Crime Archives

80 Abducted Church Worshippers Escape Bandits’ Den in Kaduna

Feb 1, 2026 topnews

No fewer than 80 church worshippers abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State have escaped from captivity and reunited with their families. The worshippers were among 166 people kidnapped during a Sunday church service at Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area about two weeks ago. Confirming the development on Sunday, the Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, said initial reports had put the number of abducted worshippers at 177, but verification later showed that 80 victims managed to escape from the bandits’ camp and sought refuge in…

Pastor hires cultist to kill rival in Bayelsa

Jan 31, 2026 topnews

Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a pastor, Elijah Oro, over an alleged plot to assassinate a rival cleric in the state. Also arrested in connection with the plot is Samuel Daniel, a 21-year-old suspected member of a notorious cult group. According to the police, Pastor Oro allegedly hired Daniel to kill the rival pastor following a dispute linked to church membership drive and property issues. Confirming the development in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer,…

Army Smashes Bandits’ Camps, Rescues Kidnap Victims in Kwara

Jan 31, 2026 topnews

The Nigerian Army has intensified its crackdown on banditry in Kwara State, destroying multiple criminal camps and rescuing several kidnapped victims during coordinated military operations across the state. Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, working in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), carried out the offensive between January 23 and 29, 2026, under Operation Igbo Danu, targeting terrorist enclaves in remote parts of the state. Among the locations cleared was Garin Dandi, a notorious bandit stronghold in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where soldiers dismantled logistics bases…

Police Nab Two Dismissed Soldiers for Armed Robbery, Recover Stolen Vehicles in Ibadan

Jan 29, 2026 topnews

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two dismissed soldiers allegedly involved in a string of armed robbery attacks across Ibadan, recovering several stolen vehicles in the process. The suspects, identified as David Okhaie, 48, and Balogun Afolabi, 43, were apprehended on Wednesday by operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit following an intelligence-led operation that culminated in an intensive manhunt within the Ibadan metropolis. Police investigations revealed that the duo are former corporals of the Nigerian Army who were dismissed from service. They allegedly posed as serving military officers to…

Nollywood Actress Angela Okorie Remanded in Suleja Prison Amid Cyberstalking and Defamation Case

Jan 29, 2026 topnews

Nollywood actress Angela Okorie has been remanded in custody at the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State following her arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation charges. The actress was arrested at her residence in Lagos on Tuesday, January 27, by operatives from the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Centre after extended investigations into a case linked to repeated social media posts targeting fellow actress Mercy Johnson Okojie. According to court records, Okorie faced a three-count charge accusing her of conspiring with an associate,…

Nigerian-Born U.S. Professor in $1m Childcare Scam, Blames ‘Greed, Temptation and the Devil’

Jan 28, 2026 topnews

A Nigerian-born United States green card holder and university professor, Nkechy Ezeh, has admitted to looting $1 million (£780,000) meant for poor children in a massive childcare fraud and tax evasion scandal in Michigan. Ezeh, now facing up to 25 years in federal prison, pleaded guilty to running an elaborate wire fraud scheme that prosecutors say robbed vulnerable families to fund a life of luxury. According to court filings, the professor set up fake daycare centres, forged invoices and diverted public childcare subsidies into her personal accounts — sharing the…

Troops Arrest 65-Year-Old Woman Over Alleged Drug Supply to Boko Haram in Borno

Jan 26, 2026 topnews

Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have arrested a 65-year-old woman, Hauwa Abulazeez, over alleged involvement in supplying illicit drugs to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. The suspect was apprehended during Operation DESERT SANITY V in Askira Uba Local Government Area, where she is believed to have played a key role in supplying cannabis sativa to terrorist elements operating across several communities, including Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya. According to the military, Abulazeez allegedly served as a major distribution…

Edo Govt Arrests Cleric Over Alleged Sexual Abuse of Two Sisters

Jan 23, 2026 topnews

The Edo State Government has confirmed the arrest of the founder of the Royal Life of Christ Brethren Ministry, Bishop Gideon Osagie Osazee, over allegations of prolonged sexual abuse involving two sisters who were minors when the alleged acts began. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Eugenia Abdallah, disclosed that the cleric was apprehended following a formal complaint by the victims, who accused him of sexually abusing them over several years. The sisters alleged that the cleric exploited religious and family trust, intimidated them with oaths, and…

Man Jailed for Refusing to Refund ₦1.5bn Mistakenly Credited to His Bank Account

Jan 22, 2026 topnews

A customer of First Bank Plc, Ojo Eghosa Kingsley, has been convicted and sentenced by an Edo State High Court for fraudulently converting ₦1.5 billion that was mistakenly credited to his bank account. Kingsley was arrested by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he allegedly refused to refund the funds, opting instead to spend and transfer the money despite repeated demands from the bank. The EFCC arraigned him on Monday, January 19, 2026, before Justice W. I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High…

Lagos Police Bust Notorious “One-Chance” Fraud and Kidnap Syndicate, Arrest 13 Suspects

Jan 22, 2026Apr 11, 2026 topnews

The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a criminal network operating under the guise of “one-chance” robbery, arresting 13 suspects and uncovering what investigators describe as a major kidnapping and extortion base in the Alimosho area of Lagos State. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed the operation while briefing journalists at the syndicate’s hideout located at No. 85 Pipeline Road, Pipeline, Alimosho Local Government Area. Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) also visited the site and issued a contravention notice on the property.…