Connect with us

Crime

Niger State Government Receives 17 Kidnapped Victims Rescued By Police

Published

on

Niger State Government

Niger State Government Receives 17 Kidnapped Victims Rescued By Police

Niger state government receives 17 kidnapped victims rescued by police. One of the victims, Victoria Ishaya, told journalists that 15 of them were kidnapped from one household.

The Niger government has received 17 kidnapped victims handed over to the government by the police command in the state.

Deputy governor of the state,Yakubu Garba, received the victims on behalf of Gov. Umaru Bago at the police headquarters in Minna on Friday.

He disclosed that the victims were rescued by operatives of the Kaduna State police command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Mr Garba said the victims were from Wuloto and Kango communities under Kuchi ward in Muyan Local Government of Niger.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his efforts at reducing insecurity in the country and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for coordinating security efforts.

He also appreciated the Kaduna State government and the police for their humanitarian efforts in assessing the victims’ psychological health before handing them over.

He noted that the incident highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration, as the victims were rescued in Kaduna and returned to Niger state.

Mr Garba urged the police to intensify efforts to combat insecurity and encouraged citizens to support Gov. Bago in prayers. “The success of Bago-led administration is a blessing to the people.

“Within two years, insecurity and youth restiveness have reduced in the state and the governor needs our prayers and support to succeed,” he said.

“We appeal to parents and relatives of the victims to be patient and not rush to take them away. “Their lives and health conditions must be ascertained before handing them over to their parents,” he said.

In his remarks, Adamu Elleman, the newly appointed Police Commissioner in Niger, noted that the victims were 11 females and six males, from Wuloto village in Kuchi, Sarkin-Pawa, Munya LGA.

He attributed the successful rescue to a non-kinetic method showcasing the police’s strategic approach to combating crime.

Niger State Government

Niger State Government

Mr Elleman pledged to rid the state of criminal elements and vowed to intensify efforts to eliminate crime in the state, through constant patrols, stop-and-search operations, and arrests.

He assured that criminals would face justice, adding that, “I will not relent; I will ensure they are brought to book.” One of the victims, Victoria Ishaya, told journalists that 15 of them were kidnapped from one household.

“We were kidnapped about six months ago; our abductors came in the night, took us and crossed the river with us to one place in Kaduna,” she said.

Crime

EFCC Arrests Serial Fraudster Over Alleged N20m Visa Fraud In Enugu

Published

on

By

EFCC

EFCC Arrests Serial Fraudster Over Alleged N20m Visa Fraud In Enugu

EFCC arrests serial fraudster over alleged N20m visa fraud in Enugu. He said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Oyewale said the suspect was facing interrogation for allegedly obtaining N19.9 million from three victims under the pretence of assisting them to process visas.

He listed the three petitioners as Osmond Ugwu, Ugwu Chidubem, and Amadiani Chinedu, who alleged that they were defrauded by the suspect.

According to him, Mr Ugwu claimed that he met the suspect in 2018 when he was planning to travel abroad.

“The suspect reportedly presented himself as a visa agent, and lured him with an offer of a Red-cross sponsored visa to the United States of America at the cost of N1.8 million, excluding his flight ticket.

“Ugwu allegedly paid N4 million for the arrangement as well as other payments, which brought the total sum the suspect collected from him to N11.8 million.”

Mr Oyewale also said that the second petitioner, Mr Chidubem, claimed that the suspect conspired with his friend to defraud him of the sum of N5.9 million.

“The suspect assured Chidubem that he will procure genuine documents for him to further pursue his football career abroad.

“The third victim, Chinedu, in his own petition alleged that the suspect defrauded him to the tune of N2.2 million to procure a work permit and an accompanying visa to enable him to migrate to Australia.

EFCC

EFCC

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the 44-year-old suspect, who is an electrical engineer, was parading himself as a visa processing agent who helps people to migrate abroad easily.

“It was also discovered that he is not a licensed travel agent,” Mr Oyewale said.

He added that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Continue Reading

Crime

Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud

Published

on

By

Court

Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud

Former accountant-general Nwabuoku to 72 years in prison. Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.

Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.

He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the anti-graft agency accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The alleged offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), and is punishable under section 15(3) of the Act.

The commission said Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the ministry of defence between 2019 and 2021.

The former acting accountant general had filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court in November 2025.

Court

Court

Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by then President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.

But Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under EFCC investigation.

Continue Reading

Crime

Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery

Published

on

By

Friends Jailed 12 Months For Stealing Clothes In Jos

Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery

Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced Julius Ejiogu, a contractor to two years imprisonment for forgery.

The convict was arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering of false document on March 23, 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge setting the stage for trial.

The charge reads: “That you Julius Eljiogu and one Engr. E. Expert (at large) on or about the 2nd of August 2013, at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable did conspires amongst yourselves to committed felony to wit: make a document titled Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-operation Road in Udu L.G.A. Delta State dated 2nd August 2013 on a letterhead paper on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purported to have been issued or emanated from NDDC for the award of Contract which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 3 (1)(C) of the same Act.”

In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted by the court while the defendant testified as sole witness for his case.

Friends Jailed 12 Months For Stealing Clothes In Jos

Jail

Justice Olubanjo in his judgment (on Thursday January 15, 2026) found the defendant guilty on count one of the charge but discharged and acquitted him on count two and three . The judge consequently sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.

The convict’s road to jail began when he purportedly got a letter for the award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State from one Engr. Eshitt of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He went ahead to sell the contract to the petitioner for N2 million only for him to discover that the said contract award was fake.

Continue Reading

Trending