
“Sani Shehu ‘m’ of Kaduna road.
“Bashir Aliyu a.k.a Kachalla Mallam of Kaduna road.
“Samaila further confessed that during one of their operations in Kubwa, where a woman and her son were kidnapped and while the woman was pleading for them not to k!ll her son, he stated that one of their member who is known as Yakubu presently at large shot the son d3ad and later released the woman after ransom was collected.
“He further narrated that two of their members known as Langalanga and Shafiu had an accident at Dikko junction where three AK-47 rifles and 104 rounds of live ammunition were recovered on February 17th, 2026. Hunting & Shooting
“He added that other rifles were in the possession of one Kachalla Mallam and Baban-Tsoho which were buried in the bush and in a follow up investigation, two AK rifles buried in the bush around Gauraka forest were also recovered.
“Another two rifles were said to be in the possession of Yakubu and Babuga presently at large in which Samaila led the Police team to Bwari where two AK-49 rifles were also recovered with 36 rounds of live ammunition.
“All suspects are in custody undergoing further investigation and efforts to apprehend other accomplices are in progress.”
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