Ebonyi Man Stages Own Kidnap, Demands N25m Ransom From Family — Police

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ajah Ikechukwu, of Ngwogwo Community, Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area, for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and extorting ransom from his own family. The state Commissioner of Police, CP Hope Okafor, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Abakaliki. According to the police, the suspect went into hiding on August 10, 2026, and later contacted his family, demanding N25 million as ransom for his release. In a shocking twist, he provided his own bank account number, into which his unsuspecting family members transferred N1 million. The family, believing their loved one was in the hands of dangerous kidnappers, complied with the payment, only to discover later that they had been deceived by their own relative. “Following diligent investigation and intelligence gathering, the suspect was arrested. During interrogation, he confessed to having orchestrated the purported kidnapping and ransom demand,” CP Okafor said. The Commissioner of Police issued a stern warning to the public, stating that “the deliberate staging of kidnappings and extortion of unsuspecting family members under false pretences are serious criminal offences and will be investigated and prosecuted.”

CP Okafor also revealed that the Command arrested 699 suspects—660 males and 39 females—in connection with 372 reported cases between April and August 2026. Of these, 309 suspects have been charged to court in 162 cases, while investigations into the remaining cases are ongoing. The Command recovered 31 assorted firearms, 33 rounds of ammunition, and three vehicles during the period under review. The arrests represent a significant crackdown on criminal activities in the state, with the police demonstrating increased capacity to investigate and prosecute offenders across various categories of crime.

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On August 16, 2026, the Command received a distress call from a police officer who reported being attacked by three armed men while returning from work. The hoodlums attempted to force open the officer’s vehicle but fled upon sighting approaching police operatives. The same suspects later kidnapped one Chigbo Lucy but were intercepted around Ebebe Junction. The victim was rescued unhurt, while the suspects fled. One suspect, identified as Stephen Job, was arrested. During a search of his residence, police recovered one locally made pistol, thirteen live cartridges, one black mask, one pair of black gloves, and assorted charms. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other fleeing suspects, with the police maintaining pressure on criminal networks operating in the area.

The Command also announced the arrest of two additional suspects, Friday Nwafor and Ozomena Pius, also known as “Oxygen,” in connection with the murder of the Traditional Ruler of Ishinkwo Autonomous Community in Onicha Local Government Area, His Royal Highness Josephat Ikegwu. The suspects were arrested at their hideout in Ishiagu, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, following sustained intelligence-driven operations. The arrest of the suspects in connection with the monarch’s murder demonstrates the Command’s commitment to pursuing justice for victims of violent crimes across the state, regardless of where perpetrators may flee.

Okafor noted that the successes were achieved through intelligence-led policing and stakeholder engagements to curb land and farmer-herder disputes. She said the Command successfully policed the August 22 Local Government elections and is fully prepared for gubernatorial campaigns starting September 9, 2026. “We remain apolitical, impartial and professional. We will not tolerate violence, intimidation, hate speech or any act capable of threatening public peace,” she warned. The Commissioner’s comments reflect the Command’s determination to maintain law and order during the upcoming political season, which often brings heightened tensions and potential for electoral violence.

CP Okafor urged residents to report suspicious activities to the Command Control Room. “It is our commitment to protect lives and property. There will be no safe haven for kidnappers, murderers and other criminals in Ebonyi State,” she concluded. The Command’s appeal for public cooperation underscores the importance of community engagement in effective policing, as citizens play a crucial role in providing intelligence that helps law enforcement prevent and solve crimes.

Ebonyi Man Stages Own Kidnap, Demands N25m Ransom From Family — Police

Baby Among Over 80 Migrants Dead After Boat Drifts for 27 Days Near Canary Islands

A horrific tragedy has unfolded in the Atlantic Ocean, where more than 80 migrants, including a baby, are feared dead after a boat carrying at least 127 people was rescued off Spain’s Canary Islands following 27 days adrift at sea. Spanish Maritime Rescue teams located the vessel approximately 65 nautical miles (120 kilometers) southwest of Gran Canaria on Wednesday afternoon using a surveillance aircraft. The rescue vessel Guardamar Urania reached the stricken craft around midnight, finding 44 survivors and five bodies on board. The discovery of the vessel, with its grim cargo of death and survival, has once again brought into sharp focus the immense human cost of irregular migration along one of the world’s most dangerous maritime routes.

