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‘Money doublers’ invade Abuja community, residents raise alarm

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2025

‘Money doublers’ invade Abuja community, residents raise alarm

Residents of Gwagwalada in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern over the activities of some suspected group of “fraudsters” prowling the streets of the town.

Residents said the suspects, who often dressed in black suits like bankers, are mostly found around Radio House, Old and New Kutunku and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital persuading residents to register with them with any amount of money with promise to double such amount for them in few days.

A cross section of the residents, who spoke with Abuja Metro on Saturday, said they were not comfortable with the group, who are mostly young men operating under a company name.

They said members of the group, who always dress in suits move about with laptops to persuade residents to register with their company.

A resident of New Kutunku, Suleiman Ibrahim, who spoke with our reporter, said the group of the suspected ‘money doublers’ rented an apartment where they reside in their large numbers.

He said they usually go out as early as 6am on a daily basis to roam the streets with their laptops to persuade people to register with any amount of money so that they could double the amount for them after some days.

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He said, “The men are always dressed in black trousers and white or blue long sleeve shirts like bankers and move about with laptops.”

Another resident of the area, Muazu Ishaq, said members of the group, mostly from the north, are between the ages of 22 and 25 and always observe prayers at the mosques around Radio House and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

He said, “This group of young men reside in a rented apartment opposite some other tenants. They are over 20 in one compound and they often leave the house early in the morning and return late in the evening.

‘’They go to observe Subhi prayers at a mosque near the Radio House and mostly the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital’s mosque. After observing prayers, you will see them lying inside the mosque.’’

He added, “I know of two or three people that were duped in December, last year, after they persuaded them to raise over N250, 000, promising them N500,000, after which they all left the area.’’

Mrs Gladys Danjuma, a resident of New Kutunku, said she suspect that the young men use charms to convince people.

She said, “There are two of my neighbours, who are traders in Gwagwalada market that they tricked and collected N170,000 each from and assured them that they would double the money for them. After some days, none of them could be found.”

She said some members of a group were arrested late January 2025, by police operatives during a raid in one of their apartments in the area.

“I think it was around January, this year, when I heard some police swooped in and arrested some of their members because one wonders how they can convince people to bring money and register. If it is so easy, why can’t their own money be multiplied?

Our correspondent had reported that the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Benneth Igweh, on January 28, 2025 paraded six members of the group for allegedly using laptops to scam some residents of Gwagwalada.

Igweh had, during the parade, said a laptop and mercury were recovered from them.

“These guys were arrested during a raid in one of their apartments in Gwagwalada, after intelligence information that they convinced their victims to bring money so that they would double it for them,” Igweh told reporters during the parade of the suspects.

‘Money doublers’ invade Abuja community, residents raise alarm

metro

How I Sold My Twins for N300,000, Stole 13 Other Children — Suspect

Published

7 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Trends Admin

How I Sold My Twins for N300,000, Stole 13 Other Children — Suspect

A 50-year-old suspected child trafficker, Adejoke Popoola, has confessed to selling a newborn boy and a set of twins she gave birth to before stealing at least 13 other children for onward sale, in a case that has uncovered an interstate trafficking syndicate operating across Oyo, Ogun and Delta States.

Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, made the startling disclosure on Monday while speaking with journalists at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Ibadan, following her arrest on August 4. She claimed she had been involved in the alleged activities since October 2024, after her herb-selling business was gutted by fire, which she said pushed her into the illicit trade as a means of survival.

Popoola stated that she sold a newborn baby boy and a set of male twins, with the twins sold to a clinic in Ogeere for ₦300,000. She said she sometimes received between N80,000 and N120,000 for other children, and up to N900,000 for some victims, depending on the age and gender of the child. “God blessed me with the gift of pregnancy. Anytime a man has sex with me twice, I get pregnant, and it is always difficult to abort,” she said. “I have sold two sets of children, a newborn boy and twins as well, last year. I sold the twins to … clinic; she also resells them to her customers in Lagos. She has a baby industry. When the owner of the pregnancy rejects the pregnancy, that is when I sell.” Popoola, who said she has seven children of her own aged between six and 34, added that she became involved in the alleged operation after meeting a woman she identified as Oluwakemi, who she said operated a “baby industry” and supplied children to buyers in Lagos, revealing the existence of a well-organized trafficking network.

The suspect also admitted to stealing children through various deceptive methods. She explained that she would sometimes disguise herself as a prospective tenant to gain access to homes before taking children when their parents were not around. “I steal babies. I will go to their place and say I want to rent a house. Then, if I do not see anyone, if I see their children, I will just steal their children,” she said. Popoola claimed that a woman she worked with at Ogeere Market taught her how to steal children, providing her with the skills and confidence to carry out the abductions. She further alleged that she sometimes posed as a spiritualist, targeting parents with children living with disabilities, preying on their desperation for healing. “Parents bring their disabled children to me because they cannot talk, sit, or walk. So, I will promise them that I can help them to heal, then I will go and pick another person’s child for them,” she said, revealing a particularly cruel method of operation.

