Crime
NIGERIA POLICE FORCE FOILS MULTIPLE BANDIT ATTACKS, RESCUES 207 ABDUCTED CHILDREN
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant successes in its efforts to combat crime across the nation, with the foiling of multiple bandit attacks and the rescue of 207 abducted children. The Force’s commitment to adopting a more proactive approach in its efforts to combat crime has yielded impressive results, with intelligence-led policing being a key factor in these successes.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that on January 18, 2025, Police operatives attached to the Kogi State Command got information of a group of armed bandits holding a strategic meeting for a possible attack at a forest in Budon, Kogi State. Adejobi stated that operatives were mobilized and deployed to the scene, where they engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, neutralizing one bandit and arresting four others.
Adejobi also revealed that the operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition, and two motorcycles. Similarly, on the same day, a distress call was received at the Dutsinma Divisional Police Headquarters, Katsina State, that some suspected armed bandits were headed to attack Ruwan Doruwa Village, Dutsinma LGA of the State.
Adejobi stated that Police operatives, in collaboration with other security agencies, mobilized and intercepted the armed bandits, engaging them in a fierce gun battle that resulted in the neutralization of seven bandits, with the rest of the gang fleeing and abandoning 109 livestock suspected to be rustled animals.
In another significant development, Adejobi disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force has escalated its initiatives to combat human trafficking and the operation of illegal baby factories, successfully rescuing more than 207 abducted children from suspected traffickers nationwide. A significant breakthrough was achieved with the arrest of a syndicate involved in child abduction and trafficking by the Ondo State Police Command.
Adejobi stated that the operatives apprehended members of the syndicate, identified as Abosede Olanipekun, Lukman Isiaka, and Sabira Izuorah, and rescued 14 children between the ages of one week and seven years old. The success of these operations is a significant blow against those who serve as threats to the nation’s security, contributing to the overall efforts of the Force to enhance public safety.
The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its dedication to duty and commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of all citizens. Adejobi reaffirmed the Force’s role as the protector of peace and security of the society, stating that the Force will continue to take a firm stance against criminal activities and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
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.