Suspected Serial Killer, Female Accomplice Arrested in Cross River

CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE – Security operatives have arrested a 40-year-old man identified as Akaninyene Eretus (also spelled Akaniyene Eretus) over allegations of multiple killings in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, with authorities uncovering several shallow graves containing decomposing bodies in a forest hideout . The suspect, an indigene of Obot Akara, was arrested after intelligence reports linked him to the disappearance of several residents in Abanyama, Ukim Ita Community in Creek Town .

Operatives of the Nigerian Army and tactical special forces, accompanied by community youths and elders, traced the suspect to a remote hut he had allegedly constructed deep inside the Abanyama Forest . Sources said the suspect allegedly attempted to flee after noticing the arrival of security personnel. He reportedly ran into the hut in an effort to retrieve a weapon before trying to escape into the forest but was quickly surrounded, subdued, and arrested by the operatives .

During a search of the location, security personnel reportedly discovered eight shallow graves believed to contain remains of victims. The bodies were allegedly buried without their heads, while plantain crops had been planted over the graves in what investigators suspect was an attempt to conceal the killings and avoid detection over an extended period . Each grave contained up to five decomposing bodies, according to security sources.

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Investigators said the suspect later led security operatives to the burial sites after allegedly confessing during interrogation to killing about 30 people within the community who had previously been reported missing . The latest alleged killing, which reportedly exposed the operation, was said to have occurred on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 .

According to reports, the suspect claimed a female accomplice assisted him in carrying out some of the attacks by luring unsuspecting residents to isolated areas and holding victims’ heads while he carried out the killings . The female accomplice has been identified as 35-year-old Miss Uduak Essien, who is currently in police custody alongside the primary suspect .

Residents reportedly became suspicious after hearing cries and sounds of struggle on the night of the latest incident . The development was later reported to the Executive Chairman of Odukpani Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Elder Chief Ukpong Etim Asido, by the councillor representing Creektown Ward 1, Hon. Ene Itam, alongside the ward chairman, youths, and community elders . The Leader of the 8th Legislative Assembly in Odukpani LGA, Hon. Effiom Ekene, and Hon. Emmanuel of Adibo Efut Ward also reportedly joined efforts that led to the suspect’s arrest .

The incident has reportedly thrown the community into panic and mourning, with several families attempting to identify relatives who had earlier been declared missing . Community youths have since intensified bush-combing operations in surrounding areas in search of possible accomplices and other suspected hideouts linked to the crimes .

When contacted, the Cross River State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Sunday Akata (also reported as ASP Sunday Eitokpah), confirmed the incident but stated that the matter remains under active investigation . “The incident is true and under active investigation. Further revelations will be made public as the probe progresses,” he said . The suspects, Akaninyene Eretus and Uduak Essien, are currently in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) as investigations continue . Police have also confirmed the recovery of a severed head and the remains of two victims in a related operation in the Ibonda, Creek Town area.

Suspected Serial Killer, Female Accomplice Arrested in Cross River

Security Operatives Recover Ransom Bag from Seriki Fulani’s Residence in Ogun

IJEBU ODE, OGUN STATE – A 67-year-old community leader and Fulani Seriki in Ijebu Ode has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command after investigators discovered a bag used to deliver ransom money inside his kitchen. The suspect, Abdullahi Muhammadu, who holds the title of Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, has pleaded innocence but admitted under questioning that he knew one of his sons, Bala Muhammadu, was a convicted kidnapper. He told police he thought his son had “turned a new leaf” after serving five years in prison for the same crime. The discovery has exposed what police describe as a family-linked kidnapping syndicate operating across multiple communities in the Ijebu area, including Imodi, Irewon, Iwode, and Okun Owa.

Operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command, led by SP Bamidele Shirtu, had been investigating a surge in abduction cases in the Ijebu Ode axis over the past several months. According to a police source, all evidence pointed to Bala Muhammadu, who had recently been released from a correctional centre after serving a five-year sentence for kidnapping. “After painstaking and intelligence-driven investigation, one of the bags which was used in the payment of the ransom for one of the victims was recovered in the father’s kitchen,” the source said. The bag was found inside the kitchen of Abdullahi Muhammadu, a cattle rearer and father of 30 children from four wives, who has lived in Yorubaland for over 30 years.

