The Abia State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers and rescued an 18-year-old victim, Ifeoma Obinna, in Umuimo Community, Osisioma Ngwa.

The spokesperson for the command, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, 8th October 2026.

According to the PPRO, the suspects, Chidozie Rainbow Hezekiah,65, Brave Rainbow, 21, Innocent Otodirichu,21, abducted the victim and demanded N5m ransom from her mother.

Chinada added that two daggers and the victim’s phone were recovered while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.

“Sequel to a distress call received at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on 04/10/2026, that an unknown caller called Mrs. Obinna and demanded the sum of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) if they wanted to see their missing daughter,” the statement read.

“Leveraging on actionable intelligence, the above suspects were apprehended by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Abia State Command, in Umuimo Community, Osisioma Ngwa.

“The victim was rescued and exhibits recovered, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other gang members of the syndicate.

“The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, reiterates the Command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the state.

“He further assures members of the public that the Command will continue to leverage actionable intelligence, community partnerships, and other operational strategies to ensure the safety and security of residents.

“Members of the public are therefore encouraged to remain vigilant and provide the Police with useful information by reporting to the nearest police station or contacting the Command through its dedicated hotlines.

“Together we keep Abia safe
See Something Say Something.”

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One hundred and thirty persons have been arrested after men of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI raided a suspected fraud compound in Ghana and arrested more than 130 people.

The FBI Director, Kash Patel, disclosed this in a post shared on his official X account on Thursday.

Patel said the operation, codenamed “Operation Blackout”, was carried out in the week as part of the FBI’s efforts to dismantle global scam centres.

“OPERATION BLACKOUT: This is the FBI’s global scam-centre fraud demolition. Another takedown this week out of Ghana,” Patel wrote.

He said the operation had so far resulted in nearly $10m in identified losses, 89 victims identified, more than 130 individuals arrested or detained, including victims who would be repatriated to their home countries, and more than 300 devices seized.

“Investigation is ongoing. These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives – and this @FBI is crushing them in every corner of the world. More to come,” he said.

Patel also gave an update on the overall Operation Blackout figures, saying roughly $17bn had been seized, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested and thousands of trafficked workers freed.

He added that more than 10,000 Americans had been warned before losing their money, while an estimated $670m in losses had been prevented.

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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a suspect, Adewale Arojah, identified as a prophet’s son, for allegedly impersonating a renowned cleric on Facebook and defrauding multiple victims of over N18m under the guise of offering prayers and spiritual assistance.

According to a statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, on Thursday, the arrest followed a complaint lodged on October 3, 2026, by Muyiwa Akogun, popularly known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr. Muyiwa Akogun”.

The command said Akogun alerted the police after members of the public complained about “fraudulent activities being perpetrated in his name through a duplicated Facebook profile.”

“Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro Division, immediately detailed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the perpetrator,” the statement said.

It added that “through sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis, the suspect was tracked to a nearby village in Ajegunle, via the Ilaro/Ibogun axis, where he was successfully apprehended.”

The police said the suspect confessed during interrogation to impersonating the cleric on Facebook.

“During a rigorous interrogation, the suspect confessed to impersonating the real Prophet Akogun on Facebook.

“He admitted to using the cleric’s identity to deliver fake prophecies and offer prayer services to vulnerable individuals, thereby defrauding victims residing both within Nigeria and in the diaspora,” Babaseyi said.

The command said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect allegedly targeted people seeking spiritual assistance through the prophet’s Facebook page.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect systematically targeted victims seeking spiritual assistance on the said prophet’s Facebook page, gains their trust and swindled them of funds amounting to over ₦18 million,” it said.

The suspect has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The command said the investigation would be used to ascertain the extent of the crime, identify potential accomplices, and ensure possible prosecution.

The command said the arrest was part of its efforts to tackle online fraud and identity theft in the state.

“The swift arrest highlights the Ogun State Police Command’s resolve to dismantle online fraud networks, curb identity theft, and deny cybercriminals safe space to operate across the state,” Babaseyi said.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro operatives for what the statement described as their “vigilance, tactical discipline, and swift response”.

The CP also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents from digital and physical threats.

The command advised members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with religious leaders and public figures on social media.

“The Command advises members of the public to exercise caution and due diligence when engaging with religious leaders or public figures on social media platforms,” the statement said.

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