Crime
Gunmen Demand N620 Million In Ransom For Kidnapped Railway Passengers.
....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Odia stated that the demand was absurd, calling on the authorities to intensify efforts in rescuing the 31 hostages in the custody of the kidnappers.
He also said that the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo and the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidel Okhiria were at Igueben to assess the situation.
Odia said the authorities promised to deploy helicopters on Tuesday to locate where the victims were kept in the bush.
He said, “I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20m, totalling N620m. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money.’’
The Edo state police spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor could not confirm the veracity of the claim.
However, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed that six victims had been rescued, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining 26 victims.
The commissioner in a statement noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki had given directives that the criminals should be arrested.
He added that two wanted kidnappers who were not connected to the present case have been arrested and would also help the police in their investigation.
The statement read, “Following the directive from Governor Godwin Obaseki that the kidnappers that attacked the train in Igueben on Saturday be smoked out of their hiding and the persons abducted be rescued, we are happy to announce that six persons have been rescued.
“The six persons are: a 65-year-old man, a nursing mother and her baby, a six-year-old girl and two siblings; aged two and five years old.
“We commend the efforts of the rescue team in the bushes and their support staff that have been working tirelessly since the incident occurred to ensure the kidnapped passengers are rescued and reunited with their families.
“We are confident that the other victims will be rescued soon as the highly motivated security personnel are in high spirits and have doubled down on the hot chase of the kidnappers.’’
“As events unfold in the bushes, be assured that we will keep you posted and we crave the support of all stakeholders, particularly the media, to stay with the facts and avoid sensational reports that could further inflict emotional pain on the families and friends of the victims who are already in distress. Operation Bush Combing continues,” Nehikhare added.
Also, the NRC MD, in an interview with Channels TV on Monday, said the agency had got approval to acquire sophisticated security systems.
On whether lessons were learnt from the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train, he stated, “We learned a lot from the last attack.
improved our security by increasing the number of personnel; vigilantes, army, police, and some technology but we are not there yet.“We have to continue to improve and make sure that we get the required result.
“On Itakpe-Warri, we have engaged the local community to protect and also support the security architecture we have in place.
Crime
Plantain Peel Plot Exposed! Nigerian-British Grandma Busted With 13kg Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport!.
-
Airport Arrest: A 67-year-old Nigerian-British caregiver, Mary Yetunde Barek, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 28, 2026, while attempting to board a flight to London. Authorities discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside her luggage, which had been creatively packaged to resemble plantains. The suspect has admitted to owning the illicit materials.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
-
-
From Caregiver to Criminal: 67-Year-Old Grandmother Caught in Daring 13kg Cocaine Smuggling Attempt!
-
Hidden in Plain Sight! NDLEA Uncovers 13kg of Cocaine Stashed in Fake Plantain Peels in Grandma’s Luggage!
-
Grandma’s “Fruit” Gamble Fails! NDLEA Foils Massive 13kg Cocaine Trafficking Bid at MMIA!
-
London-Bound Nightmare! Nigerian-British Grandma Arrested Over 13kg Cocaine Discovery at Lagos Airport!
-
A former security guard, 22-year-old Sodeinde Olajuwon Phillips, has confessed to his involvement in the murder of Olakitan Ibiyola Oyesiku, a retired Ogun State broadcaster widely known as Aunty Kitan. The 67-year-old Oyesiku, who had retired from Ogun State Television, was killed along with her current security guard, Pelumi Adetayo, at her residence in Agodo village, Kobape, Abeokuta.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The investigation into the deaths was spearheaded by the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, who revealed that a crucial handwritten note found at the scene played a pivotal role in leading detectives to the suspects.
“We met her lying, facing upward to the sky, and we saw a paper, a note on her chest, and we equally found the same paper differently spread on the table in the living room,” Ojajuni stated. He further explained, “We discovered that the one that was met on her chest, the handwriting was totally different from the others that were spread.”
The use of intelligence gathering and technical tracking enabled the police to recover the deceased’s Lexus RX 330 and subsequently arrest three suspects. They were identified as Olajuwon (the former employee), 27-year-old Sakirudeen Abdulraheem Ayoola, and 36-year-old Sobu Obafunsho.
A Tragic Motive: Money for Rent and Perceived Unfair Pay Upon questioning, Olajuwon provided a detailed and disturbing account of why the attack was orchestrated. He explained that a primary motive was the need for money to secure new housing for himself and Ayoola.
“My name is Sodeinde Olajuwon Phillips, and I am 22 years old. Myself, Shakirudeen and Sobu participated in the robbery and killing,” he confessed. He further elaborated, “We did it because she did not pay us well when we worked for her.”
Describing the robbery, Olajuwon recounted: “Shakirudeen and I needed more money to rent an apartment. So, we wore masks, forced the security guard to ring the bell, and after gaining entry, the security guard was taken back to his post.”
Following the attack, the group stole Oyesiku’s vehicle. Olajuwon detailed their escape, saying, “We left with her vehicle. Shakirudeen drove the car while we left together. We collected it from her before she died and drove to Onikolobo. I alighted under the bridge and went straight home, while Shakirudeen drove away with the vehicle.”
The stolen Lexus RX 330 was later recovered by the police in proximity to Olajuwon’s residence. The investigators found that the vehicle’s license plates had been removed and concealed under one of the seats.
Crime
Billions Recovered: EFCC Unearths Massive ₦38.66 Billion Haul In Explosive Refinery Fraud Probe.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦38.66 billion in cash and assets as part of an active investigation into the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries. The total recovery comprises ₦9.4 billion, $21.2 million (roughly ₦29.26 billion at the official exchange rate of ₦1,380 to the dollar), and various landed properties linked to the individuals under investigation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
-
The probe focuses on approximately $2.79 billion released between 2021 and 2023 for maintenance work on refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
-
Allegations include money laundering, procurement fraud, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, and abuse of office.
-
The Federal Government had committed significant funds to these projects—$1.56 billion for Port Harcourt, $740.7 million for Kaduna, and $492.3 million for Warri—yet investigators found minimal evidence of actual operational improvements.
-
Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), its subsidiary, refinery managing directors, and major contractors like Daewoo Engineering Nigeria Limited and Tecnimont SPA are currently under scrutiny.
Enforcement Actions and Key Individuals
-
The EFCC has interrogated over 30 senior NNPCL officials and more than 50 representatives from contracting and subcontracting firms.
-
Last year, the commission arrested several high-ranking officials, including Umar Isa, Tunde Bakare, Ahmed Adamu Dikko, and Ibrahim Onoja.
-
Former Port Harcourt Refinery Managing Director Ahmed Dikko is accused of bypassing contractual procedures; authorities have traced ₦983.9 million, $227,030, and three landed properties to him, all of which are subject to an interim forfeiture order.
-
Senior official Jimoh Yisawu is accused of approving inflated invoices and payments to unqualified third-party contractors, resulting in losses exceeding $10 million and nearly ₦8 billion.
-
Investigations traced over ₦1.4 billion and four landed properties to Yisawu, which have also been placed under interim forfeiture while prosecutors prepare formal charges.
-
latest11 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics3 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics3 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp