Headlines

How Pastor Was Arrested For Stealing 12 Kids

Published

9 years ago

September 12, 2016

A man who claims to be a pastor and solely known as Pastor Chinedu (surname withheld) who heads a Pentecostal ministry in Ogidi, Anambra state has been arrested for kidnapping and in possession of 12 stolen kids.
The police in Delta state smashed Chinedu’s syndicate which specializes in buying and selling of children. The syndicate, which is allegedly led by Pastor Chinedu, was alleged to have kept 12 children in his custody.
The 48-year-old pastor was alleged to have connived with others, namely, David, Ebere, Adaeze (a 22-year-old lady) and 55-year-old Chike (all surnames withheld) are now being held for interrogation at the headquarters of the command in Asaba, the Delta state capital.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, said that the pastor paid N400, 000.00 for each child sold to him. The bubble burst when one Aisha Yahaya of Umuezei quarters, Asaba, raised the alarm that two female members of the syndicate, Nnoruka (surname withheld) and Chidinma (surname withheld) tricked her and stole her one-year-old child.
Yahaya told the police that the suspects posed as prison officials from Ogwashi-uku Prisons, adding that they allegedly brought a message from her husband.
“The complainant further disclosed that she followed them to a junction where they met one woman, Abigail (surname withheld), who gave her N3, 500.00 and asked her to go and buy clothes for her daughter, Fatima Yahaya.
“In the process, the little girl was stolen by the syndicate. She, however, raised alarm that led to the arrest of 21-year-old Nnoruka and Chidinma, 20, while they were attempting to escape,” Ibrahim told journalists.
“Based on this, detectives immediately swung into action and arrested a member of the syndicate, 11-yesr-old Onyinye, daughter of Abigail who was found with the stolen little girl, where she was at a drinking bar in Asaba”, she further explained.
Speaking further, the police boss explained that the 32-year-old Abigail and Ifeoma, a lady, who were arrested at Okpanam, confessed to the crime and led detectives to Ogidi, Anambra State, where 12 suspected stolen children were recovered from the pastor.
He said the suspects were undergoing investigation while two of the recovered children were handed over to their parents. The remaining 10 within the age bracket of six months to two years are being kept at St Barnabas Orphanage, Asaba, pending identification by their families.
According to him, efforts were on to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
It would be recalled that the theft of children for sale has been rife in the country in recent times. In July 2016, a bricklayer in Oyero area of Ijoko, Ogun state, Ola Ibikunle was arrested by the police for stealing and selling children for the sum of N1, 500 each. Ibikunle was reportedly caught trying to strangle a four-year-old girl, named Eniola, who he abducted.
The little girl and her 11-year-old sister, Opeyemi, were following their father to a church in the afternoon. When their father had gone some distance ahead of them, Ibikunle pounced on the children and abducted Eniola. But the elder sister, Opeyemi, raised an alarm that attracted the attention of some passersby, who searched the immediate neighbourhood and found Ibikunle in an uncompleted building as he was attempting to strangle the girl.
The irate mob set upon him, and beat him to an inch of his life, before he was rescued by the police. Again, on August 24, 2016, Christiana Idowu, a two-year-old girl, who was walking to school with her four-year-old sister, Rebecca, was stolen by a woman about 10am, very close to their home in the Mazamaza area of Lagos.
The woman smacked Rebecca and then warned her not to scream before she forcefully pulled the younger sister away from her and made a quick get-away. The toddler is yet to be recovered and her fate unknown.
In a similar vein, troops of Two Brigade Nigerian Army, involved in the ongoing Crocodile Smile operation in the Niger Delta region raided a notorious kidnappers’ camp at Obiozumini near Obite, in Ogbema/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area of Rivers state.
The troops, who were earlier ambushed, engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel and eventually subdued them and rescued one kidnap victim held hostage in their den.
A statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations said the ongoing operation would be sustained until criminality was subdued.
“The troops during raids, cordon and search operations as part of the training exercise, have also discovered and destroyed 52 illegal refineries and refinery cooking pots in Krakrama, Bille and Better land community general area.
“The troops discovered six refining cooking pots at Better Land community which unfortunately could not be destroyed instantly because of proximity to the community.”
“They also recovered two high powered Engine boats, 10 empty drums and 1 pumping machine. Plans for destroying the illegal refinery with Swamp Buggy is in progress,” he added.

