Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Olisa Oyelu, also known as “Obele,” over his alleged involvement in a 2023 kidnapping operation that resulted in the death of a victim.

Oyelu was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following sustained intelligence gathering and investigations into the incident.

The arrest was disclosed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement issued on Thursday, September 24.

According to the police, Oyelu is allegedly an active member of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang led by a suspected criminal identified as “Pincode.”

The command described Oyelu as the last identified member of the gang to be arrested in connection with the 2023 kidnapping case.

Police said investigations were launched after the incident with the aim of identifying, arresting and prosecuting all persons allegedly connected with the crime.

The command said the investigation eventually led to the arrest of Oyelu after he had allegedly remained at large for about three years.

The police did not disclose the identity of the victim or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death.

The command said that, after the completion of the ongoing investigative proceedings, Oyelu would be handed over to the correctional authorities.

The police also disclosed that “Pincode” and four other suspects linked to the case are already being held on remand at a correctional facility while awaiting the determination of their cases by the court.

READ ALSO:

• 2027: Otti Explains Why He Supports Tinubu Despite Remaining in Labour Party
• EFCC Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Theft of Nigeria’s Public Funds
• Abia Police Arrest 20-Year-Old, Recover Gun, Suspected Cannabis, Three Motorcycles

The arrest, according to the command, represents a significant development in the investigation and reflects its efforts to identify and prosecute all persons allegedly involved in the crime.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, commended the operatives involved in the investigation for their perseverance, dedication and intelligence-led approach.

Ama assured residents that the command would continue to pursue suspected criminal elements operating within and outside Anambra State, with the aim of bringing suspects before the law.

He also urged members of the public to provide the police with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing investigations and improve security across the state.

The latest arrest comes amid continued police operations targeting suspected kidnapping and armed robbery networks in Anambra and other parts of the South-East.

Oyelu remains a suspect, and the allegations against him have not been established in court.

Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

Umahi Announces First Niger Bridge Reopening Next Week, Orders Tinubu Pictures

Minister of Works David Umahi has directed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pictures be displayed on the First Niger Bridge after the completion of ongoing rehabilitation work on the major transport link between Anambra and Delta states.

Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of the rehabilitation work at the Onitsha end of the bridge, which has been closed to traffic following the reported vandalisation of critical structural components.

The minister also ordered the removal of illegal advertisements displayed on the bridge, directing that any future advertisement on the facility must receive approval from the Federal Ministry of Works.

Umahi further directed the Senior Special Assistants to the President in the South-East and South-South to coordinate the beautification of the bridge with photographs of Tinubu.

The minister said the directive was intended to acknowledge the President’s intervention in the rehabilitation of the bridge and the quality of work being undertaken.

The directive has generated reactions, with some groups questioning the appropriateness of displaying the photographs of a sitting president on federal infrastructure.

The controversy comes as the Federal Government works to complete emergency rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge, which was shut to traffic after vandals allegedly removed bolts, nuts and other components of the bridge’s expansion joints.

The Federal Ministry of Works initially announced that the bridge would be closed from September 7 to September 21 for emergency repairs. The reopening was later extended by one week because persistent rainfall affected construction activities.

Umahi said the Federal Government expects the bridge to reopen next week, but stressed that it would only be reopened after the critical structural work had been completed and the necessary safety requirements met.

According to the minister, contractors have made progress in replacing the vandalised components, including bolts and the specialised expansion joint removed from the bridge.

He also directed additional work, including the repainting of structural components, bridge caps and sections of the inner carriageway.

As part of efforts to improve security around the facility, Umahi ordered the installation of additional solar-powered streetlights and the completion of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the bridge.

READ ALSO:

• 2027: Otti Explains Why He Supports Tinubu Despite Remaining in Labour Party
• EFCC Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Theft of Nigeria’s Public Funds
• Abia Police Arrest 20-Year-Old, Recover Gun, Suspected Cannabis, Three Motorcycles

He directed that the CCTV system be linked with the Second Niger Bridge to improve surveillance around the two major infrastructure facilities.

