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Oyo police smash car-snatching, gun-running gangs, recover N16m cash, exotic vehicles

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Members of alleged notorious car-snatching and gun running syndicate were among the 41 suspects paraded by the police in Oyo State on Friday for involvement in various crimes including robbery, rituals, kidnapping, murder and car-snatching, among other offences.

The suspects were paraded by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ayodele Sonubi before journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ibadan, while briefing newsmen on the command’s recent achievements.

 

Sonubi said that his men recovered different cars, motorcycles and dangerous weapons from the suspects.

 

He listed the other items to include 11 exotic vehicles, two Ak-47 rifles, 1,346 pieces of 7.62 live rounds of ammunition and N16 million cash, amongst others.

He said that the suspects were arrested at different locations in the state.

 

On how the notorious car-snatching gang was smashed, Sonubu said said that a team of police operatives attached to the Monitoring Unit, acting on a credible report, intercepted a Toyota Camry car on the Oyo-Ibadan Expressway.

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He said that the car was suspected to have been snatched from its owner.

 

According to him, the only occupant of the car was unable to give satisfactory explanation regarding its ownership.

 

“The suspect was arrested and, upon further interrogation, confessed that the vehicle was snatched from its owner and given to him by one of his co-syndicate members to be delivered to their criminal receiver in Kaduna State.

 

“Further investigation later led to the arrest of the kingpins of the gang and six additional members of their inter-state car-snatching cartel.

 

“Exotic vehicles recovered include three Highlander Jeeps, one Toyota Camry car, one Lexus 330 car, one Toyota Corolla car and one Elantra Hyundai car, which they confessed to have snatched from their owners.

 

“One K2 rifles and 90 parcels of illicit drugs were equally recovered from the suspects,” he said.

 

Some of the suspects being paraded by the police in Ibadan, Oyo State

On the gun running syndicate, Sonubi said operatives of the command, while on an intelligence-based stop-and-search operation within Ibadan metropolis, intercepted a Toyota Corolla car and when the car was searched, a sealed bag was discovered to contain large cache of new AK-47 rifles.

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He said that the two suspects in the car were unable to give satisfactory explanations about the prohibited ammunition, hence were arrested and subjected to further investigations.

 

“Upon interrogations, they confessed to be members of a gun-running cartel, which imports various types of sophisticated firearms into the country through the border and supply them to different criminal syndicates.

 

“Further investigation later led to the arrest of the syndicate’s kingpin in his hideout within Ibadan metropolis, where he was waiting to receive the illegally imported ammunition.

 

“A huge sum of N16 million cash, which he later confessed was to be paid to the suspects earlier arrested, upon receiving the ammunition, was recovered from him,” he said.

In a related development, no fewer than seven members of a suspected armed robbery syndicate, reportedly invaded Kuola area of Ibadan.

 

The police chief said the suspects allegedly attacked several houses in the community and made away with their valuables.

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He said that the hoodlums killed a night security guard, while fleeing the community.

 

He said that the suspects were later arrested in their hideouts, while two live cartridges, allegedly used to commit the crime, were recovered.

 

“Upon interrogations, the suspects confessed to the crime and series of previous armed robbery operations they had masterminded at different locations within Ibadan metropolis,” he said.

 

A man who allegedly murdered a potential buyer of Soya beans and cashew nuts worth millions of naira was among the suspects paraded.

 

The police boss said that the suspects would be arraigned at the end of the investigations.

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Woman jumps into Lagos lagoon, rescued by boat operators

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A yet-to-be-identified woman has been rescued after reportedly jumping into the lagoon from the Idumota end of the Carter Bridge in Lagos state.

The incident, which reportedly drew the attention of passersby and local boat operators, occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, nearby boat operators responded and brought the woman back to safety.

video circulating on social media showed the woman, seated in a rescue boat shortly after she was brought out of the water.

The footage, shared on X by a user identified as CHUKS, also showed people gathered on the bridge expressing concern about the woman’s condition.

Some bystanders could be heard appealing to the boat operators to ensure that she received appropriate care.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm the woman’s identity and condition.

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Police seize truck-load of fake drug warehouses in Lagos, arrest two

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The Lagos State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered two warehouses allegedly used for repackaging counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspected members of a syndicate involved in the interstate and cross-border distribution of fake drugs.

Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,  disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in the Ijora Olopa area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation by detectives attached to the unit.

The police boss said the suspects were apprehended at a warehouse located at Number 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were allegedly repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to various parts of Nigeria.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of the syndicate.

According to the police commissioner, “The suspects, Eze Okwudilichukwu ‘m’ 52 years, and Chukwudi Mba ‘m’ 42 years, were arrested at their warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were found repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to different parts of Nigeria.

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“Following their arrest and interrogation, the suspects led detectives to another warehouse, where a duly executed search warrant was carried out. During the search, a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products, bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), was recovered alongside other exhibits.”

The police boss said items recovered during the operation included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole; six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton, and other pharmaceutical products; and about 10 cartons of suspected adulterated Ampiclox, Viagra, and other drugs.

The CP noted that more than 300 empty printed packs and cartons were used to repackage counterfeit medicines.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had been involved in the repackaging and distribution of suspected adulterated drugs for over two years.

He added that detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that the products were supplied to different parts of Nigeria, while large consignments were also destined for Lomé, Togo, indicating the existence of a transnational distribution network.

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“The investigation also suggests that the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State.

“While the production facility has not yet been located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest all those connected with the operation, and bring them to justice,” Fatai said.

The commissioner also alleged that attempts were made to compromise the investigation after the suspects were arrested.

“It is pertinent to state that since the arrest of the suspects, desperate attempts have been made through different channels to induce officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit to release both the suspects and the recovered exhibits.

“I wish to categorically state that these attempts were firmly resisted. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity, and the rule of law, and no amount of pressure or inducement will derail the course of justice,” he added.

Tijani said the suspects, recovered exhibits, and case file had been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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He explained that the handover was necessary because the case falls within the regulatory mandate of the agency.

The CP commended operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for what he described as a professional and intelligence-driven operation while urging members of the public to provide useful information on the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other criminal activities.

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NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden in wooden mortar, backpack bound for China, Italy

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered fresh attempts by drug syndicates to export cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar and a specially modified backpack destined for China and Italy.

This was contained in a statement released by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and shared on X on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, one of the consignments involved cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar, a local tool commonly used for pounding yam and grains, which was being shipped to China.

The agency added that another cocaine shipment destined for Italy was discovered concealed in the false bottom of a backpack hidden among lace materials.

He wrote, “Mortar is a traditional local wooden tool commonly used for pounding yams or grains but was used to conceal cocaine consignment heading to China in one of the latest seizures by #ndlea_nigeria officers who also discovered another shipment of cocaine going to Italy in the false bottom of a backpack hidden in lace materials.

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“Beware of every parcel you’re given to deliver. Remember the key word for liability is possession!”

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