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Police recover two-month old baby stolen from Port Harcourt in Abuja

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recovered a toddler stolen from his school in Port Harcourt.

Commissioner of Police in charge of the territory, Olatunji Disu, while handing the child over to his mother, noted that the baby’s whereabouts was traced with the use of technology.

According to the CP, a dramatic real-life story unfolded recently involving a suspect, named Blessing Okoi.

 

He said that the incident started on October 31, when Miss Lydia Jonah Gabriel reported the disappearance of her four-year-old son, Hope Evans, from Community Primary School Azubie in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to school officials, an unidentified woman, later identified as Blessing Okoi, lured Hope away from the school premises at approximately 1:28.pm by offering him biscuits and boiled egg.

 

The woman, who was not known to the school management, managed to leave with Hope unnoticed.

 

The disappearance was only discovered later that evening when the child’s family could not locate him.

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Upon realising her son was missing, Miss Lydia Jonah, alongside family members, visited the school to gather more information.

 

They discovered that the woman who took Hope was known locally as “Destiny’s mum.” However, upon visiting the residence of Destiny, the family learned that the suspect had hurriedly vacated the premises on the same night, October 31.

 

“On November 1, 2024, the family revisited the school and spoke with the Headmaster. Several students identified the woman as Destiny’s mother, prompting the family to report the matter to the Trans Amadi Police Station.

 

“The case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

 

On suspicion that the suspect may have escaped to Abuja, the younger sister of the victim’s mother came to report the matter at the FCT Police Command where the FCT Police Command Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu ordered immediate investigation.

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“Following a detailed investigation, police tracked the movements of the suspect, Blessing Okoi, to Maraba, Abuja. After over two weeks of persistent efforts, she was arrested on November 29, 2024, at approximately 8:00.pm, and the four years old Hope Evans was rescued after over two months of abduction.

 

“During questioning, Blessing Okoi initially claimed to be Hope’s biological mother, referring to him as “David Evans.”

 

“However, her claims were inconsistent with information provided by the victim’s mother, who confirmed that her son’s name was Hope Evans. She further presented recent photographs of Hope as evidence of their relationship.

 

“The suspect, Blessing Okoi, confirmed that she actually changed the boy’s name to David and has started calling him so.

 

“Investigation revealed that Suspect Blessing Okoi convinced his former lover, named Evans that he was the father of the abducted young man. That was the result of the pregnancy he had for him some years back . The boyfriend accepted the boy as his own.

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“Another twist to the case was that the suspect was found with another young boy whom she claimed was hers but that the father had died.”

 

“The FCT command contacted the mother who arrived in Abuja on December 6, 2024. The Joy of the mother and son knows no bounds as they saw eye to eye after two months and were subsequently reunited in the office of the Commissioner of Police,” Disu explained.

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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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