Over 13 suspects have been paraded by the Edo State Police Command in connection with kidnapping, cultism, murder, armed robbery, and false news peddling.

The suspects were paraded by the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, in the presence of the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, at the Command Headquarters.

DAILY POST reports that among those paraded are 45-year-old Oluchi Ugbowan, Musa Haruna, Bali Sule, Mohammed Sani, Adamu Jafaru, Mohammed Hashiru, and Marvelous Isaac (32) for alleged kidnapping and murder.

Others are Matthew Igbinoba (40), Ovie Freedom (29), Lucky Iyokhuo (29), Bright Odaro (28), and Ernest Ugbomoiko (42) for armed robbery, cultism, and false news peddling.

The Police Commissioner said Oluchi Ugbowan was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for allegedly plotting her own kidnapping.

He said she conspired with her accomplices to stage her own abduction in order to extort N50 million from her family.

According to him, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Edo State Police Command on May 6, 2026, uncovered a self-kidnapping plot orchestrated by Oluchi Ugbowan (45), who conspired with her accomplices to stage her own abduction to extort N50 million from her family.

“Technical intelligence led to the arrest of one Israel Ability (28), who confessed to making ransom calls on her instructions.

“The purported victim was subsequently traced and arrested in a hotel in Obiaruku, Delta State, where she confessed to the crime.

“Further investigation led to the recovery of a pump-action gun used in videos created by one Chukwudem Uwadia, from Kwale, Delta State, and his son, Chibuzor Chukwudem (18),” he said.

Also paraded was 40-year-old Matthew Igbinoba for allegedly robbing one Ebuka Ewere, a Point of Sale (POS) operator, at Murtala Muhammed Way, Sokponba Road, Benin City.

Agbonika said the suspect shot the victim in his left leg and carted away the sum of N500,000.

He stated that through high-tech security tracking, operatives of the VCRU arrested the suspect, who has confessed to the crime.

He added that the suspect is currently assisting with further investigations aimed at arresting other members of the gang.

The Command further explained that three suspects were arrested and paraded for cultism, while one locally made cut-to-size pistol was recovered from them.

Agbonika, who gave the names of the suspects as Ovie Freedom, Lucky Iyokhuo, and Bright Odaro, added that they have all confessed to being members of the Vikings secret cult group.

The Command also paraded a 42-year-old Ernest Ugbomoiko of Afuze Community for allegedly peddling false information about kidnappings in schools in the state.

While debunking the false report of the alleged kidnapping of schoolchildren in Afuze, Ehor, Otuo, Agbede, and Igueben, the Police Commissioner confirmed that no such incident occurred anywhere in the state.

He, however, warned against the spread of misinformation capable of causing public panic in the state.

A man has been arrested in Adamawa State over alleged involvement in the abduction of three children belonging to one family.

The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the arrest of one Adamu Yahaya of the Hosere area of Jambutu, Yola North Local Government Area, in connection with the abduction of the siblings.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, who made the disclosure in a statement, said that on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, one Samaila Musa of Hullere Gwalamba, Yola North LGA, reported at the State Intelligence Department (SID) that on June 12, 2026, three of his sons were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.

Musa gave the names and ages of the children as Adamu Samaila Sultan, 24; Bilal Abdurrahman, 8; and Yau Sani Baba Iyali, 10.

The complainant further stated that the abductors later contacted the family and demanded ransom as a condition for the release of the victims.

“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kabir Hassan, immediately directed operatives of the Command to commence a discreet investigation and deploy intelligence and technical assets,” Nguroje explained.

He added that the swift action led to the arrest of one suspect, who “is currently providing useful information that will assist in the arrest of other members of the kidnapping syndicate.”

The Kano State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of 13-year-old JSS 2 student Maimuna Sani Salisu following allegations of conflicting accounts surrounding the circumstances of her death at St. Louis Secondary School, Kano.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the command disclosed that it received a petition dated June 17, 2026, from Nakudu Law Partners, legal representatives of Maimuna’s mother, Mrs Nusaiba Rabiu Dan Sheriff, requesting a thorough investigation into the incident.

According to the petition, school authorities informed the deceased’s parents on June 13 that the student had fallen ill and had been taken to International Clinic, Kano, for treatment.

Her elder sister was reportedly sent to the hospital immediately but was informed upon arrival that Maimuna had already been confirmed dead by medical personnel.

The teenager was buried the following day in accordance with Islamic rites.

However, the family raised concerns over what it described as conflicting explanations regarding the cause of death. While the school reportedly stated that Maimuna suffered a fatal asthma attack after arriving late for prayers at the mosque, the petition cited other testimonies alleging that she had been punished by senior students through flogging and prolonged kneeling for refusing to sweep, an ordeal that allegedly worsened her condition.

The family subsequently called for a comprehensive investigation to determine the actual cause of death and ensure accountability where necessary.

Responding to the petition, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, directed that the case be handled diligently, transparently and in accordance with due process.

As part of the response, the command constituted a Special Investigation Panel headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, Shehu Idris. Officials from the Kano State Ministry of Justice have also been included on the panel to provide legal oversight.

The police said investigations began immediately, with three teachers, three senior female students and two female witnesses already invited and cooperating with investigators.

The command added that statements had been obtained and that medical, forensic and other evidentiary procedures were ongoing to establish the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The investigation will be thorough, impartial, and transparent. Anyone found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law, while those exonerated will be cleared accordingly,” the statement said.

The police assured the public that the panel’s findings and recommendations would be made public upon completion of the investigation and appealed to anyone with relevant information to come forward, assuring them that all information would be treated confidentially.

The command also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the repose of her soul.