The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of officers captured in a viral video attempting to extort money from a motorist along Lagos –Benin Expressway.

In the video, one of the officers said he would have slapped and detained the motorist if he was Igbo.

The circulating footage of the incident had sparked widespread anger across the country with several Nigerians calling for the arrest and prosecution of the officers.

Addressing journalists on the incident on Friday, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the erring personnel have been identified and arrested.

“The Command wishes to inform the general public that the officers captured in the video have been arrested and identified as AP/No. 207454 ASP Elomore Sodayo, AP/No. 332012 Inspector Adefila Adewale, AP/No. 332449 Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi, and AP/No. 332369 Inspector Odusola Peter.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, psc, mnips, mspsp, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved,” he said.

The suspected gang leader of the kidnapping syndicate that abducted a woman at a vegetable market along Airport Road in Benin City, Marvelous Isaac, has denied being a kidnapper, saying he is an electrician.

DAILY POST reports that the suspect made the claim on Friday during his trial before Justice Terry Aigbona Momodu of the Special Criminal Court set up by the Edo State Government to prosecute kidnapping and cultism related cases.

The 32-year-old Marvelous Isaac was cross-examined by the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Roland Otaru.

He denied being involved in the June 14, 2026 vegetable market kidnapping incident and other cases he was accused of spearheading in the state.

The accused and three others are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

The suspected gang leader also denied knowing the other two suspects facing trial with him, apart from his 27-year-old girlfriend identified as Miss Gift Raphael.

The other suspects are Wisdom Michael, 36, and Rufus Emete Michael, 30.

“I am not a kidnapper but an electrician specialized in wiring of houses. I don’t own a car and I don’t know how to drive,” he said.

Isaac also denied knowing Oreoghene Street, Siluko Road axis in Benin City, where he was alleged by the prosecution to have kidnapped a victim on March 8, 2025 and collected a ransom of N5 million.

Other kidnapping incidents that the accused also denied being involved in are the April 23, 2026 abduction of one Mr Paul at his wife’s pharmacy store, opposite the Ekenwa Army Barracks, and another one on May 26, 2026, also along Ekehuan Road, near GT Bank, Benin City.

He denied collecting a ransom of N5.5 million, Lexus RX 350 SUV, N12.5 million, Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ phone, car keys and other valuables from the two victims before they were released.

After the cross examination, Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu adjourned the case to Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

Speaking to newsmen, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Justice, Stephen Okoror, described the proceeding as excellent.

Okoror said the defence counsel has been able to open his case by calling the first accused, Marvelous Isaac.

While noting that the accused denied all the allegations and the charge levelled against him, he expressed optimism that justice would be done at the end of the trial.

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a man, Shuaibu Abdulkadir, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering 22-year-old Rumaisa Shuaibu, who was pregnant.

Justice Farida Dan Baffa delivered the judgment on Friday after ruling that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Abdulkadir, a resident of Farawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area, was charged with one count of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 of the Kano State Penal Code. He was arraigned before the court on August 23, 2025.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Barr. Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, called three witnesses, including the victim’s husband, Ibrahim Muhammad; the defendant’s fiancée, Asiya Abdulmalik; and the investigating police officer, ASP Chindo Chiwa.

The prosecution also tendered several exhibits, including a video of the incident, a flash drive containing electronic evidence, the defendant’s written confession, English and Hausa transcripts of the confession, photographs of the victim, the knife allegedly used in the killing, and the defendant’s mobile phone.

After hearing both the prosecution and the defence, the court convicted Abdulkadir of killing Rumaisa after she became pregnant for him and sentenced him to death by hanging.

Reacting to the verdict, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude (SAN), described the conviction as “another significant milestone in the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that criminal cases are prosecuted professionally, fairly, and diligently.”

He added that the judgment demonstrates the ministry’s determination to protect victims’ rights, uphold the rule of law and ensure offenders are held accountable.

Maude also praised prosecutor Barr. Basiru Kabiru Aliyu for his professionalism and dedication throughout the trial, saying his work reflects the standard expected of state counsel.

He urged all state prosecutors to continue handling criminal cases with integrity, competence and fairness, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution of serious crimes and ensuring justice remains the foundation for peace and security in Kano State.