Tag: Police

In a significant breakthrough in the fight against transactional organised crimes, the police have arrested two internationally wanted fugitives for alleged human trafficking and armed robbery.

The suspects identified as Felix Omoregie alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie” and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, were declared wanted by the Belgian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities for alleged human trafficking and armed robbery, respectively.

According to a statement by Police Spokesman ACP Olumiya Adejobi, Omoregie was arrested in Benin City, the Edo State capital, following diligent investigation, while Ezeje was nabbed at his hideout in Enugu.

Adejobi said Omoregie, alleged ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate, was declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice on December 19, 2019, for large scale trafficking of young Nigerian women, including minors, to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The police said his victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 used to manipulate and control them. 

“His criminal network involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remitted proceeds to him. Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership, Omoregie fled to Nigeria. 

“Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.

“He was arrested in Benin City, Edo State, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by Police operatives. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City,” stated Adejobi.

Ezeje, 37, was arrested in an operation by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State. 

“Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a series of serious crimes including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities. 

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“Intelligence gathered reveals that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria. He has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.

“The arrest was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police. The arraignment of Okwudili Ezeje is expected to take place shortly,” said Adejobi.

Commending the operatives involved in the arrests for their professionalism, diligence and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, said the force would remain committed to enhancing its global policing partnerships and ensuring that fugitives find no safe haven within Nigeria’s borders. 

“These arrests serve as a clear message that criminal elements, no matter how far they run or how long they hide, will be brought to justice. The Force calls on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative in the fight against organized crime, both at home and abroad,” he added.

The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed that the recent killing of Olotu Wanemi Omubo, the leader of the notorious cult group known as the Bobos, was executed by members of his own group.

This incident occurred on a Thursday along Good News Street in Azikoro town, located in the state capital.

Omubo, an indigene of Nembe in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state, was known for his involvement in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and served as a leader for the Phase 2 beneficiaries of the programme in Bayelsa State.

His killing has sparked various theories among local residents — some attribute it to ongoing cult rivalries, particularly the tension between the Bobos and the Vikings, while others suspect that external forces might have been involved as a form of retribution related to other killings.

However, during a media briefing yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, clarified that the murder was allegedly orchestrated by members of the Bobos themselves.

He said the internal conflict was characterised as an “intranet cult war,” where the motive behind the killing was a power struggle aimed at reshuffling leadership within the group.

Idu assured the residents of Bayelsa that measures were being taken to curb cult-related violence and that, despite Omubo’s notorious background and criminal record, his demise came at the hands of his gang members.

He said the police are committed to restoring peace and addressing the underlying issues contributing to cult violence in the state.

The Commissioner said: “Ninety-five (95) per cent of intelligence available to the police showed that he died due to intra-cult rivalry about leadership struggle. They took him out and made it look like an intercultural rivalry to profit from his death.

“It is on good authority that the deceased has been involved in nefarious activities. The last altercation with the police was over the issue of illegal gun possession.

“He was controversially influenced to be let off the hook, and that is why I have always said when you influence the release of a criminal off the hook, you are building a disastrous effect.”

He also announced the arrest of over nine persons for various crimes, including cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and murder.

In one of the cases, a 50-year-old native of Gombe State, Mohammed Adamu, was arrested alongside Adiamakubo Orubo, 37, over the alleged disappearance of one Ashiru Ishiaku, 26, a native of Kano State, along with his tricycle on April 29, 2025.

Also arrested was a member of the notorious Island cult group, David Ngo, 36 years old, native of Brass LGA, over the alleged stabbing to death of one Goodwill Ovuru at Agudama Ekpetiama on the 16th of April, 2025.

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At Onopa community in Yenagoa Local Government, one Monday, Daniel, 28, was arrested by the police for an alleged armed robbery attack on Amarachi Emeachi at her residence around Revenue House, Onopa.

A group of four men, armed with guns, reportedly dispossessed her of her Redmi phone valued at N180,000.

