Police Arrest 2 Wanted Fugitives Over Human Trafficking, Armed Robbery

 The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested two suspected internationally wanted fugitives over human trafficking and armed robbery.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adejobi said that one of the suspects was a ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities while the second was a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang.

He added that the first suspect was the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation and had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice.

He disclosed that the notice was issued on Dec. 19, 2023, adding that the suspect was arrested in Benin, the Edo capital, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by police operatives.

The force PRO also said that the suspect was accused of trafficking young Nigerian women, including minors to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

He added that the victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging from £20,000 to £50,000 used to manipulate and control them.

According to him, the criminal network of the suspect involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remit proceeds to him.

”Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organisation leadership, the suspect 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.”

The police spokesman said the suspect has been scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin.

Adejobi said the second suspect was arrested by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State.

He said that the suspect was wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for series of serious crimes including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organised criminal activities.

He explained that intelligence had revealed that the suspect had continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria.

The force image maker disclosed that the suspect had been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall.

”The arrest is 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,” he said.

Adejobi said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court. (NAN)

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has traced over 300,000 dollars, laundered to a suspected internet fraudster.

A statement by Mr Dele Oyewale, the Spokesperson of the EFCC on Tuesday in Abuja said the suspect was among the 35 suspects arrested Sunday in Auchi area of Edo.

Oyewale said the arrest was sequel to credible intelligence that linked the suspects to fraudulent internet activities.

He said investigations had revealed that the suspect had collected and laundered over $300,000 for his syndicate members who were at large.

”Apart from internet fraud, EFCC’s investigations revealed that the suspect is equally involved in investment and banking fraud.

”He will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” he said

From Dan Amasingha, Minna 

In continuation of its onslaught against  criminals in Niger State, the Niger State Police Command has arrested another set of Twelve  suspected  car snatching  syndicate and rescued  Seven kidnapped  victims. 

The State Command  public Relations officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun in a crime bulletin  made available  to newsmen on Tuesday  said the Command  is determined  to dismantle  criminal network in the State.

” in continuation  of our effort to decimate crime and criminality in the State, the following breakthroughs were recently recorded “

He disclosed that, as on Sunday,  the 4th of  May, 2025 at about 12.

“Umar Mukhtar 25yrs of Okada Road, Minna 

-Shuaibu Ahmed 30yrs of the same address, and 

Mohammed Ibrahim Abba 25yrs of Tafa, Kaduna State”

According to him, the suspects were arrested at Dikko junction with a white Toyota Camry vehicle suspected to have been stolen, and during interrogation, Mukhtar confessed that on 3rd May, 2025 at about 8pm, one Mustapha of Angwan-Kaje area of Minna led him and Shuaibu to a residence in Bosso Estate for robbery.

He narrated that Mustapha was armed with a toy gun, while he and Shuaibu used screwdrivers as weapons. He said further that they requested for money but as there was no money, the wife of the victim drove in within the period of the robbery incident, and the vehicle with Reg. No KNT 785 SN was snatched.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that Mukhtar and Shuaibu drove the vehicle away, while Mustapha stayed back and locked the victims in the toilet to ensure that nobody raised an alarm.

” The said Mustapha linked Mukhtar and Shuaibu to Mohammed Abba at Dikko junction who was contacted to take them to Kaduna to dispose the vehicle”

The State Polic however  recovered  the vehicle and the suspects are under investigation, and effort to arrest Mustapha who is presently at large is ongoing.

Similarly,  On 3rd May, 2025 at approximately 2.30pm, acting on credible information, Police operatives attached to Maje Div arrested two suspects who specialised in theft of tricycles, the suspects namely Abdulaziz Salisu 19yrs of Madalla, Suleja, 

Abubakar Mohammed of Chachi village, Sabon-Wuse.

SP Wasiu Abiodun  said Investigation revealed that on 2nd May, 2025 at about 5am, the said Abdulaziz went to a mosque at Dakwa with the pretence to observe morning prayers, and when the prayers commenced, he ran out of the mosque and made away with a tricycle with Reg. No. GUS 16 VC.

Police operatives on stop and search at Maje Bridge intercepted the tricycle suspected to have been stolen, and during interrogation, he confessed that he stole the tricycle and that he was taken it to Abubakar Mohammed who would facilitate the movement of the tricycle to Katsina State to the buyer.

Meanwhile, on the 1st May, 2025 at about 6pm, information was received that there was a robbery incident at APC Quarters, Suleja where victims were robbed of their handsets and other valuables

” Consequently, Police operatives of ‘B’ Div Suleja were led to the scene by the DPO and one Mubarak Mohammed 16yrs was pursued and arrested.

In the course of investigation, the suspect confessed to taking part in the armed robbery and that there were thirteen of them as a syndicate. He led operatives to the arrest of others, who are; Ibrahim Mohammed 20yrs of Guaraka, the gang leader,  Abdullahi Yakubu 18yrs,Mohammed Abubakar 18yrs,Nasiru Musa 17yrs,  Shamsudeen Musa 18yrs

-Ahmed Ali, all of Galadima area of FCT, Abuja

The investigation led to the recovery of six cutlasses, three torch lights, charms, fourteen handsets, and four bags from their hideout under a mango tree along Abuja-Kaduna Express Road. All suspects are under investigation and they will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation and prosecution accordingly.

However on a cheering note, On 3rd May, 2025 at about 7am, a group of suspected kidnappers invaded Tungan-Boka and Masaha villages of Mashegu LGA and kidnapped seven persons. Unfortunately, one Garba Mohammed was shot dead during the attack.

However, at about 5pm of same date, a team of Policemen led by the DPO with vigilante members mobilised for a rescue operation, and trailed the suspected kidnappers to a forest within Tungan-Boka village where the hoodlums were engaged in a gun duel.

 As a result of this, the seven kidnapped persons were rescued unhurt as the hoodlums escaped from the scene. Effort is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing miscreants.