The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, has arrested a 56-year-old man, Iliasu, alongside his three sons over their alleged involvement in a kidnapping operation in Oba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Usman (33), Wahab (27), and Yakubu (18), were paraded in Akure alongside 24 other suspects arrested for various offences by the state security outfit.

Speaking during the parade, the Commander of Amotekun in Ondo State, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that the victim, Oyebade Samuel, was abducted while travelling to Oba-Akoko after his vehicle developed a mechanical fault along the road.

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According to Adeleye, four armed men emerged from the bush carrying guns, cutlasses, and sticks before attacking and dragging the victim into the forest.

The kidnappers initially demanded a ₦40 million ransom but later reduced it to ₦1.6 million, which the victim’s family paid.

Despite receiving the money, the suspects allegedly refused to release the victim and warned the family against involving security agencies.

Following the suspects’ failure to honour the agreement, the family contacted Amotekun, prompting an intelligence-led operation that traced the kidnappers to a family of four who allegedly disguised themselves as cattle rearers while operating a kidnapping syndicate.

Adeleye said the suspects resisted arrest and attacked Amotekun operatives during the rescue mission but were eventually overpowered.

The victim was rescued with multiple machete and knife injuries sustained during captivity and was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Amotekun commander further revealed that more than 75 per cent of the ₦1.6 million ransom was recovered, alongside alcoholic drinks, drugs, cigarettes, and other items allegedly linked to the suspects.

He added that one of the suspects, believed to be the gang leader, had been on Amotekun’s watchlist since 2024 over several kidnapping incidents in the Ondo North Senatorial District but had fled the state before recently returning to allegedly mastermind the latest abduction.

Adeleye reiterated that the security outfit discourages the payment of ransom, assuring that all recovered money would be returned to the victim’s family.

“There is no hiding place for criminals in Ondo State, whether in the forests or within our communities. We remain committed to protecting lives and property,” he said.

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a 21-year-old man, Samson Onilewaji, after allegedly discovering a suspected human hand, firearms and other items believed to be linked to criminal activities during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The arrest was confirmed on Friday by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, who disclosed that the suspect was travelling in an unregistered commercial shuttle bus alongside five other passengers when police officers intercepted the vehicle for inspection.

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According to Adebisi, a thorough search of the vehicle and its occupants led to the recovery of a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal and five ATM cards from the suspect.

She further revealed that preliminary investigations showed the suspect allegedly confessed to recently robbing three people of their valuables, including the POS machine and ATM cards recovered from him.

The police spokesperson said investigators are working to determine the identity of the owner of the suspected human hand, how it came into the suspect’s possession and what it was allegedly intended to be used for.

She added that efforts are ongoing to track down other suspected members of the criminal network believed to be connected to the suspect.

Adebisi stated that the suspect would be arraigned in court after investigations are concluded.

She also quoted the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Tijani Olaiwola Fatai, as reassuring residents of the command’s commitment to tackling violent crimes and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.

The police commissioner urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing useful and timely information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and bringing criminals to justice.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men aged 84 and 75 for allegedly supplying illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State, in a shocking case that has stirred public concern.

The suspects, identified as Godfrey Orji (84) and Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora (75), were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations by NDLEA operatives over their alleged involvement in drug distribution within school communities.

Drugs hidden in patent medicine shop

According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Obiora was arrested on June 19, 2026, after credible intelligence linked him to selling illicit substances to students from his patent medicine store located at 4 Club Road, Umuahia.

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A search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
Babafemi stated: “Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store.”

Arrest at school exposes second suspect

In a separate operation, Godfrey Orji, a pensioner, was apprehended after he was allegedly caught supplying drugs to students of Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia.

Security guards at the school reportedly intercepted him and handed him over to the police, who later transferred him to the NDLEA.

One of the teenage students, a 15-year-old SS2 pupil, allegedly confessed during interrogation that the suspect regularly supplied him with drugs, which he also sold to other students.

Students moved to rehabilitation

The NDLEA confirmed that while the two suspects will face prosecution, the affected students have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation programmes as part of efforts to curb drug abuse in schools.

Nationwide crackdown continues

The Abia arrests come amid ongoing nationwide operations by the NDLEA, which also recorded major drug seizures across the country In Lagos, operatives intercepted 9.5kg of ADB-Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid concealed in a shipment from China.

Another raid uncovered 300 grams of cannabis (“Loud”) hidden in handbags at a logistics facility.

A drug dealer’s home in Ajah was raided, with codeine syrup and cannabis recovered.
In Kogi State, a suspect was arrested with 1.030kg of methamphetamine hidden in custard containers.

In Oyo State, operatives recovered 1,416kg of skunk during a major raid.

In Edo State, large cannabis farms were destroyed, with over 4,000kg of cannabis recovered or eradicated.

NDLEA vows stronger enforcement

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended operatives across multiple states for their coordinated operations and urged them to sustain the momentum.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to both enforcement and public sensitisation under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

The NDLEA says it will continue its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, especially those targeting vulnerable young people in school environments, as investigations and prosecutions continue in the Abia case.