Police rescue abducted 14-month-old baby in Edo

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have successfully rescued a 14-month-old baby, Grace Osamagbe, who was abducted by her nanny, Rejoice Chukwu, in April.

Commissioner of Police Umoru Ozigi told newsmen on Saturday in Benin, that the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit arrested Chukwu, 24, and her boyfriend, Destiny Uchechukwu, 28, in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom.

According to Ozigi, the suspects abducted the child in Benin and collected a ransom of N160,000

READ ALSO:

• Why I turned to fraud – Internet scammer worth over $500k
• VIDEO: DSS arrests suspected vote-buyer with ‘two bags of money’ in Ondo
• 12 Ojukwu Varsity students die in road accidents

“In spite of receiving the ransom, the suspects allegedly sold the baby for N500,000 to Doris Chiwendu in Owerri, Imo State.

“Following intense interrogation, police tracked down Chiwendu and another suspect, Jane Amaigbo, in Ubomiri, Imo State, and rescued the baby on November 9.”

The police commissioner explained that the suspects would soon be charged in court.

Police rescue abducted 14-month-old baby in Edo

Low turnout, logistics challenges in Ogun LG poll

The Saturday local government elections in Ogun were largely characterised by a low turnout of voters and logistics challenges at the early stage of the exercise in most council areas.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the exercise across the state, report that the elections scheduled to hold between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. did not start until 11 a.m. in most of the polling centres.

NAN reports that most of the polling units visited at Oke-Ilewo and Adigbe areas of Abeokuta-South Local Government Area, as well as Ibafo and Mowe areas in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, were virtually empty as of 11. a.m.

NAN checks revealed that the election materials and electoral officials left many local government headquarters, including Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta-North, and Sagamu, as late as 11. a.m.

READ ALSO:

• Why I turned to fraud – Internet scammer worth over $500k
• VIDEO: DSS arrests suspected vote-buyer with ‘two bags of money’ in Ondo
• 12 Ojukwu Varsity students die in road accidents

Voting, however, started at around 10.30 a.m. in some polling units in Ikenne Local Government Area, including Ward 3, polling units 2 and 3 in Iperu, where Gov. Dapo Abiodun was expected to cast his vote.

Residents who turned out for the election expressed disappointment over what they described as “poor arrangements” for the exercise.

One of them, who simply identified himself as Johnson, told NAN at polling unit 1, ward 15, in the Ijeja area of the Abeokuta-South council area that he was not disappointed at the low turnout.

“People don’t usually reckon with local government elections because of large-scale rigging,” he said.

Meanwhile, the restriction order on movement was strictly enforced in most of the local government areas, as officials of the state Traffic Management Agency were seen mounting roadblocks to ensure compliance.

Heavy presence of security personnel was also noticeable in major streets across the state to ensure peace and orderliness.

Low turnout, logistics challenges in Ogun LG poll

(NAN)

Why I turned to fraud – Internet scammer worth over $500k

Patrick Akpoguma, a 28-year-old suspected internet fraudster, has confessed to engaging in multiple types of fraud, including romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, and more. He revealed that his decision to embrace fraud stemmed from a desire to avoid traditional employment.

“I turned to fraud, didn’t want to work for salary,” Akpoguma stated during an interview at the Zone 2 Police Command in Onikan, Lagos. According to the suspect, his reluctance to work for a salary led him to turn to fraudulent activities three years ago, a decision that has since earned him over $500,000.

The suspect, a mechanical engineering graduate, claims to have used his ill-gotten wealth to purchase two properties—one in Lagos and another in Edo State—and a GLE Benz worth ₦100 million.

Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Adegoke Fayoade confirmed that the investigation into Akpoguma began on 7th November 2024, following reports from residents of Chevron Drive, Lekki, where the suspect resides. Akpoguma was found to be involved in a variety of scams, including impersonating high-profile individuals online to trick victims into providing loans via Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency transactions.

READ ALSO:

• VIDEO: DSS arrests suspected vote-buyer with ‘two bags of money’ in Ondo
• 12 Ojukwu Varsity students die in road accidents
• INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election

AIG Fayoade revealed that Akpoguma’s primary modus operandi involved posing as Colonel Matt Herbert, a U.S. Army officer on a peacekeeping mission in Iran, and Adam Taggart, a renowned cryptocurrency expert.

In addition, Akpoguma went to great lengths to make his impersonations more convincing, even creating a fake Instagram account under the name ‘Adam Taggart’ and purchasing a silicone face mask for $11,200 to mimic his target’s appearance.

In an unexpected development, Akpoguma offered a bribe to the police in a bid to avoid arrest. On 12th November 2024, he offered $100,000 (approximately ₦174 million), which was accepted and documented as evidence.

AIG Fayoade confirmed that the investigation is now complete and that Akpoguma will be arraigned in court. This case highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by internet fraudsters and the growing problem of financial crime in Nigeria.

Why I turned to fraud – Internet scammer worth over $500k