The survivors, all men from sub-Saharan Africa, were described as disoriented, severely dehydrated, and suffering from the effects of drinking seawater. Many collapsed or vomited upon reaching land, their bodies pushed to the absolute limits of human endurance after nearly four weeks without adequate food or fresh water. Three survivors in critical condition were airlifted by helicopter to Hospital Doctor Negrín and Hospital Insular, while the remaining 41 were transported by sea to the port of Arguineguin on Gran Canaria. Three more survivors were subsequently taken to hospitals, bringing the total number hospitalized to six. The Spanish Red Cross, which is caring for the survivors, reported that they came from Mali or Senegal and that some were underage. According to José Antonio Rodríguez Verona, a Red Cross spokesperson in the Canaries, the survivors reported being stranded at sea for “many, many days,” having run out of provisions and fallen ill from drinking seawater—a desperate measure that often leads to fatal dehydration and organ failure.

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Tragically, due to rough sea conditions—including 20-knot winds and waves reaching 2.5 meters—rescue teams were unable to recover the five bodies found on the boat and were forced to leave them behind. The vessel was left adrift after the rescue operation, its dead passengers still aboard, a haunting reminder of the perils of the Atlantic crossing. The decision to leave the bodies behind was not taken lightly, but the safety of rescue personnel and the precarious state of the vessel made any recovery attempt too dangerous. The dead remain at sea, their final resting place the same unforgiving waters that claimed their lives.

The migrant rights group Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders), founded by human rights activist Helena Maleno Garzón, has reported that at least 83 people died during the voyage, including three women and a baby. The NGO compiles its data based on testimonies from migrants’ families and survivors, often providing the only comprehensive picture of tragedies that unfold far from land and out of official view. Survivors told aid workers that more than 100 people had originally been on board, including women and a baby, but as people died during the journey, their bodies were tossed into the ocean until survivors no longer had the strength to do so. The exact death toll remains difficult to verify independently, but the scale of the tragedy is undeniable, with 83 lives lost out of 127 who embarked on the journey.

The vessel is believed to have departed from The Gambia on August 7, according to Spain’s Civil Guard, which confirmed that markings on the boat’s hull matched a vessel reported missing from the West African nation. The boat is reported to have carried 127 or 128 people when it left, including four women and a baby. The journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands typically takes about a week under favorable conditions, but this vessel spent 27 days at sea, blown far off course by strong currents and poor weather. For nearly a month, the passengers endured starvation, dehydration, exposure to the elements, and the psychological torment of watching fellow travelers die one by one. The fact that 44 people survived at all is a testament to the human will to live, but it also underscores the sheer randomness of survival in such desperate circumstances.

This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the immense dangers of the Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. Thousands of migrants attempt the perilous journey each year, often spending weeks at sea in overcrowded, flimsy boats, facing rough seas, strong currents, dehydration, and starvation. The route has claimed thousands of lives in recent years, yet the flow of migrants continues, driven by poverty, conflict, and the hope of a better life in Europe. Despite a 57% drop in arrivals to the islands so far in 2026, with only 5,163 migrants reaching the Canaries from January to August, the human cost remains devastating. In a report released in June, Caminando Fronteras said that a total of 1,317 migrants died while attempting to reach Spain during the first five months of 2026, with 635 losing their lives on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands. These figures represent not just statistics but individual human beings—fathers, mothers, children, and babies—each with dreams and hopes that were extinguished by the unforgiving sea.

Canary Islands regional leader Fernando Clavijo condemned the loss of life, stating on social media: “It is intolerable that lives continue to be lost. The Canaries cannot get used to or accept as normal the fact that the Atlantic continues to be a death trap”. Clavijo added that the incident highlighted the need for a better state migration policy, saying: “We cannot continue managing migration from crisis to crisis. We are talking about lives and dignity”. His words reflect growing frustration among regional authorities who are often left to deal with the humanitarian consequences of a migration crisis that has no easy solutions. The tragedy has reignited calls for the European Union and Spanish national government to develop more comprehensive and humane migration policies that address the root causes of irregular migration while providing safe and legal pathways for those seeking refuge.