Police said Bala and two of his brothers were tipped off by a sibling who spotted security operatives entering the community. The three suspects fled into nearby bush paths before officers could apprehend them. However, their father, the Seriki Fulani, was arrested on the spot. His eldest son, Bello Muhammadu, was also later arrested. “It is not only Bala who is into the business. There is also Ndaji and one other, and we are on their trail,” the police source added. The source further revealed that kidnapping incidents surged in the Ijebu area shortly after Bala was released from prison.

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• Tinubu Launches 145 Tricycle Ambulances, Six Boat Ambulances to Save Mothers, Newborns Across Nigeria

Speaking to journalists after his arrest, Abdullahi Muhammadu denied any personal involvement in kidnapping but made a stunning admission about his son. “I know that Bala was into kidnapping. He was arrested and sent to prison. After he came back, I took him to the hospital, where he spent one month for treatment,” the Seriki Fulani said. “I thought that he had turned a new leaf because he is now into farming and cattle rearing. I didn’t know that he is still into kidnapping. I don’t know if any of my other sons are into kidnapping.” He added: “I didn’t want him to die when he came back from prison. He was looking very sick and pale. I wanted the best for him and other children. I took him to the hospital for treatment. I also encouraged him to stay away from crime.”

Despite the incriminating evidence found in his kitchen, Muhammadu maintained his innocence. “My name is Muhammadu Abdulai. I am a cattle rearer and also a farmer. I have been in Yorubaland for more than thirty years now. I have four wives and thirty children in Yorubaland,” he said. “I was honoured with the title of Seriki of Fulani in Ijebu Ode by the immediate past Awujale of Ijebu Ode. I don’t know anything about the bag that was found in my house. I live in the same compound with my children and wives. I have never kidnapped anybody in my life.”

Bello Muhammadu, the eldest son of the Seriki Fulani, was also arrested. He told police he was not at home during the operation but was called back from his farm by his father. “I am Bello Muhammadu. I am the eldest child of my father. I was not at home when the policemen came. I was in the farm when my father called me. He could not understand what the policemen were saying,” Bello said. “I am not into kidnapping. I am a herder. I only know that my younger brother, Bala, was arrested and taken to prison some years back. I don’t know anything about what he and any of my brothers are doing.” He added: “If my father had known that Bala had returned to the crime, he would have killed him himself. He does not encourage anything like that.”

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the arrests and ongoing investigation in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi. Babaseyi praised the support of the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the strategic leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime in the state. “The successful operation carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, leading to the neutralisation/arrest of the notorious suspect and recovery of incriminating exhibits, underscores the bravery, professionalism and unwavering dedication of the operatives,” Babaseyi said. “Their resilience and intelligence-driven approach continue to frustrate criminal networks and reinforce public confidence in the Police.” The command assured residents that efforts are being intensified to dismantle all criminal syndicates operating in Ogun State and urged the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.

Security Operatives Recover Ransom Bag from Seriki Fulani’s Residence in Ogun

Tinubu Launches 145 Tricycle Ambulances, Six Boat Ambulances to Save Mothers, Newborns Across Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday launched the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), deploying 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances, and emergency dispatch equipment to tackle Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality crisis—where, according to UNICEF, one woman dies every seven minutes from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. The launch, conducted virtually as part of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s third-anniversary projects, signals the administration’s most ambitious attempt yet to bridge the emergency healthcare gap in rural, riverine, and hard-to-reach communities across Nigeria.

Nigeria records an estimated 75,000 maternal deaths annually—one of the highest figures globally. Additionally, about 280,000 newborns die each year, many from preventable causes. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has consistently attributed these deaths to weak healthcare infrastructure, shortage of trained health workers, poverty, poor emergency response systems, and critically, lack of transportation to access quality maternal care. Speaking during the virtual presidential launch, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziak Adekunle Salako, described the NEMSAS initiative as a direct response to this crisis. He said the investments reflected “a bold national vision where no Nigerian should lose their life because structured medical help could not reach them in time.”

Tinubu Launches 145 Tricycle Ambulances and Six Boat Ambulances to Save Mother

According to the minister, the NEMSAS assets include 145 tricycle ambulances (commonly known as “keke ambulances”) designed to navigate narrow roads and rough terrain in rural communities, six boat ambulances specifically deployed to riverine and coastal areas where road access is impossible, and emergency communication and dispatch equipment to coordinate rapid response. “This landmark occasion features the official launch of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System assets including 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances, emergency communication and dispatch equipment to strengthen pre-hospital care across the nation,” Salako said.