Headlines

“Nigeria Is in a Hurry to Celebrate Victory Over Enemies of the State,” Says Tinubu as He Decorates New Service Chiefs

Published

1 month ago

October 30, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the newly appointed service chiefs to discharge their duties with utmost dedication and renewed commitment, declaring that “Nigeria is in a hurry to celebrate victory over enemies of the state.”

The President made this statement on Thursday during the decoration ceremony of the new service chiefs with their ranks at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the newly promoted officers, who joined the President in performing the decorations.

In his address, Tinubu underscored the central role of security in fostering national development and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Security is an essential element without which everything else becomes meaningless,” the President stated. “There can be no sustainable development if this fundamental need is not met. Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the dividends of governance.”

The elevation and decoration of the new military chiefs followed their confirmation by the National Assembly on Wednesday, after a closed-door screening session with lawmakers.

It will be recalled that, in a recent overhaul of the nation’s military hierarchy, President Tinubu appointed:

Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff,
Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff,
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff,
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and
Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

The new appointments mark a strategic restructuring of Nigeria’s security leadership aimed at strengthening the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other threats to national stability.

Headlines

FG Dismisses Coup Rumour, Reaffirms Confidence in Nigerian Military

Published

1 month ago

October 20, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Federal Government has dismissed widespread rumours of an alleged military coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, declaring its full confidence in the loyalty and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with The Punch on Sunday, insisting that the administration has “no reason whatsoever” to doubt the assurances given by the Defence Headquarters, which had earlier denied reports linking the detention of 16 military officers to a coup attempt.

“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said,” Idris stated.
“We believe the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and strengthening the fight against insecurity. The government commends their sacrifice and will continue to support them in safeguarding the country.”

The minister’s remarks came a day after the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, firmly debunked a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the detention of 16 officers was connected to a failed coup plot and the cancellation of the 65th Independence Day parade.

Gusau described the publication as “false, mischievous, and deliberately aimed at creating unnecessary tension and public distrust.”

He clarified that the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade was a purely administrative decision — taken to allow President Tinubu attend a key bilateral meeting abroad and to enable military units sustain ongoing counterinsurgency operations nationwide.

On the issue of the detained officers, Gusau said their case was “an internal disciplinary process” and not related to any political matter.

“The investigation involving the 16 officers is routine, aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks,” he explained. “An investigative panel has been constituted, and its findings will be made public in due course.”

Reaffirming the military’s constitutional role and unwavering commitment to civilian rule, Gusau stressed emphatically:

“Democracy is forever.”

Headlines

FG Moves to Reform Civil Service Disciplinary System for Greater Efficiency

Published

2 months ago

October 14, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Federal Government is set to overhaul the disciplinary control system in the civil service to promote efficiency, accountability, and timely resolution of cases.

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, made this known during a one-day joint retreat between the FCSC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Taiwo Hassan, Olaopa emphasized that the review would drive culture change, value reorientation, and improve the overall disciplinary framework in the public sector.

He likened the relationship between the FCSC and OHCSF to that of “Siamese twins,” noting that both bodies share crucial responsibilities in policy implementation, regulatory enforcement, and leadership across the service.

Olaopa also underscored the need for stronger collaboration and communication between the two institutions to avoid misunderstandings, build trust, and enhance service delivery.

The FCSC chairman further advocated for an integrated system that links merit-based recruitment, competency-driven human resource management, and performance evaluation with the civil service wage structure, saying such reforms would help reposition government as an “employer of choice.”

Speaking on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Esther Walson-Jack praised Olaopa’s reform initiatives, describing the retreat as a renewed commitment to strengthening collaboration and efficiency within the civil service.

The renewed push for reform follows rising concerns about bureaucratic bottlenecks, delayed disciplinary actions, and weak accountability mechanisms in Nigeria’s public administration.