Security operatives in Kaduna State have successfully rescued 23 kidnapped victims from armed bandits in Kajuru Forest, Kajuru Local Government Area.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, confirmed that the operation took place on February 2, 2025, following credible intelligence about the movement of the criminals.

According to Hassan, the rescue mission was carried out by a joint team of police officers from the Kajuru Division and military personnel.

The security forces intercepted the bandits near Doka Village as they attempted to relocate their captives deeper into the forest.

“A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued, during which the security operatives overpowered the bandits, inflicting heavy casualties on them. The criminals fled into the forest with gunshot wounds, abandoning their victims,” he stated.

The rescued individuals, who had been reported missing from Kauru Local Government Area, were safely reunited with their families after being given necessary medical attention.

Commending the bravery of the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting residents and maintaining security in line with Governor Uba Sani’s efforts to combat crime in the state.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies to support the fight against banditry.

A midnight attack on Piroje village in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State has left one person dead and nine others kidnapped.

The attack, which occurred around 2 am on Saturday, was carried out by over twenty armed men, forcing many residents to flee into the surrounding forests for safety.

Piroje, located a few kilometers from Jimlari village along the Jalingo-Yola road, was thrown into chaos as gunmen stormed the area, firing sporadically.

Many women and children who escaped the attack were left to spend the night in the wilderness.

According to residents, the assailants neither looted property nor rustled cattle but abducted nine individuals.

As at the time of this report, the kidnappers have yet to contact the families of the victims.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Taraba State Police Command, SP Usman Abdullahi, stated that eight people were kidnapped while one person was killed.

He assured that security operatives were working to track down the attackers and rescue the abducted victims.

The Zone 2 Police Command in Onikan, Lagos, has dismantled a notorious syndicate involved in the abduction and illegal sale of children to Nigerians both within the country and overseas.

The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects, including two teachers, and the rescue of five children from various homes where they had been sold.

However, tracing the children’s biological parents has proven difficult, as some were abducted as infants, with one reportedly stolen at just two weeks old.

Police investigations revealed that some of the suspects had facilitated the sale of children to individuals in the United States and Italy.

In a shocking revelation, one of the suspects, 22-year-old Somtochukwu Onyemaechi, admitted to selling her own one-year-old son for ₦800,000.

She was, however, stunned to discover that her relative, who acted as the middleman, had resold the child for ₦1.5 million.

Speaking at a press briefing over the weekend, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ajao Adewale stated that the breakthrough came on January 8, 2025, following an intelligence report.

Acting on the directive of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Fayoade Adegoke, the Zonal Anti-Corruption Unit, led by CSP Ngozi Braide, tracked and arrested the suspects.

The suspects were identified as:

Ibezim Chioma – key supplier
Sunday Ochim – middleman
Sunday Okputu – child supplier
Sunday Faith – seller
Chinaza Echelibe – caregiver
Ifekwuna Ngozi – buyer
Nwakuba Helen – caregiver
Bada Adeniyi – seller

Rescued Children and Their Stories

1. Marvelous Obi (1-year-old) – Stolen as a newborn and sold to Mrs. Ibezim Chioma, who later resold him to Ken Obi and Marina Oluchi Appulus, a couple residing in Italy. The child was kept under the care of Chinasa Echelibe in Nigeria.
2. Promise Ifekwuna (3-year-old) – Sold in 2021 by Sunday Okputu to Mrs. Ibezim Chioma, who then transferred him to Mrs. Ngozi Ifekwuna for ₦500,000.
3. Somtochukwu Onyemaechi (1-year-old) – His biological mother, Faith Sunday, sold him in September 2024 through Ibezim Chioma and Sunday Okputu. The buyer, a resident of Alausa, Ikeja, later sent the child to Owerri, where he was found in the care of Nwakuba Helen. Helen, employed as a nanny, claimed the boy was brought to her by her sister, Caroline Enwerem, who resides in California, USA.
4. Chibuzomma Onyemaechi (3-year-old) – Found in the custody of Nwakuba Helen in Owerri, allegedly brought to her as a newborn by her sister in the U.S.
5. Praise Chukwudi Ibezim (6-year-old) – Bought directly by the prime suspect, Ibezim Chioma, for ₦800,000. He was reportedly taken from Mbaise, Imo State, at just one week old.

According to the police, the syndicate operated with precision, fulfilling specific orders from potential buyers.

The key supplier, Sunday Okputu, reportedly had no moral reservations about abducting unattended children if demand was high.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case was the role played by Faith Sunday, who sold her biological child.

She cited extreme poverty as her reason for taking such a drastic step.

“I was not married, and when I got pregnant, I couldn’t take care of my child. I asked my relative to find a buyer. After the sale, he gave me ₦800,000, but I later found out he sold my baby for ₦1.5 million,” she confessed.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakar, received the rescued children and assured that they would undergo medical evaluations before being placed in protective care.

He stated that the children would go through a structured nine-step process before any legal adoption could take place.

However, in the case of the child whose mother willingly sold him, the ministry may hand him over to a responsible family relative if one comes forward.

“If no relative claims him within a specified period, the government will assume responsibility for his welfare.”

The police vowed to continue their investigations to identify and dismantle any remaining networks linked to the syndicate.

The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended six suspected cultists in separate stop-and-search operations across the state, recovering arms, weapons, and other incriminating materials.

In a statement released on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that the arrests were made following an intensified security crackdown ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam.

Police operatives from the Anaku Divisional Headquarters intercepted a group of eight individuals riding on a motorcycle at Anaku/Omor Junction.

However, upon being stopped for a search, the suspects attempted to escape. A hot pursuit ensued, leading to the arrest of three of them, identified as:

Okafor Chibike

Ekene Lucky Nwadigbu

Godwin Osaz

Recovered from the suspects’ bag were:

One locally made double-barrel gun

One locally made revolver pistol

One dagger

Three Android phones

Four ATM cards

The police have launched a manhunt for the remaining five suspects who managed to flee the scene.

In a separate incident, police operatives from Awgbu Divisional Headquarters intercepted three more suspects at Eke Awgbu Junction on February 1, 2025, at around 7:43 p.m.

The suspects, traveling in a tricycle, were identified as:

Chidera Nwochia (20 years old, from Amiri Orlu, Imo State)

Chizurumu Elvis (23 years old, from Mbano, Imo State)

Kosisochukwu Obiechina (21 years old, from Agukwu Nri, Anambra State)

Upon searching their vehicle, officers recovered:

One 7.62mm live ammunition

A black axe

A gallon of a substance suspected to be hard drugs

A local pot

Red and white cloth with NBM and the number 7 inscription

Several pieces of red and white clothing and candles

Suspected Cult Activity

Preliminary investigations revealed that both sets of suspects are linked to the Black Axe Confraternity and the Aye Confraternity.

They reportedly confessed to being en route to initiation ceremonies at their respective cult hideouts.

The police have also seized the tricycle and motorcycle used by the suspects.

SP Ikenga assured that the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue. Once the inquiry is completed, they will be charged to court accordingly.

The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment to clamping down on cult activities and criminal networks in the state, urging residents to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.