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One of the most chilling incidents she recounted involved the abduction of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during an Egungun festival in Oyo Town on June 29. She said she travelled to the festival two days earlier, joined the family during prayers and even contributed money to gain their trust before volunteering to carry the boy during the procession. “When the Egungun left, the boy told his mother that he did not want to stay at home and wanted to join the procession. So, I volunteered to help hold the boy,” she said. “I joined them for the procession and, in the evening, I picked up the boy, laid him on my back and ran away with him.” She claimed she received N900,000 for selling Ifagbenlo, making him one of her most lucrative targets.

Popoola claimed that of the children she allegedly kidnapped, six had died while 17 were rescued by police. The deceased children were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, two; Greatness Adeagbo, five; Sainat Amoo, two; Taiwo Usman, two; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, seven; and Miracle Olaniyi, four. She explained that some of the children died due to illness or neglect while in custody, while others reportedly succumbed to the harsh conditions in which they were kept.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, said the investigation began with a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Popoola herself over allegations including conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation. Detectives later linked the case to the disappearance of Ifakunle during the masquerade festival, as video footage from the event showed Popoola carrying the child moments before he vanished. Popoola was arrested on August 4, and her statement provided the first major breakthrough in dismantling the syndicate. She allegedly named Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as her accomplice. Janet was arrested in Mowe, Ogun State, where four children and two pregnant young women were rescued from her custody, revealing the scale of the operation.

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The investigation later extended to Agbor, Delta State, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from persons suspected to have bought them. Two suspects, Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, were arrested and allegedly confessed to involvement in the trafficking network, confirming the interstate dimension of the criminal enterprise. The investigation also uncovered an alleged ritual dimension, with suspects confessing that children who died in custody were sold to ritualists. This led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Islamic cleric, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, who were allegedly involved in purchasing the bodies of deceased children for ritual purposes.

The police said it has so far rescued 17 children and arrested seven suspects in connection with the investigation. The rescued children include Ifakunle Ifagbenro, 3; Musibau Olasupo, 5; Sulaimon Osamo, 7; Murina Fidaus, 3; Aminat Yusuf, 3; Taiwo Olamilekan, 3; an infant aged nine days; Rafiat Waheed Babalola, 2; Quwiyat Alade, 5; Rejoice Divine, 3; Alhaji Divine, 5; Eniolorunda, 3; Victoria, 3; Isoma Prince, 3; Roqeeba, 4; Boluwatife Odedeyi, 3; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, 7. The CP urged parents and guardians whose children recently went missing to visit the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families, as some of the children have yet to be claimed.

How I Sold My Twins for N300,000, Stole 13 Other Children — Suspect

metro

No More Embassy Visits: Step-by-Step Guide to Nigeria’s Contactless Passport Renewal

Published

8 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Trends Admin

No More Embassy Visits: Step-by-Step Guide to Nigeria’s Contactless Passport Renewal

The Nigerian Immigration Service has launched a fully digital passport renewal system, allowing eligible Nigerians abroad to complete the process remotely without visiting an embassy for biometric enrolment. Processing time has reportedly dropped to between five days and two weeks.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially rolled out its Contactless Passport Application System, a digital platform designed to make passport renewal faster, easier and more convenient for eligible Nigerians in the diaspora. Under the new system, applicants can complete and track their applications online without visiting an embassy for biometric enrolment, using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth for secure identity verification. The system has been met with widespread praise from Nigerians abroad, who say the reform has effectively ended years of frustrating delays and cumbersome procedures that previously forced applicants to wait for months and travel long distances. A Nigerian community leader in Birmingham, Timileyin Gbenga, described the difference as “night and day,” noting that renewal times have dropped from more than six months to less than two weeks, with some applicants even reporting receiving their passports within five days.

To begin the process, applicants are required to visit the official NIS Passport Application portal. Select “Continue” on the welcome page, then click “Apply for Renewal or Re-issue” to start the application. The portal is the only official channel for initiating the contactless renewal process, and applicants should ensure they are using the correct website to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes.

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Applicants should create an account and verify their identity using their National Identification Number (NIN) and date of birth. After successful verification, they must complete the application form, select their preferred processing embassy or high commission, and upload all required supporting documents, which typically include passport photographs, proof of residence abroad, and copies of the current passport data page.

After completing the form and uploading documents, applicants must pay the passport booklet fee for their selected passport type, with fees varying depending on the number of pages and processing speed chosen. Upon successful payment, they will receive an Application ID and Reference Number, which should be kept safe as these details will be needed throughout the application process. Applicants are advised to save these numbers in multiple locations to avoid losing access to their application.

After submitting the application, applicants can choose between a regular physical appointment and the new contactless passport renewal service. Those who qualify should select “Opt in for Contactless” under the application status or appointment section of the portal. A guide explaining the process will then be provided, walking applicants through the remaining steps of the digital renewal process.

