Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers

Abeokuta, Ogun State – In a pre-dawn operation that has dismantled a major criminal network, police operatives in Ogun State have killed two suspected kidnappers and arrested a prominent Fulani community leader, Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, over alleged ties to a kidnapping syndicate terrorizing the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan road corridor.

The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that the operation also led to the arrest of Mohammed Bello, a suspected gang member, alongside the recovery of N1.5 million believed to be ransom proceeds, an AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, a single-barrel gun, several mobile phones, and a black bag allegedly used for ransom transactions.

According to police sources, the operation stemmed from the kidnapping of three persons on May 11, 2026, in the Ipojo area of Iperin, Atan-Ijebu. The victims were released unharmed three days later after an unspecified ransom was paid.

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Acting on intelligence gathered after the victims’ release, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by SP Bamidele Shittu stormed a suspected kidnappers’ camp along the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road axis at about 5:00 a.m. on May 15, 2026. On sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire, leading to a fierce gun duel. The operatives responded professionally, resulting in the neutralisation of two of the suspected kidnappers, while other gang members escaped into the forest with bullet injuries.

In a dramatic follow-up operation, police arrested Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, the Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, who is also the father of one of the fleeing suspects. Sources told journalists that the investigation initially targeted Bala, Abdullahi’s son, who had reportedly just been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for kidnapping. Police sources further revealed that the black bag used for ransom delivery was allegedly recovered inside the kitchen of the Seriki’s residence, linking the community leader directly to the criminal network.

Among the items recovered from the gang are N1.5 million suspected to be ransom cash, one AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition, one single-barrel gun, several mobile phones, and one black bag used for ransom transactions.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the operatives for their gallantry, professionalism and resilience, reaffirming the command’s resolve to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across the state. The bodies of the two slain suspects have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest other fleeing gang members, including Bala. Investigations are continuing to uncover the full network of the syndicate, and the police have assured that all those arrested will face prosecution.

Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers

Driver Dies as SUV Somersaults Multiple Times on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

LAGOS, NIGERIA – A driver has died after a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) lost control and overturned several times along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos State, marking the second major road fatality in the commercial capital within a 10-day period . The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Charity Bus Stop, inward Iyana Isolo , according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) , Adebayo Taofiq . The agency said preliminary findings showed that the Honda Pilot SUV suddenly veered out of control before overturning multiple times and coming to a devastating stop . The sheer magnitude of the impact led to the immediate death of the driver, whose body became trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the vehicle .

“Preliminary findings indicate that the Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) involved in the incident suddenly lost control, causing it to overturn multiple times before coming to a devastating halt. The sheer magnitude of the impact led to the instantaneous death of the driver, whose body became trapped within the severely mangled remains of the vehicle,” the statement read . LASTMA officials, who were carrying out traffic monitoring and management duties in the Iyana Isolo area at the time of the incident, responded swiftly to the emergency . The officers, working alongside personnel of the Mosafejo Police Division , successfully extricated the deceased from the wreckage while managing traffic flow and preventing secondary accidents along the busy corridor . Following the recovery operation, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) evacuated the remains to a public mortuary in line with established public health procedures . The wrecked Honda Pilot SUV was subsequently handed over to officers of the Mosafejo Police Division, who have commenced investigations to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident.

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Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki , expressed sadness over the loss of life and extended condolences to the deceased’s family . He urged motorists across Lagos State to exercise caution while driving, obey speed limits, and adhere strictly to traffic regulations, particularly during late-night and early-morning journeys when visibility, alertness, and reaction times may be reduced . Bakare-Oki also warned against reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding, and other traffic violations that could lead to avoidable tragedies on the roads. “Motorists are strongly urged to eschew reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and every form of traffic infraction capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies on our roads. The sanctity and preservation of human life must remain paramount in the conduct of every road user. No journey is so urgent as to justify compromising safety,” he stated .

This tragic incident occurred just 10 days after a dispatch rider was killed by a trailer at the Ilupeju Bypass . It was gathered that the tragic crash happened after the dispatch rider reportedly engaged in a struggle for right of way with a commercial minibus, popularly known as “Korope” . In the process, he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a moving articulated trailer along the busy Ilupeju corridor . The impact of the collision caused severe injuries, leading to the rider’s instant death at the scene . LASTMA officials successfully recovered the remains of the deceased rider trapped beneath the trailer while implementing measures to ease the heavy traffic congestion caused by the accident . Bakare-Oki had earlier warned about the rising rate of crashes involving dispatch riders, noting that over 862 crash victims involving dispatch riders were rescued through emergency interventions in 2025 alone . He identified several accident-prone routes including Eko Bridge, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Otedola Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway , and railway crossings around Ikeja, attributing the crashes to reckless overtaking, driving against traffic, fatigue, poor motorcycle maintenance, and phone use while riding.