The CP stated: “On the 4th of May, 2025, one Endurance Odambe Chinedu, 24, from Ndokwa-East of Delta State, was arrested at Agbia community in Yenagoa at 1 pm with 10 live cartridges.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Black Axe confraternity, also known as the Aye cult group. During the execution of a search warrant, a battle axe, a black beret bearing the cult group’s insignia, and a crusher were recovered in his house.”

The Nigeria Police Force has announced that no additional charges should be imposed for the physical inspection of tinted glass permit applications.

In a statement to address growing concerns, the Force explicitly warned against any unauthorised demands for payment during the inspection process, labeling such actions as illegal.

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The statement reads: “No additional payment is required for the physical inspection process for tinted permit applications.

“Any request for such illegitimate charges should be reported immediately by calling: 09169907000. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to transparency, accountability, and public trust”.

The police in Edo State have arrested 95 suspected cultists and recovered two locally-made pistols, one single-barrel shotgun and 24 live cartridges/ammunition in the sustained intelligence-driven raids of their enclaves in Benin and environs in the past week.

The suspected cultists, according to Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), belonged to the notorious Maphites, Eiye and Aye confraternities, and were suspected to be responsible for the cult supremacy killings in Edo. 

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Yamu said: “Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, fdc, urges parents and guardians to keep a tab on the activities of their children and wards, in order to curb the menace of cultism. 

“Edo CP further warns youths in the state to desist from joining unlawful societies that can only dim their future, and ultimately claim their lives or those of other innocent persons.”

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Police Command have arrested at no fewer than 15 suspected car thieves and recovered 21 stolen vehicles, it was learnt on Friday.

FCT Commissioner of Police, (CP) Ajao Adewale, who addressed reporters at the command headquarters, said out of the recovered vehicles, six have been returned to their rightful owners after due verification.

Adewale explained that operatives of the command attached to Central Police Station, CPS on April 11, while on routine patrol around the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, Central Area, intercepted a Toyota Camry 1999 model being driven suspiciously by one Hassan Bukar.

The CP noted that upon sighting the operatives, the suspect attempted to evade arrest but was promptly given a hot chase and was subsequently arrested.

A preliminary investigation, according to the CP revealed that the vehicle was stolen from the premises of the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission and belonged to one Samson Otijede.

“The suspect confessed to having removed the vehicle with the intention of reselling it to his usual buyer in Kaduna State,” he stated.

The CP added that a bunch of master keys used for car theft were recovered from the suspect.

“The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations,” he said.

Similarly, the CP said that on April 10, 2025 one Daniel James of Churchgate Tower, Central Business District Abuja, reported at Central Police Station that his Toyota Camry 2011 model handed over to his mechanic, one Abdulazeez Auwal Salisu was stolen.

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After several failed attempts to reach Abdulazeez and retrieve his vehicle, James reported the matter to the Police.

“Detectives from the Central Police Station swung into action and traced the vehicle to one Alex Lucky Ologhosele in Gwarinpa, who had purchased the stolen vehicle from the said mechanic.

“The suspect was apprehended and the vehicle was recovered. Efforts are still ongoing to arrest Abdulazeez who is currently at large,” the CP said.

In another development, one Engr. Lawal Abdulrasheed of the Ministry of Regional Development, Abuja, reported at Central Police Station that his official Hilux vehicle, white in color with Reg. No. KWL 615 DP, was driven away by his official driver, one Abubakar Sadio.

“In a coordinated operation, Police operatives tracked the stolen vehicle to Kaduna State, where it was recovered in the possession of the said Abubakar Saidu who was attempting to sell it.

“Another Toyota Hilux without registration number was also recovered at the scene. The suspect is currently in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the CP said.

The CP also stated that on April 28, 2025, operatives attached to Life Camp Area Command responded to a report from a car buyer in Life Camp over a suspicious black colored Mercedes Benz 4matic E-400 with Reg. No. AAA 07 KA, which was about to be sold to him by five persons.

“Police detectives were promptly dispatched to the scene.

“Five suspects including: Suleiman Idris, Isyaku Habibu, Ganiyu Sadiq, Idowu Akintunde and Bello Muyideen were arrested. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was stolen from its original owner in Lekki, Lagos State.

“The vehicle was recovered and the suspects are in custody. They will be charged to court on the conclusion of investigations,” he said.