The Benue State Police Command has arrested two women for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping in a bid to extort ransom from a family.

The command said the suspects, identified as Mary Torkuma of Akpehe, Makurdi, and Evergreen Samuel from Abia State, allegedly conspired to deceive Torkuma’s mother into believing her daughter had been abducted.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, the case was reported to the Command’s Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) on July 15, 2026.

The police said Mary Torkuma had left her residence on July 12 to visit a friend in the North Bank area of Makurdi. The following day, her mother, who lives in Lagos State, reportedly received a call from an unknown number demanding ransom and claiming that her daughter had been kidnapped.

Acting on the report, operatives of the VCRU launched an intelligence-led investigation, which led them to a hotel in the Ankpa Quarters area of Makurdi.

The police said the supposed victim was found in the hotel alongside her alleged accomplice, Evergreen Samuel, who had travelled from Abia State.

Preliminary investigations, according to the command, revealed that the two women allegedly orchestrated the fake kidnapping to extort money from Torkuma’s mother through a false ransom demand.

The suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations are ongoing. The police said they would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, warned members of the public against engaging in criminal activities, including staging fake kidnappings.

He noted that such acts divert security personnel and resources away from genuine emergencies and are punishable under the law.

The Kano State Police Command has recovered two stolen vehicles in separate intelligence-led operations and arrested one suspect.

The command said the operations were carried out by its Special Intervention Squad (SIS) as part of ongoing intelligence-led and community-centred policing strategies introduced by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on Wednesday, the police said the first case involved the recovery of a white Toyota Hilux stolen in Kano.

According to the statement, on Sunday at about 10:35 pm, Zaiyyad Farouk of Hotoro Quarters reported that his driver had parked the white Toyota Hilux, with registration number KMC 25, along Lamido Crescent in Tarauni Local Government Area.

The owner later discovered that the vehicle had been stolen by unknown persons.

According to the statement, “Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the Special Intervention Squad swung into action. Through diligent follow-up and sustained effort, the stolen vehicle was trailed and recovered in the possession of one Abdussalam Salisu of Kurna Asabe Quarters, Kano.”

The statement further said, “The recovered Toyota Hilux has been handed over to the rightful owner after proper verification. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and his accomplices. Investigation is still ongoing.”

In the second case, the operatives of the police command recovered a black Hyundai Elantra believed to have been stolen in Abuja and linked the suspects to an interstate vehicle theft syndicate.

According to the statement, intelligence received on July 10, 2026, revealed that the vehicle, which had no registration number, was stolen at Annur Mosque in Abuja.

Acting on the information, operatives of the SIS tracked the suspects to Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The police said that during a coordinated tactical operation on July 22, 2026, at about 9:00 pm, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled after sighting the officers.

According to the statement, “Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect is a member of a notorious syndicate terrorising Abuja, Kaduna and Kano states.”

The command said the recovered Hyundai Elantra had been processed and was being handed over to its rightful owner in Abuja.

It added that investigators had intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects and those receiving stolen vehicles in order to recover more exhibits and dismantle the criminal network.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has arrested members of a notorious fraud syndicate allegedly involved in forgery, impersonation, and obtaining money by false pretence.

SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command disclosed this in a statement she issued and made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday.

She explained that the arrests followed a complaint received by the Command regarding the fraudulent activities of suspects, who falsely presented themselves as legitimate business operators under the name and style of AM-PM Global Network LTD.

She said the suspects were using the guise of business owners to deceive and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The PPRO identified the suspects as one Yahaya Abdul an indigene of Kogi State and Christopher Erin from Akwa Ibom State.

According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of an “organized criminal syndicate specializing in the forgery of official documents, impersonation, and sophisticated fraudulent schemes designed to deceive unsuspecting victims and unlawfully obtain financial benefits.

“Further investigations are ongoing to dismantle the entire syndicate. One additional suspect, identified only as Richard, is currently at large, and efforts are being intensified to ensure his immediate arrest and prosecution.

“The arrested suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations”.