DEFENCE
Police Officers’ Wives, Traders Protest Against Planned Demolition of POWA’s Complex

Some police officers’ wives and other traders, owners of shops at the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) Shopping Complex, Computer Village, Ikeja, have protested against a planned demolition of the complex.
They carried out a peaceful protest on Thursday in Ikeja after the complex was allegedly sealed by the state government to pave the way for the demolition.
Reports says that the officers’ wives and traders had earlier raised alarm over alleged plan by a group of persons parading themselves as policemen and using the name of the wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, to demolish the complex.
A senior police officer, allegedly connived with a property developer to displace thousands of traders, including police officers wives trading at the complex.
Mr Tobechuwku Maxwell, immediate past chairman of the complex, expressed sadness over the proposed demolition, stressing that the complex was feeding thousands of families, including police officers.
Maxwell called on Mrs Egbetokun, who is the POWA President, to intervene and disallow the impostors from carrying out their sinister motive.
He also appealed to the IGP to use his good offices to put a stop to the demolition and fish out those behind the illegality for prosecution.
“We are appealing to him to help us. We are law-abiding traders trying to eke out a living. If we are pushed out of the market, thousands of us will lose our means of livelihood and those who depend on us will also suffer.
“The plaza is owned by widows of former police officers and serving officers. In 2019, the complex was marked for demolition and when we inquired from Abuja, we were told that a developer who is desperate to have access to the complex is the one making effort to chase us out of the complex.
“Unlike 2019 when we got a notice of demolition, now we were only told to move out. We are hearing from the grapevine that the developer and others wanted to pull the building down unaware and vandalise our various goods worth billions of naira,” he said.
Mrs Abisola Azeez, the Iyaloja of Computer Village, said when the complex was being built, she was part of those who funded it
Azeez pointed out that only God had kept them in the complex up till now as different people always harrassed them whenever a new IGP comes in.
She noted that the agreement they had with the developers was 10 years, stressing that they were yet to reach the years agreed upon.
“We have been keeping the place neat, paint, we got the transformer by ourselves, we did everything by ourselves. We have developed the complex to a befitting plaza. Surprisingly, I don’t know why they want to dislodge us all and bring new people.
“They shouldn’t use Lagos officials to chase us out. The only time we got notice of demolition was from one property developer and that turned out to be a lie. If they want increments, we can sit down and discuss it.
“The IGP should help us, demolishing of the building would be bad for us, giving how far we have gone to keep and maintain their building for them all these while,” she said.
The current chairman of Computer Dealers Association, Mr Tayo Shittu, said some people were hiding under the guise of being sent by IGP’s wife to demolish the complex.
“We are patriotic Nigerians. We pay our taxes and we also pay our rent regularly. We were told the IGP’s wife gave them two months to finish their work and leave the complex.
“A similar incident occurred exactly four years ago, when a group of persons came and claimed that the then IGP’s wife sent them to demolish the complex, which turned out to be lie.
“In order to perfect their act, they brought someone who claimed to be an official of the Lagos State Ministry of Works to measure the whole complex on July 30, 2023, when nobody was around.
Our investigation showed that they were fake,” he noted.
The chairman appealed to IGP’s wife to come to their help, as a mother, and save them and police officers wives from moving into the empty labour market.
A source from the police headquarters annex, Moloney Obalende, Lagos, told NAN anonymously that the police authority was meeting with the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, over the issue. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Police Arrest 4 Suspects, Recover Stolen Property in A’Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said it had arrested four suspected criminals in Udi Street in Uyo and recovered numerous stolen items.
DSP Timfon John, the Command’s Public Relations Officer said this in a statement in Uyo on Monday.
John said that the suspects were arrested base on credible intelligence and in compliance with the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare’s directive.
She said that an operation which was inaugurated last Friday at exactly 1:15 a.
m., led to the arrest of the four suspects.”In a significant intelligence-led operation, operatives of the command raided a location in Udi Street, leading to the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of numerous stolen items.
The raid also resulted in the arrest of another two suspected receivers of stolen property,” she explained.
The command’s image maker said that exhibit including 14 sewing machine heads and a generator were recovered from the suspects.
According to her, two complainants have come forward and identified their stolen machines among the recovered items.
She added that investigation into the matter was ongoing. (NAN)
CRIME
Police Rescue 28 Kidnap Victims, Detain 10 Suspects In Enugu

