Crime
BREAKING: TROOPS NEUTRALISE IPOB/ESN MEMBERS IN IMO STATE
Troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade have successfully neutralised members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in a series of operations conducted on Friday, December 27, 2024.
According to Captain Joseph Baba Akubo, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, the troops responded to a distress call regarding an IPOB/ESN attack on Osina Community in Ideato North Local Government Area. The troops swiftly countered the assailants while returning from a routine patrol, catching them off guard and forcing them to retreat in disarray.
Akuubo stated, “Despite these losses, the troops recovered the bodies of the fallen agents and launched an aggressive pursuit of the fleeing attackers.” Unfortunately, two security personnel lost their lives during the confrontation, while another remains missing. The assailants managed to seize an AK-47 rifle and a tear gas launcher.
Further engagement occurred at Nkwachi Community, where another intense firefight unfolded, resulting in the neutralisation of one IPOB/ESN fighter. The troops then pressed into Umalouma Forest, encountering fierce resistance, but ultimately overwhelming the attackers with superior firepower. The attackers abandoned their weapons and fled with severe injuries.
The troops recovered five AK-47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale rifle, two magazines, and one tear gas launcher from the forest. Operations are ongoing, with troops actively exploiting the area to dismantle hideouts and apprehend the remaining fugitives.
Captain Akubo assured the public of the Army’s commitment to ensuring a secure and peaceful Yuletide season for Imo State residents. He urged citizens to support military efforts by providing timely intelligence on criminal activities and hideouts. “Together, we can rid the state of all forms of criminality and create a safer environment for all,” Akubo stated.
A 30-year-old pregnant woman is currently receiving medical treatment after she was allegedly raped and assaulted by a 24-year-old suspect, identified as Ugwu Desmond, in Affa community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to the Enugu State Police Command, the incident occurred on the night of March 14, 2026, when the victim was returning home from a neighbour’s house along a quiet path in Amokwo-Affa.
Police said the suspect, armed with a cutlass, reportedly trailed the victim before attacking her from behind. He allegedly forced her to the ground, attempted to strangle her, and covered her mouth to prevent her from raising alarm. The assailant then dragged her into an uncompleted building where he threatened to kill her before raping her and inflicting injuries.
The victim reportedly managed to survive the ordeal and reported the incident to authorities around 6:15 a.m. the following day, prompting swift action by operatives of the Affa Police Division, who arrested the suspect.
The police said the victim was immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while investigators processed the scene and recovered key exhibits, including the cutlass used in the attack and clothing suspected to contain blood and seminal stains.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the development, adding that the suspect has confessed to the crime.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, described the incident as disturbing and assured that a thorough investigation is ongoing. He stated that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Giwa also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, stressing that community awareness is critical to preventing crime.
A Nigerian national, James Junior Aliyu, has been sentenced to 90 months (seven and a half years) in prison in the United States for his involvement in a large-scale wire fraud and money laundering scheme.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Aliyu played a key role in a transnational cybercrime network that targeted business email systems and defrauded individuals and organisations of millions of dollars.
Investigations revealed that the fraud scheme involved hacking into corporate email accounts and using them to divert funds through fraudulent transactions. Authorities said the operation affected multiple victims and formed part of a broader business email compromise (BEC) conspiracy.
Aliyu was arrested in South Africa in 2022 following an international investigation involving Interpol and local law enforcement before being extradited to the United States to face trial.
The 30-year-old later pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. As part of the sentence, the court ordered him to forfeit $1.2 million and pay $2.4 million in restitution to victims.
Authorities also confirmed that Aliyu will be deported after completing his prison term.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected gunrunner, Kelvin Ebikeniye Dugo, in Cross River State, intercepting a cache of 850 rounds of live ammunition.
The arrest, which took place on March 16 at Ivara Esu Estate in Odukpani Local Government Area, followed credible intelligence on the suspect’s alleged plan to acquire the ammunition.
Security sources said Dugo was apprehended shortly after receiving the consignment, which had been concealed inside food items. The ammunition was reportedly supplied by another suspected gunrunner, Azenda Barnabas, also known as Jagaban, based in Aliade, Benue State.
Items recovered during the operation included 850 rounds of live ammunition and two empty AK-47 magazines.
The sources noted that the DSS has stepped up operations nationwide in a bid to dismantle gunrunning networks and curb the proliferation of illegal arms.
They added that the latest arrest underscores the agency’s ongoing commitment to tracking down and prosecuting individuals involved in arms trafficking across the country.