Crime
Major Human Trafficking Networks Busted: Police Apprehend 11, Save Victims
The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled two major syndicates operating within the country, rescuing multiple victims, including children, pregnant women, and foreign nationals, while arresting a total of eleven (11) suspects across two states.
The operation comes in a bold and well coordinated crackdown on organised human trafficking.
Recently, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Zone-13 Police Command executed a precision-led sting operation, targeting a deeply rooted child trafficking and baby factory network.
The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects from various locations, including Uzoamaka Ani (27), Joy Madu (52), and Victoria Onodu Akasike (56).
These individuals, during interrogation, confessed to active involvement in child theft, abduction, illegal adoption schemes, and the operation of unlicensed medical facilities functioning as baby factories.
Their criminal activities were strategically spread across Enugu and Anambra States, targeting vulnerable women and children for exploitation and sale.
The victims rescued during the operation include a seven-month-old infant, a four-year-old child, and two heavily pregnant women, all held under captivity in a remote village.
Both pregnant women, identified as indigenes of Ebonyi State, were reportedly lured and held for the purpose of forced births and subsequent sale of their newborns.
The rescue was swift and executed without harm to the victims, who are now in safe custody and receiving necessary care.
Meanwhile, efforts have intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate who managed to escape during the sting.
In a similar development, operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have successfully rescued a Ghanaian national, David Angerinya, who was trafficked into Nigeria under pretences.
This operation was launched following a formal petition from the Interpol Liaison Office at Force Headquarters, Abuja, calling for immediate police intervention in a suspected case of transnational human trafficking.
Acting swiftly, the operatives initiated a targeted investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects: Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix.
Investigations revealed that these suspects are part of a wider international trafficking syndicate that specialises in deceiving individuals, particularly from neighbouring West African countries, with fake promises of employment and travel visas to countries like Canada.
During the operation, an additional thirty-nine Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to the same group. Many of them lacked valid travel documentation, while those in possession of passports presented expired papers, further underscoring the depth of exploitation.
The victims were found in distressing conditions and are currently undergoing medical treatment.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends the gallantry of all operatives involved in these successful operations, which further underscores the firm stance of the Nigeria Police Force against all forms of human trafficking, child exploitation, and transnational crimes.
Members of the public are encouraged to maintain vigilance and support ongoing efforts by reporting any suspicious individuals or movements to the nearest police station or command.
The Force remains resolute in its duty to protect the vulnerable and bring perpetrators to justice, reinforcing the message that such crimes will not be tolerated under any guise.
The Nigerian Army has intensified its efforts to combat the recent resurgence of banditry attacks in Plateau State, with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, approving the immediate deployment of the COAS Intervention Battalion of Special Forces to the region.
According to a press release from Captain Chinonso Oteh, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, the newly deployed special forces personnel will join existing troops already operating in the state.
Their mandate is to aggressively and decisively confront the escalating threats posed by bandit groups, marking a significant escalation in military response aimed at restoring lasting security.
Upon arrival at the Headquarters of 3 Division in Jos, the troops were received on behalf of the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola.
Representing him was the Chief of Staff for Operation ENDURING PEACE, Brigadier General Senlong Sule. Brigadier General Sule urged the special forces operatives to conduct offensive operations against the bandits with decisiveness and ruthlessness.
He commended Lieutenant General Shaibu’s proactive leadership in supplying essential combat enablers and logistical support to ensure the troops can effectively fulfill their mandate.
Major General Oyinlola, through his representative, appealed to residents of Plateau State not to be alarmed by the increased movement of large numbers of troops and heavy military equipment across the state. He emphasized that these deployments are part of coordinated efforts to neutralize criminal elements.
The GOC also thanked citizens for their ongoing support to the military and called for heightened collaboration, particularly through the timely provision of actionable intelligence on the locations and activities of criminal groups.
Such community input, he noted, will be crucial in enabling troops to achieve the desired peace and stability in Plateau State and surrounding areas.
Crime
NDLEA Busts 1.6kg Cocaine Swallower to China, Meth in Yogurt/Speakers, Ibadan Colos Factory (Images)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 62-year-old Lagos-based auto parts dealer, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for attempting to smuggle 1.589kg of cocaine to China by ingesting 95 wraps concealed in his stomach.
Izueke was nabbed on January 31, 2026, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed ingestion, and he excreted the 95 pellets over seven sessions under observation. He claimed the act was to fund his village home construction in Iwollo, Enugu State.
In related operations, NDLEA foiled methamphetamine smuggling attempts: 1.8kg hidden in Hollandia yogurt packs intercepted in Taraba State on February 6 en route to Adamawa; and consignments concealed in MP3 speakers from Enugu, leading to arrests of Ebube Okeke in Abuja and three others in Kaduna.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, operatives raided a “Colorado” (synthetic cannabis) production facility on February 7, arresting kingpin Jimoh Nurudeen, 40, and accomplice Ogundipe Yusuf, 27. Seizures included precursor chemicals, 14g skunk, production tools, ₦7.4 million cash, and two vehicles.
Other busts included 395,400 tramadol capsules in a petrol tanker in Kwara State; 149.6kg skunk in Oyo; large skunk recoveries in Imo and Ondo; 31 cocaine wraps from a boat arrival in Lagos; and various drugs plus cash from dealers in Enugu and Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended operatives across commands for the seizures and urged sustained professionalism in supply and demand reduction efforts, including ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitizations in schools and communities.
An 18-year-old housewife, identified as Khadija Jamilu, is on the run after allegedly attacking her 25-year-old husband with a knife, inflicting a deep cut to his genital area during a domestic dispute in Potiskum Local Government Area.
The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. on February 6, 2026. According to the Yobe State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, police responded to a distress call and found the victim with severe injuries to his manhood. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the attack.
The victim was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, though details remain limited to protect his privacy and avoid further trauma. Authorities have launched a manhunt for Khadija Jamilu, describing the act as a serious assault stemming from a marital conflict.
Police urged anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters. The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence in the region, with investigations continuing.
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