Crime
EDO STATE GOVERNMENT DEMOLISHES HOUSES LINKED TO KIDNAPPERS IN UROMI, EKPOMA
Edo State Government, in a bold step towards ensuring the safety of its citizens and curbing criminal activities in the State, has commenced the demolition of houses linked to kidnappers.
Leading security personnel on the demolition exercise that took place in Illeh, Esan West Local Government Area and Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Akhere Paul said the demolition exercise was in accordance with the law.
Stressing the State Government’s commitment to securing the lives and properties of its citizens, Mr. Akhere emphasized that the administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo will not tolerate any house or establishment used as a hideout for criminal activities and called on landlords to ensure proper profiling of their tenants before subletting their properties.
“This house has been used for criminal activities. They keep kidnapped victims here, and a raid by men of the Nigerian Police Force recovered some dangerous weapons as well. According to the new law on kidnapping recently passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed by Governor Monday Okpebholo, any house found being used for kidnapping activities will be demolished
“This will serve as a deterrent to others. You must profile a person before giving out your house to him or her for rent. Go to the police station and let them help you in profiling the new person before you give out your property. You must verify their identity, where they work, and who they are to avoid unfortunate incidence as this,” Mr. Akhere stressed.
He assured the people of the State, that the exercise will be a continuous one as the State Government under Governor Okpebholo has given a marching order to flush out all criminal elements in the State and make it habitable for all.
Also speaking, the Commander, Special Task Force, SP Michael Anetor, said the exercise which is in accordance with the law would serve as a deterrent to others and help checkmate kidnapping and other criminal activities in the State.
He called on all Edo citizens to assist in the fight against kidnapping by keeping watch over their vicinities and reporting suspicious activities to the nearest police station or to members of the Special Task Force, stressing that, “a safer and secured Edo is the duty of all.”
Speaking with newsmen, the suspects, Utubor Uchenna and Felix Ebama, who belong to a gang of 7, identified the properties as their hideout before the demolition.
Admitting to the crime, they said they had been involved in high profile kidnapping within Edo Central axis with the last operation fetching them N10 million.
The leader of the gang, Utubor Uchenna, noted that their last victim was marked because of the kind of luxury car he drives and was kidnapped alongside a lady. He said both victims were released unhurt after parting with a ransom of 10 million naira.
The Special Task Force, in conjunction with other security apparatus in the State, has recorded successes of recent in the fight against criminal activities, with many criminal hideouts raided and suspects apprehended and handed over to the police.
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.