Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have recovered a vehicle that was stolen from its owner in 2024 and arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.
The command also recovered another vehicle from the suspects.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Benin City.

Ikoedem identified the arrested suspects as Emmanuel Afolayan and Ezikiel Aguele.

She said the vehicle stolen in 2024 was intercepted and the suspects arrested by operatives attached to Textile Mill Road (TMR) Division on June 22, 2026, during a routine stop-and-search operation at a checkpoint along Siluko Road, Benin City.

She said the vehicle, a Daihatsu Hijet minibus, ash in colour, with registration number GBZ 646 YK, Edo State, belonged to one Dr Timothy Etinosa.

The command’s spokesperson said the owner had given the vehicle to Emmanuel Afolayan under a hire-purchase agreement.

She added that Emmanuel Afolayan, however, absconded with the vehicle in 2024 to an unknown destination, forged its documents, and subsequently sold it.

She explained that the arrest of the 46-year-old Ezikiel Aguele led to the apprehension of Emmanuel Afolayan.

According to her, preliminary checks on the vehicle revealed that the particulars presented by the driver were forged.

“Further investigation disclosed that the vehicle belongs to one Dr Timothy Etinosa, who had earlier given the vehicle to one Emmanuel Afolayan under a hire-purchase agreement.

“However, Emmanuel Afolayan absconded with the vehicle in 2024 to an unknown destination, forged its documents, and subsequently sold it.

“The driver of the vehicle, one Ezikiel Aguele, male, aged 46 years, was arrested. During interrogation, he led operatives to the arrest of the principal suspect, Emmanuel Afolayan, and the recovery of another vehicle that was similarly stolen,” she said.

Ikoedem further stated that the suspects, who have confessed to the offence, will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man, Ogunsola Ojo, for alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession of a human skull, and misconduct with disregard to a corpse.

This was disclosed by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, on Friday.

The command disclosed that the case was reported at the Oba-Ile Police Station on June 17, 2026, after a complainant discovered that the grave of his late elder brother had been tampered with.

According to the police, “the complainant told officers that he visited the grave, located within the family compound, on June 15, 2026, and found that the deceased’s skull had been removed by unknown persons.”

The statement said police operatives immediately launched an investigation into the matter, acting on credible intelligence gathered during preliminary inquiries.

It stated that Ogunsola was arrested and allegedly implicated three other men during interrogation.

The police identified the other suspects as “Ayeloja Lateef, aged 40, Azeez Rasheed, aged 50, and one Kunle Fatai, who is currently at large.”

According to the statement, “subsequent search operations at the residence of the fleeing suspect led to the recovery of a suspected human skull concealed in an uncompleted building adjacent to his house.

“The recovered item has been documented and registered as an exhibit. Further investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The command said efforts were continuing to apprehend the fleeing suspect, noting that the arrested suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

It added, “The Police Command reiterates its commitment to ensuring justice and maintaining public confidence in the rule of law.”

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old university student for allegedly creating and circulating a false social media report claiming that bandits had invaded parts of the state and were being held by militants demanding a N50 million ransom.

Commissioner of Police Daniel Iyamah disclosed the arrest while addressing journalists in Yenagoa on Friday, stating that the misleading post, which surfaced on June 5, 2026, sparked fear among residents and disrupted commercial and academic activities in some communities.

According to the police, the fabricated report alleged that armed bandits had entered Bayelsa communities before being captured by militants who demanded ₦50 million for their release.

“The publication generated widespread concern among residents and triggered panic in several communities,” Iyamah said.

The commissioner explained that the viral report particularly affected Polaku Community and nearby areas, where worried parents hurried to schools to pick up their children while business activities were temporarily halted.

“As a result of the false report, parents in Polaku Community and its environs rushed to schools to pick up their children, while commercial activities were temporarily disrupted, and many citizens became apprehensive about their safety,” he said.

Iyamah said police operatives immediately launched investigations by deploying intelligence and operational teams to verify the claims.

“Following extensive on-the-spot assessments and intelligence gathering, it became evident that the information being circulated was entirely false,” he said.

He identified the suspect as Promise Etete, a 300-level student of the University of Uyo from Akwa Ibom State.

“Through intelligence-led policing, digital investigation and technical tracking, detectives successfully identified, tracked and arrested one Promise Etete, a 23-year-old 300-level student of the University of Uyo, in connection with originating and posting the misleading report,” he said.

The police boss disclosed that the suspect is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where he has provided statements aiding ongoing investigations.

Warning against the abuse of social media platforms, Iyamah stressed that the command would not tolerate the spread of false information capable of causing public panic.

“Let me state clearly that cyberspace is not beyond the reach of law enforcement.

“I, therefore, warn individuals who use social media irresponsibly to desist from such acts. I also urge residents to verify security-related information before sharing it,” he said.

He reassured Bayelsa residents that there was no bandit invasion, no attack on schools and no threat to public safety as claimed in the viral report.