The minister also disclosed that a committee had been established to assess the condition of the bridge both above and below the water level.

The assessment is expected to provide information on the structural condition of the facility and guide future maintenance and rehabilitation work.

Umahi further directed that no security checkpoint should be established within 200 metres of the bridge, saying checkpoints in the immediate vicinity could contribute to traffic congestion and place additional pressure on the facility.

He also called on the governments of Anambra and Delta states to strengthen monitoring of scrap markets following concerns that vandals could be removing components from public infrastructure and selling them as scrap.

The First Niger Bridge, which links Onitsha in Anambra State with Asaba in Delta State, is a major route connecting the South-East and South-South with other parts of Nigeria.

The current rehabilitation became necessary after the reported vandalisation of components considered important to the bridge’s structural integrity.

Umahi said the Federal Government would prioritise safety rather than rush the reopening, adding that the bridge would return to service once the outstanding repairs had been completed.

The minister also used the inspection to highlight the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects in the South-East and urged residents of the region to take such projects into account ahead of the 2027 general election.

Umahi noted that the South-East did not strongly support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election but argued that the administration had continued to execute projects in the region.

He also questioned supporters of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over projects Obi had attracted to the South-East.

The comments have added a political dimension to the debate surrounding the rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge, particularly as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections.

Umahi Announces First Niger Bridge Reopening Next Week, Orders Tinubu Pictures

EFCC Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Theft of Nigeria’s Public Funds

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the scale of alleged public-sector corruption in Nigeria, saying some public officers take national resources “every minute”.

Olukoyede made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at an event held to mark the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi.

The EFCC chairman said the commission receives more than 20,000 petitions relating to public corruption annually, describing the cases as disturbing.

He said the volume of petitions and the details contained in some of the commission’s case files showed the extent of alleged misuse of public funds and national resources.

Olukoyede said Nigerians were ultimately the victims of fraudulent activities involving public resources and called for greater collective efforts to promote accountability in public office.

He said some public servants allegedly enter office with less than ₦100,000 in their bank accounts but leave after three or four years with millions of naira and dollars traced to them.

According to the EFCC chairman, investigators have also encountered cases involving public officials who allegedly acquired large numbers of properties while in office.

READ ALSO:

• Abia Police Arrest 20-Year-Old, Recover Gun, Suspected Cannabis, Three Motorcycles
• Anambra Releases ₦473m Salary Arrears Document as Obi’s Debt Claim Sparks Fresh Dispute
• Lagos Police Seal Fake Alcohol Factory, Arrest 48-Year-Old Man

He cited instances where investigators allegedly traced 50 or even 200 houses to individuals, questioning how Nigeria could achieve meaningful development if public resources were diverted on such a scale.

Olukoyede stressed that public officials should be able to account for their activities and finances while in office, identifying transparency and accountability as essential principles of public service.

The EFCC chairman’s remarks came amid the commission’s ongoing investigations, prosecutions and asset recovery activities involving suspected economic and financial crimes.

Olukoyede has previously disclosed figures showing the scale of the commission’s recent workload, including thousands of petitions, investigations and court cases.

The commission has also reported substantial recoveries of funds and assets linked to suspected proceeds of crime during his tenure.

At the Abuja event, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, also identified societal tolerance and weaknesses in government systems as factors that allow corruption to persist.

Aliyu called for stronger integrity education in primary and secondary schools, saying young Nigerians should be taught the importance of honesty, accountability and responsible citizenship.

He specifically urged stakeholders to engage Generation Z and Generation Alpha on the need to embrace integrity.

The event brought together members of the judiciary and legal profession, public office holders, civil society organisations, academics and other stakeholders.

Olukoyede’s comments add to the EFCC’s continuing campaign for stronger accountability in public service, as the commission pursues investigations and prosecutions involving suspected economic and financial crimes.

EFCC Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Theft of Nigeria’s Public Funds