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BREAKING: Abducted FirstNews Editor, Olatunji in DIA Custody – IPI Nigeria Reveals

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***Says Tinubu Should direct Military Authorities to produce FirstNews Editor Segun Olatunji

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) on Wednesday called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to activate the powers of his office as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to free the detained Editor of FirstNews Online, Segun Olatunji, who was abducted in Lagos by gunmen on Army Uniform about two weeks ago.

According to Multiple checks by the International Press Institute, it was confirmed that Mr Olatunji is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The organization however urged President Tinubu to direct the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, to produce Segun Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews, who was abducted from his home in Lagos twelve days ago.

A statement by the President, IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed and Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, Tobi Soniyi, obtained by Arise News in Abuja said its multiple investigations, reveal that Olatunji is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The statement reads, “Multiple checks by the International Press Institute reveal that Mr Olatunji is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.

“For the past eleven days, the abducted journalist has been kept incommunicado, with his family, employers, and colleagues unaware of his whereabouts. IPI Nigeria has received inquiries about this matter from all over the world.

“The Institute has also contacted the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation seeking information on Mr Olatunji and demanding his release. All efforts in this direction have so far failed.

“That has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public concerning the journalist’s safety.

“IPI is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence. The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military.

“The rule of law demands that an accused person is allowed to defend himself in a court of law within a reasonable time. This also conforms with the provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which forbids the detention of any citizen or resident beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order.

“According to reports, armed men in two unmarked vans arrived at Mr Olatunji’s home in Lagos on March 15. The men, two of whom wore military-style uniforms, introduced themselves as officers of the Nigerian Army and forced Mr. Olatunji to go with them. They declined to tell his wife, who witnessed the abduction, where he was being taken.

“As a matter of urgency, the military should tell the world why Mr. Olatunji was arrested, where he is being kept, and why he has not been charged in court.

“IPI Nigeria is reminding the Nigerian authorities that when it comes to upholding human rights, Nigeria continues to rank low in the comity of nations. Keeping a citizen beyond the period allowed by the Constitution will only worsen Nigeria’s standing in the International community. The time to act is now.”

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Pregnancy Dispute Turns Deadly: UNIPORT Student Burns Lover

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 300-level undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt, identified as Cynthia Chukwundah, who allegedly set her lover on fire in a private residence in Choba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

Recall that the incident occurred on Sunday during a heated argument between the two lovebirds before the girl resorted to such action.

It was later gathered that the scuffle revolves around the pregnancy of the girl, even as her lover, a 32-year+old Sunny Amadi, died from injuries he sustained from the fire.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and sent to the media.

Iringe-Koko also said the girl, who also suffered some burns from the inferno, is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital under the watch of the police, saying the command has launched an investigation into the incident.

The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of and deeply concerned about a circulating social media report depicting a fire incident that occurred at No. 11B Okoro Street, Choba, Port Harcourt.

“According to the report, one Cynthia Chukwundah, a 300-level female undergraduate student of the University of Port Harcourt, allegedly set her boyfriend, one Saint Sunny Amadi, a 32-year-old male from the Elibrada Community in Emohua LGA, ablaze in a room, resulting in severe injuries during the inferno.

“He was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical treatment.

Upon receiving the report at about 1112 hours, Police detectives from the Choba Division promptly visited the scene and the victim at the hospital, who was in critical condition.

Unfortunately, the victim later succumbed to injuries and died while on admission.

”She added, “The Police have located Cynthia, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital due to injuries she also sustained during the incident.

She is also heavily pregnant with the deceased’s child.“

Due to her critical condition, she is unable to provide a detailed account of the incident, but will do so when her condition is stable.“

The probable cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained, and a thorough investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The State Police image maker said the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, urges the public to remain calm, peaceful, assuring that justice would be served in this tragic incident.

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Police Nab 8, Rescue Kidnap Victims, Uncover Arms Cache

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……As IGP Reaffirms Commitment To Intelligence-Led Policing.

The Nigeria Police has again recorded significant successes in the fight against cultism, violent crimes, gunrunning, and kidnapping across Delta, Katsina, Adamawa and Edo states.

This comes in a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations in Edo State, on 26th June 2025.

Two individuals; Godday Irieude and Wisdom Emeka were abducted from their farm in Ewatto area at about 1:00 AM.

Police operatives in synergy with local vigilante groups, trailed the abductors to their hideout and launched a coordinated rescue operation.

The kidnappers upon sighting police operatives, engaged them in a fierce gun duel.

