NEWS
Delta Police Bust Gun Running Syndicate Involving Couple
By Francis Sadhere, Asaba
The Delta State Police Command has successfully dismantled a gun-running syndicate involving a married couple in a well-coordinated sting operation.
The operation, carried out on March 9, was based on credible intelligence and led to the arrest of Mr.
and Joshua Bogbon Godwell, residents of Okpe Local Government Area.In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent Bright Edafe, on Thursday, the police seized a fabricated Beretta pistol with a live round of ammunition, which was reportedly intended for delivery to a client in Sapele.
Uche Joshua, the wife, admitted to her role as the dispatcher, revealing that she had delivered several firearms as directed by her husband to clients in Warri and Sapele.
Further investigation into the matter led to the arrest of Junior Moses Ogedegbe, a 30-year-old man from Useifurun community in Ughelli South Local Government Area. Ogedegbe is believed to be a member of the criminal gang. Efforts to recover more firearms and apprehend additional suspects are still ongoing.
In a related operation, police also arrested a group of notorious kidnappers and internet fraudsters in the Mosogar and Jesse areas, which have been plagued by cultism and criminal activities.
According to Edafe, the police acting on intelligence about suspected kidnappers and armed robbers, the CP Special Assignment Team raided the towns on the morning of March 9, 2025, making several arrests.
Among those apprehended was Festus Oboyo, a 26-year-old suspected kidnapper and internet fraudster from Igbopa community in Ethiope West Local Government Area. A locally made gun with a live cartridge was recovered from him, along with an FBI impersonated enlargement carrying his picture, which he had used in his fraudulent activities.
Also arrested were Favor Omowo, 29, aka “Voltage,” and Gift Omowo, 26, both from Jesse town in Ethiope West LGA. The suspects are believed to be part of the criminal gang involved in kidnapping and internet fraud.
The Delta State Police Command has assured the public that efforts to apprehend more suspects and combat criminal activities in the region are ongoing.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has advised pilgrims to stay in their tents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. due to soaring daytime temperatures during the pilgrimage.The Chairman of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, gave the advice while speaking to newsmen in Makkah on Sunday.
Daily Asset reports that Saudi Arabia, through its National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), had on Sunday issued heatwave warnings for Hajj 2025, urging pilgrims to take precautions amid soaring daytime temperatures between 40°C and 47°C. The NCM forecasted challenging weather, including high temperatures, potential thunderstorms, and reduced visibility.Saleh said NAHCON had a stakeholders’ meeting where all the Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Boards were mandated to tell their pilgrims that no pilgrim would be allowed out of their tents in Mina and Arafat due to soaring temperature.“Yesterday we called all the stakeholders. We met with them and mandated them to announce and tell their people that nobody is allowed to be out of the tent from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.“It is not advised to go out because the temperature is not normal this year. We also advised them to continue drinking water.“If it is necessary to be outside, let them go with water in hand. Let them take their umbrellas and use them, just because the temperature is not normal.The NAHCON chairman urged the media to help the commission to disseminate the information to the pilgrims to adhere to the heatwave warnings.“So, media, please you are our eyes, you are our voice to the public. Help us tell our people to regard this instruction.”Report says that approximately 63,000 Nigerian pilgrims are expected for the 2025 Hajj. (NAN)
Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have neutralised three suspected bandits in Wase Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau.Maj. Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of OPSH, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Jos.Zhakom, who said that the feat followed an intelligence tip, added that the troops also recovered weapons during the operations.
“Yesterday , troops of OPSH, acting on credible intelligence, conducted offensive operations at a criminal hideout along the fringes of Pinau community in Wase LGA of Plateau. “During the operation, troops made contact with criminal elements terrorising the general area, including Pinau – Gimbi road.“During the exchange of fire, troops overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower and neutralised three of the suspected bandits“While others ran away with wounds from gunshots, troops exploited the general area and recovered one AK-47 rifle and one AK-47 magazine,” he said.Zhakom said that the troops had commenced a follow-up operation to intercept the fleeing criminals. (NAN)
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
A former commissioner in the immediate past administration of Former Governor Ben Ayade, Dr Edem Okokon Effiom has commended the State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu for his development strides in cross river in two yearsEffiom made the commendation recently during an interaction with journalists at his residence in Calabar.
While appraising the performance of the Governor, he said nobody would have done better than what the Governor has done in the State considering the cash inflow to the stateHe stressed further that Governor Otu had performed magic from infrastructure, the health sector up to the Education sectorAccording to him, “look at the remodeling of the State cultural center in Calabar, the State library complex even the ongoing construction works at the 12 km Adiabo- Eseku road that was abandoned since the military regime about 33 years ago and the reconstruction of the State Newspaper Cooperation and many others,” Effiom stated. ”His administrative style and administration, as I have often elaborated in several forums, is a mixture of humility, calmness, and wide recognition”.”His Excellency Governor Bassey Edet Otu is an embodiment of humility. He wears the garment of calmness, and that calmness also radiates within his administration”.He said the Governor has brought in a quiet infrastructural revolution, re-innovation and reconstruction of dilapidated and abandoned infrastructures. Stating that this is seen clearly from both the rural and Oban infrastructure.”We can see this clearly from the hospital and medical infrastructure. We have seen this quiet revolution taking place with very little noise across the State,he’s a man for whom I think his work can speak for him”.”Cross Riverians can naturally assess his administration in the last two years, he is a man who has enjoyed the followership of the large populace”.”So, if the people say that we want him to continue, come 2027, so be it. He merits it. In all ramifications, he merits it”.”In his way of life, his composure in life and the way he touches politics. He brings a lot of Midas touch to politics. He actually merits a second term which is not negotiable””So for me, I will also subscribe to those who say he should come back in 2027″, he concluded.
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