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Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun

Published

2 months ago

July 13, 2024

The suspected cultists paraded with seized guns

Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested three suspected cultists with a deadly automatic pump action gun worth N700,000.

The suspects, Eyefia Godbless, 30, Imuetiyan Ewemade, 30 and Emeka Okpaja, 22, were alleged to be members of the Maphite confraternity.

The State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, disclosed that the suspects were arrested at Ubiaza Community, Off Sapele Road in Benin City, where they planned to avenge the killing of one of their members, (simply identified as Kokori) who was allegedly killed by members of Aye confraternity, a rival cult group in June 2024.

He noted that the State is recording remarkable progress in the war against cultists and other criminal gangs.

According to him, “This is an automatic pump action gun which is as deadly as AK-47 which has a bullet that can kill several people, unlike AK-47 which can kill just one person. According to the suspects, the gun was purchased for about N700,000.

“It’s difficult to separate cultism and heinous crimes like killings without fear or remorse. Look at their beret and constitution, the book that governs their illicit activities, killing, and counter-killings.

“They even confirmed they registered their organization in Edo State, they have been proscribed and their activities are illegal. We wouldn’t allow this in the State. We were able to arrest these ones and will arrest more of them in this fight.”

Items recovered from them included one automatic pump action gun, 11 live carriages, three green berets, and Maphite constitution.

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In another development, five suspected cultists at their hideout along Siluko Road were arrested by the Anti-vices Team of the Command.

“This incident is unfortunate as we appeal to our youths to gainfully engage themselves in profitable and positive activities as crime, cultism, and internet fraud do not pay.

“We are parading them to enable their members and other cult groups to know that crime doesn’t pay. The Edo State Government and the police, with the assistance of other sister security agencies and the press, will continue to sensitize the people on the danger of such groups.

“I want to assure you that with the collaboration of the judiciary, they will be diligently prosecuted and taken off the society,” the CP said.

Items recovered from them were two pump action guns, two locally-made single barrel guns, 20 live cartridges.

Other suspects paraded by the Edo CP included one Tony Osayande (48) who was arrested along Siluko Road by the Rapid Response Squad of the Command.

He was intercepted in one Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car with registration number YAB 389 BG, in which one pump action gun and two cartridges were recovered.

Another suspect, Apalobi Daniel, of Powerline, in Ugbiyokho, Benin City, was arrested for allegedly strangling his wife to death with his neck tie after an argument.

Suspected cultists arrested in Edo with N700k worth pump action gun

metro

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Shawulu Dan-Mammam,Commissioner of Police, Niger State

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

In a tragic turn of events, kidnappers who abducted a hotel owner, his manager, and a guest in Gauraka community, Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State, have executed their captives despite receiving a ransom of N25 million.

The incident, which occurred early on August 17, 2024, has also claimed the lives of two local vigilantes, Abubakar Muhammad and Ibrahim Garba, who were killed while delivering the ransom.

According to reports from City & Crime, the bodies of the victims were found in the Dogon-Daji Forest, a border area between Kaduna, Niger State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They were subsequently transported to an air force base near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Hussaini Abubakar, the commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Tafa, confirmed that the remains of the vigilantes were buried on Saturday following military clearance.

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Additionally, a man previously abducted from the community about a month ago was rescued with gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at an army medical facility in Abuja.

The abduction began around 1 am when the kidnappers raided the hotel, forcibly taking all the lodgers. Witnesses reported that the bandits fired shots while leaving, drawing attention to the crime. Despite the presence of a security hunter nearby, the individual fled upon seeing the attackers.

Community residents have expressed growing frustration over the escalating attacks, noting that the bandits frequently operate in nearby forests and along major roads, including the Ijah-Koro and Ijah-Gwari roads leading to Bwari town in the FCT.

Gauraka has experienced at least five kidnapping incidents in the past four months, underscoring the urgent need for increased security measures in the area.

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

metro

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested five Chinese nationals suspected of illegal mining activities in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibieno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The EFCC announced the arrests on Sunday, stating that its Special Task Force on Illegal Mining, operating in Uyo, carried out the operation based on credible intelligence regarding illicit mining activities conducted by foreign companies in Eket and Ibieno LGAs.

This development underscores the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to clamp down on illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s natural resources from exploitation by foreign entities.

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The agency’s vigilance in addressing illegal operations continues to support the country’s broader fight against environmental degradation and economic sabotage.

“The five arrested Chinese suspects are Zhon Qinping, apprehended on 10 September, and Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, arrested on 29 August.

“They were arrested at an illegal mining site, where a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, was being extracted.

“The suspects will face charges in court once investigations are concluded,” EFCC said.

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

(NAN)

metro

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Umar Shehu

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

The Katsina Community Watch Corps (CWC) has apprehended Umar Shehu on allegations of supplying illegal injections and drugs to bandits involved in kidnappings in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The arrest was reported by Bakatsine, a security expert and Conflict and Crisis Journalist in the Northwest region, via a post on X.

Accompanying the post was a video showing a significant quantity of syringes and Umar Shehu’s confession to his involvement in the illegal activities.

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“GOOD NEWS: The Katsina Community Watch Corp (CWC) in Ɗandume Local Government Area has successfully apprehended a man named Umar Shehu, who was involved in trafficking illegal injections and drugs to supply to bandits engaged in kidnappings in Sabuwa LGA all in Katsina State,” the post reads.

“The security team gathered crucial information from Umar and others, but only Umar’s information appeared in the video while others were not recorded for security reasons, according to an insider.”