Metro
Osun police rescue kidnap victim, recover ransom, arrest suspects
The Osun State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim unharmed, recovered N2,217,800 suspected to be ransom proceeds and arrested a suspected kidnapper during a tactical operation aimed at tackling violent crime across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Osogbo, where he outlined recent achievements of the Command in its fight against kidnapping, cultism, ritual-related crimes and other criminal activities.
According to the police commissioner, “the victim, Haruna Yusuf, a 50-year-old Fulani herdsman, was abducted on 9 July 2026 from a remote settlement near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan-Ife-Ibadan Road by four suspected kidnappers.”
He said police operatives, working alongside local vigilantes, immediately launched a search operation, combing nearby forests and surrounding routes before transferring the case to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, for tactical investigation.
Gotan explained that on July 12, operatives carried out an intelligence-led operation while closely monitoring the ransom payment process at Majeroku along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway.
He said, “The team successfully rescued the victim unhurt. The kidnappers, on sighting the operatives, opened fire and the police equally responded professionally, leading to a gun duel during which some of the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries, one was arrested, while others fled.”
The commissioner added that the injured suspect, identified as Usman Aliyu, 40 years, was taken to the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital for treatment and was responding to medical care, while officers recovered N2,217,800 believed to be ransom proceeds.
He noted that efforts were continuing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.
The police commissioner also announced the arrest of three suspected cultists and ritual suspects in Iree following intelligence reports that criminal groups had been terrorising the community and neighbouring areas.
He identified the suspects as 23-year old Michael Oluwatobi; 22 years old Busayo Joseph and 23 year old Abu Azeez adding that preliminary investigations indicated they were members of a cult group and were also being investigated for alleged involvement in ritual-related activities.
According to Gotan, exhibits recovered from the suspects included a small coffin and locally made charms and soaps. He said he had directed investigators to conduct a thorough and discreet investigation to determine the extent of their involvement and identify other members of the alleged criminal network.
The commissioner revealed that police had arrested another suspected kidnapper, Buhari Mutari, in the Seyin area of Oyo State following technical analysis and actionable intelligence linked to a failed kidnap attempt at Ijebu-Jesa on May 7, 2026.
He recalled that the principal suspect, Umaru Adamu, had earlier been arrested and paraded on May 29.
Gotan also disclosed that eight additional suspects were arrested during raids on identified black spots across Osun State for offences including stealing, unlawful possession of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and hooliganism.
He said “all the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations. The Command remained committed to combating kidnapping, cultism, ritual killings, armed robbery and other violent crimes across the state.”
The commissioner urged parents, guardians, school authorities and community leaders to remain vigilant and support the police with credible and timely information.
He also encouraged residents to report suspicious activities through the nearest police formation or the Command’s emergency lines, while commending the professionalism of officers involved in the operations.
Metro
NDLEA secures seven-year jail term for man who advertised cannabis online
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the conviction of a 28-year-old man who was found guilty of advertising cannabis for sale on social media.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Kano Strategic Command’s Media and Advocacy Officer, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, the agency said the Federal High Court in Kano sentenced Ashiru Idris to seven years in prison without the option of a fine.
The statement said NDLEA officers arrested Idris on April 22, 2026, after a video circulated online showing him allegedly promoting cannabis for sale.
“On April 22, 2026, operatives of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, acting on the directive of the State Commander, CN D.Y. Lawal, arrested one Ashiru Idris, 28, following the circulation on social media of a video showing him publicly advertising cannabis sativa for sale.”
Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court 1, Kano, convicted Idris and ordered that the seven-year prison sentence should take effect from July 14, 2026.
The agency described the judgment as a strong warning to people who publicly promote or engage in illegal drug activities.
Reacting to the ruling, the Kano State Commander, CN Lawal, said: “This judgment reinforces our resolve to confront drug offenders who brazenly promote illegal substances on public platforms. We will continue to act swiftly on credible leads and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
The NDLEA urged families, community leaders, social media platforms and members of the public to support efforts to combat drug abuse by providing useful information to the agency.
Metro
75-year-old man bags 10 years for defiling 11-year-old girl in Rivers State
Rivers State Family Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 75-year-old man, Promise Chukwumatti, to ten years imprisonment without an option of fine for defiling an 11-year-old girl.
The court also ordered the convict to pay the sum of one million naira as compensation to the victim’s family and directed that his name be included in the Rivers State sex offenders’ register.
Chukwumatti was arraigned on a one-count charge of defilement of a minor.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the trial judge, Justice Rita Oguguo, held that the prosecution had proven the charge beyond reasonable doubt through oral testimony, a confessional statement, and other evidence presented before the court.
According to the prosecution, Chukwumatti had carnal knowledge of the minor on several occasions in his apartment, after luring her with money while she was on her way to school.
The court upheld the position of the prosecution counsel, Chief State Counsel Precious Ordu of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, that Chukwumatti indeed committed the offence against the child.
Justice Oguguo noted that although the convict pleaded for leniency, the law prescribes life imprisonment for such an offence.
She said the court, however, took into consideration the fact that his children are motherless before opting for a ten-year term without an option of fine.
Describing the convict as a disgrace to fatherhood, the judge also issued a restraining order barring him and members of his family from going near the victim’s family.
While counsel to the convict declined to comment on the verdict, Ordu welcomed the judgment, describing it as one that would “serve as a deterrent to persons who intend to engage in such crimes.”
Metro
Police bust Bauchi car theft syndicate, recover two vehicles
The Bauchi State Police Command says it has uncovered a suspected car theft syndicate, with the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of two vehicles believed to have been stolen.
The command said the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the Surveillance and Anti-Narcotics Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department on July 12 in the Sabon Kaura area, behind the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Yelwa Campus, Bauchi.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, the operation was launched following credible intelligence from members of the public.
The police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Musa Abdulkarim of Kandahar, Bauchi Local Government Area, and 35-year-old Yahaya Mohammed of Dabe village in Gamawa Local Government Area.
Habib said Abdulkarim was arrested in possession of a dark ash Toyota Corolla with Lagos registration number MUS 784 NC, while Mohammed was apprehended with a silver Toyota Camry bearing Kaduna registration number DKA 903 SL.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that both vehicles were reasonably suspected to have been stolen.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed detectives to carry out a thorough investigation to uncover the full network of the suspected syndicate and recover any additional stolen property.
Aliyu also commended the operatives for what he described as their professionalism and swift response, reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling vehicle theft and other criminal activities across the state.
He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support crime-fighting efforts.
The police also advised vehicle owners to install anti-theft devices and verify vehicle documents before purchasing used vehicles to avoid dealing in stolen property.
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