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Police smash deadly kidnap gang of ex-convicts in Rivers

Published

3 years ago

March 2, 2024

Police smash deadly kidnap gang of ex-convicts in Rivers

Operatives of Rivers Police Command have busted a gang formed by some unrepentant ex-convicts for the purpose of kidnapping car snatching and other dangerous crimes in the state.

The area of operation of the gang was in the Ikwerre Road axis of Port Harcourt and areas spanning Mile 3 to Rumuokoro parts of the capital city.

According to Rivers Police Command, the ex-convicts led by one Chinoso Emmanuel, a father of three, began the process for the formation of the gang as inmates of Port Harcourt Maximum Security Correctional Facility.

He said the gang was busted after their attempt to kidnap a lady, Theresa Anyanwu was foiled on the 14th of January, 2023.

According to SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Spokesperson for the Command, “The convener of the gang, Chinonso Emmanuel, 37, a native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, is a father of three and had been imprisoned on charges of attempted murder. He was in prison from February 2016 to November 2023, and at that time, he rose to prominence in the penitentiary and became a ‘korofo’, i.e. a hostel leader in prison. He used his influence to assemble a group of men who would serve a purpose outside the walls”.

According to one of the arrested gang members, Onyemachi Samuel, 33, detained for cultism, Chinonso used his position to bring favours to those he had plans for. He spoke of a time when he had a skin infection and was stranded in prison, and Chinonso approached him and offered help, giving him a bar of medicated soap to deal with his malady. That, he said, made him feel indebted to him. When he was released in December 2023, Chinonso, who had been released a month before, reached out to him. He also told the story of another gang member, Emeka. Emeka had been sent to solitary confinement for bad behavior within the prison. While he was there, Chinonso offered him membership of the gang, and in exchange, he began sharing his rations with him.

Another member of the gang in Police custody, Prince Dengo, 27, was imprisoned for gravely injuring a person in a street fight and was released on the 12th of December, 2023. Shortly after his release, he was approached by Chinonso around Rumuokoro, where he had begun working as a park lout (Agbero).

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Chinonso was released from prison custody on the 3rd of November, 2023, and immediately hatched his plan. Upon his release from Prison in November 2023, he began to actualise his plot to unleash mayhem. Under the guise of being a mechanic in Rumuokoro, he began reconnecting with the ex-offenders he had met in prison. The first person he connected with was Emeka, who had been released a few months earlier. He also scouted for recently released ex-offenders. With them, he put together a gang that appeared to be growing in mettle until the Rivers State Police Command quashed them.

The Command says “the gang was arrested when they attempted to kidnap one, Theresa Anyanwu, on the 14th of January, 2023. On the day of the operation, the impenitent bunch gathered under the Rumuokoro bridge to develop a strategy on how to identify and kidnap potential victims. They resolved that they would hire a tricycle ‘keke’ and use it to follow flamboyant cars discreetly before pouncing to seize them.

“They spotted Theresa in a Lexus SUV and began trailing her in the hired tricycle, and when she got to Woji, they saw an opportunity to swerve in front of her. She stepped on the brakes as they got in front of her, and they proceeded to alight the tricycle and board her car. They bundled her into the back of her car as one of them took the wheels and zoomed off, but the victim did not stop fighting them off. She continued to struggle, attempting to open the back door. Her struggles yielded success when she managed to open the door and stuck her leg out. The gang member charged with securing her pulled her back, but she had already drawn considerable attention from onlookers. Some commercial Keke drivers noticed the commotion as the vehicle passed them and gave chase.

“The gang noticed they were being followed, abandoned the victim and the car, and took to their heels. In the confusion that ensued, the gang leader, Chinomso Emmanuel’s phone, fell out of his pocket into the victim’s car. The phone was then used to make arrests of the gang leader and other members of the gang.

“Recovered from the gang are one machete and two daggers. Yet to be recovered is the locally made gun that the gang revealed to the Police was a recent acquisition as it was in the possession of a gang member still at large.”

Meanwhile,the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu commended the swift and effective action taken by the officers to apprehend the criminals and noted that the operation underscores the unwavering dedication and commitment of law enforcement personnel to preserving peace and security in Rivers communities.

He also urges the public to remain vigilant and collaborate with the police in the ongoing efforts to combat crimes and criminality in the State.