The Police Command in Enugu has rescued 28 kidnap victims and detained 10 suspects in Enugu State.
The command also recovered firearms, ammunition, cash, vehicles, motorcycles and other exhibits in separate coordinated operations within the past 10 days.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe on Tuesday in Enugu.
Ndukwe said that the feat was part of the Command’s sustained efforts to rid Enugu State of unrepentant violent criminals.
“On May 18, at about 6:30 p.m., operatives attached to Umumba Police Division, working with the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards and community members, rescued two male and two female victims kidnapped along Umumba-Ndiuno-Aguoba Road in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
“This followed a tactical bush-combing operation.
“Four male suspects linked to the crime were immediately detained and are currently assisting with ongoing investigations,” he said.
The spokesman said that on the same day, at about 6:34 p.m., operatives from 9th Mile Division responded to a distress call and arrested a suspect.
According to him, the suspect and three others have attempted to kidnap a woman, who raised an alarm.
He said that the suspect, who was severely beaten by the mob, was taken to hospital for treatment and is being investigated further.
“Similarly, operatives from Okpuje Police Division of the Command, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards, on May 17, 2025, carried out a strategic bush-combing operation in a forest bordering Okpuje in Enugu State and Odolu in Kogi State.
“During the operation, they intercepted two men found with ₦150,000 and ₦70,000 respectively, intended for ransom payments, as well as loaves of bread and drinks requested by the kidnappers.
“Upon further incursion, the team encountered armed resistance from the kidnappers but responded with superior firepower, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds and abandon the victims, a pump-action gun, and two live cartridges.
“The victims were rescued unhurt and the exhibits recovered. Efforts to track down the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” he said.
Ndukwe said that earlier, on May 14, 2025, at about 5:30a.m., operatives from Igbo-Eze North Division, with the Military and Neighbourhood Watch, rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Amaka-Okpodu community in Kogi State.
He said that the victims, some of whom were returning from a traditional marriage ceremony, had been allegedly abducted on May 10, 2025, along Iyionu-Aguibeje Road in Igbo-Eze North LGA by hooded armed men.
“Five male suspects were subsequently detained following credible intelligence, and three firearms were also recovered. Additionally, a minibus and four motorcycles used by the travelling victims were earlier recovered from the scene of the crime.
“In another operation, on May 13, 2025, at about 9:45 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, acting on credible information, rescued a kidnapped victim along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway and recovered his Toyota Camry.
“A white Toyota Corolla with registration number ENU 703 LP used by the suspects and a Lexus 330 Jeep abandoned at the kidnapping scene in Premier Layout, Independence Layout, Enugu, were also recovered.
“Operations to hunt down the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” he said.
Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had commended the police operatives, the collaborating security agents and law-abiding community members for their efforts in making the operations successful.
The spokesman said that the commissioner reaffirmed the command’s avowed commitment to make Enugu State safer and more secure by rooting out violent criminals and their activities.
He said that the state police boss urged residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant and cooperative with police and other law enforcement authorities. (NAN)
CRIME
Police Nab Native Doctor, Recover Arms, Ammunition From Shrine

The police operatives of the Enugu command, attached to the Special Anti–Cultism Squad (SPACS) have nabbed a native doctor, for alleged possession of fire arms and ammunition hidden in his shrine.
This is contained in a statement issued by the command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, in Enugu on Monday.
Ndukwe said that the police recovered one locally-made pistol, one revolver pistol, one expended and one live .
38 special calibre ammunition and one live cartridge from his shrine located at Ugwuochie-Iwollo in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state.“The recovery followed the suspect’s confessional statements after his earlier arrest, as well as a subsequent raid on the shrine by the operatives.
“The suspect confessed to being a member of the Black Axe confraternity.
“He will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, commended the operatives for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum, ensuring that “Enugu State remains uninhabitable for unrepentant criminals.”
The commissioner also urged members of the public to remain supportive of the command’s efforts. (NAN)