Driver Dies as SUV Somersaults Multiple Times on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Police Arrest Two Nigerians, Three Others For Gang Rape Of Colombian Tourist

ROME, ITALY – Italian authorities have arrested two Nigerian nationals and three other foreign nationals in connection with the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a 32-year-old Colombian tourist in Rome, who was held captive for 72 hours in an abandoned building where she was repeatedly assaulted . The suspects were identified as Isibor Wisdom, 29, and Paul Nwabueze, 39, both Nigerians. Also arrested were Saidykhan Lamin, 29, and Karamba Kanteh, 38, both from Gambia, as well as Harouna Traore, a 43-year-old Malian .

According to reports from Italian media and international news agencies, the 32-year-old Colombian woman had arrived in Rome on May 16, 2026, together with a friend, for a holiday in the Italian capital . The nightmare began on May 19, 2026, when the victim was dining at a restaurant near Rome’s Termini Station . Investigators said the woman was approached by a man who offered to sell her hashish, a cannabis-derived product. The suspect, described by police as “the bait,” allegedly persuaded the woman to follow him. She walked with him for approximately 30 minutes before they reached a van, where she was forced inside by two other men . The victim was then transported to a deserted building on Via Cesare Tallone in the Tor Cervara district on the eastern outskirts of Rome . According to Italian police sources, the building was occupied by at least 22 undocumented migrants living illegally in the squalid complex .

During her captivity, which lasted three full days (72 hours) , the woman was allegedly repeatedly drugged, threatened with death, and subjected to aggravated gang rape by the five suspects . Police investigators stated that the five men alternated in the assaults over a 36-hour period, with the victim held in an abandoned room with blackened walls, shattered windows, and mattresses thrown on the floor . The victim was also reportedly robbed of her mobile phone and wallet, which prevented her from seeking help earlier . According to Il Tempo, the building where the crimes took place had been previously known to authorities. As recently as May 1, 2026, police conducted a raid there and seized replica firearms, ammunition, ecstasy pills, ketamine, cocaine, hashish, and heroin.

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At dawn on the third day of her captivity, the woman managed to break free from her captors. She was found half-naked on a pavement on Via di Tor Cervara by a passing driver, who immediately rushed her to the nearby Casilino Hospital . Upon examination, doctors identified injuries consistent with sexual assault and confirmed that she had been plied with drugs. The hospital activated a specialist programme for women who are victims of violence and alerted police, triggering an urgent investigation . Investigators from Italy’s Flying Squad Section IV launched an urgent probe. Within days, they reconstructed the events and organized a raid on the abandoned building, involving officers from the Prenestino district, the Forensic Police, and the Police Headquarters’ Immigration Office .

During the raid, police identified 22 non-EU citizens with illegal immigration status living in the building. Eleven of them were issued expulsion orders and taken to detention centres in Ponte Galeria, Palazzo San Gervasio, and Bari pending deportation procedures . Among those identified, five men were later recognized by the victim through photographic identification as the perpetrators of the violence she suffered . The five suspects were arrested and have since been charged with aggravated gang rape, with prosecutors citing the victim’s vulnerable condition—being drugged and held against her will—as an aggravating factor . They remain in police custody pending further legal proceedings .

Italian authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down additional individuals believed to have been involved in the crime. According to Il Messaggero, at least three other people are being sought, including the man who allegedly lured the tourist from the restaurant (described as an Italian man named Antonio), the person who transported her to the abandoned building, and the driver who conveyed her . Investigators are focusing their search on Termini Station, where the abduction occurred, and Tor Bella Monaca, a known drug-dealing square where the victim’s friend reportedly said they intended to buy drugs . The case has intensified political debate in Italy over urban security, migration policies, and the management of illegal squats in Rome’s neglected periphery. Fabrizio Santori, head of the League party in Rome’s assembly, called the incident “confirmation of the total failure of the Gualtieri administration on urban security” . Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies Fabio Rampelli demanded “severe penalties and immediate repatriation of those responsible” . The Colombian consulate in Rome is said to be providing legal and psychological support to the victim as investigations continue.

Police Arrest Two Nigerians, Three Others For Gang Rape Of Colombian Tourist