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Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachallom, explained the deployment strategy. “These ambulances are going down to the rural areas, and they will be stationed at the primary healthcare centres where there are trained drivers, while nurses will accompany the ambulances anytime they need to be moved,” she said. She added that emergency contact numbers would be made available at primary healthcare centres to support emergency referrals and rapid response. The six boat ambulances have been deployed specifically to riverine communities, while the vehicle ambulances powered by compressed natural gas will serve federal tertiary facilities. Kachallom expressed optimism that Nigerians would witness better health outcomes before the end of 2027, noting that the health sector had “greatly improved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Demuren Doubra, revealed that the tricycle ambulances were specifically designed to transport pregnant women and newborns during emergencies in hard-to-reach communities. Doubra disclosed that even before the official launch, more than 58,000 women and over 2,000 newborns had already benefited from emergency transport interventions under the programme. He cited a powerful example: a pregnant woman transported over 180 kilometres from Dukku Local Government Area in Gombe State, who later delivered triplets safely. “This is a woman that would have died because of a gap in transportation,” he said. “As NEMSAS, with these facilities and equipment, we are trying to address the delay in reaching care for women and newborns,” Doubra added. He confirmed that the ambulances are being deployed across 15 states under a World Bank-supported IMPACT project, serving local government areas with the highest maternal and child mortality rates.

Beyond the ambulance launch, Minister Salako announced the commissioning of several major health infrastructure projects across the country, including Emergency Operations Centres in Kano, Sokoto, and Katsina states; the Lagos Vaccine Hub; primary healthcare infrastructure in Delta State; the Trauma Centre at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; the Mental Health Complex at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; the Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre in Bauchi; the Laboratory Complex at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Complex at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja. Salako disclosed that the ministry had lined up more than 100 projects to mark the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration, with selected projects across the six geopolitical zones chosen for presidential commissioning. He said the projects represented strategic investments in emergency preparedness, maternal and child healthcare, trauma care, mental health, and diagnostic services.

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Highlighting the administration’s track record, Salako said the Federal Government had expanded health insurance coverage by over 33 per cent, revitalised more than 4,000 primary healthcare centres, established 15 new federal tertiary health institutions, and provided over 500 specialist health infrastructure projects, including cancer centres and diagnostic facilities, to reduce medical tourism. President Tinubu had earlier announced that his administration injected over N98 billion into Nigeria’s primary healthcare sector via the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) , disbursed to over 8,300 primary healthcare centres nationwide—marking one of the largest single-year investments in grassroots health services.

National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Nnena Ogbulafor, linked the emergency transport system to ongoing efforts to reduce malaria prevalence in Nigeria. She said the 2025 Malaria Indicator Survey showed malaria prevalence had declined to 15 per cent from 21 per cent recorded in 2021. “Between three years of Mr President’s agenda, especially as regards the health sector, we’ve been able to reduce the burden of malaria significantly,” she said. The Federal Government’s Strategic Adviser on Malaria Elimination, Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu, confirmed that no state in Nigeria is currently classified under high transmission, with Lagos recording just 2.6 per cent prevalence and Plateau 2.8 per cent. Ogbulafor disclosed that 428 health workers had been trained across the 15 participating states, while awareness campaigns and emergency health communication strategies had also been developed.

World Bank Task Team Leader, Onoride Ezire, described the launch as a major milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of universal health coverage. Ezire explained that the specially equipped tricycle ambulances are fitted with communication gadgets and emergency medical support systems to monitor patients during transportation. “They are not just vehicles, they are not just ambulances; they are life-saving machines,” he said. He noted that poor terrain and lack of transportation often turn basic emergencies into life-threatening situations in rural communities. According to him, the ambulances would help reduce maternal and newborn mortality by ensuring quicker access to healthcare facilities. Ezire urged states benefiting from the initiative to ensure proper maintenance and sustainable management of the ambulances to guarantee long-term impact.

Director of Community Health Services at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nana Abubakar, said the initiative would improve emergency transportation, referral systems, and rapid access to lifesaving care. “It will help reduce preventable deaths, especially amongst mothers, newborn children and other vulnerable groups,” she said. Abubakar stated that emergency response begins within communities, adding that the initiative aligned with the agency’s mandate to strengthen primary healthcare as the foundation for universal health coverage.

Tinubu Launches 145 Tricycle Ambulances, Six Boat Ambulances to Save Mothers, Newborns Across Nigeria