Police smash deadly kidnap gang of ex-convicts in Rivers

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Edo Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Rape of 70-Year-Old Woman

Published

1 hour ago

October 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Edo Police Arrest Cleric Accused of Making 'Protective Charms' for Kidnap Gangs

Edo State police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem

Edo Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Rape of 70-Year-Old Woman

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old man over the alleged rape of a 70-year-old woman in Igueben Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect was taken into custody following the allegation and is being investigated as police work to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported sexual assault.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed the arrest during a briefing on the command’s recent operations and security activities across the state.

Ikoedem said the case was being handled as a serious allegation and that investigators would gather the necessary evidence to determine the next legal steps.

The police have not released the identities of the suspect or the alleged victim. Details of the alleged incident, including when it occurred and the circumstances leading to the suspect’s arrest, have also not been fully disclosed.

The suspect remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court.

The case was among several security developments disclosed by the Edo Police Command.

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The command also reported the recovery of a six-month-old baby allegedly stolen and taken to Imo State, with the child subsequently reunited with the family. Police said suspects connected with the incident were arrested.

Seven suspected cult members were also arrested by operatives of the Otuo Division during an intelligence-led operation targeting cult-related activities.

Police further said a joint clearance operation was conducted in parts of Edo North, particularly areas identified as potential hideouts for criminal elements. According to the command, no kidnapping incident was recorded in the affected areas during the period under review.

The command also disclosed arrests linked to an allegation involving the stripping of a young girl and the circulation of material relating to the incident on social media.

The police urged residents to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and protecting vulnerable people.

The investigation into the alleged rape of the 70-year-old woman in Edo is ongoing, with further action expected to depend on the outcome of the police investigation.

Edo Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man Over Alleged Rape of 70-Year-Old Woman

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FG Declares Thursday Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

Published

22 hours ago

September 30, 2026

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Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

FG Declares Thursday Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, 2026, a public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Wednesday, congratulating Nigerians at home and abroad on the national celebration.

The minister urged Nigerians to use the occasion to promote national unity, patriotism, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, while reflecting on the sacrifices of the country’s founding fathers and heroines.

Tunji-Ojo said peace and stability remained important to national development and called on citizens to remain committed to building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

The minister also assured Nigerians that the Federal Government remained committed to strengthening national security, improving public safety and creating an environment where citizens could live and work with confidence.

The 2026 celebration marks 66 years of Nigeria’s independence, following the country’s attainment of independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.

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The Federal Government is marking the anniversary under the theme, “From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity.” The anniversary programme was earlier announced as a low-key celebration.

As part of the programme, an Independence Day Public Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to deliver a nationwide broadcast on Thursday, October 1.

The President is also expected to participate in other anniversary activities in Lagos, including the premiere of a documentary on the late businessman and politician MKO Abiola at the National Theatre.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to use the Independence Day celebration to reflect on the country’s journey since 1960 and renew their commitment to a united and peaceful Nigeria.

The October 1 public holiday applies nationwide, giving workers and other citizens an official day off to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day.

FG Declares Thursday Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary

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Five Remanded Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts in Borno

Published

22 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Five Remanded Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts in Borno

Five men have been remanded in custody in Maiduguri, Borno State, after they were arraigned over the alleged printing and wearing of “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.

The defendants — Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21 — were arrested on September 25 around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri, according to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Police alleged that the five men conspired to print and wear the T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go”, with the intention of causing a breach of public peace in the area.

They were subsequently charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The defendants appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri and pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Their lawyers subsequently applied for bail.

The court remanded the five men in custody and adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application. The substantive case was also listed for October 26, 2026.

The police case centres on the alleged intention behind the production and wearing of the shirts, with the authorities maintaining that the conduct was capable of causing a breach of public peace. The charges, rather than the political slogan alone, form the basis of the criminal proceedings.

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The arrests have generated controversy, particularly over the balance between freedom of expression and public-order laws.

Amnesty International condemned the detention, arguing that wearing a shirt expressing political dissent should not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence. The organisation called for the men’s release and urged the authorities to protect the rights to freedom of expression and association.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State also condemned the arrests. The party said the men were being detained for expressing a political opinion and called for their immediate release. The party’s position is separate from the police allegations before the court.

There have also been claims that the arrests were politically directed, including an allegation that a senior political figure in Borno ordered the action. However, such claims have not been independently established, and the police report cited in the case does not establish that a political figure ordered the arrests.

The development comes as political activity increases ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties and supporters using different platforms to express criticism of the Federal Government and promote alternative political positions.

The case has consequently drawn attention to the application of freedom of expression, political dissent and public-order laws in Nigeria.

For now, the five men remain defendants in an ongoing criminal case. They have pleaded not guilty, and the allegations against them have yet to be determined by the court.