The next step involves downloading the NIS Mobile App, which is available for download on official app stores for both Android and iOS devices. Within the app, applicants should log in or create a profile, select “Passport Application Services,” and then choose “Passport Biometrics Enrolment.” They will need to enter their Application ID and Reference Number into the app to link their mobile enrolment to their existing application.

The app will first check whether they are eligible for the contactless process. If eligible, they will be guided through capturing their facial image and fingerprints directly on their phone before submitting the biometrics for review. The app uses advanced liveness detection technology to ensure the captured face is real and not a photograph or video replay, adding an extra layer of security to prevent identity fraud.

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Once the biometrics have been reviewed successfully and the applicant is confirmed eligible, they will be asked to pay the contactless service fee, which covers the cost of the enhanced digital processing. After payment, applicants should complete the liveness verification and submit their biometric details electronically, finalizing the digital portion of the application.

The NIS clarified that the contactless option is not available to every applicant. Applicants who are found ineligible after verification will be required to return to the application portal and schedule a physical appointment at their chosen Nigerian embassy or high commission. “If the response is INELIGIBLE, then it means the applicant should return to the landing page of the portal to book a physical appointment at the Embassy/High Commission,” the Service stated, ensuring that all applicants understand the available alternatives.

Even after completing the online and biometric processes, applicants will still need to print their completed application form, passport payment receipt, and biometric payment receipt. These documents, along with their current Nigerian passport, should be placed inside a self-addressed return envelope and mailed to the embassy or high commission handling the application. This step is essential to facilitate passport production and return, and applicants should ensure their return envelope has sufficient postage to avoid delivery delays.

Applicants can begin tracking the status of their passport about two weeks after submission through either the tracking portal or the NIS Mobile App. The NIS advised applicants to monitor the progress of their passport renewal after submission using the online passport tracking platform, which provides real-time updates on the status of their application from processing to dispatch.

The NIS has clarified that Nigerians abroad do not need a valid passport to travel back to Nigeria. According to the agency, Nigerians can return home with an expired passport and renew it after arriving in the country. This clarification comes as many Nigerians in the diaspora prepare for end-of-year trips home, with the NIS encouraging those travelling during the December season to take advantage of their stay in Nigeria to process passport renewal, potentially bypassing the international processing system entirely.

The Federal Government has deployed a dedicated Passport Intervention Team from the NIS headquarters to the United Kingdom to process and clear all pending, new, and renewal passport applications. The NIS confirmed that the contactless passport application platform remains fully operational alongside the intervention exercise, ensuring that applicants have multiple pathways to secure their travel documents.

Applicants are advised to use only official Nigerian Immigration Service channels when applying for or renewing their passports to avoid fraud. The NIS Mobile App is available for download on official app stores, and all user information is securely encrypted and handled in compliance with international standards, giving applicants peace of mind that their personal data is protected throughout the process.

No More Embassy Visits: Step-by-Step Guide to Nigeria’s Contactless Passport Renewal

metro

Lagos police arrest four suspected robbers, recover 25 phones in Mushin

Published

8 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos police arrest four suspected robbers, recover 25 phones in Mushin

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an alleged armed robbery syndicate operating around the Iju-Ishaga and Oke-Aro areas of Lagos State, recovering 25 mobile phones and other items during a raid on their hideout.

The suspects were arrested at their alleged hideout in Idi-Oro, Mushin, following what the police described as credible intelligence and sustained surveillance by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

The suspects were identified as Damilare Oluwatobi, 28; Lekan Adenuga, 30; Haruna Sheriff, 22; and David Balogun, 24.

According to the police, the operation followed intelligence gathered on the activities of the alleged robbery syndicate, which was reportedly linked to criminal operations in parts of Lagos.

During a search of the hideout, VCRU operatives recovered 25 mobile phones, two laptop computers, gold jewellery, including a necklace and earrings, and three cutlasses.

The police described the arrests as a significant development in efforts to tackle armed robbery and violent crime in Lagos, while investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the recovered items and identify their owners.

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The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting investigators with the ongoing investigation. The Command also said efforts were being intensified to apprehend other suspected members of the alleged syndicate who may be connected to the criminal activities.

The development was confirmed by the Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, who said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the VCRU following sustained intelligence gathering.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the VCRU operatives for their swift response and intelligence-led approach, describing the operation as part of the Command’s broader efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the state.

Fatai reaffirmed the police commitment to protecting residents and tackling criminal activities, particularly armed robbery and other violent crimes.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police through the Command’s emergency lines.

The police listed the emergency contacts as 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, 08080193432 (Marine), and 09168630929.

The latest arrests come as the Lagos Police Command continues to rely on intelligence-led operations to identify and disrupt criminal groups operating across the state.

The four suspects remain in custody while the investigation continues, with the police expected to determine the extent of their alleged involvement and pursue other individuals suspected to be connected to the syndicate.