Baby Among Over 80 Migrants Dead After Boat Drifts for 27 Days Near Canary Islands

Man Faces Treasonable Felony Charge Over Alleged Destruction of Tinubu Campaign Billboards

A Katsina State resident, Aminu Sanda, popularly known as Nesta, has been remanded in custody after being charged with a treasonable felony over allegations that he destroyed campaign billboards belonging to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The charges, which have drawn sharp criticism from legal practitioners, also include breaking into the Katsina State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and allegedly stealing ₦35 million. Sanda, who was initially invited by the police in Katsina State before being transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, has vehemently denied all the allegations. He insists that he could not have targeted President Tinubu’s campaign billboards because he serves as the Katsina State chairman of the Dikko/Tinubu Vanguard, a political support group for the President. “How can I, being the state chairman of Dikko/Tinubu Vanguard, a political support group for the President, turn around to pull down his billboards? It does not make sense,” Sanda was quoted as saying. His legal team has also rejected the allegations and questioned the basis for subjecting their client to prolonged detention while investigations are ongoing. They maintained that the serious offences being alleged must be established with credible evidence and in accordance with due process.

Following his transfer to Abuja, the police obtained an order from a Magistrate Court sitting in Jiwa, Federal Capital Territory, to remand Sanda while investigations continued. The police had initially sought a two-week remand through a motion ex parte, arguing that more time was required to investigate the allegations. However, when Sanda’s legal team appeared in court on Tuesday to apply for his bail, the police filed another application requesting a further two-week extension of his detention. The prosecution cited the need to complete additional aspects of the investigation. Magistrate Huzaifa Macchudo reserved ruling on the bail application and adjourned the matter until September 15. Sanda’s lawyers expressed concern that the reserved ruling could give the police an opportunity to obtain another extension of his remand before the court determines whether he should be released on bail. Sanda remains in custody pending the court’s decision, while the allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.

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The treasonable felony charge has attracted criticism from legal practitioners who questioned whether the alleged destruction of a political billboard meets the legal threshold for such an offence. “It’s shocking that removing a billboard would amount to a treasonable felony,” a human rights lawyer, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, told Daily Trust. “Felony has a definition. Treason also has a definition. Removing a billboard is political.” An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Barrister Abdurrahman Salis, described the treasonable felony charge against Sanda as “surprising,” arguing that the alleged pulling down of President Tinubu’s billboard did not, on its face, fall within the legal definition of the offence. According to Salis, treasonable felony could involve an intention to unlawfully remove the President or a state governor outside constitutional means, an intention to wage war against Nigeria, or involvement in instigating an armed invasion of the country. “Under the treasonable felony provisions that we are talking about, there is nowhere that pulling down a presidential billboard is mentioned as a treasonable felony,” he said. The legal debate has further intensified public scrutiny of the case, with many Nigerians questioning whether the police have overreached in their application of treason laws to what some view as a political dispute.

The case has emerged against the backdrop of growing political tension within the Katsina State chapter of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The controversy reportedly began following the destruction of campaign billboards bearing the images of President Tinubu and his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, in Katsina State. The incident had already attracted national attention after two security aides attached to Governor Umar Dikko Radda were reportedly invited to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja for questioning in connection with the alleged destruction of the billboards. Some political observers have viewed the billboard dispute as part of broader political tensions and realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with competing interests linked to Governor Radda’s political structure and prominent federal-level politicians from the state. When contacted for comment, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, reportedly said he was not aware of the incident and did not respond to subsequent calls and messages seeking clarification.

Sanda remains in custody as his legal team continues to challenge the police application seeking a further two-week remand and awaits the Magistrate’s ruling on his bail application. The case has become a touchstone for broader conversations about the use of treasonable felony charges in Nigeria, with legal experts and civil society organizations calling for restraint in applying such serious charges to what may amount to political vandalism. The outcome of the bail ruling on September 15 will determine whether Sanda will regain his freedom pending the full hearing of the substantive charges against him. For now, the Katsina resident remains behind bars, his case serving as a cautionary tale about the intersection of politics, law enforcement, and the limits of state power in Nigeria’s increasingly charged political environment.

Man Faces Treasonable Felony Charge Over Alleged Destruction of Tinubu Campaign Billboards