However, the superior fire power of the operative caused the kidnappers to flee with various degree of gun shot injuries, leading to the rescue of the kidnapped victims unhurt.

Similarly, Police operatives attached to the Delta State Command, acting on credible intelligence and a search warrant, stormed a residence in Mosogar area occupied by two suspected cultists; Koko Josh (29) and Asomugha Clinton (27).

A thorough search of their premises lead to the recovery of 1 fabricated Baretta pistol loaded with two rounds of live ammunition, two locally made guns, eight live cartridges, multiple mobile phones, a laptop and fetish items.

Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects; Anthony Kelvin (26) and Gift Amotsuka (25) all confirmed to be members of Aiye Confraternity.

In a separate operation executed in Okpanam area of Delta State, police operatives arrested two suspects; Ekene Chroma (36) and Okafor Jonathan (18) in possession of two English-made single-barrel guns and 110 live cartridges.

Preliminary investigations revealed their involvement in illegal arms dealing, acting as suppliers and couriers for wanted criminals.

In a separate operation in Funtua, Katsina State, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) apprehended one Yunusa Ishaku (40) in possession of two stolen vehicles (a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Camry).

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to his role in a nationwide vehicle theft ring targeting Abuja, Jos, and other cities, with stolen vehicles being conveyed to Niger Republic for resale.

He further revealed the locations of three additional stolen vehicles( Honda accord, Toyota carina II, Toyota camry 98) in Zamfara and Bauchi States. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices and recover more stolen exhibits.

In another related development, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Alhaji Iya Bima, a 52-year-old man from Kem Shithem LGA, Adamawa State in possession of One AK-47 rifle, Two magazines and Fifty rounds of live 7.62×39 mm ammunition.

Further interrogation led to the recovery of additional Ak-47 rifle, 3 magazines and 50 rounds of ammunition.

All suspects would be arraigned before the court of law upon completion of investigation

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, once again reaffirms the resolve of the Nigeria Police Force to intensify intelligence-driven policing, disrupt criminal syndicates causing unrest across the country.

The Force urges members of the public to remain vigilant, support police operations, and report suspicious activities via dedicated emergency lines or to the nearest police station.

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Crime

FBI: Lagos Yahoo Boy Defrauds U.S. President Donald Trump

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation has filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize property belonging to Lagos-based fraudster, Ehiremen Aigbokhan for allegedly stealing more than N460 million in funds meant for U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.

The FBI is also actively pursuing an arrest warrant for Mr Aigbokhan in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted a donor intending to contribute to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee.

According to legal filings seen by Peoples Gazette, Mr Aigbokhan and his co-conspirators allegedly carried out a sophisticated fraudulent operation using the notorious Business Email Compromise scheme to trick their victims into sending money to cryptocurrency accounts belonging to them.

In the weeks leading up to the inauguration on January 20, 2025, the FBI reported that fraudsters created several fake email addresses to mimic the legitimate ones used for the ceremony, which they sent to dozens of people, requesting donations for Mr Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.

On December 26, 2024, one of these fake emails, with the address @t47lnaugural.com, was sent to a victim to mimic @t47inaugural.com, the official email of the co-chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, Steve Wiktoff.

The victim subsequently sent 250,300 USDT.ETH to the criminals. The 250,300 USDT.ETH is estimated to be worth over ₦400 million at the current black market rate.

Within days of receiving the money, the perpetrators immediately disbursed 215,000 USDT.ETH to several crypto wallets before the FBI caught wind of the scam and requested crypto operator Tether to freeze the accounts, which the company voluntarily adhered to on December 31, court documents showed.

Following the scam, the FBI immediately launched an investigation into the matter, and records of the crypto address associated with the scheme were traced back to Mr Aigbokhan in Lagos.

Investigations by the FBI revealed that part of the stolen funds were transferred to a Binance.com account registered to Mr Aigbokhan, who created the account in October 2024.

The Binance account had no prior deposits before receiving transfers from the scam wallet.

Further digital forensics linked the fraudulent email accounts and cryptocurrency transactions to Nigeria, with IP address data consistently tracing logins and email activity to Lagos, corroborating the connection to Mr Aigbokhan.

The agency said 20,017 USDT.ETH was seized from Mr Aigbokhan’s wallet, and another 20,336 USDT.ETH from 0xC7bdBA7ffB126F68E8454C, totalling over N60 million in black market rate, which Rick Blaylock Jr, the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, is asking the court to declare its forfeiture.

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