By Security agencies in three states say they have chalked up separate operational successes within days of one another. Police in Delta arrested 95 suspected cultists in coordinated raids.
Troops in Kano rescued a kidnapped man and recovered the ransom his family paid. Police in Oyo rescued a one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold for ₦2 million. The commands announced the results in statements issued on Saturday, October 17.
Delta: 95 suspected cultists held, five firearms recovered
The Delta State Police Command says its operatives arrested 95 suspected cultists in raids on criminal hideouts across Asaba, Ika South, Ughelli South and Okpe local government areas on October 15. Command spokesman SP Bright Edafe said the Department of Operations, the Rapid Response Squad and the Command Anti-Cultism Unit carried out the operations.
They followed a directive from Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale to intensify intelligence-led action against cultism and related violent crime.
The biggest haul came in Asaba, where police acted on intelligence that suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as Aro Bagger, had gathered at a hotel along Abraka Road for an alleged cult anniversary.
Officers raided the premises and arrested 67 people, 55 men and 12 women. They recovered two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, ten live cartridges, five expended cartridges, eleven caps bearing suspected cult insignia and two branded cult jackets.
In Agbor, Ika South, a further 15 suspects were arrested, 14 men and one woman, along with items police link to the same group. At Jeremy Community in Ughelli South, operatives working with a civilian anti-cult group arrested three suspects, named as John Pius, 32, Oghene Ochuko, 28, and Akinbule Godstime, 24, while others fled.
Police recovered two locally made pistols, cartridges, caps bearing cult insignia and suspected charms there. At Jeddo Community in Okpe, ten more men were arrested.
In all, police say they recovered five firearms, 12 live cartridges and seven expended cartridges. The suspects and exhibits are in custody, and investigations are ongoing.
Kano: kidnap victim rescued, ₦10 million ransom recovered
In Kano State, troops of 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operating under Operation MESA, say they rescued a kidnapped man, neutralised two suspected kidnappers and recovered ₦10 million in ransom. The operation took place in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area.
Major Babatunde Zubairu, the brigade’s Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, said Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu was abducted on October 11 at Fanyabo Village while returning from Yandoka Market in Kaduna State at about midnight. His abductors then contacted his family in Yan Taburmi Village to demand a ransom.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops mounted an ambush with police, the Department of State Services and local hunters. Two suspected kidnappers were neutralised and the victim was rescued, while other members of the gang fled into the forest.
A search of the area turned up the ₦10 million the family had reportedly paid, which was returned to the victim and his family. Brigade Commander Brigadier General Saka Jimoh commended the troops and urged the public to keep giving timely information to security agencies.
Oyo: one-month-old baby rescued, alleged sale traced to a health facility owner
In Oyo State, police say they have rescued a baby girl, about a month old, who was allegedly sold for ₦2 million to a person identified as Folawewo in Ido Local Government Area. State police spokesman DSP Olayinka Ayanlade said a woman, Mary Amos, reported to police on Thursday at about 6 p.m. that her 23-year-old daughter gave birth to a baby girl at Ebepraise Health Centre, Ido, on September 6.
The daughter disappeared with the child about seven days later and could not give a satisfactory account of where the baby was, she said. Police arrested the baby’s mother, who allegedly confessed that the owner of the health facility and one Oludunni lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the sale.
Ayanlade said investigations found that the mother received ₦1 million of the ₦2 million, while the facility owner and Oludunni allegedly received ₦500,000 each. The baby has been rescued, he said, and police are working to arrest the alleged buyer and others involved.
The command reiterated its commitment to protecting children and urged the public to report suspected child trafficking promptly.
All the allegations above are the account of the police and the army, and none of the suspects has been tried.
