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Unmask illegal miners behind Ibadan explosion, Sowore tells Makinde

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has asked the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and security agencies to answer nagging questions about the explosion that rocked Ibadan late Tuesday evening.

According to Sowore Governor Seyi Makinde, and security agencies have to answer questions concerning the alleged illegal miners responsible for the deadly explosion.

Makinde issued a statement stating that the explosion was caused by illegal miners.

Sowore, however, in a series of tweets he shared on his X handle (Formerly Twitter) on Wednesday wondered who the miners were, what they were mining, and why are they in possession of such powerful explosives.

His tweets titled, Posers For The Governor Of Oyo State #seyimakinde And Security Agencies Regarding The Deadly #IbadanBlast Last Night, read, “Even in developed countries, it takes nothing less than 48 hours before government agencies make a categorical statement about such a massive explosion. These include cordoning off the area, obtaining evidence on the scene, and analyzing it before telling the public what exactly happened.

“In less than 10 hours, Governor @seyimakinde already “investigated” the incident and submitted it was “Illegal Miners.” Who are the illegal miners? What do they mine, and why are they in possession of such powerful explosives?

“Is there any explosives dealer known to security agencies in a high-brow neighborhood in Ibadan that the govt had long been aware of and did nothing about?

“Again, who is that miner? What is the miner’s name, and what do they mine in Oyo state? Is it gold, silver, cobalt, uranium, or what? A release should be done immediately to reveal the identity of the miner!

“Mining and using explosives has a procedure and rarely explodes without a trigger, especially dynamite. You have to ignite it automatedly or use fire. Was the building rigged with explosives? If so, why so?

“Is the governor or Oyo state government aware of mining in the Agodi residential area? Is the governor aware of it, or is his or the state carrying out rock blasting in a residential area?

“The DSS is saddled with approving the use of explosives around Nigeria. What is their public position on what happened? At least citizens need a preliminary report from the DSS on this matter immediately.”

On Tuesday night, panic gripped Ibadan residents over an explosion that occurred at Dejo Oyelese Street in the Bodija area of the city.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has disclosed that over 20 houses were affected in the Tuesday night explosion.

“Over 20 houses were affected. Casualty figures can not be ascertained for now. Search and rescue operation is still ongoing,” the agency said.

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JUST IN: Tompolo has questions to answer – EFCC breaks silence on viral video

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said Chief Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, has questions to answer concerning a viral video clip which showed him allegedly engaging in naira abuse.

Nigerians on Sunday dared the Commission to arrest Tompolo like it did to other offenders.

The outrage was ignited by a viral video posted on X by one Harrison A, who tweets as #harreceipts with the caption, ‘EFCC, see Tompolo and the Naira o’.

The video clip captured parts of Tompolo’s 54th birthday celebration in April.It showed the Niger Delta chieftain dancing while a man lavishly sprayed N1,000 notes before him.

Responding to the demands by netizens, EFCC in a post on its official X handle on Monday said: “Nobody is above the law. Tompolo will have questions to answer!”

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Nigeria Police Nabs Two Countrymen Allegedly Behind Transnational Sex and Robbery Crimes

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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends all operatives involved in these high-profile arrests for their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations.

The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against transnational organized crime with the arrest of two internationally wanted fugitives: Felix Omoregie alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities, and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang

In a statement dated May 7, 2025, with the reference number Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/433, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO, Force HQ Abuja, said: “Felix Omoregie, the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation, had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on 19th December 2023, and was arrested in Benin City, Edo State, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by Police operatives.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City.

Omoregie is accused of trafficking young Nigerian women, including minors, to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 used to manipulate and control them.

His criminal network involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remitted proceeds to him.

Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership, Omoregie fled to Nigeria.

Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.

In a separate operation, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, apprehended 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State.

Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a series of serious crimes, including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities.

Intelligence gathered reveals that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria.

He has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.

The arrest was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police.

The arraignment of Okwudili Ezeje is expected to take place shortly.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends all operatives involved in these high-profile arrests for their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations.

The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to enhancing its global policing partnerships and ensuring that fugitives find no safe haven within our borders.

These arrests serve as a clear message that criminal elements, no matter how far they run or how long they hide, will be brought to justice.

The Force calls on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative in the fight against organized crime, both at home and abroad.”

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Nigeria Police Arrests two High-Profile Fugitives Wanted for Human Trafficking, Armed Robbery

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…..Reiterates Commitment towards International Partnership

The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against transnational organized crime with the arrest of two internationally wanted fugitives:

Felix Omoregie alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities, and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang.

Felix Omoregie, the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation, had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on 19th December 2023, and was arrested in Benin City, Edo State, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by Police operatives.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City. Omoregie is accused of trafficking young Nigerian women—including minors—to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 used to manipulate and control them.

His criminal network involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remitted proceeds to him.

Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership, Omoregie fled to Nigeria.

Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.

In a separate operation, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, apprehended 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State.

Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a series of serious crimes including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities.

Intelligence gathered reveals that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria.

He has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.

The arrest was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police.

The arraignment of Okwudili Ezeje is expected to take place shortly.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., commends all operatives involved in these high-profile arrests for their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations.

The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to enhancing its global policing partnerships and ensuring that fugitives find no safe haven within our borders.

These arrests serve as a clear message that criminal elements, no matter how far they run or how long they hide, will be brought to justice.

The Force calls on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative in the fight against organized crime, both at home and abroad.

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